Grammy Weekend really kicks off tonight as a slew of artists perform around town and some exciting Grammy related events pop off (like DipDive's event at Palladium with Diplo, David Guetta, Will.I.Am, Kelis and other performers). Below you will find a full list of concerts for the night, but several, like the Palladium event, are worthy of special mention:
* Mos Def is performing at the new Key Club tonight. Although the venue's official launch party is not until tomorrow (and is being hosted by LL Cool J), the soulful hip-hopper/actor/poet Mos Def is gracing Sunset Blvd. with his presence for a surely inspiring performance. Although we've only caught him a few times, Mos Def's show is truly a thing of beauty. It is no wonder that he has successfully crossed over to being an actor because his stage presence is undeniable and magnetic. Seamlessly woven together words are Mos Def's ammunition and when he grabs the mic, the guy's glock is cocked, loaded and ready to fire. There are few in the business who put on a performance the way Mos does and to catch him in the intimate Key Club will truly be a treat. For $30 advance and $35 at the door - that ticket is a steal.
* The Mother Hips at The Hotel Cafe. These guys straight rock and, in a perfect world, would be playing a larger venue that maintained the intimate feel of the Hotel Cafe. Like Mos Def, the opportunity to catch an artist of this caliber in such a small room does not come around often. Fans of rock n roll probably already scooped up these tickets as I hear they are sold out, but if you have not yet gotten yours - maybe you can scrounge around craigslist or the venue's doors itself for a chance to see the Hips in action. Later in the evening, Samuel Stewart, an up and coming guitarist and singer, will also be performing.
* Broken Lizard Comedy Group - the men responsible for the great films SUPER TROOPERS and BEER FEST - are performing comedy at the El Rey all night. With shows at both 7 pm and 10 pm, the mid-wilshire corridor will certainly be filled with laughter and smiling faces. For fans of either film, the comedy group does perform some bits from their famed works.
* Last, but not least, The Pimps of Joytime are playing at On The Rox. Pretty good afro-cuban-funk band with some cats that clearly like hip-hop too. Caught them at Air Conditioned Lounge last time they came thru and it was a fun and danceable performance. Their cut "Bonita" is pretty spectacular live.
THURSDAY JANUARY 27TH - SHOWS IN LA
Broken Lizard Live: Stars of Super Troopers and Beerfest @ El Rey
Whiteboy Comedy Showcase @ Room 5
The Drinking Game Comedy @ Molly Malones
Jason Webley and Eliza Rickman @ Echo Curio
Compose Yourself-Artists TBA @ Genghis Cohen
Abe Vigoda, Silk Flowers, Bronze, TEARIST @ The Smell
The Mother Hips with Travel By Sea (7-9:30PM), Fyfe Dangerfield of The Guillemots, , Samuel Stewart (10:30PM), Angela McCluskey (11:30PM) @ Hotel Café
VERY SPECIAL GUEST Call Club @ The Largo
Nick Jonas & The Administration @ The Wiltern
The Pee-Wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia
Natalia Lafourcade @ Conga Room
Project We The Children @ House of Blues
The Pimps of Joytime, Holland and Clark @ On The Rox
Joe Brooks, Jason Reeves, Lisa Donnelly, Zsuzsanna @ The Roxy
Fruit Bats, Citay, Extra Classic, DJ Turquoise Wisdom @ Echoplex
The Parson Red Heads, The Chapin Sisters, Social Studies, All Spots To Black @ Echo
Fishtank Ensemble, Diego's Umbrella, Fichot @ Spaceland
Wayne "The Train" Hancock, Colin Gilmore, Grant Langston @ The Mint
Honey Honey, The Truth, Get Back Loretta, Dynamite Walls @ The Viper Room
Four Year Strong, Strike Anywhere, This Time Next Year, Title Fight @ Troubadour
Su Casa Benefit feat. Technology, Pebla Luna, Casket Salesmen, Vital Emcee @ Detroit Bar
Reggae Night w/ Sand Section @ Saint Rocke
Jason Diaz, Wade Ryff, Zmed Brothers, Peppermint Wolf @ Silverlake Lounge
Death Kit, Yours Til Death, The Half-Hearted @ Bordello
DJ Skeet Skeet @ Tatou
LA Riots @ Arena Nightclub
Bella Novela @ Old Town Pub
DJ Oggy @ Dullahan's
Wake Up Lucid, The Muddy Reds @ Air Conditioned Lounge
Nero Zero @ Whisky A Go Go