Tonight in L.A. (October 5, 2012) - L.A.'s Concerts Tonight

For first Friday - the concert calendar is filthy - from the guitars of The Black Keys at Staples Center to the bass and beats of Big Gigantic and Griz at House of Blues on Sunset.  Download Big G's "Let's Go" to amplify your weekend - whether you're at the show or not.

For the festival goers - Culture Collide has a host of talent playing.  I like Taix's Champagne Room the best with Mr. Little Jeans, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Magic Wands and Voxhaul Broadcast.  Dangerbird artists Royal Teeth are the highlight on a bill that includes School of Seven Bells at The Echoplex.Your Culture Collide wristband also gets you into 826LA for some laughter courtesy of Natasha Leggero and friends. 

For the Hollywood bound - Treasure Fingers puts the speakers to work at Avalon and Dam Funk does the same at The Fonda as support for Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti.  Just down the block - new school rockers meet 90s stars as Dead Sara and Neon Trees support The Offspring at Hollywood Palladium.

Westsiders can enjoy First Friday's with a variety of performances and art spectacles - including Dustbowl Revival at Joe's, or go a little further south and jam out with Particle at Saint Rocke.  Over at The Central SAPC - doctors turned rockers Das Tapes get down.  

Other notables include She Wants Revenge at The Roxy with DJ'd tunes courtesy of Franki Chan, Furthurat Greek Theatre, Richie Spice at The Mint, Dr. Dog atJohn Anson Ford Amphitheatre and Twin Shadow atThe Observatory.  

• FILTER MAGAZINE’S CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL w/ The Big Pink, School of Seven Bells, Royal Teeth, Moss, Optic Yellow Felt @ The Echoplex

• FILTER MAGAZINE’S CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL w/ Zola Jesus, Ewert and The Two Dragons, Sudden Weather Change, Terminal @ The Echo

• FILTER MAGAZINE’S CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL w/ The Balconies, The Moog, Resplandor, Immanu El, Huddle @ Taix (Front Lounge)

• FILTER MAGAZINE’S CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mr. Little Jeans, Magic Wands, Voxhaul Broadcast @ Taix (Champagne Room)

• FILTER MAGAZINE’S CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL w/ Patrick Wolf, Annie Stela, Penny Hawson, The Trouble with Templeton @ The Church

• UCB PRESENTS COMEDY COLLIDE w/ Emily Maya Mills, Nick Thune, Matt Braunger, Lauren Lapkus, Howard Kremer, Natasha Leggero, The Birthday Boys, Dominic Dierkes, Matt Besser @ 826LA

• The Fuxedos, The Mike Penny Orchestra, Art of Bleeding (Film Screening), Lost Moon Radio, Quazar and the Bamboozled @ Bootleg Bar

• Randy Michael and The Sharp Dressed Lads, Alexandra and the Starlight Band, Hammered Satin, The Bloodhounds @ The Satellite

• Eekis vs. Colour, Palace Walls, Frownees Van Can’t @ Lot 1 Café (FREE)

• Coldair, The Trouble With Templeton, Kyst @ Origami Vinyl (Culture Collide)

• Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, BODYGUARD, Dam Funk @ The Fonda Theatre

• Treasure Fingers, Burns, Codes, Brazabelle, Burn Unit @ Avalon Hollywood

• Further feat. Bob Weir & Phil Lesh @ Greek Theatre

• Franco Benito, Max Cooper, Andrew S, Anton Tumas @ King King Club

• Jason Mraz @ Hollywood Bowl

• Gerardo Ortiz @ Nokia Theatre LA Live

• The Black Keys w/ Tegan & Sara @ Staples Center

• BT, Audien @ Exchange LA

• Esther Anaya vs. DJ Stephanie Loayza @ Belasco Theater

• Orlando Greenhill, Sunblast The Shadows, Moms With Tats, In Tents @ The Smell

• She Wants Revenge, Gliss, Pyyramids, Franki Chan (DJ) @ The Roxy

• Fly Society, Foxsta, PL, Vaughn @ On The Rox

• The Lonely Drunk Clubs Band Perform Led Zeppelin IV w/ Gypsyhawk, Scorpion Child, The Fabulous Miss Wendy, On The Fifty @ The Viper Room

• Dr. Dog, Cotton Jones @ John Anson Ford Amphitheatre

• The Maccabees, IO Echo @ El Rey Theatre

• Big Gigantic, GRiZ @ House of Blues – Sunset Strip

• Michael Schenker Group, Rattlehead, The Hard Way, Greg Allen Knights, Templar, Jemma Louis @ Key Club

• The Helio Sequence, Slowdance @ Troubadour

• Richie Spice, RnD @ The Mint

• Das Tapes, Bear Fight!, Bastille @ The Central SAPC

• The Head and The Heart, Blitzen Trapper, Bryan John Appley @ The Wiltern

• The Offspring, Neon Trees, Dead Sara @ Hollywood Palladium

• Peter Wolf, Broken Anchor @ The Hotel Café

• Particle, Steel Toed Slippers, Merciless Jive @ Saint Rocke

• Josh Heinrich’s Stranger, Skillinjah, Just Chill @ Brixton South Bay

• The Secret Affair (Northern Soul Dance Club) @ Alex’s Bar

• L-Vis 1990, Total Freedom, Nguzunguzu, Prince William, Kingdom @ Los Globos

• Piripa, [a]pendics, Steve Huerta, James Freidman, Filrouge, Hanre @ Los Globos

• Jes, Oscar Wylde @ Yost Theater

• Andrew Ryan, Armada, Red Circle Underground @ Harvelle’s

• Aquile, Tyler Conti, Dallison, Belinda Skinner @ WitZend

• Shulravision, Jonna Kae & Justin Sheehy, Lee Ellen Starks, Casey Wickstrom, Coke Youngblood @ Room 5 Lounge

• Harmonious Fits, Woodset, Swords of Fatima, Ghost Lyon, softCORE @ TRiP (FREE)

• Twin Shadow, Pegasus Warning, Mini Mansions @ The Observatory

• Deadly Finns, Wide Street, Dirt Dress @ Redwood Bar

• Open Air Stereo, Still The Sky’s Limit, Still Phantoms @ Slidebar

• Sea Wolf, Oren Lyons @ Constellation Room (The Observatory)

• Otmaro Ruiz, Aaron Rafael Serfaty, Catina Deluna, Larry Koonse, Joon Lee @ bluewhale

• Robyn Hitchcock @ McCabe’s Guitar Shop

• Laura Marling @ Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace

• Barely Blind, What Hands Are For, The Goodnight, Culprit @ El Cid

• The Americans, The 454’s, Maladjusted, Exit Module @ Hard Rock Café Hollywood

• Marcus Miller @ Catalina Bar & Grill

• Lita Ford, Kenny Hale, Spare Parts for Broken Hearts @ Coach House

• Strung Out, The Swellers, Such Gold @ House of Blues – Anaheim

• One Drop, Nada Rasta @ SLO Brew

• Nightwish, Kamelot @ City National Grove of Anaheim

• Barry Zweig Trio (FREE), DJ Alfred Hawkins @ Del Monte Speakeasy

• Dustbowl Revival @ Joe’s (First Fridays)

Jam Cruise 9 - Jamming From America to Mexico and Back

I began my 2011 year of music as I've done the past four years - with a business trip to board Jam Cruise. Making its ninth voyage, Jam Cruise is like Bonnaroo on a boat or late night Jazzfest on a boat, or more likely something in between those two and being backstage. Its like a long extended recess for adults that love music. Its like dying and going to heaven if you love funk music.

Departing out of Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday January 4th - it seemed I'd sail through the first week of the year in a funky festive atmosphere on Jam Cruise 9. Big Sam's Funky Nation were scheduled to open up the Cruise Kick Off Party on the Pool Deck at 6 pm as the sun set.

However, the trip didn't start off all fun in the festival sun. Waiting for the 2,000+ paying customers preparing to board the MSC Poesia at Port Everglades were Broward County Police, Drug Enforcement Agents and Border Patrol officials, along with a handful of drug and bomb sniffing dogs. While I thought it was a beefed up response to the six arrests they made of people disembarking last year - it turns out a passenger's ex-girlfriend ratted him out and the authorities were out in full force on the disgruntled mates tip-off.

The upset girlfriend didn't just get her ex boo thrown in the slammer - in total 15 would-be Jam Cruise passengers were arrested at the port for possession of mostly "small quantities" of various types of substances. Thankfully, I did not know any of them. Canines did not board the boat (unlike what had been reported) - but canines did confront passengers as they brought their bags through the customs facilities and suspicious people were vigorously searched.

After the customs riff-raff and the arrival of baggage, passengers again got comfortable and Cloud 9 Adventures staff and MSC crew prepared us for life on our supremely oversized floating funk-raft.

Big Sam's Funky Nation inaugurated these years festivities with some masterful trombone and a personality that felt as large as the boat.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band followed up the Funky nation in the Teatro Carlo Felice - for the first indoor show of Jamcruise 9. Rocking amazing Randolph tunes and a submarine funk level version of "Thriller" - The Family Band made sure Jam Cruise rookies got an early taste of the boat's magic.

Although I was not torn about missing Scaring The Children (Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman & Jay Lane) - when I had to pick between Pimps of Joytime and Anders Osborne with Stanton Moore and Carl Dufrene, it was a battle. A brief stint at Pimps ended when I heard the easily distinguishable Stanton Moore stand-up snare hit. Osborne, the gritty bearded Southern-rock impresario, and Galactic's Moore channeled the nights energy into very flavorful southern funk rock anthems with support from Dufrene and friends, including George Porter Jr.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe closed out the night on the Pool Deck - playing tunes from "Brother's Keeper" and earlier albums. Before hitting the cabin for the night, I did give a peep at Stockholm Syndrome and Dave School's heavy bass.

Day 2 started with the faint tunes of Cornmeal's bluegrass creeping through my balcony window. Unfortunately, I didn't make it up to the deck until Perpetual Groove's Brock Butler took stage - displaying his signature singer freestyler jam songwriter swagger. Standing tall above the crowd in the pool - Butler delivered 45 minutes of solid tunes until Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars paraded through and carried his crowd away with them.

Sierra brought a pretty tribal element of music that has not often been heard on board the Jam Cruise voyages. It was a pleasant shift on a gorgeous bright day. Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk followed the All Stars - reminding everyone that the boat may be a place to discover new musicians and new types of music, but it has been and always will be captained by funk.

Guitar heroes and fans got a special treat in the early evening as Zach Deputy played during sunset bleeding right into the supergroup, Some Cat From Japan on the pool deck. Opting out of seeing more shredding, I chose to go to the Atrium to see Marco Benevento lay down some improvisations on a grand piano. The keys specialist did not disappoint. Benevento's fluidity made me forget I was taking an interlude for food before Galactic, The New Mastersounds and Lettuce.

Of the three - Lettuce definitely brought things the hardest. The botched version of "Move On Up"

Lettuce had me so funked up, I needed to go to sleep and get ready for our arrival in Honduras the following day.

Day 3 began on the island of Roatan, Honduras. I'm not sure what Roatan is known for - but I'd been once before, checked out the beaches and was happy to just meander through town to a very close beach and enjoy the sand. So did some other Jam Cruisers. I sat by the bay, looked at the sky and avoided thinking about the work that was undoubtedly piling up back home.

From a beautiful day in the sun, I watched the MSC Poesia sail away for what I thought would be the best night of music on the boat - Stockholm Syndrome, Lettuce, Big Gigantic, Garage A Trois, Lettuce, Lotus, Big Sam's Funky Nation. All capped by George Porter Jr. playing host in the Jam Room.

Day 4 our port was Costa Maya, Mexico. Opting for the adult recess activity - I played no holds barred kickball with a handful of other Jamcruisers. 3 strikes and you're out (w/ foul ball rules). 3 outs you switch sides. Anything else goes - tackling, moving bases around, stealing shoes, etc. Oh yeah, and no limit on the number of people in the outfield and NO limit on the number of drinks. You can imagine how much fun we were having. It was team Sleepers vs. Team Up All Night.

Against better judgment I tasted from the handle of tequila being passed around and before I knew it I was doing 40 on a golf cart on a Mexican highway. I guess that's why they only let us dock in Costa Maya for 7 hours...

Sailing away to the sounds of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears put me in a delightful mood - which was only perpetuated by Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and The New Mastersounds. Unfortunately, all the day drinking activity and pool deck fun had me tuckering out early and after some Big Gigantic and a little bit of Jam Room - I was captain toast.

Jam Cruise 9's final day at sea brought a full day of music, kicking off with The Pimps of Joytime on the pool deck.

As the day went on , there as a lapse in the funk (during ALO and Nathan Moore), but then Anders Osborne took stage with George Porter Jr. and Johnny Vidacovich - and ultimately being joined by Leo Nocentelli. The powerhouse of jazz greats continued as their southern rock funk session bled into overtime before Maceo's Super Jam.

From the Maceo Parker led Super Jam, I went to the casino and then on to see my favorite super band, Garage A Trois go jungle punk funk at the Zebra Bar. GAT left no stone unturned - bringing out massive music from their three albums and a handful of covers too.

As Garage A Trois finished - I darted to catch the final hour of Robert Randolph & The Family Band on the pool deck. I'm so glad I did because I stumbled on Cornmeal doing a cover of Talking Heads' "Naive Melody" on the way.

When I finally did get to Randolph, not only did Randolph do his best rendition of Hendrix, but he also remarked about how the boat was the best trip he had ever taken in his life. Each year a musician says that, and it warmed my heart to hear those words come from Mr. Randolph's mouth. Even cooler that I was hearing the music while tossing one back with Eric from Lettuce!

Disembarkation luckily did not have as many procedural issues as boarding, nor was there as massive of a customs presence. The less intense re-introduction to society was necessary after 5 days of backstage festival mayhem. The looks on all the departing passengers faces showed a mixture of emotion - but all had one constant - a look like they couldn't wait to do it again next year.

Jam Cruise 10 pre-booking is available through http://www.jamcruise.com

Weekend of Music Took Its Toll

So - thank goodness it is sort of a holiday today - because we still need an extra day to recover from the amazing weekend that was.

It all started with catching Eyedea & Abilities late set at Echoplex on Thursday. The 200-300 people who remained were hype on Rhymesayers but admittedly a little thin on their knowledge of Eyedea's lyrics. With one of the most potent arsenals of verbal weaponry you could possibly conceive of, Eyedea's performance lacked a little spunk because Eyedea had less verbal crowd energy to feed off of.

Nonetheless, the MC delivered a somewhat inspired performance. Likewise, the jamband STS9, took stage at The Wiltern on Friday as part of their national tour. The show was pretty crowded and the band delivered a cohesive set of music. But, it unfortunately was minimal on the heavy rhythm jungle jamming and lacked the songs that have become my live favorites. (At the least, the debut of their new hat by the rising underground clothing company Grassroots California was a huge hit!)

These touring veterans, Eyedea & STS9, just did not hold a candle to the rising acts we saw for the rest of the weekend....

Performing as part of the STS9 after party series, Big Gigantic and Elliott Lipp absolutely wrecked The Roxy late night Friday. Although the show was not completely sold out, the energy felt as if it was.

Big Gigantic really turned our head. It was the first time we'd seen this group and we'll expect big things from them in the future, gigantic things perhaps. Their sax fueled dub party was intoxicating and kept the crowd moving (as seen above). Some of their music is available for download for free and the group is hopefully taking the festival circuit by storm this summer with a scheduled performance at Wakarusa already.

Elliott Lipp (seen in the Grassroots California Bakers hat above) was also providing the fuel for the party as he closed out the late night jam on his computer. Even as the clock approached the 4 am curfew, the crowd was clamoring for more.

We had so much fun, we raced back to The Roxy the next night hoping it would somehow be Groundhogs Day. It wasn't - but we got a pleasant surprise because it was Zombie Prom! Saint Motel played host at the sold out 2nd Annual Zombie Prom extravaganza. With a featured zombie photo booth, bloodied and batty drunk fans and love from the crowd that was only exacerbated by Valentines Day - Saint Motel delivered a totally inspired performance (AJ featured singing below).

With a handful of sold out and absolutely spectacular shows in Los Angeles under their belt - we at SUPERGOODMUSIC sort of think that Saint Motel will be one of the explosions from the LA scene in 2010 that ends up on the national radar. Let your friends at SXSW know that they need to go see this indie rock quartet.