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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Why There's Rarely Any Good Shows on the Westside

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Did you know you can still get tickets for Monday night's Rilo Kiley show at the Santa Monica Civic?

Do you know why you can still get tickets for the show? Because it's in Santa Monica. And when the people of Santa Monica aren't trying to destroy old trees and houses, they're looking for things to do Other than see great rock shows.

Let's think of things they do on the Westside other than support live, local music that everyone pretty much around the nation would go nuts for: buff the Beamer, go to Palm Springs, drink in Hermosa and swerve back home via the 405, frequent the Whole Foods, talk shit about the gardener, tivo Dancing With the Stars, sit around waiting for Dave Matthews to come back to the Bowl.

Rilo Kiley have a new record out, their first video for it "Moneymaker" was hot as hell (see below), and pretty much every new band name checks them as a band and definitely Jenny Lewis. Plus they're bringing two other really good bands, The Bird and the Bee, and Grand Ole Party with em. So why aren't the kids from the westside filling the joint?

Because the westside is soft and has no taste. Just as always, just as it will always be. Bet ya Good Charlotte would sell out in minutes there. Bet Daughtry could pack the place overnight. It's all why there are no great clubs over there, it's why there aren't any good bands coming from there, it's why real bands don't want to play there.

Enjoy your Peet's coffee, enjoy your 3rd Street, enjoy your big blue buses and old people and homeless and sinkholes. But when you don't support real bands when they come to town, don't get pissed when you have to drive out to Hollywood if you want to hear good music, because you're not giving bands any reason to play there.

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We hear this show is "close to" selling out, but that's not good enough. Westsiders should be ashamed of themselves. You're not gonna get a better lineup to play there. And it's not like you're doing anything better on a Monday night.

For shame.


Rilo Kiley - "Moneymaker"


The Bird & The Bee - "Again & Again"

Rilo Kiley @ The Santa Monica Civic
Monday, October 15
General Admission Tickets on sale now

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