Results tagged “thesoftpack”

Tonight legendary English singer-songwriter, best known as the founder and lead singer of the Who, will be headlining the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown. Long Island-bred pop punk outfit Brand New are poised to make their long-awaited return to Los Angeles, performing twice at the Hollywood Palladium as well with Atlanta-based indie rock act Manchester Orchestra and Portland's own folk rockers the Builders and the Butchers (LAist Interview) in tow. And, lastly, San Diegan garage rockers the Soft Pack (LAist Interview) will be taking on the Echoplex with none other than lo-fi noise-infused rock duo Wavves, Sacramento-bred psych quartet Ganglians and, of course, local lo-fi pop act Best Coast. But we strongly suggest heading over to Largo at the Coronet to catch Québécois singer-songwriter Patrick Watson.

The Soft Pack is officially screwed. Originally named, The Muslims, this hot garage band from San Diego (recently located to LA) , caught about the same amount of attention for their name as for their music. Eventually it got to the point where the band thought it would be better if they just changed it to the Soft Pack. As guitarist Matty McLaughlin explains, "We were sick of the shit people would say about the old name. I guess they were trying to be funny and some things that were said came off as racist… It just became fucking stupid." So they changed it, and were rewarded with a torrent of disapproval like a city under siege. Fans accused them of being lily-livered sissies and not sticking to their guns. Damned if they did, damned if they didn't. Whatever their name, they rock, hard, so we'll ignore all this nonsense about names and labels and whatnot, and focus instead on their music. We had a chat with Matty McLoughlin about The Soft Pack's sophomore album, which they just finished recording in Brooklyn a few weeks ago. Here is some of what was said.

Tonight Parisian buzz band Phoenix are poised to grace the Greek Theatre with Canadian indie rock outfit Metric (LAist Interview, Review) and local garage rockers the Soft Pack in tow. Israeli shock rock troupe Monotonix (LAist Review) are poised to take on the Smell in Downtown. And, lastly, San Diego-bred DJ the Gaslamp Killer will be on the decks at the Roxy. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Brooklyn-based indie pop outfit Chairlift (LAist Review). LAist's favorite, predominantly electronic one-woman-band Glasser is slated to kick things off.

Tonight Philadelphia-based Grammy Award-winning hip hop band the Roots will be taking part in the predominantly electronic, fledgling music festival Audiotistic, which takes place at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. Sussex-based pop rockers Keane are poised to headline the Hollywood Palladium. NY's own faux French indie rockers Nous Non Plus (LAist Interview) will be gracing Spaceland. And, lastly, local noise/punk outfit Mika Miko (LAist Review) will be ringing in their debut album at the Smell with none other than the Soft Pack. Although we recommend attending the aforementioned show, we strongly suggest heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to catch North Carolina's crown jewel: bluegrass-infused folk rockers the Avett Brothers. Chicago-based lo-fi/alt-country outfit Magnolia Electric Co. are slated to kick things off.

Tonight Palm Desert-bred rockers Eagles of Death Metal will be headlining the Henry Fonda Music Box. Brooklyn-based punk/dance duo Matt & Kim are slated to perform at the Troubadour with experimental rockers the Mae Shi (LAist Interview, Review, #2) in tow. LAist favorites the Soft Pack (formerly known as the Muslims) are slated to rock with San Diegan garage rock outfit Crocodiles at the Echo early on in the night. English electro-pop sensation Little Boots will be gracing the stage at Spaceland. And, lastly, local indie rockers Castledoor (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6) are poised to play Bordello. But we strongly suggest stopping by the Silver Lake Lounge to see electro-pop songstress Glasser.

Tonight, if all goes according to planned, Animal Collective (LAist Review) will be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour—health permitting, of course. Yes, the line-up is inherently inferior to last night's canceled concert. But word on the street is that Friday night's show will be rescheduled for Sunday. Minneapolis-based indie rockers Tapes n' Tapes will take on the El Rey Theatre with Wild Light, who are still tightly clutching their memories of supporting the Arcade Fire way back when. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to catch Danish rock duo the Raveonettes, who are slated to headline with none other than LAist favorites the Soft Pack (formerly known as the Muslims) in tow.

Tonight there is way too much going on in LA. For starters, Latin/hip-hop outfit Ozomatli will be spending their second night at the House of Blues Sunset. The front men of Thrice, Saves the day, Sparta/Sleepercar and Switchfoot will all be playing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour for an Invisible Children Benefit. Local musician/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Review) is poised to jam with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. LAist's favorite b-boys People Under the Stairs are headlining the El Rey Theatre. Hawthorne-bred rapper Pigeon John will be performing at the Knitting Factory with electronic mastermind Daedelus. And, lastly, Darker My Love and the Soft Pack (formerly known as the Muslims) are slated to headline the Echoplex. But, all things considered, we recommend making a trip out to Eagle Rock. Somehow, someway Fuck Yeah Fest organizer Sean Carlson has arranged for Metallica (LAist Review) to play an acoustic set on the tiny stage at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.

December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008.