Results tagged “thestrokes”

Tonight, as always, local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. The Strokes' vocalist and chief songwriter Julian Casablancas (LAist Interview) will be continuing his month-long residency at the Palace Theatre in Downtown. And, lastly, SIGNALS, the phoenix to rise from the ashes of the Mae Shi (LAist Interview, Review, #2), will be gracing the Smell in Downtown as well with British fuzz-infused punk outfit LOVVERS. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to catch Danish rock duo the Raveonettes. LAist favorites San Diegan garage rockers Crocodiles (LAist Interview) are slated to kick things off.

Some of us were worried that Julian Casablancas had pulled a Dave Chappelle and disappeared from rock 'n' roll forever. The lead singer of The Strokes, a band who defined underground New York cool for half a decade, vanished from the spotlight after the band's third album. Although never officially disbanded, other Strokes band members began releasing their own solo projects and most of us thought it was all over. (For the record: apparently it's not. Apparently the Strokes are still just on hiatus.) Now out of nowhere, after three years of mysterious absence, a newly sober Julian Casablancas has emerged in LA of all places with a brand new solo record, Phrazes for the Young. And get this, it's upbeat.

It may be a temporary move from NYC, but the frontman of The Strokes is loving our city. He tells the New York Times: “It’s fun; I won’t lie. L.A.’s kind of, like, seven really cool towns. It’s so laid-back. If you go in the right spot, you can walk around, and you don’t need a car. It’s a lot easier to eat healthy. And the weather!” (via torrmoz)

Tonight Chicago-based butt rockers Disturbed will be performing at the Hollywood Palladium. New York's own folk rock outfit Nickel Eye, which features none other than Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes, are set to headline the Troubadour with Low vs Diamond in tow. The Echoplex will play host to a handful of French DJs, including LAist favorite Anoraak. Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is performing solo at the Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, local experimental collective Heard of Elephants will be performing with Collisions at the Unknown Theater. But we strongly suggest that you head over to the Key Club to catch D.C.-based rapper Wale, who has been exalted by the likes of Pitchfork and LA's foremost hip-hop expert Jeff Weiss.

Tonight English pop rock sensation Keane will be stopping through the Largo at the Coronet. Topanga Canyon folk rockers the Weepies are slated to headline the Hotel Café. And, lastly, St. Albans' own electro pop outfit Friendly Fires will be rocking out at Spaceland. But we suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Little Joy. Fab Moretti of the Strokes? Immaculately crafted pop rock gems? Count us in.

It's black on the outside and as colorful as hell on the inside. It's sound system is perfect, it's Basement Bar is cozy, and the room always seems smaller than it should. A good thing. Notorious for a celebrity death and a famous former owner, the Viper Room is a jewel on the Sunset strip.

Whether you think he's a bumbling hippy, who let his own freak folk gimmick get to his head, or a distinctive innovator devising masterful records, one thing is certain: Devendra Banhart, who plays at the Orpheum on 10/13, is deliberately trying to make his obscure music more accessible to the masses. He's done so on his latest XL released effort by simply making his vocals and his overall tone more digestible. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is a mesmerizing collision of free jazz, 70's rock and roll, Brazilian folk, sock hop, and even motown elements. Banhart's prior efforts comprised a tremendously divisive style of singing yet in certain fringe communities he has been regarded as the herald of the freak folk (or to be politically correct Naturalismo) movement.

I don't know how I missed this, but there have been a slew of major announcements regarding the upcoming release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and lemme tell ya, this shit is serious. Apparently even Lars Ulrich got the memo about GH being an incredible (and lucrative) game, because Metallica's classic "One" has been confirmed to be a part of the set-list for the fall release. ("Enter Sandman" will be appearing on...

Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist for The Strokes and now solo artist, released his first solo album, Yours To Keep in March to rave reviews. LAist caught up with him and got the skinny on his girlfriend's breathing, his dad's penis and his love for bagels and lox....

Entering into the House of Blues last night, standing in the Industry Entrance line, behind the well to do hipsters of Los Angeles, I see this smallish woman with red hair, grabbing Foundation Room bracelets in her hand after putting her shiny black gloves back on. She turns around and I realize that it is Drew Barrymore. Who else, right? She was dating Mr. Hammond Jr's bandmate Fabrizio Moretti. Seeing her and a certain...

coffee, in the morning, outside, sitting alone) the best thing about
being PJ is the shoes. The shoes come from everywhere and they make
me feel like the young Sammy Davis Jr., if you will. They glisten on
the dusky sidewalks of L.A. They keep me company. Now the worst thing
about being the Pigeon is the vats of depression that spill on me in
the morning....the huge puddles of despair that I fight to leap
over...and the little dark guy in the corner that wants to ruin my
life....slowly.

Where are your favorite cities to do shows, and where does LA
rank?
Whittier, CA is my favorite city in the world to play. They're number
one. There's Memphis, Orlando, Boulder and Seattle too. L.A. Is
always fun, but the fun comes at a price. I get real nervous when I
headline shows in Lost Angels. The weight of trying to blow up leans
in on you all day. Show LA or more precise, Hollywood would rank at
number 15 in the places I like to play.

Where's the best place to buy clothes in LA?
Another great question Sherlock Holmes! That's 2 for you and none for
me. The best place to shop for clothes would be Wasteland on Melrose.
They have one in SF as well. Vintage, classic, endless amounts of
anything you'd ever think of thinking of thinking about. Its cheap
too. Great, sleek shoes laughing at you and the slacks dance around
on their hangers....the hats float.

What happened with you and L.A. Symphony?
Wow, you're really going for it aren't you? Is your name Dracula? Do
you want blood? Me and LAS went our separate ways in 2003 when I had
to make a decision to do LAS or PJ full time. I was missing Symph
shows because I'd be out touring alone....so it had happen I guess. I
always wished we all could come and go and schedule tours around each
other, keeping our identities as well as keeping the group
alive...but I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. Or we
didn't think we could. We could've though....we strangled each other
out of wanting to do it anymore. Oh well.

What non-hiphop influences do you draw upon?
Rock and Roll is great. Jazz delivers. Electronic kills. Old Country
is rad. The Streets and The Strokes dance in my head a lot. Bob Dlyan
intimidates me. Stevie Wonder is untouchable. D'Angelo too. (Where's
is he now? Please come out with another album coke head!). Honeycut
is our Bread. The list goes on and on. I have very big ears and
eyes.....Charles Bukowski is King. I try and draw solely from people
that are way ahead of me....I try not to hang around the playground
too much. Crabs in a bucket.

The obligatory: How did you get the name Pigeon John?
Jesus gave it to me. I was walking through Inglewood one day when out
of nowhere Jesus rolled up on me in a '77 Cutlass Supreme...4 doors,
grey. He hopped out and handed me a dead pigeon. He whispered "Please
have a good time, you're really bumming me out." I watched him sink
back into the cushioned seats and drive, quickly away. And that's
when it happened, the pigeon started shaking violently and became
awake, picked up and flew away. I don't think I had a choice....its
was "pigeon" or die.

This August they brought us a party with DJs Junior Sanchez, Colette, DJ AM, Stretch Armstrong and Junkie XL at the Avalon, and tonight, LA based BPM Magazine brings us 2 Many DJs at the Vangaurd. For those unaware, Belgian brothers 2 Many DJs, also known as Soulwax, are the dudes who made the mash-up cool, remixing Destiny's Child with Nirvana, Salt n' Pepa with the Stooges, and The Strokes and Christina Aguilera. Highly recommended if you think you can handle an intense dance party going on until 4am.