Results tagged “theweatherunderground”

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.

Tonight rappers Method Man and Redman will be performing at the House of Blues Sunset. We can only surmise that they'll be performing songs from 1999's Blackout!. Brit-rockers Travis is set to play to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour. Florida's own Copeland will be shelling out saccharine indie pop songs at the El Rey Theatre in support of 2008's You Are My Sunshine. You'll surely get your fix of falsetto. Brooklyn-based pop rockers Bishop Allen will be performing at the Echo. And, lastly, psych rock act Spindrift will be celebrating the release of their forthcoming full length, 2008's The West, with grizzly blues rock duo Restavrant at the Roxy. But we suggest heading over to the Echoplex to catch Indie 103's Check One Twosday. Local indie rock songbirds Earlimart will be accompanied by Red Cortez, formerly known as the Weather Underground.

Tonight kicks off early with a performance by local garage rockers the Muslims at Amoeba Records on Sunset. Red Cortez, formerly known as the Weather Underground, will be playing their first night under the new moniker at the Silver Lake Lounge. We're guessing that they may have wanted to ditch the negative political associations. But that's pure conjecture on our part. And, lastly, the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age will be rocking out at the Avalon for the Blackberry Storm Party. It must have cost them a pretty penny to put together that bill. Tickets were made available earlier at random via text-only. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to witness German electro-pop sensation the Notwist. If our calculations are correct, the last time the group came through LA was Feb. 17, 2004. So don't miss out because we can't promise they'll be back for, oh, another four years. The Bay Area will be heavily represented with electronic mastermind Odd Nosdam and Anticon's own drum-pad master Jel as openers.

                                   

Last weekend, the 10th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival took place in San Pedro. Last year's festival featured performances by notable local indie artists Eagle and Talon (MySpace), Great Northern (MySpace), and Bodies of Water (MySpace), and this year's lineup was no different with The Henry Clay People (MySpace), Craft Club (MySpace), Oliver Future (MySpace), Rocket (MySpace), Robert Francis (MySpace), The Weather Underground (MySpace), and The Monolators (MySpace) filling out the majority of the three-day roster.

              

Last month, local band Radars to the Sky (MySpace) had a month-long residency at The Echo (MySpace).

If you cannot make it to hear the amazing jazz vocalist, Julia Fordham, at The Roxy tonight, opening up at Hotel Cafe tonight is Tiffany Randol, who we caught at one of <strong>Alex & Sam's Tangier shows. The front woman of NYC based glam rock band, Valeze, has now gone solo singer/songwriter style, making Los Angeles her second home, and is bringing out a new sound that is more folk-acoustic-pop than anything. The LA newbie can belt out her lyrics like a pro and her body and hips swing as if the music has seduced her in some kind of trance. Later at the Hotel Cafe, one of acoustic favs plays his last night of the Hotel Cafe residency -- stay for Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies. ~ Z.B.

Willie Nelson may be playing downtown tonight, but if you want some folk rock that's local and amazingly fresh, go hear Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies. We heard them last week at their first show of their Hotel Cafe February residency and it was in-your-face and beautiful. But you've got a tough choice if you like this kind of music because when it rains, it pours -- Canadian acoustic folk soul-grass band, The Duhks, will be at the Knitting Factory.

For those who joined us last night (thank you for coming!), we witnessed many hot and bothered moments with an excellent band we've never hard before -- The Makers (we can't find their website, help). They are in residency at Seven Grand every Tuesday and we highly recommend checking them out. For tonight, first night residencies for this month happen at the Viper Room, Hotel Cafe and the Silverlake Lounge (see our Guide to February Rock Music Residencies). We're feeling a bit rustic today, so we recommend Brian Wright & the Waco Tragedies at Hotel Cafe.

Month-long residencies are one of the best ways to catch up-and-coming bands in Los Angeles. You have at least four times to catch a band, and each time, if they are gaining popularity over each show, it will be harder to see them. Last Thursday at their final residency concert, The Airborne Toxic Event played a sold out show with another 300 fans not getting in at the door. That's how crazy residencies can be. Catch 'em while you can. Here's your February line-up:

Two weeks ago, locals The Airborne Toxic Event (MySpace), declared one of three bands to watch by The LA Times' Kevin Bronson, performed the first of five shows for their January residency at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake.

Now that the rain has gone away, Spaceland on Ice can continue this week with The Chapin Sisters and their folk/pop.

Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, The North Mississippi Allstars @ Malibu Performing Arts Jill Scott @ House of Blues Meshell Ndegeocello @ Galaxy Theater Two Gallants, Blitzen Trapper, Songs For Mom @ El Rey Say Hi To Your Mom, The Velvet Teen, The A-Sides @ The Troubadour The Parson Red Heads, Acute, Le Switch, The Weather Underground @ Spaceland Electric Six, Gore Gore Girls, We Are the Fury @ Key Club Kari Kimmel, Sareet @...

At the Egyptian Theatre, Outfest Wednesday features a special pre-release screening of Stage Beauty. Set in 1660s London, the film follows actor Edward Kynaston (Billy Crudup) as stage politics are shifting and women are allowed on stage for the first time. The film starts at 7:30 PM.