Live Show Reviews

“But how are they live?”
Let’s find out…

05.14.2013

[LIVE] Vampire Weekend – Apogee’s Berkeley Street Studio for KCRW

Vampire Weekend are an institution. Or at least they feel that way to me. Looking at their name on my invitation to see them live at KCRW’s Apogee Berkeley Street Sessions brought back so many memories. The 2008 Los Angeles live show that left few concrete memories in it’s wake of dancing and fun. Two months later in Berlin they showed up to play ping pong at my all time favorite bar. (Ezra is pretty ace). There was the time a year … continue reading

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03.22.2013

[LIVE] The Cold War Kids – “Miracle Mile” + KCRW Berkeley St. Sessions

The Cold War Kids haven’t given me much to write about since their awesome 3rd LP Mine Is Yours came out over 2 years ago. Thank goodness then for their new single “Miracle Mile,” a raucous piano-led ode their hometown of LA that gets stuck right in your head. Get acquainted above and then dive into the fantastic Berkeley St Session they did with KCRW that aired this morning. I was privileged enough to be there and it was a damn pleasure to watch … continue reading

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02.27.2013

[WIN] 2 tickets to The Ranch Party – SAT 3/2 Los Angeles [Goldroom, Kisses, Mansions on the Moon, Zak Waters, Mystery Skulls, & more!]

Anyone within a days drive of LA should be aware of the 1 day Ranch Party festival kicking off this Saturday. As if the eclectic lineup stacked with TBE faves (see below) isn’t enough, its set on a 20 acre ranch in the Santa Monica mountains. Just look at it! Anyway, you should all come out and join me on Saturday for a day and night of dancing, revelry, and probably a lot of comments on how beautiful the view … continue reading

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12.17.2012

[LIVE] Jessie Ware @ The Bootleg 12.13.12

Jessie Ware’s “Wildest Moments” is one of my top songs of the year. But I’m not fully sold on the rest of Devotion. Beautiful? Sure. But worthy standing for in a crowded venue? I wasn’t sure. But I was damn curious. Ware took the stage a little hesitantly for her Los Angeles debut (and only 2nd US solo show ever) but by the end of the first song she was breaking into stage banter about misplaced “trousers” that had … continue reading

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11.20.2012

[LIVE] Flux Pavillion (secret show) @ Hangar 8, Santa Monica, CA – 11.13.12

Text/top-photo : Alexander Bogayevicz

This past Tuesday Flux Pavilion shook the foundations at Hangar 8, a real airplane hangar in the small Santa Monica Airport. The hangar was decked out with black lights, an impressive 4-sided visual display, and a great party vibe! Steady was up first and dropped dubstep jams while those inclined grooved out. Tokimonsta followed with what I called lounge-dub and then Flux came on to steal the show. I was never a zealous follower of Flux but he completely took me … continue reading

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10.30.2012

[LIVE] Two Door Cinema Club, Friends, St. Lucia @ The Palladium 10.25.12

Words: Danny Coviello || Pictures: Russ Ramos

♫ St. Lucia – We Got It Wrong

Thursday night at The Palladium was awesome. Three distinctly different acts yet three distinctly great sets. First to the stage was the ever so atmospheric St. Lucia lead by front man Jean-Philip Grobler. This was by far the biggest venue I’ve ever seen St. Lucia perform in yet there wasn’t an inch of space in the place that the their dreamy jams didn’t reach. From the opening piano … continue reading

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10.26.2012

[LIVE] Carousel, Ghost Beach + Goldroom, Two Door Cinema Club DJ sets @ The Echoplex 10.25.12

♫ Ghost Beach – Tear Us Apart

Carousel opened up the night (below) and brought an awesome performance. They rocked the house. However, the softer nature of their jams do not lend themselves to face melting and thats exactly what Ghost Beach did when they took the stage (above). Having last seen them at the TBE SXSW showcases where technical difficulties were many but they still raged through it was fantastic to see them with all cylinders firing and working up … continue reading

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09.28.2012

[LP/LIVE] Dragonette – BODYPARTS + The El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, 09/25/12

Dragonete have done a lot of awesome things since they last dropped the solid Fixin To Thrill three years ago, becoming a unique crossover creature and “underground pop” gem. My feeling on Dragonette is that they always have 2-3 amazing songs per album and the rest fall flat. I kinda had that expectation again as I covered new single “Rocket Ship” but then I got into the album and am slowly realizing that Bodyparts is something else. Seeing songs like massive first … continue reading

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09.13.2012

[EVENT] Join The Burning Ear, Y Luv, Mind The Gap, Act As If & more to raise money for Charity Water

♫ Odd Us – Pray

♫ Mind The Gap – Find My Way

♫ Act As If – Oh My My

♫ Y LUV – Keep It Rollin

♫ Elevaters – Take Me Out

Do you love live music, good times, cold drinks, new people, any of the bands above, and helping a great cause? Of course you do! If you live anywhere near Los Angeles you can roll all that goodness into one night this Saturday to help us raise money for Charity Water! … continue reading

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08.30.2012

[LIVE] Frank + Derol, DWNTWN, Wildcat! Wildcat!, & Magic Hands @ The Echo, August 27, 2012

♫ Frank + Derol – Barely Love You Too

I was apprehensive about how these newcomers would pull off their delicate grooves but they absolutely impressed. Solid musicianship cracked up to “rock.” Songs I heard for first time sounded like instant favorites. Plus a Smashing Pumpkins cover never hurts. Catch them on tour with Wolf Gang this fall!

♫ DWNTWN – Alamo Square

I’ve seen DWNTWN a bunch this past year and this crowd was definitely the biggest dance party I’ve seen … continue reading

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