Oh Land in LA This Week

It's rare for CER to post about music created by people living outside of Los Angeles (you may reply that it's rare these days for CER to post about anything, but that wouldn't be nice of you). This is a necessary exception. You have two chances this week to see Oh Land. Both shows are early, meaning that you won't have to wake up bleary-eyed the next morning as a result, and one of the shows is even free.

Oh Land is the stage name of Nanna Øland Fabricius, who is originally from Denmark but now lives in Brooklyn. She plays sometimes dance-y, sometimes dreamy, but always hook-laden electropop. You can call it a guilty pleasure, but the songs are too good to ignore.

Show #1 is at the Troubadour on Tuesday. She's on at 9pm. Show #2 is at the Echo, and is free; she's on at 8pm.

Enough with the words. Here's a live video of her performing "Son of a Gun." If one listen doesn't entice you to check her out this week, you may have no soul. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more of Son of a Gun, and a lot more of Oh Land, in 2011.

2011: The Year of Foster The People

It's time to call it, before January is even over: 2011 is the Year of Foster The People. Not only do they have a head start on most other bands, with their "Pumped Up Kicks" EP dropping (edit:) today, January 18th, on Startime International, but they've got the songs (and the team) to back it up. "Pumped Up Kicks" is only the beginning. Listen to their new song "Helena Beat" and you'll want to put on repeat for a couple rounds. Catch-y, dance-y, awesome-y. And "Downtown" puts the dance beats in the back and piano chords up front for a smoother sound.

Catch them for free at the Echo every Wednesday for the rest of this month. You may never get the chance to see them for free ever again, and may never get to see them again at a venue so small.

Stream an MP3 of "Helena Beat" HERE

And stream "Downtown" here

Tomorrow, Friday October 29: Second Annual Rock 'N Roll Circus at the Echoplex

Last year's Circus was a lot of fun and this year's will be even better with the addition of The Little Ones, who were picture perfect at the Echo in August. Wear a costume, get a CD with one song from each of the bands performing. I may or may not be dressed as a devil.

Complete details from the fine sirs of The Henry Clay People:

We did it last year....and we're doing it again this year....only BIGGER. We're taking over both the ECHO and ECHOPLEX in Los Angeles: 14 bands, comedians, food trucks, face painting, games, raffles, free popcorn and sno-cones, cotton candy, maybe some magic...?

Oh yeah...it's Halloween weekend too... Anyone who comes ...dressed in a Halloween costume, or as some type of circus performer, will get a FREE mix cd w/ a song from all (most?) of the bands performing.

Friday, Oct 29 at the ECHO and ECHOPLEX

7pm doors, music at 8pm.

$10 tix in advance/$12 dos

and the lineup:

THE HENRY CLAY PEOPLE
THE LITTLE ONES
ANDY CLOCKWISE
WE BARBARIANS
THE MONOLATORS
THE DIG
DOWNTOWN/UNION

PLUS "side show acoustic performances" by:

RED CORTEZ
MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY
OLIN AND THE MOON
THE STEELWELLS
RADEMACHER
MARVELOUS TOY
THE HECTORS

HOSTED BY
MATT DWYER and MATT BRAUNGER

Happy Fitz & The Tantrums Record Release Day! Album Stream, New Video, Free Download!

CER Favorites Fitz & The Tantrums' meteoric rise hits another milestone today with the release of their new album, Pickin' Up The Pieces, on Dangerbird Records. The band celebrates with an in-store performance at Amoeba at 7pm. Attendance is mandatory. FATT also play in LA on Saturday night at Milk Studios. [For you New Yorkers, FATT hits the Mercury Lounge on September 25]

Stream the new album right here:

And here's FATT's new video for "Moneygrabber:"



Finally, you can download the MP3 of "Moneygrabber" here:

Let the celebration begin!

Casxio's First Full Length Album: Help Fund It!

CER Favorites Casxio are looking for fans to help fund the printing and marketing of their first album, which will be released in September. Those who donate will be rewarded, handsomely.

From the band:

Hello fans and friends!

The money you donate here will go towards printing the first Casxio album! Those of you who have been following us for a couple years know what a special occasion this is. We've been slaving over this album for quite a while and want nothing more than to share it with you... in fact, that's why we slave in the first place! We are slaves for you! And we love it!
The first $3000 will go towards the printing of the album including album artwork. Any amount after that will be used to promote the album, which is quite important as well. So let your heart be your guide and give whatever you can and reap the benefits. That's right! benefits! We have rewards for donations $10, $20, $30, and $50 and up.

To help out, just click the box below.

Video Encounter: Steel Train on David Letterman!!!

So so so so proud of these guys. Big congrats to Evan and Dan.

What 2 Go 2: July 12 - 16

It's all about Spaceland this week. I haven't been there in over 3 months and I'm hoping to make up for that in short order.

Monday: Wait.Think.Fast. and Cue the Moon open for the Summer Darling residency at Spaceland.

Tuesday: Free show at the Viper Room with Las Vegas' Imagine Dragons (who put on probably the most intense show I've seen this year at said Viper Room in April) and Hey Champ (who will likely turn the Viper Room into a dance party). ID is on at 10, Hey Champ at 11. Brandon of SUPERGOODMUSIC DJs downstairs.

Wednesday: The Californian is at Spaceland, where they will debut their new lineup.

Thursday: Dusty Rhodes and the River Band celebrate the release of their new album at Spaceland.

Video Encounter: Abraham Linkin's "I Got It At Ross"

Hip-hop for our troubled times. So timely and so enjoyable. Thanks to Molly for the tip.

Video Encounter: Local Natives XBOX Commercial

And that's why some bands sign to Universal Music Publishing.

And that's why some bands don't.

Henry Clay People Record Release Show on Tuesday at Spaceland

The flyer tells you everything you need to know, except one thing: You should really be there.

Video Encounter: Local Natives' "World News"

CER All-Time Favorites (it's highly unlikely that this blog would even exist if not for them) Local Natives released their video today for "World News." I'm not sure if the video is supposed to be understood, but if it is I clearly don't get it. Nonetheless, it will surely hold your attention for four and a half minutes.

Friday Night Should Be Spent at Pehrspace

Tomorrow night is the Feed Your Head Second Anniversary Show. Feed Your Head is an LA music blog started by Brad Roberts, who I frequently see at shows but have never introduced myself to (yes, I am increasingly embarrassed about that). Many moons ago, Brad was kind enough to link to CER from his blog. In and of itself that should be sufficient for me to want to attend a show celebrating Feed Your Head's second anniversary of existence, but Brad has assembled a superb lineup that makes for required attendance even if I knew nothing about Feed Your Head:

Seasons (10pm), Radars to the Sky (acoustic at midnight), Downtown/Union (opening up at 9) George Glass (11pm) and a "special solo interlude" from Harley of Red Cortez.

For a brief description of what each band has scheduled for the night, straight from their mouths, head over to Radio Free Silverlake's story on the show.

See you there.

What 2 Go 2: April 26 - May 2

Enormous week coming up, the biggest of 2010 so far.

Monday: Last night of Walking Sleep's residency at the Echo, with three exciting supporting acts: Obi Best, Radar Brothers, and, most importantly, The Elk.

• The Elk are an LA band playing a "secret" show. I assume that because I know who The Elk actually are that the secret is out. But here's a big hint: the Elk River flows through Clay County, West Virginia.
  
• As for the other two bands, I've been wanting to see Obi Best for almost a year, and they've got a couple new, interesting demos on their Myspace page. The Radar Brothers are pleasant indie rock on Merge Records.

Tuesday: Two bands worth checking out at two different venues: The Californian is at Spaceland while Chasing Kings are at Silverlake Lounge.

• The Californian is a band to keep your eye on. It's unfortunate that their Myspace page only provides one minute thirty second samples of four songs, but it takes less than 6 minutes to know they're more than worthwhile. Also unfortunate is that they're on at midnight.

Friday: Fantastic lineup at Pehrspace, featuring His Orchestra, Cue the Moon, and I Heart Lung.

• My interest was first piqued about this show because His Orchestra is playing. I saw His Orchestra at Silverlake Lounge in February and each and every band member is incredibly talented. I was truly impressed, and even though they didn't finish their set until after 1am I never considered leaving early.
  
• But even without His Orchestra, Cue the Moon would be worth the trip. Definitely another band to keep your eye on.
  
• I Heart Lung is a two-piece instrumental band. It's good stuff, but I question how it's going to translate at Pehrspace.

Saturday: Avi Buffalo's record release show at the Troubadour. VoicesVoices and The Wailing Wall (a/k/a Jesse Rifkin, who attended Orthodox Jewish Day School for 11 years) open. Because it's a record release show, because I'm looking forward to seeing how much Avi and his band have grown over the past year, and because I'm very curious about The Wailing Wall, it's the CER Show of the Week.

Avi Buffalo Album Stream -- Listen Right Here

The album sounds great. I highly recommend you take a listen or two. Stream it right here with this handy player (available through April 27, when the album is released):



Avi Buffalo's record release show is on Saturday, May 1 at the Troubadour. I've been skeptical of the band's live show in the past, but it's been a year since I last saw them, and I'm looking forward to being impressed by what a year of shows can do to a band.

Tickets to the show are still available, but they're likely to sell out in advance. Here's the ticket link.

What 2 Go 2 Special Alert: Local Natives at the Troubadour on Friday, June 4

Coachella exclusivity doesn't last forever. Local Natives' first LA show since December's uncomfortably sold out show at the Echo will be on June 4 at the Troubadour as part of their tour with labelmates Suckers. Local friends The Union Line will start the night's festivities.

Considering that the Echo show sold out, and especially considering everything thereafter (Pitchfork, Coachella, sold out shows across the country, including two at the Bowery Ballroom, etc.) this show is going to sell out fast once word gets out. As this is the last date of the tour, it's possible that a second date will be added, but there's definitely no guarantees. The next time the Troubadour is free is June 8, and LN is at Bonnaroo on June 10, which probably eliminates that possibility. Perhaps LN will pull a Passion Pit and book the Echoplex for a second show.

While I'm happy that this show is not at a larger venue, I am very surprised, since this show could definitely fill the Echoplex or El Rey. There's going to be a lot of unhappy fans getting shut out.

In December I was wrong when I wrote that the Echo show may be LN's last in a small venue in LA, but I don't see how this won't be it.

Best get your tickets now, which you can do at this link.

(Thanks to The Scenestar for the tip)

UPDATE 4/20: Troubadour show is sold out, but they've added a second show at Bootleg (21+). Tickets on sale now here.

UPDATE 4/21: Bootleg is sold out. No word on whether there will be a third show.

What 2 Go 2: April 19 - 25

Monday: Franklin for Short opens (at 9pm) the third night of Walking Sleep's residency at the Echo. Franklin for Short hails from Ventura, and they're gooood. Folky indie rock. They'll be opening a couple dates for Kings of Convenience in June. Parson Red Heads are also on the bill tonight, following FFS at 10. And, of course, there's Walking Sleep at 11. Unquestionably the CER Show of the Week.

Here's some FFS tunes for your enjoyment:




Tuesday: Assuming you're not going to the 75th anniversary screening of Reefer Madness at the Vine Theatre in Hollywood, then Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders play the Troubadour. You never know, but Dave Grohl could make an appearance. Dios opens up.

Wednesday: Signals (ex-Mae Shi) at Echo Curio.

Friday: I'll be getting my pop-rock fix at the Troubadour, where Tyrone Wells headlines.

Sunday: The Monolators and Sean Bones are at the Echo. It's simply unacceptable that I haven't seen The Monolators yet. Sean Bones is on the roster of the can-do-no-wrong Frenchkiss Records.

Video Encounter: Best Coast's "When I'm With You"

Fun. Fantastic. Best Coast. I like to describe them as surf-punk-love-fuzz, regardless of whether that's a completely accurate description.

Video Encounter: Walking Sleep's "As a Volunteer (acoustic)"

Lots of videos this week. Here's one from Walking Sleep, proud owners of the Echo's April residency. This one particular song reminds me a lot of The Original Brothers and Sisters of Love, a band from Ann Arbor who disbanded in 2003 (and who, it turns out, got a 7.3 from Pitchfork for their album H.O.M.E.S. back in 2001). Many of the members of TOBASOL are now in the Great Lakes Myth Society, who rarely tour, but who I was very happy to catch at SXSW last year.

The video was filmed at the Red Lion Tavern in Silverlake on a rainy Sunday morning.

Walking Sleep - "As a Volunteer" from elliot glass on Vimeo.

Walking Sleep's next show is on Monday at the Echo for night two of their residency. As always, admission is free.