Andrew Bird@Greek Theatre

Originally posted on buzzbands

Under the still night air and nestled snug among the trees of Griffith Park, Andrew Bird strolled up to his hodgepodge of instruments and pedals. Wearing a baby-blue blazer over a pink button-down shirt, he kicked off his shoes and began to whistle. Then, using his signature style of looping himself, he whistled, fiddled, strummed and sang his way through “Why?” With each wave of his hands, tilt of his head, poignant pauses and shifts in time signature, Bird set the tone of how multi-faceted the evening would be Friday at the Greek Theatre.

Holy Fuck@Troubadour

Originally posted on jambase

Holy Fuck! That’s not only a sentiment of astonishment, but also the name of the band that makes me utter those two words about their show at The Troubadour. These Canadian experimentalists have been flying under the radar for years now, and it seems like they’re really beginning to pick up steam with not only two stellar albums under their belt but also a jaw-dropping, genre busting live show.

Mike Doughty@Hotel Cafe

If ever there was a distinct voice to come out of the nineties, one that surely comes to mind belongs to Soul Coughing lead singer/songwriter Mike Doughty. With his sharp witted lyrics and half spoken vocals, he paved the way for freaky beatniks with jazzy sensibilities all throughout a decade laden with grunge, bad pop and practically un-listenable rock and roll. Tonight, armed with his frequent collaborator, Andy “Scrap” Livingston, he brought tears of laughter, tore through solo songs, and dropped a few songs from his previous work with Soul Coughing.

Puscifer@Club Nokia

Originally posted on jambase

Puscifer from millaj.com

After gestating within the arcane mind of Tool and A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan for more than ten years, the cabaret project Puscifer landed at Club Nokia for two shows. Combining performance art, music, multimedia and comedy, the act is something more far reaching than any live “rock” show in decades.

Club Nokia, which is by far the most well funded venue in L.A., was a remarkable space for this show. With superior sound coming at you from all angles, pulsating lights around all its bars and corridors and comfortable seating with not a bad view in the house, it truly pushes forward the concert going experience with a ton of momentum and fervor. The only downsides to the venue are ones that seem to always plague regular concertgoers, namely high drink prices and overzealous security.

Great Northern@Roxy

Originally posted on filter

Local Los Angeles “rock” station KROQ held a show last week entitled “Locals Only,” which included, obviously, local acts. On the bill for the evening were The Jakes, Lemon Sun, and Great Northern. The all ages event drew quite an impressive crowd that spanned not only those that crawl the Sunset Strip, but actual music fans that were there to see up and coming bands make good live.

Plants and Animals@Echo

Originally posted on jambase

By: Greg Caruso

Plants and Animals :: 03.12.09 :: Echo :: Los Angeles, CA

Plants and Animals by Pete Nema

Listening to Parc Avenue by Montreal based Plants and Animals, you would think the rich cornucopia of sounds being produced would require, at bare minimum, a sextet. You could only imagine my shock at seeing a trio bound onto the stage at Echo. That’s what happens when you choose to see an up and coming band blindly with only the music as your navigational tool. So from the start, pleasant surprises were afoot.

The Morning Benders@Troubadour

Originally posted on filter

The Morning Benders, who hail from Berkeley, Ca, closed out their first tour of 2009 at The Troubadour on Saturday night. Opening up for The Submarines, the band was in high spirits, and ready to give the sold-out crowd a lasting dose of their boyish pop bravado. Conjuring up wisps of The Beatles, the poppier aspects of The Velvet Underground, and a little touch of Talking Heads, the guys had no problem keeping the crowd’s attention during their opening slot.

Dave Rawlings Machine@Little Room

Originally posted on jambase

By: Greg Caruso

Dave Rawlings Machine :: 12.12.08 & 12.19.08 :: The Little Room :: Los Angeles, CA

Rawlings & Welch by Paxtonx

Largo has long played host to the most creative, innovative artists, not only residing in Los Angeles but to those visiting and/or passing through. There was no exception as partners in bluegrass crime David Rawlings and Gillian Welch performed The Little Room (!) at Largo. It certainly isn’t often that such a pair graces the stages of Southern California, let alone one so small. The duo played for three Fridays this winter, which not only sold out, but drew in guests such as iconic multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Jon Brion, bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing, Neil Finn) and Whispertown 2000 vocalist Morgan Nagler

Slightly Stoopid@Palladium

Originally posted on jambase

Words by: Greg Caruso | Images by: Paul Huynh

Slightly Stoopid :: 12.06.08 :: Hollywood Palladium :: Los Angeles, CA

Slightly Stoopid :: 12.06 :: L.A.

Though the event was sold out, the Hollywood Palladium show certainly didn’t feel that way upon walking in. Granted, the massive crowd exiting after Bad Brains‘ set may have been why, but brings up the question of who was the more important act to see, the original lineup of a groundbreaking ’80s punk group or the reggae-punk sounds of a faded stoner act? By the end of the evening the answer wasn’t that clear.

King Khan & The BBQ Show@Echo

Originally posted on the scenestar

ARTICLE BY GREG CARUSO
PHOTO BY KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW MYSPACE

NOV. 10 | ECHO PARK—Sooner or later, the secret will be out that King Khan is a purveyor of one of the most diverse and high energy shows you will ever see. Whether it be with his merry band of German funksters, The Shrines, or in duo form, like tonight, the man does not disappoint. Once again, the wily Khan graced the Echo—his second appearance this year—to a sold-out crowd. With Mark Sultan, a.k.a. BBQ Show, the duo played a short, but dynamic set, featuring tracks off of their self-titled album, King Khan and the BBQ Show.