Judson Residency at The Central

I'm pleased to announce Judson's residency at The Central Social Aid and Drinking Club in Santa Monica beginning next Tuesday, August 2nd and continuing each Tuesday for free for the rest of the month. With supporting bands like Cody The Band, The Californian and The Lonely Wild, there's enough good music to lure you out to the West Side each and every week.

Watching Judson McKinney grow and mature as an artist over the last year has been one of the great gratifications of the recent music scene, as he has scooped up some of the best local musicians, who clammor to play with him. This residency is brought to you by the fine folks at Supergoodmusic and LA Underground.

Judson is also playing a free show tonight at Pershing Square on a bill with Aaron Kyle's new band, Geronimo Getty.

whrabbit

What I Listened To Through June 2011

O.K., I'm back. I've got to come to terms with the fact I'll never be able to write as much as I want to. At least not at this point in my life. Maybe later. If I could make myself sit down at the computer and just pound out something...anything, on a daily basis, then I might be satisfied.

First the future: In the immediate, I'm anxious for the Buzzbands sponsored ALSO I LIKE TO ROCK series finale at the Hammer Museum with The Henry Clay People and Lady Danville tomorrow night (Thursday, July 28). Then on Saturday I have to miss Alpine Decline's final L.A. performance at LA Eco Village to attend Seasons' video release party at Pehrspace. But I haven't been to Pehrspace for a while and I always have a great time there, so there I'll be.

I went to see Releasing the Sunbird play their first show last night (Tues, July 26) at Hotel Cafe, and this new band from Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave is nice, mellow offshoot of that band's style, with the vocals becoming a male/female duet between Zach and Kate Long, whose voices are beautifully in tune with each other.

I want to get my June listening up and I'll put up July next...

Week of June 24 - 30, 2011

1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)

2. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar)

3. Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island (Sub Pop)

4. Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)

5. Torches In Trees - Torches (self release)

6. Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys (Polydor)

7. Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)

8. Duniven - I Have To Try For Her (self release)

9. Torches In Trees - Torches EP (self release)

10. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (Merge Records)

Week of June 17 -23, 2011:

1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)

2. The Lonely Wild - Dead End 45 (self release)

3. Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island (Sub Pop)

4. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)

5. Tommy Santee Klaws - Rakes (self release)

6. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade (Reprise Records)

7. DeVotchKa - 100 Lovers (ANTI)

8. Seasons - 14 song compilation (self release)

9. Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)

10. Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection (Sub Pop)

Week of June 10 - 16, 2011:

1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)

2. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade (Reprise Records)

3. Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island (Sub Pop)

4. Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)

5. Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection (Sub Pop)

6. Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (Sub Pop)

7. Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)

8. Duniven - I Have To Try For Her (self release)

9. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)

10. Avi Zahner-Isenberg - Homemade EP (self release)

whrabbit

Upcoming Radio Free Silver Lake Show

Here comes one of the shows of the year.
A bunch of my favorite bands and Travis as DJ. What more could you ask for?

This also serves as a notice that I am still here. Having enjoyed a little hiatus from posting, I intend to get back at it, post haste (as they say).

whrabbit

What I Listened To June 3 - 9, 2011

1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)

2. Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island (Sub Pop)

3. Duniven - I Have To Try For Her (self release)

4. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade (Reprise Records)

5. Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)

6. Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection (Sub Pop)

7. Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)

8. Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (Sub Pop)

9. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)

10. Torches In Trees - Torches EP (self Release)

Okkervil River's I Am Very Far continues to be the leader of the pack because I love songs that grow more interesting the more you listen to them. And I wanted to have the songs burned into my brain by the time of their June 23rd concert at The Wiltern.

My obsession with Chad VanGaalen and his album Diaper Island has led me back through his earlier catalog, Soft Airplane and Skelliconnection. Interesting to hear his development as an artist, where he seems to go backwards by abandoning a lot of the technical aspects of his music, arriving at a place where the simplicity of the songwriting is matched by an elementary approach to recording. Sometimes it's just a guitar or banjo and two harmonizing voices. The result is is amazingly poignant and emotional.

Since this was the first week of the Duniven residency at Silver Lake Lounge, I spent time with his album, I Have To Try For Her, to compare the live renditions of his songs to their recorded counterparts. The comparison was highly favorable, even satisfying.

The Belle Brigade have definitely produced one of the brightest and cleanest sounding records of the year and now their off across country opening for K.D. Lang. Not bad. The rest of the list is more Low, Fleet Foxes and Torches In Trees.

whrabbit

Duniven Residency - The Last Night

Please come out and join me as Duniven concludes a hugely successful residency run at Silver Lake Lounge on Monday night, June 27. They have managed to draw large crowds to each of their shows and this ought to be the biggest yet with a bill that includes Woolen and The Bixby Knolls, along with Broadcast Station. We at Radio Free Silver Lake could not be more proud to have been a part of this showcase as presenters. Duniven has worked his heart out to make these events stand out against some formidable competition this month and he has been rewarded with an ever-expanding and satisfied fan base.

whrabbit

June...So Far

I've seen some terrific bands so far this month, beginning with a fine set of new and older tunes by Alpine Decline (right) at 3 of Clubs back on June 1st. They opened the first show Radio Free Silver Lake held at LaBrie's last November when we began our Free Tuesday run, and they sent me an LP and a CD of their last album, Visualizations, which I was uncommonly fond of. That album begins with a hollow ringing sound, like some dial tone from outer space, that blanches your mind until a throbbing guitar and drumbeat pierce the eerie sound and a song forms from the wall of sound. And it's a good song that hooks you and you want to hear again.

Speaking with Pauline Mu and Jonathan Zeitlin of Alpine Decline before the show, they told me they already have a brand new album ready for release, and I can't wait. The songs they played from it were instantly likeable so I'll look forward to that. Unfortunately they came on last and quite late, and after two real bland bands, I was tired and left before they were finished. I hope to see them again soon.

Have to mention the two weeks (so far) of the Duniven residency that Radio Free Silver Lake is hosting (in the interest of full disclosure) over at Silver Lake Lounge every Monday this month. These shows have been so entertaining, and so well attended, it's difficult not to feel proud of the programs that Duniven has pulled together. Week one (June 6) featured a really powerful and deeply felt performance by Light FM. They sounded great. Followed by a typically hearty, rocking performance by Wet and Reckless. Duniven was hypnotic from the get go, pounding out song after song in a tightly controlled set that highlighted all the best of the band. Duniven's soulful and electrifying stage presence fronts a band of many equals. They seem very in tune with each other as a band and play off that well. Ceci Castelblanco adds tremendous vocal support that makes the music soar at times. (She was especially well miked at the second show on June 13th).

On the subject of the June 13th show, I walked in as the first band was playing. It was Harley of Red Cortez with a different band called The Petting Zoo. What began as a rather ordinary set ended up being one from which I had to peel myself off the ceiling. I probably saw about five songs and the last three were so powerful, and so good, I was amazed. You know how when the music is so good your breathe becomes labored? That was this. Fronting a band of seven other musicians, Harley brought his unique vocal style to a whole different sounding song. This was sweeping, loud, orchestral rock as fine as I think I've ever heard, with a cello (played by Brian) and two trumpets augmenting the usual assortment of guitars, bass and drums. The fact that this was their first performance was all that much more amazing. Among the musicians was the familiar face of Wendy Wang.

I found out they have another performance next Monday, June 20, but I don't know where...yet. I still can't attend because I want to be at the Duniven show again as a supporter. But I spoke to Harley after the show and made sure to let him know just how impressive this was. WOW, that's just a great example of how exciting discovering new music can be. Look for The Petting Zoo.

The other show was the fantastic The Belle Brigade, in a show at The Satellite last Friday, June 10th. Typical Friday night date crowd and I only knew one other person there, but we enjoyed the show immensely. He summed it up best when he said he always walks out of the club a foot off the ground. And I agree. Their energy and enthusiasm never fail to overwhelm the audience whenever they play. It was a wonderful performance and sets them off on a tour of the east coast, mid west and Canada. I got the chance to wish both Ethan and Barbara a safe trip.

The opener I saw was John Gold (on poster at right) and he performed a very fine set of gravelly, baritone sung rock and roll. And apart from the terrific vocals he also offered some poignant and pointed lyrics that I found interesting, wrapped in melodies I would like to hear again. I was very happy with that discovery.

whrabbit

What I Listened To May 27 - June 2, 2011

1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)

2. Chad VanGaalen - Diaper Island (Sub Pop)

3. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade (Reprise Records)

4. Duniven - I Have To Try For Her (self release)

5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)

6. Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)

7. Torches In Trees - Torches EP (self release)

8. Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection (Sub Pop)

9. DeVotchKa - 100 Lovers (ANTI)

10. Eastern Conference Champions - Speak-Ahh (RockHampton Records)

I was caught competely off guard by the new album from Okkervil River. I don't know how often I've played a CD 15 times in one week, but that was the case with I Am Very Far. It may also be the best album title of the year. I've seen the band a few times over the years but it was a show two years ago at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery where Will Sheff gave a small scale acoustic performance that was so magical and awe-inspiring that I've been a die-hard fan ever since that night. I read somewhere someone describing him as a lyric writer who writes like a novelist, and I couldn't agree more. His writing is so evocative and richly detailed, (the lyric book is huge) that one can get lost in the swirl of stories that he tells. There are at least four great songs here, starting with the first song, "The Valley" which, if it doesn't make you rock out then you haven't got a pulse, "Rider" "We Need A Myth" and "Show Yourself" has one of the most haunting orchestrations I've heard. Some of the songs are fully orchestrated masterworks which include strings and horns and (here's where I veered from facts and claimed this as a Canadian band, when they are actually, originally from Austin, Texas, but now claim Brooklyn as their home...sorry) Anyway, those are the songs that jumped out right away, and I'm sure I will come to appreciate all of them over the years. This album is a keeper. Whereas I loved the earlier album, The Stage Names, I wasn't all that fond of the last one, The Stand Ins, but I Am Very Far surpasses all their previous efforts. I am now so happy I bought a ticket to see them at The Wiltern on June 23.

Chad VanGaalen had to compete strongly to measure up, but amazingly, I still play Diaper Island all the time too. Unfortunately, he's doing a small tour of the east coast and Canada, and then taking off for Europe for the rest of the summer. Damn! I want to see him again. He'll hopefully hit the west coast in the fall. I'm sure as a Sub Pop artist, they'll want him to play L.A. Again, I'm touting the Canadians, but if you've seen him live, you'll understand why.

Still marvellng over The Belle Brigade album, which is so professional and such a complete cycle of songs, it's just a beautifully put together record. Congratulations to Reprise for having the foresight to sign them. It perfectly captures the energy and proficiency of all their live performances...and their glorious harmonies.

Duniven is currently playing every Monday night at Silver Lake Lounge for Radio Free Silver Lake, and even if he weren't, I would still be listening to his album. It's that good. Solid songwriting, good variety, clean and straighforward instrumentation, in a classic American style featuring some strong two-part harmonies. I can listen to this repeatedly.

Fleet Foxes and Low are two beautiful albums that continue to make a mark as do DeVotchka and Eastern Conference Champions. Torches In Trees EP, Torches, is a stunner and Chad VanGaalen's early, Skelliconnection is new to me, though the video for the song, "Red Hot Drops" is one of the things that got me into him in the first place, like four years ago.

whrabbit