My friends Summer School Vampire are playing deep in the valley. Who wants to take the trek with me?

Labels: events, music

PG 2007 Mix CDs are ready!
Wait, you say. Aren't we almost a third into the new year? Please excuse the lateness and send me on your address if you were one of the contributors. 3 full CDs are coming your way.

email: meredith@pudgy-girl.com

Labels: freebies, music

There aren't many times I wish I was one of those concert bootleggers who stashes state-of-the-art recording equipment, like omni-directional tiny mics in a baseball cap, to record concerts. Last night I wish I had one of those set-ups.

As part of this month's series of concerts and films, LA Philharmonic hosted Concrete Frequency: Sounds of The City. This is the third curated concert I've gone to at LA Phil and like the other nights, it was a mellow, beautiful experience. My buddies and I were grateful for uber professional lights and sound and in awe of Disney Hall's hidden intimacy. Each guest artist was assigend the task of playing 2 songs and encouraged to explain why those songs spoke to the evening's themes of exploring urban living. The stage was actually backdropped by each guest artist sitting on stage in a dimly lit living room set. The half-circle shape echoed the little amphitheater and the graceful curve of the Hall itself. With the Gehry organ shooting up into the audience in the round, every performer took the spotlight nervously, looking up at their pretty surroundings. With a collection of folk-rock musicians, everyone would have probably been more comfortable at the Troubadour, well, at least familiar. The curated event took singer/songwriters out of their bands and into the prestigious spotlight. Echoing the young crowd, the Disney Hall was filled with jeans rather than tuxes. Each artist's nervous energy only drew us in, listening to the words of radio hits rather than just plugging into our iPods for a morning bus ride. A city theme seems far too easy. Couldn't every indie-rocker explain why that one tune inspired by their last grueling tour is also an anthem about love lost and found in the urban environment? Isn't every rock song a love song written in some metropolis? Moving beyond this hype I was happy to learn that most songs are about what they are about, literally. I may load a mix tape up with all the moody tunes to make my latest lover an emotional wreck, but it's actually refreshing to learn Money Mark's neo-soul ditty "Black Butterfly" is really just about catching a black butterfly. The man mostly know in underground crowds and by Beastie Boys fanatics sat at the piano last night and told a sweet anecdote of chasing butterflies in the abandoned fields of his LA youth. John Doe from X not only played the obvious choice "Los Angeles" but I also learned he likes to write songs about skyscrapers. Zach Rogue from the Rogue Wave's song "Chicago x 12" is really about playing a shitty bar in Chicago 12 times in one year. Like an emo girl's wet dream, you can up the cutie factor simply by letting a shy shoegazer talk about his music. Rogue was especially easy on the ears and I was toe-tapping along to his song currently on the airwaves "Lake Michigan". In lieu of a recording here's my highlights:

Biirdie - A lovely quintet opened the night with "LA is Mars". The lead singer reminds me of every cool guy in High School who quietly doodled in the back of the class and sported an Amnesty International sticker on his Trapper Keeper. Joined by a harmonious group, each cute line like "take the last train to Griffith Park", makes them the newly crowned most crushable LA indie band.

Annie Stela comes from that group of lovely ladies who can't help but share themselves through song. I picture her sitting in her apartment constantly at the keyboard trying out new poetry. While not the most musically challenging, she fits the niche of the story of a girl coming to LA to make it and then years later actually finding happiness. She's got quite the set of pipes and can rock the piano foot pedals in stilettos especially when she played "Fool". She also played the story of her falling in love with LA thanks to walking the dog during the Jacaranda bloooms, even though the audience had to help her with that one. She just knew them as "those big purple flowers." It seems that's what every new Angeleno calls them.

Marc Bianchi was an awfully cute toothache. With a large bass acoustic guitar around his skinny frame he won us all over rocking back and forth, pointy elbows a-soaring. Known for fronting indie band Her Space Holiday he played "The Boys and Girls" a faithful version of the recording under his side project xoxo, panda. He said it was about three people in love and in different parts of the country. Very sweet, indeed.



Zooey Deshcanel brought the movie industry theme to the LA concert. A quirky actress, as well as an accomplished torch singer, she was accompanied by M. Ward on guitar. Not just bringing the movie star reference by being herself she also sang "Lonesome Town" which I don't think was some happy accident. Most of us know it from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Zooey and I are roughly the same age so I'm gonna believe we were introduced to the Ricky Nelson hit the same way, although probably not. She's way cooler. She probably knew every word by the time she was ten rocking out on her parents' shag rug with a pair of those oversized headphones. She invoked this little fantasy in my head last night rocking a voluminous white baby doll dress. She then wailed it on a cover of "I Put a Spell On You". Here's a video yanked from myspace:



Sondre Lerche got a loud applause, especially when he acknowledged the crowd behind the stage. It was like his fan club was all sitting there. The Norwegian cutie always puts on a good show. He was especially chatty last night, detailing every bit of his move from Norway to New York City. He played "Wet Ground" from his early album Two Way Monologue and "Minor Detail" from the jazzy 2006 The Duper Sessions.

Inara George from The Bird and the Bee sang for composing legend Van Dyke Parks at the piano. Inara wins best dressed for the night all decked out in a stunning brown floor length gown. They will be releasing an album together later this year and swang a number from it. But it was "Vine Street", the Randy Newman standard favored by Harry Nilsson (they both happen to have been BFFs with Van Dyke Parks) that really had the rest of the artists in a hard act to follow.



Bob Mould rocked his old Husker Du tunes "Thumbtack" and "Surveyors and Cranes". He said he hand't played these in ten years since leaving Austin. They sounded dated and he was underdressed but I felt fortunate to see someone so influential. Plus Mould spoke about dropping out of urban engineering school, which gave validity to the night's theme. Being a current DC native he got a big applause when he claimed, "Don't worry. Things will be better in November". Appealing to the cultured liberal = always a crowd pleaser.

Kyp Malone from TV On The Radio concluded with a long meandering experimental set. I was surprised to see the night take a dark turn full of ambient noise. Malone followed Grizzly Bear's front man and anyone who's gone to a Grizzly Bear concert knows how esoteric those boys can get. Malone's anecdotes were candid and real but I think the majority of the crowd had tuned out after the back to back of more famous faces. People started to take off early, in true urban LA fashion.

Labels: events, music, reviews

Last year's giveaway was a lot of fun. Those that joined in are still enjoying their 2006 mix (3 CDs total!). This year the guidelines are the same: I start the list off with my favorite songs from 2007. You send me your lists of favorite songs from 2007 by posting in the comments section of this post. Then I compile all the lists, take some editorial license, track down the songs and burn some mix CDs. Email me your address and I'll send you the mix until all supplies run out.

Worried about the nitty-gritty? All songs must be off albums released in 2007.
Check iTunes if you're unsure of the date. It's not at challenging as it sounds. To be eligible for a mix CD you just have to submit a list with at least one (1) great song. I know some of you have been keeping these lists handy since last year so let's get it started!


Pudgy Girl's Best Songs of 2007 (since I'm anal - these are in order of release.)

1. "Satan Said Dance" Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - From the album Some Loud Thunder. It's just one of those albums you listen to all the way the through even when you weren't planning on it.

2. "Phantom Limb" The Shins - Every once in a while a band comes along that makes everyone who sings along to their songs copy the lead singer's style. I dare you not to pick up on it when you sing along to the Wincing The Night Away album where this track comes from.

3. "Young Folks" Peter Bjorn and John - This whistling tune is more reason to thank Scandinavia for importing cute culture to the States besides IKEA.

4. "Keep The Car Running" Arcade Fire - The influence of Bruce Springsteen is strong on this album. If you were lucky enough to see the Fire play this song with The Boss then you might possibly be part of the most fortunate people on earth. Us mere mortals can enjoy the extraordinary indie orchestra that is Arcade Fire in the comfort of our homes.

5. "Grace Kelly" Mika - Oh this is super gay. I need to wear a lot of purple and spandex just to keep up with all its Freddie Mercury stylings. So much fun.

6. "Everything I Cannot See" Charlotte Gainsbourg - She's French art royalty. She delighted audiences in The Science of Sleep and I'm Not There. Her fashion will go down as legendary. Did I mention she's French? Miss Gainsbourg's second album is a delicate acquired taste. I like this track especially when I'm in an obsessive, stay in bed all day mood.

7. "My Moon My Man" Feist - This little Canadian lady keeps gaining a bigger and bigger following and she is so deserving. The "1234" video featured in those iPod commercials is pretty nifty but the video for "My Moon My Man", the first single off her '07 hit album The Reminder, had me hooked and wanting to step in time just like her. Watch all of Feist's clever videos here.

8. "Home" Great Northern - This track started getting airtime on local L.A. stations early before the full album release. Everytime it came on I wished I could run to the radio station and beg them to play it again.

9. "Mistaken for Strangers" The National - '07 was the year that brought back Joy Division with the film Control and continued to promote all things neo-folk-pop. I like The National probably because they sound a little like Joy Division. Anytime a deep-voiced pretty boy sings sweet lyrics I get weak. I can't help it.

10. "Falling Slowly" Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - From the film Once. There is not a more a romantic song from this year. I dare you cynics not to get a little mushy.

11. "Tenderoni" Chromeo - More tongue-in cheek than truly legit, this electronica duo is like the post-modern Hall & Oats. Only into their first album, these boys promise much more booty shaking in the future.

12. "Conquest" The White Stripes - Jack Black is truly a rock historian. The entire Icky Thump album from this year is deceptively simple but stands out as a primer to rock and roll basics. Covering this Patti Page tune could not be more fun. Jack's voice is a little girly, a little gravely, and the beat is infectious. You can't go wring. I equate listening to the White Stripes as joyous as reaching a high score on Guitar Hero.

13. "Umbrella" Rihanna - This was practically the pop anthem of the summer. So catchy. So many covers. But the OG still stands up as one poppy delight.

14. "D.A.N.C.E." Justice - Little kids voices? Disco break-beats? What else could be the definitive party song of 2007?

15. "Earth Intruders" Bjork - Leave it to our petite Icelandic art princess to take on global warming with one very inspiring call to battle.

16. "Stop Me" Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather - Ronson produced 2006's darlings Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse and he made a great album of his own this year. Full of brass horns and upbeat tempos, Merriweather does a take on the medley covering both The Cure and The Supremes. The album's other brilliant cover is a completely instrumental version of "God Put A Smile On Your Face" by Coldplay.

17. "Pioneer To The Falls" Interpol - These indie-rockers are at their best when they embrace the showmanship of an epic song. "Pioneer.." takes the listener on a melodic journey proving that indie-rock is strong and staying at the top of the charts for good reason.

18. "Back In Your Head" Tegan and Sara - These sisters' repetitive ditties never fail to delight me. Both innocent and conniving at the same time, "Back in Your Head" is the type of song you listen to after a crush has gone sour.

19. "Paper Planes" MIA - In wartime it is refreshing to hear a strong woman's take on violence and greed. The schoolyard sounds mixed with gunfire puts MIA right up there with the more money more problems crew like vintage Jay-Z and Nas.

20. "Is There a Ghost" Band of Horses - The band's howling, folky shoe-gazer signature sound is strong on their opening track. I'll listen to this song ten times in a row and still want to hear it again.


So that's just 20 songs to get us started. What are your favorites?

Labels: freebies, music

Great Northern plays a super secret show tonight at Silver Lake Lounge. They're the "special guest" on The Fold's website.
Why: They're hosting some big A&R New Yorkers in our 'hood.
How: Thanks myspace.


Wednesday, Oct. 3 8:30pm
Silver Lake Lounge
2906 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026

Labels: bars, events, music, random

Passed on from a dear friend of mine who loves all things gypsy music, I present Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra. They come from Sarajevo. This video for "Unza Unza Time" is a little bit Bunuel, a little bit punk and all gypsy - embracing love, death and life all at once. I don't know what Unza Unza Time means but it makes me wanna get up on a chair and holler and dance.

Labels: music, random, videos

The Finches are a folk/alt-rocky duo from the Bay Area who'll win your heart with a gentle sound and pretty lyrics. They'll make their nest all this month at Bordello (formerly Little Pedro's Bar) every Tuesday night. What sets this duo apart from the rest? Aaron Morgan plays a mean acoustic for a ginger. Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs was featured in ReadyMade Magazine for her crafty coin purse holds your keys on your wrist thing. It's no wonder with just a couple independently produced albums under their collective belt The Finches have an ever-growing fan base. I'm sure they'll bring a much needed breath of North Cali fresh air to the hot downtown scene. Other local bands start the shows around 9:00pm.


The Finches
Tuesdays, Aug. 14, 21, 28, 10:00pm
Bordello Bar
901 E. 1st Street
Downtown LA, 90012
$10

Labels: events, music

Patti Smith plays a free show this Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier. Weird, right? I thought Santa Monica's Twilight Dance Series were for the washed-up bands found in yuppie record collections (no offense Arrested Development - who played last week). Indeed the original punk goddess/poet will be there in all her androgynous skinny glory. As far as lanky, scraggly punk heroes go I would argue Smith blows Joey Ramone out of the water. So pack up early for the Westside and let's start the debate this Thursday evening. If nothing else you'll get a pretty sunset and maybe a chance to grab a smooch on the Ferris wheel.


An Evening with Patti Smith
Thursday, Aug. 16 7:30pm
Colorado Ave. & Ocean Walk
Santa Monica, 90405
parking info

Labels: events, freebies, music

This all ages event rages from 6:00pm to 6:00am. The FREE all night happening features ambient music galore, video projections, and a slew of DJs. Bring chairs, blankets and pillows to lie out on the cement and experience all the magic.

If you're not in a festival state of mind drop by to find out what Farm Lab is all about. They're probably one of the most important cultural groups in the City of LA. Since the shutdown of the downtown Corn Fields, they've continued exploring sustainable eco living in an urban environment. Farm Lab's latest community outreach projects include making garden boxes, they call them Ag Bins, for Skid Row so the homeless population can grow their own food and even beautify their street corners. Farm Lab Under Spring provides an art space in hope of community building and cultural change. Located under a bridge on the LA River, every person who visits the site grasps what a truly diverse environment LA is and the worth of what it means to protect it.




Here's the list of the performers for Saturday night/ Sunday morning:

DUBLAB DJS & FRIENDS

Hoseh (Headspace, KXLU)
Morpho
Frosty
Ale
MatthewDavid
Part Time Punks DJ Michael Stock
J.Mendez (Cytrax/Sandwell District)
Farzad Moghaddam (WRAS, Atlanta)
Farbod Kokabi (WRAS, Atlanta)

LIVE SETS UNDER THE STARS

Dntel
Languis
Tropic of Cancer
smgsap

LIVE NATURE SOUND DUETS CURATED BY CARLOS NINO

Mia Doi Todd and Andres Renteria
Adam Rudolph and Ralph "Buzzy" Jones
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Peter Jacobson
Adventure time (Daedelus & frosty)
Carlos Nino & Gaby Hernandez

PROJECTIONS PROVIDED BY

Carolina Chaves and Ben Loiz
the Labrat Matinee
the Masses


Saturday, Aug. 4 6:00pm - 6:00am
Tonalism
Farm Lab Under Spring
1745 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, 90012

Labels: environmental, events, freebies, music

New band Bat For Lashes has too many interpretations on their name to get clever here so I'll cut to the chase. This UK lass is Natasha Khan and her girl group goes by Bat For Lashes. Her breakthrough single "What's A Girl To Do?" proves she's the next London It Girl on the verge of picking fights with Amy Winehouse and trying to drink Lady Sovereign under the table. Channeling The Ronettes girl group sound with storytelling I also find this single a mix of Charlotte Gainsbourg's breathiness meets the sincerity of Lily Allen with the punky-darkness of The Scanners thrown in. The video is slightly intriguing. Who doesn't love a bicycle tracking shot and Donnie Darko references? Animal masks are feeling overused though. Didn't Sassy magazine do a fashion spread like this 9 years ago?

Bat for Lashes is touring the U.S. right now. Catch her before the hype sends her and her all girl band to more sold out festivals. They'll be at Spaceland this Tuesday night.


Tuesday, Jul. 31 8:30pm
Bat For Lashes
Spaceland
1717 Silver Lake Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026
$12

Labels: events, music, videos

Tonight Chango hosts Anarchy Jordan. He'll unveil from his bag of tricks folk music, political sing-alongs, and incendiary videos mocking everything from global warming to GW. Expect a free exchange of stencil art techniques, anti-war graffiti and a live free or buy trying attitude. A good time is sure to be had by all or at least a healthy debate over your nightly chai lattes.



ANARCHY JORDAN presents YOUR VIOLENT DESIRES
LIVE LIVE LIVE LIVE (you decide how to pronounce it)
with his MUSIC, MOVIES, AND MORE

Friday, Jul. 20th 9:00pm
Chango Coffee House
1600 Echo Park Ave.
Echo Park, 90026

hey young fella, dada is not an art movement.
Be there or be viciously circular.

Labels: events, music, politics, videos

In case you missed it, like I did - yes, I am in the bastard friend hall of fame - Pedra Furmall painted live at the Roxy last week to The Apex Theory's new song. Everyone was quite impressed. The YouTube sensation is impressive as well. Nice editing guys.

Labels: art, music, videos

The hipsters know no bounds to the lengths they will go to prove the LA art and music scene is the place to be. This Thursday kicks off the Indie 103.1 sponsored free summer concerts at the Hammer Museum. More than just a place to schmooze up the cuties and the caterers these events bring out the spirit of a city in the summer - warm nights, free concerts, and courtyard canoodling. This year's lineup each Thursday night features some of LA's favorites and rising indie stars. Inaugurating the night is one of my new faves Great Northern. The boy-girl-boy-girl band evokes the moody melodious rock that's so popular today standing apart with sophisticated lyrics and indie bread simplicity. I play their single "Home" all day long. The breathy vocals, gentle orchestration and rocky drums that chime in at all the right parts equal one great summer anthem. Great Northern shares the bill with Foreign Born, another LA rock band who's gaining quite the UK following. On the walls of the Hammer is Eden's Edge, an exhibit of 15 LA artists' work from the past decade. The work can all be categorized as highly personal, mixed media fantasies.

Thursday, Jul. 8th 8:00-11:00pm
Also I Like to Rock at The Hammer with Foreign Born and Great Northern
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood, 90024
310.443.7000
FREE

Museum Parking $3 after 6:30pm on Thursdays.


Upcoming lineups:

Jul. 12th
The Pity Party & The Little Ones

Jul. 19th
Castledoor & Fields

Jul. 26th
Sea Wolf & Midnight Movies

Labels: art, events, freebies, music

Night Hawks presents it's monthly late night art extravaganza this Monday, June 18th. This month the theme involves technology and experimentations with artificial and/or mechanical elements. Like always, Night Hawks showcases its theme across genres and art. Basically this Monday will be a techno dance party like none other. And there will be video games. Don't miss these emerging artists:


Night Hawks is honored to bring to the party Laura Escude (Los Angeles) - A classically trained violinist who works with a variety of software, all controlled by MIDI devices such as the UC-33e and a MIDI glove. Found sounds, sampling, and the violin affected by different types of hardware all make up her body of work going back 20 years.


Organ Music of the Organ Corporation (San Francisco) - The music collective takes their name from a 1970s organ manufacturer and draws from the traditions of free jazz and musique concrete. Night Hawks' plan to showcase their noise elements and abstractions of frequencies in the unique Bootleg ambiance.


DSS Improv (Los Angeles) is a trio of improvisational electro-acoustic musicians. FM transmitters tie together their mixer feedback sessions, DIY circuitry, amplified viola and audience involvement all "to diffuse the notion of control amongst the group and audience". I can't picture a better setting for this experimentation than the high-caliber crowds Night Hawks draws in.

[image from art-rash.com]


Orgone Resonator by Samuel Partal and Damien Johanson (San Francisco) is an installation in which audience members may be inserted into the resonating chamber to experience the musical performance as part of the sculpture. Partal and Johanson both multimedia artists explore the controversial theories of Wilhelm Reich. (I had to wikipedia that one.) The notion of Orgones - a theorized energy source responsible for neuroses, rain and sexuality - is quite intriguing.


"Burlap I-IV" by Philip Stearns - Another Cal Arts alumni makes his mark on the circuit-bending community by continuing his installation. Burlap combines sculpture and circuitry where each piece produces tones, sequencers, and dynamically behaving oscillators. The natural element of the burlap material is a beautiful contradiction to the notion of circuitry as something cold and calculated.


Electroacoustic Installation by Cooper Baker - Straight from the Cal Arts faculty, Baker currently manages the school's Music Technology department. Circuit Bending fans have probably seen his work at REDCAT and the LA Circuit Bending Festival. Cooper brings his diverse background and knowledge from software writing to photography to the Bootleg for this one night only where he'll creates a sound-art installation/ multimedia work of art.


Aaron Myers, a recent USC grad, has always been fascinated with video games, including information visualization, artificial life and generative image-making. TorrentRaiders was his MFA project - an arcade stylization of bit-torrent waves. You can also go play his live action video game Mobzombies before the arcade madness hits Monday. He'll be showing a new 2-D piece with light patterns that react and self-generate.

[image from Flickr]





Volum (UK, Berlin, Detroit, Los Angeles) of the world renowned electro duo Volsoc brings his proclaimed "breakdance music for aliens". Playing the night's DJ will be Jean-Paul Bondy rocking robot beats and a slew of surprises. See jbondy.com - the man's also quite the accomplished animator.

[image from properlychilled.com]


Night Hawks presents Hawktronics
Monday, Jun. 18th 10:00pm
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly (Just West of Alvarado)
Echo Park, 90057
$10 cash only

Labels: art, events, music, Nighthawks, performances

Not super original I know to feature youtube videos, but MTV doesn't air music videos anymore so none of my friends know what I'm talking about when I say I can't get this song out of my head. Plus the t-shirts on the skinny boy torsos remind me of Sunset & Echo Park Blvd. on a Saturday night.





You know who also does great videos of the day? Onetokenblackguy of LastNightADJSavedMyLife - one of my favorite bloggers with a knack for old school jams and new instant classics.

"You are such a PYT!" Loving it.

Labels: music, videos, www.internet.com

Last night you could find me front row at LA Phil's Russian Chanson night at the Walt Disney Hall stomping my foot along to Devotchka. Many of the band's fans were there clapping and toe tapping along, cheering for every recognizable cue from the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack, and I couldn't help but wonder what we would have been doing if we were in another more rock friendly locale. We'd probably all be dancing in the front rows, maybe even experimenting with a Russian inspired jig, but definitely all kicking our heels up in glee every time Devotchka's Nick Urata whistled a perfect note or Jeanie Schroder danced under her sousaphone or Tom Hagerman took an accordion solo or Shawn King reached under his drum kit for his trumpet. These band members hail from Denver, CO and perpetuate a very big trend in indie-rock today: the multitasker. Rock bands of a high caliber already blow their audiences away with their culmination of talent and charisma but lately the need for a backing band is eliminated when a frontman sings, plays five different kinds of guitars, and even orchestrates a theramin, as Urata does so coolly. Studio sessions get recreated on stage without much need for a wall of sound accompaniment. On stage loops provide enough ambiance now and every musician comes off as a scholar to this new wave. Schroder keeps time on bass with sometimes a cello and sometimes a sousaphone, which was decorated with red twinkly lights for last night's performance. Hagerman came across last night as the true engineer of the group, melding the Slavic-Mariachi traditions the band draws on each time he seamlessly shifted from accordion to violin. He ended up sitting first chair in a quartet from the LA Phil at one point in the night with a beatific smile on his face. Hagerman impressed me in his sharp Beatles-esque thin suit bringing the rock-pop on drums to the traditional instruments which gave the evening its needed modernization. If it was appropriate to stand, he would have brought the crowd to our feet when his trumpet hit cinematic highs. Sometimes I heard Leone and sometimes Gypsies. Many times we felt like dancing but the formal Disney hall kept us all seated. My row twitched under their bobbing knees and snapping fingers. We met a woman who had come down from Denver for the night and said she hadn't missed a Devotchka show in years. She said they often have acrobatic dancers on stage with them. While no acrobats showed up last night the Chanson program hosted a handful of Russian vocalists and a very special performance from poet Saul Williams. The technical feat of the night was impressive, like taking in an opera where the grey-haired techies dispense their vast wisdom through each lighting and sound cue. Williams broke out from his expertly placed mic and shook the crowd with a thunderous quick speaking voice. He started with a previously published poem which examined Paul Robeson's testimony to the House of Un-American Activities Committee and then segued to a new piece which took us on an echoing journey finding new love, finding country, and finding your country at war. Slam poetry, indie-rock and Russians? It was slightly irrelevant to the general public. Several members of the audience left after Devotchka, but then they missed the finale where every musician was brought on stage to sing a traditional Russian freedom song. Two dancers in dresses suggesting Russian peasant girls kicked up their heels and linked elbows. If only we could have done the same.

This Saturday, May 26 the Shadows of Stalin program continues at Disney Hall with PRAVDA which will host some of the most revered DJ's including Amon Tobin, Cut Chemist and DJ Spooky. Watch a cute lil' promo video here. Tickets still available at ticketmaster.

Labels: music, reviews

I knew Blonde Redhead were touring a lot this summer but I am pleased as punch to know they will be making a stop in our own backyard. Sunset Junction is Silver Lake's annual street fair where local vendors and musicians takeover Sunset Blvd. for what usually falls on the hottest weekend of the summer. This year's heatwave is Aug. 18-19. The main stage on Saturday will see such great bands like The Parson Redheads, Autoloux, Seawolf, Blonde Redhead and Ben Harper. As of today the headliners for Sunday night are still TBA. Past year's bands have included The New York Dolls, Rilo Kiley, X, Sleater Kinney, Elliot Smith, and Beck to give you an idea.

Who would be your dream Sunset Junction headliner?

Labels: events, local, music

Tonight Silver Lake's one and only Anarchy Jordan takes his idealist politics to the masses via his new musical title Your Violent Desires who hail from the Dimension of Love, U.S.A. Nobody makes lyrics like "Liars keep the war-machine running" so toe-tapping. You can find Jordan's songs plus lyrics on his demo website The Poetry of Revolt.

Also playing at the latest coffee house jamboree stylings from the Magic Cafe are Morgan Rabbit and special appearance by rapper Apoc of Chicago's Lab-Oratory Records. If nothing else, come support the local coffee house that geniusly built a new coffee shop from an old gas station. Chango may be right across the street but who doesn't like more walls for amateur photography and more chai tea choices?

Monday, May 21st 7:00pm
Anarchy Jordan's Jailhouse Jamboree
Magic Cafe
1600 N. Echo Park Blvd.
Echo Park, 90026

Labels: local, music

A guy friend of mine told me once he knows girls dress up for other girls (versus the fellas) and I couldn't agree more. Ladies, start picking out your outfit now - competition should be fierce come Saturday night.


All the beautiful hipster ladies ban together this Saturday. Fight the local sausage fest and join in the bunches of fun all for a worthy cause. Hang The DJs host their 4th Annual All Girls Benefit Dance Party at The Echo. Proceeds will go to The Downtown Woman's Center who have been helping find homes for women of Skid Row since 1978.

There will be a slew of female DJs, live music, Cory Kennedy shenanigans, cocktails, raffles, free manicures, free haircuts, and naturally, free ice cream from the Heartschallenger Ice Cream truck...

I'm especially stoked to see Catherine Campion take the stage with Hearts of Palm UK. She'll be on cello. They'll all probably be wearing something one-of-a-kind. You can catch their pretty tunes at the Silverlake Lounge tomorrow night as well. They go on at 10:00pm.

...About the dance party? Okay, fine. Your boyfriend can come too.

Saturday, May 19 8:00pm
Hang the DJ's All Girls Benefit Dance Party
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park, 90026
18 year olds and up
only $10

Labels: events, local, music

I wish more concert posters were as literal as this. Has a great old school feel to it, don't you think?

Labels: events, music

Night Hawks is proud to present another band from the Santa Fe, New Mexico High Mayhem family. Formerly known as Derail, We Drew Lightning takes instrumentation to new highs. Loud feedback, dreamy vocals, and even an old school light show follow them on tour these next few months. Art geeks and rockers alike will be deeply left in their powerful wake. As has become Night Hawks' signature, we pack the stage with the highest quality musicians who have the most heart. This Monday's circus will not stop buzzing once these guys leave the stage.

We Drew Lightning
performing at Night Hawks
Monday, May 14th 10:00pm
Bootleg Theater

Also at...

Pehrspace, Echo Park
Friday, May 18th

The Smog Shop, San Diego
Saturday, May 19th

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Paul Groetzinger, Ben Wright, Brian Mayhall make up the members of D Numbers, the experimental band that's gathered quite the local following in Santa Fe, NM. They now bring their signaturely singular sound and lovey-dovey energy to the rest of the west. Catch their only LA appearance at Night Hawks next Monday.

Groetzinger, aka DJ Feathericci, handles his drumset with a natural grace and keen ease missing from most line-ups. And he spins a mean turntable. Mayhall on lead guitar puts any music school grad to shame and has been known to dabble in keyboards and experimental processing. Wright completes the neo-wall of sound and writes music and unique beats. You'll have to see the men in action to find out what they're really made of. A guess? Slugs, snails, mad beats, puppy dog tails.

With the backdrop of a burlesque circus behind them, this trio will bring a kind breath of fresh air to our California heatwave. Be sure to grab their new CD before the rest of the touring darlings snatch 'em up.

Monday, May 14th
D Numbers
10:00pm

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Congrats to the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music for its impressive fundraiser this past Saturday. A star-studded concert lead by Conservatory founder, Flea and the rest of The Chili Peppers headlining, raised a boatload of cash and showcased two student bands. Full story on LAist today.

Labels: local, music, newsworthy

A little guide to the bands ----

The Battle of Land & Sea are local town heroes. The folk inspired duo plays with plenty of heart and soul. I can't wait to see them in Bootleg's beatific lobby.

We bring back the experimental/improvisational flavor of last month's event when An Endless Contortionist takes the stage.

Saint Motel (formerly known as Turkish Rocket) make all the teenage girls go hello kitty with their catchy blend of modern rock. But come late Monday night who knows what these boys will have up their sleeves?

Become their myspace friends. Bands love that.

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Yes. Those are musical instruments. A modge-podge of electronic gadgets and unashamed childlike experimentation took over pockets of LA last night as The Circuit Bending Festival commenced at Il Coral. Tonight hosts an evening of performances and mingling at the historic Velaslavasay Panorama Theater. Tomorrow there's a day of workshops so you too can learn to create some of the most interesting noise out there. Dig out your See & Spells, your Casios, or even jack your roommate's cellphone and you can be in a (so geeky it's wonderful) band this weekend.

Link to a great story of NPR this morning with circuit musician Lewis Keller.

Still not sure exactly what Circuit Bending is? This lil' instructional video should do the trick:



LA Circuit Bending Festival
with artists: Christiaan Cruz, Loud Objects, Lewis Keller, Pixel Form, univac, Mystery Palace
Friday, Apr. 13 8:00pm
Velaslavasay Panorama
1122 West 24th Street
West Adams LA
(213) 746-2166
$10

Labels: events, music, newsworthy, videos

Fish Circus says: "There is only one Fish Circus but there is more than one way to fish circus."

If you've caught their act at the Silverlake Lounge or El Cid you know Fish Circus provides the most eclectic entertainment in town. Anais Thomassian (The Fishette) leads the boys in gorgeous gypsy-inspired costumes, quite a set of pipes, and often on accordion. Bassist Shahen Hagobian is one tall drink of water. Dan Graziani looks like a cast member of Carnivale and is known to do an impromptu jig while leading the group on fiddle. You're also likely to catch a group of gypsies on trombone, french horn, more accordions, more fiddles, in the group's every mutating repertoire. Night Hawks gives Fish Circus a chance to do what they do best, leave a weird cabaret flavor on the tongue of the crowd. Monday night, they'll hit the stage hard with a percussion-less set and a hardy slap. Don't miss it.


Fish Circus will also be performing the following weekend at The Gazillionaire Show in Las Vegas. Visit the New American Theatre Project for details. I hope the fishies fair well in the desert.

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Wanna preview New Mexico's The Late Severa Wires before they play at Night Hawks? Of course you do. If you're a fan of new/experimental rock you'd be a fool not to catch the show at Pehrspace tonight.
Basically the scene has shifted from Il Corral to this all ages art gallery/performance space in Echo Park. Pehrspace not only hosts a full lineup of fantastic bands every weekend but also started an Indie record label, Pehrlabel.

The music tonight starts at 9:00pm and is only $5.

On the list:
Anavan - This post-modern power trio has been getting a lot of press lately as a pack leader in the revived LA all ages scene. Their signature Il Corral shows will all now be at pehrspace in the next couple months and they continue to tour the country bringing artful distortion to the little girls and boys. They'll be playing South By Southwest this year too.
Clipd Beaks - These Oakland-ers have been around for a little while and still refuse to be classified. According to the Beaks' myspace page they sound like "Jam knee deep in a stork's intestinal acid". After tonight's thrash psychedelia we all might have obtuse phrases to describe them too.
The Late Severa Wires - Hailing from New Mexico and spreading the spirit of the High Mayhem music collective, these four lads always promise to blow the roof off wherever they land and couldn't be more humble doing it.
Anchors for Architects - A band of like-minded artists and activists make up this music collective. Bring a children's book to any of their concerts and they'll donate it to The Wonder of Reading which helps spread literacy in California's public schools. The band's a sort of lyrical congregation and initiate a community of experimental/indie rock all over this town. It sounds like they're still looking for a new percussionist should one feel the need to be initiated.


To get to perhspace:
map: 325 Glendale Blvd.

2 blocks south of Temple in Historic Filipinotown. The freeway offramp is Glendale Blvd from the 101, about 3 blocks south of Echo Park Lake. Located behind the Glen Village parking lot, behind a short palm tree. You won't see it from the street, you'll have to come into the parking lot.

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

It's official. Monday is the new Saturday night. To celebrate all things up and coming, worth seeing, mind expanding, and unique, Pudgy Girl is producing a brand new night of performance art and experimental music. For the next week I'll be showcasing the artists you'll see at Night Hawks. This night is not to be missed. It's not your basic warehouse show, it's not your basic theater. Night Hawks is a new forum for emerging artists, not to mention the best party Monday night has to offer.

Night Hawks on myspace.com
Night Hawks Blog
email: nighthawksla@yahoo.com

Live Music by
The Late Severa Wires
Fish Circus
Her Big Hard Jungle Monkey Presents
The Regulators of ASV-WEWONK
Sing Along with Anarchy Jordan
DJ Jason McCabe of Club Stutter

Live performances by
Artel
Ten West
Illuminati Fire
Rawn Erickson II

Paintings by
Pedra Furmall
Alex Zakari

Photography by
Eric Cousineau


Monday, Mar. 19
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
10:00pm

Labels: art, events, music, Nighthawks

Yes, we're heading into 2007 full force and thank you for your patience. I am now pleased to announce the Best Songs of 2006 Mix CD is ready. If you participated in the song exchange, a pretty homemade double disc mix CD is waiting for you.

If the CD had a bonus DVD section I would have to include this video by Matt & Kim. There's an alternate version on YouTube that is equally as brilliant - especially if you've ever wanted to see a taco and banana rock out.

Labels: music, videos

Thursday is the new Friday and Monday is the new Saturday. Get with the program and expand your weekend already. All dates 2/9-2/12.

* I dig the short and sweet interview LA Weekly held with Great Northern. The Silver Lake darlings play Spaceland Monday night 10:00pm.

* Ultraluxx is at it again at Mountain Bar. Saturday night is an early Valentine's Day FREE heart-themed bash with DJ's and dancing all night.

* The 15th Annual Art of Motion Picture Design showcases over 100 costumes from this year's Oscar Nominees all week starting this Saturday. FIDM Museum Galleries, Downtown. Viewings daily 10:00am-4:00pm.

* Hip-hop influenced indie dudes The Height perform with their homey Raw Bear at The Smell Saturday night just in time for curfew. 8:00pm in the eclectic line-up of Shelley Short, Alexis Gideon and Tanks.

* Courtesy of my new favorite art site SourHarvest.com : their nicely layed-out schedule may be a little behind the week, but scroll down to find Saturday's listings which include a benefit art auction in Culver City. Everyone's favorite street artists turned industry debutantes will be selling their interpretations of vintage paint by numbers to benefit LA's own The Alliance for Children's Rights including: Paul Frank, Shepard Fairey, Gary Baseman, Camille Rose Garcia, Isabel Samaras, Shag, Gary Panter, Tim Biskup and more more more. @ Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City. Public viewing begins 10:00pm.

Labels: art, design, events, music

That's Spanish for Fish Circus, who is not a Spanish band, but will be playing at the Spanish themed club El Cid tomorrow night. El Cid's dank atmosphere makes me feel like I'm in a dungeon. I'm tempted to make a tasteless Inquisition joke here but will refrain. Fish Circus plan to brighten things up with a raucous acoustic set that includes accordions and gypsy dances. Show starts at 11:00pm. Fellow Glendale band Tallulah Sound Experiment go on after. Join the closet polka fanatics and music school drop outs at the bar.

Friday, Feb. 2
El Cid
4212 Sunset
Silver Lake

Labels: events, music

I've got some great submissions SO FAR. There are still plenty mix CDs to be made. I won't start burning until I'm certain we've got an eclectic and great collection.
Here's the list so far:
Post your lists and email me your mailing address to get a free mix CD. We're talking hundreds of songs for FREE. That's like an entire iPod battery charge.

"Just A Thought" Gnarls Barkley (St. Elsewhere)**
"Hips Don't Lie" Shakira w/ Wyclef Jean (Oral Fixation)
"Gold Lion" Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Show Your Bones)**
"Munich" Editors (The Back Room)
"Love Me Or Hate Me" Lady Sovereign (Public Warning)
"Like A Pen" The Knife (Silent Shout)
"LDN" Lilly Allen
"Naive" The Kooks (Inside In/Inside Out)
"Little Lover's So Polite" Silversun Pickups (Carnavas)
"Living Proof" Cat Power (The Greatest)
"Beecharmer" Nellie McKay w/ Cyndi Lauper (Pretty Little Head)
"Low Life" SCANNeRS (Violence Is Golden)
"Handle with Care" Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins (Rabbit Fur Coat)**
"Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" Camera Obscura (Camera Obscura)
"Standing In The Way of Control" The Gossip (Standing In The Way of Control)
"Incinerate" Sonic Youth (Rather Ripped)
"Fidelity" & "Hotel Song" Regina Spektor (Fidelity)
"Promiscuous" & "Maneater" Nelly Furtado (Loose)
"Future Sex/Love Sound" & "Summer Love" Justin Timberlake (FutureSex/LoveSounds)
"Lithium" Polyphonic Spree (Wait EP)
"Yellowcake" Kaki King (...Until We Felt Red)
"Sing" The Dresden Dolls (Yes Virginia...)
"Motorcade" & "Movie Theme" & "No Complaints" (The Information)
"Snow Lion"Readymade FC & Feist (Babilonia)
"Oh So Bucco" Rick Moranis (The Agoraphobic Cowboy)
"Emily" Joanna Newsom (Ys)
"Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung" The Flaming Lips (At War With The Mystics)
"Tropicana" Ratatat (Classics)
"The Henney Buggy Band" Sufjan Stevens (The Avalanche)
"The Race" Suzanna Choffel (Shudders & Rings)
"You Sure Look Swell" Sondre Lerche (Duper Sessions)
"Kikapoo" Tenacious D (The Pick Of Destiny)
"Atoms For Peace" Thom York (The Eraser)
"La Llorona" DeVotchKa (Little Miss Sunshine)
"Blue Sun" Think About Life (Think About Life)
"If you see light" The Mountain Goats (Get Lonely)
"crane wife 1 & 2" Decemberists (The Crane Wife)
"Wet Sand" Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stadium Arcadium)
"N2U" Outkast (Idlewild)
"Raspy Shit" Pharrell (In My Mind)
"Stolen Script" & "Pokerface" Ghostface Killah (More Fish)
"Maybe Sparrow" Neko Case (Fox Confessor Brings the Flood)**

**also got votes for Best album of 2006

Labels: games, music

If you listened to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's first self-titled album, then you know these guys are clever lyricists, artsy vocalists, and craft a unique sound more likely to share a category with Talking Heads than a lot of recent indie rock.
What you may not know is that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are releasing their second album "Some Loud Thunder" Jan. 30 and have a great offer on their website. If you pre-order the CD on their site you'll also get the entire album's MP3s. MP3 tracks are available on Jan. 16, when you'll receive an email with a special code. The you'll get the actual CD in the mail on the 30th. Then you can brag to all your friends.
Two tracks on the website right now for your listening pleasure are "Love Song No. 7" with a Cat Power-esque piano section, and "Underwater (You and Me)" a similar sounding track with plenty of charm. "Satan Said Dance" played on Indie103.1 this morning and has a lot more kick and kookier singing.

Labels: music, reviews

Well, I guess if you don't count the boogie-down time after the ball dropped on Monday. My feet are still aching from The Killers show at Paramount studios.

Think they'll be giving away Puma gear? Worth a shot I think.

Friday, Jan. 5
10:00pm doors
The Short Stop
1455 Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park

Labels: events, music

It's not only an end of the year list, it's a contest! Send me your choices for best songs of 2006 and I'll compile all of the songs into a giant mix CD. The first 10 to reply will get a copy. You can send in as little as five songs or as many as 100, just make sure they were really released in 2006 - no exceptions. Email me your address for a CD and post your picks in the comments. Here's my list to get you going. I've left off Justin Timberlake and TV On The Radio on purpose in hope to lure you in.

Pudgy Girl's Best Songs of 2006 (in no particular order)

1. "Just A Thought" Gnarls Barkley - Everybody's got "Crazy" on their lists, but this song brought the tent down at Coachella 2006.
2. "Hips Don't Lie" Shakira w/ Wyclef Jean. - Guilty pleasure? Maybe. Gets the ladies shaking? Definitely.
3. "Gold Lion" Yeah Yeah Yeahs - I love gold. I love lions. I love love this song.
4. "Munich" Editors - Best free download of the week from iTunes.
5. "Love Me Or Hate Me" Lady Sovereign - I see many more kick-ass albums in this girl's future.
6. "Like A Pen" The Knife - Also my favorite music video of '06.
7. "LDN" Lilly Allen - Her UK record finally hit stateside. If you don't own it, you should get it now.
8. "Naive" The Kooks - Lilly Allen does a righteous cover of this song on the above-mentioned single.
9. "Little Lover's So Polite" Silversun Pickups - These guys are great and not just because we shop at the same liquor store.
10. "Living Proof" Cat Power - Is The Greatest Cat's greatest album? Probably. This song actually got her off her piano bench.
11. "Beecharmer" Nellie McKay w/ Cyndi Lauper - Nellie's sophomore album is just as long as the first and has just as much charm. I had a hard time picking just one track, but Cyndi Lauper's return deserves the props.
12. "Low Life" Scanners - I could sing along to this in my car five times in a row and I have.
13. "Handle with Care" Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Again, hard to pick one track, but it's my favorite cover song of the year.
14. "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" Camera Obscura - Also been on steady rotation all year long.
15. "Standing In The Way of Control" The Gossip - Is this list beginning to sound like an episode of Grey's Anatomy? Ok, now it is.
16. "Incinerate" Sonic Youth - Give it up for the new classics.
17. "Fidelity" Regina Spektor - This title track plus "Hotel Song" plus "On The Radio" might make this my favorite album of '06.
18. "Promiscuous" Nelly Furtado - Guilty pleasure for sure but everything Timbaland touches turns to gold.

Too obvious? You don't have to write an explanation, but I wanna know what you liked this year. Get listening!

Labels: DIY, music

Did you know LA has it's own Rockefeller Center? Okay, so the rink isn't that big and there's no 80 foot lit Christmas tree but the atmosphere at the downtown Pershing Square skating rink is just as festive. All winter long ('til the middle of January) the skating rink is open for business thanks to LA Parks & Rec. There will even be free concerts, outdoor movies, and lunchtime fun for all the downtown worker bees. Spaceland will host local bands on Thursday. Movies on Wednesday. Swing bands on Sunday. Disco cover bands on Fridays. Here's a schedule of the highlights:

12/7 Spaceland on Ice: Very Be Careful 9:00pm
12/14 Spaceland on Ice: The Submarines, Great Northern 7:00pm
12/20 Glide in Movies: It's A Wonderful Life 7:00pm
12/21 Spaceland on Ice: Los Abandoned 8:00pm
12/27 Glide in Movies: ET 7:00pm
12/28 Spaceland on Ice: Upground 8:00pm
1/4 Spaceland on Ice: Eskimohunter, Bodies of Water 7:00pm
1/11 Spaceland on Ice: Restaurant 9:00pm

$6 unlimited skating. $2 skates rental.
Ride the Metro and you're right there at the Pershing Square station and you get (1) free skate rental with your ticket. Otherwise convenient underground parking garage validates.

Labels: events, games, music