more rock shows now

[shammy718]

Originally posted by martin
Another show, this time at the Smell in Downtown LA. First of all, they didn't open up the parking lot, so I had to park a few blocks away. It sucks having to step over people sleeping on the sidewalk, not so much because I'm afraid of them or anything, but because I feel like we have to be quiet so we don't wake them up. After all, we got there at like 11:00 pm.

I missed the first band, but they were giving away cookies at their CD table. So they get points, whoever they were.

Second band was Squab, out of Long Beach. Four ladies who have a little new wave, but mostly Riot Grrrl. The singer, Rosy, is rad. I was watching her set up, thinking, "That's a girl... I think" and then she turned around and her guitar strap said "Andro-g-y-nous." She and the keyboard player/second drummer traded strong vocals and the first drummer traded in her set for a marching band-style unit that she strapped around her neck and played! It was pretty rad... The dual drum attack, dual vocals, and overall dark and meaty textures. They were selling a CD for five bucks.

The headliner was The Bangs, who have been opening for Sleater-Kinney on their latest tour. It was cool to see The Bangs play their own show in a small place like The Smell (even if it is a smelly fire hazard of a club with no ventilation whatsover). The Bangs brand of rock is a lot more straightforward than Squab. The key is that they rock out and they do it effortlessly. Maybe I'm being lazy by comparing them to girl bands, but they combine the energy of the Go-Go's and the coolness of the Runaways. Their songs are great, and it's too bad the lousy acoustics of the smell hid band's great vocals. The Bangs play perfect punk that's totally catchy, powerful, and smart, and it kills me that there's no place for bands like this on the radio--the same way I used to feel about The Descendents/ALL. What's wrong with the world?

Blonde Redhead... I like them mucho. The funny thing about them is that you know any hipster who says "I only like old Blonde Redhead" is full of shit. They got so much better since their beginnings...

b redhead IS better bow...i think it's the dischord influence (didn't guy from fugazi produce their last album?)

[jeddyoh4]

The Mooney Suzuki have been touring recently. I just caught their free show at Pug'z records in Westwood and for a free show they absolutely blew the house down. they kept running into the crowd and playing guitar solos into people's crotches and stuff. great show!

[martin]

Is Pugz Records in Westwood, as in near UCLA? Do they have a lot of indie/cool stuff? Are they pretty cheap?

[fancyk]

Damn, I need to get on this thread!

The Bangs: They are great. I was a big fan of Plastique and when I saw that Sarah was in The Bangs, I was hooked. Missed the show at The Smell.

Blonde Redhead: They will never be able to top "Fake Can Be Just As Good." Vern's bass playing put that record above all the others. Also on the subject, do they have a new record coming out soon? I've seen them probably a half dozen times supporting "Lemons" and I'm getting tired of seeing them playing the same songs over, and over, and over.

The Mooney Suzuki: Missed them both times at The Roxy. I'm stupid.

Captured by Robots: At the Smell? Damn, when is that show!?! I saw he/they are playing at The Garage tomorrow, but I'm gonna have to miss it (going to Cinerama instead). Such a great live show!

Shelter: I once went as Ray Cappo for halloween. I wore my Shelter shirt, had one of those bald caps with a hole cut out of the back for my hair, some krishna beads. I then sang "In Defense of Reality" with a band that was playing that night. Ray also kicked me in the head when he stage-dove during one of their shows. I also remember they they used to tour with these two tough-as-shit asian girls who pushed people around a lot in the pit.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: I really wanted to see them, but I didn't want to pay the steep ticket price to see JSBX. A friend of mine from NYC tells me that one of their new songs is "Seriously, the catchiest damn thing you will ever hear."

The Pattern: They put on a great show. I always really liked the Peechees, so I have no problem with Chris continuing with that "sound".

Upcoming shows that I'll for sure be at: Cinerama tomorrow night at the Troubadour, a bunch of The Party of Helicopters shows in LA, The Bangs @ The Smell, +/- and Moving Units @ Spaceland, a bunch of Kill Me Tomorrow shows and the Aluminum Group @ the Derby. That's all I can think of right now...

-k

[jeddyoh4]

Originally posted by martin
Is Pugz Records in Westwood, as in near UCLA? Do they have a lot of indie/cool stuff? Are they pretty cheap?

pug'z is just like the tower before it (it used to be tower records) but on the third floor they have all sorts of cool vintage couches and clothes for sale. thats where they do their in-stores. i don't know about indie or cheap, though.

[Huang-Yu]

the legendary band WIRE played recently here in austin, tx. it definitely had its moments. still, i left feeling kinda unsatisfied. melt banana is coming soon. should be great.

[martin]

Oops. Captured! By Robots was at the Garage. If you've never seen the one-man band, it's like a combination of MST3K, The Muppet Show, and GWAR. No shit! I don't want to get too into it here because there will be an article in the next GR, but let's just say that the set is a lot more metal now that Guitarbot is a Flying V. Now there are full-on death metal operatic capabilities...

Also saw Day's End at Que Sera in Long Beach. Yes, this is a friend's band and no, they don't suck. It's like the San Dieog sound meets the Chicago sound and gets on AmRep. Loud. Noisy. Good. Lots of controlled feedback. I always thought Que Sera was all-ages, but it looked more like a bar to me. The best thing about it is that there's pinball: Bride of Pinbot. I put in a quarter and got two credits. We had the same score and matched. By then I was feeling the table and earned another credit with a high score. Yeah, that felt good. I miss playing the G'n'R and High Speed pinball machines whle waiting for bands to play at UCLA. Or the Funhouse one at Raji's (or was it Earthquake?).

[shammy718]

Originally posted by martin
Oops. Captured! By Robots was at the Garage. If you've never seen the one-man band, it's like a combination of MST3K, The Muppet Show, and GWAR. No shit! I don't want to get too into it here because there will be an article in the next GR, but let's just say that the set is a lot more metal now that Guitarbot is a Flying V. Now there are full-on death metal operatic capabilities...

Also saw Day's End at Que Sera in Long Beach. Yes, this is a friend's band and no, they don't suck. It's like the San Dieog sound meets the Chicago sound and gets on AmRep. Loud. Noisy. Good. Lots of controlled feedback. I always thought Que Sera was all-ages, but it looked more like a bar to me. The best thing about it is that there's pinball: Bride of Pinbot. I put in a quarter and got two credits. We had the same score and matched. By then I was feeling the table and earned another credit with a high score. Yeah, that felt good. I miss playing the G'n'R and High Speed pinball machines whle waiting for bands to play at UCLA. Or the Funhouse one at Raji's (or was it Earthquake?).

hi. ive been in sd for 7 years. just curious..what's "the san diego sound?" been to shows off and on. want to know if there's rilly a recognizable sound

[martin]

That the Pitchfork/Jehu/RFTC steamroll your head with sheen sound... The reason why SD was touted as "the next Seattle"...

[shammy718]

ok, gotcha. i know jason from rftc. always a good show.

[fancyk]

Originally posted by martin
Oops. Captured! By Robots was at the Garage. If you've never seen the one-man band, it's like a combination of MST3K, The Muppet Show, and GWAR. No shit! I don't want to get too into it here because there will be an article in the next GR, but let's just say that the set is a lot more metal now that Guitarbot is a Flying V. Now there are full-on death metal operatic capabilities...

I saw CBRs open for David J a couple of months ago. Damn that was good. We actually drove by the Garage after Cinerama, but we saw the guy standing outside all dressed in his chains, so we figured he already played...oh well. Next time.

Originally posted by martin
The best thing about it is that there's pinball: Bride of Pinbot. I put in a quarter and got two credits. We had the same score and matched. By then I was feeling the table and earned another credit with a high score. Yeah, that felt good. I miss playing the G'n'R and High Speed pinball machines whle waiting for bands to play at UCLA. Or the Funhouse one at Raji's (or was it Earthquake?). [/B]

Funhouse is probably the best pinball game ever! So damn fun. Is Bride of Pinbot the new one that has the video screen? I'm not too down with that one. It seems like the just took Pinbot, added a video screen and now they can charge you .50 per play instead of .25. That's not cool.

-k

[martin]

No, there was no video screen on the pinball table.

Hey, when you drove by I was talking to/taking pictures of the guy with chains on and guts hanging out. You totally should have stopped and said hi. CBR didn't go on until almost 1:00!

How was Cinerama? I like the Wedding Present and got the first Cinerama CD, but haven't heard the latest.

Also, I bought my Noise Conspiracy ticket. When you go to the El Rey site, it says how many tickets are left! There were 28 as of yesterday morning. The show also has DOLL, The Locust, and Blue Bird. And finally, Jets to Brazil tickets are on sale NOW!

[fancyk]

Originally posted by martin
No, there was no video screen on the pinball table.

Ok, I can deal with that one, but there's a new one that has the video screen, which seriously looks exactly like a PinBot machine, with an added video screen, but it costs .50 per play. Lame.

Hey, when you drove by I was talking to/taking pictures of the guy with chains on and guts hanging out. You totally should have stopped and said hi. CBR didn't go on until almost 1:00!

Shit!, you're kidding! I figured since everyone was standing outside the club, they already played. Oh well. We didn't see you, but we saw that other guy who was with you at the D4 show. I don't remember his name tho...

How was Cinerama? I like the Wedding Present and got the first Cinerama CD, but haven't heard the latest.

They were really good. David Gedge has always had a great stage presence. I prefer the Wedding Present, but Cinerama is still worth going to see. As far as the new cd goes, it's really good, but I think each record has gotten a little bit worse.

And finally, Jets to Brazil tickets are on sale NOW!

Holy Crap! Jets to Brazil tickets are $16! They should only be able to charge that much if it's a Jawbreaker reunion show!

Oh, I saw that Rye Coalition is coming back to Spaceland. I'm going to make sure and bring earplugs this time. My ears were ringing for 3 days last time.

-k

[martin]

Sixteen isn't cheap, but come on. It's the Jets. The new CD is amazing (if you liked the second one, like me) and one of the opening bands is the new project with Richard from Versus and Adam from Jawbreaker/J Church...

Between magazine deadlines, the Kings hockey season ramping up, GR softball, and a trip to Michigan coming up, I am in show withdrawl until the 22nd with the Noise Conspiracy...

[fancyk]

I'm actually not a big Jets/Jawbreaker fan, Michelle likes them way more than I do. She might actually want to go. Probably even more so if the opening band is also ex-Jawbreaker.

Did you go see +/- last Monday?

-k