“These songs were meant to be heard live. The drums, which are a bit buried on the album, come out in full force live, making the songs a completely different beast all together. Logan is a machine on drums and Meric’s mastery of the southern picking tradition is still there as well. Simply put, the man can play, better than that… the man can wail.” [Bay Bridged]

The Dodos are back in town in support of their new album “Time to Die”. I am yet to hear the album but my understanding is that it is a bit softer than prior recordings of theirs. Nevertheless about two years ago I considered this duo one of the better acts to see live in the underground scene. So we shall see if they still got the magic.
I got three tickets to the show this Sunday at the El Rey at $22 a piece.

1. Capt AKAK
2. J Kelley
3. ??

Sidenote:  The name of this site was derived from an email exchange between Meric Long and myself.

ATP has a special place in my heart as it is the first concert I went to after leaving the world of electronic music in Texas and moving to California. Five years ago, this festival was being held in Long Beach at the Queen Mary, playing host to such bands as Modest Mouse, The Shins, Built to Spill, Elliott Smith, Mission of Burma, Mars Volta, Minutemen Duo, Lungfish, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and many others.  The group that is now TSS was smaller and largely made up of different faces back then but the essence was the same; people coming together over a common thread of passion for the positive vibration force that is music. While thinking about these early days of pre-TSS  existence, I sifted through some old shoe-boxes for photos of the crew. Check out these memories. (more…)

Just Part of the Family

Supposedly Built to Spill has been living in LA for the past couple of months recording their new album due out October 6th. Why they have not been playing a residency at Spaceland every Monday night is beyond me because lord knows I (and probably you) would have been there every week. But that is all in the past now, Built to Spill is scheduled to be playing a show at the newly reopened Galaxy Theater in Costa Mesa. I was shocked when I saw this but it is in fact true; Doug Martsch and team will be playing in the OC just following their Sunset Junction Street Fair performance.

Over the past three years, Built to Spill (both recorded and live) has come to mean more and more to me as time passes. I remember the first time I heard Perfect From Now On, I thought to myself good but not great. Well first impressions are often quite wrong because it is close to perfection in my estimation now. Another example, the first time I saw Built to Spill live was at the Anaheim House of Blues (shit venue fyi) when George Pants was desperately attempting to make me a believer in their sound. I just stood there during the show relatively unimpressed by this mild mannered Idahoan who chirped a sheepish “Thanks” after every song. Fast forward 4 years, I am tap-foot dancing, transfixed to their every move at a Henry Fonda show. Life is weird, sometimes you just are not ready to hear something until you are ready. My hope is that you will not be as stubborn as I once was and experience the magic yourself.
Here is a gift from the very night I realized the greatness of BTS live. Enjoy the appetizer prior to the main course.

Built to Spill – Live at Henry Fonda, LA 7.27.2007

I have 6 tickets to the show @ $28 a piece.

1. Capt AKAK
2. JP
3. Katie
4. Bruce
5. Kia
6. Chuckles

1. Pants
2. ??

“[Deerhunter's] Rough edges have been sanded down into a far more digestible format. Psychedelic leanings which have threatened to spiral out of control remain, but now with its bittersweet underpinnings pushed to the surface.” [Drowned in Sound]

Homefield advantage bitches! This is one of those shows where I get so excited many people around me are concerned that I will blow my load too soon. I will get my hopes up and inevitably be let down. Here is the deal though, I get to be happy regardless from this day to that, so screw it if I am let down.

For those of you unfamiliar with Deerhunter, frontman Bradford Cox has produced some of the greatest records in modern time. He (like Jimi Hendrix) was placed here by God for a short time to rip our souls in half with musical pleasantries. Exaggerations, you ask? Probably. But nevertheless he did create my favorite album from 2008 “Let those who blind, Lead those who can see but cant feel” which doubles as the greatest album title ever. Both of his side projects: Atlas Sound and Lotus Plaza are equally as good. Cox has created something like 6 albums and 10 7″s over the course of 5 years. What other band can make these claims? Bottomline everyone who went to the show at the El Rey about a year ago was utterly satisfied.

In case you are on the fence, check out this footage from that show shot by resident TSS member JP to see how you feel about it. If that does not persuade you, check out OceanRain’s review of Deerhunter last full length album, Microcastle.

I got 6 tickets at $18 a piece. Someone should probably get more here.

1. Capt AKAK
2. Timothy
3. JP
4. Bruce
5. Matthew Garrett Royed
6. Dharma Bum

1. Justin

Late Show notice:

Some of you have already had the pleasure of witnessing the Octopus Project once at a free show about a year ago at the Roxy, so you are familiar. For those of you who are not familiar, realize that this band is a musical version of the Jetsons cartoon being transported from the future to present day. I would describe them as electronic indie rock with few lyrics but great rythems. They are fun is the bottom line, little bit of dancing and a whole lot of grooving. They showcase a theremin for God’s sake…which is an instrument that converts vibration in the air into a sound, it is pretty amazing to watch live. Anyway check the video to see if you want to join. I got 5 tickets at $20 a piece.

1. Capt AKAK
2. Capt Shabbin
3. Hemoroyed
4. WBRecords
5. Timothy

Megafaun will be venturing into the Los Angeles border for a performance at the Echo next Tuesday, bringing with them their trusty banjos and other folk-ish goodies. For some history, Megafaun played as the back band for Akron/Family during the Love is Simple tour (more…)

The Builders and the Butchers are back in LA for another stint at Spaceland.  I discovered this band about 2 years ago when they opened for Helio Sequence at the Detriot Bar of all places. They played an epic hour set that was complete with them passing out pots, pans, spoons, tambourines, etc to everyone in the crowd. I just love bands that invite the crowd to help out in developing the overall energy of an evening. At that show I picked up their only album at the time and subsequently listened to it for about two weeks straight in the car. Other of my friends became equally obsessed with it; in fact one of my friends used to call my work number and I was answer the phone in my cubicle to him singing their opening song at full blast in my ear. Awesome stuff. Now they have a new album which is part of this tour and I am very excited to hear it for the first time live.

Long story short. They are fun. It is cheap. We should go. Here is a video of them on the road the last time they were in town. Its pretty hilarious.

We are getting tickets at the show but here is who is going so far:

1. Capt AKAK
2. ALHP
3. J WYA
4. Ebee
5. Capt Shabbin
6. George Pants
7. Jewels

Good friend and official member (not even sure what actually makes someone official) of the TSS group Jody Orsborn is presenting Leslie and the Badger’s CD release bash at Spaceland this Tuesday.

(more…)

Title: music & poetry at the found
Location: found theatre in long beach
Link out: Click here
Description: Second Wind (David, Pattie, and Marc) want to remind you of the upcoming evening at the Found Theatre, Sunday, June 21st, 7:00pm. The evening will include our music (with some new addtions for our loyal fans) and a special friend and guest Luisa Peña who will read some original poetry. Luisa Peña studied English Literature at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Wales at Swansea, and completed her degree at California State University Long Beach. Her poetry will be in the Fall 2009 edition of Spot Literary Magazine. Her Literary musings and preferences can be found at themeaningyoumake.com. Space is limited, so make plans early. We\’d love to have you there!
Date: 2009-06-21

THE FOUND THEATRE

599 Long Beach Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.433.3363 found theatre

Date & Time: Sunday, June 21, 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10

The Found Theatre, 599 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.

Pre-Show Dining: Treat Dad to gourmet food at coffee shop prices! Bouchees Bistro, our closest neighbor at 515 Long Beach Blvd. will be serving Father’s Day Specials, plus the rest of its wonderful menu: gourmet burgers, great soups and salads, unbelievable sweet potato fries, and more. And it’s just steps from the theatre, so park free in the CityPlace lot near CVS and walk to both venues.

Choir boys meets indie-folk rock stars. I am not a huge fan of all grizzly bear songs but I hear that their new album is something special. I am not sure whether I will listen to it prior to seeing them live because I always find it extra special to hear a song for the first time live. I love their Friend EP which I purchased about two years ago. Plus they are on Warp records which kicks ass.

The tickets were expensive at $41 a piece but I got 8 of them nevertheless.

1. Capt AKAK
2. Meg
3. JP
4. George Pants
5. Kia Sonata
6. OceanRain
7. Ebee
8. Amelia

To purchase more check here: Cross Your Fingers