Stab City at Down N Out

It was off to see Stab City at the Down N Out.  I haven't seen these guys in a bit.  It is nice to know they can still get the mosh pit going.  The security guard decided to shut it down and stood in the center of the floor.
 

The Child at Amoeba Records

Off to catch one of my favorite bands, The Child at Amoeba Records.  They were celebrating their EP release.   This was my first time at Amoeba Records to catch a concert.  This is driven mainly by the fact that work often conflicts with their in store concerts.  But hey, it was The Child and so I made sure I made it.

What can I say:  a lovely set.

Fun fact:  Holly had a microphone stand problem for their final song.  It kept on dropping, which meant she had  to do some body twisting.  I half wanted to help, but she looked so cool doing so.

Fun fact 2:  Lauren was dressed in goth to celebrate Happy Goth Day.


 

A Movie Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. An unconnected group of British decide to move to India to live out their golden years. It is expensive to retire in the UK. Though not the main reason why many of the retirees decided to head to India, it is a reason for a handful of them: a couple who didn't make enough money to retire properly, a grandmother who lives with her daughter's family and a widow whose husband left behind a significant amount of debt. They head to a falsely advertised hotel called The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. They are forced to adapt to a new culture. Most succeed though one is definitely unable to do so.

Though I did not feel any great connection to this movie, I still enjoyed it immensely.  

Kate Crash at the Doll Factory

Kate Crash played a set at the Doll Factory during the recent Derby Dolls game.  I didn't get to see her whole set, but I did catch perhaps half her set.  Talk about a woman who mixes music with flexibility!

Grace Woodroofe at Harvard and Stone

It was off to Harvard and Stone to catch Grace Woodroofe. I saw her for the first time at Bootleg in April.  I was eager to see her again.  Yep, she's awesome.

Conversation with a fellow photographer:

Him:  I saw you in Burbank yesterday.
Me:  Sorry, that wasn't me.  I was at home yesterday.
Him:  No, the Bootleg.
Me:  No, I was home yesterday.
Him:  I saw you at the Bootleg when Lucy Schwartz was there.
Me:  Oh, yeah, I was there.

Can't hear anything . . .


 

Dear Left Brain and Irontom at Silverlake Lounge

A Monday night at Silverlake Lounge was spent catching Dear Left Brain and Irontom.  I first saw Dear Left Brain at Club Moscow.  In fact, if I had arrived earlier, I would have caught Sunfall, a band that played with Dear Left Brain at Club Moscow.  I love Club Moscow, but I have to say that Silverlake Lounge fits Dear Left Brain better.

I ended up having a brief conversation with the girlfriend of one of the Irontom members.  She spoke highly of Irontom, of course.  Her comments were appropriate.  The lead singer, as you can see below, is very animated.

Dear Left Brain




Irontom

My Ranking: Winter/Spring 2012 movies

Fun movies (but admittedly no Oscar level stuff here)

21 Jump Street
Chronicle
Underworld Awakening

Flawed

American Reunion
Safe House
Hunger Games

What Might have been

John Carter

Ouch

Wrath of the Titans
Haywire
The Grey
Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Devo at the Hollywood Park

It was a birthday party and for the birthday part it was off to Hollywood Park to catch Devo. What was the best part of seeing Devo?  Honestly, I think it was seeing their fans.  Some of them spent the whole 90 minutes or so dancing the night away.  Talk about energy.


 

Caught a Ghost and Gliss at The Satelitte

A Monday night, which meant it was time to catch a residency band. This night it was Caught a Ghost at The Satellite. First up for me on this night was a favorite band, Gliss. Sometimes way too much time passes before I get to see one of my favorite bands.  It was well over a year ago when I last caught Gliss at The Troubadour.  Oh how I missed them.

Comment of the night by Gliss:  You will be graded on your excitement at the end of the night.

For Caught a Ghost, I was looking at the band and was thinking, "I know these folks."  I just couldn't place them.  I did a search of my posts and realized I saw them at a fundraiser event about a year and a half ago.  They had the Satellite looking like a festive ghost house.  They had a magician open up for them.  I failed to catch his name, but I'm rather sure I caught his act before at The Echo awhile back.  The set itself:  a dress for success evening. 


Gliss



Magician



Caught a Ghost




If one of the bands happens to come across this post and likes the photo, I've got a few more.  Feel free to leave a comment and I'll get some photos to you.

The Mots Nouveaux and Christine Donaldson at Hotel Cafe

It was off to Hotel Cafe to catch The Mots Nouveaux. I got there a little early and was able to catch perhaps half of Christine Donaldson's set.  I enjoyed Christine Donaldson's set and I really loved her personality, she seems like a very friendly individual.  The Mots Nouveaux closed out the night.  I do love their music.  Emma's parents were in the audience.  Aaron and Emma are getting the playful duo banter down.

Comment of the night via The Mots Nouveaux:  That's the first time we've played that together . . . not even in rehearsals.

Christine Donaldson



The Mots Nouveaux

Youngblood Hawke and Duniven at The Satellite

Off to The Satellite to see Youngblood Hawke and Duniven.

Youngblood Hawke: For awhile there I was worried the lead singer was going to accidentally smack me in the face as he was singing at the edge of the stage and sometimes that left arm got a bit close for comfort.  Not really a complaint though as I love this band.

Duniven:  The residency band for April.  He lists his influences as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and REM.  I'm not saying he's Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and REM, but I do see their influences in his music.

Youngblood Hawke














Duniven



Note:  I always take a few photos when I'm out.  If a band comes across this post and is interested in seeing more photos, leave a comment.

One Tribe Nation and Snarky Puppy at The Mint

I got an e-mail from a friend. His band, One Tribe Nation, was playing at The Mint. First, I'd never seen his band. Second, as strange as this might sound, I'd never been to The Mint.

One Tribe Nation hit the stage for about 45 minutes. A funk/rock band that kept driving us at high speeds until the end (well, technically, they gave us a breath and slowed it down for their final song).

Snarky Puppy is a fusion jazz band from New York. Now I personally had never heard of Snarky Puppy, but I was in the distinct minority. The place was packed. And the music had everyone mesmerized (that includes me). They played for close to 1 1/2 hours. It didn't feel like it. Towards the back half of their set, they pulled out three Los Angeles musicians from the audience to play with them on selects songs: a New York/Los Angeles family affair.

One Tribe Nation

Snarky Puppy