Go See Hear in L.A. May 29-June # (The Beach Boys/Dry The River edition)

Memorial Weekend signaled the official start of summer, so it seems appropriate that this week finds the Beach Boys playing in town at the Hollywood Bowl (6/2) and Irvine Meadows (6/3). Tickets probably now are just available at brokers since this tour celebrates the band’s 50^th anniversary and reunites Brian Wilson with his old bandmates. It’s sure to be a historic show but less certain how good they will sound.

The other big reunion of sorts is the Clean’s appearance at the Echo on May 30. This influential New Zealand band doesn’t come to town often so it is a real treat. Opening for the band are their Merge labelmates Times New Vikings.

Then there is the Jack White show at the Wiltern May 30 & 31. There is little more to say about the multi-talented White and his multiple projects, but get there early to see the openers Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. These guys will be rippin’ it up with their old school roots tunes.

Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three

McCabe’s has put together another weekend of terrific shows. Friday night, features Joe Pernice – first generation No Depression fans remember him from the Scud Mountain Boys. McCabe’s favorite Peter Case is there June 2 with a screening of the music documentary Troubadour Blues and Texas legend Jon Dee Graham wraps up the weekend of shows on Sunday as he showcases tunes from his new one, Garage Sale.

Singer-songwriter fans should also note that Nashvilleans Eric Brace and Peter Cooper swing through the Southland, starting Tuesday at the Coffee Gallery Backstage and Wednesday at South Pasadena’s Wine & Song at the Firefly, while going to Ventura’s Zoey’s Café on the 31^st. The 31^st also is when Mariah McManus commences her month-long residency at the Hotel Café.  That night too you can find Greg Laswell, who released a new album, Landline last month, playing at the El Rey on the 31^st. On June 2, the El Rey will be the place to hear Cass McCombs’ intriguing lo-fi music.

Try to catch the London band Dry The River at the Bootleg on the 5/30. Their rootsy music is a pure joy. I have also been enjoying the young band, Horse Feathers, whose folksy sound is a little more laidback but quite compelling. They’ll be at the Echo on the 31^st. The Echo plays hosts to the Canadian band, Wintersleep on the 29^th. This hooky outfit has an album due in mid-June that Dave Fridmann (famous for this Flaming Lips work) had a hand in.

Horse Feathers

If you aren’t heading to the Pernice show on June 1^st, your other choices include veteran “California Soul” group Mother Hips at the Bootleg, LA rockers Skyline Pigeons doing a record release show at Molly Malones and Hospitality at the Satellite.

A new old John Lee Hooker – Live in Gardner MA, 1974 (Who Else Played At Down In The Dumps?)

On June 19, MVD will be releasing a DVD called Cook With The Hook, which captures blues great John Lee Hooker live in concert in 1974. It looks like a cool archival project. Hooker was still going strong then, performs 6 songs over the 45 minute set, including “Boom Boom” and “Sweet Sweet Thing.” In fact, his career would stretch out another 25 years and include Grammy wins and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction before passing away in 2001.

My question however is about the show that this DVD comes from. The press materials state that it from a day-long festival in Gardner, Massachusetts called “Down In The Dumps,” which was held apparently in the city’s landfill. I was curious about who else played at this concert but I couldn’t find anything in an Internet search. Anyone know anything about this show?

Go See Hear In L.A. May 22-29 (The Fabulous Thunderbirds/Trampled By Turtles edition)

Ok, you weren’t quick enough to snag Beck tickets for his El Rey show on the 22^nd. There are still several great shows for that night and the rest of the week.

The 22^nd boasts the second night of young British singer Lianne La Havas’ local showcases. Monday, she’s at the Bardot and Tuesday it’s the Bootleg. She has really cool sound – it’s laidback but compelling jazzy, soulful thing that’s in the Corinne Bailey Rae neighborhood. Another young songstress Charlene Kaye will be at the House of Blues both 22^nd and 23^rd in advance of her second album Animal Love.

Tuesday too, Trampled by Turtles will be stomping at the Music Box. While the Minnesota-based acoustic group is known for their rousing live shows, their terrific new album Stars and Satellites finds them in a little more laid-back mode. Folks who have discovered the energizing Americana sounds of bands like the Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show should do yourself a favor a check these guys out.

I was a fan of Robert Francis’ indie debut One By One and now his has his label debut on Vanguard, Strangers In The First Place. The singer-songwriter has a record release show at the Troubadour, appropriately enough, on May 23.

My Thursday pick is the first L.A. appearance by Tré Williams and the Revelations. These soul sensations have an old school sound that definitely has a contemporary spark to it. They’ll be filling the Mint their sweet music.

Also on the Thursday, Hugh Laurie makes a quick exit from playing Dr. House to playing the blues at the El Rey. The Masonic Lodge, meanwhile, hosts New Zealand-born Kimbra. She’s perhaps best known for her appearance on Goyte’s hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” but she is a stylish singer in her own right.

On Friday, the Swedish band, We Are Serenades – featuring Adam Olenius (Shout Out Louds) and Markus Krunegard (Laakso) – will be performing their catchy pop tunes at the Bootleg.

Freedy Johnston

The holiday weekend offers a number of interesting choices. Two of the best American song-crafters have shows on Saturday night. Freedy Johnston, best known for his indelible “Lucky One” and most recently in a project called The Hobart Brothers and Lil’ Sis Hobart with Susan Cowsill and Jon Dee Graham, will be at the Mint on Saturday. Loudon Wainwright III has shows Saturday and Sunday at McCabe’s as he had a new album, Older Than My Old Man, which comes stocked with more witty, worldly wise Wainwright songs.

Alex’s Bar will welcome two punk rock veterans – The Urinals and the Avengers (led by Penelope Houston). The Avengers are celebrating the release of a 2-CD set that includes the long-unavailable Pink Album

The Johnny Cash tribute band, Cash’d Out, will be walking the line at the Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach on Saturday. This is the only Cash tribute band endorsed by JohnnyCash.com. Baby Boomers will be “takin’ it easy” to the Wiltern to see Glenn Frey in a solo Eagle show.

Roots music fans will want to head to the Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park for the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival. The festival (which has a Mardi Gras parade, kids’ stages, crafts and other activities) boasts a strong lineup of performers, including the fabulous Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson; a Muddy Waters Tribute featuring blues legend James Cotton, Muddy’s son Mud Morganfield, Paul Oscher, and other members of the Muddy Waters band, Rod Piazza, Rosie Ledet, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble and the colorful blues belter Candye Kane, who recently had cancer surgery. and more.

Candye Kane

Sunday offers another festival, the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA, which continues on into Monday. Sunday, however, is the day I would recommend as it features the Roots and Booker T. Jones, with rising star Gary Clark Jr. playing too. Sunday also features a solo show from Deadstring Brother frontman Kurt Marsche and then you find a BBQ to unwind at on Memorial Day Monday.

Two Music Docs. Visit L.A. in June: Troubadour Blues and Chely Wright

For those who enjoy a good music documentary, there will be a pair of interesting ones screening in L.A. during June.

First up will be Troubadour Blues. Filmmaker Tom Weber spent around a decade making this movie, which explores the life of the singer/songwriter. Dave Alvin, Mary Gauthier, Chris Smithers, Mark Erelli, Slaid Cleaves, Garrison Starr and Peter Case – all folks who are great storytellers – are among the musicians that Weber spotlights in his documentary.

Case himself will be hosting the screening June 2 at McCabe’s while Julie Christensen will be at the June 5^th screening at Altadena’s Coffee Gallery Backstage.

It seems appropriate that a film about touring troubadours is touring around the country too.

Opening June 15 at the Laemmle Music Hall is Wish Me Away. This award-winning documentary focuses on country singer Chely Wright’s public coming-out as being gay. Filmmaker Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf, who will be at the theater on opening night, spent 3 years with Wright as she went through this emotional journey. The film, has earned awards at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival. reveals her courage in making this decision and its aftermath – both professionally and personally.

K is the letter of the day: Kris Kristofferson and Kevn Kinney news

A couple old friends – with double K initials –  have some new projects worth mentioning.

Legendary singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson is honoring the 5oth anniversary of the United Farm Workers with a series of fundraising concerts in California. He will joined at these shows by some other acts, including Los Lobos, Mariachi Divas and Nydia Rojas with Trio Ellas.

Here is the complete list of shows:

Friday, June 15 – San Diego, CA – Spreckels Theatre, 8:00 pm- Kris Kristofferson &  Mariachi Divas

Saturday, June 16 – Fresno, CA – Warnors Center for the Performing Arts, 8:00 pm - Kris Kristofferson & Nydia Rojas with Trio Ellas

 Monday, June 18 – Stockton, CA – The Bob Hope Theatre, 7:30 pm - Kris Kristofferson & TBD

Tuesday, June 19 – Bakersfield, CA – The Fox Theater, 8:00 pm - Kris Kristofferson & Los Lobos

Thursday, June 21 – Oxnard, CA – Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, 7:30 pm - Kris Kristofferson & Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano

 Friday, June 22 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic, 8:00 pm - Kris Kristofferson & Los Tex-Maniacs featuring Mingo Saldivar

Also in June, Kevn Kinney will be serving up some new Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ music. The group plans to deliver 4 EPs over the next year on their own New! Records label. The first EP called Songs from the Laundromat will favor DnC’s rockin’ side, sez Kinney. Nice to see these old faves still drivin’ n’ cryin’.

 

 

 

Go See Hear In L.A. May 15-20 (The Great Lake Swimmers/Royal Southern Brotherhood Edition)

Tuesday night’s Troubadour show gets the week off to a flying start with the pairing of Norwegian songstress Ane Brun and British singer-songwriter Gemma Ray. I have been digging Brun’s music for several years. She has a spare and ethereal quality that is very compelling. Her new one It All Starts With One finds her nicely filling out her sound. Ray, a more recent discovery,  has a beguiling way with updating ‘60s girls group pop. The songs I’ve heard from her latest Island Fire are very cool indeed.

Gemma Ray

Tuesday also finds the Portland Cello Project rolling into Largo. As their name suggests, they play cellos but play them to hip-hop on their latest Homage, which makes for an interesting collision of musical styles.

Another creative use of classical music will happen on Wednesday at UCLA’s Royce Hall, where Portugal, The Man will utilize members of the UCLA Philharmonia in a special performance (with HAIM and The Ten Thousand also on the bill). The Grammy Museum, meanwhile, hosts one of its Homegrown sessions, with the Belle Brigade being a very worthy subject of their spotlight. Their debut album last year was a joy to listen to.

Wednesday actually offers a bounty of great shows. Sarah Jaffe may hail from Texas but she isn’t a twangy troubadour. Jaffe reveals his adventurous musical nature on The Body Wins, her new album that I reviewed for American Songwriter. Rootsy rock mainstays, the Bodeans, who now are led just by Kurt Neumann, headline the Troubadour. Stories Bookstore has a free show from Run Run Run’s Xander Smith, whose new solo work is quiet yet impressive music.

Another practitioner of quiet music, Peter Bradley Adams, who was part of eastmountainsouth during his L.A. days returns with a show at the Hotel Café on Thursday. The Danish group Alcoholic Faith Mission boasts a sound that is much more gentle, bucolic sound than their name implies.

Friday holds a variety of interesting concert options. The Royal Southern Brotherhood, which features Devon Allman and Cyril Neville, bring their Dixie-grooved rock ‘n’ roll to Hermosa Beach’s Sainte Rocke on the 5/18. The Mint will be jamming too to the Afro-Latin reggae rhythms of Sarazino, who has a new disc, Everyday Salama, due on Cumbancha.

I’ve always enjoyed the Great Lake Swimmers’ stylish sound, which is something like their fellow Canadians Blue Rodeo but with a bit more indie rock edge. They will be at the Troubadour on Friday night. Kina Grannis, who hit with a charming video and song “In Your Arms,” comes to the John Anson Ford, while the hip kids will be at the Wiltern for Best Coast.

Lee Fields

My top choice for Saturday night would be Lee Fields & The Expressions will be filling the Echo with some sweet soul music. Fields has been around since the late ‘60s but is finally getting the chance to show what a terrific singer and entertainer he is. However, you couldn’t go wrong with the always intriguing Shelby Lynne at McCabe’s (if tickets are still to be had for this intimate show). Another often-confessional female singer-songwriter Garrison Starr has a record release show at the Hotel Café.

Plant and Animals, who come out of the Montreal scene that spawned Arcade Fire, bring their brand of indie rock to the Satellite, while rising singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson has sold out the Troubadour. I was nicely surprised how much his new album Moving Up Living Down grabbed my attention.

After such a jammed week, you can ease through Sunday night with the soulful music of the sublimely fine Holmes Brothers, who will be McCabe’s in support of their latest effort Feed My Soul.

Go See Hear in L.A. May 6-13 (the Gurf Morlix edition)

This week is shaping up to be something of a hodgepodge week of shows. A number of really good ones but nothing that truly dominates the week.

Monday does hold the wonderful pairing of Death Cab For Cutie at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. However, if you are looking for something a little more low-key, head over to the Hotel Café and catch Jackie Bristow’s set. Kasey Chambers, this New Zealand native show that you can make real gritty, twangy Americana even if you are from Down Under. Her album Freedom is worthy checking out.

On the 9^th, Jonathan Wilson headlines the Troubadour. While he has been a major behind-the-scenes player locally, Wilson released a lovely album, Gentle Spirit on Bella Union/Yep Roc last year that got him some well-deserved acclaimed.

At the recent Woody Guthrie Tribute concert, Jackson Browne was all over the stage. Whether backing up other acts or doing own mini-set, we was in fine voice throughout. He’ll have his own, semi-intimate show at Largo on Thursday with Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench and young guitar whiz Blake Mills among his collaborators.

The 10^th also marks the first of several local shows from guitarist Gurf Morlix. The one-time Lucinda Williams guitarist has made a number of interesting solo outings over the years. He’ll be at the Hotel Café on Thursday, Sierra Madre house concert on Saturday and a show at Claremont’s Folk Music Center on the 19^th.

Friday finds the English Beat making their merry ska-rock at Agoura Hills’ Canyon Club. Later this summer, Shout! Factory will be releasing a best of and boxset of their music.

Saturday holds a varied range of musical options. Anton Newcombe leads his latest incarnation of the Brian Jonestown Massacre into the Wiltern, while Rufus Wainwright celebrates his latest Out of the Game with a show at the Orpheum – a grand locale for a grand performer. Yann Tiersen, meanwhile, will fill the Music Box with his atmospheric music. Don’t just think of Brendan Benson as Jack White’s sidekick; he’s a talented musician in his own right. I discovered him back on his terrific 1996 debut One Mississippi; his latest is What Kind of World.

The New L.A. Folk Fest salutes the new 7-inch of old-time-inspired Americana from the Driftwood Singers with an afternoon-evening show featuring Tom Brosseau, Ferraby Lionheart and, of course, the Driftwood Singers. Another fine singer-songwriter can be found at the Hotel Café, where up-and-coming Austinite Reed Turner will do a set. His new EP Side One: See How Far I Get makes you hope that he does a side two that is a full length.

Reed Turner

Mother’s Day offers a pair of artful ladies – Julie Christensen and Cindy Lee Berryhill – at McCabe’s. Over at the Bootleg, the theater piece Evangeline, The Queen of Make-Believe (co-written by Los Lobos’ Louie Perez and based off of the Lobos’ tune “Evangeline”) will be performed as it will on Sundays through May 27.