It’s a Super Tuesday highlighted by the stellar show at the Satellite where Pony Boy opens up for the Mynabirds at the Satellite. I talked about Pony Boy last week, so let me give some shout-outs to Mynabirds. Laura Burhenn filled the band’s debut What We Lost In Fire, We Gain In The Flood, with simmering, soulful Americana rock. The recently released sophomore effort Generals holds a more varied sound with more politically charged music for this election year. Another fiery female, Ruby Friedman brings her Orchestra to the Federal while singer-songwriter Tamar Karelian showcases tunes from her new EP, California, at Room 5.
Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn. Photo By Shervin Lainz.
The first day of August offers the nimble fingers and genre-splitting of Chris Thile at Largo. Over at the Echo, Au Revoir Simone singer Erika Forster shares some of the sweet, dreamy electopop from her upcoming self-titled EP.
There is a pair of good free music on Thursday night, but I will give the nod to Kasey Chambers at the Santa Monica Pier over twangy times at Culver City’s City Hall, where Robert David Hall and Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys share the bill. A rather provocative concert happens at the Bootleg as chanteuse Chrysta Bell performs with her longtime collaborator David Lynch (yes, the Dune dude).
Things start getting complicated on Friday night. The reunited Beachwood Sparks light up the Echo. The terrific local band Belle Brigade has a free show downtown at California Plaza. I’ll admit that I am not too familiar with East Coasters Real Estate but I’m intrigued by the comparisons to REM, Pavement and, especially for me, the Feelies. Meanwhile, Missouri rockers Ha Ha Tonka come to the El Rey with Murder By Death.
Ha Ha Tonka
If those aren’t enough choices, the North Mississippi Allstars Duo (which is the Dickinson brothers) will be stomping at the Mint, but they will be returning for a second night on Saturday. The New L.A. Folk Festival takes over Zorthian Ranch with a lineup featuring Dustbowl Revival, Sea of Bees, Gwendolyn, Leslie Stevens, Tom Brosseau and those Beachwood Sparks guys. Soul crooner Nick Waterhouse will be down in Long Beach for the city’s Summer and Music’s Dancin’ In the Streets event. More free music can be found at Pershing Square with local legends the Bangles playing along with rising L.A. band Right The Stars, a quite cool indie pop group.
The Grand Ole Echo ends the weekend in high style on Sunday. The wild Aussie roots rockers Wagons (full disclosure: I did their press bio for their US release
Rumble, Shake & Tumble) make a special appearance with the Damngivers, Stephen Sowan and Phoebe Bridgers also playing.
