I didn’t forget that I needed to do part two of this week’s recommended shows.
Thurs. 8/13
Top Show(s): The Watkins Family Hour ring in the release of their great debut album with a show at, where else but, Largo. Royce Hall gets a dose of the blues when the legendary Buddy Guy performs there; opening will be the local roots outfit The Record Company. Alabama Shakes and Blake Mills make for a terrific double bill at the Greek Theater.
The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers will showcase their just-released debut Heavenly Fire at the Echo. If you are going to the Grace Potter at the Fonda, get there early to check out Rayland Baxter – and let me know what Potter’s new sound is like live. I didn’t really gravitate to what I heard of the CD.
Fri. 8/14
Top Show(s): Jackson Browne just keeps going. I saw him perform last year and he was still at the top of his game. He’ll headline the Greek tonight. Fantastic Negrito (aka Xavier Dphrepaulezz) works up an intriguing sound on his debut EP – it’s sorta of modern twist on the blues. He’ll be part of the Echo Park Rising concert tonight. The local band Cayucas make me think of west coast Vampire Weekend (which isn’t a negative thing). They have a new album Dancing At The Blue Lagoon at their El Rey show.
Singer/songwriter George Ezra, the guy who sings “Budapest,” will be at the Wiltern.
Sat. 8/15
Top Show(s): Jimmy Lafave, who ranks with the best of the Texas troubadours, has a free show at Levitt Pasadena. Rock Hall of Famer Spencer Davis has a show at Malibu’s Casa Escobar. Kacey Chambers is the queen of the Australian country scene. If you haven’t heard her music, listen to any of her CDs (the latest Bittersweet makes for a wonderful listening experience) and check out her El Rey concert.
Kasey Chambers
Joseph Arthur always seems to have a new, unique project to share; find about his latest one – Days Of Surrender (which includes selling his tour van) – at McCabe’s. They’ll be a bit away from “Ventura Highway” but America performs a free show at Pershing Square with the Freddy Jones Band opening. The Cold War Kids headline another free show – this one in Century City by the Annenberg Space for Photography – with Other Lives being the other band on the bill. Keaton Simons will be playing the Hotel Café tonight and next Saturday as well.
Sun. 8/16
Top Show: Freedy Johnston is just a pro singer/songwriter. He’s probably best known for the tune, “Bad Reputation” (no, not the Joan Jett song) and he has a bunch of other well-crafted songs that he’ll be playing at playing at the Hotel Café.
You have probably heard the old ‘60s hit “You Were On My Mind.” You might not know that the band that sang it was the We Five – or that they will be performing at McCabe’s. Also on the bill is a Badfinger tribute band featuring Jeff Alan Ross, a latter day member of the band.
