Nu Rave Brain Wave

This Valentines Day, instead of crying into my dog’s neck and binging on chocolate (okay….there was a little of that), I rounded up a few of my favorite ladies and we went down to 1822 Sunset Boulevard to Part Time Punks’ aptly-timed My Bloody Valentine tribute night. Each band covered a song or two from YOU GUESSED IT My Bloody Valentine and in between the PTP DJs played our favorite ear-drum shattering shoegaze, and have you ever seen people try to dance to this?. Hi-larious!

But the main reason I went was for THE MEEK! They are one of my favorites in LA and they don’t play too many shows so I try to catch them when possible. Not only did they cover MBV’s “I Can’t See It (But I Can’t Feel It)”, but also a fantastic little Icelandic band called SINGAPORE SLING‘s Life is Killing My Rock and Roll, which sadly was only recognized and appreciated by maybe 8 audience members. The set was unabashedly dark as always, the death-rattling tambourine just barely breaking through the iron fortress of fuzz and feedback. Vocals are shared by Jeff and Amy Lee, equally, well cool in that detached sort of way. To snootily compare them to one Jesus and Mary Chain, like the kids who looked like Jeffree Star threw up all over them were doing, would be lazy and trite. Who are you?! Get out! THE MEEK RULE!

mp3 | The Meek – Shooting Star

Hey, I totally understand if you get all down on Valentines Day and spend all day listening to Morrissey and feeling sorry for yourself, because lord knows I’ve been there, but I have a much better idea for you this year. Quit moping and celebrate with us at Part Time Punks with one of my favorite LA bands The Meek and whatever MBV night entails. Kevin Shields will not be there, sorry, but the music will be good. The Meek don’t play shows very often so don’t miss this!! See you there!

(photo by our own Miss Saraceno)

10. The Kills, The Horrors and The Magic Wands @ The Glass House, 5/21
Seriously, all 3 bands killed it. I’m not sure when The Horrors traded in their Haunted Mansion organs for HEAVILY Loveless-inspired fuzz, but the makeover works. And if any girl, hell maybe even a few guys, left not wanting to be Alison Mosshart, they weren’t paying enough attention.

(photo by _shade_of_blue on flickr)

9. Spectrum @ The Echo, 5/08
I can’t help it. I adore anything related to Spacemen 3. I can sit and stare into space for hours listening to them. But since seeing them live is apparently never going to happen, Sonic Boom’s Spectrum can help fill that void. This was awesome. He played Ecstasy Symphony/Transparent Radiation AND the MGMT dudes came on stage for a Devo cover. It was bizarre but I loved it.

(photo by donteatmeatnow! for reals! on flickr)

8. A Place to Bury Strangers + Darker My Love @ The Echoplex, 10/16
Loud, loud, loud, fuzz, reverb, loud, distortion, awesome, hearing loss.

(photo by rist photography on flickr)

7. Fitz and the Tantrums @ The Echo, 11/6
I don’t usually buy into the whole soul throwback thing, but something about F & the T’s really appeals to me. I mostly love the dynamic between the male and female singer, both equally talented vocalists that bounce vindictive words off each other with such convincing spite that you’re left wondering if you’re intruding on a private conversation. Throw in a talented horn section and totally danceable rhythms and you’ve got yourself a really, really fun show.

6. The Morning After Girls + Sweaters @ Hotel Cafe, 7/27
The members of these two bands probably weren’t too happy about playing the same night as Jarvis Cocker, but I was. Let’s just say it was a very… intimate performance. That sounds a little raunch, okay the place was practically empty. But neither band let that sway them! Sweaters are so much fun and never fail to bring joy into my little heart. Have you seen Sweaters? Do it. We love them. The Morning After Girls definitely slowed it down for a semi-acoustic performance of songs from their self-titled debut and (incredible) new album Alone. It was beautiful!


(both photos by Brianna)

5. The Growlers + Xu Xu Fang @ The Echo, 8/17
The Growlers and the Fang were easily my two favorite musical discoveries of the year. I saw both bands an embarrassing amount of times. And since the rock and roll gods love me, the two of them happened to play together at my favorite venue on a lovely late summer evening. So good.

(photo by slates81 on flickr)

4. The Sonics @ Echoplex, 8/21
Oh damn. THE SONICS!!! Duhhhh. What else do I really need to say? These dudes are decades older than us, and rock way harder than 99% of the bands around today. Legends.

(photo by benjamin hoste on flickr)

3. The Dandy Warhols + The Meek @ The Glass House, 6/5
I love Dandy Warhols shows because there are never any fair-weather fans there. If you like the Dandys, you probably LOVE them, know all the songs and dance like a moron (I definitely did this). Stage banter from Courtney Taylor-Taylor is ALWAYS hilarious, so you get comedy and music all in one. And I could not have been happier for my pals in The Meek opening for them. It was a perfect fit.

(photo by Chris Molina for the Scenestar)

2. Echo and the Bunnymen @ Nokia Theater, 10/24
Okay, might’ve shed a tear at this one. And that generally only happens to me at Oasis concerts. But Ocean Rain played in its entirety with a small orchestra? Wow wow wow. It was breath-taking. And there are few things in this life more enjoyable than dancing to “Bring on the Dancing Horses” in the aisles with a bunch of drunk strangers.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAND THE BEST CONCERT OF 2009 WAS

MY BLOODY VALENTINE AT THE EL REY

I don’t think I even need to explain this one.