Amateur Chemist

Wilco at the Wiltern

2012-01-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Wilco at the Wiltern over at Stereogum.

Wilco at the Hollywood Palladium

2012-01-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Wilco at the Hollywood Palladium over at OC Weekly.

Anthrax at the House of Blues Anaheim

2012-01-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Anthrax at House of Blues Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

Angels and Airwaves at the House of Blues Anaheim

2012-01-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Angels and Airwaves at the House of Blues Anaheim over at OC Weekly

NAMM at the Anaheim Convention Center

2012-01-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of NAMM at the Anaheim Convention Center over at OC Weekly.

Zakk Wylde Roast at the Grove of Anaheim

2012-01-21T17:40:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of the Zakk Wylde Roast at the Grove of Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

A brief review of NAMM and the Roast are also over at OC Weekly.

Wu Tang Clan at the Grove of Anaheim

2012-01-20T00:58:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Wu Tang Clan at the Grove of Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

Tool at the Mandalay Bay Events Center

2012-01-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Tool at the Mandalay Bay Events Center over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

M83 at Club Nokia Night 2

2012-01-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of M83 and Big Black Delta at Club Nokia over at OC Weekly.

M83 at Club Nokia

2012-01-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of M83 and Big Black Delta at Club Nokia over at Stereogum.

Incoming: White Rabbits new album "Milk Famous"

2012-01-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Having last ventured upon White Rabbits when they opened for Interpol back in October 2010 (picture above is from their Greek Theatre performance), the Britt Daniel endorsed collective have a new album Milk Famous due out on March 6th with an stop off at the El Rey Theatre on March 28th.

Stereogum posted their new track "Heavy Metal" here.

Here are the tour dates:
March 6: Philadelphia, PA / Union Transfer *
March 7: Washington D.C. / Black Cat *
March 8: Charlottesville, VA / Jefferson Theater ^
March 9: Raleigh, NC / Lincoln Theatre ^
March 11: Atlanta, GA / Variety Playhouse ^
March 12: Birmingham, AL / The Bottletree ^
March 13: New Orleans, LA / One Eyed Jacks ^
March 14: Houston, TX / Fitzgeralds ^
March 19: Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
March 20: Salt Lake City, UT / Urban Lounge
March 22: Portland, OR / Doug Fir Lounge
March 23: Vancouver, BC / Biltmore Cabaret
March 24: Seattle, WA / Crocodile Cafe
March 26: San Francisco, CA / The Independent
March 28: Los Angeles, CA / El Rey Theatre
March 29: San Diego, CA / The Casbah
March 30: Phoenix, AZ / Crescent Ballroom
March 31: Tucson, AZ / Club Congress
April 3: Lawrence, KS / Jackpot Music Hall
April 4: Columbia, MO / The Blue Note
April 5: St. Louis, MO / Plush
April 6: Madison, WI / High Noon Saloon
April 7: Minneapolis, MN / Triple Rock Social Club
April 8: Chicago, IL / Metro
April 12: New York, NY / Webster Hall
April 13: Northampton, MA / Pearl Street Downtown
April 14: Boston, MA / Paradise Rock Club
* with Tennis^ with The War On Drugs

Lab Report 2011: The Year in Review

2012-01-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

2011 was a very difficult year for me to say the least. When I took my medical hiatus in February of 2011, I honestly didn't know if I would come back. Fortunately, I was able to return and it has helped in the healing process. Some milestones occurred this year in that I celebrated my fifth anniversary of the site and surpassed one thousand posts.

Previous years in review: 2008, 2009, 2010.

Total number of concerts in 2011: 110 (Out of 293 eligible days).

Number of days on medical hiatus: 72 days.

Average of a concert every 2.6 days.

Total number of photos/reviews for Amateur Chemist: 15

Total number of concert reviews to OC Weekly: 40

Total number of photo slideshows to OC Weekly: 31

Total number of contributions to Stereogum: 49

Total number of photos in print at the Guardian: 1

Total number of contributions to Brooklyn Vegan: 1

I would like to thank you for still reading and sticking with me. Looking forward to making 2012 a better year.

Strung Out at the Observatory

2012-01-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Strung Out at the Observatory over at OC Weekly.

Guns 'N Roses at the Forum

2011-12-22T02:26:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Guns 'N Roses at the Forum over at OC Weekly.

Brian Setzer Orchestra at the Gibson Amphitheater

2011-12-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of the Brian Setzer Orchestra at the Gibson Amphitheater over at OC Weekly.

Black Star at Club Nokia

2011-12-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Black Star at Club Nokia over at OC Weekly.

Dinosaur Jr. at the Music Box

2011-12-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Dinosaur Jr. at the Music Box over at Stereogum.

Dinosaur Jr. at the Samueli Theater

2011-12-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Dinosaur Jr. at the Samueli Theater over at OC Weekly.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night Two at the Gibson Amphitheater

2011-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night Two at the Gibson Amphitheater over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night One at the Gibson Amphitheater

2011-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Night One at the Gibson Amphitheater over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Girls at the Galaxy Theater

2011-12-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Girls at the Galaxy Theater over at Stereogum.

Puscifer at the Orpheum Theatre

2011-12-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Puscifer at the Orpheum Theatre over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Iggy Pop and The Stooges at the Hollywood Palladium

2011-12-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Iggy Pop and the Stooges at the Hollywood Palladium over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Sting at the Wiltern Theater

2011-11-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

Check out my review of Sting at the Wiltern Theater over at OC Weekly.

Morrissey at the Fox Theater in Pomona

2011-11-29T10:34:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Morrissey at the Fox Theater in Pomona over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Morrissey at the Shrine Auditorium

2011-11-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Morrissey at the Shrine Auditorium over at Stereogum.

The Cure at the Pantages Theatre

2011-11-23T16:05:00.001-08:00

Check out my photos of The Cure at the Pantages Theatre over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Bob Mould Tribute at Walt Disney Concert Hall

2011-11-22T11:01:00.001-08:00

Check out my photos of the Bob Mould Tribute at Walt Disney Concert Hall over at Stereogum.

The Pixies at the Music Box

2011-11-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of The Pixies at the Music Box over at Stereogum.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Night 2 at Royce Hall

2011-11-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Royce Hall over at Stereogum.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Royce Hall

2011-11-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Royce Hall over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Ryan Adams at Apogee's Berkeley Street Studio for KCRW

2011-11-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

Check out my review of Ryan Adams at Apogee's Berkeley Street Studio taping for KCRW due to air on December 2nd over at OC Weekly.

Incoming: Roger Waters at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

2011-11-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

Roger Waters stopped by the Staples Center and the Honda Center in 2010 to blow your mind and ears with his elaborate recreation and stunning production of the classic Pink Floyd album The Wall.

The scale will become even larger as Roger Waters returns once more to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday May 19th. Make sure you get tickets this Saturday on November 18th at 10am here. You will never forget this show.

M83 at the Music Box

2011-11-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

Check out my photos of M83 at the Music Box over at Stereogum.

Hum at the Record Bar

2011-11-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

After two stellar shows in Illinois, Hum quickly sold out their show at the Record Bar in Kansas City as a warm up to their Fun Fun Fun Festival set. While I wasn't feeling well for a number of days, I booked a last minute flight to Kansas City when I saw Hum added an early show. Two sets of Hum would provide me enough adrenaline and positive energy to get me through this tumultuous year.

The Life and Times

Bringing back good memories of their reunion shows of 2008/2009, The Life and Times once again opened both sets. Sonically, The Life and Times are a good fit to open for Hum as they fall somewhere in the post rock world with shades of Burning Airlines.

After absorbing two of their sets, my appreciation for the band definitely grew. Bassist Eric Abert was pulling double duty switching between his Realistic keyboard and a Schecter baritone guitar while drummer Chris Metcalf pummeled his drum kit while occasionally adding some keyboard work.

Lead singer and guitarist Allen Epley had his hands full between slashing away on his guitar and belting out the lyrics. Epley mentioned they have a new album due in January which I will definitely check out.

Hum

Early Show

The familiar haunting metallic swoosh of noise that kicks off "Suicide Machine" immediately confirmed that it was the right decision to fly out for the show. I was positioned directly in front of bassist Jeff Dimpsey and able to see him attack his G&L bass for the song. Guitars would roar and cymbals were smashed for "The Pod" and the crushing riff of "Iron Clad Lou". Tim Lash triggered the opening notes of "Green To Me" on his Fender Big Apple Stratocaster.

"Stars" made an early appearance in their set and still rocks no matter how many thousands of times I've heard the song. It was very impressive to see Lash And Talbott lock in on the furious metal breakdown. "Ms. Lazarus" was pure aural bliss as Bryan St. Pere crushed his drum kit making me wonder if it could withstand two sets in one day.

Continuing to visit Downward Is Heavenward, "Comin' Home" was another bombastic blast of guitars, bass and drums. Having seen a number of Hum reunion shows, it was evident that their playing was sharper and even better rehearsed. The detuned crunch of "Cloud City" rattled my bones as I was in awe of St. Pere's drumming at the end of the song along with the extreme coordinated precise riffing by Dimpsey, Lash and Talbott.

The deceptive quiet notes of "I Hate It Too" soon devolved into the epic rumble of guitars that served as the final blast of those attending the early show. Unfortunately due to time constraints, "I'd Like Your Hair Long" and another song were omitted. It was almost unreal to think I would see a similar set in just a few hours after.

Late Show

A vortex of swirl in the form of "Little Dipper" kicked off the late show and it seemed that Hum had even more energy. Talbott was using both his Ampeg and Orange heads simultaneously for the intoxicating wall of noise with a distinct MXR Phase 90 coloring. The transition to "I'd Like Your Hair Long" had me elated as they are both my favorite songs from "You'd Prefer An Astronaut".

My elation soon went off the charts when they played "Winder" which is one of my favorite tracks from Electra 2000. Extra points goes to St. Pere for recreating the vicious drumming at the tail end of the song.
It was almost a dream setlist as they ripped through "The Pod", "I Hate It Too" and "Green To Me". The other unreleased song in Hum's cannon is "Inklings" which seems to undergo minor revisions each time I hear the song live but rocks regardlessly every time .

The super detuned portion of the show was fantastic as they blasted out "Cloud City" and another personal favorite that hits close to home "The Scientists". It all seemed to end in a flash as they wrapped up their set with "Comin' Home" and "Iron Clad Lou". Hum was fully prepared for their set at Fun Fun Fun fest. One can only hope for more Hum shows in 2012 and the possibility they will release an EP with "Inklings" and "Cloud City". Also, make sure to check out Matt Talbott's label Earth Analog which released Dibiase and New Ruins.

Hum Setlist Early show (11/4/11)
"Suicide Machine"
"The Pod"
"Iron Clad Lou"
"Green To Me"
"Stars"
"Ms. Lazarus"
"Inklings"
"Afternoon with the Axolotls"
"Comin' Home"
"Cloud City"
"I Hate It Too"

Hum Setlist Late show (11/4/11)
"Little Dipper"
"I'd Like Your Hair Long"
"Winder"
"Afternoon with the Axolotls"
"The Pod"
"I Hate It Too"
"Green To Me"
"Inklings"
"Stars"
"Cloud City"
"The Scientists"
"Comin' Home"
"Iron Clad Lou"

Mastodon at the Wiltern Theater

2011-11-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Mastodon at the Wiltern over at Stereogum.

Yngwie Malmsteen at the House of Blues Anaheim

2011-10-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Yngwie Malmsteen at the House of Blues Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

The Lemonheads at the El Rey Theater

2011-10-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of The Lemonheads at the El Rey Theatre over at Stereogum.

Kings of Convenience at the Music Box

2011-10-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Kings of Convenience at the Music Box over at Stereogum.

Anthrax at Club Nokia

2011-10-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel at Club Nokia over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at the Music Box

2011-10-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at the Music Box over at Stereogum.

Portishead at the Shrine Auditorium

2011-10-19T04:18:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Portishead at the Shrine Auditorium over at Stereogum.

Battles at the Mayan Theater

2011-10-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Battles at the Mayan Theater over at Stereogum.

Battles at the Glass House

2011-10-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Battles at the Glass House over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Death Cab For Cutie at the Santa Barbara Bowl

2011-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Death Cab For Cutie and Explosions In The Sky at the Santa Barbara Bowl over at Stereogum.

Death Cab For Cutie at the Fox Theater in Pomona

2011-10-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Death Cab For Cutie at the Fox Theater in Pomona over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Foo Fighters at the Forum

2011-10-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Foo Fighters at the Forum over at Stereogum.

Cut Copy at the Hollywood Palladium

2011-10-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Cut Copy at the Hollywood Palladium over at Stereogum.

OMD at Club Nokia

2011-10-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

I missed quite a number of concerts during my medical hiatus. One of the shows that crushed me the most was the return of OMD at the Music Box in March. OMD is touring in support of their latest album The History of Modern is their first album with the original line up since 1986.

Washington

Hailing from Australia and trying to break out stateside,Washington kicked off the evening by warming the crowd up with a batch of tunes. Their lead singer Megan Washington vocally reminded me of Gwen Stefani. Washington has a new release Insomnia in the works.

OMD

Under the cover of a dimly lit stage, a slow wash of synthesizer pads circulated throughout Club Nokia as OMD took the stage for "Dazzle Ships". Firing up the Delorean back to 1980, "Stanlow" had Andy McClusky quip "doesn't every band open with a song about an oil refinery?". OMD surgically stacked their setlist and immediately ignited the audience with the chirping synthesizers of "Messages" as McClusky strapped on his Fender Jazz bass.

Seeing that that crowd was in the age range from late 30's to 50's, it was impressive to see most of the dance floor go absolutely nuts for "Tesla Girls". OMD never let up the whole evening by working through "She's Leaving" and "History of Modern (Part 1)". Paul Humphreys took center stage for "(Forever) Live and Die" which was bolstered with a saxophone solo by Martin Cooper.

Arguably one of their biggest hits "If You Leave" had McClusky reminisce about going to Paramount pictures and writing the song for "Pretty In Pink". Humphreys continued to display his timeless voice for "Souvenir" as the crowd enthusiastically clapped along. A double shot of "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans" sounded flawless and had McClusky interruptive dancing vigorously across the stage.

McClusky prefaced their new song "Green" as a fantastic before renenergizing the crowd by going down to the front rail to greet fans as he sang. The hits just kept coming as "Talking Loud" and "So In Love" had the crowd still moving their feet. "Locomotion" was recreated perfectly with its steel drum like synthesizers.

The digital cameras popped out en masse during "Dreaming". "Sailing on the Seven Seas" had another classic McClusky quip when he deadpanned "Even if you don't like it..it is a brilliant song". The classic synthesizer plinks of "Enola Gay" were rapturous had McClusky warn the crowd that they better not be tired.

OMD reemerged to kick off their encore of "Walking On the Milky Way". McClusky told the crowd that they got in trouble for not playing "Secret" back in March and I was glad they played it as it is one of my favorite songs from them.

McClusky took us down memory lane one more time stating he remembered playing "Electricity" at the Whisky A Go-Go nearly 31 years ago. If you own a synthesizer or enjoy dancing then do not miss OMD who are one of the most energetic and vital synthpop bands from the '80s.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at the Detroit Bar

2011-10-11T13:57:00.001-07:00

Check out my photos of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at the Detroit Bar over at Stereogum.

Smashing Pumpkins at The Cosmopolitan

2011-10-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Smashing Pumpkins at The Cosmpolitan over at Stereogum.

OMD at the House of Blues Anaheim

2011-10-08T02:03:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of OMD at the House of Blues Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

Smashing Pumpkins at the Wiltern

2011-10-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Smashing Pumpkins at the Wiltern over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

St. Vincent at Apogee's Berkley Street Studio

2011-10-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of St. Vincent at Apogee's Berkley Street Studio over at Stereogum.

Beirut at the Greek Theatre

2011-10-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Beirut at the Greek Theatre over at Stereogum.

Jane's Addiction at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre

2011-10-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Jane's Addiction at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre over at OC Weekly.

My review is also on OC Weekly.

Dum Dum Girls at the Detroit Bar

2011-10-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Dum Dum Girls at the Detroit Bar over at Stereogum.

Erasure at the Hollywood Palladium

2011-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Erasure at the Hollywood Palladium over at OC Weekly.

Bush at the City National Grove of Anaheim

2011-09-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Bush at the Grove of Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

Ladytron at the Wiltern Theatre

2011-09-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Ladytron and Sonoio at the Wiltern Theater over at Stereogum.

Bright Eyes at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

2011-09-25T01:22:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Bright Eyes at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery over at OC Weekly.

Bon Iver at the Gibson Amphitheater

2011-09-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Bon Iver at the Gibson Amphitheater over at Stereogum.

The Kooks at Fingerprints Records

2011-09-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of The Kooks at Fingerprints Records over at OC Weekly.

Peter Hook and the Light at the El Rey Theatre

2011-09-19T01:47:00.001-07:00

Check out my photos of Peter Hook and the Light at the El Rey Theatre over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

The Horrors at the El Rey Theatre

2011-09-17T01:18:00.001-07:00

Check out my photos of the Horrors at the El Rey Theatre over at Stereogum.

Fleet Foxes at the Greek Theatre

2011-09-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Fleet Foxes at the Greek Theatre over at Stereogum.

Big Black Delta at the Satellite

2011-09-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

As a long time fan of Mellowdrone (circa 2006), it was intriguing to hear that lead singer and bassist Jonathan Bates had struck out on his own forming the dark synthesizer tinged Big Black Delta. The fact that this was the kick off of their free Monday night residency in September and had Sonoio on the bill made this a can't miss show.

Sonoio

Surrounded by an outline of light bulbs and armed with a drool worthy Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer, Alessandro Cortini of Sonoio challenged the Satellite soundsystem with crushing synthesizer bass lines and electronically sliced programmed drum beats as he raffled off songs from his outstanding new album Red.

It was evident that Alessandro was prepared for his upcoming opening slot for the Ladytron tour. His whole set was outstanding but some of the highlights were the pulsating beat of "Scientist", the vocoder effects of "Livid", and the flickering lights in rhythm of the roaring synthesizers of "Enough". Don't miss the opportunity to see Sonoio on 9/24 at the Wiltern opening for Ladytron.

Tennis System

Two Fender Jaguar guitars created a vortex of churning sound that mimicked such bands as A Place To Bury Strangers and My Bloody Valentine. Tennis System filled in the guitar quotient of the evening with their deafening twin assault. While the vocals gasped for air as if you were drowning in a pool, the combination of drums, bass and guitars overwhelmed everyone in the room. Tennis System are touring behind their latest album Teenagers and are making a run on the East Coast before returning to Los Angeles for Filter's Culture Collide Festival on October 5th.

Big Black Delta

While two female drummers were positioned on separate corners of the stage between a bass amp and a panel of LCD lights, Jonathan Bates was the center of attention. The bludgeoning electronic blasts of dark wave synthesizers culled from the era of Depeche Mode circa "Black Celebration" were hypnotic as they were synced with the flashing lights of the LCD panel.

Released on the outstanding local label Coming Home Records, Big Black Delta's debut album will be available on September 26th. Bates's ability to program synthesizers and electronic drums is impressive and was on display throughout the evening. "Capsize" washes over you with its synthesizers and Bates's processed vocals.

His cover of INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" was outstanding with an smashed 8-bit breakdown that could jumpstart your broken heart. Saving his best song for last, "Huggin' and Kissin'" was phenonmenal with its jackhammer repetitive driving beats and some of the best vocals that Bates has recorded. I can't endorse this residency enough and plan to see them again on September 26th at the Satellite.

Girls in the Guardian

2011-09-13T15:11:00.001-07:00

Check out my photo that ran for an interview with Chris Owens of Girls in the Guardian.

The National at the Hollywood Bowl

2011-09-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of The National at the Hollywood Bowl over at Stereogum.

Hum at the High Dive

2011-09-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos, setlists and some interesting new tidbits from Hum who played the High Dive and A.V. Club Festival over at Stereogum.

Band of Horses at the Wiltern Theater

2011-09-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Band of Horses at the Wiltern over at Stereogum.

Incoming: IDentity Festival at the Hollywood Palladium

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you who need an electro fix this Labor Day weekend, the IDentity Festival will be held at the Hollywood Palladium this Saturday September, 4th. A sampling of the line up includes the Crystal Method, Booka Shade, Hercules and the Love Affair, Jason Bentley, Pretty Lights and Steve Aoki. Get you tickets here because you have Monday off anyways.

Serge Gainsbourg Tribute at the Hollywood Bowl

2011-08-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of the Serge Gainsbourg tribute at the Hollywood Bowl featuring Beck, Ed Droste, Zola Jesus, Victoria Legrand, Sean Lennon, and Joseph Gordon-Leavitt over at Stereogum.

Weezer at the Fantasy Springs Special Event Center

2011-08-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Check out some photos and my review of Weezer at the Fantasy Springs Special Event Center over at OC Weekly.

Helmet at the Slidebar

2011-08-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Helmet at the Slidebar over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Red Hot Chili Peppers at Club Nokia

2011-08-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Red Hot Chili Peppers at Club Nokia over at Stereogum. This show raised $1 million dollars to support the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks at the Village Recorder for KCRW

2011-08-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at the Village for KCRW over at Stereogum.

Death Cab for Cutie at the Greek Theatre

2011-08-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

After catching Death Cab for Cutie down in San Diego, I opted to catch their second night Greek Theatre in hopes they would mix up their setlist and potentially dust off some old favorites. Of course, Death Cab For Cutie came through to deliver a sparkling high energy set.

Frightened Rabbit

Rising among the likes of such great Scottish bands as Mogwai, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Teenage Fanclub, Frightened Rabbit will win you over with their heart on a sleeve lyrics and clever melodies. Touring tirelessly behind their latest release The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit are known for winning over fans with their compelling live show.

Opening their set with "The Modern Leper", Scott Hutchison strummed his Fender guitar as his brother Grant Hutchison started to form the percussive backbone of the song with his steady drumming. The guitars would really rumble during the opening of "Nothing Like You" as Scott's Scottish accent adds extra charm to the song.

Scott apologized to the crowd implying he had a rough night of drinking the evening prior but it didn't seem to impede his performance on stage. The propelling riff of "Head Rolls Off" continued to ensnare the attention of the fans in the audience as it was difficult to deny their embracing tunes. "Keep Yourself Warm" was a perfect set closer and left the fans wanting more. I'm sure Frightened Rabbit will be headlining bigger venues with their next album.

Death Cab For Cutie

A dimly lit stage awash in red lights set the mood for the ominous opening bass line of "I Will Possess Your Heart". Ben Gibbard sporadically used an E-Bow on his G&L telecaster guitar adorned with a Seattle Mariners logo to build the feedback swells at the beginning of the song.

Gibbard would quickly drop his guitar to run over to the keyboards while the band were tightly interlocked in the rhythm of the song. "Crooked Teeth" presented a shift in mood and lighting as the four LCD screens vividly lit up and a full on rock show commenced.

The irony of "Why Would You Want to Live Here?" was addressed later in the set as Gibbard admitted that since he has lived in Los Angeles for three years that he can complain about the city he inhabits. Shifting gears to their latest album Codes and Keys, "Doors Unlocked and Open" had Chris Walla focus his energy on his Korg MS-20 for the haunting synthesizer bass line.

"Long Division" sounded noisier than the recorded version with a shoegazey breakdown. Chris Walla added some Rhodes like keyboards to "Grapevine Fires". A deep bending sustained guitar line was played by bassist Nick Harmer for "Codes and Keys" supported by Gibbard's uplifting vocals.

Gibbard took center stage for a solo haunting acoustic version of "I Will Follow You Into The Dark". The hits just kept coming as the band effortlessly worked through "Soul Meets Body", "A Movie Script Ending" and "The Sound of Settling". The encores for the evening included my personal favorite "405" and the epic closer of "Transatlanticism".

Death Cab For Cutie will return on October 14th to play the Fox Theater in Pomona with Release The Sunbird and October 15th with Explosions In The Sky at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Odds are I will be attending both.

Death Cab For Cutie at Rimac Arena

2011-08-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Death Cab For Cutie at Rimac Arena over at Stereogum.

Big Audio Dynamite at the City National Grove of Anaheim

2011-08-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Big Audio Dynamite at the City National Grove of Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

The Get Up Kids at the Satellite

2011-08-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

File under a show I will regret missing, The Get Up Kids are playing the Satellite tomorrow on 8/13 with The Henry Clay People opening. Get your tickets here and let me know what I missed.

Big Audio Dynamite at Club Nokia

2011-08-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Big Audio Dynamite at Club Nokia over at Stereogum.

Zola Jesus Portrait Session

2011-08-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Zola Jesus for a progress report about her new album over at Stereogum.

Deerhunter at the Wiltern

2011-08-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Deerhunter at the Wiltern over at Stereogum.

Devo at the City National Grove of Anaheim

2011-08-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Devo at the City National Grove of Anaheim over at OC Weekly.

My review is also at OC Weekly.

MGMT and Surfer Blood at the US Open of Surfing

2011-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of MGMT and Surfer Blood at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach over at OC Weekly.

Weezer at the Pacific Amphitheater

2011-08-05T04:04:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Weezer at the Pacific Amphitheater over at Stereogum. The picture above is Rivers rocking my hat during "Surf Wax America".

LA Rising at the LA Coliseum

2011-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of LA Rising at the LA Coliseum featuring Rage Against The Machine, Muse, Rise Against, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Immortal Technique and El Gran Silencio over at Stereogum.

A Perfect Circle at the Gibson Amphitheater

2011-07-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of A Perfect Circle at the Gibson Amphitheater over at OC Weekly.

My review is also over at OC Weekly.

Thurston Moore at KCRW Studios

2011-07-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Thurston Moore at KCRW over at Stereogum.

Cold Cave at the Ukrainian Cultural Center

2011-07-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Cold Cave at the Ukrainian Cultural Center over at Stereogum.

Soundgarden at the Forum

2011-07-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Soundgarden and The Mars Volta at the Forum over at Stereogum.

Rock It OC! at South Coast Plaza

2011-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Rock It OC! at South Coast Plaza presented by Music for A Cure over at OC Weekly.

Puro Instinct at the Detroit Bar

2011-07-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

Check out my photos of Puro Instinct and John Maus at the Detroit Bar over at Stereogum.

Eddie Vedder at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach

2011-07-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Eddie Vedder at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach over at Stereogum.

Blonde Redhead at the El Rey Theatre

2011-07-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Penny Sparkle was one of my favorite releases from 2010. Blonde Redhead continue to modify and adapt their musical style while retaining their characteristic sound. The album is chock full of oozing synthesizers floating over sparse shimmery guitars. Touring for close to a full year, I previously caught Blonde Redhead at the Music Box for two nights (Night 1 and Night 2) and at the Glass House.

Bass Drum of Death

It is gutsy to call your band Bass Drum of Death and not include a bass player. But these boys from Mississippi knew how to kick out the jams utilizing a twin fuzzed out guitar attack supported by rapid fire drums to amuse the audience. Their debut album GB City was released by the venerable Fat Possum label barely clocks in over thirty minutes.

The Luyas

The Luyas scored points just by busting out Moodswinger which is a 12 string zither that conjured ambient stacked overtones. Hailing from Montreal and using such eclectic instruments as the French Horn and a stack of analog synthesizers, it was difficult not think of Arcade Fire.

Lead singer Jessie Stein was absolutely delightful working through a batch of songs. Their latest release Too Beautiful To Work was added to my stack of albums that garner a closer look.

Blonde Redhead

The trademark red curtains of the El Rey Theatre pulled back as the haunting pads of "Black Guitar" soon ricocheted around the venue as Amedeo Pace traded vocals with Kazu Makino. Having been on the road for so long, Blonde Redhead were super tight and the sound was perfect.

Simone Pace's dexterous drumming superimposed on a skeletal electronic drumbeat hypnotized as "Here Sometimes" continued to seduce the audience. The winding staircase guitars of "Dr. Strangeluv" were entrancing as Makino swayed with the music.

Makino would grab her white Gibson Sg and assist Amedeo in the sonic department for "Spring and By Summer Fall". Whipping her hair around, Makino swayed in time to the dark keyboards and percussive beat of "Not Getting There".

Under the cover of dark blue light, "Spain" had the perfect combination of melting guitars and whirling keyboards. Amedeo used a whammy pedal for some deep guitar bends during "23" as Makino's vocals echoed. Makino would grab her Teisco six string bass for the Amedeo led vocals of "Falling Man".

"Silently" and "Penny Sparkle" closed out their encore which still didn't satisfy the crowd. The crowd desperately clamored for more, but having seen Blonde Redhead multiple times they always leave you wanting more.

Incoming: M83 new album teaser

2011-06-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

M83 blew me away with their last album Saturdays = Youth. As I anxiously await their follow up album, M83 just posted a goosebump inducing new teaser video titled "Echoes" featuring a glimpse of Anthony Gonzalez's beautiful collection of synthesizers along with some stunning visuals.

Incoming: Jimmy Eat World at the Wiltern

2011-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

After a blistering stop at Coachella, Jimmy Eat World return for a performance at The Wiltern where they will play their album Bleed American in its entirety on September 29th. The presale tickets go live on Tuesday June 28th at 10am while the general tIckets go on sale on Thursday June 30th at 10am PST.

Okkervil River at the Wiltern Theater

2011-06-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of Okkervil River, Titus Andronicus at The Wiltern over at Stereogum.

My Morning Jacket at The Village Studios

2011-06-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Check out my photos of My Morning Jacket at The Village Studios for KCRW over at Stereogum.