The Franks 7/19/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo: The Franks Facebook)

Last week, The Franks (along with The Monolators) opened for the 3rd night of Summer Darling's Monday night residency at Spaceland. The Franks are a 3-piece punk trio based in Los Angeles who just completed a tour of the West Coast (with tonight's show being the final stop and a "homecoming" of sorts) We weren't terribly familiar with The Franks previous to this performance, but must say we were pleasantly surprised with what we heard.

A little over half of their setlist was dedicated to covering in entirety their semi-recently released E.P. Duh, with a few other previously released and newer songs. Combined with a dose of possible self-deprecating banter (the song "Call Me" was introduced as being based on a story of coming home and seeing that a person you knew left a note on your door to call them, and when you call them you discover that person is dead - it doesn't sound as bleak when you listen to it, trust me), it was an attention-grabbing show for sure. We will try to catch The Franks again in the future.

1.) Cough It Up MP3
2.) ??? MP3
3.) Please, Please MP3
4.) Talk Soup MP3
5.) Jesus, Jesus MP3
6.) Call Me MP3
7.) In The City MP3
8.) Ray Gunn Radio MP3
9.) Health Sciences MP3
10.) My Friends MP3
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FLAC (lossless) files available by request.

The Monolators 7/19/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo: Ben Golomb, via The Monolators Myspace)

(Update: Track 4 has a name. Thanks commenter!)

Earlier this week, The Monolators shared the bill with Summer Darling on the 3rd night of their latter's Monday night residency at Spaceland. This was a special show because they are going on hiatus and will be the last one for awhile (until they release their upcoming double EP in the fall), and a unique show because they performed as a 4-piece (because one of their band members sustained injuries in an bicycle accident) Oddly enough, this show is a milestone of sorts for this blog as well - while we have featured The Monolators acoustically, doing an all ABBA cover set, and in other collaborations (Cobra Lilies, When Captain Geech Met Teardrop), and even being covered by other bands - we have never gotten a regular full-band show of theirs, until now.

Tonight's setlist covered the gauntlet of The Monolators' catalog - one song from 2004's Rejection Set Me Free ("Summertime In My Car" - which was played as a nod to band-in-residency Summer Darling), a couple from 2006's Our Tears Have Wings, one from the 2007 EP You Look Good On The Train, one from 2008's LP Don't Dance, and a few from the previously-mentioned upcoming double EP. It was a very fun show, culminating in several audience/other band members joining them onstage as a collaborative "human glockenspiel" for "Let's Be Best Friends In Space." This performance should serve as a holdover until The Monolators return to the stage in the near future.

More pictures of the show can be found on LAist.

1.) Introduction MP3
2.) You Look Good On The Train MP3
3.) 14 Degrees MP3
4.) Pickup Ford MP3
5.) Silver Cities MP3
6.) Ruby, I'm Changing My Number MP3
7.) Summertime In My Car MP3
8.) Don't Dance MP3
9.) Let's Be Best Friends In Space MP3
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FLAC (lossless) files available by request.

Admiral Radley 7/08/10 - Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA.

(Update: It was brought to my attention that Track 10 wasn't working [even though some people had already downloaded it] I re-did it anyway, and it's working now)

Earlier this month, Admiral Radley performed at this year's second installment of the KCRW and Buzz Bands-presented "Also I Like To Rock" series with bill-mates The Happy Hollows at the Hammer Museum in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Admiral Radley is a new collaboration/"supergroup" of members of two well-regarded indie bands Earlimart (Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray)and Grandaddy (Jason Lytle and Aaron Burtch) This show was the precursor of the release of their debut album I Heart California and their first tour.

The setlist was mainly composed of and covered all except for one song from their album. An interesting addition was the inclusion of the track "Everytime I'm With You," (which featured guest Mr. Lytle) which was off the Danger Mouse & Sparklehouse collaboration album Dark Night Of The Soul
. All in all, an interesting show from this new collaboration.

(Photo by Jeff Koga. Recording by markp.)

1.) MC Anne Litt Introduction MP3
2.) "sound" MP3
3.) Ghosts of Syllables MP3
4.) I Heart California MP3
5.) GNDN MP3
6.) Ending of Me MP3
7.) The Thread MP3
8.) Sunburn Kids MP3
9.) Lonesome Co. MP3
10.) Chingas In the West MP3
11.) I Left U Cuz I Luft U MP3
12.) ''banter for encore'' MP3
13.) Everytime I'm With You (Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse) MP3
14.) Red Curbs MP3
15.) "sound" MP3
Text File

FLAC (lossless) files available by request.

The Happy Hollows 7/08/10 - Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA.

Last Thursday, The Happy Hollows shared the bill with Admiral Radley on this month's second installment of the Buzz Bands and KCRW-presented "Also I Like To Rock" at the Hammer Museum in Westwood. A month-long series that's usually held on each Thursday of every July, it showcases some of the best indie-rock bands on the local scene. We of course are no strangers to The Happy Hollows, having posted a couple of their shows from 2008, along with an(acoustic)Sad Solids performance.

It had been awhile since I had seen The Happy Hollows live, and their set did not disappoint. A large crowd had gathered in and around (and both levels) of the courtyard, creating a huge (yet intimate) sort of party atmosphere. The set list consisted of many songs from last year's debut LP Spells, with tunes from other releases sprinkled in. A fun night in a great setting all around.

(Photo by Jeff Koga. Recording by markp.)

1.) MC Anne Litt Introduction FLAC MP3
2.) Monster Room FLAC MP3
3.) Faces FLAC MP3
4.) Shark FLAC MP3
5.) Max FLAC MP3
6.) High Wire FLAC MP3
7.) Meteors FLAC MP3
8.) Cloud FLAC MP3
9.) Labyrinth FLAC MP3
10.) Clown FLAC MP3
11.) Lieutenant FLAC MP3
12.) Tambourine FLAC MP3
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Fol Chen 7/06/10 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA.

Last Tuesday, Fol Chen headlined a show that celebrated the recent release of their new LP, Part II: The New December. We had the opportunity to see them last year at the same venue; however, the recording couldn't be salvaged for publication. Tonight's show was a very different one for a couple of reasons - one, it showcased a mostly overhauled band line-up, and two, consisted of a setlist that was a combination of both their full-length albums (the first being last years release Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made)

Fol Chen has been described as having "beguiling, witty synth-pop with guitar, funky keyboards and West Coastian harmonies" (via LA Weekly) along with "in what could have been a brave experiment gone horribly wrong, the ragtag stylings, samplings, and influences of Fol Chen create a tight ensemble - not only of performers, but of song genres" (via Venus Magazine)This show backed up those claims, which provoked such observations from L.A. Times Pop & Hiss reviewer stating that "the band pull[ing] the neat trick of making its two impulses -- danceable pop immediacy and its need to run every song through a paper shredder -- feel unexpectedly simpatico" and "the...three-part harmonies were both exacting and giddy, and any wanton control-alt-deleting that happens in their studio felt organic and true onstage." Another observer at The 704 remarked that they were "effectively hypnotized from the opening drums to the blink-and-you'll-miss-it faux-encore" and "it flowed right over me without leaving a trace, the way your favorite songs always do when you hear them live...the mindbending effects and edgy harmonies painstakingly recreated." Last Tuesday, Fol Chen headlined a show that celebrated the recent release of their new LP, Part II: The New December. We had the opportunity to see them last year at the same venue; however, the recording couldn't be salvaged for publication. Tonight's show was a very different one for a couple of reasons - one, it showcased a mostly overhauled band line-up, and two, consisted of a setlist that was a combination of both their full-length albums (the first being last years release Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made)

All in all, it was an interesting show. One qualm I did have about it though was it seemed a bit on the short side for a headlining (and record release) - set time clocked in at around a little less than forty minutes. The reprises were a little puzzling as well - however, it was still all in good fun, and a worthwhile download.

Photo via Fol Chen's Facebook.

1.) Red Skies Over Garden City (The Ballad Of Donna Donna) MP3
2.) C/U MP3
3.) They Came To Me MP3
4.) Men, Beasts, Or Houses MP3
5.) Cable TV MP3
6.) The Idiot MP3
7.) In Ruins MP3
8.) Winter, That's All MP3
9.) In Ruins (Reprise) MP3
10.) This Is Where The Road Belongs MP3
11.) The Holograms MP3
12.) E: The Holograms (Reprise) MP3
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FLAC (lossless) files available by request.

Tenlons Fort 6/30/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

( Photo: Music Matters )

Last week, Tenlons Fort opened for Damien Jurado at his L.A. tour stop at Spaceland. Tenlons Fort is moniker of Jack Wilson, who has been described as a "musician, writer, director, artist and human rights activist." This was a bit of a bittersweet show, as it is going to be their last one (in Los Angeles, at least) for the foreseeable future.

Tonight's setlist was culled mostly from his recent release Shelters, which "consists of ten songs, an equal number of paintings, and a fund to raise money for homeless individuals in LA, Austin, and beyond," with "50% of record sales of Shelters LP serve[ing] as the initial donations to Tenlons Fort Shelters Fund." Past collaborator Nate Cole of Castledoor joined the band onstage on vocals for "Followed By Bad Luck." A fine performance to remember, especially since it's the last we will hear from them for awhile.

1.) Introduction MP3
2.) Apple (A Potential Pen Pal) MP3
3.) Forever's Gonna Be A Long Time MP3
4.) Pain Is Still Alive MP3
5.) Read It And Weep MP3
6.) Warmth of the Dark MP3
7.) Baby It's Cool MP3
8.) You Won't Be With Me MP3
9.) Followed By Bad Luck MP3
10.) How Would You Live MP3
Text File

FLAC (lossless)files available by request.