About last night...

Hello all - I'm here to interrupt your irregularly-scheduled programming with a more reflective post (vs. one that's usually more content-based)

Last night I went to a show. This act isn't so unusual of itself, save for the fact that I haven't been to one since  The Henry Clay People's last NYE extravaganza many weeks back - talk about falling show attendance  It was Little Red Lung and Pam Shaffer  (the later celebrating a new record release) at the Hotel Cafe. I sat with Brad Roberts of Feed Your Head fame. It was a good show. Hotel Cafe has changed a lot of the years - I've been going there on and off since August of 2003 (!) Granted, the world keeps progressing on, and change is a natural factor of that, but...which brings me to another reason why I'm making this entry.

This morning, The 704 made a post celebrating his blog's anniversary, and how admittedly his online abode "is effectively dead, and has been for a while." I know the feeling - my own updates have been few and far between. Life and other things get in the way, it happens. Other activities take priority. However, this paragraph jumped out at me:

"Death to Anders no longer exists. Pizza! and Big Whup no longer exist. One Trick Pony no longer exists. Red Cortez, Mississippi Man, the Deadly Syndrome. The 60 Watt Kid diaspora has grown to include N O W, Skyline Drive, Pageants. Future Ghost is Missing Teen. Some variation of the Union Line has become Mt. Ossa. Johnny left Seasons. Manhattan Murder Mystery has six members. Who knows what's happening with the Monolators and the Henry Clay People. Joey Siara now plays rousing rock and roll anthems solo to rooms full of the staid and the polite. Web in Front no longer exists. Mouse is married. Time keeps doing that weird thing it does: passing."

First of all, I had no idea One Trick Pony had disbanded. It seems like yesterday I saw them at last year's edition of Make Music Pasadena. Talk about being out of the loop. But I digress...

Last night's show was very good. Great new stuff from Little Red Lung. But - and this is more about me than the music - something felt off, and has been awhile. Going to shows isn't as fun as it used to. There doesn't seem to be much to get excited about as in years past, that a certain spark is missing. Granted, I go to a lot of concerts alone, and that takes it's toll after awhile, but...I don't know. Maybe it's prolonged burn-out after going to see so much for such a long time? A normal part of the aging process?

Regardless, there will be upcoming posts on the sets from last night, hopefully sooner than later. A Jesca Hoop show should be on the horizon in the near future. If I decide to shell out the cash for Bat For Lashes, that too. Beyond that, who knows...

Sara Radle & The Mockingbirds 10/29/12 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo by M.P.)

In our final post on Otik Record's Halloween Covers Night at The Echo (which also featured Haunted Summer "as Animal Collective" and The Monolators "as the Bee Gees"), Sara Radle & The Mockingbirds took the stage with a set of Ramones covers. Sara Radle is a solo artist in her own right, and was a member of the band The Rentals as well as lending vocal talent to recent Walking Sleep efforts. This was a fun set, and a unique take on the Ramones brand. Setlist below:

Durango 95
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
Lobotomy
Pet Sematary
Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio
KKK
Beat On The Brat
Pinhead
Blitzkreig Bop

Full show download here. FLAC files available by request.

Recorded by M.P.

The Monolators 10/29/12 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo by Ben Golomb)

Continuing with our recent theme of featuring The Monolators and sets from Otik Record's Halloween Covers night such as Haunted Summer's take on Animal Collective, the band channeled and performed the hits of the great 70's disco icons the Bee Gees. Featuring takes on the hits such as "Jive Talking" and "How Deep Is Your Love," the audience was treated a set of creative and intense interpretations of a portion of the Bee Gee's back catalog. Setlist below:

Introduction
To Love Somebody
Jive Talkin'
If I Can't Have You
"Banter"
How Deep Is Your Love
"Banter"
Gotta Get A Message To You
Nights on Broadway

Full show download here. FLAC files available by request.

Recorded by M.P.

Haunted Summer 10/29/12 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo by M.P.)

Back in October (this is one of those "better late than never posts"), Haunted Summer performed a set of Animal Collective covers at the Otik Records-presented Halloween Covers night at The Echo. Haunted Summer is a relatively new band, featuring John Seasons (ex-member of widely-covered on here band Seasons) and Bridgette Eliza Moody, and is self-described as "spooky, eerie, experimental, and psychedelic" - a perfect fit for the evening's set of Animal Collective covers. Haunted Summer is currently their debut E.P. due to be released later this year, and will be featured in an upcoming interview on Radio Free Silverlake. Setlist below:

Ponytail (Panda Bear song)
Peacebone
Turn Into Something
For Reverend Green
Bees (check out the video of this song here)

Full show download available here. FLAC files available by request.

Recorded by M.P.

The Monolators 12/17/12 - Satellite, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo by M.P.)

Last month, The Monolators opened the third night of The Henry Clay People's tenth-anniversary/"farewell" Monday night December residency at The Satellite, and played what might be their second-to-last show before going on an indefinite hiatus (noticing a trend here) The summery of the reasons for this decision can be read here, but in short, current drummer Ray is leaving to pursue other opportunities, and as result, this would leave The Monolators as a two-piece band, and it was decided that it would be best to "put the Monolators on hold" in light of his departure.

So, this was obviously a very special show, if not only for the reasons stated above, but also the setlist. Ranging the gamut from one of their newest tracks "Covering Up" (produced for the Ten Years of Tears "best of" retrospective tape) to, in the spirit of the season, "Hot Sleigh" (originally available on the 2008 Plastic Snow compilation mix) Setlist below:


"Introduction"
Strawberry Roan
Covering Up
Hot Sleigh
Such A Fool
14 Degrees
Love Don't Love Me
Don't Dance
"Banter"
5001
Pickup Ford
Let’s Be Best Friends In Space


Full download of the show here. (FLAC version available by request)

Recorded by M.P.