Savages Return To LA

SAVAGES

DUKE GARWOOD

FONDA THEATER, LA

30 SEPTEMBER, 2013

For the third time this year, Savages returned to Los Angeles, continuing their upward ascent before a rabid crowd at the Fonda Theater. Their debut appearance in LA was April, setting down at the Echoplex for a show around their Coachella appearance. After their debut LP's release, they came back for two sold out shows at the El Rey Theater. Bringing us up to the present, the Fonda's upstairs was closed, but the lower half was filled, and the band showed no sign of reticence on the bigger stage. They tore through songs from "Silence Yourself", and unlike the one-note, runaway train intensity of previous sets, they varied the tempo, using "Waiting For A Sign" to showcase guitarist Gemma Thompson. Hauling out a piano for lead singer Jehnny Beth, and bringing aboard opener Duke Garwood to reprise his clarinet performance from the recorded version, they essayed a stark version of album closer "Marshall Dear" that had the audience rapt before they returned to the previously scheduled pummeling. "She Will" and "Husbands" encapsulated the proceedings, kicking the crowd into a frenzy, and underscoring the importance of the engine room, bassist Ayse Hassan's stout support, verging on lead lines, and drummer Fay Milton's unquenchable drive. At the core of the matter was Jehnny Beth, intensity manifest, her every sinew poised for attack, evidenced best by the red pumps that broke up her otherwise all black wardrobe. Close up, even the veins in her feet protruded, she was invested fully.
In lieu of an encore, they finished off the evening with Johnny Hostile and Duke Garwood joining in the fun for a lengthy jam on "Fuckers (Don't Let The Fuckers Get You Down)", that stretched out into Stooges Fun House-era territory. A satisfying finish from a band that seems determined to push at their limits.
On the home front, Silence Yourself is nominated for this year's Mercury Prize, and Jehnny Beth took a page out of the Godspeed You Black Emperor hymnbook with her own take on the proceedings. Regardless of how the gala turns out, they've made quite a splash with their debut, and frankly, their live interpretation dwarves the recorded version. This is a band you'll want to experience.

Duke Garwood led off the evening, and in Savages tradition, it was not a separate entity, but an extension of the whole. An opening act is part of the family, setting the tone and laying the groundwork for what's to come. Backed by Pop Noire co-head Johnny Hostile on bass, Garwood kicked off with a desert rock vibe that seemed lodged between the Dirty Three and To Bring You My Love-era PJ Harvey. Unconcerned in the least with getting to a chorus, Garwood and Hostile conjured waves of dread, testing the audience, before breaking into more bite-sized song structures. As the set built, it became apparent that this was one man's personal take on the blues, evoking the mood without falling prey to all the cliches that implies.

Decking The Halls With Sufjan

SUFJAN STEVENS

the Surfjam Estabanopolis Christmas Spectacular Seasonal Affective Disorder Sing-Along Sensation Pageant On Ice

FONDA THEATER

04 DECEMBER, 2012

Having developed a Christmas catalogue that would be the envy of most artists full output, Sufjan Stevens has taken it on the road this year, for what is billed as: "The Surfjam Estabanopolis Spectacular Seasonal Affective Disorder Sing-Along Sensation Pageant On Ice".  And did it ever live up to the name.  The stage was set with a giant Wheel Of Christmas, that provided the grist for the sing-along portion of the evening.  All delighted ticketholders were given a songbook at the entrance, and directed to sing boldly.  The crowd held up their end, attire-wise and vocally, and it turned out to be a very memorable evening.

 Stevens kept the spectacle level high, working the first half of the show from what is now 10 volumes of Xmas music, opening with "Christmas Woman" from this year's outpouring Silver and Gold, (volumes 6-10 for those keeping track at home).  After a few songs, he broke it up with what he referred to as a palate cleanser, a stark acoustic reading of "Vito's Ordination Song" off of the Greetings From Michigan LP.  Note the difference in crowd noise in the videos below, from the boisterous welcome of "Christmas Woman" to the quiet reverence during "Vito", where you can literally hear a crowded theater sucking in it's breath.  It was quite a scene.

 The spinning of the Wheel Of Christmas throughout kept the audience on their toes, and they gamely measured up to the challenge.  He got a huge response for one of his older Xmas favorites, "Come On! Let's Boogey To The Elf Dance!", and culminated the regular set with "Christmas Unicorn".  As is his custom, he rewarded the faithful with an old school encore, this one taken from tracks off of C'mon, Feel The Illinoise.  Sufjan Stevens managed the trick of capturing all the emotions, good and bad, of the holiday season, and turning it into something not to dread as much.  A one-of-a-kind show from a one-of-a-kind artist.

Opening act: Sheila Saputo

Bleached/Japandroids at the Fonda Theater

JAPANDROIDS

BLEACHED

FONDA THEATER, LA

08 NOVEMBER, 2012

L.A.'s Bleached is no stranger to these pages, having opened up for Veronica Falls earlier in the year.  This go-round saw them share the bill with Japandroids, from Vancouver, for a feisty night of noise.  For my take on the Japandroids set, check the Owl Magazine.  Photos and video of Japandroids follow Bleached.
The Clavin sisters, Jennifer and Jessica, formed Bleached in the wake of their previous band Mika Miko dissolving, and it has been a slow and satisfying build.  After a handful of singles, a full album is on the horizon for next spring on Dead Oceans, and it should push the band's profile considerably.  They've been working hard on the road, and it certainly shows.  Their Ramones cum Shangri-La's attack is well honed at this point, and it will be interesting to see how they've grown in the studio.
They didn't seem fazed at all by the big stage, rising to the occasion with a set that featured a few new songs, and touched on their cornerstones: the singles, especially a rousing version of "Searching Through The Past", and the obligatory (and always welcome) Ramones cover.  It was short, but sweet, and I look forward to the not-too distant future, when Bleached will be the headliner.

(JAPANDROIDS)

Afghan Whigs: New Track/West Coast Dates

Behold the second new track from the Afghan Whigs since their resuscitation.  "Lovecrimes" is a cover of a Frank Ocean track that they've been dropping into their live shows lately.  An utterly compelling rendition-I've had it on repeat all week.

 

Speaking of live shows, the band has announced more new dates, including a West Coast swing that involves Seattle, Portland, the Fillmore in San Francisco on November 7th, and the Fonda Theater on November 9th.
Tickets go onsale Sunday-22 (SF) and Saturday-21 (LA), and presale action has been brisk, so it's probably advisable to strike sooner, rather than later.

Goodbye Fonda?!

Word passed heavy today about the fate of the Fonda MusicBox Theater, with rumor having it closing soon, if only temporarily. The picture became somewhat clearer, thanks to quick reportage from LA Weekly and the LA Times.

It took me years to deal with going all the way to LA for shows, (with day traffic a six hour round trip), but a crucial part of what turned the tide for me was the 1300 seat oasis on the corner of Hollywood and Gower.  Many a night I would hang out on the roof between sets, eyeballing the Capitol Records building, gazing up the street towards the Roosevelt. 

With proximity to Amoeba Records and Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, it is/was the epicenter of my LA Bermuda Triangle, and will be very hard to replace.

Some favorite memories from the venue include: 

-the last LA show of Stereolab in 2008 

-a stunning Superchunk show done to a half filled house, not to mention a comet-like appearance from The Vaselines as openers

-a transcendent Beach House gig last February when the crowd became one, 

-the Gang of Four returning to LA for the first time in too many years

-an electric solo performance from the Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer, introduced by none other than Neil Gaiman. What little did we know that down the road they would be married!

Not to mention the ones that got away: 

-Nine Inch Nails did a spot as part of their 'Wave Goodbye' tour.  I never got close to getting tickets...

-Radiohead picked the Music Box to put on their relief benefit for Haiti.  I dropped out of the ticket bidding at $350, no harm done.  Still regret that! 

Got an email tonight from Goldenvoice, who are going ahead with putting tickets on sale for the Cults gig in March.  I'm sure they'll have a backup in place, but if anyone can help leverage out this mess, it would be GV, (who just celebrated their 30th anniversary).

One of the biggest unanswered questions will be the fate of the adjoining restaurant, The Blue Palms, which has managed to carve a fine little niche among craft beer lovers.

Hopefully new ownership will be kind in renovations and not destroy the loving recreations of Bosch's 'Garden Of Earthly Delights'.  It might be that that I miss the most...

Beach House Live: Entering The Void

Beach House seems to be one of those all or nothing propositions. My friends, by and large, don't Abide, so for me, they're a private vice. A hard thing to quantify, it's all about the atmosphere they capture. On this second of two sold out nights at the Fonda Music Box in LA, one thing apparent is how far they've come as a live band in the last few years...







The night seemed to be a bittersweet farewell to Teen Dream, the LP they've spent the last full year supporting. It blew up beyond anyone's expectations, and was a staple of many top ten lists. Now it appears a well earned break is in the offing, and it will be interesting to see where they musically go to next...

























Holding down opening duties admirably were The Papercuts, (from San Francisco), whose new LP Fading Parade has just come out on Sub Pop.

Their fuzzy dream pop was the perfect table setter for Beach House, and added to an unforgettable evening.

For more on The Papercuts, see below...