May as well make this a trifecta of ‘blasts from the past’. Brian Eno is an old favorite (meaning I’ve liked him for a long time, no offense Brian), though I’ve lost touch with what he’s been doing in recent years. Make that many years. I’ll still put on his wonderful early solo albums when I’m in need of that warm, loving, quirky embrace. So now, as he just released his latest album last month, Small Craft On A Milk Sea (Warp Records), it’s high time to catch up. (more…)

Yes, I’m two months late on this, but it’s just in time for your gift-buying consideration. Back in September, one of David Bowie’s most important albums was celebrated in grand fashion with remastered special and deluxe editions by Virgin/EMI. Station To Station is an astonishing album on many levels. As an artist known for his musical departures, this particular one was probably one of the most important, both personally and professionally. (more…)

Ok, just a quickie here to introduce a new club I’ve just found out about this week. It’s called The Royale, and it’s on the site of the old Roxy, at 279 Tremont Street. You can read more about it (and see a few photos). Their grand opening is tonight, with a live performance by Tyson Ritter (from The All American Rejects) and “special guests”. Never mind about the mention of “Playboy events” – this is a new 800-capacity rock venue, folks, in downtown Boston, and one of the bands scheduled for May 4 & 5 is Public Image Limited. So definitely a club to keep an eye on. And I will.

musings from the studio…

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A few of the bands with new albums out this year: Avi Buffalo (photo by Jeff Antebi); Castledoor; Shadow Shadow Shade (center photo by Alex Gallardo, Los Angeles Times - August 6, 2009); Local Natives (photo by Benjamin Hoste); and The Deadly Syndrome.

There’s been lots of exciting stuff going on for my favorite Eastside L.A. bands, which I first profiled in my “Silverlake Roundup” – Part One and Part Two. I’ll be including those I have some info. for; if I’m leaving anything out (or got anything wrong), please let me know. Stay tuned for a batch of new bands from – or who regularly play at clubs – in this area (which, to be technically accurate, comprises Silverlake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, etc.). But for now, read on… (more…)

Wicked cool evening tonight for The Airborne Toxic Event and their L.A. (and L.A.-bound) fans, as excitment mounted these past few weeks for their epic performance at Disney Hall with The Calder Quartet and other special guests. It’s part of Los Angeles Philharmonic’s West Coast, Left Coast festival. For Airborne, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the music and culture of their East L.A. neighborhood – and an opportunity to play with their friends, the magnificent Calder Quartet, in a really classy setting. You can probably tell that I’m just a tad envious of all those who will be in attendance tonight. However, all is not lost – the performance is being filmed for a DVD release.

In other news, huge congratulations to Silverlake forebears Silversun Pickups for picking up a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist”, which maybe shows the Grammys have come at least a short way from when Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance”… Also spotted: People Magazine’s Grammy nomination predictions, where Airborne Tox got a mention in the Best New Artist category as a band to “keep an eye on”. Next time, guys… next time.

This was one of my favorite Red Cortez songs as performed at their recent shows with The Airborne Toxic Event and The Henry Clay People. Absolutely wonderful that they’ve just released this as a demo. And as a special bonus – a completely incongruous and f***ing hilarious video. I’ll never look at squirrels quite the same way again.

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