Three blokes from Liverpool walk onto a tiny stage in Silverlake. What ensued next was a combination of witty English banter – ranging from the discussion of refried beans, a mole on the ass of a teddy bear, and various species of marsupials – and poppy songs about moving, girls, movies…and girls. What more could you want really?

The Wombats consist of: Matthew Murphy on vocals, guitar and keys, Dan Haggis on drums and background vocals, and Tord Øverland-Knudsen on bass and vocals. With five singles out across the world (two of which cracked the UK’s top 20), the band has hit stateside to tour behind The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation.

Playing for just over an hour, the boys tore through “Moving to New York”, “Let’s Dance to Joy Division”, “Backfire at the Disco” and “Kill the Director”, which, as they tell it, is written about their loathing of the film “The Holiday”.
»continue reading Wombats @ Spaceland, 3/11/08

Anticipation inside The Troubadour was buzzing. I, myself, had been waiting three years to see Black Mountain. All the friends I had brought with me were as ready as I was. The crowd swelled around us, as did the celebrity quotient. Drea De Matteo and Shooter Jennings were there. As was Chris Robinson, Rick Rubin, and the brothers Gallagher (Oasis). We were all grins as they took to stage playing “Stormy High”, the opening track off of their second album, Into the Future.
»continue reading Black Mountain @ Troubadour, 2/05/08

“We’re gonna go old school right now, so take your drugs now and enjoy.”

This remark came about mid set. I took his advice, so that may not be an exact quote. Aside from this group being total visionaries in the studio, I was very curious – almost a bit concerned, as to how they would translate live. All that concern was thrown out the window when they took to the stage playing “Chemistry” and “Hold My Hand” right out the door, both of which are off the amazing War Stories album. To say it was a thunderous opening would be an understatement. The band that was assembled for this their first live-band tour was amazingly tight. I’m really not sure about names which is sad because the bassist: SICK. Everyone was, really, but I need to single him out here.

Vocalist Gavin Clark came onstage several times to sing on “Broken”, “Keys to the Kingdom”, and “Eye for an Eye”; all tracks that he collaborated on with the band over the years. Despite Gavin Clark’s guest vocals, other vocal tracks from artists like Ian Astbury and Thom Yorke were played over the PA with the bands instruments accompanying. At first I wasn’t a fan, but hearing the actual voices of the creators of each track made me feel more comfortable.
»continue reading UNKLE @ Echoplex, 10/26/07

Last week Spoon sold out a three-night stand at the Fonda. As per tradition, Losanjealous turned out to see what the fuss was about.

Monday, 9.10.07: Jon
My girl insisted. We had just seen Spoon about a month earlier at a special show on a warehouse stage, downtown Los Angeles. She stole a beer from the drummer which led to a conversation. She was hooked and I was impressed. The LA show had vindicated what I had learned about two years ago after discovering Gimme Fiction and Girls Can Tell and more recently the once leaked, but now fair game, GaGaGaGaGa.
»continue reading Three Spoons @ Fonda

Ryan Adams is an artist people either hate or love. I like to think that most people that hate him are either stunted by some pre-conceived notion of his lyrics and ability, or are just not versed in his catalog and history.

This year’s tour, supporting the new album Easy Tiger, has started out as an acoustic tour consisting of, as Ryan likens them, “blue cave” shows. As I type this I’m listening to the first “red cave” show, which would be an electric night. Reason being: Ryan has been healing his wrist from a skateboarding mishap.

The colored cave model should show you the versatility of Ryan and his “bestest friends in the whole world,”The Cardinals. That was a direct quote from the “blue cave” show at the Wilshire Theatre a few nights ago. Adams likes to play with his audience — not so much tell stories, but interact in a way that tells you that you are involved, but not part of, his show. The Cardinals, consisting of Neal “The NC” Cassal on Guitar & Vocals, Jon “The Slider” Graboff on Pedel Steel & Vocals, Chris “Spacewolf” Feinstein on Bass & Vocals, Brad Pemberton on Drums, and Jamie “The Candyman” Candiloro on Piano, are THE backup that Ryan has needed for so long. Some have been with him for years now, others just recent additions. All have the ability to not only look through, but also push Ryan through his ever changing visions of how his music can, and should be played. I think “dialed in” would be the analogy that one would use to describe their contribution throughout the evening.
»continue reading Ryan Adams Does Not Suck At Wilshire Theatre

I really like B.R.M.C. I’ve seen them a few times; most notably at Spaceland for an acoustic benefit show. They’re extremely talented guys. They just need to decide on what their sound is. This was made very apparent at the Wiltern last night. I’ll get to that later, though.

Now, I’m sure that a lot of people were disappointed at the fact that The Fratellis couldn’t make it last night. I was too…initially. That was until The Black Angels were slated to replace them. Words simply can’t do them justice, but believe me I’ll try. First off, if you don’t have their album Passover I demand that you run to Amoeba, click on your iTunes music store, or illicitly download it immediately. It is a must own if you’re a fan of raw, brooding, psychedelic rock n roll. If bands like The Doors, Velvet Underground, and even B.R.M.C. make you cream, this band will tickle your fancy to no end. The track-list and tone of their album makes it seems that this band has not only been inspired by 60’s psychedelia, but the Vietnam War(!)
»continue reading Black on Black: Angels vs Rebels @ The Wiltern, 8 May 2007