Digitalism.(L!VE)...

Digitalism.2013

The Troubadour (L.A., CA)

Friday.May.17th

What?!?! Digitalism at the.Troubadour?!?!  That is crazy and...PERFECT!  The stage set was simple.  There where only two stands (reminded me of Kraftwerk) and a huge white heart, just like the recent album cover as the back drop.  I love how Digitalism always changes things up.  It's never the same.

It's nine o'clock and the place still looks empty for a SOLD OUT show.  Maybe some people think that they are gonna go on late.

There was no opening band, but a live DJ spinning.  

It's ten o'clock and the place was...PACKED!  Digitalism hit the stage at 10:30 pm.   What a show so far.  It was a non-stop music performance.  They played two songs I wanted to hear (Circles and closed with, Pogo), but no "Digitaliam in Cairo" or "Two Hearts".  Sad face.

Beside the lady with her light up high heels, Digitalism had a crazy light show that could of caused someone to have an epileptic seizure. But other then that, it was... 

\m/ - AWESUM!!!

IAMX.(L!VE) at...

IAMX.2013

Fonda.Theater.(Los Angeles, CA)

Wednesday.May. 15th

What the...HELL!!!  The opener had a great voice for someone who is hungover on the final show.  Some people where into him and other where just making fun.  It was something that I did not expect for IAMX  to have this one man show to open for him.  All he had was a guitar, a backing track with beats and a mic.  He had a good voice, but what the hell!?!?! 

Once again..IAMX was FCVKn...AWESUM!!!  Everyone in the band glitter bomb us.  Groovy.  IAMX played some new songs that sounded really good (can't wait).  The last time I saw him was maybe 5 years ago and I think this was a better show.  Chris Corner (Lead Singer) is a rock star.  He had his Rock-n-Roll boots on and glitter all over his face.  He reminded me of Dave Gahan (Lead Singer of DM) because of his energy on stage and body frame.  

Everyone in the band had there own unique look that my eyes where bouncing all over the place.  Each and every one of them had a different paint on there face. I wish they tour much and I was glad I was here to witness this fantastic show.

\m/ - AWESUM

Little.Boots.(L!VE)...

Little.Boots.2013
@the.Echoplex.(Los Angeles, CA)
Thursday.May.2nd

The first band, Feathers where okay.  I liked the beat and sound of the band, but I was not digging the singer.  I couldn't  make out what she was singing and didn't have much of a stage presence.  

The next band, Avan Lava was Wham! meets C+C Music Factory.  They got the crowd going and I have never heard of them.  I was trying to make out if the lead singer was gay or not.  So hard these days and they where putting there...ALL. It was a show with confetti cannons going off into the crowd and a flash of titi here in there.  Yup, one of the dancers was flashing us.  She tried to fix it but gave up, just like the tape that was covering her nipples.

Little.Boots was up next and she toned down her look.  She grew out her hair and she reminded me of Goldfrapp.  I was missing that funky look.  The sad part of this show, there where a couple of technical problems.  Her mic was not working and when it did, the piece that connected to the mic (the wire) would fall off.  It happened twice and she caught the last one just in time. Victoria Christina Hesketh (Little.Boots real name) kept her cool while the tech guy ran around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to fix her mic.  

Once the mic was fixed, she would walk around, but...the cord was too short.  Little.Boots kept her cool and she didn't stop the show, she just kept on going, but she did apologize and didn't blame anyone.  I like that.  

The show was great and she played a bunch of new songs that sounded very promising, can't wait. Besides the Tenori-on not working as well and other techie problems, Little.Boots pulled out a GOOD show. 

\m/ - ROCK ON!

Niki.and.The.Dove.(L!VE)...

Niki.&.the.Dove.2013

@el.Rey.Theatre.(Los.Angeles, CA)

Monday.January.28th

"This show is awesome, just like The Faint", someone said behind me while N&TD where performing. Really?!?!  Niki and The Dove show was good, but you can't compare.  The Faint was...AMAZING!  

I arrived around 8 o'clock and the venue was light that I was able to be right on the stage.  I could count the people in the room.  They where two opening acts before Niki and The Dove that where...okay.  I turned around to checkout the crowd and the person next to me, whipped out her mini iPad?!?!  Really?!?!  Funny.  

Right after the second band, the venue was packed.  I use to be that person who would come in right before the opening  band went off stage just to see the main band.  Ever since I arrived early to see Balam Acab  in NYC and TRUST was the opening band (with other two bands), I would of never have stumbled on to them.  So now, I make it a habit to be early because you never know.   Plus, I get to be up close to get a good picture of the band.  

It was great to see Niki and The Dove on a bigger stage with a good sound system.  I loved looking at the fans who where by the stage (like myself) singing to every song.  This show was better from that crazy venue in Echo Park. They had issues there and you can see it in there faces, which made them cut there set short.  Malin Dahlström (Lead Singer) broke out with this hair piece that reminded me of Frida Kahlo.  Then she grabbed her furry fans and fanned us with them.  It felt nice.  

With a great performance, I couldn't stop looking at the outfits that Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf (Keyboardist) where wearing.  Malin was a clash of eighties Maddona and Cindy Lauper with the dance moves of Lisa Lisa (Cult Jam).  Gustaf was also something from the eighties with his long white dress shirt, wearing black pants that where rolled up to his ankles that showed off his white socks.  That look was HUGE for the Modern Rock guys, because I was doing that.  If you have not heard of them, you should pick up their latest album, "Instinct".  It was one of my top 30 albums of 2012.

\m/ - AWESUM!

Azari.&.III.2012...(L!VE)

Azari.and.III.2012

@Cinaspace (Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday.November.13th

I thought arriving at 10pm, the main floor would be open...NOT!  It's almost eleven and we are still in the small room.

It's 12am and we are still in the small room and people are starting to get a little frustrated.  I am in the small hallway before you go inside the main room and you'll get a person trying to figure out what is the problem.  The security that was guarding the main room kept telling every single person that came up to him, that the band is sound checking. That is a pretty long check.  

An hour had passed and still waiting. People started to get a little testy.  Some shoved to come up front where I was at to still ask, "what's taking so long?".  The security guy just kept saying, "sound checking".   I did see some equipment being brought in and taken out a couple of times.

YES!!!

It's a quarter to 1 am and they lets us in to the main room.  Boy...you can smell the pot in the air.   I got a good spot in the very front and not even 5 minutes, the two main guys, Dinamo Azari ( producer, musician) and

Alixander III ( producer, musician)  came out and started playing.  Of course, they had a little problem, but it got fixed (you gotta love this place).  There is always something going wrong with the equipment here.  A few minutes later, the two singer came out.   Let the party begin!  

Azari & III ( the III is pronounced third) went through the songs very quickly.  The two singer (Starving Yet Full and Fritz Helder) where very interesting to watch.  Its "Paris is Burning" once again.  I looked around and people where dancing and smiling, just having a good time.  The singers came down from the stage and into the crowd.  They pumped the crowd even more.  

Azari & III left the stage and we wanted more, but when it came close to 2am, the fun has ended.  Some people stuck around.  I left the venue with a huge smile on my face.  All I have to say, you need to watch out for Azari & III.   They....

\m/ - K!LLED !T!!!

Diamond.Rings and Icona.Pop...(L!VE)

CYPT2.

Two.Year.Anniversary.2012

@the.EchoPlex (Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday.November.6th

Okay...what the hell was that.  It feels like I am watching a variety show.  The first band reminded me of A.R.E. Weapons, but a fucked up version of them.  This is more  noise guitar, think of Sleigh Bells.  The lead singer came out with this black cloak with the hood up and his face painted like a skeleton ghost.  To top this off, he was wearing Adidas flip flops.   It was a fucked up outfit.  This guy would sometimes put his foot on the monitor's and almost trip over it.  Not just once but several times.  On the last song, he took off his black cloak and reveled his Lakers outfit.  GROOVY?!

The second artist was a little better, but not that great.  She looked very Jersey and had two back-up dancers.  Is this the new JLo?  It was very electro-pop.  NEXT! 

Diamond.Rings was up next (Thank God!).  What a step up from the last time I saw him (only him and a keyboard).  Today, he has a four piece  band and they where great.  Looking at John O'Regan (Diamond Rings), he reminded me of Bowie mets Grace Jones with some glam.  This is what we need right now, style with some substance.  When he took off his white Michael Jackson jacket, boy did he have a smell.  Jesus.   Someone hasn't touched water for about a week or two.  With his new album out, Free Dimensional (It has some good tunes), his set was short.  But for sure, I'll see him again. 

Icona.Pop...BLEW ME AWAY!!!  I thought it was gonna be just two girls dancing and singing to a backup track and that was not the case here.  They actually play instruments.  I couldn't stop watching them.  They reminded me of Simian Mobile Disco, playing with knobs and tweaking sounds.  For sure, I would see them again. 

I was not going to stick around for Andrew W.K. or the special guest, Skrillex.  It was getting late and besides, Diamond Rings and Icona Pop made my night and they...

\m/ - K!CKd A$$

Two.Door.Cinema.Club.(L!VE)...

Two.Door.Cinema.Club.2012

@Hollywood.Paladium.(L.A. CA)

Thursday.October.25th

I don't know what was worse, the t-shirt line or the show.  Don't get me wrong, this concert was so far the BEST, but what was up with the people here tonight.  Dick heads!

During TDCC performance, these two girls went at it (Fighting), I mean, hard core gangster $H!T.   Fist being thrown and hair being pulled.  It was...wild.  The last time I saw something like that was in high school.  That girl went down and of course you had some dick head saying "fuckin fat girls!".   

After the show, I went to get a shirt and it was a cluster fuck of a line.  People are such animals, just to get a simple shirt, that you have to push and shove for no reason.  It was insane and I was surprised that there was no security to control these dogs.  To top it off, when someone got a shirt, they decide to push people, just to leave.  This guy did it to me and I kicked him.  I guess he needed to rush to CVS because the motherfucker's breath...STUNK!  JESUS!

Besides all that, this show was the $H!T.  There was some $$$ (money) thrown at this show.  The lights where amazing.  It was simple and the sound was...AWESUM (went home a little deaf)!!!  The new songs sounded better live for some reason to me.  It took me a couple of spins to like "Beacon" and I am LOVING IT!     

The first band that opened up the show was okay.   The second band, Friends was being swallowed by the masses.  They are better at small venues.  The people next to me where disliking them and trying to figure them out.  There show was different from The Echo show.  They where dolled up and had this really strange person dancing (2012 Bez [Happy Mondays] maybe) and doing other crazy things.  I loved how strange they where and it made me miss New York City...

\m/ - FCVK YE4!!!

Shiny.Toy.Guns w/MNDR (L!VE)...

Shiny.Toy.Guns.2012

@the.EchoPlex (L.A., CA)

Tuesday.October.23rd

KROQ nite at the plex.  Weird.  What is KROQ now?  I stopped listening to that station in 92.  Sometimes I'll sneak a peak to hear what they are playing and it's still...CRAP!   

Long line to get in, but it moved quickly.  Once inside, the place was packed.  I have no idea if this is sold out.  Never mind, yes it was.

MNDR...K!LLED !T, but the crowd was...D.E.A.D.   Amanda Warner (Lead Singer) was pumping them up and it worked, but just for a small while.  I loved her 80's Hip-Hop dance moves that she was doing.  It reminded me of Salt-n-Pepa "Push It" video.  Even though it was a solo performance, MNDR was giving it her all and I loved it.  She had my attention from the start.  I  wondered  if Madonna got her initials from her new album from Amanda?

Shiny.Toy.Guns. played a twenty song set that was pretty good.  They played some cover songs (Depeche Mode "Stripped" of course) and new stuff from the new album that came out today, titled, III (do you think they got the idea from Crystal Castles?).

They played "Le Disko" towards the middle of the show and closed it with two of my favorite songs, "Fading Listening" (I really LOVE that Fleetwood Mac sounding song) and "You Are the One". Perfect!  What a way to end this night.

Besides, Carah Faye Charnow (Lead Singer) throwing her mic on the ground really hard (SO PUNK ROCK) for not working during the opening song, this was, pretty...


\m/ - AWESUM!

GOSS!P.(L!VE)....

Gossip.2012

@the.Fonda.(Los Angeles, CA)

Friday.October.12th

WOW!!! This should just be my write up.  Period.  Beth Ditto (Lead Singer) is a FCVKn true artist with an amazing voice that she gave me goosebumps a couple of times.  This show ended with a...BANG!  Seriously.  

From "What's Love Got to Do With It" (K!LLER cover that Beth did) to a mash-up of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with "Standing in the Wave of Control".  FCVKn...Brilliant!  Of course, a fight broke out in the middle.  When I was looking back on my videos, I noticed the punches being swung.   It was crazy.  You would think, but I guess not.  I almost got pushed out of the way, so these kids could shove me off my spot, but I shoved them back and they moved on to there next victim.

That middle section that caused a little riot (the guy was pulled out aggressively from security), had Beth concerned during the middle of the show.  Thank God this happened towards the end because I think beth would of stopped the show, maybe.  In the middle of the show, there was something going on, that you would see security trying to figure out the problem.  Even Beth Ditto stepped in to figure out the problem.  You would see people pointing at someone to get pulled out, but no one ever did.  Whatever was the problem, it was solved with a punch.  Now that was...PUNK ROCK!

This was the show to be tonight!  The xx was playing down the street and I bet, there was no punches being thrown around.

\m/ - ROCK STAR!!

Django.Django.(L!VE).....

Django.Django.2012

@the.Echo.(Los Angeles, CA)

Wednesday.September.26th

On the recent Spin Magazine, Django Django was on the band to look out for list and they where right.   Not what I expected.  They kicked...A$$! 

When I arrived to the Echo, long line to get inside and once in, the place was packed.  This is what I don't get,  Breton is an amazing band and the attendance to that show was low.  This is the first time Django Django is performing in Los Angeles at the Echo and its SOLD OUT!  Maybe, Breton needs to be in Spin Magazine.

I missed the first band, but the  second band had a Children of The Corn theme going on.  They had corn stock as pros on stage.  The girl on the keyboards wore a hood that made her look like a Warlock.  Just off the bat,  I figured this band was going to be this Shoe-gazer Goth band.  Just because of the set up they had and sure enough, I was right.  But, I was not digging the music.  Couldn't make out what the singer was singing and he kicked off his shoes after the third song.   Make yourself at home, buddy.

Django Django was up next and they blew me away.  I didn't know they where gonna be this...GREAT.  I don't like to compare bands, but they reminded me of Hot Chip.  They came out dressing the same, but each member had a different tie-die design on their shirts.   

When I downloaded their self-titled debut album,  I was not to crazy about it.  Watching them live, made me go and listen to the album again.  They had great chemistry on stage and they where having fun.  Django Django, had all kinds of musical instruments on stage that you would think they would program into there computer.  I kind of loved that and so did the crowd.  The audience where with then from start to finish.  Some where dancing and some where bopping there heads.  The crowd stuck around after they ended their set wanting more and sure enough, they never came back out.  Perfect!

\m/ -  AWESUM!!!