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!!!

BRETON.(L!VE) @the.Echo...

Breton.2012

@the.Echo.(Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday.September.18th

Ahhhhhhh...YEA!  They are back and it looks less crowded from the last time they where here.  No bueño. 

Missed the first band, but I caught the second, Mathewdavid and what a trip he was.  First, I thought he was gay because of the way he was dancing on stage.  Not only that, he decided to kick it on the steps and sing to us while half of his body was laying on the floor.  I really don't like to rag on bands, but he was horrible.  I know it takes guts to be on stage to perform, but come on. He had great beats, but once he opened his mouth, it was...bad.  Yes, he surprised me too when I saw him kissing and hugging his lady friend after his performance.  Literally, I thought he was gay.  Once again, I have been bamboozled.  

The third artist is signed to Ghostly International and he was good.  Forgot his name (BAD ME).  He had these two huge white balloons that projected images on them and ocassionally  change color.  I noticed that Mathewdavid just stuck around for two songs and left.  Hey, we stuck around for your performance, mister.

The night gets interesting, I happened to glance over to this Mexican guy (or someother Latin descent) asking every girls to dance.   He was turned down by everyone of them and was later escorted out by security.  Funny.

The crowd was still light, but it didn't stop Breton from throwing another amazing show.  They sounded tighter and better from the last time I saw them here, four months ago.  They cool visuals and the energy of the band was.....AWESUM!!!  They added a new member and he took over the synthesizers.  The new guy reminded me of Oscar Cash (of Metronomy) because of the way he moved when he performed behind the keyboard. 

If you have not heard or seen Breton yet, you have too.  They KICK!NG A$$ and throw down a killer show.  

\m/ - AWESUM! 

TRUST.(L!VE).@the.Echo.2012

TRUST.2012

@the.Echo (Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday.September.11th

I think personally, they should make this a day a holiday and in other news, I just can't believe two GREAT bands came out today (The Presets and The xx).  But to today is the day to remember and never forget.    

I wanted into the venue and they where playing Everything but the Girl!!!   Ahhhhhhhhhh.  It's a SOLD OUT show tonight!!!  Who new.  Right On!!!

I missed the opening act, but the second band sounded a bit like DFA1974.  They where good.  DZ DeathRays was the name and they where a wild bunch.  Check them out.  

I am looking into the crowd and its very young.  It feels great to correct a young girl that the song that is playing is not Erasure, it's New Order.  She challenged me for the name of the song and the album it's in.  I absolutely had a brain fart on both questions, but I described her the album by saying, "it's the one with all the flowers on the album" (Power, Corruption, Lies).  She was like, "of course".  DAM!!!  

TRUST went on and of course they killed it!  Robert Alfons (Lead Singer) is always entertaining to watch.   He was bouncing and moving around so much that,  I was starting to question if he was actually singing or lip syncing?   You never heard him catch his breath or make a sign, I am just saying.  I was also trying to figure out what he was wearing.  It looked like beige sweat pants and a black mesh top.  Okay.

Beside the kids trying to start a mosh pit...really?!  This is not hard core $H!T, kids.  I was missing the live drums.  Bring them back!

\m/ - K!CK A$$!!

BRETON.(L!VE) @the.Echo.(Los Angeles, CA)

Breton.2012

@the.Echo.(Los Angeles, CA)

Wednesday.May.9th

After Coachella, I was wiped out for awhile.  I missed a couple of bands (Chairlift, EXITMUSIC and Tanlines).  I never heard of Breton until I opened my weekly newsletter by NME.  They picked Breton album, Other People's Problems as a best of 2012 so far.  So I had to check out there music and liked what I was hearing.  Think of Foals gone electro-rock, but in a more abstract way.  I went to their website and they happen to be coming to Los Angeles at The Echo.  Perfect.  
I entered The Echo around 9:15pm and you may say, around twenty people where here tonight.   There was maybe 50 more after 10pm.   I was looking around to see the people and I happen to bump in to Zowie.  I always see her at almost every show I go to.  If you get a chance, checkout her radio show on Moheak.com on Tuesday's at 5pm. She plays the best in underground Indie music.  

More people started to show up after 10pm.  Give or take, 50 more.  Not bad.

Breton went on and they, K!LLED !T.  I just found my second BEST band of 2012 (TRUST is first).  They blew me away and they had great energy on stage.  I happen to met the tour manager.  She came up to me and asked "How did you hear about Breton?".  I told her, "on NME".   I told her, "what about you?".  "I am their tour manager" she said.  How cool was that?!  I was hoping she would invite me to the after party (that's if they had one) or something.  
Thirty minutes into the show, I was glued.  They sounded GREAT and had great chemistry with each other.  Every member in the band was interesting to watch.  They all had there own personality.  My eyes where bouncing around from member to member.  After the last song, I wanted more.  I am definitely going to see them again!  I went to the shirt stand and they had NO SHIRTS!!!  What?!?!?!?!    DAM!

\m/ - ROCK ON!!!

HOWLER (L!VE) @the.Echo.....

Howler.2012

@the.Echo.(Los Angeles, CA)

Friday.March.23rd

Before I stepped into the venue, I looked over to the band schedule and Howler does not go on until 11:30p.  FCVK.  It's 10:15pm and I can count, 50 people in here.  From all the rave reviews on NME, you would think this place would be packed and sold out.

First band was on when I came in and they where....The second band, I never heard before, The Static Jacks.  They kicked a$$.  So far from what I know about them, they are from New Jersey.  They had great chemistry and it looked like they where having the time of there life.  Did they say, they are gonna be in tour with The Wombats?  CONGRATs!!!  

I hope Howler does better because The Static Jacks pulled a great show.  Before I forget, I liked there stage set up.  They handmade some artwork that they painted over cardboard.  They where laid out on stage, leaning on PA's and other band equipments.  I really LIKED them.

Howler went on and they where good.  I mean, REALLY GOOD.  They did out shine The Static Jacks.  They had the crowd going, moving and boping.  I started to noticed  more people after The Static Jacks (I thought for a second, it was going to be a Viva Brother show).  Beside the couples around me making out non-stop during the show, one of the guy's had nasty BO.  Feel sorry for that girl that has to sleep with that.

Howler didn't have an encore and to me, they sounded better live then the album.  I have to take another listen to their debut album, America Give Up.  But over all, THEY ROCKED!!!

\m/ - Groovy.

the.Good.Natured.(L!V3) @the.Echo

The.Good.Natured.2012

@the.Echo.(Los Angeles,CA)

Friday.January.20th

Churches was the firstband and they where okay.  They reminded me of some 90's band and sure enough, they played a Nirvana song.  I glanced over to stage left and I noticed the band schedule.  The.Good.Natured don't go on until 11:30pm...so that means....12am.  Groovy. Another long night and I am still on east coast time.
I am looking around and there is a couple of family.  I also see some teased out Robert Smith hair.  This is gonna be a very interesting night.  My favorite DJ is here and of course he is playing, Mash-Up (give that $H!T a rest already).  
The second band (The Present Moment) was okay.  Think of Fad Gadget meets Peter Murphy.  I looked them up and they are from Los Angeles and they have two albums out already.  I download a couple of songs from the second album "Loyal To A Fault" and LOVING It!!!!  If you are into Electro-Goth, I highly recommend it.
Besides the cool lighting and the tons of smoke from The Present Moment performance, the beat matching from the house Dj was perfection.  Did I hear MORE Mash-Up?  Timeless.
The Good Natured came out and Sarah McIntosh (lead singer) looked a bit like Robert Smith/Faris Badwan (lead singer of The Horrors).  You hardly see her eyes, but what cute shoes she had on.  Of course, someone shouted that out and she thanked him in her cute British voice.  The Good Natured themselves where good.  I liked the fact that Sarah went into the crowd twice singing and wanting us to dance.  Some people joined.  
The set was short, just like the skirt she was wearing and boy...it was short!  It looks like something a hooker would wear, but Sarah wore it in good taste.  Just imagine if she bent down the wrong way, we would of seen her beaver is she was not wearing panties.  

\m/ - Rock On!!!