Song of the Day

Fembot, I'm coming!

Yes, this Sunday is all about seeing Robyn & Röyksopp at the Hollywood Bowl. I lack the kind of bonkers-ass outfit that such an occasion requires — I expect to see several iterations of this and these, plus a wide variety of these. Nonetheless, as long as I've had an "old lady nap" (a "disco nap" doesn't cut it anymore) and stay hydrated, things should work out juuuust fine.

This track is just the cool-down. Trust. Things are gonna get silly.

Song of the Day

This is my second ever "Song of the Day" to feature Emily King. But this time, she's not the focus; this lushness comes to us via producer, composer and son of Bobby, Taylor McFerrin. His new album, "Early Riser," dropped this month and he's touring behind it. I very much wish I could check out his set this Friday at The Bootleg Theater, but I already blew my going-out budget (check out tomorrow's "SotD" to find out how).

Watch This — Some tUnE-yArDs With Your Morning Coffee

I've constantly been checking for tUnE-yArDs (aka, Merrill Garbus) ever since I first heard "Bizness." I didn't get my act together in time to catch her sold-out show at the Fonda Theatre, so this live version of "Real Thing" — off her latest album, Nikki Nack — will have to tide me over.

These ladies (and guy) are like harmonizing, grooving exclamation points as they layer lots of simple sounds to make one big, bold one.

L.A. Escapes — Grand Performances

The Fela! Band, performing two Chop and Quench shows, July 18.

Grand Performance's FREE Summer events get underway this Friday (June 13) and I'm already trying to figure out how many energy drinks it's going to take to get me through the next couple of months. Between the Stones Throw Picnic, the Fela-loving Chop and Quench, a tribute to Minnie Riperton and one to Cesária Evora, not to mention, just about every other single performance listed on the line-up...I may as well just set up a tent down at California Plaza.

The entire 2014 Schedule is right here. And all this goodness costs nothing, people! It's time to say a prayer to the parking gods, put that enochlophobia in check and grab the light jacket that's going to save you when the temperature suddenly drops 15 degrees. (As to the latter, I'm crushing on this one right now.)

California Plaza is located in Downtown L.A., not far from MOCA — Grand Ave. and Grand Central Market.  Having attended both daytime and evening performances there in the past, I can say this: If you go during the day, bring sun protection because it gets pretty melty; and, if you go at night, the plaza's cash-only underground parking garage is not nearly the headache you'd expect.

Wantables — A "David Bowie is" prize pack

Photo courtesy of Sukita The David Bowie Archive 2012.

I'm not too keen on his brand new material, but I'm still a lifelong Bowie fan — from my first exposure to getting my kid in on the act (here's her jam...she's singing it as I type this!).  So, how badly do I want to visit his new retrospective at London's Victoria & Albert Museum?!?

I wanna see all the crazy jumpsuits and concert sets, do the stage make-up demo, take the Bowie-inspired pattern-making course (even though I don't sew!) and dance all night at the weekend musical events. Does anyone have any golden tickets or spare airline miles lying around?

If you get the chance to go, I will try my hardest not to hate on you. In return, do you think you could hook me up with one of these prints from the gift shop. Thanks!

"Low" Giclée print by Simon Cryer.

Sweden's Calling

It's gotten to where as soon as I hear a song that pushes all the right buttons, I just naturally assume the artist/group is Swedish. First, it was Little Dragon. I've seen them live, copped all their albums, posted about them and, honestly, was inspired to write this post when I walked into Broome Street General Store and the store's speakers were blasting them.

Little Dragon

Then, I caught one of Sweden's biggest artists, Robyn, on this Wyatt Cenac segment of The Daily Show. I found it odd that I'd never heard of her and wanted to rectify that. (She comes in around 3:00.)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Song of the Day

I caught Emily King live in Hollywood last week and have been humming this sublime little song ever since.

She popped onto my radar thanks to her collaborations with José James — she wrote "Come to My Door" (listen to this lovely acoustic duet) and "Heaven on the Ground," both from James' latest album, No Beginning No End.

The show was part of her own solo tour and the place was packed with a lot of fashion blog enthusiasts/natural hairstyle models who seemed to know every single lyric, much to King's apparent shock.

While I'm not the hugest fan of love songs (King's forté), I found myself feeling what she was feeling onstage. She just has that way — undeniable charm, stage presence and a lot of heart. Oh, and she was rocking an outfit that I would've gladly stolen off her back (even though she admitted with embarrassment that she'd worn it a few nights before when she opened for Emeli Sandé).

Concert-goers caveat: If you have plans to see someone at Hotel Cafe (I won't reward them with a link), make sure the juice is worth the squeeze. It's actually a cozy little spot once you finally make it in. But parking is atrocious, the denizens of Hollywood even more so and you have to literally step over trash to get to the venue's alleyway entrance. It honestly felt like I was going to The Bronze. I give that club one big side-eye and several nostril flares.

Song of the Day

I've been whistling this song all year, ever since I discovered Hospitality, via Tiny Desk Concert. But I only just got around to seeing the video today. The coastal flip-flop idea is pretty cute (reportedly, it came from the mind of a "Bob's Burgers" writer). More importantly, though...

Hello, Maeby!

For the Love of Lists — Get A Life Fest

I've been trying to reclaim my social life, but I must say that over the past year, things have been dragging. This is, chiefly, because I don't have a dedicated party posse like in the Austin Days of Yore (sniff). The last few weeks, though, have signaled a return to form. The iCal has filled with more than just first graders' birthday parties, school volunteering obligations and dental appointments.

Just what have I been doing? To the lists!

Shows/gigs that were well worth the cost of the babysitter:
1. Lianne La Havas at Bootleg Theater — She's charming, a solid songwriter, has great stage presence, and comes across as a less treacly version of Corinne Bailey Rae. The packed crowd — from where I stood, an odd blend of alterna-black girls and middle-aged white dudes in business attire — was spellbound. And, though, I refuse to chalk this up to anything more than urban legend, for the sake of my fragile constitution, Stevie Wonder was reportedly one of the admiring onlookers. I NEED to disbelieve these reports; surely, if my idol was in the building, my radar would've gone off.


Check out La Havas serenading Parisian shoppers:



Lianne La Havas | No Room For Doubt | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.



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Mildly-Obssessed With This Band

What is it about Denmark duo Quadron that has me so enthralled?

I first heard them early in the year via KCRW (because I am officially in that geezer-ific demographic now). Since then, I've been trying to tell folks about them to the point where I'm practically on street team status.

I've been drumming my fingers waiting to hear of any tour news, with nothing but a few random festivals ever popping up. Now, I hear their coming to L.A. in October. According to their site, they play the Shrine Auditorium on October 23. According to the Shrine's site, that's the date Air is playing (though I didn't see mention of an opener). So, shall I connect the dots and assume they're opening for Air?

I love me some "Sexy Boy" and all, but I am not sure I could stand to sit through a whole night of Air's dreamy stuff. I have, indeed, been known to fall asleep at shows as varied as Sonic Youth and Blues Traveler (don't ask).

Is my mild obsession enough to make me down a Red Bull and eat those words? With any luck, they'll beef up their tour schedule to include some dates at, say, the more accessible (and affordable) Detroit Bar, or Belly Up.

Wait...If I Keep Doing Cool Stuff Like This, What Will I Whine About?

It's me...and I'm smiling!!! A lot!

Broken Social Scene's show at the Henry Fonda Theater this past Monday was sold out, leaving me out in the cold. As per usual, I (possibly, irrationally) blamed Orange County for my missing out. I pouted, fumed, slammed a few cabinet doors, then resigned myself to my fate.

Then, I got wind of a free in-store at Amoeba Records. Further fuming, as I figured there was no way I could maneuver myself from here to there in time to catch a 6p "show."

I was so blissfully wrong. I made it there in stunning, rush hour-flouting time, parked with relative ease and was able to breeze past the line of kids that went down and the block (not to mention the scads that were already inside waiting patiently in the humid aisles). Thanks to a fairy god-employee who shall remain nameless, my way-back Austin friend, Andy, and I got to stand stage adjacent and revel in the all the multi-instrumental Canadian goodness.

Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning were in good spirits, cracking Justin Bieber jokes, offering unsolicited KISS trivia and aping cheesy rock poses while playing. They introduced new stuff from Forgiveness Rock Record, which debuted that day (this was Tuesday, btw). Insert the usual drill of all the cool kids diligently nodding their heads and feigning extreme interest with material that they hadn't yet memorized. [Can I say...God, how I miss being in a room full of people well under the age of 50 and over the age of 5!!!]

Everybody made with the fist pumps and whoo!-ing, though, when older tracks — "Stars and Sons," "Cause = Time" and "Ibi Dreams of Pavement" — surfaced. I would go on record as saying it was one of the promptest, longest, most heart-felt and un-obligatory seeming in-store performance I've ever seen.

Follow that fantastic freebie up with a slammin'-ass burger across the street at Umami Burger and I felt rejuvenated (a feeling that would soon be sapped by a bleary-eyed solo nighttime drive back down to Orange County).

One great free L.A. show down...one to go!

Two Weeks — A Fading Love Affair

Last spring, Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest" arrived on my doorstep from Amazon. I was smitten with that album to a degree that is almost embarrassing. I listened to it in the car until even my pre-schooler was over it.

The song I had on repeat? "Two Weeks." (Disclaimer: Not super crazy about the video.)

I'm trying to tell you. The vocal harmonies on this one...the drums...those piano plinks...my hair stood on end every time. When Pitchfork pegged it #5 in its Top 100 Tracks of 2009, I felt a swell of pride, as if I had something to do with it.

I have had songs that I could not shake before: Prince's "Adore"; The Sea & Cake's "Bird and Flag"; "Autumn Sweater" by Yo La Tengo, to name a few. This is just the latest in a long line of tracks I've wanted to blast from the rooftops. That is...until lately.

This song has been a sonic slut these days. I heard its tell-tale plinks at the beginning of that insipid VW Punch Bug ad and the worry set in. Then, it was on that NBC dramedy "Parenthood." Then, on the loudspeaker at Loehmann's yesterday, butted up against "True Love" by Madonna. And, according to Wikipedia, "How I Met Your Mother" and Peugeot have used it, too.

Yeah. Despite all the soul-stirring and goose flesh-inducing, I'm kinda' done. I am officially in the market for a new favorite song.

My inner-teenager — she, who loves only that which is obscure — can't help but wince at all the mainstreaminess. It's like Drake says on that Jay-Z song, "Whatever you about to discover, we off that." You can take the girl out of the scene (and, apparently, move her to its ideological polar opposite), but you can't take the scene out of the girl. I'm not proud of the arbitrary superficiality of this turn of events. But a smidge of snobbery here and there does shake up the boredom of housewifery!

I've Forgotten How to Write a Music Review*

*...though, some past colleagues/editors might argue I never knew how to in the first place!

I went to a show! What's up?!

Saturday night, I went to Costa Mesa's Detroit Bar to check out The Morning Benders (who I've mentioned before).

I'd seen them before, in an opening act role, and was impressed. Add to that, there was a lot of SXSW-generated buzz about them, making this a moderately hot ticket. I just can not express how suddenly age 32 has swooped in and left me grasping at every last thread of coolness. Finding out about and seeing a band before their single becomes a car commercial? Seemingly major.

Saying I was going felt great (I rather relished the faint hint of jealousy in the eyes of the other park moms when they heard of my plans). Being there, on the other hand, was a pain...literally. I needed epsom salts and two next-day naps after that show.

The sets (including the first one, by likable unknowns The Miniature Tigers) were as short and tidy as one would expect from bands with not a lot in the way of a discography. But, for some reason, they didn't start until 10:30, or so. "This is inching up on your bedtime!" my knees seemed to scream out at me. (Though I tried to appease them by wearing sensible-ish shoes, the knees were not happy and they would not be ignored as the night wore on.)

The Morning Benders is a seriously cute band. Their songs are melodic and catchy without being cloying. They're definitely keeping that whole "modern barbershop quartet harmonizing pop song" momentum going and I don't mind it a bit. The audience was a mix of the curious and the ground-floor fans who sang and hugged their significant others through all the songs. I was in the former camp, but I watched them thinking: They are so adorable, I want to put them in my pocket...or, at least, in my earbuds as I'm grocery shopping. One smile- and sway-inducing song led to another. Then they finished up with the pay-off everybody in the crowd had been waiting for — their single, "Excuses," a song so all-encompassingly catchy that any band with aspirations of longevity would put a moratorium on, if they knew what was good for them.

Before the last guitar strap was removed, I made a move for the door. I know now that I am too old to wait for an encore (not that there was one). I had gotten my $10 worth and it was finally time to appease the knees. Will I go to another show anytime soon? No doubt. Will there be a mandate that it be a seated show? No doubt.

Born to Rock

In the past year, I've seen Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear and Little Joy — three bands my daughter loves listening to in the car and around the house. While I loved each of the concerts (not the least because they were momentary reprieves from my wallflower Mommy status), I was saddened each time that I couldn't bring the little fan. She has yet to see her first rock show.

Next weekend, I aim to change all that. March 14, Kidrockers brings The Watson Twins to L.A.'s Echoplex. The concert series specializes in daytime, family-centric shows, with venues in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well. They've booked such acts as Ra Ra Riot, Silversun Pickups and Los Campesinos!, all for little ears to hear. There's even special eats and giveaways — this time around, it's pizza by Two Boots, plus Baby Legs leg/arm warmers and a Daisy Rock Guitar on raffle.

As near as I can tell, there is no boat-rowing, playing knick-knack, or coming around the mountain going on at these concerts. And — though I've never really studied the twins (nor their opener, Choir of Young Believers) — I figure there's no time like the present to get my little homie used to rolling up tissue for her ears and sporting a little plastic wristband.

For the Love of Lists — Coachella Pros and Cons

These days, going to a concert is a special occasion for me, when, just five years ago, it used to be as common place as grocery shopping. I won't go into the whiny reasons why, but you know I could. So, the notion of one of the year's biggest music festivals opening its gates just two months and a two-hour drive away gets me as excited as Christmas. But will it happen? Here's how the Coachella facts work themselves out...

Pros:

1. Jay-Z — I'm not crazy about the new album (I prefer Aziz Ansari's "Hate." And, "Young Forever," really?). Still, friends at the Austin show raved about it and I want to see his live show for myself.

2. LCD Soundsystem

3A.-3B. Grizzly Bear & Beach House — Their Solana Beach show last fall was great, but my mood that night wasn't. I need a do-over!

4. Passion Pit

5. Hot Chip — I saw them a few years ago and danced until I literally had to sit my weary knees down (in the balcony, alongside a bunch of unenthused chaperoning moms)

6. Yo La Tengo — Remember when I posted this?

7. Miike Snow

8. Spoon — I never gave them much thought until after I moved out of Austin. Now, I can't seem to catch a show to save my life.

9. Thom Yorke??? — I'm going to pretend I know what the question marks are about and just go ahead and list this one as a pro. There have been rumors about a new Radiohead album. Maybe yes, maybe no. Until then, I need a way to soothe the fact that I've never seen Radiohead live. (Okay. I am not counting their opening set for Natalie Merchant and R.E.M. at South Park meadows...that was another lifetime ago, pre-OK Computer.)

There are those that I listen to that I'd pass on just because I'm not sure the fields of Indio are the right venue — The Whitest Boy Alive, Mew, Charlotte Gainsbourg. I just saw Vampire Weekend (one in a surprisingly small crowd at a Long Beach show), I've seen Little Dragon twice in a year and I'm seeing the Dirty Projectors later in the month. Then, there are bands I've once loved that I can't imagine are really still potent — De La Soul, Sly & the Family Stone, Talvin Singh.

Cons:

1. Port-a-potties.

2. Showering in a trailer.

3. Camping. They're actually trumpeting about how they have car camping now, versus tent or open air, I presume. They even added not one, but two exclamation points behind the fact.

4. Heat, of the desert variety.

5. A field full of dirt.

5. $269!!!

Advantage: Cons

Oh, wells. There's always Pitchfork TV.