NIGHTBEAT: KILLING JOKE
No sound as forbidding and formidable as Killing Joke’s can stay underground forever, nor should it. The British post-punk legends return to L.A this week, and with the original lineup firmly in place – vocalist Jaz Coleman, guitarist Geordie, bassist Youth and Big Paul Ferguson on battering-ram drums – there are few bands who can compete with them in terms of power, drive, and intensity. The 2007 death of longtime bassist Paul Raven still fresh in their minds and hearts, the Joke circa 2008 is a focused laser-beam aimed at political hypocrisy, rampant consumerism, and the exploitation of the Third World. This in itself is nothing new. But in these troubled times, the joke may finally be on all of us. Danny “Tool” Carey and his Pygmy Love Circus opens.
Thurs. at House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 848-5100, hob.com.
This Week’s Highlights
Thursday, October 9
The Aggrolites. L.A. reggae stompers, signed to Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat label. The Roxy, West Hollywood, theroxyonsunset.com.
Hopewell. Space-rocking band with hints of Roxy Music and Krautrock. Spaceland, Silver Lake, clubspaceland.com.
Kayo Dot. Experimental soundscapes from NYC-based band on the Hydra Head label. Knitting Factory, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com.
Rival Schools. Great to see you, Walter, and your post-hardcore group. But will you ever release a second album? The Echo, Echo Park, attheecho.com.
Friday, October 10
The Bakerton Group, Year Long Disaster, Graveyard. First-ever headlining performance from the Bakerton Group, a Clutch side project that takes listeners on a stellar trip of heavy grooves, but without Neil Fallon’s barked vocals. The Roxy.
Duffy. The Welsh soul sister goes for a retro Motown sound. Orpheum Theatre, downtown L.A., laorpheum.com.
Joan Osborne. What if God hated all of her songs? El Rey Theatre.
Night Horse. Bluesy rock from members of Ancestors and Blue Bird. Spaceland.
Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T’s, The Cab. All the children sing … . Staples Center, downtown L.A., staplescenter.com.
Snot, Human Waste Project. Snot’s lead singer perished some years back in a car accident, but Lynn Strait’s bandmates pay tribute to him and his music with their reformation. Plus Aimee Echo reconstitutes Human Waste Project. Key Club, West Hollywood, keyclub.com.
Sunn 0))). Heavy? Slow? You have no idea. Doom or be doomed, as they say. Safari Sam’s, Hollywood, safari-sams.com.
White Lion, Little Caesar, Ambrose. Hair-rocking pop-metal bands … just without as much hair. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Saturday, October 11
Sara Bareilles, Marc Broussard, Raining Jane. “Little-voiced” Bareilles hosts an evening of mature pop. The Wiltern, Los Angeles, livenation.com.
Pennywise, The Vandals, Gorilla Biscuits, Aquabats, Bleeding Through, Ignite, Death By Stereo, Rival Schools, Set Your Goals, many more. More than 30 punk and hardcore bands play this first “LiskFest.” Oak Canyon Ranch, Irvine,
Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen. Two popular SNL stars bring us laffs from the East. Largo, Los Angeles, largo-la.com.
Ron Sexsmith. The Canadian singer-songwriter is currently promoting his latest disc, Exit Strategy of the Soul. The Troubadour, West Hollywood, troubadour.com.
The Sword, Black Cobra, Bison B.C. None-more-metal hipsters sarcastically hail Satan. Music Box @ Fonda, Hollywood, henryfondatheatre.com.
Sunday, October 12
Grand Ol’ Echo. The hoedown begins at 5 p.m. with guests Dead Rock West, Chris Shiflett, and Rich McCulley. The Echo, myspace.com/thegrandoleecho.com.
Kataklysm. Canada’s leading death metal band goes for the g(l)ory. With Dying Fetus, Keep of Kalessin, and more. Key Club.
Killdozer. Madison, Wisconsin high-decibel crew wreak havoc on our puny L.A. ears. The Echo.
k.d. lang. The Grammy-winner performs and speaks with interviewer Chris Douridas. KCRW Sessions, Performing Arts Center, Malibu, malibuperformingartscenter.com.
Yngwie Malmsteen. The Swede with the blisteringly fast leads makes a rare L.A. appearance. Avalon, Hollywood, avalonhollywood.com.
No Age, David Scott Stone, The Movies, The Tyde. Benefit concert featuring much-acclaimed local noise talents. The Echoplex, Echo Park, attheecho.com.
Sourvein, Zoroaster, Ancestors. Avant-metal of the most downcast kind. Knitting Factory.
Monday, October 13
Amorphis, Leaves Eyes, Samael, Virgin Black. European heavy metal with folk and Gothic elements. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Jolie Holland. Tom Waits thinks the world of Holland’s take on traditional country and folk music. The Troubadour.
Pendulum. Drum-and-bass meets hard rock when this U.K.-based band takes the stage to make sweat-soaked bodies fly. Mayan Theatre, downtown L.A., clubmayan.com.
Steel Panther, Angus Khan. Metal comedians Steel Panther get able support from Angus Khan: the burly he-men of local rock and roll. Key Club.
Tina Turner. Has legs. Knows how to use them. Staples Center. Also Tues. at Honda Center, Anaheim.
Tuesday, October 14
Janeane Garofalo. Dig this: A voter-registration drive with yocks. Largo’s Little Room, largo-la.com.
Johnette Napolitano. The onetime Concrete Blonde frontwoman goes the cocktail lounge route. Hotel Café, Hollywood, hotelcafe.com.
Three. Prog-metal shenanigans. The Troubadour.
The Ting Tings, Santogold, Mates of State, Low vs. Diamond. Indie rock and dance sensations team up for a potentially groundbreaking tour. The Wiltern.
Unearth, Protest the Hero, The Acacia Strain, Whitechapel, Gwen Stacy. The “hardcore” side of current heavy metal is showcased here. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Weezer, Angels and Airwaves, Tokyo Police Club. In the spirit of democracy, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo has occasionally let his bandmates sing on this tour. Can his generosity possibly last? The Forum, Inglewood, laforum.org.
Wire. The other great British post-punk band to play L.A. this week (see Killing Joke). The Echoplex.
Wednesday, October 15
The Academy Is …, We the Kings, Carolina Liar, Hey Monday. More “emotional” indie-punk bands than you can take. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Anberlin, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Straylight Run, There For Tomorrow. And even more emo! Good God! Avalon.
Black Kids, The Virgins, Magic Wands. Dance, white children, dance! Mayan Theatre.
Helios Creed’s Chrome, Savage Republic. Gnarled old vets play gnarled industrial/experimental music. Knitting Factory.
Gabe Dixon Band, Justin Nozuka. Dixon and his trio play ’70s-inspired piano pop in the vein of Elton John and Ben Folds; Nozuka is a 19-year-old Canadian with surprisingly soulful, mature songs. The Roxy.
Jackie Greene, Carney. American-music schooled Greene headlines, with local classic-rock combo Carney in support. The Troubadour.
Jay-Z. The rap superstar presides over the return of this (hopefully) refurbished venue. Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, livenation.com.
Kings of Leon, We Are Scientists. Nashville rockers return with Only By the Night. Plus snarky popsmiths We Are Scientists. Nokia Theatre LA Live, downtown L.A., nokiatheatrelalive.com.
The Locust. Spazzed-out shards of free jazz and noise-inspired punk. The Smell.
Reilly’s Variety Show with John C. Reilly. First installment of the well-known actor’s new enterprise. Largo.
Total Chaos. Punk, complete with spikes, spit and snarls. Safari Sam’s.
Published: 10/08/2008
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT
