NIGHTBEAT: Queens of the stone age
A passing of a friend and collaborator can be a sad occasion for a tribute, but last month’s death of keyboardist and singer Natasha Shneider will be remembered with plenty of uncompromising music from her comrades-in-arms, namely Josh Homme and his Queens of the Stone Age/Desert Session cronies. (The Russian-born Shneider, along with husband Alain Johannes, released five albums of progressive pop with their band Eleven, and also joined the Queens for their Lullabies to Paralyze tour.) Billed as a night of “music from the limits of its catalog & beyond,” a Kyuss reunion might still be out of the question … but one can hope. Yet with such guests as PJ Harvey, Brody Dalle, Jack Black & Kyle Gass, Billy Gibbons, Chris Goss, Jesse “The Devil” Hughes, Matt Cameron, and more scheduled to perform, this celebration of Shneider’s life should provide Queens fans with more than their fair share of music and passion in equal measure.
Sat. at the Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 930-7100, henryfondatheater.com.
This Week’s Highlights
Thursday, August 14
Bulletboys, Enuff Z’nuff. Lest we forget. (OK, that’s not nice. Especially since Enuff Z’Nuff were/sometimes are a great Windy City power-pop group. But the Bulletboys? Shudder.) Key Club, West Hollywood, keyclub.com.
Chester French. Preppie Beach Boys fans from Harvard who look like the sadistic villains in Funny Games. Spaceland, Silver Lake, clubspaceland.com.
Carmen Consoli, Juana Molina, Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers. Italian chanteuse Consoli heads a bill featuring Argentinean singer Molina, and Native American folkie Crain. Santa Monica Pier, free, twilightdance.org. 7 p.m.
House Of Broken Promises, Chingalera. Muscular punk from desert-dwellers HOBP, and Sabbath-style stoner metal from Chingalera. With the Knives, and It’s Casual. Viper Room, West Hollywood, viperroom.com.
Robin Thicke. Something Else, the third album from the R&B star, is due in September. House of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, hob.com.
Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich. S.F. avant-garde types Xiu Xiu are ably supported by former Geraldine Fibber Bozulich. The Echo, Echo Park, attheecho.com.
Yellowjackets with Mike Stern. Veteran fusion quartet (plus guitarist Stern) hits the scene in support of new disc, Lifecycle. Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, catalinajazzclub.com. Also Fri.-Sun.
Friday, August 15
Gipsy Kings. The French flamenco superstars headline the first of a two-night stand. Greek Theatre, Griffith Park, greektheatrela.com. Also Sat.
Glay. The two-decade old Japanese rock outfit tours the States for the very first time. House of Blues Sunset Strip. Also Sat.
Hanzel und Gretyl, Gen-XX. N.Y. industrial metal group Hanzel und Gretyl team with Genitorturers frontwoman Gen-XX for a night of black clothing and sweat. Key Club.
Benji Hughes. North Carolina native Hughes has a big beard and a voice to match, heard on his 25-song, double-disc debut, A Love Extreme. El Cid, Silver Lake, foldsilverlake.com. Also Sat.
Idina Menzel. The Broadway star (Rent, Wicked) performs. The Wiltern, Los Angeles, livenation.com.
Jesse Michaels, Kevin Seconds. Operation Ivy cofounder Michaels appears with 7 Seconds leader Kevin for a night of stripped-bare punk. Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com.
My Ruin. Tairrie B. and company indeed go on a tear on their latest disc of hair-raising metal, Throat Full of Heart. Whisky a Go-Go, West Hollywood, whiskyagogo.com.
Smoking Popes. The reformed Popes return with their annoying, Morrissey-esque punk. With Koufax. Knitting Factory, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com.
The Starlite Desperation. Abrasive garage rock from local up-and-comers. Redwood Bar, downtown L.A., theredwoodbar.com.
Valient Thorr, Early Man, Skeletonwitch. Hey now! Prepare those ears for a doozy of an evening of proto-metal (Early Man), new jack thrash (Skeletonwitch) and blazing, Thin Lizzy-meets-Turbonegro slabbage (Valient Thorr). The Troubadour, West Hollywood, troubadour.com.
Saturday, August 16
Patton Oswalt. Make us laugh, funnyman! Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge.
Sunday, August 17
Bubba Hernandez & Los Vatos, Jeremiah & The Red Eyes, Kaz Murphy, Bird & Moons. The hoedown at the Grand Ol’ Echo begins at 5 p.m. Hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy. The Echo.
Jethro Tull, The Young Dubliners. Hey-nonny-nonny, hey nonny-ho! (Sorry, just wanted to get my classic folk-rock on.) Greek Theatre, Griffith Park.
JVC Jazz Festival. Lineup includes James Ingram, Boney James, David Sanborn, Ledisi, and Eric Darius. Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, hollywoodbowl.com.
Raphael Saadiq. The neo-soul survivor plays a rare local show. The Roxy, West Hollywood, theroxyonsunset.com.
Vans Warped Tour. 40 punk and skate-rock bands play, including Against Me!, Angels and Airwaves, and Every Time I Die. Home Depot Center, Carson, warpedtour.com.
Monday, August 18
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream. Casio/Kraftwerk/Daft Punk-loving duo sets sights on body-rocking beats. With Anavan. The Echo.
Tuesday, August 19
Glen Campbell. This Wichita lineman appears to be still on the line. The Troubadour.
Evelyn “Champagne” King. The disco veteran released her first album in a dozen years in 2007. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Dave Matthews Band, The Dynamites. The roots-rocking bore will get ’em hackying in the aisles. Staples Center, downtown L.A., staplescenter.com. Also Wed.
Nico Muhly. Philip Glass protege Muhly collaborates tonight with Doveman and Sam Amidon on compositions found on latest work Mothertongue. Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, hotelcafe.com.
Wednesday August 20
Black Francis. The once and future Pixie flutters into town yet again. Spaceland.
Kittie. Canadian women, playing feral metal. Key Club.
Published: 08/13/2008
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