Nightbeat: Shearwater
I wasn’t there: Shearwater must have been the quietest band to ever play L.A.’s Forum (which they did, last month opening for Coldplay). Originally a side project for Okkervil River’s Jonathan Meiburg, Austin, Texas’s indie-folkies Shearwater is an odd band to find touring the rock-club circuit; live, you half-expect the Heineken orders to drown out the group’s hushed, chilly scenes of winter. But this is a group worth seeking and straining to hear, with its latest album for Matador, Rook, an engaging and introspective masterpiece. –Joshua Sindell
Wed. at The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, (213 )413-8200, attheecho.com. With Wye Oak.
This Week’s Highlights
Thursday, August 21
GBH. Birmingham, England’s hard men of punk return to rattle us Yanks. Key Club, West Hollywood, keyclub.com.
GZA (The Genius). The famed Wu-Tang Clanner performs Liquid Swords in its entirety. With Kadeve and Silentarmy. El Rey Theatre, Miracle Mile, theelrey.com.
Bob Log III. The bizarre one-man blues band gets those hipsters groovin’. The Echo, Echo Park, attheecho.com.
Peter & Gordon, Gerry and the Pacemakers. In a symbolic gesture, ’60s British Invasion popsters attempt to storm the battlements of Santa Monica. Santa Monica Pier, free, twilightdance.org. 7 p.m.
The Walkmen. New York-based indie rockers return with new album, You & Me. The Troubadour, West Hollywood, thetroubadour.com. Also Fri.
The Watkins Family Hour, Fiona Apple. The weekly cozy musical get-together continues, with Apple making a rare intimate venue appearance. Largo, Los Angeles, largo-la.com.
Friday, August 22
Anal Cunt, Anal Blast, Meat Shits, Corpse Cum. Waitasec … is this a family newspaper? Knitting Factory, Hollywood, knittingfactory.com.
Beachwood Sparks, The Tyde, Winter Flowers, Mia Doi Todd. Alt-rock in a hippie vein. The Echoplex, Echo Park, attheecho.com.
Black Eyes and Neckties. Horror-punk group from Washington state. Relax Bar, Hollywood, myspace.com/relaxbar.
BoDeans. Twenty-five years of fine roots rock behind them, the BoDeans continue to roll. House of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, hob.com.
Cafe Tacuba, Ima Robot. The popular Mexican alt-rock band returns with local new-wavers Ima Robot. Greek Theatre, Griffith Park, greektheatrela.com.
Edwin McCain Trio. Edwin’s “I’ll Be” would make a great campaign slogan for that other McCain. Just sayin’. Key Club.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Petty and co. deliver a rock show like few others, making this a darned fine way to spend a summer’s night. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Laguna Hills, livenation.com.
Donna Summer. Looking for some (more) hot stuff, baby, this evenin’? Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, hollywoodbowl.com. Also Sat.
Veruca Salt, TSAR. Veruca’s Louise Post’s songwriting continues to convey burning and yearning, while TSAR has long been a local act with a fine repertoire. Viper Room, West Hollywood, viperroom.com.
Saturday, August 23
The Ditty Bops. NPR darlings Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald play a poppy mix of swing, Tin Pan Alley jazz and folk. Largo.
Michael Einziger’s End.>Vacuum. The guitarist from Incubus composes “a realization in nine movements,” conducted by Suzie Katayama, performed by the Graviton Modern Ensemble, with guest speaker Brian Cox. Royce Hall, UCLA, Westwood, endvacuum.com.
The Germs. What they used to do was secret. NOT ANYMORE! With the Mae Shi, and Spider Problem. The Echo.
Mandy Moore. The singer-actress sings songs from her latest album, Wild Hope. Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, hotelcafe.com.
Poison. 45-year-olds, unskinny bopping? No thanks. Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, livenation.com.
Sondre Lerche, Sylvie Lewis. Norwegian singer-songwriter Lerche arrives with British folk music performer Lewis. The Troubadour. Also Sun.
Sunset Junction Day One. See our main music feature for details.
Sunday, August 24
Faster Pussycat, L.A. Guns, Bang Tango. In case you didn’t feel like showing up for Poison last night … . Key Club.
Grand Ol’ Echo. The hoedown begins at 5 p.m. with guests TBA. Hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy. The Echo.
Peanut Butter Wolf. The acclaimed DJ continues his assault on our local venues. When will his rampaging end? The Echoplex.
Radiohead. Some British band from Oxfordshire no one’s ever heard of. With Liars. Hollywood Bowl. Also Mon.
Sunset Junction Day Two. See our main music feature for details.
Monday, August 25
Nicole Atkins. New Jersey singer whose album bears a Brill-Building sound. Largo.
A.A. Bondy, Bon Iver. Former Verbena frontman Bondy reinvents himself in a folkier strain. Bon Iver’s debut release For Emma, Forever Ago has earned the soulful singer rave reviews. The Troubadour. Also Tues.
Vains of Jenna. Glam-rocking a new generation. Whisky a Go-Go, West Hollywood, whiskyagogo.com.
Tuesday, August 26
Delta Spirit. San Diegan alt-rockers with Northern soul influences. Spaceland, Silver Lake, clubspaceland.com.
The Donkeys, Golden Animals. Alt-country San Diegans (The Donkeys) meet White Stripes-gone-psychedelic types (Golden Animals). The Echo.
Extreme, King’s X. Having survived Bands Reunited, Extreme takes its funk-metal out on the road for another go. With Texan prog-metal vets King’s X, to boot! House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Mike Gordon, Marco Benevento. Gordon brings oodles of Phish Phood for his hungry fans, along with experimental music keyboard player Benevento. The Roxy, West Hollywood, theroxyonsunset.com.
Reggie and the Full Effect. What started a solo project for former Get Up Kid James Dewees became a hit with fans. Now, Dewees says he’s calling it quits. What gives? With Leathermouth, and Warship. The Avalon, Hollywood, avalonhollywood.com.
Ricky Warwick. Irish bruiser from British metal crew the Almighty goes soft and folkie and acoustic tonight, the big jessie. With Will Ridge. Key Club, downstairs showroom.
Wednesday, August 27
George Benson. It won’t be a Weekend in L.A. for Benson, playing on a Wednesday, but the jazz guitarist-vocalist still shines no matter the night. Hollywood Bowl.
Janeane Garofalo, Bob Odenkirk. Laugh ’til you don’t with these incisive wits. Largo.
Intronaut, Behold … the Arctopus, Mouth of the Architect. Avant-metal madness and terror with rising noise outfits. Knitting Factory.
RX Bandits, Portugal the Man. Alaskan prog quartet Portugal the Man teams with Warped Tour types RX Bandits for a very odd menu of music. The Troubadour.
Thrash ’n’ Burn Tour. Thrash, hardcore, metalcore … it’s all here. Ten bands, including Darkest Hour, As Blood Runs Black, and Parkway Drive will rip it up. House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Published: 08/20/2008
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