Live: No Age & Liars @ The El Rey - 2/22/08

So, the 22nd day of February finally arrived, and with it came a show that I'd been looking forward to since December. Knowing how things tend to go in LA, I rolled in a bit after 9:30 hoping to settle in a few minutes before No Age took the stage. At first I thought I had missed them, but moments later the curtains spread and the duo appeared. The crowd tightened up a bit and the set began.

Now, I'd been listening to Weirdo Rippers for awhile, and actually missed out on seeing No Age a few months back, so I had very high expectations for their performance. Fortunately, they just killed track after track, running through all of the hits plus several songs from their forthcoming LP. Everything was spot-on, and Dean Spunt's one-two drum/vocal combo was golden. I was rocking out, the punk kids in the pit in front of me were off the hook [and by kids, I mean kids--earlier I had seen one of them text "can you pick me up around 11?" to his mom], and (as you can see above) Randy Randall's axe ended up in the crowd, clawed and pulled by a ton of people before being returned to him in a less-than-original state. Definitely superfun and not to be missed. Look for their full-length Nouns on Sub Pop in May.

Liars took the stage next and proceeded to entrance the crowd with a mix of meditative selections as well as their more direct tracks from Liars. Angus Andrew, despite a recent back injury, delivered a performance worthy of his role as frontman. Liars are the real deal, and Andrew & Co. made sure everyone in attendance knew it.

Pics of both bands by Sung at Losanjealous.

Show Alert: Liars/No Age @ The El Rey - 2/22/08

Ok, I know February '08 seems like a long way off, but you better quickly grab tix for what will surely be an unpredictable evening of music with Liars and No Age at The El Rey.

Experimental, sometimes meditative noise rockers Liars are coming off a great year that saw the release of their self-titled fourth album to near-universal acclaim. While 2006's Drum's Not Dead summoned a tribal Krautrock odyssey, Liars modifies the aesthetic by making it harsher and more primal in the name of simplicity. I'm not sure what they'll play, but this could be in the mix:



Opening that night are L.A.'s own No Age, whose compilation Weirdo Rippers collects the duo's infectious, sloppy, DIY tracks. I just love these guys. Listen to "Neck Escaper" here.

And, before fees, tickets are only $15! Woo-hoo!