Show Alert: Phoenix @ The Wiltern - 6/28/09

At the risk of making this a Phoenix blog, SSM is proud to announce that the slick French pop rockers will be performing at The Wiltern on June 28, 2009. This is the sole U.S. date as of the moment. Amazing Baby opens.

There are a few other dates announced as of now (all across the pond), so here's hoping that the band will take America by storm with a coast-to-coast trek in support of their forthcoming fourth LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, out in the U.S. on May 26, 2009.

Tix for The Wiltern show here. Current tour itinerary below. And don't forget about those SNL vids below.

Apr 23 2009 9:00P	HOXTON BAR & KITCHEN - SOLD OUT	London, London and South East
May 20 2009 8:00P	BERGHAIN (SPEX FESTIVAL)	Berlin
May 23 2009 8:00P	E-WERK (ELECTRONIC BEATS)	Cologne
May 28 2009 8:00P	PRIMAVERA SOUND FESTIVAL - SPAIN	Barcelona, Barcelona
May 30 2009 8:00P	SIESTA FESTIVAL - SWEDEN	Hasselholm
Jun 1 2009 9:00P	KOKO LONDON - SOLD OUT	London, London and South East
Jun 6 2009 8:00P	ROCK AM RING FESTIVAL - GERMANY	Nurburg
Jun 7 2009 8:00P	ROCK IM PARK FESTIVAL - GERMANY	Nurnberg
Jun 28 2009 8:00P	THE WILTERN	Los Angeles, California
Jul 24 2009 8:00P	CAMP BESTIVAL - UK	Lulworth Castle, Dorset, Southwest

Show Alert: Mogwai @ The Wiltern - 9/9/08

Perennial post-rockers Mogwai will be appearing at The Wiltern on September 9, presumably in support of their forthcoming LP The Hawk Is Howling, out September 23 on Matador. Until then, do indulge in the track "Dracula Family" from the Rock Action Spring Sampler (available on the band's MySpace.) Experimental duo Fuck Buttons open. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday, June 13 via Ticketmaster.

Live: Cat Power @ The Wiltern - 2/29/08

On Leap Day, The Lady Doc and I caught a beautiful performance by Cat Power at The Wiltern. We cozied up in some excellent Loge seats just as the opener finished. Awhile later, The Dirty Delta Blues Band took the stage and proceeded to warm up the crowd with their easy, fluid chops. As good as they were, everyone was obviously awaiting Chan Marshall's first appearance. Thankfully, a glowing chanteuse entered stage left and immediately got down to business. Marshall treated us to a polished, golden-throated selection from her catalog, lulling the crowd into a serene state of consciousness. What I love about Marshall is how she forgoes the convention of most female vocalists who constantly belt it out. Instead, Marshall relies on subtle beauty and restraint, and she does so to perfect effect.

Check out her recent appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic. And, for related work, do pick up SSM's highly-recommended You Follow Me, by Nina Nastasia and Jim White, who happens to be the drummer for The Dirty Delta Blues Band.

Live: Blonde Redhead @ The Wiltern - 10/25/07

CRAPTASTIC MEDIA FEATURE*

Joined by The Lady Doc and Michigan Bill, I attended the Blonde Redhead show at The Wiltern in October. We missed opener Autolux (who I hope were tighter than their Sunset Junction performance) but found a spot in the back of the theater right as Makino and the brothers Pace began. They proceeded to play pristine versions of most of the tracks from 23 as well as a few from Misery Is a Butterfly and some of the other records in their back catalog.

The band played the entire show with precision and an intense grace. Makino hopped from guitar and keys while rocking her beautiful voice, and she even broke out a few ragdoll dance moves. Basically, the band just rocked.

I guess they were having a good time because they treated us to two encores, closing with "Magic Mountain" (which is the second of the two vids below.) This was a particularly great encore because, by chance, we ran into some as-yet-unnicknamed friends right before and were able to catch the last number together. Great night.

*After several years of good service, the screen on our trusty Canon digital camera has died. The absence of a viewfinder makes the pics a little tough to take and that explains the tilt in the photo of the band. Anyway, I've turned to my phone as a backup until we procure better gear.

Live: The National @ The Wiltern Theater - 9/28/07

The night before my ten-year high school reunion, with an exhausted Lady Doc in tow, I caught a live performance by The National. I was really excited after seeing their recent TV performances in support of Boxer, which just so happens to be one of my fave records of this year. Man, these guys played a great set to a full house at The Wiltern. They began with "Start A War" and, in around three minutes, proceeded to flex the full range of their dynamics in a way not heard in the recorded version of that track. The band continued with a great selection of songs from Boxer and Alligator. Frontman Matt Berninger said very little between songs, but I do remember a sincere and slightly overwhelmed "This is awesome!" in reference to the crowd's energy. I couldn't agree more.