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Live Show Reviews

Review: Willy Moon @ The Bootleg in Los Angeles 2/27/13

Will Moon

Back again at the wonderful Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, fellow B3SCI contributor Bruce Rave and I caught an intimate showcase featuring contemporary throwback, singer and producer, Willy Moon. The well traveled Moon has been all over the internet as of late and the buzz had grown leading up to the show.

Willy Moon’s band hit the stage and started playing “I’m Shakin by Jack White, which beckoned an enthused Willy to run onto the stage screaming. After nailing the opening set cover song, Willy immediately faced the audience, took a bow and said thank you, getting back in character was this polite gentlemen from overseas. However, the show itself was anything but polite. Ripping through his EP and single (oddly enough off of Jack White’s Third Man Records) “Railroad Track”, Willy was all over the stage, screaming and giving the audience a glimpse of what a rock show might have looked and felt like in the 50’s.

With a quick exit and re-entrance for a small encore, again the band cued Willy, this time playing “Yeah Yeah” as Willy ran onto the stage screaming. The single, most known for being in the Apple iPod Touch, Nano and Shuffle commercials, had the most room lit. That night, Willy Moon’s sound was as clean as the way he dressed, and Moon’s fusion of old school blues rock and modern backing tracks is something certainly worth taking note. In a large landscape of overproduced, chorus driven mediocrity, Willy Moon has found a way breath new life into something of the past.

Review by Brian Litwin
Photography by Russ Ramos

Willy Moon newzealand (Facebook)
Bootleg Theater (Info and Tickets)

reviewed by
03-03-13

Review: Mystery Skulls and Ghost Beach @ Bootleg Theater 2/25/2013

mystery skulls

Having become known for showcasing some of Los Angeles’ best up and coming talent during their monthly Monday night residency, The Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles hosted two very promising acts this past Monday. Closing his monthly stint at the club was Mystery Skulls, and having seen him play at B3SCI’s Blondfire show at The Central SAPC this past July, I was more than excited to see his evolution. Yet before Luis Dubuc, Mystery Skulls, could perform, NYC pop duo Ghost Beach took stage with an explosive opening set.

Ghost Beach, fresh off a very well received single release for “Close Enough” featuring Noosa, started to play for what seemed like an unusually sleepy Bootleg crowd. Even lead singer/bass/synth player Josh Ocean, called out some of the viewers sitting down before their second song. The apathy would soon leave as Ghost Beach woke up the house with their high energy ’80s pop influenced set. Tracks like “Tear Us Apart” and “Miracle”, drew the crowd in hinting that Ghost Beach’s live set is now primed, and very well ready for larger things – namely festivals.

Next came a funky, electronic blaze of glory set from Mystery Skulls. From the get go Luis owned the crowd and stage. Firing off crowd favorites like “Money”, “Paralyzed” and “Unstoppable”, Mystery Skulls had everyone at The Bootleg moving along. He finished his set with the Deadmau5 influenced “Ghost”, which has a chorus that even Prince might co-sign. One note on the show itself; you could tell the difference in his delivery and stage manner from the earlier set 6 months ago. The stage presence and vocals were notably fluid, and most importantly, he was focused on keeping the audience involved – dancing and having a great time. Looking forward to much more to come from Mystery Skulls. By Brian Litwin

Mystery Skulls (Facebook)
Ghost Beach newyork (Official) (Facebook)

reviewed by
02-26-13

Review: The Vaccines w/ San Cisco Live @ The Fonda in Los Angeles, CA.

england

If you like The Vaccines… even a little bit, then you should make a point to see them live. It’s surprising that the band haven’t gotten much US radio support, and like so many other succesful acts in the UK, their stateside ascendency hasn’t happened nearly at the same rate. The Vaccines’ recently performed for a sold-out crowd of 1,200 excited fans at the Henry Fonda Musicbox in Los Angeles on Thursday night this past Valentines Day. What the band has lacked in airplay, they clearly make up for with fans and sizzling live shows.

The Vaccines perform with power, and they play fast. They were originally labeled an indie band but they have said they’d rather be considered a rock group. That’s exactly what they acted like that night at the Henry Fonda. Freddie Cowan’s guitar playing shined that night, especially on the second encore track “Bad Mood”. Vocalist and guitar player Justin Young proved a strong, confident front man. The band’s set focused mostly on their two albums, without touching on the individual singles that were released in-between. Fan favorites “Post Breakup Sex” and “If You Wanna” from the first album closed the main set, receiving the best initial reactions. The girls especially took kindly to the band with many in rows in front singing along, and forcing the mosh pit to the back of the floor. Even those in the balcony were dancing up a storm. It seemed that even the band’s mid-tempo songs were played at a faster tempo that night, all except for the popular ballad “Wetsuit”.

Earlier in the evening, Australian collective San Cisco made a strong impression by more than holding their own as the evening’s middle support band. Their song “Awkward” was a hit in the land down under and was familiar to many in the LA crowd that night. “Rocket Ship” and a new song called “Fred Astaire” were also highlights. San Cisco is on the rise and will return to LA for in April for a headlining gig at The Troubadour. They will also be at SXSW. By Bruce Rave

The Vaccines (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
02-22-13

B3SCI Presents: Incan Abraham @ The Satellite in LA on Saturday, 2/9/13

Incan-Abe-2-9-2013

Saturday night February 9th, B3SCI teams up with Mouser and Origami Vinyl for an evening of music with Incan Abraham. The event is billed A Homecoming Rumpus, to celebrate the final show of Incan Abraham’s current Western Tour. Joining them on the night will be Cuckoo Chaos, Mahgeetah and a special DJ set by Honeybear. Get in the mood below with this fantastic new video for “Panama Dry” by Incan Abraham, the track is off the band’s Springhouse release. We’ll see you soon! 

*The Satellite is a 21+ venue, doors open at 8:30, the show starts at 9pm and tickets are $8 presale, $10 at the door. More information can be found here and tickets are available here.

Incan Abraham california (Info)
The Satellite california (Info)

reviewed by
01-31-13

Review: Jessie Ware w/ Rochelle Jordan @ The Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco 01/24/13

We LOVE Jessie Ware. Love Love Love Love. That level of love, admiration and Devotion seemed to radiate not just the (infinitely psyched) members of the b3 team at Thursday night’s Rickshaw Stop show but the entirety (and this is not hyperbole) of the sold-out house on hand. So much love. After a somewhat banter-formulaic beginning (shout the city, tell them how good it is to be there, how cool that city is), that love seemed to overwhelm and grab hold of our Ms. Ware not long into her approximately 60 minute set. “(San Francisco) really is our favorite city.”

Jessie Ware, who first emerged in 2010 & 2011 as a featured vocalist on electronic and dubstep tracks by artists like SBTRKT & Joker, received near universal praise for her debut LP Devotion last year. Blending the classic R&B strains of artists like Aaliyah and Sade with more modern arrangements & instrumentations, the album’s (which somewhat ludicrously has not yet seen a physical release in the U.S.) 10 tracks span various and disparate (yet entirely complementary) styles of production and writing and our #5 album of last year.

Jessie Ware’s vocal performance. Just WOW. The quality, texture & conviction of her singing was very very impressive. Captivating without resorting to cheap needless theatrics; commanding while seeming totally accessible; Ware’s on stage persona and performance is one of a star. It seemed odd that Ware would play a venue as tiny as the roughly 200-person capacity Rickshaw Stop and her star was no doubt much larger than the venue size.

Opener & b3 fave Rochelle Jordan’s brief 20 minute set did also impress. The Torontonian soulstress’ spare voice + MPC set included roughly four-five songs and was highlighted by the excellent Kaskade-sampling “Shotgun”.

Thursday night’s performance felt special; it felt starmaking; it felt rare & valuable. We were witness to the emergence of a major star and Ms. Ware’s arrow could not point further northward now. A+.

reviewed by
01-27-13

Review: Parquet Courts @ The Echo in Los Angeles, 1/15/2013

I recently caught Brooklyn-based, and punk-influenced, Parquet Courts as they stopped by The Echo in Los Angeles last Tuesday night. The band were on the west coast leg of their first national tour in support of their debut album Light Up Gold. That night PC exuded a noteworthy and raw energy, fitting nicely with the likes of Cloud Nothings and Metz. While the set began somewhat on the ragged side with an instrumental jam, things kicked-in full force by the time the band launched into their single “Borrowed Time”. From that point on the show was tight and the musicianship stellar as Parquet Courts blasted through their set of short, well-crafted tunes. Set finale, “Yr No Stoner” surprised me with its approximately 10-minute bluesy jam which showed off another side of the band. These guys can definitely play. Parquet Courts’ onstage vibe is southern in an earthy way.

Highly unassuming, the guys didn’t interact much with each other or with the crowd. They didn’t come off as aloof. It was more like a bunch of guys with integrity who might work at Whole Foods or Google. Guitarist-vocalist Andrew Savage commented that the crowd was very still and he was right. The half-capacity throng was quiet, but this band held their attention and the after-show assessments tended to be very positive. By Bruce Rave

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

Parquet Courts – Borrowed Time

Parquet Courts (Official)

reviewed by
01-23-13

Review: Keane w/ Youngblood Hawke @ Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, 1/12/13

Few shows have ever brought me to a venue like the magnificent Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. It was a chilly night this past Saturday that I got my chance as I caught Keane and Youngblood Hawke performed there, just down the street from the iconic Capitol Records building in Hollywood. The scene that night was nothing short of noteworthy. The show’s audience of all ages (literally toddlers to elderly) stood patiently to get in to the Pantages and find their seats as the usual Saturday bar and nightclub night crowd hustled by outside, looking on with interest at the crowd in front of the theater.

People settled into their seats, most of them die hard Keane fans from the early to mid 2000’s, seemingly unaware that they were about to witness the youthful vibes of some up-and-comers on the LA scene open the show. Youngblood Hawke delivered a shimmering set, filling the large auditorium with high energy electro-pop. The crowd joined in when the band played the hit single from their self-titled 2012 EP, We Come Running. The single, featured in Fifa 2013, American Idol promos, radio, etc. had the majority of the audience singing along. Another favorite from the set was “Stars (Hold On)” with its carefully layered vocals and uplifting chorus. The band’s tight set received a nice reaction from the hometown crowd. Youngblood Hawke had done their part and bowed gracefully into the evening.

Keane took control with their opening song, “You Are Young” the first track of their latest album Strangeland, and from there didn’t let up. For the hour and half or so set, they may have stopped only a couple of times to grab water, switch keyboards, guitars… or just to introduce another song. With the sold out Pantages Theater on their feet and hands up in the air, Keane mixed new releases with fan favorites like “Everybody’s Changing”, “Somewhere Only We Know” and closed with “Crystal Ball”. An impressive set to say the least, and it’s likely that singer Tom Chaplin didn’t miss a single note the whole night.

Review By Brian Litwin

Youngblood Hawke california (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-16-13

Review: Jessie Ware @ Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, 12/13/12

Jessie Ware took to the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday evening 12/13/12 for the first west coast leg of her debut US tour. The venue that night was packed with fans who had been patient (to say the least) in the months leading up to the show. The performance had originally been scheduled to take place at the venue’s smaller stage and Bar section, yet due to an overwhelming demand, extra tickets were raffled off in a ‘try your luck’ type fashion, leaving many crossing their fingers for the chance to see the rising star. ‘Luck’ actually proved to be a good de-script for anybody who got the chance to see the recent Mercury Prize nominee perform that night, as Ware gleefully showcased tracks off her stellar debut LP Devotion for the first time ever in Los Angeles… and second time ever in the States.

In tow with stripped down and minimal three-piece band, Jessie Ware opened the evening’s set with the title track from her album. The crowd response seemed overwhelming to the singer as the mid-tempo R&B, AC vibes of “Devotion” set an exciting tone for the rest of the night. Between performing tracks, a talkative Ware wrapped a captive audience into her world with the personal touch of conversation, chatting up fans about her recent misquote in Pitchfork about Big Pun (“I love Big Pun” she clarified), how the venue reminded her of the place she had her prom, and even enquiring where she would go about finding some valley girls and even Larry David during her stay in the city. When Jessie wasn’t conversing with fans, her dynamic voice told story through the power of song. Leading her steady band of drums, 4-string bass, guitar, and the occasional synth (performed by her), Ware delivered on her unique style of sultry and no frills soul-pop and R&B, that’s equally smooth and chill as it is forward thinking. There were moments during the set that you could hear a pin drop. Her performance of “Wildest Moments” was a standout of the evening. The ballad, with it’s several recent primetime TV placements, displays some compelling Top 40 potential. It could very well be that next big, slow dance prom caliber tune. The crowd grooved along with the singer as they joined her to sing along to each and every song. Ware ended her set on a high with a strong performance of her ‘best tracks of 2012’ worthy jam, “Running”.

It has no doubt been a big year for Jessie Ware. And her performance that Thursday night only helped to assure any premonitions that with some more great records, and a chart topping hit or two under her belt, this young UK songstress is in the running as something like a Sade-caliber artist for the next generation. Only time will tell, but for now it seems that much is in store for the prospering young star.

Jessie Ware (Facebook)

reviewed by
12-22-12

Review: The Weeknd @ Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, 12/15/12

You couldn’t help but feel the hype as you walked pass the long entrance line at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown LA on that crisp Saturday night. Despite the chilly weather, Abel Tesfaye’s (The Weeknd) fans waited patiently outside for their chance to see the R&B star. And they had nothing but smiles on all their faces in anticipation of the evening the ahead. Upon enterning the historic Orpheum Theatre, people we’re literally walking on top of black balloons with “XO” screened on them… which seemed a nice little touch for the sold out show.

I’ll admit, after seeing The Weeknd perform live during this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival, I’d grown slightly weary of his live presence. Fortunately, that Saturday night was not the case. Abel’s voice was in fine tune. His vocal expression displayed impressive control. Add his trusty 7 piece band, and some lighting thrills, and track’s like “Twenty Eight”, via his recent Trilogy release, culminated as cherry toppers for the evening. The Weeknd showed that his live show still has lots to say.

Unfortunately there was absolutely no photography was allowed inside the venue that night. Hopefully this video will give you a taste of what it was like inside. By Russ Ramos

The Weeknd canada (Facebook)

reviewed by
12-19-12

Review: Alt-J @ Fonda Theater, Los Angeles 12/12/12

Writen by Bruce Rave / Photo Credit: Timothy Norris

I hit last week’s Alt-J show at the Fonda in Los Angeles not knowing what to expect. I’d heard how incredibly good the band were at Bardot and The Bootleg on a prior trip to town, but I decided not to ask many questions. What I soon found on stage was a talented and personable band that plays with purity and preciseness.

Alt-J gave it straight to the delighted, sold-out and packed Fonda Theater. Any industry types standing in back were swaying to the group’s knack for unique beats. Having been recently crowned the Mercury Prize winner’s in 2012, the band’s set actually brought prior Mercury Award alumni Elbow to mind. Not that the two bands sound alike, but the presentation is similar with positive vibes and no frills. It’s all about the musicianship with these guys. Alt-J effectively interpret album versions of their tracks in a live setting, intricately playing off of each band member in way that seems so simple, yet you know is complex. The biggest responses of night from the crowd were for their single “Fitzpleasure”, as well as “Something Good”, and “Breezeblocks”.

The band’s very evenly paced set lasted a little under an hour. While Alt-J’s set dynamics could use some growing in to, their consistent energy level works fine for now. Chatting with the band after the show, the guys reflected on what a blur these past seven months have been since things started to blow up for them in England. They anticipated that the Fonda would be a small club, similar to what they’ve been playing in the US. What a pleasant surprise for them to discover that it’s a 1300-person venue and that it was jammed!

Alt-J (Official)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
12-19-12

Review: The Gaslamp Killer, Dam Funk (DJ Set), Morri$, and Sun Araw (DJ Set) @ Central SAPC in LA on 12/8/12

The good people at The Central in Santa Monica had a monster lineup this past Saturday (12/8). And I was glad to be there for it. Sun Araw started the night off well, mixing different experimental sounds with funk based grooves. He even had three Santas and a Reindeer rocking out (four X-mas dressed concert goers, though it was the first night of Hanukkah). As Sun Araw finished up, the crowd started to grow and move away from the bar and towards the stage for the next set from Dam-Funk. LA based and Stones Throw records artist Dam-Funk brought the amassing crowd to dance with some straight funk, as his stage name would suggest. On a side note, Stones Throw will be reissuing Dam-Funk’s debut 2009 album Toeachizown as both a 5 LP set and individually.

After a well received set from Dam-Funk, Lawrence, Kansas based beat smith Morri$ took the stage. With his over sized glasses, almost like a calling-card, Morri$ dropped some serious heat. His dreamy beats made waves as the audience grooved to the offerings of the young producer. Flipping genres, Morri$ made a nice showing for the Santa Monica crowd. The last act of the night and recent cover boy of LA Weekly, was The Gaslamp Killer. Having just dropped a his new EP, Breakthrough on Flying Lotus’s label Brainfeeder, and recently playing at Low End Theory with the reveal of Captain Murphy (Flying Lotus), William Bensussen has a lot going for him. The San Diego bred, experimental DJ brought the house down. The wall to wall crowd went on a roller coaster ride that the bearded conductor, GLK, took them on. Do yourselves a favor and see this magician live, you will not be disappointed. By Brian Litwin

The Gaslamp Killer (Facebook)

reviewed by
12-10-12

Presents: Zak Waters w/ Cayucas, Monte Mar and La Mer @ Central S.A.P.C in Santa Monica, Ca. 12/11/12

Head to Santa Monica this coming Tuesday (12/11) for live music from some of the best independent pop/rock talent southern California has to offer! That’s right, once again B3SCI is teaming up with Central S.A.P.C to present the month’s artist in residency. This December it’s throwback master of futuristic soul and recent Madeon collaborator, Zak Waters, who will be joined this week by recent Secretly Canadian signing’s, Cayucas, and local scene favorites Monte Mar and La Mer. Check out some videos and jams from the bands below to get you in the mood. We’ll see y’all there!

Entry for Tuesday night’s residency show is FREE (21+). Get additional details on the show here.

The Central S.A.P.C. california (Gig Info)

Madeon – The City (Zak Waters Acoustic Version)

reviewed by
12-09-12