Photos from Dawes’ show at the Getty on Saturday night. This show was part of the Getty’s Saturdays on the 405 series where parking and entrance to the museum are free. Highly recommended for folks who enjoy seeing amazing bands and incredible art (check out the Gérôme exhibit) without spending a penny.  Just make sure that you bring along some car games because traffic was completely stopped when we attempted to leave the parking garage.  Next two Getty shows: Bomba Estéreo on July 24th and The Antlers on August 28th. More photos (and a couple of my favorite Gérôme paintings) are after the jump.
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Josh Ritter

Carolina Chocolate Drops

Photos from the excellent Josh Ritter/ Carolina Chocolate Drops’ show at the Henry Fonda Theater. If these acts are coming through your town, I highly recommend getting out and seeing them. More pictures, taken by Hagop Kalaidjian, are after the jump.
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Photos from the Dead Man’s Bones show at the Eagle Rock Center For The Arts last Sunday night. The duo of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields performed with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir, who were absolutely amazing. Seriously, those talented youngins really made the show. There were also magicians and puppeteers entertaining the completely packed house between tunes. Another show has just been announced this coming Saturday, July 3rd. Tix are $25 and you can buy them here. I’m guessing this show will sell out like the others, so get your tix now! More pics from the night, taken by Jon Mackey, are after the jump.
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Hi Ho Silver Oh and Sterling Andrews (MW)

The Crowd (TH)

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Beach Boys Tribute + Benefit on Saturday night. The event was a huge success thanks to the kind support of the Los Angeles music community and together we raised $1517 for The Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund! Check out more pictures from the evening, by our lovely photographers India Brookover (IB), Taylor Herron (TH), Mike White (MW) and Jon Mackey (JM), after the jump. Videos from the event are coming Monday.

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My Pet Saddle

Chapin Sisters

Andy Creighton of The World Record and Matt Popieluch of Big Search

Dustbowl Revival

Brette and Evan from The Parson Red Heads

Sterling Andrews, of Gooseberries, graciously hosted a photobooth at When You Awake’s Beach Boys Tribute that took place on Saturday, June 19th at HM157. She painted the beach-themed backdrop specifically for the event and made a replica of Brian Wilson’s bass for the photos (thanks Sterling!!).  I’ve posted a handful of pics from the evening after the jump. For the full set, head on over to When You Awake’s Facebook page.

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Photos from Leslie and the Badgers’ show at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneetown Palace in Pioneertown, CA on Saturday night. Check out a couple of more pics of the Badgers + shots of nearby Joshua Tree National Park after the jump.
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Samantha Crain

First Aid Kit

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Bootleg Theater last night for the First Aid Kit/ Samantha Crain show. Samantha Crain, who was sporting a solid new three person lineup complete with a fantastic female drummer,  played a number of tunes from her upcoming record You (Understood) (out June 8th via Ramseur Records). They sounded pretty darn good and I’ll definitely be checking out the record when it’s released next week.  First Aid Kit came on next and proved why they are two of the most charming young performers around. The two sisters from Sweden, aged 16 and 19, sang a majority of the songs from last year’s Drunken Trees, plus covers of the Fleet Foxes “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” and Gram Parsons’ “Still Feeling Blue” (girls after my own heart). They also left the microphones behind twice to sing unplugged, which led one audience member standing near me to tears.  These beautifully talented and kind sisters had the audience completely wrapped around their fingers.  I can’t wait to see how their sound develops and changes over the years. Hopefully they will stick around for the long haul.  More photos are after the jump.
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Heartless Bastards

Hacienda

Photos from last week’s Hacienda and Heartless Bastards show at the Echoplex. I’ve seen Heartless Bastards a couple of times now and they always impress, but it was Hacienda that really caught my attention that night. With their super catchy tunes and ridiculously tight rhythm section, it’s no wonder the band counts The Black Keys and Dr Dog among it’s many outspoken fans. This is definitely an act to keep an eye on. More pictures, taken by Hagop Kalaidjian, are after the jump.

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Avett Brothers

There are very few bands that could inspire Jenna and I to drive four hours down to San Diego in the middle of rush hour traffic. But one Thursday afternoon, that’s just what we did to see The Avett Brothers play at the House of Blues. Though I’ve been following them for years, I’ve never had the chance to experience their live show and jumped at the chance to catch this sold out performance.They lived up to everything I had hoped they would be and can honestly say that I would make the trip again in a second.

Truth & Salvage Co.

Also worth the trip were openers Truth & Salvage Co., who proved a very refreshing surprise. The Los Angeles-based band boasted tight musicianship, beautiful harmonies and loads of summery Los Angeles-themed tunes, such as “101″ (the freeway that runs from the ocean to downtown) and “Welcome to LA”. Just the type of music I want to listen to as we make our way into summer. True canyon country through and through. You can bet you’ll be hearing much more about these guys on When You Awake in the future. More photos, by Jenna Bonenfant, are after the jump.

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Deer Tick

Photos from last week’s Dr Dog/ Deer Tick show. I’ve been watching both bands for a couple of years now and was mighty proud to see them play a SOLD OUT show at the Henry Fonda Theatre (one of the largest venues in LA). Deer Tick was sporting a new lineup in which they changed out guitarists and added a keyboard player/saxophonist to the mix. The saxophone really added some new touches, especially on a slow jam version of “Ashamed.” They also switched up their usual cover choices of “La Bamba” and “Sleep Walk” (these were played at every show I saw over the past year or two) with spot-on versions of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” and The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait.” I’m digging the new sound and look forward to checking it out on their new record, The Black Dirt Sessions, out June 8th via Partisan Records.

Dr Dog

Dr Dog were up next and proved once again why they are one of the best live bands around. The mini-light show and smoke machines were nice additions but it’s the band’s solid performances that keeps me coming back for more. I have seen them play everywhere from a barn in Portland, Oregon to the streets of Bristol, Tennessee to headlining the Fonda here in LA and they’ve adapted perfectly to each setting and absolutely stunned at each show. They deserve all of the praise they are getting and more. Dr Dog, I’ll see you in August at Pickathon! More photos from the evening, taken by Andrew White, are after the jump.

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