When You Awake - Indie Folk, Classic Country and Roots Music Blog » Tonight in LA

This Weekend In LA: Country My Ass

jody — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:11:59 +0000

When You Awake’s own Mitra Khayyam will be spinning country, rockabilly and roots hits for a new night called Country My Ass this Sunday, May 20th at Footsies in Highland Park. Expect songs about mama, trains, trucks, prison, and getting drunk. Kicks off at 9 pm. Definitely sounds like our kind of night.

Tonight in LA: Willie & Snoop Tribute Art Show

Mitra — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:18:21 +0000

While not usually a fan of pop-culture themed art shows, I got a kick about this one. Two unlikely friends, bonded over the love of…well you know. I’ll be the one buying every piece of Willie Nelson art on the walls, be sure to say hi. Opening reception is tonight from 8 pm – midnight at the R&R Gallery in Los Angeles. To get you in the mood, enjoy this video of the last time Snoop and Willie were thrown together. Pure magic. More details about the show are after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video. Snoop Dogg – My Medicine ft. Willie Nelson

Group show featuring art by
Austen Stanton • Carly Ealey • Carrie Cottini • Chico Munson • Chris Pastras • Cody Comrie • cw • Dan Christofferson • Dan Park • Dave Frey • Dominic DiSaia • Emily Hart Wood • Erin Wong • Evanimal • Stink • Famous When Dead • Mr Frivolous • Greg Shirilla • HABBENINK • Heather MicMillen • Ian Bragg • James Haunt • Jeben Berg • Jess Sluder • Jesse Williams • Justin Fry • Kat Popovic • Kevin Lewis • Kevin Sukho Lee • Kube • Madsteez • Natsuki Otani • Robert Bowen • Robyn Shinn • Scarecrowoven • Sean Fahlen • Steven Van • Terry Wolfinger • Toki • Travis Shinn • Trent Call & wotto

Opening reception
Friday June 24th, 2011 8p – Midnight
Ongoing from the 27th – July 8th

R&R Gallery | Project
929 East 2nd Street Suite 106 Los Angeles CA 90012
213-626-2261 | Hello@therandr.org
http://therandr.org/

Tonight in LA: Invisible Children Holiday Benefit

jody — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:36:50 +0000

Head on down to The Troubadour tonight for a night of music to benefit the non-profit, Invisible Children. The benefit boasts a number of When You Awake favorites including Mountain Man, Cass McCombs, an acoustic set by Deer Tick + the LA debut of Middle Brother, the new band featuring the lead singers of Deer Tick, Delta Spirit and Dawes. You get all of this amazing music for just $15. Any of those bands alone would be worth the $15—all of them together for that is a steal AND it’s going to charity. Seriously, what are you waiting for? Go and buy your tix now!

Click here to view the embedded video.Mountain Man- Animal Tracks

Tonight in LA: Stornoway at the Troubadour

jody — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:31:32 +0000

Oxford, England band Stornoway are set to take the stage tonight for the first time ever in Los Angeles with a show at the Troubadour. The band is currently touring in support of their debut full-length release, Beachcomber’s Windowsill (out now via 4AD). We had the distinct pleaure of catching them live in London in November as part of the Little Noise Sessions at Union Chapel. There was something quite special about hearing the hymn-like chants of “Zorbing” echo out across those hallowed halls and despite numerous sound issues (the venues fault, not Stornoway’s), they proved a patient and inventive bunch with trumpets, old TVs and The Keyboard Choir thrown in for good measure. If they could be that good in a huge chapel with sound issues and limited time, one can only imagine how powerful they would be on a smaller, more intimate Troubadour-like scale. The show tonight is all ages with Seattle’s The Head and the Heart supporting.

Click here to view the embedded video.Stornoway- Zorbing

Tonight in LA: Breathe Owl Breathe and Little Wings at the Bootleg

Tim — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:20:53 +0000

When You Awake favorites Breathe Owl Breathe are playing at the Bootleg Theatre tonight alongside San Francisco’s Little Wings. The show is 21 + with Copenhagen’s The Migrant and Give Me Motion supporting. We had the chance for a short chat with Little Wings songwriter and frontman, Kyle Field earlier this month. Check out our conversation and more about Kyle after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.Little Wings- Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover)

Little Wings is led by songwriter and frontman Kyle Field. Kyle has lived in the Bay Area for about two years after moving up and down the West Coast. In that time, Little Wings has become a mainstay of the West Coast indie folk sound, releasing a handful of albums and working with the likes of Devendra Banhart for 2004′s who’s who of the freak folk sound compilation record, The Golden Apples of the Sun.

This year, Little Wings has played at Pickathon 2010 in Portland, Oregon, Café Du Nord in San Francisco, and will soon open for Breathe Owl Breathe at the “When You Awake Presents” show, taking place at the Echo tonight. Along with other northern California-based musicians like Vetiver, Mairee Sioux, and Alela Diane, Little Wings is part of the current folk music revival that favors the 1970’s California sound. With lyrical songs about skating, surfing, and the experience of a new dick, Little Wings isn’t exactly your parents’ Kate Wolf album. Yet Kyle does have some of Wolf’s traits as his songs are often about the nature and landscapes of the West Coast. The songs make you feel California’s rugged coasts, the shape of the mountains, how the light bounces off the water. As his voice warbles softly, almost intimately you feel like you are sitting across from him sitting in small quiet cabin in Big Sur. The ocean always just a few steps away. Perfect for midwesterners who are stuck in some tiny rural town staring down the barrel of another long bleak winter dreaming about greener pastures.

Looking at Kyle as he sits working on his merch table, the first thing that strikes you is the giant beard that makes him seem older and gruffer than perhaps he really is. In his big wool sweater he resembles a burlier version of Pacific Ocean Blue- era Dennis Wilson. You get the feeling that this is a dude who has stood on a beach and “GAWPED!” at a full moon more than once. We chatted briefly about San Francisco, his music and how the two come together, if at all, before his set.

How do you think your music is affected by San Francisco?

I don’t know if it is. I don’t know how much of anything affects it. It’s 2010, but I don’t know how much time or anything else affects it.

Where else have you lived on the West Coast?

I’ve moved around a lot. From SoCal to Portland but I have landed here in San Francisco. Been here for two years now.

Do you think of your music as having a “California sound”?

I don’t know… I mean the California landscape, the oceans, the coast all help shape the mood of the music.

Kyle turns his attention to a woman who has been waiting to buy an album. Later, as he plays with his guitarist and drummer who make up the rest of the current Little Wings outfit, he is clearly enjoying himself and his fellow San Franciscans.

“You know, it’s so great to be here playing for you. You put a date on the calendar and you wait for it and wait for it and you think it will never come. And then, here we are.”

Well LA, here we are and we hope to see you at the Bootleg tonight.

Tonight in LA: Seabear at the Troubadour

jody — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:12:49 +0000

Icelandic folk septet Seabear is set to take the stage tonight, Tuesday, October 28th at the Troubadour. We are big fans of this group as it’s the brainchild of Sindri Már Sigfússon, who you may recognize as the man behind one of our favorite acts of last year, Sin Fang Bous. He’s also an extremely talented painter, who’s work you can view (and buy) over at our sister website, Sake of the Song. Seabear is currently touring in support of their sophomore release, We Built A Fire (out now via Morr Music). The show tonight is all ages and Philadephia-based band Grandchildern are supporting. Check out an mp3 from the album and some of my favorite Sindri videos after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.Seabear- I’ll Build You A Fire

Click here to view the embedded video.Sin Fang Bous covers Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide

Click here to view the embedded video.Sin Fang Bous- Catch the Light

MP3: Seabear- Lion Face Boy

Tonight in LA: Big Search Record Release Party

jody — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:31:12 +0000

A longtime friend of When You Awake, Matt Popieluch will be celebrating the release of his debut record under the Big Search moniker, Lay of the Land (out now via St. Ives), tonight at the Echo Country Outpost. In addition to appearing at our George Harrison and Beach Boys Tribute concerts, Matt has a big ol’ resume that includes being a member of Los Angeles bands Foreign Born and Fool’s Gold, as well as managing the one and only Frank Fairfield. Basically, he’s one ridiculously talented dude. The show is free, runs from 7:30- 10: 30 and will supposedly have $2 beers up for grabs. For more about Big Search, head over to the LA Weekly to hear a track from the record and to check out a sweet Top 10 List he made.

Tonight in LA: When You Awake Presents The Felice Brothers UPDATE!! Conor Oberst Added To Bill

jody — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:17:44 +0000

Head over to the Echo tonight, Wednesday, September 29th to see the Catskills Mountains-based band The Felice Brothers. The night is being billed as “An Evening With The Felice Brothers” and features just them, no openers! The show is 18+ and will be $17 at the door and worth every penny. You may want to shoot a couple o’ glasses of whiskey before. This is going to be one rowdy show.

UPDATE! Conor Oberst has just been added to the bill. He will be opening the show backed by the Felice Brothers. DO NOT MISS THIS!

Click here to view the embedded video.Felice Brothers- Whiskey In My Whiskey

Tonight in LA: Gold Dust + Jody’s Going Away Party

jody — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:03:13 +0000

Gold Dust will be returning to Footsies tonight, Friday, September 3rd, for one last hurrah before I head off to London. We will spinning alongside The Natives, those lovable longhairs who host every Friday night at Footsies. So kick off your shoes, order up a good bourbon and get down to your favorite dual slide guitar screamin’ swampy southern rock scorchers and classic psyche-country jams one last time. We’ll be hanging out from 10 pm- 2 am and the entry is free. So if the good lords a-willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we’ll see you tonight at GOLD DUST!

Click here to view the embedded video.George Jones- White Lightning

Tonight in LA: Jacques Demy’s Model Shop at the Cinefamily

Bryan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:40:02 +0000

Tonight, head to Cinefamily for Jacques Demy’s 1969 art-house pic Model Shop, followed by Play It As It Lays, based upon the novel by Joan Didion. Both films are screening as part of their series: “L.A. Burnouts”. Movies start at 8 pm. Tickets are $10. More info about Model Shop is after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.Clip from Model Shop

French New Wave director Jacques Demy, who is perhaps best known for DayGlo-infused musicals like 1964′s The Umbrellas of Cherboug, directed only one English-language American movie during his career — Model Shop. When I first saw this film back in 2003 — when a brand-new 35mm print was screened at the Egyptian Theater as part of the American Cinemateque’s ”Mods & Rockers” festival — I didn’t know that this movie actually referenced back to, and incorporated characters and aspects from, Demy’s earlier directorial efforts, including his feature debut Lola (1961), starring the striking Anouk Aimée in the title role.

Click here to view the embedded video.Lola Trailer

I’ve read that Demy’s working title for this project was Los Angeles -1968, and indeed it is a melancholic and forlorn-looking L.A. that is probably this film’s true protagonist. From the very first frames we see a visually grey-hued emptiness underneath a polluted L.A. skyline hidden behind a foggy haze, all of it complimented by an admittedly equally empty and grey narrative. It’s as if those pumping oil derricks we see early on, nodding silently on a desolate beach, probably somewhere near Venice (which we also see in Cisco Pike — another movie in the “L.A. Burnouts” series being screened later this month) actually symbolize a weariness felt by many of L.A.’s disillusioned young men and women at the time.

As an outsider now lensing a movie in a city full of outsiders, Demy — who spoke no English himself but wrote the screenplay with the uncredited assistance of Carole Eastman (who often wrote under the screen name of Adrien Joyce) — may not have been unable to clearly communicate his ideas to the cast and crew clearly, but he seems to have found a unique way to capture the city of L.A. in the late sixties, in a way that no other major director could at the time.

Click here to see a scene in Model Shop with Spirit’s Jay Ferguson.

In one of my favorite scenes, main character George drives over to visit his friend, musician Jay Ferguson, who is playing music with the other members of his Spirit — drummer Ed Cassidy, his stepson Randy California on guitar, bassist Mark Andes, and keyboard player John Locke — in the living room of a home that looks more Hollywood-centric than where the band were actually living at the time, Topanga Canyon.

The story behind Spirit’s appearance in the band — and the band’s recording of incidental music for the soundtrack album — is also the stuff of dreams: apparently Demy had recently arrived from France and he was still suffering from jet-lag when he wandered into the Aquarius Theatre to find Spirit already onstage. They were exactly the band that Demy wanted for his left coast tale. Spirit were still in their ascendence in 1968, having already released a self-titled first album and a second LP, The Family That Plays Together – on Lou Adler’s Ode Records, which was distributed by CBS Records until 1969. They were in the midst of recording a third album, Clear, when recording tracks for a proposed soundtrack album, but producer Lou Adler and Columbia/Screen Gems decided to shelve those recordings. Some of the instrumental sides ended up on Clear when it was released in 1969, including “Song for Lola” which was used as part of “Ice,” but for the most part the recordings languished unreleased in the vaults for over 35 years until they were resurrected by the Sundazed label for release on CD in 2005.

Click here to view the embedded video.Spirit- Aren’t You Glad

From the Cinefamily listing: It was only a matter of time before the call of Hollywood’s dream factory ensnared French director Jacques Demy, that lover of old musicals and stylized fantasies. What Columbia Studios may not have know, is that Demy’s other great love was Robert Bresson, and when he wasn’t making glorious Technicolor romances like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, he was delivering coolly detached, 2 A.M.-of-the-soul art films.

Guess which kind of film his stay in Los Angeles inspired? Turning his camera on the sun-bleached, pop culture-drenched local andscape and playing down his usual style, Demy gives us a 24-hour period as experienced by George, a layabout soon-to-be Vietnam draftee whose girl, car and Venice pad are about to become a memory. Enter a mysterious French woman (Anouk Aimée) he spies driving down a Hollywood boulevard that captures his imagination; entranced, he trails her from Malibu to Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and back again, in the blind hope of some kind of real human connection.

Long considered a “lost” Demy project, Model Shop‘s camerawork and art direction are never less than faultless, its soundtrack (courtesy of local band Spirit) is a total jewel of the period — and its generous footage of L.A. circa ’69 is now a treasure trove unto itself. (Dir. Jacques Demy, 1969, 35mm, 97 min).

For more information about the screening and to read about the other movie that’s screening tonight, click here to check out the Cinefamily website.