Coachella has announced that it will now take place over TWO SEPARATE WEEKENDS.

We will attempt to produce two identical festival weekends. That means same lineup, same art, same place, different people.

What could possibly go wrong?

Photo by Burns! Image gets bigger with a click; the tiny guitar doesn't.

Bruce Cockburn is coming to the El Rey in Los Angeles next week in support of his 31st studio album, Small Source of Comfort. Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, Blogging.LA has your free tickets. Read on…

Cockburn is one of my favorite recording artists, but when I mention him friends are often unfamiliar. He has a pretty solid fan base here in the U.S., but north of the border, in his native Canada, Cockburn is a legend.  In a career spanning four decades he has received 13 Junos (Canadian Grammys,) seven honorary doctorates, he’s in the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, and next month will be featured on a postage stamp issued by Canada Post.

Cockburn often tours solo, but this time out his deep, soulful lyrics and virtuoso guitar playing will be backed up by a full band. Opening the show will be violinist Jenny Scheinman, also featured on Small Source of Comfort. (Samples of the new album can be heard at that link, by the way.)

It seems Bruce Cockburn only passes through Los Angeles every few years, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a truly fantastic performance.

Want to join me at the El Rey next Tuesday night? I’ve got a few pairs of tickets for lucky B.LA readers. Just leave a note in the comments section below telling me why you want to see this show. Winners will be chosen at my whim and notified via email.

What: Bruce Cockburn live
Where: The El Rey Theater
When: Tuesday, 31 May 2011. 8:00pm.
Win: Leave a comment below

Don’t want to wait for tickets? There are still some available for purchase here.

Yes, admitedly, “robot pianos” is a slightly hyperbolic description. Tomorrow night, Monday May 23, some friends of mine in the Ethnomusicology Archive at UCLA are hosting “Ethnickelodeon,” a really neat concert of vintage pianola music. The pianola is a player piano, the old-timey kind that play music off of paper rolls. Apparently, operating the controls of the pianola is a bit of an art-form: so Monday night’s event won’t just consist of a ghostly piano playing by itself on an empty stage, but will feature Bob Berkman, a master of the pianola genre and an expert on automated instruments,

operating the controls. Berkman recently donated a huge collection of folksongs on piano rolls to the Ethnomusicology Archive, and is coming down from Buffalo, NY to play some of those rolls.  You can see him in action, playing a Lithuanian tune, here .  Apparently there was a huge market for culturally-specific folk tune piano rolls during the early 20th century, as immigrants from abroad were moving to the US, so you can expect to hear Finnish, Jewish, Russian, Hungarian, Croatian, Ukrainian, Italian, Syrian, Greek, West Indian, Mexican, Argentinean, and Cuban music, as well as jazz, bluegrass, and classical. The concert is 7pm in Popper Theatre in Schoenberg Hall at UCLA, and admission is free.

After hearing about the concert, I was wondering if, given LA’s longstanding history as a center of the entertainment world, there was ever much of a pianola industry here. The all-knowing Wikipedia tells me that the Los Angeles Art Organ Company attempted to manufacture a pianola-like device, but was sued for copyright infringement by the Aeolian Company of New York. (The image of their factory, at left, is from the LA Public Library Photo Collection – I can’t track down an address for the building, unfortunately!) The Southern California Music Company, which is now based out of Glendale, and is one of the oldest operating stores in California (they opened in 1880), sold piano rolls and other related equipment – the ad above, from a 1911 edition of the California Outlook is for a pianola attachment that turns regular grand pianos into player pianos.

There are more details about Monday’s concert here, and you can find out more about the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive on their blog, the EAR.

Creative Commons /MarcoFromHouston.com

That’s right kids, Wednesday June 1st, Usher will be doing his thing at the Staples Center here in LA and I have a FREE pair of tickets to give away. But I refuse to just give it to anyone. I want to make sure the person who gets to go is a true fan.

This is a 2 part process, so pay attention.

First, in one of Usher’s first singles, he states “I tried, I tried to fight it but…..”
But what??
(This really isn’t that difficult)

Last, I want you to tell me why you should go over the others who answer correctly.

You all have 1 week to submit your answers/reasons in the comments section. I will announce the winner Wednesday May 25.

And now, to get you in the mood, here is a little Usher mashup from DJs From Mars via the Bootie Mashup gang.

Make sure your account is linked to an email address or I can’t tell you you’ve won!!!!!!

What are you doing this Saturday? What if I told you you could hear some great music, go to an art auction and a rummage sale, eat good food, meet interesting people, and possibly save a life while you were at it? Some friends of mine have put together a fundraiser to help pay for Dave Melrose’s cancer treatments (more information on the treatments here). It’s an all-day event in Altadena (noon until midnight) and the entertainment includes, among many others–Jack Black doing, according to the Facebook page for the event, a Black Sabbath tribute(!); and Dos, a band consisting solely of two of the best bassists ever–Kira Roessler (of Blag Flag fame) and Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, etc.). For the complete schedule look here. What I know is this, the people putting on this thing are dedicated and creative. There will be some great art for auction and the “rummage” at their sale will be far superior to most rummage. Yes, it’s in Altadena, but it’s $20 for the whole day and how often do you get to say you spent your Saturday saving a life?

Weird Al in concert

Time is running out fast but here’s the deets.  If you are a male 25-45 (that’s what they are looking for in particular but will consider anyone) and want to play the role of paparazzi in a Weird Al video you need to get moving.  All you need to do is send them a picture of yourself holding a “professional looking camera” (my guess a DSLR).  Send that pic to weirdalcasting@gmail.com along with your contact info.  They have no deadline, but say that the earlier you get it to them the better as they are shooting on May 15 for release in June.  Weird Al’s blog has all the details HERE.

Now I wish I had a pic of me with my DSLR as this would be a fun adventure to add to my bucket list of things done.

Pic by computer_saskboy on flickr and used under a creative commons license.  Link to him HERE..

Suddenly I see this is where I want to be… right here in the front row of KT Tunstall’s ** The Solo Show ** with Charlie Mars & Miggs (**Update, Meiko has been added to the line-up!) at the El Rey on Monday May 9th.

Clearly the anthem for any working girl that’s dealt with her own Devil in Prada, I know I had her song in every single one of my playlists. Plus I’ve heard “black horse and the cherry tree” is something that can only truly be appreciated live. And now’s your chance to see her! Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, I’ve got a pair of tickets for some lucky Blogging.LA readers.

So leave a note in the comment section below with your favorite Devil Wears Prada moment and I’ll pick a reader at random to get a pair of tickets for Monday’s show! The contest ends Friday May 6th at noon PST. Tickets are gone!

You can also buy tickets HERE at Goldenvoice!

Read the rest of this entry →

Sunday May 1st will be the first official Cinco de Mayo celebration in the SGV.  Rutillio “Rudy” Castrellon who owns Monrovia’s Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant (which I’ve blogged about in the past here) is the one spearheading this event. He is bringing it to us to help celebrate the day as they did in Mexico where he grew up as a kid. It will be a block party with the street blocked off to celebrate the day and the contribution of Latinos to the community and region.  Informational web site HERE.

There will be dancing in the street with music provided by Mariachi Divas, Delgado Brothers, Los Fabulocos and Banda Brothers.  There will also be artists and dancers in the event as well sharing their art.

Deets: Sunday May 1, 2011 2-8PM, Colorado and Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia CA MAP HERE

So Coachella… If the lost and found sections of their website are any indication, you all had a great time. Pictures upon pictures of lost keys and phones, like rows of tombstones in the sobriety graveyard. Best music festival no one can remember ever.

I worry about you people. I hope you got home okay.

So if you can’t find your keys, phone, camera, or bag, you should log onto the Coachella site and see if they’ve got it. There are instructions onsite for how to retrieve your belongings. Your dignity, on the other hand… you’re on your own there.

Experience a live visual music sensation on Friday, April 22nd courtesy of The USC School of Cinematic Arts and Visions and Voices: The USC Arts & Humanities Initiative for FREE! Rhythms+Visions-Expanded+Live! is an exciting outdoor event with performances spanning animation, experimental documentary, social commentary and abstract visual music. UK audiovisual collective D-Fuse and Los Angeles artist Scott Pagano will perform live. Additionally, giant 3-D stereoscopic animations will be projected onto the building facade, interacting with the audience and the architecture. 3-D glasses will be provided.

Rhythms+Visions-Expanded+Live! is this Friday, April 22nd from 7:30-11pm at the USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex. Admission is Free. A lively panel discussion will follow the performances. Facebook event page here.

Queen Skittles queen of the 32nd Doo Dah Parade.

Love a parade but have a nice wide irreverent streak?  Wanna be queen of the Doo Dah Parade (or a dude and make it a Dood Dah Queen again) then you need to head on over to the Pasadena American Legion hall on Saturday.  This is an incredibly fun evening of music and silliness as they go about the serious business of picking out the new Queen for the 34th Doo Dah Parade which will take place 4/30 (more on that to come).  Entry Form and more info can be found on the Doo Dah Web.  They even have a nifty Facebook invite.

Deets.  Admission $5. American Legion Bar 179 North Vinedo St Pasadena, CA   Saturday April 2, 2PM doors open with music and stuff.  4PM Queen hopefuls check in.  5PM the Queen Try outs begin. MAP HERE

Image is courtesy of Julie Klima, aka Queen Skittles and used with her permission.  More of her work can be seen at her Web Site.

Dear people of Los Angeles:  I am in love with the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo.  And you should be, too.  I went for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was a completely enchanting experience.

The Mighty, Glow in the Dark Wurlitzer at the Old Town Music Hall

The Old Town Music Hall is run by two guys with a Wurlitzer organ, who have been operating out of their present location since 1968.  The theatre is pretty tiny, and is painted red and decorated with figurines of Nipper, the RCA dog; velvet curtains; and sparkly chandeliers.  Every weekend they do film screenings – sometimes talkies, sometimes silent films with Bill Field, the resident organist, masterfully providing the soundtrack, but always great old movies that really deserve to be seen.  We went for a screening of Seventh Heaven, which was, admittedly, a pretty ridiculous movie, plot-wise  (seriously, but we SAW the male lead die.  In a war.  Of gunshot wounds. He was seriously killed to death.  And then suddenly he was alive, like the Terminator or something, and this was supposed to be a romantic drama, not a science fiction film), but it was absolutely worth seeing, as a piece of film history.  Each screening at the Music Hall opens with a few tunes on the organ from Mr. Field (and the audience is encouraged to sing along!  And who doesn’t love a singalong?) and a short film (we got to see a Laurel and Hardy short) before the main feature.  And it’s only $8 which seems somehow like the most incredible deal, for, like, 3 hours of entertainment that prominently features live music.

I love this place because I love tiny little businesses run by people who love what they do and are sticking it out even if what they do is kind of on the anachronistic side.  And I kind of want to give all of my money to the Old Town Music Hall because I love what they’re doing so very, very much, and, by the sounds of things, they can use all the financial support they can get.  But I do need to eat and pay rent, so instead of giving them all of my money and worldly goods, I am advising you, dear readers, to head over to El Segundo some weekend to see some old movies, and support a dying art.  If you’ve never seen a silent film with organ, it’s an absolute must if you’re at all interested in film history.  It’s an amazing thing to see and hear: the organist’s job is to anticipate and highlight the emotional content of the film, and when it’s skillfully done, it can give silent movies an amazing sense of presence and immediacy.

The Old Town Music Hall is at 140 Richmond Street, El Segundo, 90245.

Mr. Wurlitzer image courtesy of Mike Fischer on flickr.

I’m not entirely sure why this is so incredible, but it really is.  I found myself listening to this for over an hour the first time. Something about the radio chatter and the chillout music just goes perfectly together. A great way to finish out my day discovering this great city of ours (more on that later). ‘Til then, enjoy.

Eyeshine

2 local bands, Eyeshine and Jake Newtown will be among the final 7 bands in the “gimme the gig” competition at a concert to be held at the Whiskey on Thursday evening. The winner of the competition will have the chance to have 2 tracks the produced by Don Was.

Since I started following Gimme the Gig I’ve been watching the local bands climb up and make it to the finals. Once my favorite local band was knocked out of the competition I really started watchin’ for a band that struck a cord. Ultimately that would be Eyeshine, of course I will share the love and support the other local too.

Just in case you were wondering, I know I’ve blogged about Gimme the Gig before (I’ve lost the link) but this is a Ford event sponsored by them and Don Was to give new bands a shot at growing their fan base. If you want to vote for a favorite or get more info on the event check out the link HERE.

Don Was on the competition…


Eyeshine’s video from the voting


Jake Newton’s video from the voting


Deets:Thursday, February 17, 2011, 7:00pm – VALET PARKING IS AVAILABLE, BEHIND THE WHISKY. PLEASE USE THE CLARK STREET ENTRANCE. Whisky A Go Go, 8901 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA, USA 90069 MAP HERE

Image courtesy of concert sponsor Ford Motor Company and used with their permission.

L.A. has been the topic of more than a few songs over the years because there is so much to love. What’s your favorite love song to the city we live in? You need to click the headline to get to the Sinatra vid. Hat Tip to Hidden LA who found this great old video.

Happy Valentines Day to the city I love.