R.I.P. B.Y.O.P.
Sad news folks: Nashville’s Be Your Own Pet have announced that they have decided to go their separate ways. For those of you who had the privilege to catch the band live, you can understand why it is a true loss. Very few bands could match the four-pieces live intensity on stage. Led by their just-drinking-age lead singer Jemina Pearl, the band would blaze through a 30-minute set full of punk tinged indie-rock that always left you wanting more. While no definitive reason has been listed for their break up, the band released the following announcement on their MySpace:
“To all our fans, we are sad to bring you the news that our upcoming shows in the UK are going to be our last as a band. We thank you for all your love and support these past few years. It’s been a blast, but the time has come for the tour of us to go our separate ways.”
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Tags: News · bands
For survivors of the great Chino Hills earthquake of 2008, life can be difficult. As they start to recover and take survey on their shattered lives, they face a world of unimaginable horror: four dollar gas, a weak housing market, inept leadership and a new season of “America’s Got Talent”. One of the few things that keeps these half-dead survivors from giving up all hope is that traveling bands of musicians continuing to scour the roads looking for crowds and venues to perform their music of longing and hope. All that these performers ask in return is a few platters of nourishing food, a couple of bottles of refreshments, an open mind and a 50% share of merchandise sales. Rejoice survivors: I bring you a list of where these traveling performers will stop and regail you with these tales of hope. Read on folks read on and stay brave:
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Tags: Upcoming events · shows
Detour Festival Lineup
For you Pitchfork reading indie-philes out there, the just announced lineup for the 2008 Detour Festival (October 4th, LA City Hall area) is a treasure-trove of bands still on the fringe of the mainstream (actually, pretty damn far from the mainstream). And for those of you who like their all day festivals with a couple of big names at the top of the lineup card, you might just want to save your money for a trip down to San Diego for Street Scene in late September.
The 3rd annual downtown Los Angeles festival has decided to go all indie on us this year, announcing an initial lineup that boasts bands that the average music listener might not recognize (or have ever even heard of in passing, like who the hell is Mugison-well, apparently the Icelandic Beck). Furthermore, with no one big on the top of the bill (no Beck, or Sigur Ros, or The Raconteurs), this festival might be a hard sell for the average music fan, especially with the struggling oh, sorry George “Recovering” economy.
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Tags: News · shows
Unless your jonzing for a Journey and Heart fix (though, judging by their upcoming sold out gig in Irvine, you might be), or looking forward to a dose of Three 6 Mafia (who won an Oscar for their opus on the trails and tribulations of pimpin’), there isn’t much in store this week for big venue ticket on sale. Some decent club shows hit Ticketmaster this week, but if you like rock or indie bands playing the big places, this might be a weekend to check out Batman for the second or third time (see you there).
For those of you who might have stopped believing after not getting tickets to Journey’s sold out show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, my advice is to start believing again, unless you never stopped believing, which meant that you didn’t stop believing at all. Regardless, the good news for you fans is that Journey (with new lead singer Arnel Pineda) has added a show at the Greek Theater on September 30th. Heart and Cheap Trick will open and tickets will set you back $55-$110 dollars and go on sale Saturday at 10am. Of course with service charges the price of those tickets won’t stop exceeding your budget
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Tags: Upcoming events · shows
So before I start on the on-sales for this weekend, I wanted to give you a little heads up on something cool that is taking place (which I learned thanks to Ben Werner of the OC Register- where I get most of my on sale news from anyway- they do good work over there, what can I say). Super-Hyper-Mega-corporate concert giant Live Nation has decided to give fans a break on some of the summers hottest (or most struggling and undersold?) concerts with a $10 “Fan Appreciation Day” sale. That’s right: for one day only tickets some of your favorite (or not) concerts will be on-sale for only $10. This of course does not count service or facilities fees (which will easily double the ticket prices) and the tickets will be in the back of the venue, but it’s still a pretty good deal. While a lot of country and middle of the road rock acts are included, there are a few decent shows included in the list:
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Tags: bands · shows
Can’t think of any good leads today. That “Hellboy II” looks pretty cool though, right? Let’s just get to the on-sale info…
There are huge bands out there like Coldplay, Linkin Park and Green Day who can sell out an amphitheater. They are in mainstream magazines and sell a lot of records. Then there are bands that may not sell a lot of records per say, but have such a rabid fan-base that they are able to sell out multiple nights at a single, mid-level size venue. For example: Social Distortion rarely goes gold but can sell out twenty nights at local House of Blues’. Or Rancid who just sold out half a dozen nights in LA and the OC. Or how about Bad Religion who recently played many weekend shows at the Orange County House of Blues. None of those bands are “giant sellers”, but their fan base is rabid enough that they’ll spend the money to see them twice or three times in a two week window.
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Tags: Upcoming events · shows
Smashing Pumpkins Plan Shows
After reuniting in 2007 for a new album and tour, the Smashing Pumpkins have announced a new tour to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. Twenty years already? Wow, time flies when you’re shaving your head and bashing former band mates.
According to their website, the Pumpkins will visit mostly smaller-sized venues during an August run of shows the band says will feature “unique sets and songs”. “This tour will be for fun” the band added (because if you know one band that likes to have fun, it’s The Smashing- freakin’- Pumpkins).
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Tags: News · bands
Your Official Amy Winehouse Update
Alright, so whoever had “punches fan at festival” in the Amy Winehouse trouble pool congratulations, you win $50. England’s favorite drugged out sweetheart appeared to punch a fan during her Saturday night performance at the famed Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom. According to CNN.com, Winehouse stepped down into the pit between the outdoor stage and the audience during a rendition of “Rehab,” and seemed to lash out at a member of the crowd before being gently escorted back to the stage by security staff (I’m betting the crowd member already has some sort of deal with a British tabloid). According to festival organizer Michael Eavis, Winehouse lashed out at the fan because someone had grabbed her breasts. Notice that he didn’t say that the fan grabbed her breasts, just “someone.” If you haven’t been playing the “What in the World Is Up With Amy Winehouse” home game, then you’ve missed recent incident with Winehouse which have included singing racial slurs on tape at a drug den, wandering outside in a diaper and reportedly being diagnosed with emphysema as a consequence of chain smoking cigarettes and crack.
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Tags: News · bands
Before we start on a weekend full of some pretty quality concert on-sales, I would like to state that, in an attempt to make the LA City Zine Concert On-Sale listings more Green and eco-friendly, your writer, Brian, will no longer be powered by coal and gasoline. Instead, Brian will run on a eco-friendly combination of caffeine and adrenaline. Remember, you can take steps at home to reduce your carbon footprint. Now that that is out of the way, check this out:
- For those of you who have been living under a rock lately (no offense, it’s probably much cooler down there) and don’t already know, Nine Inch Nails will end their spat of summer tour dates with a show September 6th at the Forum with Deerhunter opening. Tickets are $36-$52 and go on sale Saturday at 10am (don’t be surprised if another show, or two, are added)
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Tags: Upcoming events · shows
Reggie and The Full Effect Plot Farewell Tour Hardcore/pop/punk/comedians Reggie and The Full Effect have announced their final tour ever. The tour begins August 20th in Orlando, FL and is in support of the their fifth full length album “Last Stop: Crappy Town.”. For those of you who don’t know, Reggie is the brain child of former Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees, and is known for their hilarious, outlandish (yet strangely grounded) heavy metal/ pop performances. While I’m not exactly sold that this will be the final Reggie tour, it has been rumored that Dewees will become a permanent keyboardist of My Chemical Romance, whom Dewees toured with for their last album. The tour will feature support by Frank Iero’s (My Chemical Romance) side-project Leathermouth and will stop at the Avalon in Hollywood on August 26th. For those of you who have never seen the Full Effect in their live glory should take this opportunity before the band goes the way of the dodo.
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Tags: News · bands
It’s hot. And not a comfortable hot. Just hot. Wear your sunblock, drink your water, covet your shade and don’t do too much physical activity. On the other hand, feel free to break all the rules and join me at the Make Music Pasadena festival this Saturday to catch Kinky and the Ravonettes. Then curse me on Sunday morning when you look like a lobster with hair. If you want to stay in yet still spend money (kinda the American dream if you think about it), here are some concert on-sales to check out… [Read more →]
Tags: Upcoming events · bands · shows
I turned off the T.V. early last night, so I didn’t see: are the Celtics still scoring?
R. Kelly Acquitted on All Counts in Child Porn Case
Since video tape evidence just ain’t what it used to be, R&B star R. Kelly was found not guilty Friday afternoon on all counts in his child pornography case. The jury researched their verdict in less than eight hours of deliberation. Mr. Kelly (who has a tendency to get trapped in closet’s here and there) was charged with 14 counts of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl, who prosecutors say was as young as 13. Kelly faced a maximum of 15 years of prison if convicted.
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Tags: News · bands
