Geez, remind me next week to sacrifice a chicken to the Concert Gods because this weeks’ on sale list is, umm, lacking. Frankly, let’s just get to it because the quicker we are done, the quicker we can all get to tracking down a live chicken over the internet (target.com maybe?).

-For you country fans out there, this weekend will prove very fruitful for you. Not only is Merle Haggard coming to Anaheim for a show at the Grove on December 4th (on sale Saturday at noon for $40-$65) but you also get the dynamic duo of Alan Jackson and Trace Adkins (soon to be star of that “An American Carol” movie that I saw a preview of last night and looks, ummm, well, the Zuckers have lost a step) playing the Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario on November 23rd. Raise up your hats and give a big yee-haw when tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

-A pair of female lead singers are stepping out on their own for some upcoming solo shows. Rilo Kiley songstress Jenny Lewis will play the Orpheum Theater in Downtown LA on October 30 while Dresden Dolls leader Amanda Palmer will headline the Henry Fonda Theater on December 16th. Tickets for both shows go on sale Saturday at 10am and each ticket will be in the $30ish range.

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So in an attempt to both lower my blood pressure and make the world a happier, sunnier place, I’ve decided to forgo my usual “music industry is evil/ Sarah Palin/ Economy” rant and instead give you some deep breathing exercises to lead off my Music News post.

Ready?

Here we go:
Deep breath through your mouth.
Breathe in through your nose.
Hold it…
Think about fluffy bunnies and wacky platypus’
Hold it…
Breathe out.
Feel better? Good, let’s start with the music news.

METALLICA ROCKS! (THE CHARTS)

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The boys of Tokyo Police Club, Dave, Graham, Greg, and Josh, are four good friends living the dream. They grew up dreaming of being rock stars and now with a little nudge they’re soring high. They grew up playing air guitar, lip syncing to songs in front of the mirror, and practicing interviews before bed. Then one day they actually decided trying to play music… and to everyone’s relief, they were awesome.

Their album, A Lesson in Crime, stayed on the Canadian College Charts longer than any other album released in 2006, their video for “Cheer it On” won a MuchMusic Video Award in 2007 (resulting in a very awkward acceptance speech) and they’ve been rocking shows all over. If you ever listen to Indie 103.1, you should know these guys well. I think someone over there has a crush on them. These guys are having a blast and so much fun to watch. They’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from being huge.

See them know so you can say “I knew them when.”

Luckily for you, we’re going to get you for free! We have two pairs of tickets to give-away  to two lucky people for the show at The Music Box and the Fonda (Map) on the 18th.  All you have to do to be entered in a random drawing to win is…

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***Update: And the winners are… Jason Lelea and Juan! Congrats, you’ve both won two tickets to their show at the Fonda and a free copy of their CD!

Many of you may remember them from the film “Little Miss Sunshine” or possibly “Til the End of Time.” DeVotchKa, is definitely a band to watch out for. Their music is an amalgamation of so many different ideas, presented in a clear and beautiful way. Their stage is quite literally packed with instruments from a sousaphone, accordion, piano, violin, a bouzouki, an upright bass, percussion, a trumpet, drums and a Theremin. I’m sure that if you could come up with another instrument, they’d be happy to learn how to play it and use it at their next show.

I have to admit, I didn’t know who DeVotchKa was when I first heard the name, but the second I started listening, I was intrigued. It’s refreshing to find music that makes you stop and listen, that is inspiring, uplifting, and most of all interesting.

So, in order to honor these AMAZING musicians. We’ll be giving away two pairs of tickets to the show at the El Rey on the 16th and two copies of their CD “A Mad & Faithful Telling.”  All you have to do to be entered in a random drawing to win is…

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***Update: Add the winners are…Greg Kaczynski and Stephanie! Congrats you two! You’ve both won two tickets to their show tomorrow night! Enjoy!

These three Welsh boys have made a huge impact in music since the 90’s. In eight tumultuous years between 1997 and 2005, the Welsh three piece released five albums, scored twenty Top 20 hits, racked up multi-million sales, and toured relentlessly on an exhausting schedule. Recently, after Kelly Jones, the lead singer had to take a break for an illness in the family, he created a solo album that bleed out his feelings of hope and despair. Now the group is back together and on the road again with their new CD, Pull The Pin.

“In these times, when you can download a track before its even released, if one song’s weaker than the other then its fucking done, you have to kind of make ‘em all stand their own ground,” enthuses Kelly. “I think we’ve achieved the best parts of the band over the last ten years on one record. The energy captured reminds me of when we started. It is the sound of a band happy to be back together.”

So it’s time to celebrate and in order to help do so we have two pairs of tickets to give-away to the show at The Fonda Theater (Map) on the 16th.  All you have to do to be entered in a random drawing to win is…

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Wow, what a week: Angels clinched, Dodgers are hot, hockey season is around the corner, Fringe was better then expected and it was proven that no matter what contradictory things Sarah Palin has done or said in her past, the focus always must be on unrelated pig and lipstick comments.

Here are a few concert on sales to close out your work week and bring you into your drunken weekend.

- As mentioned in this week’s Music News article, the Decemberists have announced a headlining tour, a headlining tour which in fact hits the Wiltern on November 24th. Tickets for this show go on sale today at 10 am and cost around $28. A night of fun sing alongs and highly visual songs will ensue.

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Coming off an amazing show last weekend, Inara George will be gracing Angelenos with here beautiful voice once again.  Check out her fantastical music at Tangiers.  Also playing at Tangiers, Jana Hunter is also a great talent.  If you are in the mood for the music of a legend, Bob Dylan will be filling the Santa Barbara air with a selection of his iconic songs. However you decide to spend the end to the first weekend in September, enjoy the music tonight:

• Manifest Destiny Featuring Witchcraft | 3:00pm at Echoplex - Map | 18+ | Tickets $15 Buy Tickets
• Inara George | 5:00pm Tangiers - Map | All Ages | Tickets $10 at Door
• Asesino | 6:00pm at Whiskey - Map |All Ages | Tickets $25 Buy Tickets
• Latin Fusion Night | 7:00pm at House of Blues Anaheim- Map | 18+ | Tickets $12.50  Buy Tickets
• Bob Dylan | 7:30pm at Santa Barbara Bowl - Map | All Ages |Tickets $52.50 Buy Tickets

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All right, while I’m not really a fan I’m excited that I finally get a chance to use some bold face font:

METALLICA IS COMING TO TOWN!

There, I’m sure that bold print Times New Roman font will get the fans revved. Metallica is getting ready to release their new album “Death Magnetic” on September 12th, and the band will take their rock show on the road for a full arena  tour which makes its Los Angeles area stops in mid-December. The band plays the brand new Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on December 12th and the Forum in Inglewood on December 17th and 18th. Lamb of God and The Sword will open the shows. Tickets for the Forum are $62.50-$82.50 and $57.50-$77.50 for Ontario.

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Hello everyone, and welcome back for a new season of music news here on LA.CityZine.com. I wish I had some really cool guest star or medical mystery to kick of this first episode (or post, as we say in the industry), but unfortunately Ray Romano was busy and the stomach pain that our patient was experiencing ended up just being gas.

Without a special guest star, I wish I could lead off this article by telling you that some new exciting change has occurred in music, but instead Live Nation still owns everything, “Chinese Democracy” hasn’t hit music stores (or China) yet, and CD sales are still down in the dumps. In all honesty, besides a female VP and a well thought out disaster plan for New Orleans not much has changed in the past month. I don’t know what I was expecting, maybe they could have discovered a sea serpent, or warlocks or maybe even a good low fat cinnamon roll. But alas, it was just more of the same.

At least there are a few good music stories out there, so before I ramble on more about warlocks let’s get to it.

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I love Free Shows. I think they’re one of the best things money can’t buy. Enjoy your free shows for the week!

Monday, Sept 1

• Dios (Malos) | 9:00 pm at Spaceland | Info Here
• Birdmonster | 7:00 pm at Fingerprints | Info Here
• The Dogs (alternative classic rock) | 7:30 pm at Memorial Park Bandshell in Claremont | Info Here
  

Tuesday, Sept 2

• Judas Priest on Jimmy Kimmel | 6:15 pm at the El Capitan Theatre | Info Here
• Brian Wilson (CD Signing) | 10:00 am at Amoeba Records | Info Here
• Thenewno2 | 9:00 pm at the Key Club

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Here are your free shows for the week. How much? Free-99.

Saturday, August 23

• Tower of Power | 6:00 at the Alhambra Summer Jubilee | Info Here
• daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra | 8:00 pm at California Plaza | Info Here
• Belle Aire Brass | 6:30 pm at Richard Riox Park | | Info Here
• Undercover Girls | 1:30 pm at Veterans Memorial Park | Info Here

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Like baseball, mom’s apple pie and wars with countries we initially can’t locate on a map, the Vans Warped Tour, who is back in 2008 for it’s fifteenth year, has become an American institution. While package tours come and go, the Warped Tour has found a niche and has become more and more successful, continuously finding new fans even as original concert goers now worry more about kids and mortgages than punk rock ideals.

While Warped Tour has always featured big acts like Blink 182, No Doubt, Pennywise, Bad Religion and NOFX, it’s multiple stage setup have also given smaller bands a chance to criss-cross the country and play to crowds bigger then what they might find on their own club dates. “My most memorable experience on Warped Tour has to be the day we played Denver,” stated Beat Union’s Luke Johnson. “Right before we went on almost 600 kids turned out to watch us play. It was crazy, we had only played Denver twice.”

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