For whatever reason, watching movies in places other than movie theaters can often make the experience a million times more exciting. Throw in some free popcorn and some excellent movie choices, and you've got guaranteed fun ahead.
UNIQUE LA, the creators of the largest independent design show in the country and a great advocate for modern homemade artisan goods in this city, is getting into the film spirit. They'll be putting on monthly movie nights in the vast space of Echoplex in Echo Park, and next up on the marquee this next Monday is the '90s classic Clueless. Perfect excuse to reminisce and watch a wonderful film -- and yes, there will be free popcorn! (Plus drink specials all night and pizza for sale from Two Boots!)
Tickets for each show is $10. Check out the upcoming lineup of films here. Monthly Movie Nights at the Echoplex featuring Cluelesswill take place next Monday, March 12 at 8pm at Echoplex, located at 1154 Glendale Blvd. in Echo Park.
The Echoplex is located at 1154 Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park. Spectator tickets $10, donations also welcome. Info: attheecho.com & 826la.org, to register: 826la.org/pingpong
In music, everyone talks about the sophomore slump--when a band finds itself under immense pressure to create a second album just as good (but preferably better) as their first breakout hit. But what about a freshman slump? In the age of the internet when a band can get hyped from a few choice songs posted on their myspace, the pressure to put out an exceptional first album is something all too true, all too harsh, and often laden with musical casualties.
A sad example of this is Voxtrot. The Austin-based band debuted in the early 2000s in a rush of internet media hype for their first set of EPs, featuring jangly indie pop songs full of good hooks and even better lyrics. I was a huge fan; I loved the energy of the danceable songs, and I thought frontman Ramesh Srivastava always had the greatest lines about down and out but optimistic youth, a la "we are desperate, lonely and underpaid" and "we only ever wanted to feel real" (they're less emo in context, I swear). And I too, was excited for Voxtrot's full-length debut. But by the time the self-titled disc was released in 2007, the band was taking a much slower pace to their songs, and the music lost its witty bite. It was disappointing to many, and Voxtrot suffered from never having really been able to grab the spotlight. In April, Srivastava issued a statement on their website stating that they were breaking up.
But not before taking on a short U.S. tour ([bitterly?] named "Goodbye, Cruel World..."), playing those long-lost hits for one last time. They'll be hitting the Echoplex this Thursday, and they'll be sure to bring out all the stops on this last hurrah. Reminisce in Voxtrot's better days and bask in the wonderful youthful exuberance they used to exude. Here's a reminder below: (NB: it must be stated that for the most part I am opposed to live video recording by fans during shows, but considering I don't believe Voxtrot ever put out a good official video for any songs on their EPs, this will just have to do.)
You'll be missed, Voxtrot, but better things are to come.
Voxtrot is performing May 27th at the Echoplex, located at 1154 Glendale Blvd. in Echo Park.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still mourn the absence of an actual weekly print issue of The Onion in L.A. There was nothing better than an inappropriate headline and ridiculous photo to brighten up my Thursday mornings, and I appreciated the A.V. Club's witty and wise guidance through pop culture for my weekends. Sure, there's the web, but I miss the local A.V. Club guide, and it's just not the same reading about "That Full House Episode Where They Meet the Beach Boys Is On Tomorrow at 3 P.M." or "Bush Refuses To Set Timetable For Withdrawal Of Head From White House Banister" from your computer screen. It's not! (But they're admittedly stillfunny.)
So I guess we'll have to settle for...having The Onion and the A.V. Club in person! That's right, your favorite names and brains behind the headlines and entertainment coverage are appearing tonight at Echoplex for "Our Dumb Book Event," which celebrates the release of their Inventory and Our Front Pages books. They're also bringing comedians Tom Lennon and Ben Garant from Reno 911! and the band Division Day with them, among others, and considering it's April Fools Day, hijinks are sure to be in order.
Our Dumb Book Event is $10 at 7:30pm at Echoplex, located at 1154 Glendale Blvd. in Echo Park.
Need some music for your Friday night? We've got a round-up of a few notables, and while these shows might be 'sold-out,' we know you BEATs can work some magic. What's the point of living in L.A. if you can do a little persuading (or a little party-crashing), right?
- First Fridays at the Natural History Museum: although the new (lame) ticketing system for this formerly first-come-first-serve event means this show has been sold out for weeks, this month's edition probably won't bring the crazy, hip-obsessed crowds it did for last month's Yeasayer and Warpaint duo. Deertick and Everest will still be fun though, and hey, you can still find out "Do Flies Have Feelings?" 5:30pm at the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles
- Bird and the Bee at the El Rey: a show with this indie twosome is already incentive enough to head out to Miracle Mile, but they've got something extra special planned for tonight. This will be the only show where they'll be performing from their latest album, "Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates," set to be released on the 23rd. Pop heaven. Will Joseph Gordon-Levitt show up for a dance number? We hope so. In any case, you can even keep tabs on the show from home, thanks to Livestream. 8pm at the El Rey, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile
- Appleseed Cast at the Echoplex: this one's another special exclusive: the post rockers will be playing their critically-acclaimed and beloved monster of an album, Low Level Owl I & II in its entirety tonight at the Echoplex. That's, uh, 50 songs for you, and at least a solid two hours of pure sprawling, atmospheric. At $15, it's certainly your money's worth to witness live the heart behind one of the ambitious and influential post-rock records to date. 8:30pm at the Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park
OK, "True Blood" fans. For those of you who love all things vampire, the Grammy-nominated band responsible for the "True Blood" soundtrack will be playing at the Echoplex this Friday.
This show has become it's own industry, with "True Blood" drinks and cocktails, but even those who aren't fans of the show can appreciate the twangy swamp music.
Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $10, $12 at the door.
When you see Youth in Revolt, you'll undoubtedly notice the song "When U Love Somebody". Let me save you the trouble of googling the lyrics to figure out who it's by (or staying till the end of the credits and squinting at the song titles) -- Fruit Bats. The song is from their 2003 album, Mouthfuls.
Cut to: 2010. With a new album, The Ruminant Band, released in August of 2009, they're on tour. Check them out on January 28 at EchoPlex.
I love the 90s. My little kid brain was just a sponge for pop-culture during those ten years. Ask me to describe the plot line of any En Vogue video or list every song on the Clueless soundtrack. I can do it. Easily. Any music that had even moderate mainstream success (I developed my love for 90s indie rock way after the fact) was on my radar and was/is pretty much my favorite thing.
However, there is a special place in my heart for mid-to-late 90s r&b and hip hop. Convincing my mom to buy me The Score even though it had a parental advisory sticker on it, learning all of Left Eye’s raps on the playground, dancing to Wu-Tang at the 6th grade dance—those are my best childhood memories. So it always excites me when a club boasts a 90s night. There was a great one in Boston (some bar that I forget the name of in JP), but most of them are kind of whack.
Tonight at the Echoplex is going to be different though, because DJ Spinna, J. ROCC, and DJ Scratch are spinning at an event dubbed FLAVORS. It’s going to be a Best of 1990s Hip Hop (The Golden Years) party and a you-were-only-10-when-these-were-hits-in-the-club-so-get-out-there-and-shake-it-now kind of night for me.
Starts at 9 p.m., $10 in advance and $15 at the door. As that kid Kevin in my 6th grade class would say, it’s going to be Ill, Dope, Phat.
Set your alarm clocks and cell phone reminder messages for Saturday morning! Grab a cup of coffee and get online by 10:00 a.m. to order tickets for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's March 14 show at Echo Park's Echoplex. It will sell out.
In October, their song "Done All Wrong" was released on the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. Other bands with music in the super-popular film include Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear and Los Angeles' Sea Wolf.
The L.A.-based band (formerly from San Francisco) is named after Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in The Wild One (awesome).
BRMC's new album, "Beat the Devil's Tattoo", is due out March 9.
Order tickets at: www.ticketweb.com Saturday December 12, 10:00 a.m.
In downtown Los Angeles, years ago, we met while working as editorial assistants at the Los Angeles Times. Today, we're still young, thirsty female journalists, on various paths of life (Chau in Silver Lake and Leslie in Brooklyn), here to deliver our best finds from this city and beyond, via the BEAT of young los angeles. Get comfortable and stay a while. Check back often!
