Rock Picks
For Sept. 28 – Oct. 5
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 4
The Dears at the Troubadour
The finest band in Montreal’s bustling indie scene, the Dears play proudly dramatic, elaborately constructed guitar pop that blows up a teenage loner’s alienated melancholy into world-historical tragedy — though not in a bratty, look-at-me way, thanks to front man Murray Lightburn’s ability to tap a universal sense of outrage currently coursing through people living in (or near) America. The new Gang of Losers isn’t quite as triumphant as 2004’s terrific No Cities Left, the first Dears record to receive wide distribution in the States; for starters, Cities is prettier than Gang, which deepens the pathos in Lightburn’s writing. But it’s still an audacious little marvel, and its tougher-sounding guitar textures are currently inspiring the band to rip shit up onstage. (Mikael Wood)
THURSDAY, Oct. 5
Gov’t Mule at the Wiltern LG
When Warren Haynes branched off from the Allman Brothers to found Gov’t Mule in 1994, he clearly intended to kick ass with his brooding soul vocals, his preachifying song constructions, and that debbil guitar, whose controlled power and shading always has fellow musicians abrading their patellas. Lawd, did he ever succeed, and the Mule’s new High & Mighty may be the best evidence yet. With keyboardist Danny Louis and bassist Andy Hess having fully merged spirits with Haynes and original drummer Matt Abts, the riffs are at their hairiest and the sound at its biggest. This record rocks deep, weeps with hard experience, and skanks the way only men with lungs full of pure Jamaica can do. And live, that’s just the beginning. (Greg Burk)
Roger Waters at the Hollywood Bowl
Pink Floyd bassist Waters follows bandmate Dave Gilmour’s footsteps at the Bowl for this performance of Dark Side of Moon. Following the rousing success of the Floyd reunion at Live 8 last year, Waters returns to the passions that have ably fueled his career: war, envy, the past, and various levels of poignancy and betrayal. Now, however, another fixation lights up the stage behind him: Syd Barrett. Never mind the fact that Syd’s house is now up for sale — images of the madcap laugher will saturate this revival of Dark Side, to be performed in its entirety, with lyrics by Waters that lived and breathed on the U.S. charts for more than 740 weeks. On drums in the Bowl engagement: Floyd drummer Nick Mason. Also Fri. & Sun., Oct. 6 & 8. (David Cotner)
More Stuff!
FRI., 9/29: GUSTER, NADA SURF, TRISTAN PRETTYMAN, the Wiltern; DJ TIGA, Monmartre Lounge; MOJAVE 3, BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT, Roxy; THE MUFFS, Safari Sam’s; ELENI MANDELL, LAVENDER DIAMOND, the Getty Center.
SAT., 9/30: LISTING SHIP, ATOMIC SHERPAS et al., Echo Park Music Festival; LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES, Cal State Northridge; SILVERSUN PICKUPS, VIVA VOCE, THE KINGDOM, the Echo; STEVE LUKATHER, JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI, DWEEZIL ZAPPA, HoB; ROB ZOMBIE, GODSMACK, Verizon Wireless; GOOD CHARLOTTE, Avalon; PETER FRAMPTON, the Wiltern; JUDITH OWEN, Room 5 Lounge.
SUN., 10/1: MEZKLAH, VERY BE CAREFUL, DOWNBEATS, FUTURE PIGEON et al., Echo Park Music Festival; CALIBAN, the Whisky; DONNA SUMMER, L.A. County Fair; ROSIE FLORES, the Echo.
MON., 10/2: BAND OF HORSES, CHAD VANGAALEN, SIMON DAWES, Avalon; THE STILLS, the Fonda; LAMBCHOP, the Troubadour; CARY BROTHERS, JOSHUA RADIN, HoB; PINK MOUNTAINTOPS, the Echo.
TUES., 10/3: GYM CLASS HEROES, COBRA STARSHIP, the Knitting Factory; BUJU BANTON, the Century Club.
WED., 10/4: BILLY BRAGG, Henry Fonda Theater; SOTHIS, Safari Sam’s; FREE MORAL AGENTS, the Smell; STRATOVARIUS, HoB; PAUL SIMON, the Greek Theatre.
THURS., 10/5: JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ, DEATH VESSEL, the Vista Theater; EPIC, Paladino’s; RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS, the Key Club; JET, BLOODCAT LOVE, Henry Fonda Theater; MAN MAN, Spaceland.
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