Rock Picks: Rutlemania, Kinky, Angels & Airwaves

Angels & Airwaves at the Wiltern

Back so soon? Angels and Airwaves — fronted by ex–Blink-182 mouth Tom DeLonge — just played Hollywood’s Henry Fonda Theater in January, and November’s I-Empire was their second album in the space of 18 months. So full marks for work ethic, but what of the music? Well, DeLonge’s idea of maturing involves rewinding to early U2 (militaristic snare tattoos, Edge-y trails of guitar, stadium-craving choruses) and classic Cure (A&A’s “Everything’s Magic” plunders both the bass line and hand claps from “Close to Me”), all muscled up with some emo-approved, vaguely angry optimism and occasional nods to the dance floor. DeLonge tries a little too hard to establish his post-Blink self — some odd vocal inflections/affectations and painfully sincere lyrics — but is beginning to pull it off. Sturdy songcraft, escapist arrangements, guitars burly enough for the boys and sufficient sensitivity for the girls — plus touring eight days a week — mean Angels & Airwaves are sticking around. (Paul Rogers)

Victor Tavares

Jason Collett, doing pull-ups with a come-hither expression

All wet: The Felice Brothers re-enact the Mamas & the Papas’ Deliver album cover.

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Also playing Saturday:

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All wet: The Felice Brothers re-enact the Mamas & the Papas’ Deliver album cover.

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West London calling: Carbon/Silicon’s Mick Jones & Tony James

Michelle Cottam

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Carla Bozulich blows into her imaginary harmonica.

OLLIN at Alex’s Bar; THE MIGHTY ECHOES, RICHARD JULIAN & MITCHELL FROOM, SARA HAZE at Genghis Cohen; BAD RELIGION, FLIPPER at House of Blues; VOLTO at the Knitting Factory; THE CRYSTELLES at Mr. T’s Bowl; FIREBUG, SIERA SWAN at Spaceland.

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

Boredoms at Henry Fonda Theater

In the ’90s, Japan’s Boredoms garnered a most improbable major-label contract (thanks, Reprise) and even a Lollapalooza slot for their agro-spazz splatter. But a few years back, the group’s founder, Yamantaka Eye, stripped Boredoms down to three drummers, a far remove from the band’s two-of-everything lineup that sprawled onstage like a savage Parliament/Funkadelic, everyone in a simultaneous and prolonged freak-out. That said, Eye did go all out again recently with an outdoor show in New York featuring an astounding 77 kits played by an eclectic cast of avant-rock luminaries. Boredoms are now more focused and though not quite as toxic, they’re just as viscerally intense in their newfound cosmic pursuits. There’s the hiss, clang and crash of cymbals over a crazy quilt of rumbling rhythms. Eye, equal parts maestro and shaman, screeches and scats while transmitting lunar frequencies from a patch-loaded circuit board and orchestrating the sporadic symphony. You may even feel compelled to improvise some ecstatic movements to accompany these primal rites. See also the Boredoms music feature in this issue. (Bernardo Rondeau) 

Playing Sunday:  MATCHBOX TWENTY, ALANIS MORISSETTE, MUTE MATH at Staples Center; BAD RELIGION, FLIPPER at House of Blues.

MONDAY, MARCH 17

Jason Collett at the Troubadour

Like nine out of every 10 Canadian citizens, Jason Collett is a member of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene. But over the past few years he’s spent more time concentrating on his solo career than on the band; perhaps he took a lesson from his fellow Scenester Feist, who’s demonstrated that even members of communist collectives need their time to shine. Collett’s latest is called Here’s to Being Here, and if that makes you think of the title of an old Wilco album, it won’t be the only thing that conjures memories of Jeff Tweedy and his crew: Produced by veteran Canadian singer-songwriter Howie Beck, Here is full of handsome folk-rock numbers with enough room for both texture and tune. People from BSS and the Stills guest on the album, but at the Troubadour Collett will be joined by a four-piece band on guitar, piano, bass and drums. (Mikael Wood)

Neon Neon at the Viper Room

Hey! You got your Welsh psychedelia in my avant hip-hop! Well, you got your Cardiff-based electronica in my SoCal rhythm and/or noise! Boom Bip (né Bryan Hollon) and singer Gruff Rhys (from Super Furry Animals) collaborate and celebrate the release of Stainless Style (Lex Records), a concept album based on the rise and fall of John DeLorean. The record is smooth and impassioned, and its lilting beats cushion simple synth lines couched in ’80s electropop, but of course this particular lily is gilded in sex appeal and clean lines that have more to do with the architect’s drawing board than cocaine. “Gruff and I focused on making real pop songs — like Rick Springfield or Cyndi Lauper — that you can sing along to in your car,” Bip revealed recently to the NME, and that’s a far cough from the peanut-butter and K-Y jelly sandwiches that modern pop seems hellbent on serving these days. Also at Amoeba Music earlier this evening at 6 p.m. (David Cotner)

Also playing Monday:

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY at the Wiltern; THE CHAPIN SISTERS, SUMMER DARLING at the Echo; LESLIE & THE BADGERS at the Hotel Café; LAS KRUDAS at Silverlake Lounge.