Rock Picks: Ozomatli, Harper Simon, Spain

Spain at Spaceland
Spain leader Josh Haden is a member of the prolifically talented Haden family, which includes his father, the legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden, and his sisters Petra Haden (That Dog), Rachel Haden (That Dog) and Tanya Haden (Let’s Go Sailing). Although Josh took part in the Charlie Haden Family & Friends concert last month at Disney Hall (where Charlie delved into his early folk-country roots), his own music is considerably different from his father’s jazzy explorations and his sisters’ energetic pop-punk. Instead, Josh croons funereal ballads in a somber, low voice, singing with the same serious, almost-spiritual intensity whether he’s rhapsodizing about a lover or talking to Jesus. That approach can get pretty ponderous, especially when Haden’s relatively plain lyrics don’t have much to say, but when it does work, on songs like “You Were Meant for Me,” it can be incredibly moving. Josh has reportedly assembled a new Spain lineup for tonight’s show, where he’ll also be selling an “exclusive limited-edition Spaceland-only CD.” (Falling James)

Also playing Saturday:

Local Natives don’t really understand how to play tug of war.

Tenacious D heads for the border.

Related Content

• Silver Lake Has Always Been Gay, Readers Say
  April 25, 2013
• Move Over, West Hollywood -- Silver Lake Is the True Gay Mecca
  April 19, 2013
• The 10 Best Restaurants in Silver Lake: A Neighborhood Grub Crawl
  May 7, 2013
• Happy Hour: Hyperion Public in Silver Lake Happy Wings!
  April 24, 2013
• Whole Foods Coming To Silver Lake
  May 8, 2013

More About

• Nokia Theatre
• Charlie Haden
• Liam James
• Calexico (Band)
• Celebrity News

HONEST JOHN PLAIN at the Redwood Bar; JAIL WEDDINGS, GESTAPO KHAZI at the Smell; INFECTED MUSHROOM at Avalon; CHRISTMAS SWEATER FESTIVAL FEAT. THE DEADLY SYNDROME, ESKIMOHUNTER, CASTLEDOOR, THE PITY PARTY at El Rey Theatre; OZOMATLI, WIL-DOG Y SU BANDA SINALOENSE at Club Nokia; NITZER EBB at the Galaxy Theatre; BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA at the Gibson Amphitheatre; DANZIG, PENNYWISE, T.S.O.L. at the Long Beach Arena; AGAINST ME, OH PIONEERS at the Troubadour; HO-HO-TEL feat. IRINA BJORKLUND, BLEU, ROCCO DELUCA, TOM FREUND, GRAYDON at the Hotel Café. 

Sunday/December/20

Der Golem screening feat. Tom Peters, Jones Welsh, Liam James Springthorpe, Will Salmon at Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
Some scary things are perhaps left buried and forgotten, while others offer continual horrid relevance. The 1920 German expressionist silent Der Golem was part of a series of films directed by Paul Wegener that were based on an old Jewish legend in which an antique dealer finds a golem (played by a chilling Wegener), a clay statue that had been brought to life by a rabbi four centuries earlier. The dealer reawakens the golem to use him as a servant, but the golem falls in love with the dealer’s wife, you see, and she does not reciprocate his love, thus the spurned golem sets off on a path of murder and mayhem and — oh, my! With a new, modernist score by double-bassist/composer Tom Peters, this very, very spooky old film will be dusted off and given a fresh layer of dread, for it is said, “If we can compel the powers of darkness to reveal the magic word, we can bring the Golem to life.” Starts at 7 p.m. ... don’t be late. (John Payne)

Also playing Sunday:

JOHN FORTE, FREDDIE GIBBS, DJ SKEE, BROKEN ORNAMENTS & BRICKS at the Roxy; D.R.I. at House of Blues; THE ARMS, COBALT CRANES, 60 WATT KID, MOSES CAMPBELL at Spaceland.

Monday/December/21

Lady Gaga at the Nokia Theatre
It’s dangerous to even write this pick. For the past year, every time the words to that one Lady Gaga song are uttered, or it lands on the radio or in a hotel lobby, that thing enters my head and sticks. Long after the song was released, the one about faking a facial expression while bedding someone, it would loop around in my consciousness for, like, days on — damn. There it is. “Puh puh puh poker face/Puh puh poker face.” It will now be there for at least a few hours, the sweet pop confection, dangerous and deadly, so catchy and fun, swimming like a hungry shark through my mind. The next one, “Just Dance,” wasn’t as tortuous, for sure, but it, too, worked its magic on a population tired of Madonna, sick of Britney, looking for a new obsession. And Gaga is a cultural obsession, for sure, and the way her team — publicists, management, label and artists — has managed her ascendence has been a joy to behold. That story that she’s got an itsy penis to complement her vagina? They didn’t issue a denial immediately; rather, they let the ridiculous rumor swirl around the Web for a few weeks before laughing it off. You can’t buy that sort of conversation! Or that incredible photo of Gaga playing a Damien Hirst piano while wearing a Frank Gehry–designed hat? One more walletful of cultural capital. At the moment when Kanye was imploding, it was Gaga who canceled their tag-team tour. Gaga canceled on Kanye! The gall! The balls! Every maneuver a gold-medal performance. Are you already sick of her? Too bad for you. Best to accept that she’s here, crafty and shrewd, so she ain’t going anywhere. Also Tues.-Wed. (Randall Roberts)

Also playing Monday:

MOONRATS, VOICES VOICES, SISTER CRAYON, CORRIDOR at the Echo; ROBIN THICKE, RYAN LESLIE, LAURA IZIBOR at Club Nokia; STEEL PANTHER at House of Blues; NICOLE KIDMAN, KEVIN GREENSPON, SNOWSUIT, NO BABIES at Pehrspace; MERE MORTALS, HELEN STELLAR, HEALAMONSTER & TARSIER at Spaceland; THE BLIND BOY PAXTON & FRANK FAIRFIELD VARIETY SHOW at the Redwood Bar; RED TIDE, LINKS, SAMUEL STEWART, CHASING KINGS at the Silverlake Lounge.