Rock Picks: Al Kooper, Year Long Disaster, Steven Severin, the Phenomenal Handclap Band

STEVEN SEVERIN AT CINEFAMILY AT THE SILENT MOVIE THEATER
As the founding bassist for Siouxsie & the Banshees, Steven Severin (whose surname was nicked from the foolish, masochistic narrator of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs) helped to create the shadowy, arty soundscapes that made the band more musically diverse than the other early British punk bands. He later went on to collaborate with part-time Banshee guitarist Robert Smith (better known as the leader of the Cure) in the early-’80s project the Glove and has also worked with Lydia Lunch, Marc Almond and Altered Images. In recent years, Severin has turned his attention to composing film soundtracks, and at this two-night stand he’ll focus on material from his recent album, Music for Silents. On Wednesday, he unveils his score to Germaine Dulac’s 1928 surrealist landmark, The Seashell & the Clergyman, while Thursday’s program features his new soundtrack to the Jean Cocteau film Blood of a Poet. Also Thurs. (Falling James)

Also playing Wednesday:

Merrill Garbus, aka Tune-Yards, offers her digital folk jams at the Natural History Museum.

The wild, untamed Ruby Friedman Orchestra gigs the Hotel Café.

Location Info

Map

McCabe's Bar & Grill

2455 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Santa Monica

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OH DARLING, THE PASSPORTS, MIA MAESTRO, NADINE & TERENCE at the Bootleg Theater; THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND at the Echo; BOATS, BATWINGS CATWINGS, ROUGH KIDS at the Echo Curio; TIG, UH HUH HER, MARY LYNN RAJSKUB at Largo at the Coronet; LE SWITCH, NEW WORLD RECORD at Pershing Square.

Thursday/January/14

Kimya Dawson, Your Heart Breaks, Angelo Spencer at the Smell
While it’s true that Kimya Dawson may be best known for her contributions to the Juno soundtrack (as part of the defunct duo The Moldy Peaches), the Washington-based anti-folk artist has earned all kinds of stripes over the years. She lives in Olympia, specifically, which puts her bare-bones, truth-seeking tunes shoulder to shoulder with likewise output from the indie-hallowed K Records collective, whose label she currently calls home. Dawson has also collaborated with a surprising roster of marquee-name artists, from spry piano guy Ben Kweller and moody piano gal Regina Spektor to, oddly enough, Third Eye Blind. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Dawson’s songs put her in poppier company — rough-hewn as her work may be, it’s devilishly catchy. Your Heart Breaks is a somewhat Seattle-based collective that boasts around 50 members (nontouring) and at least seven albums. Dawson is a regular contributor, as is Karl Blau, though it’s not clear exactly who’ll show for this gig. Angelo Spencer is Dawson’s husband — a one-man band with a knack for Afro-inspired electric guitar–driven epics. (Chris Martins)

The Cigarette Bums, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Robert james at L’Keg Gallery
The Cigarette Bums are primarily guitar player/singer Steven “Slaughter” Carrera and bassman Eamon McGinniss, with other dudes occasionally coming in on drums, sax, keys and percussion. Theirs is a Dylan-meets-Daniel Johnston–meets-Replacements-meets-Beefheart smash-up that’s a real pleasure to watch. The Bums play repetitious, folksy stanzas with a snot-nosed, garage-band delivery, and they throw in an occasional, speedy jazz-intoned riff for flare. Since they rock the bohemian Echo Park vibe, it’s only right that their new 7-inch record, “Jailbird,” can be found exclusively at local Eastside music stores. Manhattan Murder Mystery riles up crowds with an intense combination of fast, tinny drums, banjos, bongos and power-chord pop anthems that respectfully regurgitate the Pixies and the Cult. MMM craft an onstage intensity through the course of their live show that’s undeniably solid, not to mention totally infectious, rowdy and engaging. (Wendy Gilmartin)

Also playing Thursday:

THE TWILIGHT SLEEP, THE ARMS, A DECENT ANIMAL, RED TIDE at the Silverlake Lounge; ALBERTA CROSS, HACIENDA, THE JAKES at the Troubadour; AGNOSTIC FRONT, DEATH BY STEREO at the Redwood Bar; CREEDLE, UPSILON ACRUX at the Bootleg Theater; PONCHO SANCHEZ at the Canyon; JULIA NUNES at the Echo; CHRISTOPHER DALLMAN, ADAM TRAUM at Genghis Cohen.