Falling James

You Better You Bests

Falling James
BEST DUALITIES: OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (Arista); Mr. Airplane Man, Shakin’ Around (Sympathy for the Record Industry); the White Stripes, Elephant (V2) BEST RIDE-CYMBAL/DEATH-CHAIN RATTLING AND EXISTENTIALIST, BARE-CHESTED HOWLING: The Stooges at the Queen Mary DEEPEST SOUL-TOLLING: Neko Case at the Derby MOST SUGAR & SPICE: The Detroit Cobras, Seven......
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Twists and Kisses

Falling James
TELEVISION, ELENI MANDELL at the Henry Fonda Theater, September 30 An aw-shucks-humble Eleni Mandell expressed surprise that Television’s audience was so patient during her opening set of quietly confessional ballads. She needn’t have worried. Backed only by subdued upright bassist Ryan Feves and her own insistently chipping guitar, Mandell made......
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Unaborted

Falling James
THE SEX PISTOLS, DROPKICK MURPHYS, THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT at the Greek Theater, September 6 “It’s a psychobilly freakout,” Dallas rockabilly preacher Horton Heat sang, earnestly enough — the only problem being that, after 50 years, his brand of rockabilly isn’t all that freaky or psychotic anymore. Backed by drums......
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Beautiful Dreamers

Falling James
Photo by Michele V. The Dagons’ Karie Jacobson and Drew Kowalski — an Atwater guitar-drums duo who are also a couple — admit that they do some of their best work together in bed. “I get a lot of my songs from dreams, like ‘Changeling,’” Jacobson says about the eerie......
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Let's Have a Party

Falling James
WANDA JACKSON, CADILLAC ANGELS at the Derby, January 24 "I guess all these songs are for the women," Wanda Jackson said before launching into the original riot-grrl anthem, "Mean Mean Man." Later she praised the gal who designed her acoustic guitar for thoughtfully leaving plenty of room for cleavage. A......
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Wavebreakers

Falling James
It comes as a bit of a surprise when Radio Vago’s Adrienne Pearson confesses that she suffers from stage fright. The lithe, agile lead singer is one of the scene‘s most animated performers, convulsing onstage like a puppet jerked by invisible wires, channeling what appear to be some angry ghosts......
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So Fresh, So Clean

Falling James
Photos by Gregory Bojorquez OUTKAST, THE ROOTS at Universal Amphitheater, July 19 "I don't think these motherfuckers know who we are," André 3000 shouted out halfway through OutKast's headlining spot last week on the local stop of the Smokin Grooves tour. He was obviously kidding. The Roots had the crowd......

Endless Vacation

Falling James
DEE DEE RAMONE, WHO DIED FROM AN APPARENT drug overdose at his Hollywood home on June 5, was so much more than just the guy who used to count off the seemingly nonstop medley-barrages of Ramones songs in concert. True, Dee Dee's frantic seal bark "1-2-3-4!" was one of the......

The Stabbing at Mr. T's Bowl

Falling James
IN AN UGLY INCIDENT THAT EVOKED MEMORIES OF SOUTHERN California's often-violent suburban hardcore punk rock subculture in the early 1980s, a doorman at Mr. T's Bowl was stabbed six times and seriously injured as he tried to break up a fight at the popular Highland Park nightclub. Doorman Frank Armenta......
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Alien Nation

Falling James
They don’t really believe in God andor flying saucers, but the three dudes in Biblical Proof of UFOs recognize a good band name when they see it. Drummer Michael Peffer is initially guarded about the name‘s origin during a recent interview at the group’s shared apartment in a seedy, mind-your-own-business......