LA WeeklyFriday, August 24
Friends of Friends
L.A. lad Shlohmo brings sample-based, song-oriented R&B turntablism to his recent Bad Vibes full-length, sautéeing lo-fi, hip-hop, dubstep and beautifully odd sound design. As for Salva, he's been known to jack bassy, jungly warehouse and ethereal whimsy at the same time. He's also a free-thinking remixer of Shlohmo, Barford, Para One, the Glitch Mob, Beans, Rainbow Arabia and many relevant others. Along with Shlohmo, Friends of Friends features L.A./Montreal duo LOL Boys, who showcase their jazzed-out/house-style EP, Changes, with vocals courtesy of Heart Streets and Angelina Lucero. There's also a founding member of Shlohmo's Wedidit Collective, Groundislava, who offers his fresh Feel Me set, which features Baths and Clive Tanaka. Fans can also savor prime new cuts from FoF sister label Young Adults Recordings, featuring Dublab's Suzanne Kraft, LOL Boys & Grown Folk, Urulu and the Dead Rose Music Company. –John Payne
Saturday, August 25
Ana Tijoux and Nomadic Massive
French/Chilean MC Ana Tijoux returns to L.A. for a free downtown concert to promote her latest album, La Bala, which she released through L.A.-based label Nacional Records. The female Zack de la Rocha was born to Chilean political exiles in France, where she befriended other children of South American exiles. Following her family's return to Chile, Tijoux made a career of her love for hip-hop and has been crafting politically conscious music ever since. Her latest single, “Shock,” is a manifesto in support of Chile's student protesters. She'll share the stage with multilingual, multicultural, experimental hip-hop supergroup Nomadic Massive. It's all part of Grand Performances' mission to bring world music to Grand and Fourth. –Ivan Fernandez
Echo Park Rising
Echo Park will rise again, although the hip, not-quite-on-the-Eastside neighborhood isn't exactly on the decline. (In fact, it's been notoriously fashionable for a long time.) Still, just in case you forgot, local businesses are celebrating with a daylong festival upstairs at the Echo, downstairs in the Echoplex and across the street at Taix. Starting at the un-rock & roll hour of 11 a.m., seemingly every indie-rock band from the area performs a free set, ranging from soul-garage pranksters Dante vs. Zombies and the urgently compelling post-punk throb of Gothic Tropic to charismatic new-wavy popsters Raw Geronimo and the timeless Americana keening of the Driftwood Singers. Buyepongo stir up buoyant cumbia, while Stones Throw and Dublab DJs exchange fusillades of brainy hip-hop and arty experimentation. Lavender Diamond's pure pop is aptly radiant and colorfully exuberant, and the folkies come in flavors both classically traditional (Ruthann Friedman) and endearingly offbeat (Amanda Jo Williams). You even get two kinds of lions: funky reggae (The Lions) and introspective alt-country (A House for Lions). –Falling James
See also: Gothic Tropic Don't Know What the Hell They Are, but It's Clearly Compelling
Mad Decent Block Party
Founded by M.I.A.'s scorned lover-producer Diplo, the Los Angeles-based Mad Decent label has been a key tastemaker in guiding international electronic trends, the commercially buff equivalent of Low End Theory's arty influence. With an emphasis on all things heavy, multiculti and danceable, the imprint's roster cuts a broad swath through hypermodern sounds — comprising dubstep, Baile funk, electro-house and swag rap, to name but a few. Their traveling Block Party bill reflects this. Headlining here are Canuck bass fiends Zeds Dead, Brooklyn PBR&B rap star Theophilus London and Brazilian funk-punk provocateurs Bonde do Rolê. Of course, Mad Decent's always looking ahead, so don't skip on the support: epically inclined beatsmith Paper Diamonds, Odd Future's quick-witted cousin Casey Veggies and party-rocking DJ Paul Devro. Oh, and don't forget Three Loco, an outlandish rhyme-saying supergroup peopled by RiFF RaFF, Dirt Nasty and, yes, Andy Milonakis. –Chris Martins
Sunday, August 26
Hot Natured
Jamie Jones and Lee Foss have a hit on their hands. Individually, the two jet-setting DJ-producers have for years earned rave reviews from even the most cynical dance-music fans. Together, they've become a force within the international party world. As Hot Natured, their joint DJ sets hit the same sophisticated groove as their acclaimed “Re-Rubs” series of releases. This summer, their label, Hot Creations, has launched a successful residency in the world's summer party capital, Ibiza. Sunday's Culprit Sessions gig is a big return for the duo. Jones and Foss have played the monthly summer parties before and their track “H.E.A.D.S.” was featured on the L.A. record label's first EP. Joining them are Richy Ahmed, Robert James and, of course, DJ trio Droog, who founded Culprit. –Liz Ohanesian
For details about these shows and more live music happening in the city this week, check out our Concert Calendar.
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