Posts by Scott Sheff

“We’re growing up. We’re growing up.” Words uttered on the studio version of British punk rockers Palma Violets’ song “Last of the Summer Wine” off the band’s debut CD 180, but also perhaps a bit of foreshadowing of the group’s maturity leading into the release of their much anticipated sophomore album Danger in the Club […]

British singer Lily Allen has never shied away from speaking her mind. But sometimes she leaves it up to the audience to determine what she’s trying to say. The sassy, outspoken artist closed out her “Sheezus” tour in grand style at The Hollywood Palladium, filled with symbolism, sarcasm and social criticism. Allen opened up the […]

On a hot, muggy night inside a solemn Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a sophisticated, eloquently-dressed Karen O walked slowly from the back of the room to take the stage amid near silence. While many may know O more for her flashy outfits and outgoing persona as lead vocalist of the rock group Yeah […]

Many things change in a person over the course of three decades. But when it comes to the music of the Liverpool alternative-rockers Echo & The Bunnymen, it seems like nothing’s changed, even after an illustrious 36 year career. With his trademark shades and mop of unkempt hair, the Bunnymen’s charismatic frontman Ian McCulloch casually […]

After a three year absence, Widespread Panic returned to the City of Angeles for a pair of sold-out shows at the historic Orpheum Theatre to close out its Spring Tour and West Coast swing. As the six members took their spots to start the show, each did some last-minute tuning of their instruments before lead […]

Far from home, but not from fans, British alt-folk-pop band Fanfarlo hopped the Pond to share its melodic, eclectic folk sounds with an intimate crowd at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, Calif., in support of its latest release Let’s Go Extinct. However, rather than overwhelm the audience with new and less familiar music, the group’s […]

It’s always great to get the old gang back together.  Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut, self-titled album, the three original members of G. Love & Special Sauce are back together to share the music from the album that started it all in its entirety. The reunited trio of G. Love […]

The music inside The Wiltern Theatre was most certainly that of Umphrey’s McGee (UM), but the stage at times resembled a Tom Jones’ show, thanks to the bevvy of bras tossed on stage. “Thank you ladies for the bras,” said lead singer/guitarist Brendan Bayliss after laying a white, lacy over-shoulder, bolder-holder on the guitar stand […]

Dreams can come true. They can at least for those wishing to be stuck inside a 1980’s movie soundtrack. With a sound that seems straight out of a John Hugh’s movie, Jean-Philip Grobler and his band St. Lucia delivered a night of ‘80’s-inspired dreamy dance-pop for the first of two sold-out crowds at LA’s El […]

Palma Violets performing at The El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles

Not every show will be a sell-out, but how a band responds to a less-than-stellar turnout shows a true test of its character. After taking the stage at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, the members of Ra Ra Riot seemed visibly disappointed by the low turnout, approximately a third of the venue’s 1,200 seat capacity. […]

Pixies purists fear not. Everything is going to be just fine. After a two-year hiatus, alternative-rock legends Pixies are back with a vengeance. Armed with an arsenal of new songs—and bassist—the band kicked off its world tour with five sold-out shows in Los Angeles, including a secret performance at the tiny club The Echo, followed […]

The much-hyped British synth-rockers The 1975 don’t just have the girls giddy in England; they’ve affected the young lasses across the Pond, too. A predominantly under 21 crowd of young girls packed a sold-out Troubadour in West Hollywood, Calif., to see the four-piece Manchester band play their infectious, jangly tunes, even before their debut album […]

The London-based, all-female industrial/post-punk quartet Savages must be touring with Spinal Tap’s amps, because they seem to play at one level: 11. On the first night of two sold-out shows at The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Savages came out firing on all cylinders and grabbed the audience by the throat and did not […]

When it comes to parties, Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian know how to keep their guests entertained. The duo that make up the pop-synth group Capital Cities moved and grooved as they engaged a sold-out crowd at The El Rey Theater in their hometown of Los Angeles. With an oversized pair of neon sunglasses glowing […]