Brian Wilson with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, 9/13/08

Fireworks!!!!

LA Philharmonic

Disneylike lushness
Unworthy of the strange crowd's
Reactions to them.

Brian Wilson

Thank you, Fleet Foxes
For carrying the torch, for
Godfather can't sing.

Built to Spill with Quasi at the Troubadour, 9/10/08

Quasi

Joanna, Janet
And Sam all assembled... it's
Hard to forget Smith.

Built to Spill

"Car" in unison
Made us avow to remain
Perfect from now on.

Nada Surf at the Troubadour, 9/6/08

In every respect,
They are the least offensive
Band on the planet.

Angel City Jazz Fest at the Barnsdall Art Park, 9/1/08

Sweeter Than The Day:

Interlocking parts
So delicate, they swirled like
Love-struck cherubin

Alan Pasqua Quartet:

Starry night canvas
Over which the golden ribbon
Saxophone emceed.

Nick Mancini Collective:

Sneaky vibraphone
Added a sexy, sleek lounge
Intrigue narrative

Robbie Marshall Group:

Indie rock jazz kids
Threw me a bone with their
Sultry Smith cover.

Nels Cline Quintet:

Nels wields those fingers
Over trigger strings and fires
Darts into our ears.

Neil Halstead at the Hotel Cafe, 8/28/08

A bathwater voice
a la Sun Kil Moon, accent
Adding to the peace.

The Donkeys at the Echo, 8/26/08

I feel as though, based
Solely on the set versus
Album, they've regressed.

A.A. Bondy and Bon Iver at the Troubadour, 8/25/08

A. A. Bondy:

He compacted my
Southern upbringing into
Thirteen tawny tracks.

Bon Iver:

Cannot fend off the
Vague essence of Dawson's Creek
And Abercrombie.

Radiohead and Liars at the Hollywood Bowl, 8/24/08

Liars:

In the daylight while
the venue filled, their howls were
Hollow and tortured.

Radiohead:

REM lyrics
Whispered assure that this band
Remember their roots.

Radiohead Set List:

1. 15 Step
2. There There
3. The Morning Bell
4. All I Need
5. Pyramid Song
6. Nude
7. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
8. The Gloaming
9. The National Anthem
10. A Wolf At The Door
11. Faust Arp
12. Exit Music (For A Film)
13. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
14. Idioteque
15. Climbing Up The Walls
16. Body Snatchers
17. How To Disappear Completely
18. Video Tape
19. Paranoid Android
20. Dollars and Cents
21. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
22. Reckoner
23. House of Cards
24. Lucky (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
25. Everything In Its Right Place (began with a quote from REM's "Electrolite")

Dear lord, guys. Someday I am going to ask Colin Greenwood what it feels like to yield such a sound. I thought he was going to split the sky open with it during "Climbing Up The Walls." Also, I advise every last one of my readers to reexamine "The Gloaming" for evidence of other-worldly messages. I will attest to their presence as of last night. It probably goes without saying that this concert, nor any of their concerts, can be compacted into language other than that which they deal in (usually lightwork and distortion), so rather than frivolous commentary, I have striven for documentation with this haiku. Do yourselves a favor and go see Radiohead live before you die.

Miranda Lee Richards at Spaceland, 8/21/08

Typical Spaceland
Homage to Jenny Lewis,
Sweet Thursday night fare.

Boredoms' 88BoaDrum at the La Brea Tar Pits, 8/8/08

Arise ye mammoths
From your sludgy tombs via
The power of DRUM.