The Scenestar

Live: Telefon Tel Aviv at Hollywood Forever

 

ARTICLE + PHOTOS BY CHRIS MØLINA/AUBURN SKY IMAGING

 

"It's been 10 years since Telefon Tel Aviv headlined a show in Los Angeles" as frontman Josh Eustis declares to a sold-out Masonic Lodge crowd at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Telefon Tel Aviv is 20 years old now and one of Josh's biggest obstacles is trying to occupy the headspace of deceased band member, Charles Cooper while contemplating, "Is there still a place in the world?" or "Does anybody still care about the band?" So far the positive critical reception of the new album Dreams Are Not Enough dictates otherwise.

 

Review: Pitchfork Music Festival 2019

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRISPHER ALVAREZ

The 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival brought a dynamic wave to Union Park, whether it was in the artists performing or the weather that came with it. Searing temperatures and unforgiving humidity hindered attendees for the first half of the weekend, which then gave way to an out of nowhere storm that prompted an evacuation of the festival grounds and canceled some scheduled performances outright.  Once the clouds cleared and the sun was out, the music kicked right back into high gear. New to the festival this year was Pitchfork Radio broadcasting the entire weekend at the festival grounds.

Sons of Apollo Redefine "Supergroup"

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY TONY MOLINA

MAY 3 | LOS ANGELES—Named after the Olympian god of music, poetry, and truth, progressive metal band Sons of Apollo have taken on a massive musical pledge to live up to such a grand title. And upon entering L.A.'s historic Belasco Theater lobby, with its gold gilded Spanish Renaissance design, the glorious atmosphere is a perfect welcome for the reigning gods of pure musical intelligence and skill. We are talking about the masters of rock music instrumentation in every aspect, reaping rock's core conquest: to achieve otherworldly talent.

Live: Almost Acoustic Christmas Night One

Photo of Thirty Seconds to Mars at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas by Avery Bowen

DECEMBER 9 | INGLEWOOD—Seth Bowen covered KROQ's 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas for The Scenestar, noting the highs (Muse!) and lows (Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme kicking a photographer).

Live: Alvvays At Roxy Theatre

Photo of Alvvays at Music Tastes Good 2017 via Losanjealous

OCTOBER 23 | WEST HOLLYWOOD—On the day that Canadian band Alvvays was performing a last-minute show at the Roxy Theatre, following a set at Long Beach's Music Tastes Good festival, Los Angeles hit record October temperatures, reaching 102 degrees. "Whew! I don't know how you do it here," said singer-guitarist Molly Rankin. "It's fun, but it's too hot."

Live: Pitchfork Music Festival 2017

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ALVAREZ

The 2017 edition of the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago added a few wrinkles to what could be seen as a well-oiled machine. VIP tickets and amenities were offered to the public for the first time. Also, lockers and cellphone charging stations were implemented into the festival infrastructure. Such things are standard at other larger festivals, but Pitchfork has tried to keep the DIY spirit alive as much as possible (despite numerous sponsorship partners). With a deep lineup, arguably the best weather of the whole summer, and an almost sold-out weekend, it seemed that the festival was set up to go flawlessly. Barring issues regarding entry into the festival on Friday, which were alleviated the next day, it all went according to plan. But with a literal 11th hour cancellation by The Avalanches on Sunday afternoon, the festival scrambled to avoid keeping attendees at the Green Stage in total silence while awaiting headliner Solange. Chicago native Jamila Woods was moved from her Blue Stage slot and was greeted by a buoyant crowd, with whom she responded in kind with an elegant performance. Despite those hiccups, a fantastic weekend of music took place. Below are five highlights of the three-day festival.

Live: Hazel English At Bootleg Bar

ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG
PHOTOS BY LESLIE KALOHI

JULY 19 | "I'm so stoked to be here," exclaimed Hazel English to the packed crowd at her sold-out Bootleg Bar show. "We love L.A. We arrived today, and it was like, 'Oh, it feels like summer.' In the Bay [Area], it's always freezing." After performing at this venue in February, and now touring in support of her double EP Just Give In + Never Going Home, the Oakland-based Australian and her band were met by a joyously enthusiastic audience tonight. When one person cheered especially loudly, Hazel smiled and replied, "Yeah, let's keep up the energy!"

New Artist Alert: Alex Lahey

Alex Lahey performed her first-ever L.A. show on March 11 at the Echo, admitting it was also her first-ever U.S. show, and despite this, the Melbourne singer-songwriter seemed to be at ease in the ever-growing spotlight. The up-and-coming artist, who released her debut EP B-Grade University last summer, has been quickly catching the attention of everyone from Australia's Triple J Unearthed, who awarded her a slot at Splendour in the Grass, to Pitchfork, which gave its Best New Track seal of approval to her single "You Don't Think You Like People Like Me."