LB Recommends: Other Shows for January 2008

Duders, dudettes, and ranchers (dude only),

As usual, Kevin did a pretty sweet job outlining the upcoming shows for the month. As usual, I have a few more to add. Here are some local shows that should (or should not, if you’re lame) be on your show-goin’, ass-shakin’, head-bangin’ radar. At the very least, they should all take precedence over even reading about the Bravery <shudder>.

Fri, Jan. 18, the High Dive, $7
The Cops
Sunday Night Blackout
Juhu Beach

This will be a pretty entertaining show. You know the Cops, they usually bring it. Juhu Beach is awesome and up-and-coming; I saw them last month and was thoroughly impressed. I don’t know too much about Sunday Night Blackout, but I do know that they employ a female drummer and are bringin’ back the butt-rock—basically two aces in the hole for good times. Seriously, though, who’s doing butt-rock these days?

Sat, Jan. 19, the Funhouse
Partman Parthorse
The Lights Bird Language
Pleasureboaters

This is probably one of the best triple-bills of the month. I’ve written ad nauseum about PMPH (look for plenty of new tunes). The Lights are local stalwarts who put out a very popular LP last year (Diamonds and Dirt). Pleasureboaters might just be the next big thing (and who also play 1/11 at the Fusion Cafe). Highly recommended.

Update: The Lights won’t be playing this show. Local group Bird Language will take their place.  Thanks, Ggary!

Tue, Jan. 29, Showbox (Market), $15
Liars
Past Lives
No Age

Sure to be a loud freaking show with lots of inexplicable, experimental moments, two of these bands recent releases made Pitchfork’s top 20 of 2007: Liars, whom I saw crank it for Interpol several weeks ago, and No Age, an experimental power-punk duo from L.A. Past Lives, made up of three former members of the Blood Brothers, plays the middle fiddle on this one.

Thu, Jan. 31, Neumos
Black Mountain
Howlin’ Rain
Yeasayer
MGMT

I’ve said enough about Yeasayer (not my thing), but B.C.’s Black Mountain are downright filthy (do people still use that word?). Their show with the Cave Singers at <sniff> the Crocodile last October was absolutely one of the top 2 or 3 I was privileged enough to witness in 2007. Sure, they owe alot to Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and the like, but the haunting backwoods influence, coupled with the elegant, ethereal vocals of Amber Webber make this psych-rock simply irresistible. SIMPLY.

That is all.

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