October might be 2016’s strongest month as far as Los Angeles concerts go. Check out our Best Shows This Week, which includes shows from CHVRCHES, Phantogram, Tycho, Desert Trip and more.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
CHVRCHES, Best Coast, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, $42.50, 6 PM (Best Coast: 6:30 PM / CHVRCHES: 8 PM) *SOLD OUT*
One of the most special places to see a show in Los Angeles is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. On top of being an eerie and beautiful place, you can bring your own picnic (including beer and wine). I saw Tame Impala back-to-back nights there last year and they were two of the best shows I’d seen in years. CHVRCHES and Best Coast makes for an attractive double-bill, with the Scottish band’s light-show likely being particularly awesome. Both bands are touring behind their best albums to date and both are amazing live performers. The first night is sold out but tickets are still available for Tuesday. I’m betting that Hayley Williams from Paramore shows up at one of these shows.
Fakear, Emily Wolfe, Jain, Geordie Kieffer, School Night at Bardot, free-with-RSVP, 8 PM
This marks the Los Angeles debut of three of the four performers (all but Geordie Kieffer). This is a common theme for these epic free weekly shows at Bardot. They bring people to LA for their first times and within 12-to-18 months, they’re usually filling good-sized venues on their next trip to the West Coast. Fakear could very well be the next big thing in electronic music to come out of France.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Phantogram, The Range, Hollywood Palladium, $37.50, 7 PM (The Range: 8 PM Phantogram: 9:15 PM)
Phantogram has a new album coming later this month and everything we’ve heard from it so far suggests it’ll exceed expectations. Their last album Voices was among the best of 2014. They just finished wrapping up a festival run as Big Grams with Big Boi of OutKast. While that was a fun party, they’re exceedingly more interesting as Phantogram, with their dark brand of alt-pop. The Range is another East Coast-based electronic act that should serve as a nice appetizer to the headliner.
CHVRCHES, Best Coast, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, $42.50, 6 PM (Best Coast: 6:30 PM / CHVRCHES: 8 PM)
Alice in Chains, The New Regime, The Wiltern, $49.50, 7 PM
Alice in Chains will always be Layne Staley’s band. But William DuVall has found a way to make it his own, and the band’s new material since he joined has been of a high level. Jerry Cantrell’s vocals can not be overlooked as well. They are in my opinion one of the two or three best bands to come out of the Seattle grunge movement in the ’90s. They happen to be one of the few still relevant from that time.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
Pete Yorn, El Rey Theatre, $35.00, 8:30 PM
I interviewed Pete Yorn this March prior to his latest album dropping. It’s a pretty good piece of work and his older tunes still sound incredible live. Seeing him in the intimate confines of the El Rey should be a pretty good treat.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
Miike Snow, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, The Shrine, $29.50-$39.50, 8 PM
Miike Snow and Charles Bradley both put on amazing live shows. Miike Snow somehow manages to take the energy of their studio albums and translate it to their live shows. I’ve never seen Charles Bradley perform and not give me goosebumps. Together it might be the strongest bill of the entire week. They are a complete contrast from one another also, which makes for an interesting bill.
Tycho, Fonda Theatre, $35.00, 7 PM *SOLD OUT*
Tycho’s brand of ambient electronic music is different from the generic stuff you hear on the radio. One of my favorite memories of 2016 is seeing them perform a live set at CRSSD Fest as the sun set. With a new album Epoch in tow, these two surprise announcement shows should be a great way to kick off the weekend. Tickets are still available for the Friday night show.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Tycho, Fonda Theatre, $35.00, 7 PM
GROUPLOVE, MUNA, Hollywood Palladium, $29.50, 6:30 PM
GROUPLOVE always deliver high-energy performances. Touring behind a new album, it should be fun to hear old favorites and new tunes. I wish I had as much fun doing anything the way Hannah Hooper and Co. have on stage. Their anthemic brand of indie rock is contagious and it’s no wonder whenever I see them, I see the same two dozen people at every show. Once you’ve seen them once, you never want to miss them.
Desert Trip feat. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Empire Polo Fields, 6:30 PM show time
It’s amazing that the secondary market for this once-in-a-lifetime festival has collapses. That you can buy tickets to see three of the greatest acts of the last 50 years for about $200 is insane. If you have the time off and don’t pull the trigger, you might regret that move for the rest of your life. FOR-E-VER. Friday features the Stones and Bob Dylan.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
Desert Trip feat. Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Empire Polo Fields, 6:30 PM show time
Paul McCartney and Neil Young back-to-back? Don’t miss this.
David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption, Theatre at the Ace Hotel, $199.00+, 12 PM
This unique festival experience could have only come from the mind of David Lynch. With a film and talk portion that rivals its music selections, it’s pretty incredible. A screening of The Elephant Man, talks with Mel Brooks and John Malkovich, as well as live performances from Robert Plant, St. Vincent and Jon Hopkins mark Saturday’s schedule.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Desert Trip feat. Roger Waters, The Who, Empire Polo Fields, 6:30 PM show time
Roger Waters’ setlists from Mexico City have fans losing their minds. I can only imagine what he’ll bring to Oldchella. A chance to see him AND The Who is incredible.
David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption, Theatre at the Ace Hotel, $199.00+, 12 PM
Sunday’s slate includes talks with Debbie Harry of Blondie, performances from Rhye and the music of Twin Peaks.
