Cloud of Smoke to Blanket LA's Echo Park on September 7th

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

Manifest Destiny, the concert! It sounds like a Broadway musical on 19th century hoopla shit... Nope. I’m talking about the second annual Manifest Destiny show put on by Tony Presedo, founder of TeePee Records. This is Tony’s way of giving back to California and its steady ‘heavy’ music scene.

The lineup is pretty damn impressive if you ask us and well worth the $15 you’ll have to cough up to get in. The party gets started at 3pm on Sunday, Sept. 7 (we'll remind you about it closer to then too, you stoner) at The Echoplex. Plenty of time to get your afternoon drink on and lose yourself in the riff paradise that will most definitely be going on (excuse us... I think we just hit the spliff one too many times thinking of this show).

Sunday September 7th @ 3pm - Witchcraft, Earthless, Witch, The Warlocks, Graveyard, Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound, Ancestors, Night Horse, T.K. Webb and the Visions @ The Echoplex [tix]

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Crustcake Picks - LA Shows 6/12 - 6/18

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

Beeeooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww is the sound of the doom string and it's the sound you will hear a lot when you go see a pretty stand up show at The Smell this Saturday. Ancestors, your favorite two keyboardist and gong-related psychedelic doom band, will be warming up The Smell for headliners and fuzz riff masters Earthless. One thing: The Smell does not have a liquor license, soooooooooooo... You shouldn’t be drinking for this kind of show anyways. Try an herbal remedy before you go in. $5 at the door. Beeeooooowwwwwwwwwwww!

Once you’ve harshed your mellow with Saturday night traffic, try driving in Sunday traffic to the Troubadour (Sunday traffic really ain’t much better than Saturday traffic). The Troubadour will play host to recently-hip to the hipsters Russian Circles and the always-fun-to-watch Daughters.

The last time I saw Daughters at the Troubadour, the vocalist made himself vomit a bit in his hand, finished the song, started the next, then slurped up the dripping puke from his hand. His expression did not change at all, but the slight smell of puke (I was up close) almost caused a chain reaction of puking in the venue. I admit, I dry heaved. Good Show. See if he does it again.

LA show picks 6/12 - 6/18:

Saturday 6/14 - Earthless, Ancestors @ The Smell

Sunday 6/15 - Russian Circles, Daughters @ The Troubadour [tix]

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Crustcake Picks - La Shows 3/27 - 4/2

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

Instrumental bliss will be poking its head out of the Echoplex tonight-- Red Sparowes and Russian Circles will be there to show you how it's done sans vokills. If you're reading this blog you are probably at least somewhat familiar with both bands, but let's try and describe each with only two words. Red Sparowes = dark dreams; Russian Circles = progressive salad. Not sure if that worked but I had fun doing it... Kids, do try this one at home.

Download: Red Sparowes – "Our Happiest Days Slowly Began to Turn Into Dust" [MP3]
Download: Russian Circles – "Death Rides a Horse" [MP3]

I will support Middian's legal fund by going and buying a bunch of beer and maybe a shirt Friday night at the Mountain Bar. After all, there's no cover charge. I love the Mountain Bar-- downstairs gives the illusion of blood dripping down the wall, or that just could be my twisted mind's interpretation. But you can bet your ass that with a night of dirty doom courtesy of Indian, Middian, and Ancestors, you too might think it's blood dripping and not a fancy shmancy paint job... Did I mention it was free?

Download: Indian – "Slights and Abuse" [MP3]
Download: Middian – "The Celebrant (sample)" [MP3]

Aaaaaaand there are some other cool shows worth mentioning that could put a hurtin' on my wallet in the coming days. GZA will be spitting hot fire (man that sounded dumb after re-reading it) at the El Rey Theatre [which is Spanish for "The The King Theatre" - Ed.], maybe he'll bust some stuff from the Liquid Swords LP.

House of Blues Sunset will provide dinner and drinks for Soilwork next Wednesday. Let me be honest-- I really just want to hear the Chainheart Machine stuff and then I'll probably go over to The Knitting Factory to catch power duo Jucifer. Let's play that game we did earlier again: Jucifer = downtuned angel (I think I suck at this two word thing... Oh well).

Download: Jucifer – "Hennin Hardine" [MP3]

LA show picks 3/27 - 4/2:

Thursday 3/27 - Red Sparowes, Russian Circles @ The Echoplex [tix]

Friday 3/28 - Indian, Middian, Ancestors @ The Mountain Bar [Free!]

Saturday 3/29 - GZA @ El Rey Theatre [tix]

Wednesday 4/2 - Soilwork @ House of Blues, Sunset [tix]

Wednesday 4/2 - Jucifer @ The Knitting Factory [tix]

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Early Man, Saviours, Ancestors - FREE Show in LA Next Week!

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

Newsflash, people! Literally seconds after I published this week's show picks for LA, I got wind of a killer free show going down next Tuesday at Key Club. Saviours and Ancestors (above) will be joining Early Man to rock your face off next week and there's no cover. Did I mention it's free? You have no excuse not to go!

If you're still on the fence, maybe the videos, flyer, and MP3s after the jump will inspire you...

Early Man - Live:



Saviours - "Narcotic Sea" (live):





Download: Early Man - "Death is the Answer to My Prayers" [MP3]
Download: Saviours - "Cavern of Mind" [MP3]
Download: Ancestors - "Neptune With Fire [edit]" [MP3]

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Crustcake Picks - LA Shows 2/28 - 3/5

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

LA has somewhat of a "bands of metal’s history" theme this week. Well, Napalm Death are still pumping out records and letting everyone know how to DIY and rise up! Go check out the legends tomorrow @ the House of Blues, Sunset. I would bet you might get a shot at seeing their take on the Dead Kennedys' "Nazi Punks, Fuck Off." After you’ve had your head grinded to a pulp, come find me in the room of doom at the Mountain Bar giving praises to the almighty Ancestors.

Saturday is a day for reflection (and nursing of the hangover) because Sunday you may want to be ready to witness a live set from the equally influential old school death metalers Possessed. I should mention, however, that only the original vocalist, Jeff Becerra, remains. Nonetheless, you can expect them to shred some tunes from their amazing Seven Churches record. Some say that the release of Seven Churches in 1983 may have been the first use of the term "Death Metal" (it’s track 10 on the record).

But if your head is still pounding from Friday’s show hopping, pre-roll some spliffs and get your groove on with Z-Trip @ El Rey Theatre Sunday night.

Aaaaaaaaaaand, the heroes from the Valley, Bad Religion, will be burning up Hollywood at the House of Blues next Tuesday and Wednesday (and a few dates besides). If you're a Bad Religion noob, I would highly suggest checking out some of their older catalog that was just recently remastered and released via Epitaph.

LA show picks 2/28 - 3/5:

Friday 2/29 - Devildriver, Napalm Death, 36 Crazyfists, Straight Line Stitch, In Vitro @ The House of Blues, Sunset [Tix]

Friday 2/29 - Ancestors, Animal Charm, Author & Punisher, Council of 7 Lights (feat. Braden from Tarantula Hawk), Tweak Bird, Ox vs. Thunderbird @ The Mountain Bar [Free!]

Sunday 3/2 - Possessed, Sadistic Intent, Letum Ascensus, Witch Haven @ The House of Blues, Sunset [Tix]

Sunday 3/2 - MSTRKRFT, Z-Trip, LA Riots, Diabetic @ El Rey Theatre [Tix]

Tuesday 3/4 - Bad Religion, Broadway Calls, Hi-Fi Handgrenades @ The House of Blues, Sunset [Tix]

Wednesday 3/5 - Bad Religion, Miss Derringer, Del Toro @ The House of Blues, Sunset [Tix]

Download: Bad Religion - Atheist Peace [MP3]
Download: Z-Trip - Live at the Get Back [MP3]
Download: Napalm Death - Scum [MP3]
Download: Napalm Death - Twist the Knife (Slowly) [MP3]

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Crustcake Picks - LA Shows 1/31 - 2/6

Pretty decent week coming up now that the rain has cleared (people treat rain in LA like snow-- they freak out). The Black Dahlia Murder, 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, and Decrepit Birth will be at Key Club tonight, but the deal is sweeter than it was in NYC with the addition of Seattle's Lesbian, who come highly recommended, to the bill. Aaaaaaaand, since one night with Lesbian is not enough for me, come give me a high five at Relax Bar Saturday evening while we bang heads to Lesbian and Ancestors (my pick of the week).

If you want to get on crustcake gerf's good side, pop on over at The Troubadour Friday night for Delta Spirit.

Next Tuesday is shaping up to be a night of show hopping with Black Mountain playing at the Troubadour and then, down the street a bit, The Knitting Factory will be hosting classic rock giants Blue Cheer (what's left of 'em anyways) to show the new school of stoner rockers how it is done.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that 16 will be screaming at you tomorrow night as well at Relax Bar (not very relaxing).

Show list and mp3s after the jump.

LA Shows 1/31 - 2/6:

Thursday 1/31 - The Black Dahlia Murder, 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, Decrepit Birth, Lesbian @ Key Club

Friday 2/1 - Delta Spirit @ The Troubadour

Friday 2/1 – 16 @ Relax Bar

Saturday 2/2 – Ancestors, Lesbian @ Relax Bar (early show)

Tuesday 2/5 – Blue Cheer @ The Knitting Factory

Tuesday 2/5 – Black Mountain @ Troubadour

[MP3] Lesbian - "Black Forest Hamm"
[MP3] Black Mountain - "Tyrant"
[MP3] 16 - "Asian Heat"

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