Socal Live Music Calendar: June
Last evening, after divine fortune deemed Vissla’s annual Cosmic Creek worthy of the first full day of uninterrupted sunshine Socal has seen in what feels like ages, Frankie and the Witch Fingers closed out the evening with a free concert on the bluff. It was, without a doubt, one of the best shows I’ve seen in recent memory, and certainly the best shows I’ve seen on (edit: near) the beach.
Each song was as worthy of praise as the last. “Activate” was certainly a highlight; I think the entire audience underwent some sort of subconscious reawakening with “Reaper”; But at some point during “Dracula Drug” - which is, in my opinion, a modern day psych staple - the energy in the air became damn near-palpable. This is a song that rules.
Rather than begin the dreaded hike back up to the parking lot after the show, most of the crowd opted to wander around the bluff for a bit, collecting bits of their own brain-matter off the grass in a sort of aimless delirium, trying to make sense of what had just happened - myself included.
It’s easy to take nights like these for granted. Just like how one excellent wave in a session can make the fifteen less-than-excellent waves that came before it worth the hassle, one good concert can make up for a surprising amount of the standard, 4HL-adjacent bullshit in our lives that might have preceded it. Scroll down for our top picks for the rest of June. —Jackson Todd
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Zig Zags - Permanent Records, 6/9
I couldn’t describe their sound better than the title of their latest LP does if I tried: Punk-Fucking-Metal.
Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe - The Ventura Theater, 6/14
The king of bubble-gum flavored power pop + a relatively unknown legend of the genre. Listen to Labour of Lust for a taste.
Grave Flowers Bongo Band and Cruisin - Gold Diggers, 6/18
Mark my words, Grave Flowers Bongo Band will make it on every single of one of these lists. Opening the show is Cruisin, a new group featuring members of Oog Bogo, Richard Rose, and, yes, Grave Flowers Bongo Band. Los Angeles is much smaller than you’ve been led to believe.
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and DJ Crenshaw - The Hollywood Bowl, 6/21
Bad news: Oz’s proudest export has gone full Hollywood. Good news: They still rip, and DJ Crenshaw is bringing his 45 collection.
Makaya McCraven - The Getty Center, 6/22
One of the most interesting (and fearless) names in Jazz right now. Featured on our “Best of 2022” playlist.
Castle Face Records Pop Up featuring Brigid Dawson, Shannon Lay, and DJ John Dwyer - Permanent Records Roadhouse, 7/1
Technically this show is in July, but who’s keeping track? Brigid Dawson - formerly of Thee Oh Sees - might have the best voice in Los Angeles right now. One would have to be a fool to turn up an opportunity to see Ballet of Apes performed live.
[first photo: Frankie and The Witch Fingers by Jamie Borghesani]
