2 posts tagged “largo”
My favorite place to see music in LA (possibly of anywhere I've lived, for that matter), Largo, seems to have a movie coming out. Based on the trailer, too, it looks like the film will capture what makes it so special:
Over the years, I've seen a lot of great people there: Aimee Mann, Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Michael Penn, Colin Hay, Gillian Welch, the Naked Trucker and T-Bones (on several occasions), Paul F. Tompkins...the list goes on. If you've never been, and you live in LA, you should go immediately. If you're not in LA, hopefully the movie will do it justice.
Of the numerous wonderful shows I've seen there, one always stands as the quintessential Largo night. We went to see Jon Brion, who played for nearly two hours (a mix of originals and great covers, including Bowie's "Moonage Daydream," and, by request, "Freebird," which he turned into a sci-fi "Linus and Lucy" Peanuts-themed piece, which I know makes little sense here)...then, he took a break, and returned with Fiona Apple, who played a number of songs (and covers, including "Every Day," by Buddy Holly). Then, Benmont Tench (of the Heartbreakers) came out to play piano...and then, the bluegrass/folk group Nickelcreek came out to join them all for a number of songs. The whole thing lasted about four (fantastic) hours, ending with Brion alone, playing "Waterloo Sunset," by the Kinks, which he (perhaps rightfully) described as the best song ever written.
It was an amazing night, and I was really happy to see that someone had video from it online, even. This is the moment when he returned from intermission with Fiona Apple. Enjoy...and, if you're one of the people who was at the show, listen for our clapping...
My previous "Best Of" list concerning music was focused solely on albums. I'd like to take a moment to discuss other music items of note from this past year.
1. "Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host, Bob Dylan." Dylan's radio show is, all in all, the greatest music development of the past year. It continues the story that began with the publication of his wonderful memoir Chronicles, where we all get to see (to use an old phrase of his, of course), Another Side of Bob Dylan. Back when Chronicles came out, I was almost nervous to read it, that it would bust up my mythic vision of the enigma who somehow channeled the gods into lyrics. In the end, the book showed that he was just a normal person (so to speak), albeit one intensely engaged in his surroundings, times, and influences. The radio show continues this idea--it shows us how someone of Dylan's talents has taken it all in over the past 65 years. And, he's funny. Who knew we'd hear Bob Dylan ever say "One guys says 'I miss my mother-in-law," and the other guy says 'Aim lower." Which reminds me--my favorite episodes so far are probably "Mother," "Devil," and "School." I would bet a resourceful person could locate nearly all of the episodes (it's up to 30 at this writing) online somewhere...
2. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings live at the Henry Fonda Music Box. I've already written about this show here, but it's fresh in my mind.
3. Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band (Two Items). This is a tie, and interestingly, I wasn't at either of these events. First, the Springsteen show in Jersey back in July, where my folks went and called me repeatedly to hold their phone up so I could hear the songs. Getting to hear the songs was great, of course, but more enjoyable for the fact that my parents were that into the show. Second, the show at Jazzfest in New Orleans, where my brother (did everyone in my family get to see him this year but me? Yes.) did the same, holding the phone up. He stopped early, though, and later he told me that the show (the first Jazzfest since Katrina) was the most emotional he'd ever seen, the sort of cathartic, uplifting musical event you hear about. Here are some clips from that show: this, this (dedicated to "President Bystander"), and this. The clip of "My City of Ruins" was edited by a fan, not the band, but it is a good reminder of what happened there.
4. Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Jon Brion, and Nickelcreek at Largo. If you've never been to Largo, and you're in the LA area, it is worth seeking out. It is easily my favorite place for a show (I've seen countless shows there: Aimee Mann, Michael Penn, Colin Hay, The Naked Trucker, Victoria Williams, Jon Brion, Paul F. Tompkins...the list goes on). A few months ago, I got a table reservation for a show that was just listed by the artists' first names. I was happy to find out who it was. I could write pages on this one show, but here's the quick version: three hours long, five (!) Dylan covers, a new Gillian Welch song that stands among her best, covers of the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, and Cyndi Lauper (a medley, no less, after an audience request). Unreal.
5. Tony Bennett Sings "San Francisco" Alone with the Piano. His TV special "An American Legend" was packed full of production numbers and such, but the final performance was simply Bennett singing his signature song all alone, accompanied by only a piano. If you're wondering why people revere his voice, find that performance.
6. Late Addition to My "Best Albums" List--TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain. How did I not get this album until last week? This is great, great music. I tried thinking of one of those typical "sounds-like-such-and-such-combined-with-such-and-such," but I had so many "such-and-suches" to mention, it became ridiculous. While listening to it earlier tonight, I kept picturing a huge, lumbering robot with huge blenders for ears and a boombox for a mouth. And maybe Peter Gabriel in its stomach. Obviously, it's hard to describe. I will say, though, that it reminds me of the feeling I had the first time I listened to Kid A. It makes me want to go write poems and/or bang on pots and pans, and I mean that as the highest of compliments.
