L.A. has got me on my knees

The slow weeks leading up to the summer I had planned have finally come to an end. Next Wednesday Mao and I will being seeing Angus and Julia Stone at the Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge. Both Tuesday and Wednesday's shows are sold out, but they've just added a third show at The Stronghold in Venice (if you follow the link and become confused by the sight of a website for custom jeans, suspenders, fancy hats, and shiny shoes, don't fret, it's the right place - it doubles as both!), so if you plans of trying to catch them while they are in town, buy quickly.

Mao was also kind enough to alert me to the news that Freelance Whales will be opening for Tokyo Police Club on August 12 at the El Rey Theatre (tickets are already on sale). Seeing as I missed them when they opened for the Shout Out Louds, I'm thrilled that I get to see them after all. They really are one of my favorite bands.

This was also a great week for new music. I picked up the new Black Keys album, "Brothers", and the new one by Band of Horses, "Infinite Arms." I've had TBK on loop for the last couple of days, so I haven't had much time to give BoH a proper listen, but from what I've heard, they're clearly just as good as ever. And just the thought of seeing TBK at the Palladium in September gets me all tingly. Goddamn they are incredible and soulful and sexy.

You know who else has some serious soul: Marcus Foster. Q Magazine made available a new EP version of "Shadows of the City" as their Track of the Day and it's brilliant. It's moody and haunting and lays out a really cool beat. You can listen to it here. It was my favorite track of his to begin with and now he's gone and added a full band and "ghost choir" and managed to make it sound new again. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's beyond me why this man isn't a bigger name in music. If this is a hint of what we can expect from his forthcoming EP and general evolution as a musician, I can't see him staying one of my favorite secrets for much longer.

If you're following summer festival news, the Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup has been announced! I can't even...I was beside myself when I saw all the bands lined up to play. There might have even been a bit of flailing. It looks to be one hell of a weekend and until the thing sells out, I'm holding onto hope that I somehow make it to this one. A girl can dream, right?

Speaking of festivals, SPIN has compiled a Bonnaroo Mixtape 2010 that is free for download. Get it while you can! It's a pretty standard mix of some of the more well known bands playing, but it's free and a taste of what's to come and you'll never see me turning down free music.

live music is my second job

Physically, I've been back from New York for almost two weeks now, but that non-corporeal part of myself that really counts...fairly sure it's still wandering around the Village or lounging about drinking a latte at Cafe Grumpy or up to its neck in books at The Strand. Why do vacations ever have to end? Oh, that's right, they don't pay for themselves and reality is nothing if not the greatest buzzkill of all time. I want to go back. I need to go back. But alas....

That being said, this summer is shaping up to be chock full of distractions of the concert kind and so I'm here to compile a list of shows that are confirmed (i.e. I haven already paid the modest ticket prices and the dreadfully outrageous service/"convenience" fees) and unconfirmed (still working on finding tickets and/or partners in crime to accompany me).

It's safe to say that 2010's list of concerts far exceeds lists of previous years (last year I only made it to thirteen shows). I'm beyond stoked. Also, consider this a list of recommendations; you can't go wrong with any of these bands or musicians. I've linked to all the artists and venues should anyone be interested in checking them out via the web or in person. Without further ado:

.SUMMER CONCERT LINEUP 2010.(* unconfirmed)
5/19* - Horse Feathers @ Bootleg Theatre
5/20* - Freelance Whales @ The El Rey Theatre
5/26 - Angus and Julia Stone @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6/4 - Mumford & Sons @ The Music Box
6/5 - The xx @ The Music Box
6/22 - Sam Bradley @ The Hotel Cafe
6/26 - Sarah Jaffe @ Bootleg Theatre
7/9 - Bobby Long @ The Troubadour
7/12* - Kings of Leon @ The Hollywood Bowl
7/15* - Jay Nash @ The Hotel Cafe
7/28 - Laura Marling @ The El Rey Theatre
8/22 - John Mayer @ The Hollywood Bowl
8/28* - Something Corporate @ Club Nokia
9/25 - Band of Horses @ The Greek Theatre
9/27 - The Black Keys @ The Hollywood Palladium

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited for this summer. I might not be in New York any longer, but living in Los Angeles certainly has its perks.

*edited to add the Something Corporate show. I WILL have tickets come Friday. (ETA: I wasn't lying. Got my ticket!)