Sound Bites 12.0: Fat Spoon @ Little Tokyo

Vegetable Curry

I was surprised to see Brussels sprouts (which I'm not usually a fan of, but they actually tasted pretty good here) and shitake mushrooms (I had to pick them out due to an allergy) in my curry, but delighted by the amount of veggies.

My dining companions enjoyed the Pescatore pasta and the beef curry.  They have both decided that their new favorite curry place in Little Tokyo is Fat Spoon. 

I wish I could combine the fresh ingredients at Fat Spoon with the variety offered at Curry House to make one super curry shop!

Delicious uni croquette

Song Pairing:
Radiohead - Lotus Flower


More Reviews:
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LA Times

Near Death Photography Club @ The Good Hurt

After a year of recording, Near Death Photography Club have finally released their first EP, Guillotine Games. 

Image via Bait Comics

They packed the medical-themed nightclub, The Good Hurt, for their record release party.  Despite the sound being too low for the backing vocals, the show went off without a hitch.  The lighting looked professional and the stage looked great. 

Photo via NDPC

I could see heads bobbing during the punkier songs, in which Xander's voice excels.  I overheard someone agreeing to this, but disagreeing with his style on the more experimental tracks.  I can imagine their 80s influenced, moodier songs with a singer like Jonathon Pierce of The Drums. 

The Rapture @ Henry Fonda Theater / Music Box

Murakami Sushi

Before the show, we grabbed some dinner at Murakami, a restaurant Wing used to frequent when she worked in the area. Chirashi bowl was good for the low price. Although, my albacore tasted weird, I did like being able to Make My Own Bowl.


The Rapture

Thanks to The Scenestar's Twitter updates, we knew exactly when The Rapture would be on stage and didn't have to waste too much time waiting around during and after a potentially mediocre opening act.

We thought The Rapture would open with Heaven, instead they opened with (what must have been inspired by The XX) In the Grace of Your Love, which was equally great as an opener if not better.  Surprisingly, they didn't play Heaven at all that night. 
 They knew how to keep the crowd dancing all night.  The songs were practically back to back.  Wing's excitement over songs off Echoes may have exceeded my excitement over songs off the latest two albums.  The audience didn't discriminate; they loved it all.  My favorite song of the night:  Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh.  EVERYONE was dancing to that.  I worried about a mosh pit starting, but each time someone tried to start, they were given dirty looks or immediately stopped.  I love the less violent, I-just-want-to-dance Rapture fans.  The encore only included two songs, but at least one of them was the extremely radio-friendly How Deep is Your Love?, which got stuck in my head for days after. 

High Note:  less moshing, more dancing.
 
Low Note:  Two German girls, who didn't seem to understand that it's rude to dance around by forming a bridge with your hands and arms straight out, whipping your hair with reckless abandon, and steamrolling your way to the front. I'm hoping my bony elbows weren't the only ones they felt.




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Adele, Wanda Jackson @ The Greek Theatre

Wanda Jackson

Photo by Dana Yavin via Brooklyn Vegan

I've heard her name quite a bit recently, but never paid any mind.  After seeing her live, I wondered how I had never heard of her before.  She used to tour with the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis, and Johnny Cash, all singers that I love.  Although her singing has slowed down at the ripe age of 73 (I'm amazed she's still alive, let alone yodeling!), I could still hear her unique vocal style.  She still sings like the Queen of Rockabilly, which was kind of a disconnect for me because of the seductive crooning and her age, but I did enjoy the tour through her song catalog:  teetering from rockabilly to yodeling, from an Amy Winehouse cover to gospel (which maybe wasn't the best choice for a general audience, but everyone still cheered because who can resist such a vibrant personality).

Riot in Cell Block #9


I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse cover)

I wish I could have seen a duet with Wanda Jackson and Amy Winehouse. 


Adele

Photo by Timothy Norris via LA Weekly

The venue was much bigger than the last place I saw her at (HOB SD).  The sound was great, but I wish the big screens were as crisp as what they have at Hollywood Bowl.  The Greek reminded me of a baby version of The Bowl.  I disliked the stacked parking, but luckily, the cars in front of me were leaving around the same time, so we made it out pretty quickly.

LA Times has a fantastic concert review of that memorable night, so I'll keep mine short.  I loved hearing all the stories behind her music and her interactions with the crowd.  She was cackling (LOVE her laugh) and joking around all night, which really personalized the show. When she mentioned her latest album was all about her ex, it made all the songs sound much more depressing, but also more meaningful. 

Set List: 

"Hometown Glory" - always reminds me of how patriotic everyone was after 9/11
"I'll Be Waiting"
"Don't You Remember" - I was neutral about this and Lovesong, but they definitely sound better live
"Turning Tables"
"Set Fire to the Rain"
"If It Hadn't Been For Love"
"My Same" - always thought it was about a bf, but like it even more now that I know it's about her bestie
"Take It All" - so sad.  Written for her bf right before he broke it off
"Rumor Has It"
"Right as Rain"
"One and Only"
"Lovesong"
"Chasing Pavement" - entire stadium knew this song and sang it at the top of their lungs
"Make You Feel My Love" - dedicated to Amy Winehouse.  Was actually listening to this the day of Winehouse's death and thought it would be perfect for a dedication

Encore:
"Someone Like You"
"Rolling in the Deep" - great song to end the night

Of Montreal Covers The White Stripes

Of Montreal covered The White Stripes' Fell in Love with a Girl.  It's not a bad cover, but I thought they would somehow have a more Of Montreal sound to it, like you could tell it's them singing.  Instead it just sounds like the song, but with screechy vocals.