Katy Goodman’s side project La Sera is getting ready to release their second full-length LP in as many years and they’ll be swinging into The Echo on Thursday January 12th to perform songs. If you’d like to go courtest of Melting Pot, just send an e-mail to michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 12noon on Wednesday, January 11th!

Here’s La Sera performing “Hold” at Room 205:

and performing at Make Music Pasadena last summer:

foto © Jim Kopeny

Our last giveaway of 2011 and it’s for what should be a nice way to close out the year as Matthew Sweet celebrates the 20th anniversary of his stellar breakout album Girlfriend by performing the album from start to finish at the Echoplex on December 30th! Girlfriend remains one of my favorite albums of all-time from this period and was my gateway to classic NY bands like Television and Richard Hell & the Voidoids because of the out of this world guitar playing of Richard Lloyd and the late and exceedingly great Robert Quine (whose birthday was December 30th, making this a fitting tribute). If you want to see the show, just let me know via e-mail at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by Wednesday, December 28th and Happy Christmas!

“Girlfriend” for me is one of the few perfect pop songs from this generation of musicians. Robert Quine’s guitarwork is like a rock’n'roll version of Eric Dolphy in the way the notes swoon and careen. One of the rare “modern rock” tracks that I never ever get tired of hearing:

…in tracking down other videos for this post I ran across this live performance of “Girlfriend” which features the one and only Robert Quine…how could so much sonic fury come from such a pedestrian and stoic looking dude! Simply one of the most under-rated guitar greats America has ever produced.

“I’ve Been Waiting” showcases a little of that darker side of Sweet’s songwriting. Is it just a straight and sincere love song, a May-December romance or is there something a bit more sinister in those lyrics…

{Taking a bit of a mini-break this week as I’m swamped with grading…good luck with this giveaway!}

One of the most beloved and celebrated post-Golden Era groups is finally back together and making music again, Black Star featuring Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Inexplicably the duo hasn’t recorded together (aside from a single or two) for over ten years and I can’t think of any better early holiday present than getting to see them perform live in Los Angeles at the Club Nokia! If you want to be entered into the ticket giveaway make sure you e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 12noon on Wednesday December 14th!!!

It’s hard to believe that the first record came out all the way back in 1998 (I still lived in Atlanta back then!) but just in case you needed a reminder of why so many have been hoping and wishing this collabo would get it together once again, let me remind you:

Kweli & Yasiin Bey have finally gotten back together to record as well as perform, recently they debuted the track “Fix Up” on The Colbert Report, along with none other than J-Rocc on the turntables:

And another brand new track, hopefully also on the forthcoming release, “You Already Knew”:

foto © Will Tee Yang

Quite possibly the best session we’ve had on KPFK’s Melting Pot was the recent appearance from the OC’s Boogaloo Assassins (if you missed it you need to click right here immediately). The band has been playing a number of shows and we have a pair of tickets to see them in LA at one of their original hangouts, The Mint. If you’d like to win a pair of tickets to see the Boogaloo Assassins make sure to e-mail at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Friday at 12noon and don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes!!!

Here’s a taste of what to expect, the group’s excellent take on “El Pito” recorded live in NYC for a Joe Cuba tribute:

Real Estate for me, at this particular moment, is the best band in all of indie-rockdom. Every single release has gotten better and better with each listen, and the release of their 2nd LP, Days, in the last month has reinforced everything I thought about the band over the last couple of years. They blend 60s surf guitar with 90s indie into a suburban inspired hazy mix that I find completely engrossing. Days (expect a review later this week) is one of the few records from this year that I could (and have) literally listen to again and again and again. This Saturday Real Estate are in Los Angeles playing at the Echoplex and you could have a chance to win tickets if you send an e-mail to michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by Friday at 12noon!!!

There’s no Melting Pot on KPFK today, but I still have some treats for you, this is the first of two giveaways for shows this week in LA. Electro-indie darlings tUne-yArDs and one of LA’s best DJs Mr. Cut Chemist perform live at the Music Box on November 2nd…I actually have a few pairs of these, so if you (or some of your friends too) would like to go courtesy of Melting Pot, make sure you send me an e-mail to michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 12noon on Tuesday November 1st!!!

tUne-yArDs – Bizness

Cut Chemist – Sound of the Police (Live at Amoeba)

One of most entertaining and inventive DJs of all time, performing live here in LA at the Music Box Sunday, October 23rd!!! If you want a chance to win tickets e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 5pm Friday!!!

Here’s a pretty cool video where Shadow talks about his brand new album, The Less You Know…The Better:

{Congrats to the winner Dalia P!!!}

Nacional records, one of the best independent labels focus on Latin Alternative music is holding a showcase here in LA at the Music Box on Friday, September 9th. Featured on the stage will be Bostich + Fussible of the Nortec Collective, Los Amigos Invisibles and one of the best MCs in any language Ana Tijoux! If you want a chance to win tickets e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 12noon Friday!!!

Ana Tijoux

Los Amigos Invisbles

Bostich+Fussible

{Congrats to winners Richard C. and Alex M.!!!}

Yes, it sucks that Sunset Junction has been canceled. But look on the brightside, if it hadn’t I would have tickets to go see Charles Bradley (just recently reviewed here!) at the Echoplex on Sunday night!!! I’ve said quite a bit about Bradley’s talent as a soul singer, as a live performer, he’s also quite a talent. Imagine if in the 1980s James Brown had decided to bring back super heavy funk and had the band to back him…that gives you an idea of what a Charles Bradley concert might just be like. You have a chance to see him live at the Echoplex courtesy of Melting Pot if you win the tickets…e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by 12noon Saturday for your chance!!!

Here’s a taste of what you’ll be seeing, several songs recorded from a performance in France:

And here’s the very slick video for “The World” from Mr. Bradley & the Menahan Street Band:

{I know I said Monday, but I meant Tuesday! If you want a pair of passes get in touch with me before 12noon Tuesday!!!}

I’m away in the Bay Area for my wedding anniversary and Chuck Foster of KPFK’s Reggae Central is hosting Melting Pot, but still I got something for you…It’s always a treat when one of the best turntablists in the world graces us with something new. Next week here in LA, Cut Chemist will debut “Tunnel Vision” his latest mix, alongside the equally talented MC/DJ Edan and Mr. Lif. If you’d like to see it all at the House of Blues on Sunset in Hollywood on August 17th, e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before 12noon on Monday for a chance to win!!!

Here’s a bit of a teaser for Tunnel Vision, which appears to be the latest in Cut Chemist’s one turntable mixes:

Here’s CC’s last one turntable mix “Sound Of The Police”:

Edan’s own amazing mix “Echo Party” still ranks as one of my favorites ever:

Edan doing what he does…I always knew that hair was fake…but who knew he could rock a Theremin while name checking some deep Rock samples with the LPs there for those who don’t know.

And finally Mr. Lif, the icing on a already tasty Hip-Hop cake for this show…I kind of miss those crazy dreads he used to have:

One of the best rock’n’roll bands in recent memory to come out of my hometown of Atlanta is coming to LA this week, The Black Lips, who will be playing a show at the Music Box. Though the band’s performance style has mellowed out a bit over the years, even Mark Ronson couldn’t wash away all the grime from their gritty rockin’ sound on their latest release Arabia Mountain. If you want to see the Black Lips this Friday, make sure to e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Thursday at 5pm!!!

Black Lips – Modern Art

Black Lips – Short Fuse

Black Lips – Veni Vedi Vici

Swervedriver, one of the most glorious of shoegazing bands of the 1990s, has reunited and are playing a handful of shows this summer. One of the few will be here in Los Angeles at the Echoplex on Sunday June 19th. If you want a chance to win a pair of tickets to see this mighty band reborn, make sure to e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Friday at 5pm!!!

You really shouldn’t need any encouragement to give it a go for these tickets, but how about this:

or this, gorgeous cascading waterfalls of distortion…

and this too, quite possibly the greatest song to have playing on your stereo as you drive exceedingly fast on an open highway…

As I take a quick break from grading, thought I’d definitely make somebody’s week with a giveaway for tickets to see Aloe Blacc @ the Music Box this Sunday night! Since releasing “Good Things” last year, a potentially career defining LP, Blacc has been up to nothing but good things, touring the world and also keeping it close to home, especially now that it’s summertime and the Do Over has started up once again. You can catch him and his group, The Grand Scheme, at the Music Box on May 22nd if you win the tickets. For your chance to win tickets to see Aloe Blacc make sure to e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Friday at 5pm!!!

Here’s a taste from one of my favorite releases of 2010, “I Need A Dollar” performed live on Conan’s show:

foto © Willie Davies for The New York Times

{Congrats to the winners, Georgia K., Garrett K. and Lucia C.!!!}

Céu is one of the brightest current stars out of Brazil, with a perfect mix of modern and classic sounds, representing Brazilian heritage, history and it’s movement forward, while also showing the influence of American Soul, Hip-Hop and Jamaican Reggae. You can get a chance to see her at a fantastic venue, The El Rey theatre this Saturday, May 7th!!! There’s a super quick turnaround on these, so if you want a chance at the tickets make sure to e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Friday at 5pm!!!

Here’s a taste of what you can expect, Céu and her group performing the song “Lenda”:

This Sunday night LA is blessed to have two of the best singer-songwriters in all of indie-rockdom grace us with their collective goodness, Thao & Mirah. Just this week they’ve released a collaboration on Kill Rock Stars, and you could get a chance to check them out if you are the winner! Quick turnaround on these, make sure to e-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before Friday at 5pm to get a chance to win the tickets!!!

Here’s just an example of the loveliness that will be on display Sunday night at the Troubadour, a nice and very personal recording of “How Dare You” recorded in Thao’s apartment in San Francisco last year by “Yours Truly”:

And damn if these vids from Yours Truly aren’t the tops, but here’s another one that’s just as good for “We’re So Sorry,” unbelievable coolness how Thao goes from strumming and singing to hitting the skins as Mirah reaches the emotional climax of the song. Enjoy