On their Sonic Bids page bio, Lords and Barons simply write, “We make noise.” And they do. And it’s good.

This trio of Los Angelean rockers keep it simple with their sound, too. It’s just sloppy-good rock ‘n’ roll without excess tricks or gimmicks. The lineup is simple guitar, vocals and drums, though it sounds like they had someone playing bass on the recordings. “Sidewalks” is a fun dose of ballsy guitar-heavy pop/rock, but I really like their dirge-y, plaintive anthem “Prelude” the best so far.

Their MySpace page is pretty light on the details, but all you need to know is that they’re pretty rocking. Save all the thinking for something more important and just enjoy yourself.

This years NME awards (which is on April 23) will reunite Janes Addiction for one night at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles. The band will also receive the coveted Godlike Genius Award.
It’s still unclear whether original bassist Eric Avery or replacement Chris Chaney will play but Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins are all confirmed.

According to NME:

Jane’s Addiction are joining the likes of The Clash, New Order, Primal Scream and Manic Street Preachers, who are among the acts to have picked up the Godlike Genius prize at the UK awards.

NME has decided to give the band the award this year – the first time the awards are being held in the US – to recognise the fact that Jane’s Addiction have done more than any other band to introduce American alternative music to the mainstream, founding the touring Lollapalooza Festival and giving what frontman Perry Farrell refers to as the “alternative nation” a real cultural focus and voice.

For more on the first US NME Awards go here.

I don’t know if any of you have ever heard a person in a successful, touring band say what a tough life they have, how it’s hard to adjust to being home and thought to yourself, what a fucking asshole, it must be really hard to be making money and playing shows for tons of people every night. Well, it is. Granted, it’s definitely one of the best jobs ever, you get to see so many different things and even when you’re not in the band, just with them, it’s amazing to see people that love to come to shows and watch music. But I sometimes wonder what I’ve done to myself. Why have I chosen a career path that calls for me to be gone nine months out of the year, put my personal life on hold and risk my health and sanity? The best answer to that question is really answered best with another question. Why would I not do this? In the coming eight weeks I will be making my way across the country in a tour bus with some of my best friends, and some soon to be new friends, and will be documenting as much as humanly possible here. Come to a show, hang out with us, join in on one of the many after show dance parties and support touring bands, gas is damned expensive now.

Emery Headlining Tour
w/ Mayday Parade, As Cities Burn, Pierce The Veil & Cry Of The Afflicted

January-
29- Nashville, TN Rocketown
30- Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
31- Chicago, IL The Metro
February-
1- Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
2- Detroit, MI St. Andrew’s Hall
4- Madison, WI Majestic Theatre
5- St. Paul, MN Station 4
6- Omaha, NE Sokol Underground
7- Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
8- Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
9- Salt Lake City, UT The Avalon
11- Seattle, WA Showbox (At The Market)
12- Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
13- Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
14- San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
15- Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour
16- San Diego, CA SOMA
17- Pomona, CA the Glasshouse
18- Las Vegas, NV Jillian’s
19- Tempe, AZ Marquee Theater
20- Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
22- San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
23- McAllen, TX El Rey Theatre
24- Houston, TX Meridian Red Room
25- Dallas, TX The Door
26- Tulsa, OK The Otherside
27- Sauget, IL Pop’s
29- Cincinnati, OH The Underground
March-
1- Buffalo, NY Xtreme Wheels
2- Pittsburg, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
3- New York, NY Blender Theater
5- Worcester, MA The Palladium
6- Towson, MD Recher Theatre
7- Philadelphia, PA The Trocadero
8- Richmond, VA The National
11- Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
12- St. Petersburg, FL State Theater
13- Orlando, FL The Social
14- Orlando, FL The Social
15- Pensacola, FL American Legion Hall, Post 33
16- Little Rock, AR Juanita’s Cantina
17- Joplin, MO The Foundry
19- Louisville, KY Headliners
20- Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
21- Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
22- Greenville, SC The Handlebar

Well, at least I’m excited for them…so hopefully you will be too!

Amidst not having anything to do the other night, I went searching around to see who was on tour–because seeing music live is just that amazing that I’m willing to shell out my cash to see the magic in action.

Here are the results of my late-night live-music search:

Saves the Day - Acoustic Tour

Last time I saw these guys was Warped ‘06…it was good times, I took a picture of Chris with my phone, it was my phone’s background for a bit. I know, I live an exciting life. The final show of the tour at the Troub WILL be fun. I promise! So LA peeps, get tickets soon–THEY WILL SELL OUT.

October 1 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
October 2 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
October 4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
October 5 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
October 6 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Music Hall
October 7 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
October 9 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
October 10 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
October 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
October 12 – Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz
October 13 – Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
October 14 – Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel
October 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ North Star
October 17 – Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
October 18 – Allston, MA @ The ICC
October 19 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
October 22 – Atlanta, GA @ Loft
October 23 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
October 25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr
October 26 – Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
October 28 – Tempe, AZ @ The Sets
October 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

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Circa Survive

FUCK YES. That’s what I have to say about this tour. Circa Survive is by and far my favorite band and if, like me, you missed them on Warped this year, then here’s your chance to make up for it. Bay area peeps–I’ll see you at Slim’s on Nov. 11. Look for me, I’ll be the long-haired girl drinking a gin and tonic and signing every word to every song.

Oct 10: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Oct 11: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Oct 12: New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre
Oct 13: Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Cafe
Oct 14: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theatre
Oct 16: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Oct 17: Buffalo, NY @ Club Infinity
Oct 18: Clifton Park, NJ @ Northern Lights
Oct 19: Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
Oct 20: Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
Oct 21: Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
Oct 23: Jacksonville, FL @ Fuel
Oct 24: St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
Oct 25: Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
Oct 26: Orlando, FL @ The Club at Firestone
Oct 27: Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Oct 28: New Orleans @ Voodoo Music Festival
Oct 30: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Oct 31: San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Nov 1: Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom
Nov 3: Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Nov 4: San Diego, CA @ The Soma
Nov 6: Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
Nov 8: Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theatre
Nov 9: Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
Nov 10: Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
Nov 11: San Francisco, CA @ Slims
Nov 13: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Nov 14: Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Nov 16: Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theatre
Nov 17: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Cafe
Nov 18: Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
Nov 20: Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
Nov 21: St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
Nov 23: Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov 24: Chicago, IL @ Metro
Nov 25: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom

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Cold War Kids

So it’s official, the CWK tour with the White Stripes has in fact been canceled. HAHA! I wanted to get tickets to that, but they were sold out…so lucky I didn’t! They were going for like $200 - $300 on eBay and Craigs List…sucks for those people who bought them off there. Nevertheless, the ‘Kids did schedule a small tour. I’m stoked. I bought tickets the minute they went on sale…I didn’t want to take any chances–these tickets sell out as if they were giving them away. So go to Ticketmaster.com and order yours quick! Once again, LA peeps, I’ll see you at the Wiltern on Nov. 23–woohoo!!

Nov 17: San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Nov 23: Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Nov 27 & 28: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Nov 29: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
Nov 30 & Dec 1: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Dec 4: Boston, MA @ The Roxy
Dec 11: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater

PJ Harvey is kinda rail thin and weird looking, but when I hear her voice or see her murdering souls on stage, my palms get all sweaty. Maybe I’m a freak. In any case, I’m stoked to hear that her new album, White Chalk, will be due out on Sept. 25th. Those of you in NYC and LA should be stoked that Polly Jean will be taking the stage for two special one-off dates in October. The first at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on October 10th and the second on October 15th at the Orpheum in LA. Full press release after the jump.

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For those of you in the LA area, Giant Robot is curating a show at the Scion Installation LA in Culver City. The show, titled “To the Masses” features the work of Caroline Hwang, Ben Woodward (his piece, “Heart Out,” is pictured above), Feric, Dan-ah Kim, Brian Ralph, Eishi Takaoka, Kohei Yamashita, Olaf Ladousse and French. “To the Masses” runs from August 25th through September 8th, with a reception on the 25th from 7 to 10 PM. The gallery is located at 3521 Helms Ave. (at National) in Culver City, CA.