10 tcs 2014 week9 300dpi by Santa Monica Daily Press

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

OK GO

OK Go continues to chart their own path NEW MUSIC EXPECTED IN OCTOBER

K Go is Internet royalty, earning a place in digital history for their unparalleled success utilizing streaming video as a tool for music distribution. But long before they were the face of Internet video, they were a band forging a reputation on live shows, a reputation they will rekindle when they play penultimate Twilight Concert Series show. The band formed in 1998 as a foursome composed of Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka and Andy Duncan. Three of the four original members were

radio hose Ira Glass brought them on tour for his NPR show This American Life and the constant exposure eventually resulted in their debut album in 2002. Duncan left soon thereafter, only to be replaced by Ross who helped the new OK GO develop their calling card, the quirky music video. In 2005 they leveraged the power of the Internet, and specifically video sites like YouTube to reintroduce one of their early songs “A Million Ways” via a homemade and quirky video. The experiment

part of the band Stanley's Joyful Noise but it wasn't until Kulash joined them in the 2014 TWILIGHT Windy City that OK Go was born. They CONCERT SERIES built an enthusiastic local following by performing vibrant shows that lead to SCHEDULE opening slots for larger acts. They continued to develop an eclectic fan base when

paid of4 huge, the most downSEPT – OK becoming GO & ALLAH-LAS loaded music video ever and sending the single11to- hit status in Europe. SEP 100% SOUL: CHARLES The band upped ante with their folBRADLEY W/ KINGthe JAMES & THE low-up video performing a complex dance SPECIAL MEN routine on moving treadmills. They were rewarded with a Grammy, and a top 40 hit

for “Here it Goes Again” The guys have kept working, producing an EP in 2008 and the album “The Blue Colour of the Sky” in 2010. “Colour” contained the hit singles “This Too Shall Pass and “End Love.” The band's new album, Hungry Ghosts, isn't floating into the world 'til fall, but fans have access to The Upside Out EP, as a digital download via Paracadute, It features four fresh OK Go tunes selected from Hungry Ghosts especially for warm air and beach days. With tracks produced by longtime collaborator Dave Fridmann, who also worked on their live album, and new partner Tony Hoffer, Hungry Ghosts is described as OK Go like you've never heard them before, widescreen blockbusters for the ear, mind, ass, and soul. The band said the album is finished but won't be available until October. In the

mean time it can be pre-ordered via Pledge Music and they said the platform allows them to deliver exclusive extras for the dedicated fan such as signed vinyl, handwritten lyrics, tour bus rides, caricatures by Dan, outgoing voicemails by Tim, a night out with Damian, custom synthesizers, a virtual visit to the OK Go Academy, a personalized song (or dance or documentary) about you, and more.

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

ALLAH-LAS

From the basement to the Pier ALLAH-LAS ROCKS A HOMETOWN CROWD

llah-Las met while working at Amoeba Music, a key destination for music lovers in Los Angeles. While this experience helped shape their sensibility, their sound was forged in an underground basement where they came together as a band. They began gigging in Los Angeles in 2008, refining their live performance, and finally released their first 7â&#x20AC;? single Catamaran / Long Journey in 2011. In 2012, they began their relationship with Innovative Leisure, releasing their first self-titled album, AllahLas, anchored by their second single Tell Me (What's On Your Mind) / Sacred Sands. The release was met with critical acclaim and the band toured extensively in the

States and abroad before going back into the studio to record their follow-up. Allah-Las' second album, Worship The Sun, expands on the sound established by their maiden effort, honing their fusion of West Coast garage rock and roll, Latin percussion and electric folk. As richly textured and timeless as a Southern California beach break, the songs are evocative of Los Angeles' storied past. Beatniks, artists, surfers, nomads. Remnants of a bygone Sunset Strip. Golden tans and cosmic sunsets. One can feel the warmth of the sun, but the band deftly avoids the kitsch so often indulged by lovers of these things. Hints of Byrds, Love, Felt, and those who

follow are threaded into the tapestry. LA's seminal Ferus Gallery - the home of Wallace Berman, Ed Kienholz, Ed Ruscha, Billy Al Bengston - is paid homage in an eponymous instrumental, broadening the scope beyond mere sea, surf, and sand. The lyrics reveal a new maturity; reflections of a band that has grown together through experiences on the road and in the studio. Worship The Sun is at once the perfect soundtrack for the greatest surf film never made and for a golden hour drive through Topanga Canyon. Yet, while grounded in the Southern California experience, the appeal of the album is not limited by locale. It is a teenage symphony to the sun, for all those

who know its grace. These are the kind of songs that bounce between London and Los Angeles, the kind of thing that could have come from Mick Jagger or Arthur Lee or both at once, with crystalline guitar and slow-mo drums that recalled the way the waves take big bites of the beach at night. This is mystery music from the strange and ancient-modern California fringe. Allah-Las are a reflection of a reflection, a band that is psychedelic not because of reverb or shredding through pedals but for the simple way their songs seem to extend to infinity.

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

Twilight Concerts insider’s guide TICKETS

BIKE & SKATEBOARD VALET PETS

No tickets necessary, this is pure free summer fun (remember that?) all thanks to our partners and sponsors who have brought us another season of awesome free concerts at the beach. Make sure to show them some love.

Park your wheels at the free bike and skateboard valet located next to the beach bike path just south of the Pier.

TIME 7 p.m. — 10 p.m., but those in the know stake out a good spot early.

PARKING Parking is available in the 1550 Pacific Coast Highway Lot next to the Santa Monica Pier on a first-come, first-served basis. Those wanting to avoid long waits should try one of the municipal lots around Second Street and Colorado Avenue or grab the ParkMe app for live data of parking availability and prices. Go technology!

FRIENDS & FAMILY Bring them, the more the merrier. You will not regret it. This is one epic summer tradition.

FIRST AID/LOST & FOUND If you need first aid or assistance, please visit the Pier Tent or flag down a security officer. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

SMOKING Don’t even think about it, it’s a 100year-old wooden Pier, and we really like it.

Friendly dogs are welcome on the Pier only and must be on a leash.

during the show. As a reminder, alcohol consumption is not permitted in public spaces, but there are several full-service bars in the area.

WEATHER & ATTIRE

THE CONCERT GARDEN

It never gets too cold, but sometimes it gets a little chilly once the sun goes down. So bring something or head up to the Pier Tent on the deck to grab this year’s limited-edition sweatshirt or T-shirt!

There is a 21-and-over Concert Garden featuring Michelob Ultra, Barefoot Wines, an assortment of cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Do not miss this view.

SEATING

E-MAIL LIST & SPECIAL OFFERS

Seating is not provided, so feel free to bring your own chairs, blankets, etc ...

FOOD & DRINKS

TAXIS

There are plenty of great food and beverage options on the deck and at the various restaurants on the Pier. Most even have to-go options perfect for munching

Let someone else do the driving. Download the Curb app and use promo code TCS2014 for $10 off your first ride.

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

Cool shades for hot nights T

he Twilight Concert Series is named for that particular time of day when the sun begins to sink behind the mountains and the coast is bathed in a golden hue. Given the show's association with sunlight, it seems a natural partnership to have the Chilli Beans sunglasses company on board as flagship sponsor. The company has been hosting a mobile glasses store on the Pier during every show. “Stop by the pop up to say hello and check us out. Our sales associates are extremely knowledgeable about the product and enjoy helping people find a style that suits them,” said spokeswoman Marisa Brickman. She said the company has always been a fan of live music. “Chilli Beans has a long history of supporting music and we ourselves are big music fans,” she said. “The Twilight Concert Series is awesome and always a great time - who doesn't want to see music outside on a pier by the beach?” She said the Pier in specific is a great location to introduce customers to the brand. “The pier has really edgy curation but appeals to a large audience and offers something for everyone. Chilli Beans release styles every week in limited quantities and range from safer options like a Bossa Nova or wild like one of our Off the Runway exclusive designer collaborations which were literally taken off the runway from catwalk shows in Rio and Sao Paolo.” Chilli Beans was founded in Brazil in 1998 with a small kiosk in a trendy market. Founder Caito Maia's vision for a new kind of franchise model swept through the Brazilian retail world creating a new kind of corporate culture. The company has focused on selling through it's own outlets, including online and branded stores. Between their own designs, and collaborations with designers, the company releases 10 new designs (either sunglasses, watches or opticals) per week. The store experience is defined by a hand's on approach to the shopping experience, allowing customers to handle and try-on products without the help of an employee. After 15 years of dominating the Latin American market, the company has begun expanding worldwide. They have 14 retail locations in California and the company's commitment to Santa Monica extends beyond the Pier. In addition to their store in the Mall, the company will be expanding its presence with a new West Coast flagship store on the Promenade. “We already have one store in Santa Monica Place and are opening a second location on the Promenade,” said Brickman. “The area is such a destination for shopping, not only for Angelenos but for tourists. We've designed a really special and unique store that has the capability for events and happenings and we plan on connecting with the local community for programming.”

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

2014 Twilight Concert Series bio

CHARLES BRADLEY

WEEK 10

SEPTEMBER 11

Charles Bradley WITH

KING JAMES & THE SPECIAL MEN

If you’re looking for a story that best summarizes the last year in the life of Charles Bradley, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one than the night he and his band showed up in Utopia, Texas to play an outdoor show in the middle of a thunderstorm. “It was just raining, raining, raining,” Bradley recalls. “I walked out onstage, and there were about 800 people there - maybe more - all of them just standing out there in the rain and the mud.” The band settled in and fought their hardest against the elements, but - for a moment, anyway - it seemed that nature was too much for even the mighty Charles Bradley. About halfway through the show, the power went out, leaving both the band and the drenched fans in total darkness. At any other show, that would be understood as the meteorological signal for “Quittin’ Time,” but if there’s one thing the last year of tireless touring before enrapt audiences has proven, it’s that Charles Bradley does not put on typical shows. “I could hear them screaming, ‘Charles Bradley! Charles Bradley we love you,’” Bradley smiles. “And so when the lights came back on, I said, ‘If all of you can stand out there in the rain and get soaking wet because you want to see me perform - to see me do something that I love to do - then you know what? I’m gonna get wet, too.’” And with

that, Bradley jumped off the stage and into the crowd. “They went completely crazy!” he laughs. “We were laughing. We were hugging. We were getting muddy. It was just love.” That’s his whole persona in a single tiny scene: Charles Bradley, victim of love. Other artists appreciate their audiences, just as many are grateful for them, but few artists love their fans as much and as sincerely as Charles Bradley. By now, his remarkable, against-all-odds rise has been well-documented - how he transcended a bleak life on the streets and struggled through a series of ill-fitting jobs - most famously as a James Brown impersonator at Brooklyn clubs before finally being discovered by Daptone’s Gabriel Roth. The year following the release of his debut, No Time For Dreaming, was one triumph after another: a stunning performance at South By Southwest that earned unanimous raves; similarly-gripping appearances at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Newport Folk Festival and Outside Lands (to name just a few); and spots on Year-End Best Lists from Rolling Stone, MOJO, GQ, Pasteand more. Victim of Love, Bradley’s second record, is a continuation of that story, moving past the ‘heartache and pain’ and closer to the promise of hope. “The first record taps into maybe two or three feelings,” explains Thomas Brenneck of Menahan Street Band, Bradley’s producer, bandleader and co-writer. “But the range of emotion on this record is huge. The last record was written by a man living in the Brooklyn projects for 20 years. This record is more than just a poor man’s

cry from the ghetto. This time, he’s grateful.” Bradley agrees. “I was singing about all these hardships that I’ve been through. I wanted people to know my struggles first, but now I want them to know how much they have helped me grow.” Drop into any moment of Victim of Love at random and that message is immediately apparent. Where the last record opened with the apocalyptic “The World (is Going Up in Flames), Victim begins “Strictly Reserved For You,” a track that sees Bradley grabbing his girl, jumping in a car and hitting the highway for a romantic getaway. In “You Put The Flame on It,” Bradley sings “My life is gold - you put the flame on it,” backed by a horn chart that sounds like it was lifted from a lost Four Tops single. And on “Victim of Love,” the song that gives the album its name, Bradley sings, “I woke up this morning, I felt your love beside me,” over the kind of gentle acoustic guitar that wouldn’t sound out of place on a classic Neil Young album. Which brings up another point: with the new subject matter comes a broader musical scope. Where Dreaming hewed close to the rough-and-ready R&B sound Daptone has become known for, Victim is stylistically more restless, edging closer into the kind of psychedelic soul The Temptations explored in the early ‘70s. “I’ve been calling it ‘New Direction Daptone,’” enthuses Brenneck. “People are not going to expect this. There’s a lot of psych influences on this record, a lot of fuzz guitar. I’m pushing the band & the

arrangements further out, which in turns has to make Charles go further out.” That new direction is most apparent in “Confusion.” Opening with the kind of echo-drenched vocal and charging rhythmic cadence that characterized Curtis Mayfield’s “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go,” Bradley calls down fire on crooked businessmen and duplicitous leaders. “That song is about a lot of those big politicians who think they can make everybody’s decisions for them,” says Bradley. “The higher class think they can make up the rules for us. But a lot of those big wigs have never really been down to the harsh life. They don’t know how it feels. So I’m trying to talk to people who are going through those hardships.” As is typical of Bradley, the song comes off not as a roaring jeremiad, but as a deeply-felt note of sympathy for the oppressed and beaten-down. But if the album has a summary statement, it’s “Through the Storm.” Over a deep gospel groove, Bradley expresses his gratitude - to his fans, his friends and to God - for their support, their dedication and their devotion. “When the world gives you love,” he sings, “It frees your soul.” This is the new message of Charles Bradley, the Bradley who has emerged from the heartache stronger and more confident, overflowing with love to share. This is Charles Bradley, victim of love — gratefully returning the joy that has been given to him.

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

Ditch the ride for a stress-free time E

veryone knows that parking blows in Santa Monica, but you don’t have to give up on the city by the sea. Just leave the car at home and walk, bike or bus it down to the Santa Monica Pier for this summer’s edition of the famous landmark’s 29th annual Twilight Concert Series. The most convenient way to play is by hopping on your beach cruiser, using pedal power. It’s a great way to lose weight, stay in shape and avoid traffic jams Downtown. The city by the sea has an extensive network of bike lanes; a Downtown Bike Center complete with showers, lockers and a repair shop; as well as a free bike valet just south of the pier for those attending the concerts. It’s right off the beach bike path for easy access. If you are riding from the northern side of town, Montana Avenue to Ocean Avenue is a great route with plenty of scenery. You may want to use one of the walk bridges that connect Palisades Park to the beach bike path or take it all the way to the pier’s entrance at Colorado Avenue and walk it down to the valet. If you are coming from the south, try Main Street, Neilson Way (which turns into Ocean Avenue at Pico Boulevard) or for a great view of the ocean hit Barnard Way. Make sure to turn west on Bicknell Avenue to get to the beach bike path for the last mile or so. Those coming from the east side of town by bike should take bike lanes on Arizona Avenue or Broadway for a stressfree ride. Both streets hit Ocean Avenue, which will lead you straight to the pier entrance. Always remember that a white head light and red back light are required when riding at night and that it is illegal to ride on sidewalks or fail to stop at all traffic signals and stop signs. Helmets are not required for adults, but they are recommended. You just might need that brain of yours. And don’t forget to bring a trusty, strong U-lock to secure your cycle if you decide to stop off for some snacks before the shows. For more information on biking in Santa Monica, visit www.bikesantamonica.org

BIG BLUE FOR YOU If biking isn’t your bag, check out the award-winning Big Blue Bus, Santa Monica’s public transit system that has hubs at UCLA and Culver City. Most routes end in Downtown, so no matter which one you take you’ll be able to get to the pier by walking only a short distance. And the cost is cheap; only $1 per ride for most passengers. Big Blue has added extra service on Line 3 in anticipation of concert crowds. Line 3 runs along Lincoln Boulevard and Montana Avenue. And if the Big Blue Bus doesn’t work for you, there’s always the Metro system of Rapid and regular buses that run regularly on Wilshire, Santa Monica, Pico and Lincoln boulevards. For a detailed map of BBB routes, visit bigbluebus.com, and for Metro hit www.metro.net.

PARK IT OK, so we know that taking alternative forms of transit is not that difficult, but if you must hop into your car, there are plenty of places to park in Santa Monica, the best and most affordable being those structures farther from Downtown. Santa Monica has a new parking app for your iPhone that makes finding spaces easier than ever before. Santa Monica Parking, powered by ParkMe, provides real-time parking information for City Hall’s 28 lots, 12 structures and 5,967 on-street metered spaces. The app also includes information on privately-owned parking facilities. iPhone users can download the app for free via the Apple App Store by using the search string “Santa Monica Parking.” Sorry Android users, but your app isn’t online just yet but check back soon as city officials promise to have one up shortly. Parking at the Downtown structures after 6 p.m. only cost $1 for 2.5 hours verses the previous rate of $5. Reduces parking rates at the Civic Center and the Main Library are $1 per hour and a $5 daily maximum, just in case you want to head down early for some shopping on the popular Third Street Promenade. For a complete list of parking resources and pricing, visit www.parkme.com and search “Santa Monica.”

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

Reggae Royalty ‘THE UPSETTER’ PLEASES FANS

ee “Scratch” Perry brought his one-of-a-kind soul, spirit, style and music to Santa Monica last week to the delight of music aficionados.

PHOTO CREDIT ERIC LIEB - LEE “SCRATCH” PERRY

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG

PHOTO CREDIT ERIC LIEB -

PHOTO CREDIT ERIC LIEB - MEXICO 68

WATCHING THE SHOW from the beach tonight? Don't forget to recycle your glass bottles and aluminum cans.

2411 Delaware Avenue in Santa Monica

(310) 453-9677

MICHIGAN 24TH

Santa Monica Recycling Center

CLOVERFIELD

Aluminum Plastic Glass Bi-Metal Newspaper CardboardWhite/Color/Computer Paper Copper & Brass X DELAWARE AVE. 10 WEST

PHOTO CREDIT ERIC LIEB -

30TH ANNUAL TWILIGHT CONCERTS

TWILIGHTSERIES.ORG