I See Hawks in LA, Moira Smiley & Voco
March 8, 8 p.m., $16
McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Boulevard, 310.828.4497
Los Angeles-based band I See Hawks in LA plays tried and true country music in the vein of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings with an only-in-California lyrical bent. “Slash from Guns n’ Roses,” from the 2006 album California Country, turns a starstruck Beachwood Canyon party scene where the legendary guitarist duels his lookalike into a John Henry-styled folk epic in which the commentary is centered on celebrity culture rather than the rise of machine labor. Political commentary seeps through much of the band’s work, with three-minute stories set to songs, prompting listeners to think and rethink contemporary American culture. Also on the bill is Moira Smiley & Voco, a harmony-driven folk group that combines Eastern European and Appalachian styles for haunting effect.
Amp Fiddler, Babystone, DJ Anthony Valadez
March 12, 9 p.m., $15
Temple Bar, 1026 Wilshire Boulevard, 310.393.6611Best known for his years playing with George Clinton, keyboardist and vocalist Amp Fiddler has worked with a wide variety of artists ranging from Prince to Scottish rock band Primal Scream. As a solo artist, Fiddler combines his soulful voice with a mix of funk keyboards and house. On his latest album, Afro Strut, the Detroit-based musician joined forces with renowned DJ/producer Justin “Only Child” Crawford for a sound that is as innovative as it is pop friendly. Joining Fiddler will be local funk group Babystone and Temple Bar resident DJ Anthony Valadez.
