Everyone’s favorite music store on steroids, Amoeba Music, has done it again, this time concocting a kick-ass calendar of upcoming free shows at their Hollywood location.  I learned of this on the way out of a casual “I’m-just-gonna-run-by-Amoeba-really-quick” outing (which inevitably turned into a five hour mega-spending spree) when a Cold War Kids poster caught my eye…then a Grouplove poster…then an Iron & Wine poster.  By the third flyer, I was suppressing squeals and punching my boyfriend in the shoulder repeatedly, and it dawned on me: this must be shared.  

Let me just start off by saying, all these concerts are all ages and free. FREE. This word, as glorious as it is, is code for show up early. EARLY.  Ok, Here we go.

Iron & Wine, Monday, January 24th at 7pm

 

Come see the beard that launched a thousand ships.  Sam Beam (the scraggly face behind Iron & Wine) is playing to promote the release of the new album, Kiss Each Other Clean, which drops the next day on Tuesday, January 25th.  You can totally pre-purchase the album, too.  Which of course means you can run home and post lyrics that NO ONE EVEN KNOWS YET as your Facebook status in hopes that someone will ask you what they mean so you can explain your exclusiveness.  Also, once you buy your exclusive new album you can also get a super special Iron & Wine “Live at Amoeba” poster (while supplies last) and maybe even get it signed. (Excuse me, Sam Beam? Can you dip your beard in ink and rub it on the poster, please?)

Also, if something petty like work or school keeps you from being able to attend, the show will be streamed live on Amoeba.com!  And if you manage to miss that too, then come see them play at The Wiltern on January 25th and 26th.

Cold War Kids, Tuesday, January 25th, 6pm

These guys are playing in celebration of their new album, Mine Is Yours, which drops that day.  So, unfortunately, if you decide to post new Cold War Kids lyrics as your Facebook status, there’s a chance that someone might actually know what you’re talking about.  Bummer. Fortunately, to ease that pain, you can also get a FREE LIMITED-EDITION POSTER with you purchase of the new album!  Aaand, maybe you can even get it signed by the band themselves, which should open many opportunities of one-uppery over your not-nearly-as-cool friends. Cold War Kids are also playing at The Bootleg Theater on January 24th (Grouplove, below, is opening). 

Grouplove, Thursday, January 27th, 6pm

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been hearing a lot about this band recently.  From being chosen as a concert pick twice and an awesome interview/review from Lauren Novik (read it here), chances are this quintet is worth checking out.  They’re playing to promote their self-titled EP which comes out on January 25th.  Also, they’re playing the Bootleg Theater on January 24th (opening for Cold War Kids, above), in case you want to rightfully jump the gun.

Baths, Tuesday, February 1st, 7pm

Word on the street is that this band’s (who is really just a dude named Will Wiesenfeld) debut album, Cerulean, was pretty freaking good.  It made its way onto a bunch of best-of-2010 lists, including Pitchfork’s. Here’s what they had to say: “… Wiesenfeld is an excellent curator who is capable of tying all these broad strokes together into a palatable whole. He manages to shift expectations even more with the genre-bucking garrulousness of his live show, further adding to the welcome dashes of wit and color that are riddled throughout these recordings.” – Nick Neyland, Pitchfork. Amoeba’s site describes them as rocking an “electronic/pop/percussive synth mix”.  Come see them play here for free, and if you can’t make that, check them out at the Troubadour on March 5th.

Men, Wednesday, February 2nd, 6pm

 

Straight out of Brooklyn, the band Men is bound to be a unique at with their emphasis on the potential of live performances and dance music to shock and excite.  According to Amoeba, the band is comprised of: “JD Samson (Le Tigre) and fellow Hirsute members Michael O’Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR, The Ballet)…with Johanna Fateman and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers.”  Men is playing to promote their new album, Talk About Body, which drops February 1st.  Check them out at the Echoplex on March 26th, as well.

Be sure to check out one or two or all of these awesome bands that are passing through Amoeba’s Hollywood location.  

A final checklist:

The address is 6400 Sunset Blvd.
Check out Amoeba’s calendar here: http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/calendars.html
The shows are free so show up early
The shows are all ages so come kiddies, come elderly
Just be prepared to rock/groove/ogle/sing/get cool stuff.