By DONNA BALANCIA
It’s not often we pitch a particular show but this one is quite special.
Tonight, some favorite bands, Ex-Cult, Die Group and Enemy, will play the hotter-than-hot Moroccan Lounge. But more importantly, the show is being promoted by respected rock photographer, Dave Fearn, known to the LA underground crowd as Sh!tshow Dave.
It’s an odd nickname for such a classy British guy who has made photographing and promoting up-and-coming punk and indie-alt musicians his life’s calling. Fearn does great work, and, thus, his nickname couldn’t be further from the truth.
A fixture on the alt-music scene, Fearn is making inroads as a promoter and he’s bringing his friends along for the ride.
Fearn Puts Passion Into his Work
“I do this because I love it,” Fearn said. “I have no ulterior motive other than to help musicians and portray people in a good light.”
And that he does. The proof is in the faces of the many musicians he’s photographed whose black and white portraits line the walls of a most popular DTLA hangout.
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Ex-Cult, Die Group and Enemy
As for this special Thursday night gig, headliner Ex-Cult is one of the most popular punk bands out there today. The frontman Chris Shaw is compelling, typically leaning on the mic stand, swaying from side to side and yelling out his gutturral, raging lyrics to a moshing crowd. Ex-Cult is coming off a very hot performance at Desert Daze, where Shaw was in the hands of the fans, crowdsurfing and singing his angst-filled compositions while held aloft.
Ex-Cult: From Memphis to LA
Ex-Cult may be from Memphis but there’s not much of a resemblance in the music to famous fellow Memphis-ites Aretha Franklin or Elvis Presley. The band was founded six years ago by Shaw and MIchael Peery at the Lamplighter, a Memphis joint that allegedly has a capacity of 37.
Die Group has been around as long as dirt and they’re just as difficult to wash off. After all, the music stays with you long after you leave their boisterous presence. Last July, the band, comprised of Eric BigArm on guitar, Reuben Kaiban on drums and lead vocals, and Natalie Grace Sweet on bass, released their album Disease Control.
Enemy opens the show and the DJ is Real Child From Hell. Doors are at 8 p.m., first band goes on at 9 p.m. And what we really like best about this gig is it only costs $10 to get in. Get tickets here.
Now where are you gonna find a better night than that?
Check out the Promo Video for tonight’s show here:
