Night Moves Art of the Concert Date Los Angeles

By Kunal

June 8, 2017 9:00 am

A Brief Guide to the Art of the Concert Date in LA

THE CONCERT DATE is a key one for several reasons:

It is a guaranteed change from the norm and thus more memorable. Memorable is good.
Hitting a music venue in a ‘hood you might not typically visit otherwise is an excellent opportunity to explore said ‘hood. See above re: change from the norm.
Loud music leads to close talking. If done right, close talking leads to canoodling.

With these in mind, we bring you Night Moves*, a series of curated date night itineraries based around some of the best upcoming shows Los Angeles has to offer.

Three easy steps to get you and your sweetheart rolling on some tasty eats, frosty libations, and tunes for every taste.

Canoodling is up to you.

*Regrettably, the Detroit legend himself had no upcoming shows in the area and thus is not featured in this piece. IH acknowledges the irony and hopes to remedy the issue in future editions.

If you’re in the mood for …
A DANCING TO R&B
IN A SMALL CLUB

NICK WATERHOUSE
AT THE TERAGRAM BALLROOM

JUNE 21 • BUY YOUR TICKETS

Local musician Nick Waterhouse makes R&B with a hollow-body guitar sound and a brassy backup band. Plan to move your hips at this show.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
At BS Taqueria, Chef Ray Garcia makes his own Doritos by puffing wheat and adding a bunch of spices that’ll make you sweat. His tacos — filled with hot sausage and potatoes or garlicy mushrooms — provide a solid base for a night of booze and dancing.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
The Monty Bar is a few steps away from the Teragram and home to strong drinks and great DJs. There’s plenty of room to dance if you haven’t gotten the steps out of your system. Otherwise, the oversized banquettes are great for chatting it up with your friends.

If you’re in the mood for …
CLASSIC BLUES
IN AN INTIMATE SETTING

SHUGGIE OTIS
AT THE MINT

JULY 13 • BUY YOUR TICKETS

Shuggie Otis has one of the coolest, most soulful guitar licks in the entire blues canon. Songs like “Inspiration Information” and “Strawberry Letter 22” have been covered by many. On July 13th, the local musician will be playing in the living room-sized Mint.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
Grab some doughy, wood-burned pizzas and charred broccoli at Sotto. You may want to do your eating at the bar, where you can keep it thematic with the strawberry whiskey cocktail, From Dusk Til Dawn.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
Reserve a table for post-show cocktails at the Roger Room. Like Shuggie Otis, this spot doesn’t go out of style, probably because nothing here is trendy. It’s just classy. Close out the night with a glass of Ardbeg scotch.

LET’S TALK SCENTS …

FROM OUR PARTNER

So you’ve booked the restaurant. Concert tix firmly in your billfold. You’ve even got a plan for where to grab a nightcap afterward. Seems as though you’ve thought of everything, you date wizard you.

Well, almost everything. Don’t forget that an evening spent leaning in close to be heard over the band is a chance to impress your date with a scent they’ll appreciate as much as the music.

To wit: Mr. Burberry Eau De Parfum, the newest men’s fragrance from the storied British fashion house. A robust scent with an amber-and-vetiver base that recalls a classic English gentleman’s eau de toilette, it’ll keep you shipshape long after the last note’s been played.

If you’re in the mood for …
INDIE MUSIC AND PICNICS
AT A HISTORIC BAND SHELL

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN,
SPOON AND KRISTIN KONTROL

AUGUST 6 • BUY YOUR TICKETS

The term indie is a loaded — and often meaningless — one, but music lovers gravitate to it because bands that identify as such can cross genres seamlessly. So go the bands on the bill this evening at the Hollywood Bowl: Belle and Sebastian combine ’60s folk with new wave, Spoon is punk meets classic rock, and Kristin Kontrol is ’80s pop with a dash of R&B.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
The Hollywood Bowl is all about the picnic, and The Oaks Gourmet is the best place to score your Bowl picnic basket. They pack them a high quality bottle of vino, cold-cut sandwiches, baguettes, stinky cheeses and salty meats.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
After the show, head down to Filifera, the new rooftop bar at the Proper Residences. The patio here overlooks the hills so you’ll be getting a different view of the same spot. Also help you refresh your perspective: old fashioneds and tom collins.

If you’re in the mood for …
HEAD-NODDING TO ART ROCK
BY THE BEACH

WARPAINT
AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER

AUGUST 17 • RSVP FOR TICKETS

Warpaint makes atmospheric, lo-fi pop music with heady, often chanted lyrics that’ll lull you into a state of languor. It’s the perfect soundtrack to an evening sitting on the beach.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
Before the show, grab a box of handrolls from the new KazuNori in Santa Monica. If you haven’t been to a KazuNori, it’s the spin-off of Sugarfish. Inside these delicious cones you’ll find fresh crab, salmon and tuna rolled with warm, sweet rice.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
Before going to the show, pop in to Esters and grab a couple of bottles of white wine. After the show, come back, grab a stool at the marble bar and enjoy a stiff cocktail along with some lavender and salt almonds.

If you’re in the mood for …
ELECTRIC JAZZ
AND BLUEGRASS INDOORS

CHICK COREA AND
BELA FLECK AT THE WILTERN

AUGUST 20 • BUY YOUR TICKETS

Chick Corea remains one of the most impressive pianists in jazz. He’s played with everyone from Miles Davis to Herbie Mann. Tonight he’s playing with his Elektric Band, with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opening. You can rest assured that Corea will invite the innovative banjo player on stage to accompany him.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
Mama Lion is a new gastropub not far from the Wiltern where you can grub on crispy tater tots smothered in rich shortrib ragu and cheddar cheese and a pan-fried chicken schnitzel. All of this is to share, by the way. Unless you plan on going horizontal, don’t dare try to take that down by yourself.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
The Normandie Club is one of L.A.’s best bars. It’s timeless. It’s simple. It’s within walking distance from the Wiltern. The cocktails are stiff and tasty. But we’re interested in a Golden Road IPA tonight. Grab a table and the waiter will see you.

If you’re in the mood for …
LIVE ELECTRONICA
IN THE WOODS

If you’re in the mood for …
LIVE ELECTRONICA IN THE WOODS

AIR AT THE GREEK THEATRE

JUNE 25 • BUY YOUR TICKETS

AIR is touring the world to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The French electronic band cut its teeth in the era of Daft Punk and Busy P, and can go from atmospheric melodies to rollicking disco bangers at the flip of a switch. It’ll fill the evergreen-surrounded Greek Theater.

YOUR PRE-SHOW DINNER
Book an early table at Kismet for a Mediterranean feast of lamb belly, marinated mussels and fried cauliflower. The house bread and labneh are a must-get, and the fortified orange wine should be the top of your list, too.

YOUR POST-SHOW DRINKS
Covell is a cozy bar with a tight list of wines and beers and bartenders who know how to steer you in the right direction. Grab the couches in the far corner to decompress after a lively show.