Articles by Athena Butterfield

The Clean, May 30, 2012, The Echo, Los Angeles

Posted on May 31, 2012

A London Fireman called Bingo introduced me to the sonic delights of The Clean (and The Birthday Party, The Swans, and Crime & the City Solution) and I never looked back. Bingo was a madman, but had great taste in music, last I heard he was a fire eater at Killing Joke shows. ‘Tis true.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gang of Four, February 21, 2011, Music Box Theatre, Los Angeles

Posted on March 4, 2011

The Music Box Theatre is another 1920s architectural gem which seem to abound in LA, thankfully.   I approached this show with a mixture of curiosity, excitement and, truth told, a sense of duty.   Duty bound to see these seminal, proto-punk practitioners of melodic angularity, white middle class funk and left leaning sentiments (among other things, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

The Rolling Stones, “Plundered My Soul”

Posted on July 5, 2010 and

HE SAID: Nonetheless, “Plundered My Soul” is a great song. One of the better tracks the Stones have recorded since Tattoo You. (And if I recall, Tattoo You included some “older” songs.)
SHE SAID: Exile’s exile. Something has been plundered, to be sure. Whether or not it’s Mr. Jagger’s by now splintered soul, I cannot say with certainty. I’ll ask him tomorrow at breakfast.

Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Weller, May 26, 2010, Royal Albert Hall, London

Posted on June 1, 2010

Any musical performance is enhanced and made magical at Royal Albert Hall. To see a legend like Paul Weller perform on its stage, just amazing. Legend? You may wonder from your Memorial Day Weekend BBQ, with the requisite ipod spitting out tinny tunes from the latest 18 syllable named band to emerge with a passable mp3 on Pitchfork…Rest assured, in the UK, he is exactly that.

Read the rest of this entry »

The End of Midnight, The End of Midnight

Posted on February 1, 2010

When midnight ends will it break a spell? Reveal ancient secrets? Or set your soul alight? So asks Elena Gonzales on her self produced debut EP.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tinted Windows, Tinted Windows

Posted on February 1, 2010 and

A recording such as this could illicit unbridled delight or scrimy cynicism. Who could have imagined these individuals appearing on a supergroup short list?

Read the rest of this entry »

The Cheeks, Raw Countryside

Posted on February 1, 2010

Hooked or hoodwinked?

Read the rest of this entry »