Getty's Saturdays Off the 405 Concert Series Returns for 2012

Free music series returns with performances by Dum Dum Girls, Allen Stone, Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang, and Nick Waterhouse

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May 09, 2012

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Saturdays Off the 405 is back this month with a new mix of free outdoor performances by a dynamic and eclectic line-up of bands, along with DJ sets to open and close each night.

Guests can enjoy outdoor music and evening views of the city, and drink in the refreshing summer exhibitions the Getty has to offer. Once again this year, there will be free spotlight talks that offer mini-tours of the galleries throughout the evening.

“Saturdays Off the 405 is a great time to see the Getty after dark, enjoy the exhibitions, and watch your soon-to-be favorite bands,” said Laurel Kishi, public programs manager at the J. Paul Getty Museum. “This season has something for everyone, from girl punk-pop to dance music from Sierra Leone.”

Kicking off the 2012 series on May 19 is Dum Dum Girls, a fuzzed-out pop band fronted by songwriter Dee Dee. Their signature blend of the girl-gang eyeliner punk of the Shangri-Las, the trashy propulsion of the Cramps, and the moody atmospherics of Mazzy Star has won over a world of fans during their massively successful headline tours. All that time on the road has molded the Dum Dum Girls into a formidable rock-n-roll band, giving the music an undeniable force. Also performing: DJ Neil Schield, owner of Origami Vinyl, spins from his impressive record collection.

On June 16, the Getty welcomes Allen Stone. With a voice that belies his young age, Stone is a "pitch-perfect powerhouse" (USA Today). The smooth falsetto vocals on his sophomore album integrate classic soul, catchy pop hooks, R&B beats and folk roots with lyrical matters of broken relationships, poisonous politics, and the age-old topic of simple, pure celebration. Stone got his start singing at his father’s church in small-town America, but it wasn’t until he was introduced to the greats of soul music—Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and the confessional lyrics of singer/songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s—that he found the passion that would eventually carry him to a musical home.

On July 14, Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang will rock the house with bubu, a style of dance music that is characterized by a frantic pace and has centuries-old religious origins in Sierra Leone. The Bubu Gang, featuring members of the Skeletons and Gang Gang Dance, among others, is a posse of musical collaborators Nabay has hooked up with in the U.S. The Gang creates a wild, high-octane juggernaut of call-and-response vocal interplay, juddering dance-floor rhythms, synths, and guitars.

On July 28, vintage R&B revivalist Nick Waterhouse combines an uncanny old-school sensibility with a charged, contemporary style. His muse is the over-modulated sound of 60s R&B, and his take on such a time-honored tradition evokes the back-alley thrill of New Orleans, Detroit, and Memphis in their heyday. Waterhouse’s live performances, backed by the Tarots, thrill with his pure and undeniably raw and rhythmic take on American music. They’ll perform songs from his forthcoming full-length album, Time’s All Gone.

In addition to the music, Spotlight after Dark tours offer provocative, 20-minute explorations and discussions of art with a Getty Museum educator. Tours depart at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

All performances take place in the Museum Courtyard from 6:00–9:00 p.m. A cash bar will be available with Getty-tinis and more, and the Garden Terrace Cafe will offer sandwiches, salads, and other snacks (both until 8:30 p.m.) No outside alcohol is allowed on site.

Entrance is free, and parking is $10 after 5 p.m. Construction on the 405 may affect travel time to the Getty. Visitors are encouraged to check Metro’s twitter feed for updates.

Saturdays Off the 405 Schedule

Saturday, May 19, 2012 Dum Dum Girls with DJ Neil Schield Watch the official video of "Bedroom Eyes" from the Dum Dum Girls latest release Only in Dreams (SubPop, 2011)

Saturday, June 16, 2012 Allen Stone Watch a performance of "Unaware" from his self-titled album, Allen Stone (2011, StickyStones)

Saturday, July 14, 2012 Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang Watch a video of "Eh Congo" from Bubu Kin (2010, True Panther Sounds)

Saturday, July 28, 2012 Nick Waterhouse Watch Nick perform "Some Place" from his debut album Time’s All Gone for the Urban Outfitters Music Video Series (2012, Innovative Leisure)

Saturday, September 15, 2012 Artist to be announced

Saturday, October 20, 2012 Artist to be announced

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