Donavon Frankenreiter / The Band of Heathens
Donavon Frankenreiter, The Band of Heathens
Troubadour9081 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles 90069
At the Troubadour, Donavon Frankenreiter and The Band of Heathens share a two-act bill. The listing frames Frankenreiter around The Heart, an album of closely connected songs written from a personal place, recorded at Blue Rock Studios in Texas in sessions that were streamed live as the record took shape. It is a night pairing his singer-songwriter work with Austin’s Band of Heathens.
Frankenreiter has been a solo recording artist for more than a decade and collaborated with songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips on Pass It Around and material for The Heart. The Band of Heathens formed in 2005, with songwriters Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist as its continuing creative core. The band is known for a soulful blend of country and rock, its independent approach, live work and the platinum-certified “Hurricane.” Its Remote Transmissions, Vol. 1 included performances with Butch Walker, Hayes Carll and Robert Ellis. The Austin Chronicle called the band’s online sessions “loose and having fun,” while Glide pointed to its “easy chemistry” and “stubborn independence.”
The Troubadour’s claim to fame is written into pop history: Elton John made his American debut here in 1970, and the musicians who became the Eagles met around the club. It remains an active West Hollywood live-music venue, with current concerts listed at its Santa Monica Boulevard address. Expect a ticketed show in a compact club room, with a bar and a small kitchen serving burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders, and fries. Seating depends on the event; where it is limited, the venue says it is generally first come, first served, so check your show’s details before arriving. Doors typically open an hour before the performance, and most shows finish between 11 p.m. and midnight, though timing varies. The venue sits near Doheny Drive, on a stretch of West Hollywood with nearby bars and restaurants.