BUZZ BANDS

He’s got many callings, songs and friends

Singer-songwriter. Composer. Producer. Sideman. Closet ukulele enthusiast. For a guy who has been too shy to release music under his own name and who says he doesn’t get out much, Michael Andrews sure does have a lot of callings.

His latest is composing the music for the upcoming Jake Kasdan movie “The TV Set,” Andrews’ seventh film score (including “Donnie Darko” and “Me and You and Everyone We Know”). But this month, when he is not sequestered in his Glendale home studio, the 38-year-old multi-instrumentalist is hosting “The Open Mike Andrews” on Tuesday nights at Tangier. It’s a night of music, and occasional magic, that has Andrews -- a member of the Greyboy Allstars who has produced for Gary Jules, Inara George, Brendan Benson and Metric -- performing with guests. Van Dyke Parks and Jarvis Cocker have stopped by; on Tuesday night, Jules and Eleni Mandell were among the visitors.

“One rehearsal,” Andrews says. “I learned everybody’s song yesterday. It’s not fully orchestrated, of course, but they are versions ... and it’s fun.”

Andrews, a nervous sort who looks more like a grad student in particle physics than a pop frontman, also offered a set of music from an album he will self-release in February -- his first that will not bear his stage name, Elgin Park.

“It’s good to do something in the construct of something else -- it’s not as indulgent,” he says of his movie work. “But now I need to get my record out there.... I’m emotionally attached to these songs; they mean something to me right now.”

Lanois sets club dates

Spaceland booker Jennifer Tefft scored big when Daniel Lanois agreed to a four-show residency this month at the Silver Lake club, starting Tuesday night. Lanois, who has produced for U2 and Bob Dylan and is nominated for three Grammys this year, will play with Jim Wilson, Marcus Blake and Steven Nistor, using the gigs to tune up for a Feb. 3 date at the New York Guitar Festival.

“It’ll be more of a renegade setup -- we’ll roll down the hill and play,” says Lanois, who will perform songs from an as yet untitled album that may be released as soon as April. “It’s a very band-oriented album, and I’m working with some lovely musicians.”

At the Carnegie Hall show, Lanois will screen his experimental film “Silvio” to a live soundtrack.

Fast

forward

* Touts: Filmmaker Michael Bishop kicks off a series of rock-oriented activities at 10 tonight at the Sunset Laemmle 5 with a screening of his 67-minute documentary, “Rage: 20 Years of Punk Rock West Coast Style,” followed by a set by the teenage punk outfit the Diffs. It’ll be the first time a Laemmle theater hosts live music; Bishop (www.radiusarts.com) aims to mount a weekly series that mixes screenings, shorts and trailers by emerging filmmakers with live music.... The Longcut, a new trio from Manchester, Britain, debuts its dance-rock in L.A. on Tuesday at Cinespace and Wednesday at the Silverlake Lounge.... One of the L.A. underground’s favorite emcees, Subtitle, is working on new material; he performs Friday at the Echo and Monday at Tangier.... Kristin Hersh’s show Jan. 12 at Tangier is a sellout, and a second has been added the following night. She will perform one set of Throwing Muses tunes and another of her solo material.

* Shouts: To the Icarus Line, the Warlocks and the Living Things -- nice outfit, Lillian Berlin -- for a rockin’ New Year’s Eve at the Little Radio warehouse party.... And to Viva K, for blasting into ’06 on the first night of its Monday residency at Spaceland. Bring on the sitar.

Kevin Bronson

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Recommended downloads

* Sample Michael Andrews’ music at www.elginpark.com.

* Download Kristin Hersh’s music at www.throwingmusic.com/freemusic.