Arts & Events: May 2009 Archives

This week legendary English blues/rock singer Joe Cocker will be headlining the Nokia Theatre in Downtown. Dallas-bred multiple Grammy Award-winning soul singer-songwriter Erykah Badu is poised to grace Club Nokia. Toronto-based electronica musician Peaches will be taking on a two-night stint, sex-ing up the Henry Fonda Music Box. And, lastly, Swedish microhouse proponent Axel Willner, otherwise known as the Field, will be performing alongside the Juan Maclean at the Avalon.

Tonight Canadian punk band Propagandhi will be headlining the Echoplex. Early on in the day, Brooklyn-based folk rock troubadour Langhorne Slim (LAist Review, #2) is poised to perform at the Echo for this month's edition of Kidrockers. As always, you need a child in hand to gain admission. And, lastly, LA-based indie rock troubadour Devon Williams will be gracing the Smell in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to the hole-and-corner Pehrspace to catch the multi-faceted drummer, percussionist, pianist and vibraphonist of indie rock band Aloha, Cale Parks. LAist favorites the Flying Tourbillon Orchestra (LAist Review, #2) are slated to kick things off.

Following the fanfare of a star-studded Thursday red carpet opening, the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club is officially here. And while the Lovitz club likes to throw around the idea that Los Angeles hasn’t had a new comedy club in 30 years, that PR spin really discounts the amount of stand up that goes on at the less-than-5-year-old UCB, or the revamped and reopened Downtown Comedy Club. But be that as it may, it certainly is exciting to see new comedy come out of the woodwork, when places all around us are closing up shop.

Brooklyn’s School of Seven Bells returned to L.A. last night with their tribaldelic dream-pop. If you haven’t been initiated into this cultish trio, School of Seven Bells is guitarist Ben Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines) and identical twin vocalists Claudia and Alejandra Dehaza (formerly of artsy vocal group On! Air! Library!). The sisters intertwine harmonies in styles tough to pigeonhole, except to say they are exactingly crafted (with hints of everything from The Roches to the Bulgarian Women’s Choir). Curtis jabs heavily processed chords and splashes bright colors. And everything rests on electronic beats that feel one step ahead of trends.

Tonight Georgia-bred singer-songwriter Meiko (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4, #5) Georgia-bred singer-songwriter/producer Butch Walker will be performing among a handful of prominent artists for this year's Bu Fest, an eco-friendly festival which takes place at Paramount Ranch in Malibu (UPDATE: Meiko's appearance has been canceled, according to her MySpace). Brooklyn-based folk rock troubadour Langhorne Slim (LAist Review, #2) is poised to headline Spaceland. And, lastly, Berlin's own garage rock troupe King Khan and the Shrines will be concluding a two-night stint at the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Escarpment in Huntington Park to catch experimental electronic outfit Black Dice. LAist favorite Sir Richard Bishop, an experimental American guitarist and former member of Sun City Girls, is slated to kick things off.

While many not-for-profits are struggling when it comes to funding and donations, one more positive fallout of this little recession is an increase in volunteer hours. LA's Zach Istrin and Justin Bird are perfect examples of this wave of volunteerism. With more time on their hands, they decided to start volunteering, a lot. With hopes of raising awareness and motivating other young people, they began writing about all their experiences on their blog, the LA Karma Project. So for anyone who has been thinking about donating some of their time, the LA Karma Project is a great starting point for reading about some first-hand experiences with different LA organizations, such as Project Angel Food and Shane's Inspiration. Zach and Justin were kind enough to answer some of our questions and offer up some good advice...you can even join them on one of their volunteer adventures.

Improv, along with sketch and stand up, comprises the three main pillars of comedy. Yet most people who go to comedy shows see stand up first, sketch second, and improv a distant third. Indeed, not a single Harold Night goes by at UCB without someone raising their hand at the question ‘who’s never seen improv before’. So, for those of you still living under joke rocks (or those hide-a-key rocks...how funny are THOSE?!), next week is your chance.

       

I'm not sure how much more I can write about Up that I didn't relate in my review from yesterday. Simply put -- go see it! Unless you're a misguided fool like Armond White, you'll love it. Nice to see Sam Raimi taking a dip back into the horror pool with Drag Me to Hell (although the PG-13 rating is chickenshit). I'll never understand why Alison Lohman isn't a bigger star. Watch her in Where the Truth Lies and tell me she isn't fantastic.

Calling me from an In n' Out Burger somewhere in Northern California, Lexy Benaim is happy. He's on tour with fellow Brooklynite up and comers Passion Pit, his band has been listed as one of the bands to watch by Paste magazine, and most importantly he's got his hands on some animal fries. Life is pretty good. Harlem Shakes' debut disk, Technicolor Health, is brimming with sunshine and catchy pop hooks without being overly sweet. It's the kind of album you would want on a bike ride along Venice Beach or on a picnic in Griffith Park. Between mouthfuls of fries, Lexy was kind enough to answer some of our probing questions. Harlem Shakes - Sunlight

Tonight’s the opening night for Cole Porter’s Red, Hot and Blue! at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. This Depression era screwball comedy deals with a National Lottery offering a first prize to anyone who finds a long-lost love with a rare identification mark. Included are the Cole Porter classics "It's De-Lovely," "Down in the Depths (On the 90th Floor)," "Ridin' High" and "Red, Hot and Blue!" The show begins at 8 pm tonight and runs through July 5.

Tonight, as always, local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. Baltimore-based avant-gardists Animal Collective (LAist Review, #2) are headlining a sold-out show at the Wiltern with Portland's own experimental folk songstress Grouper. Montreal-bred DJ/producer Tiga will be gracing the Avalon with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem opening on the decks. And, lastly, New Mexico-based psych folk rockers Brightblack Morning Light will be sharing the stage at Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock with Brooklyn's own folk songstress Rio En Medio. The irony here, of course, is that the actual Rio En Medio, or "river in between," can be found in New Mexico; perfect pairing. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Echoplex to catch Cambridge-bred electro-pop outfit Passion Pit (LAist Review). LAist favorites Brooklyn-based indie rockers Harlem Shakes are slated to kick things off.

                            

To a rousing success, last night the 2nd Annual Taste of Avalon kicked off the Flying Fish Festival for the weekend. Unlike the Taste of Chicago where restaurants set up booths in one central location, Avalon's taste has you going from restaurant to restaurant. And it works because the small city's downtown is about five blocks long, which makes the event a great way to experience the city.

                     

Although it may look like a convenience store from a distance, as you draw closer, it's obvious that 826LA's "Echo Park Time Travel Mart" is something special. After all, it's not every day you get to purchase items that appear to be from the distant past...as well as the future! Some of the products are so whimsical that first-time visitors often ask, "Is this actually for sale?" Items range from "Robot Milk" to "Barbarian Repellent," and once inside the store, you can't help but feel like you've stepped into a space-time way station.

“This is the picture that I want to be remembered by," Charlie Chaplin said of his film, "The Gold Rush," when it opened. Subtitled “A Dramatic Comedy,” the film finds Chaplin portraying a lone prospector who searches for love and acceptance in the frenzy of the great Klondike gold rush. The flick contains many of Chaplin’s most celebrated comedy sequences, including the boiling and eating of his shoe, the dance of the dinner rolls, and the teetering cabin.

Every so often, two movies play in theaters that appear so similar, it rips a hole in the cultural zeitgeist. Antz & A Bug's Life. Armageddon & Deep Impact. Capote & Infamous. Back to the Future & Back to the Future. Take your pick; the entire trilogy plays this weekend at both the New Beverly and the Aero. Same Doc-day, same Doc-ticket price. It's probably easier to sneak beverages into the New Bev, but Great Scott - do NOT, under any circumstances, play the Back to the Future drinking game! Trust me on this...

Last month at Unique LA, we met David Trotter from Kauzbots. These fabric robots are 18 inches tall, super cute, and raise money for organizations around the world. We took home Kalvin the leader of the "Kauzbot Krew". Buying Kalvin meant that 10% of the purchase price went to Hearts of Gold an organization with a mission to enhance the lives of New York City's homeless mothers and children.

Watching the LA Opera’s production of La Traviata on its opening night, it was easy to see why this is one of the most-performed pieces of music in the classical repertoire. Its themes are writ large: sex, death, decadence, betrayal, and all-conquering love, set to a rapturous score, one that consistently rewards the most heroic of singers. While it may seem like LA’s been getting too much of a good thing lately (it’s been part of three of the last four seasons at the Chandler), it really is the kind of thing you can watch again and again, especially when the production’s this good.

                     

Every time Pixar releases a new film, one wonders, "Is this the one that breaks the long string of phenomenal critical and commercial success?" I mean, surely a film studio can't continue to release inventive, profitable movies ad infinitum, right? It's just too implausible; even the very brilliant have slumps. Christ, the gold standard that is the Coen Brothers made the god-awful The Ladykillers, didn't they?! And yet...Pixar keeps churning out absolutely top-notch work and -- against all probability -- Up may just be their best film yet.

              

Highlight of the show had to be extended mix of "Firestarter". Maxim Reality left the stage and Keith took over like a man possessed. If there were a portion of the show that could be compared to Rock and Roll this was it. I don't think anyone will ever compare Flint to any of Rock Music's great front men, but watching him standing in the middle of the stage and whipping the crowd into a frenzy, I couldn't help but think the pale skin and blond hair echoed a tougher, sharper version of Johnny Rotten.

Believe it or not, Shepard Fairey’s work isn’t in this art exhibit. M+B gallery presents the first exhibit of never-before-seen photographs of President Barack Obama from his freshman year Occidental College. (Eagle Rock in the house!) Lisa Jack, then a photo student at Oxy, sought a striking subject for a portrait project and was tipped off about a charismatic student named “Barry” Obama. Little did anyone know that 28 years later, the subject would become the 44th President of the United States. The opening reception (with eco-friendly cocktails provided by Veev) will be held tonight from 6-9 pm. “Barack Obama: The Freshman” runs until July 18.

Tonight legendary British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac will be headlining the Staples Center in Downtown. Claremont-bred singer-songwriter Ben Harper is poised to headline the Wiltern with hometown heroes the Henry Clay People in tow. Cambridge-bred electro-pop outfit Passion Pit (LAist Review) will be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour with Brooklyn-based indie rockers Harlem Shakes. And, lastly, Tulsa-based songstress St. Vincent will be gracing the El Rey Theatre with Philadelphia-based band of brothers Pattern Is Movement. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch former American Analog Set front man Andrew Kenny's latest project the Wooden Birds.

       

On Saturday night, Lenora Claire invites everyone to the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery closing night party for her show Bettie Page: Heaven Bound. The night will feature signings by the artist Olivia and a Bettie Page look-a-like contest.

From the Taste of Avalon to Peddle Boat Race to a parade featuring Huell Howser, the 2nd Annual Flying Fish Festival in Catalina Island's main city, Avalon, is ready to pack a punch over the next four days. It begins tomorrow with a variety of activities including the Taste of Avalon where restaurants gather in the middle of town and dole out $1 or cheaper samples of their best dishes.

The TV Junkie is away (back on June 8th) but we'll give you some highlights of what to watch this week, another update will be posted next week: Other than Al Pacino slated to play Dr. Kevorkian in an HBO pic, the other big highlight is that this is the final week of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" - catch it while you can. Wednesday: 8:00pm Season premiere of "Wipeout" (ABC) 9:00pm Series premiere of Mike Judge's "The Goode Family" (ABC)

Anna David (writer/TV personality/Twitteraholic) recently told LAist she’s obsessed with writing about the “seedy underbelly” of “so-called glamorous things.” In “Bought,” her second novel, David does just that, exploring the sexy, dysfunctional world of Hollywood's "kept women." “Bought” follows Emma Swanson, a young journalist who would call herself “up and coming” if her superiors asked, though they're not. As a complacent red carpet reporter, with no luck tracking down important A-list interviews, she finds the only thing less satisfying than her work-life is her dating-life.

Are you in the mood for some laughs? The Improv in Hollywood has something in line for your comedic enjoyment for tonight. Funniest in L.A. contest is sure to provide some great laughs as well as getting you acquainted with up and coming talent from the area. Show starts at 8 PM and it is only $14.

Tonight '90s British electropunk outfit the Prodigy will be making their triumphant return to the Hollywood Palladium with SF/LA-based electronic collaboration the Glitch Mob. Portland-based indie rockers the Thermals are poised to headine the Troubadour with the Shaky Hands in tow. Local alternative rock outfit War Tapes will be ringing in their forthcoming debut at Boardner's. And, lastly, Swedish indie pop guru Jens Lekman will be taking on a two-night stint at the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch former Red House Painters front man, San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek as Sun Kil Moon. LAist's favorite chanteuse Mia Doi Todd is slated to kick things off.

                     

Last night's large Day of Decision protest and march went peacefully through nearly six and half miles of West Hollywood and Los Angeles streets. There was lots of frustration, but also chants of encouragement, statements written in yellow chalk on the sidewalks and streets and people to meet.

In Los Angeles, being a Largo person is much like being a Mac person--those who experience it can't help but buy into its philosophy and talk about it to everyone they know. Under the watchful eye of Belfast-born owner Mark Flanagan, this music and comedy venue has evolved through the years, with each iteration nudging it closer to Flanagan's ideal. One year ago, Largo moved from its previous location on Fairfax to the Coronet Theatre on La Cienega. The historic theater, which features both a large and a small stage

       

LAist favorite Sasha Grey has been quite a media sensation due to her leading role in Steven Soderbergh's , with film critic Roger Ebert even observing that "I haven't seen any of [her adult work], but now I would like to see one, watching very carefully, to see if she suggests more than one level."

Last year, LAist sat down with singer/songwriter/film composer Peter Salett, to discuss his solo albums and his scoring work on films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Role Models." Salett's new project is a collaboration with celebrated jazz musician Larry Goldings, who has released 10 solo records and worked with everyone from Madeleine Peyroux to James Taylor. The Salett/Goldings partnership got a kick-start when they met up one day to "maybe write a song," and it quickly turned into a full record. Their upcoming "Carriage House Sessions" album is a collection of originals with a few American songbook selections sprinkled throughout the record. Tonight, Salett and Goldings will begin a weekly residency in Largo at the Coronet's Little Room. LAist caught up with Salett earlier today for a mini interview about this new collaboration.

       

Large swaths of red-blooded American males have been waiting for this moment since March of 2000 (NSFW) and today that moment finally arrives -- Jessica Biel is nekkid in a movie (unbelievably NSFW)! Of course, by all accounts Powder Blue is a terrible film, but why let something like that stop you from buying it, right? It surely can't be any worse than the week's "big" release, New in Town. What has happened to Renee Zellweger? Not every notable 70s movie was actually good. Zabriskie Point will make you laugh but not in a good way. Forever Strong has two things going for it: it's about rugby and it stars the amazing Gary Cole.

It seems that in the past month, you can't throw a joke book without hitting Garfunkel & Oates at some show around town. Not that you'd want to; these lovely ladies are quickly mastering the craft of beautiful songs with enough comedic edge to keep you in your seats. Both Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci are well known faces on television and film, but their most recent musical endeavors have made them fan favorites around the Los Angeles alternative comedy scene, as well as online, where their single-take 'couch videos' are blowing up all over YouTube. LAist was fortunate enough to catch up with the ladies in the middle of their whirlwind month of performing, recording, and making new music videos for the fans. And let's not forget their UCB show on Wednesday!

THEATRE* ShortLived 2.0 is SF-based PianoFight’s short playwriting competition, and it’s making its LA debut as ShortLived LA at 8 pm tonight at Theatre Asylum. Tickets are $15-$20. Last week, eight original pieces written by local LA writers hit the stage; the highest scoring piece will automatically get a spot in the SF Championship Weekend for a chance to win the grand prize: an invitation to pen a full-length piece produced by PianoFight and staged for a one-month in San Francisco.

Tonight Florida-bred singer-songwriter/actress Mandy Moore will be gracing Amoeba Records with an in-store performance. Cambridge-based pop rock outfit Chester French (LAist Interview) are poised to share the stage at the El Rey Theatre with Lady Sovereign. And, lastly, Toronto's own alternative country act the Sadies will be making their triumphant return to Spaceland. But we strongly suggest heading over the Echo to catch Long Beach-based indie quartet Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview), who will be concluding their month-long residency. LAist favorites Divisadero are slated to kick things off.

After this morning's ruling that gay marriage will remain illegal in California, things outside the California Supreme Court in San Francisco started to get a little out of hand. Locally, the LAPD announced logistics to the media about tonight's permitted protest in Hollywood. They advised reporters of media staging areas, the route and what to do if the march is declared as an unlawful assembly.

There's a lot of good stuff around town, as the comedy world gears up for next week's LA Improv Festival at iO West. Garfunkel and Oates are at UCB, Jo Koy is out and about, and Dave Attell is headlining with some hardcore hilarious folks. Not to mention Patton and his friends, and Maria Bamford at The Improv. It's stand up time!

              

Local songstress Juliette Commagere has had the Monday night residency at The Echo, and last week, she was joined by Ceci Bastida, Commagere's brother Robert Francis, and Fresno-based Rademacher.

Tonight Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) will be concluding her month-long residency at the Echo with the Chapin Sisters and Jogger in tow. Brooklyn-based retro 70s psych rockers Golden Animals are poised to headline the Silver Lake Lounge. And, lastly, Kansas-bred experimental folk outfit Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk will be performing at Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch the final night of local experimental psych folk duo Gangi's (LAist Review) month-long residency. LAist favorites Local Natives (LAist Review) are slated to close things out.

Kinda quiet on the event front on the Memorial Day, so here are a few ideas for those of you who aren't 'cuing it up at home today. FILM BBQ The 5 Minutes Game & Cinefamily Memorial Day BBQ happens at 6 pm tonight at the SIlent Movie Theatre. “What we're gonna do is choose fifteen movies you've likely never seen before (with most, if not all the films unavailable on DVD), line 'em up, and only show you the first five minutes of each, not counting their opening credits. After all that, you, the audience, gets to vote on which film out of the fifteen we all then watch in its entirety.” Bring something to cook on the Cinefamily Grill. Tickets are $10, and the 'cue starts at 6 pm.

While it was expected to be a close race, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian ($53.5M) easily topped Terminator Salvation ($43M) to capture the weekend box office crown. Both of these borderline movies will surely be blown out of the water next week by the absolutely fantastic Up (saw it; loved it). Star Trek slipped to third but still had a strong weekend ($21.9M/$183.5M), managing to edge last week's champ Angels & Demons ($21.4M/$81.5M). Newcomer Dance Flick finished fifth with a decent take of $11.1M.

This week legendary British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac will be headlining the Staples Center in Downtown. '90s British electropunk outfit the Prodigy will be making their triumphant return to the Hollywood Palladium. Baltimore-based avant-gardists Animal Collective (LAist Review, #2) are headlining a sold-out show at the Wiltern with Portland's own experimental folk songstress Grouper. And, lastly, Cambridge-bred electro-pop outfit Passion Pit (LAist Review) will be taking LA by storm with two sold-out shows: one at the Troubadour, one at the Echoplex.

This CNN excerpt shows the visually stunning organ at the Disney hall but the sound is not something easily duplicated. Check it out tonight at the Disney Hall at 7:30 for the full experience. Also, Christopher Eschenbach returns to the Disney Hall for a set of concerts showcasing his abilities as a conductor and pianist. Eschenbach has been conducting all weekend long, with a concert at 2 of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. If the 2 PM concert is too late for you, check out the organ concert tonight at 7:30 PM. If you haven't heard it, the Disney Hall organ provides one of the most exciting and intense sounds that you'll ever hear from any instrument. Naji Hakim is the soloist, of music by Hakim, Franck, and Couperin.

Cris Kirkwood is having trouble. It’s the middle of his band the Meat Puppets’ record release party, and the big spazz can’t seem to control himself sufficiently to keep his bass plugged in. This time, he’s yanked two cords at once, and struggles to get it happening again while his brother Curt continues spewing out clouds of acid-damaged noise on the other side of the stage. Noticing something wrong, Curt helpfully saunters over, holds one finger up to his right nostril, and blows a booger out the left one onto his hapless sibling’s shoulder. Cris’ first instinct upon getting the whole thing humming once again is to slide the neck against the amplifier head and begin humping it Jimi Hendrix-style.

Tonight Los Gatos-based prog rockers Dredg will be concluding a sold-out two-night stint at the Troubadour with Miami's own metal heads Torche in tow. Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle is poised to take on McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. And, lastly, local country troubadour Mike Stinson is poised to rock early on at Redwood Bar & Grill in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to UCLA Intramural Field to catch the opening night of the Jazz & Reggae Festival. Not only will legendary multiple Grammy Award-winning soul singer-songwriter Erykah Badu be gracing us with her presence, but LAist favorites De La Soul, Nino Moschella and People Under the Stairs will be performing as well.

The Jazz Reggae Festival at UCLA is a two-day annual music festival held every Memorial Day Weekend that celebrates music, art, culture and diversity, while hosting some of the world's most prominent musicians in Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul, and Reggae. This year they have a new theme: "A Culture of Change." With this in mind, the festival will be implementing more initiatives to make our show zero-waste as well as environmentally and socially sustainable. Today's lineup includes: Erykah Badu, De La Soul, Leela James, People Under the Stairs, Ayo, Nino Moschella, Mateo, NK Band, Kalil Wilson and the Berkeley Everret Sextet, and Louder Than Words.

Ah, Dane Cook. Regarded by some as the aggressive and rugged face of fun, energetic comedy. Sort of the anti-Mitch Hedberg. For others, Dane is a posterboy for an altogether different type of comic: the plagiarizer, the man without a punchline. Personally, I have long held that Dane Cook is a performer and not a stand up comedian, in the way that Bob Villa was a TV show host and not a licensed contractor. For the better part of a decade, you couldn’t be handed a transcript of a Dane Cook set, read it, and think it was funny. There just weren’t any JOKES in the conventional sense, just a lot of stage direction and exclamation points where the punchlines should be.

Tonight Long Beach-based funk troubadours War will be headlining the Greek Theatre. NY's own electroclash duo Fischerspooner are poised to grace the Avalon. And, lastly, Montreal-based indie rockers the Dears will be sharing the stage at the Echoplex with hometown heroes Great Northern and Eulogies (LAist Interview, Review, #2, #3). But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to experience Ann Arbor's crown jewel, a relatively diminutive post-afrobeat outfit by the name of Nomo (LAist Review, #2). Swedish indie pop act Those Dancing Days are slated to kick things off.

Three years ago Peter Walker decided he was tired of the solo life and wanted to settle down...musically. He asked the musicians who were touring with him if they wanted something more permanent. They did and Eulogies was born. Last month, Eulogies released their promising sophomore disk, Here Anonymous, on Dangerbird Records. The album in question is full of the kind of pretty introspective pop that would make Ben Gibbard green with envy. Front man Peter Walker was kind enough to talk with us last night from his home in Los Angeles about his brand new album.

So apparently this is the "Best Festival Experience in Southern California During Memorial Day Weekend." Granted, it's one of the only ones...but anyhow...it does look good. Topanga Days is a 3 day Fair & Fund Raiser celebrating Music & The Arts, held on the Topanga Community Club grounds (1440 North Topanga Canyon Blvd), and runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Monday. This year's theme is "Topanga Roots Evolution." You can enjoy traditional festival games, eats, and attractions, and see some music (tonight's headliner is Blood, Sweat & Tears).

The AVP Crocs tour is making it's stop in Orange County at the Huntington Beach Open. On the men's side, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will be the team to beat as they captured the Houston Open last weekend. Nipping at their heels is Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal who have reached three finals this season but are still searching for their first title.

                   

If there was ever any question that Love of Lebowski runs deep in the veins of believers, one needed only stand outside the Wiltern on Thursday, May 7th, or at Cal Bowl the following Friday for proof aplenty.

As podcasts go, more often than not there are the kings of the ring, and everyone else is sitting on the sidelines. It’s sort of like the presidency: technically anyone can run for office, but historically old white dudes have passed the torch from one wrinkly hand to another. But every once in a while, there are wonderful examples of podcasts, and presidents, rising from the ground up to really do something spectacular. Barack Obama is one of these. The SuperEgo podcast is another.

Memorial Day Weekend Edition The 2008-2009 season which ended this week has seen the networks' ratings collectively drop 16%. FOX remained on top for the 5th consecutive year but even they fell 13% in viewership, a fall attributed to not having the Super Bowl as well as "American Idol" sinking in viewership. Only CBS saw an increase in viewership (11%) which was fueled by the success of "The Mentalist".

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email.

       

I was never a huge fan of the Terminator movies, so I wasn't too upset about the mythology-raping that goes on in Terminator Salvation. For me it was just good, loud fun with cool robots and Moon Bloodgood's amazing cleavage. During a family visit over Christmas I was snookered into seeing the first Night at the Museum. That will not be the case with the dreary-looking Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Yes, the flicks are stupid, but I am a fan of whatever the Wayans' brothers touch so I'll queue up for Dance Flick. In shame.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone! If you're sticking around town tonight, here are our a few of the more interesting picks: PERFORMANCE ART* You know you’re in for an interesting evening when the Museum of Jurassic Technology’s involved. So tonight, in collaboration with Automata, the museum presents the premiere of The Reptile Under the Flowers: A peepshow/diorama performance.

Tonight local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. Atlanta-bred neo soul singer-songwriter Van Hunt is poised to ring in his latest disc, 2009's Use In Case of Emergency, at Zanzibar in Santa Monica. And, lastly, Freeland, UK-based DJ Adam Freeland's live band, will be gracing the Echo later on in the evening. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Henry Fonda Music Box to catch UK-based indie rock duo the Kills. Fellow English garage rockers the Horrors are slated to kick things off.

Rian Johnson burst into prominence with his sterling debut, Brick. A teenage murder mystery, it was told more in the style of a Dashiell Hammett novel than a thematically similar (and more conventional) film like Bully. His latest film, The Brothers Bloom, is almost a complete 180 in terms of tone -- daffy and convulated where Brick was brooding and fatalistic. What's still present, though, is Johnson's daring as a filmmaker. You may not like his movies, but there is no doubt that he is offering a very specific vision to audiences. LAist had a chance to speak with Rian this week. The Brothers Bloom goes into wider release today across L.A.

                                   

Since LAist's last report on Kidrockers, the monthly event entertaining families with live music and stand-up comedy, two more shows have taken place -- a Dangerbird Records presentation with The One AM Radio and Eulogies on April 26th at The Echo, and a special pre-Mother's Day Spa Retreat benefiting Kid's Play International with Le Switch and Afternoons on May 9th at Castle Ivar in Hollywood.

For a fun, swank and, more importantly, cheap way to kick off the summer, hit up the new happy hour "Summer Fridays" poolside at the Cameo Bar in the Viceroy Santa Monica. Starting tomorrow from 2 to 6 p.m., boozers on a budget can enjoy drink specials dictated by the time of day. Get there early at 2 p.m. to snag a glass of wine, well drink and beer for only two bucks each. If you wait until 5:59, your drinks will be $5 each, still not too shabby a deal.

We also can't believe that on June 24th MTV's "Real World" will return for it's 22nd season. Has anything remarkable happened in the last 17 seasons? Oh wait, this season is essentially an episode for Cancun.

Last year comedian Bill Burr released his fantastic one hour special, "Why Do I Do This?" (read/listen to our interview with him) and after extensively touring the country he's coming to LA this weekend: Friday and Saturday night at the Hollywood Improv.

"Our music isn't that serious," Phil Shaheen admitted. "All of the bands I looked up to growing up weren't serious, either. They would have serious lyrics and silly music or serious music and silly lyrics. Music should be about having a good time." As the drummer of the Tijuana Panthers, one of SoCal's best surf rock groups, he knows all about that. Heavily influenced by classic 1960s surf rock fused with punk, the Panthers will make you want to put on your wet suit, grab your board, and make a beeline for the beach. Office meetings, florescent lighting, and paperwork be damned! It's a beautiful day outside, let's call in sick and hit the beach. (I wouldn't be surprised that after perusing this article if half of you got up right now and did just that.) Phil was kind enough about his band's new EP and their upcoming show at Spaceland. Here is some of what was said. Tijuana Panthers - Creature

The Getty Museum presents Women Twirling: Jo Ann Callis, Gay Block and Catherine Opie in Coversation tonight at 7 pm. The three photographers talk about “art, life, and domesticity on the occasion of the exhibition Jo Ann Callis: Woman Twirling,” which is on view through August 9 at the Getty Center. In the exhibit, salt shakers, gloves, and doughnuts become sensual and ominous. Women twirl, do handstands, emerge from water. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call (310) 440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu to make reservations.

Tonight NY-based protopunk rockers New York Dolls will be headlining the Henry Fonda Music Box. NY's own gypsy punk outfit Gogol Bordello are poised to kick off the first concert ever at the newly-restored, art deco style Fox Theater in Pomona, which used to serve as a movie palace in the '30s before falling into disrepair. Local buzz band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (LAist Review) will be opening the aforementioned show. And, lastly, NY-based pop rock act the Virgins (LAist Interview, Review) will be gracing the El Rey Theatre with San Diegan singer-songwriter Anya Marina (LAist Review) and ruddy-haired bombshell Lissy Trulie (LAist Review) in tow. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch South African experimental rockers BLK JKS, who have been heralded as the TV on the Radio of their hemisphere (and rightfully so). LAist favorites Hecuba are slated to kick things off.

              

Earlier this month, LA-Underground co-presented a showcase, with KXLU and Manimal Vinyl, at The Smell in Downtown LA, featuring Alexandra Hope, VOICEsVOICEs, EXITMUSIC, and Warpaint.

Haven't been to the cemetery in forever? There's two prime opportunities this weekend, courtesy of Cinespia's latest season of "drive-in" (sit-in?) screenings at Hollywood Forever. Saturday brings super-dead superstars Cary Grant & Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's masterful heist mystery To Catch A Thief. Sunday hosts super-living unsuper-stars Ben Affleck & Matthew McConaughey in Richard Linklater's beloved period piece Dazed and Confused. Keep the drive-in dream alive all weekend - Friday, the all-American classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, plays the Steve Allen parking lot, joined by special guest Tobe Hooper (maybe he'll sign my bloody Leatherface doll-erm, "collectible"). If chainsaws & cemeteries are a bit creepy, bask in the cherubic glow of Matthew Broderick & roller derby girls at the Angel City Drive-In's screening of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Bring your own backseat.

Upfront Day News: This week is when the networks roll out the programs they are planning to release for the Fall - or, at least, its the programs they "say" they are going to roll out for the Fall. They might announce these programs but it doesn't mean they will be given budgets to adequately promote them; it doesn't mean that some of these programs aren't "filler" to be shifted around the schedule before they are ultimately canceled; it doesn't mean that some of these programs aren't feints to throw the other networks off.

Tobacco and rum, two things traditionally associated with the Caribbean, especially Cuba. It is also the name of a hot local salsa band, only in Spanish -- Tabaco y Ron. Tonight, they help kick off the 11th Annual Salsa Congress which runs from Thursday through Sunday. Tabaco y Ron will headline the kickoff party tonight at The Proud Bird near LAX.

Tonight legendary Southern rockers the Allman Brothers Band will be concluding a two-night stint at the Greek Theatre with the Doobie Brothers. The buzz from last night's antics, Tom Petty and Bruce Willis joining onstage to jam, is still lingering across the internet. Winston-Salem-bred singer-songwriter/pianist Ben Folds is poised to headline the Hollywood Palladium. Denver-based singer-songwriter Jill Sobule (LAist Interview), best known for her 1995 single "I Kissed A Girl," will be gracing Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, electronic shoegazer Anthony Gonzalez, otherwise known as M83, will be taking over the Glass House in Pomona. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre to catch local alternative rock outfit Jane's Addiction. Cleveland-bred industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails are slated to co-headline.

It's Sophomore Prom night, and we've had an unlikely write-in Queen scorn her crown and her King (Silver, Dixon), a confession of "liking" (Liam to Naomi), a rumble (Navid and Adrianna's baby-daddy Ty), a "my water just broke" announcement (Adrianna), and a secret divorcee on a date with a teacher who still has the hots for the school counselor (Jen, Semi Hot, Kelly Taylor). You follow? It's been a big night--big enough for a two parter--and now it's time to wrap things up, dangle some storylines off a cliff or two, and say goodbye to 90210's inaugural season (and to LAist's Morning After Report--sniff!).

       

LAist first met Long Beach/Los Alamitos-natives Avi Buffalo last March at an LA-Underground-presented showcase that included local rising stars The Sweet Hurt, Ema and the Ghosts, Amnion, and Cobra Lilies.

           

As LAist has mentioned in the past, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Annual Open House is one of the best free events in town. This year, kids and adults alike enjoyed exhibits, demonstrations, 3-D Mars photos, dancing robots and more. Plus, it's not every day you get to ask a rocket scientist a question!

NBC has announced that the first guests on "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" will be Will Ferrell and Pearl Jam. | We were pleased that AMC's "Breaking Bad" won at Monday's Peabody Awards ceremony but we weren't happy to read that "Saturday Night Live"'s Lorne Michaels is considering a "MacGruber" movie. "MacGruber" is funny for the 20 second segments it has on "SNL" but it doesn't have legs beyond that.

                     

Whether the Beach Boys were singing about showing off their cars, surfing, falling in love or eating hamburgers, they made it sound like the most wonderful thing, like you wanted to be doing that right now. Kids in Omaha might not be able to relate to songs about surfing, but anybody could get what songs like “I Get Around” and “Fun Fun Fun” were about. Much like Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else”, they were about nothing less than the American dream: idealism, pursuit of happiness, pride of ownership and the kind of freedom you can only get from your own set of wheels. Having Brian Wilson play at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s annual fundraising gala was a kind of idealism realized, a harmonious pairing in more ways than one.

       

Here's the damn shame of it all: Bryan Singer is a super filmmaker and the "Valkyrie" story is a fascinating piece of German history. That said, Tom Cruise should never have been the cornerstone of this film. A potentially great movie was rendered into something that was merely okay. Then again, "merely okay" would have been a triumph for the awful Paul Blart: Fat Guy Acting Stupid. I originally saw Made in America at Sundance in 2008. It is a must-see documentary that details the rise of gangs in South Central Los Angeles. Stacy Peralta may not have the chops of an Errol Morris, but he is a consistently engaging documentarian.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but if the big one should show up on Thursday...these New York rockers are toast. Poor bastards. They think they're coming here to headline the El Rey. Of course this information wasn't shared with Donald Cumming during our interview with him on Saturday. (Yes, the lead singer of the Virgins is named Donald Cumming. Go ahead. Giggle. We'll wait. Feel better? Okay.) I mean, we can't scare the Virgins off before they get here. It's the only way to save California from sinking into the sea. Although this would mean killing off one of the best neo-disco acts around, which would be a shame. These guys have put out a slinky debut album which would make even a nun's blood run hot.

Oscar-winning singer-composer-pianist Randy Newman screens the John Ford film How Green Was My Valley tonight at 7:30 pm at the Skirball Center. There’s a Q&A with Newman before the film. Tickets are $10; $6 for members and $6 for full-time students.

Tonight legendary Southern rockers the Allman Brothers Band will be taking on a two-night stint at the Greek Theatre with the Doobie Brothers. Australian rock outfit Youth Group (LAist Interview) are poised to headline the Troubadour with locals Nico Stai and Useless Keys in tow. And, lastly, LA-based indie rock duo Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview) will be taking on the penultimate night of their month-long residency at the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Hollywood Palladium to catch Portland-based indie rock maestros the Decemberists. Stillwater, Oklahoma's Other Lives are slated to kick things off.

       

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email.

Improvised comedy on TV takes some intense comic chops to make a scene really soar. Lance Krall and Anna Vocino take it to a whole new level on VH1's Free Radio. In the fictional world of radio station KBOM, DJ Lance the "Moron in the Morning" tortures his celebrity guests.

You might recognize Anna David from G4’s “Attack of the Show.” As the popular program’s sex and relationship expert, David gracefully dishes advice that's as entertainingly witty as it is honest. While a go-to answer gal for bedroom matters, her expertise extends further than one might imagine.

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email.

The Smokes, 7p UCB. These improv veterans do two different long-form improv forms every single week, and every time they are fucking hilarious. An absolute can’t-miss for anyone seriously interested in long form improvisation. | You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up, 8p Comedy Central Stage. Based on excerpts from the upcoming book of the same name, Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn tell tales of what it takes to be married. Apparently, it’s a lot.

Tonight is the two-hour season finale of "24" (haters can move on please). We're already looking forward to season 7 which will supposedly occur in New York City and will be the "most realistic" season yet. How is that even [snark] possible? We admit we have shamelessly been wasting a ton of hours on the "24 - Special Ops" iPhone game. A recent high point for us was the chance to see a Janeane Garofalo performance where she read some of her "Janis Gold vs. Chloe O'Brien" dialogue.

                            

The 26th Annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration happened over the weekend, and along with it came the Sunday parade that runs along Ocean Boulevard for a mile or two to the main event at the Marina Green Park and Rainbow Lagoon. Many of the participants are from family service organizations and churches, along with local businesses who dress up for a celebration of diversity. Thousands of locals lined the streets in what's become a real street party for gays and straights alike on a beautiful spring morning.

Seeing Jill Sobule live, you immediately know you are in the presense of an intelligent artist who has the ability to tell a story and the truth. Her songs evoke laughter and tears. Many know Jill from her hits songs "I Kissed a Girl" and "Supermodel". Now she's turned her considerable songwriting chops to making sense of her new life in California.

Every spring, to support and raise funds for the Shakespeare Festival LA, a few famous names donate their time to participate in a staged reading of a Shakespearean comedy. Co-chaired by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, this year's performace is The Comedy of Errors and features Hanks, Wilson, Christina Applegate, Martin Short, Shirley Jones and Peter Graves. The show starts at 7:30 pm at the Geffen Playhouse. Tickets are available to the public.

Tonight Indianapolis-based indie rockers Margot & the Nuclear So & So's will be headlining the Troubadour. Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) is poised to continue her month-long residency at the Echo. And, lastly, local psych rockers Xu Xu Fang will be performing at the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch the penultimate night of LA-based experimental psych duo Gangi (LAist Review). Local indie rockers LANDy, which, oddly enough, features actor Adam Goldberg, are slated to kick things off.