My whole experience at Bondage Ball started hours before I showed up due to the email spankings I got from whoever was in charge of the guest list. They were unamused by my obnoxious last-minute request to be added (a few hours before the event), but kindly did it anyway and then, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I wrote again and asked if I could get me a plus one. They didn't bother writing me back. When I got there, we were greeted with an unsmiling, eye-rolling "oh, you're the writer" and then both me and my friend were invited in for free.

That's sort of what the night was all about - super sweet people being all nasty to each other. In really sexy outfits. There were a couple of dance floors, various little nooks and crannies for sitting/spanking/canoodling and a Hollywood Squares-esque 2 level neon stage type thing that housed various couches, racks, torture tables, etc. Some highlights included:

• A Bridget Bardot look alike in a white leather bikini getting the frijoles whipped out of her by a lady in a vinyl nurses outfit. I watched while sitting next to a woman who was getting her foot fellated by a guy in the fetal position on the floor.

• A very large hairy man in what appeared to be black wrestling shorts and a collar getting walked on, whipped and choked by a dominatrix and her friends. He looked an awful lot like my Uncle Clem.

• A goth comedian. Not sure what his trip was.

• A super hot topless chick, strung up by her wrists, getting bull-whipped and molested by some dude for about an hour.

• I think I saw a blow job. There were a couple people in my way but it sure looked like one.

I have to say, I was very skeptical going in. I figured it would be another "ooh, look at us, we so crazy," watered down costume party that's more about the sexy clothes than the sex, but I was pleased to note that most of these people were genuinely getting their rocks off while inflicting some serious pain. Although I do feel like there could have been much more action - the place was huge, and fairly full, but not as many people were getting it on as I would have hoped.

The thing that I love most about these types of events is that a 60 year old man in fishnets, nipple clamps and a feather tutu can stand next to a guy in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and neither one feels out of place. Does not the rest of society have something very important to learn from these people?

If you'd like to get your ass kicked in front of a roomful of strangers too, check out: www.bondageball.com

Photo by permission from TommyO

The delicious, outstanding, mind-altering Magritte show at LACMA is over on Sunday, March 4th. John Baldessari has done a bang-up job presenting Magritte's work in a new context, free from the apple/bowler hat, ceci n'est pas une pipe cliches his work so often calls to mind.

We’d normally say something like: run, don’t walk to the show. It’s that good. You only have six days to make it happen so you need to hustle. Yet that would be so cliché. So expected. What would Baldessari have to say about that?

But. Well. It is that good. So what the hell? Run, don’t walk. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo by djwhelan via Flickr

New York-based magazine Marie Claire paid a visit to Hollywood Wednesday night to find out what LA gals dig about their bodies (not including the silicone/restylane/botox enhanced parts).

The event was held at the not-so-hip-anymore club Mood, and was promoted to some (including us) as a model search. In fact, the photo shoot was for a monthly feature called “Beauty Roadshow,” a photo montage of women from different states and a blurb from each about their favorite physical feature. The wannabe models at Mood weren’t deterred -- a famous magazine and a photographer were enough to make the event worth stopping by.

When we got there at 9:30 there was already a sizable line of girls hoping for a close-up (they didn’t shoot everyone). Marie Claire Beauty Director Didi Gluck said in some cities they have to cajole people to be photographed, but she didn’t expect that with the LA crowd.

“What I pictured is what we got. Everybody is super attractive and confident about their looks,” said Gluck.

"Typical club girls coming out in their tight dresses and push-up bras to try and get some attention," we said dismissively. When Gluck asked US to be photographed, we were a little hesitant (“Oh, I couldn’t!). But we eventually agreed (two seconds later) and then modestly described why we love our hot legs. Hey, we just happened to be there on business…
Photo by Lindsay Watts

Got squeezed out of the Coachella madness and now find yourself without one of those prized three-day wristbands? Before you slit your wrists for not getting tickets in Indio for the much anticipated comeback of Zack de la Guevara fronting the band that only he should be leading, know that Rage Against The Machine announced today that they will be co-headlining the Rock the Bells mini-tour with their pals, the lovable Wu-Tang Gang.

Rock the Bells kicks off in late July in New York, then it makes its way to the NOS Events Center in San Berdu on August 11, then heads up to Frisco the following week to call Barry Bonds a dirty cheater.

The rest of the line-up promises to be announced on March 26th with tickets going on sale March 31 at 10am. So save the date, rebels.

Another 120 Minutes/Alternative Nation band, Lou Barlow's Sebadoh, has gotten back together and tonight crank up their first US tour in 14 years in San Diego. They play the OC tomorrow night before heading North, but will eventually swing back here to play back-to-back club dates at the Troub and Spaceland, respectively.

Sebadoh West Coast Leg
02/27 Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar
02/28 San Francisco, CA GAMH / Noise Pop
03/02 Portland, OR Berbati’s Pan
03/03 Vancouver, BC Richards
03/04 Seattle, WA Neumos
03/05 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
03/07 Santa Cruz, CA The Attic
03/09 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour
03/10 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland

image via eBay

The Submarines, "Brighter Discontent"

Tonight:
The Who @ Long Beach Arena
Division Day, La Rocca @ Spaceland
Eastern Conference Champions, I Make this Sound, The Procession @ Silverlake Lounge
The Binges, Andy Dick & the Bitches of the Century @ King King
Metal Skool, Shapes of Race Cars, Pearl @ Key Club

Tuesday:
Rockstar Supernova, The Panic Channel, Dilana @ Long Beach Arena
Money Mark @ Amoeba (free, 7pm)
Mezzanine Owls, Black Palms @ El Cid
Nels Cline & Glenn Klotche @ The Echo

Wednesday:
Styx @ House of Blues
Scissors for Lefty @ The Troubadour

Thursday:
Josh Ritter, The Submarines @ El Rey Theatre
Rickie Lee Jones @ Henry Fonda
Macromantics @ The Echo

Friday
The Blasters @ The Knitting Factory
The Ditty Bops @ McCabe's
Margaret Cho @ Largo
Kottonmouth Kings, SX10 @ Key Club

This LAist also grabbed her trusty camera and took the Red Line downtown to catch yesterday's Chinese New Year Parade. We joined the fray on Broadway to usher in this Year of the Boar 4705 in all its colorful glory, although we, too, ran into the same parade-photogging snags as our fellow LAist mentioned last night. The parade was just one part of an ongoing celebration, and there's still a window--a porthole, perhaps--of opportunity for those so inclined to head down to Chinatown to check out the street festival and classic car show being put on by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The festival runs in Chinatown until 6 p.m. tonight.

All Photos by Lindsay William-Ross; View all our photos from the Parade and Festival. More photos after the jump.

Johnny Chang considers his occupation to be an "experimentalist." The 27-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native has been living in LA for 7 years now, currently making Echo Park his home. If experimentalist is a bit too abstract or general for you, Chang freelances as violinist.

No, you generally won't see him playing Bach with the LA Chamber Orchestra or on a soundstage recording music for a film. Rather, that occupational title he gives himself means something, especially if one checks out his show a week from Sunday at Dangerous Curve called Field Recordings/Found Objects.

In this first interview with Chang, we'll cover some basics. More next week.

Explain what found sounds in contemporary music mean to you.

Field recordings for me mean opportunities and possibilities. I like to think of my engagement with the materials as experiments in sound, leading to the creation of experimental situations in the context of sonic performances.

What's the status of today's LA experimental music scene?

disclaimer: I am only writing about this from a very personal perspective.

Gosh,, I know that since the new & improvised music series, linespaceline, ceased to exist, there have been bands of experimental musicians roaming the streets, and the woodlands of LA. This lot will play anywhere, from ocean view sidewalks, outdoor amphitheaters, to concrete basements, construction sites and even their own vans...

Thousands attended the Obama 2008 rally yesterday at Rancho Cienega in Crenshaw.

We spoke to several Barack Obama supporters and found a variety of interests and goals bringing people together. To nobody's surprise, we found one common theme: Hope.

Watch the video for more from the crowd and from Senator Obama himself.

Cold War Kids @ El Rey
Ghostface Killah @ Key Club
Van Morrison @ Gibson
Flogging Molly @ Henry Fonda
Gomez, Ben Kweller @ The Wiltern
Grizzly Bear, Foreign Born, Papercuts @ The Troubadour
The City Drive, Le Meu Le Purr, Eva Elliott @ The Knitting Factory
Rock Kills Kid, Circus Minor, Little Wolverines @ Spaceland
Kissing Violet, Down From Hollow, The Faded, Big Rig, Krell @ Dragonfly
Astra Heights, Castledoor, The Procession, The Breakups @ Silverlake Lounge
HDR, The Knives, Bang Sugar Bang, Bobot Adrenaline, Pu$$ycow @ Safari Sam's
Samantha Stollenwerk, Amy Loftus, Ian Maddie @ The Mint
Chris Paul Overall, Robbie Bahr, Tim Myers @ Viper Room
The Exies @ Whisky
Brandi Shearer @ Room 5 Lounge
Ours @ Roxy

Oscar Shorts at the Academy
To kick off Oscar Week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present "Shorts!" a program featuring the 10 Academy Award-nominated films in the Animated and Live Action Short Film categories. The program, hosted by director Taylor Hackford, will feature onstage discussions with the nominated filmmakers.

Short Film (Animated)
The Danish Poet, Torill Kove, director
Lifted, Gary Rydstrom, director
The Little Matchgirl, Roger Allers, director; Don Hahn, producer
Maestro, Geza M. Toth, director
No Time for Nuts, Chris Renaud and Michael Thurmeier, directors

Short Film (Live Action)
Binta and the Great Idea, Javier Fesser, director; Luis Manso, producer
Eramos Pocos, Borja Cobeaga, director
Helmer & Son, Soren Pilmark, director; Kim Magnusson, executive producer
The Saviour, Peter Templeman, director; Stuart Parkyn, producer
West Bank Story, Ari Sandel, director

WHEN: Tuesday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Samuel Goldwyn Theater at AMPAS in Beverly Hills.
*NOTE: Free advance tickets to "Shorts!" are necessary to secure admission. There is a two ticket per person limit. Tickets are available beginning February 1 at the Academy's ticket office. For ticket order information, call 310-247-3600 Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved.

Amblin', Fearless, Goodfellas
In Person: Allen Daviau
The UCLA Archive and the American Society of Cinematographers hosts The Art of Light, a slew of films highlighting the work celebrated cinematographers. Allen Daviau will be on hand for this screening of Steven Spielberg's first short film, Amblin', and the 1993 drama Fearless about airplane crash survivors, starring Jeff Bridges and Isabella Rossellini.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 21, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum (10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood)

*P.S. On Friday, February 23 cinematographer Michael Ballhaus will be in the house for a Q&A after the Goodfellas screening at 7:30 p.m. (also at The Hammer).

Waaaay more after the jump....

The Big Boys (pictured) kicked off a weekend of Mardis Gras festivities at Farmers Market LA at the Grove. Nothing crazy was in effect early -- but the bands and beads carry on through 9:30 tonight. Tomorrow from 12-8 the following bands perform: San Fernando Valley Banjo Band, 2nd Line Saviour’s Parade Band, Lisa Haley & The Zydekats, Eddie Baytos & Nervis Brothers (schedule).

Plus, the jambalaya at Gumbo Pot is damn tasty.

Professor Longhair gets down with The Meters after the jump.

With Joe Rogan's recent calling out of Carlos Mencia's joke-stealing habit, comedy has been a bit more interesting lately. This weekend, Rogan is performing twice at The Improv, and a few miles away, Mencia will be safe from him at The Comedy Store, where Rogan has been banned due to Mencia's feelings that he was "physically threatening." Comedians can be so dramatic sometimes.

The Improv (8162 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles)
2/16 Joe Rogan @ 8:30
Andy Kindler
Richard Villa's Refired Fridays @10:30
2/17 Andy Kindler @ 8pm
Joe Rogan @10pm
After Hours with Owen Benjamin @ Midnight
tickets and details

The Laugh Factory (8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood)
2/16, 2/17 Continuous Comedy @ 8pm
All Star Comedy @10pm
Midnight Madness@ Midnight
2/18 Chocolate Sundaes hosted by Chris Spencer @ 8 and 10pm
tickets and details

The Comedy Store (8433 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood)
2/16 Continous Comedy begins @ 9pm - Carlos Mencia, Aron Kader, Argus Hamilton, Ahmed Ahmed, Dom Irrera, Dov Davidoff John Caparulo, Sebastian, Rick Ingraham, Brian Holtzman, Ari Shaffir, Kirk Fox, Sam Tripoli, Don Barris
2/17 Begins @ 10:30 - Carlos Mencia, Kevin Christy, Ahmed Ahmed, Bryan Callen, Ari Shaffir, Sam Tripoli, Sebastian, Steve Rannazzisi, Don Barris
tickets and details

For Troupe Comedy and Improv, meet us after the jump...

Luke Paquin, Buffalo Roam (above) @ Tangier
Wintergreen @ Spaceland
Three Days Grace, Flyleaf, Red @ House of Blues
Tim Saxton @ Roxy
The Appearance @ Key Club
Zs, Open City, Bad Dudes @ The Smell
Leaha Boshen, The Dubber, Gabe Sokoloff @ Temple Bar
Drag the River, Tim Barry, Jr. Juggernaut @ The Scene
Ambrose, Kevin Max, Rob Giles, Denosh @ Viper Room
Hillstomp, Warren Charles, Population Game @ The Mint
In Waves, Polus, Dead Ponies, Anchors for Architects @ El Cid
Rehab, Authority Zero, A Change of Pace, Crazy Anglos @ The Knitting Factory
Occidental, The Lights From Here, The Half Mantis Group @ Silverlake Lounge
Circle of Violence, A Dream Within a Dream, Damnation Through Design @ Whisky

Drawing Restraint
Why woo your sweetheart with such tediously traditional notions as flowers, teddy bears and edible panties when you could watch Matthew Barney and his inamorata Bjork going at each other with flensing knives on the deck of a Japanese whaling vessel in Drawing Restraint 9? And if that's not enough Barney for you, there's the making-of documentary Matthew Barney: No Restraint. His work has sometimes been described as a "hauntingly dreamlike fantasy and surrealist odyssey," but I think Vern of Aint It Cool has the best take on Matthew Barney.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 14 - Sunday, Feb. 18
WHERE: American Cinematheque at The Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, (just east of Highland Ave.) in Hollywood

Bonnie & Clyde / Penn & Teller Get Killed
It's a double feature of buddy films when bank robber Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) meets Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) in Arthur Penn's classic 1967 film Bonnie And Clyde, which is followed by Penn & Teller Get Killed, a black comedy that trails the titular magicians on a cross-country trip after Penn announces he might welcome a threat on his life.

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 PM.
WHERE: American Cinematheque at The Aero Theater, 1328 Montana Ave. (at 14th St.) in Santa Monica

Days Of Glory
Melnitz Movies presents a sneak preview of Days Of Glory, Algeria’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award. Written and directed by Rachid Bouchareb (Little Senegal), the film follows four North African men who enlist in the French army during WWII.

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30pm
WHERE: James Bridges Theater, UCLA Campus

The Abe Lincoln Story @ The Echo
Division Day, Great Northern, Peter Walker @ Spaceland
Metal Skool, The Thornbirds, Drugstore Cowboys @ Key Club
Cousin Kate, Amy Loftus @ The Gig
Mia Sable, Kristy Kruger, Gil Landry @ The Hotel Cafe
Eastern Conference Champions, Magic & Rattles, Valentino, The Shys @ Silverlake Lounge
The Binges, Wired All Wrong, Minutes to Midnight, Andy Dick @ King King
Robin Williams on Fire, Macka, The Pristines, Alexis Gideon’s Levitations #2 @ Il Corral
Alison Kyler, Bobek & Dob, Fan 3, The Futhermuckas @ The Cat Club
Miss Derringer, Munly & Lee Lewis Harlots, Fortune’s Flesh @ Safari Sam's
Metal Church, Fueled by Fire, Imperious Rex, Lethal Dosage, Devastator @ Whisky
The Red Hearts, The Rolling Blackouts, Sonodora, Plans to Leave @ Viper Room

People don't realize until they show up and then leave empty-handed, but most who show up at the Grammys tonight will lose. So for all you losers, and all your loser friends who might not want to go to those glitzy glamorous chi-chi award parties, here are some alternatives where you'll find some locals rocking out and dancing to actual music

ZZ Top @ House of Blues
Smith's Night @ The Echo
Kinky Karaoke @ Lava Lounge
Banana Split @ LAX
The Wildbirds, The Afterhours, The Idyllists @ Spaceland
The Cheat, Ride on Ride, Bandits, Tree, The Source, Melyssa Marie @The Troubadour
D.I., Tipper's Gore, Rabies, Bad Reaction, Media Blitz, Barbie & the Hookers @ Knitting Factory

Norah Jones @ Amoeba (6pm, free)
Fear, The Dickies @ Galaxy Theatre
Stanley Clarke @ Vault 350
Radars to the Sky @ El Cid
Miho Hatori @ The Troubadour
sosohuman, Jucifer @ The Mint
KRS-One @ Blue Cafe
The Fray @ House of Blues
Sparklehorse @ Henry Fonda
Patty Booker @ Viva Cantina
Castaneda @ Spaceland
Chevy Metal @ The Canyon
Darker Shadows Macabaret @ The Bordello
Murderland, Candygram for Mongo, Automatique @ The Gig
Bullets & Octane, The Dreaming, The Ringers, Avarice, Bledsoe @ Roxy
Twista, Pop n Bulletz, Soullone, K-Kal, Packafella, CNG JNE @ Key Club
George Antonio, Ill Funk Nation, Dusty White, The Renders @ Safari Sam's
Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda, Ima Fucking Gymnast, Vomit Bomb @ The Smell

Oprah's favorite weight loss doctors, Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz, would be proud of Los Angeles this weekend. In their most recent book, You: On A Diet, they say you should walk thirty minutes every day no matter what. "No excuses. It doesn't matter if you do this in one whole block or broken up into as many as three shorter sessions."

Inspired by Franklin Ave's Wilshire Walk, Will Campbell from Metroblogging Los Angeles will be leading a 24-mile walk of Sunset Blvd this Saturday:

Why am I bothering you good people with such lunacity? Mainly because I'm functionally delusional as evidenced by having the silly idea that there might be those among you who'd see this as an opportunity for ridicule to get up before the dawn on a Saturday morning and do this unique thing instead of normal weekend stuff like sleeping in or recovering from Friday night's hangover or watching TV cartoons or drinking coffee or blogging or yardwork or shopping or movies or carwashing.

Another inspired blogger is Shannon of the blog, Sha in LA. It's no marathon, but she will be strolling along 6th Street for 7 miles. And unlike walking a near marathon distance, you don't need to wake up at the crack of dawn -- sleep in and start at noon on Sunday.

Outside the blogging world comes another great Sunday walk touring the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery. The event is put on by The Studio for Southern California History and led by Steve Goldstein, a cemetery expert, and Joe Walker, a Crime Analyst with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who assisted James Ellroy in writing L.A. Confidential and Black Dahlia. Built in 1884, Angelus Rosedale is one of LA's oldest resting places. The hour and a half event is free, but you gotta make a reservation.

Photo by Fred Camino who runs MetroRiderLA

It's never too early to plan for the weekend...

LA Derby Dolls: Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Little Tokyo
It's almost sold out, if not already by the time we press publish. This sport is about as local and special to LA as you can get. Two teams in the country play roller derby on a banked tracked and we have it here. Support your local punk rock kittens because it is a blast. Saturday's bout is between the Tough Cookies and Fight Crew.

Punk Rock Social - LIVE: Saturday at 6:00 p.m., Alex's Bar in Long Beach
Lots of people go to this monthly punkly mixer with live bands (not to be confused with PRS gatherings at the Burgundy Room, previously at Molly Malones) to meet up, drink a lot and listen to music. This month features the Groovie Ghoulies, Fabulous Disaster, The Dollyrots and Regal Beagle.

Evil Elley: Sunday at 6:00 p.m., Knitting Factory in Hollywood
Orange County punk rock. Hardcore punk rock. Can your Sunday handle it? D.I., Tippers Gore, Rabies, Bad Reaction, Media Blitz, Barbie & The Hookers.

Did you know it will be the Year of the Pig beginning February 18th? Zen Zoo Tea Cafe knows it and is moving up their News Years festivities to this Saturday, February 10th from 12-3pm. With activities like Chinese candy making, Tea 101, and the steady crowd pleaser of martial arts demos, Zen Zoo is the place to say good-bye to the Dog and hello to the Pig.

This is YOUR year if you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995. You are chivalrous and pure and often make friends for life. Just like your fellow Year of The Pigger, The Governator. So pure.

Schedule is as follows:
12:00 p.m.– Celebration kick-off!
12:15 p.m. – Candy-maker and calligrapher (available until 3 p.m.)
12:20 p.m. – Kung Fu Demonstration
12:30 p.m. – Tea 101 Class Demonstration
1:00 p.m. – Tea Cupping Demonstration
1:30 p.m. – Lion Dance
2:00 p.m. – Wu Shu Demonstration (another captivating form of Chinese martial arts)
2:30 p.m. – Tea 101 Class Demo
3:00 p.m. – Tea Cupping Demo

Photo by shwe

The Game @ House of Blues
The Make @ The Mint
The Blow @ The Echo
The Mando Dorame Quartet @ The Bordello
Mose Allison @ The Jazz Bakery
Paul Weller @ Avalon
Nana Pancha @ The Knitting Factory
Yes Me to Death, The Switch, Blood on the Tracks @ The Scene

RBD @ Gibson
Paul Weller @ Avalon
Morrissey @ Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Minnie Driver @ The Hotel Cafe
X-Clan @ Key Club
Loudon Wainwright III @ McCabe's (two shows)
Billy Vera & the Beaters @ Cozy's Bar & Grill
Grant Lee Phillips @ Largo
Hookers & Blow @ Paladino's
Joni & Gina's Wedding @ El Cid (lesbian wedding fun)
G Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa @ House of Blues
Moving Units, The Deadly Syndrome, Test Your Reflex @ The Troubadour
Moving to France, Buckfast, Immaculate Mess, American Hitmen @ Viper Room
Left Alone, Viernes 13, Union 13, Mad Marge & the Stonecutters @ The Knitting Factory
Ex-Oblivione, Knight Rider, Apathetic Ronald McDonald, The Amazements @ The Smell
Midline, Roundeye, Bed of Nails, The Natalie Wattre Band, Chris Mouch @ On the Rox
Nokturne, Fearbringer, Nos Vorolock, Winterthrall, Demiurge @ Safari Sam's

M. Ward, Victoria Williams @ El Rey
Dengue Fever @ Temple Bar
Morrissey @ Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Gladys Knight @ Gibson
The Monolators, Repeater, The Friends of Dennis Wilson @ Mr. T's Bowl
KRS-One @ The Knitting Factory
Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Cal State Long Beach
Pierre de Reeder @ The Mint
Margaret Cho @ Largo
Mose Allison @ The Jazz Bakery
Ron Sexsmith, Annie Stela @ The Troubadour
G Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa @ House of Blues
Airborne Toxic Event, Deadly Syndrome, Hello Astronaut Goodby Television @ The Echo
The Thingz, The Corsairs, The Love Me Nots, The Creepy Creeps @ Lava Lounge
The Defibulators, Common Rotation @ Silverlake Lounge
Bob Forrest @ Silverlake Lounge (5:30p early show)
Golden State, Oliver Future, Rama Duke @ Viper Room
On the Rox: Audible Mainframe, Fresh Air, Brother Dvooa @ On the Rox
Hidden Hand, Kylesa, Black Cobra @ Spaceland
Fight From Above, Stoic Ideal, Hogleg, Poetica, Full Revolution @ Whisky
The Existentialist, The Rough-House Gang, The Mulhollands, Romeo vs. Juliet @ Cobalt Cafe
Santos de Los Angeles, Umoverde, Fitter, Horny Toad, Latin Flavors @ Safari Sam's

Today is Groundhog Day, and in keeping with the arbitrary tradition of letting overgrown rodents dictate our seasons, George Bush and his Energy Policy Act of 2005 have decided to give us a large order of Spring, with four extra sides of Daylight Savings. Yes, for real.

The bill amends the Uniform Time Act of 1966 by changing the start and end dates of daylight saving time starting in 2007. Clocks will be set ahead one hour on the second Sunday of March instead of the current first Sunday of April. Clocks will be set back one hour on the first Sunday in November, rather than the last Sunday of October... The date for the end of daylight saving time has the effect of increasing evening light on Halloween (October 31).

What will this mean for your gadgets, computers, clocks, online auctions, operating systems, calendars, databases, sun dials? Some software can be patched, some will become obsolete.

I will be boycotting all such technology and building a bomb shelter large enough for the beautiful people (you know, just in case we have to start over). Naturally, I believe this initative to be rotten with conspiracy, but who’s really driving the bus? Is it our monolithic, digital overlords? Is the energy hogs or the green police? Perhaps it’s the Mooninities. Stick with LAist for updates on the impending chaos and mayhem as it unfolds.

As the month of February rolls around, I can’t help but think of all the crazy things that have happened during the overly optimistic January. Late nights and early mornings, cheap concerts, and drinking all New Year’s Resolutions away with a bottle of Jack, ah, everything 2007 is meant be. So I welcome February, the month of love and Black history, to devote oh-so-much fun and laughs to a few more amusing hip hop heroes. May February make January hail its praise!

Beautiful hero – Kami Jones
Kami Jones is starting a campaign entitled “pretty me/beautiful me” based on the short film, A Girl Like Me, created by a 17 year old black girl who is concerned about the insecurities that African American females face in America. To learn more and to join the cause, email Kami at prettyme@kamijones.com.

Ever-so-wonderful affordable music hero – Madlib
Madlib, one of the greatest beat makers to ever come out of LA and former partner with the late J Dilla, is offering a free download of Chrome Children Vol. 2 on StonesThrow.com. Just a month after the limited Talib Kweli/Madlib collaboration free download, Madlib is kicking the year off right!

Scandal surviving hero – Sol-T
After coming up “missing” and thought to be kidnapped or dead, Sol-T, an Orange County rapper, cleared the air over a phony newspaper article thought up by some guy name “Russ.” Let’s just say, Russ is creative with maybe a bit too much time on his hands.

Spinning hero – DJ Jedi
What can I say, DJ Jedi is a turntable genius. Always spinning great shows, you have to love this guy! With over 10 events in the LA area this month alone, there is no excuse to miss this master in action.