If you haven't caught a show at Largo at the Coronet yet, now might be a good time. Their recently posted, insanely good schedule for the next three months includes performers such as Randy Newman, Loudon Wainwright III, Joan as Police Woman, Maya Rudolph & Fred Armisen, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo, Jon Brion, The Ditty Bops, Colin Hay, The Watkins Family Hour feat. Fiona Apple & Dan Wilson, Greg Proops and Flight... [continue]

As of late, Greg Laswell and his music have been everywhere—such as a recent stint across the United States and Europe during the Hotel Cafe Tour, a GarageBand feature on the Apple website, and his music being played on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Smallville, One Tree Hill and Cold Case. This year has already seen the release of one Laswell EP, How the Day Sounds, and his new full-length record, Three Flights from... [continue]

As LAist announced yesterday, rumors have been swirling that the Flight of the Conchords will be joining Jon Brion during one of his Largo at the Coronet shows tonight. Today's message on the Largo phone line confirmed that Brion's first show at 8:30 p.m. will also feature "a couple of crazy bastards from New Zealand." Some tickets will be available for $30 cash at the door, and those wanting a confirmed seat should probably arrive... [continue]

Saturday night’s inaugural Greg Proops Chat Show at the new Largo at the Coronet Theater was a fun three-hour ride featuring music, storytelling and, of course, comedy. The venue was close to being sold out, and the show began with one-man band Jon Brion, who threw a few Largo newbies for a loop. Some giggling people unfamiliar with his work must have figured that his sitting behind the drums was some sort of set up... [continue]

I'm convinced that the Annual Improv Festival at the iO West (Improv on Olympic) Theater is one of the best-kept comedy secrets in Los Angeles. How else could I have scored tickets over the last two years to see the likes of Eric Idle, Harry Shearer, and the casts of MadTV and The Office in such an intimate theater? This year's festival has already begun and will continue through June 7. If you're looking for... [continue]

British musician Newton Faulkner has been compared with everyone from Eddie Vedder to Jack Johnson, but I think Rolling Stone said it best when they declared, “If Prince was an English hippie who was obsessed with Bobby McFerrin-esque percussion and had long cinnamon dreadlocks, you'd have Faulkner.” His first album, Hand Built by Robots has gone double platinum in the UK and is picking up steam in the United States. Faulkner will play the Troubadour... [continue]

Jim Bianco knows how to captivate an audience. You can't help but be drawn in by his charisma, and you never know what to expect when he takes the stage. Bianco’s new record, Sing, is the first album to be released by the Hotel Cafe record label. Like his previous albums, Sing showcases his playfulness. "I Got a Thing for You" is destined to be a hit with burlesque troupes, and lyrics from songs like... [continue]

When you see singer-songwriter Jessie Baylin perform, there's something familiar about her. Sure, it could be the fact that her posters now grace the bulletin boards of many local Starbucks, or it might be because she's been a regular at local venues such as the Hotel Cafe and the Mint. Then again, maybe it's just the fact that Baylin seems to be an old soul. Though still in her early 20s, she's already so... [continue]

Over the weekend, teams of electrical linemen gathered at the Department of Water & Power in Sun Valley to compete in the 2008 Lineman's Rodeo. Hosted by the DWP and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 18, electrical journeymen and apprentices showed off their incredible agility and raced against the clock in various competitions.... [continue]

With the Season 2 premiere of American Gladiators airing tonight, LAist caught up with Tiziana “Tee” Sorge, the last woman to win an entire season of the original American Gladiators series (season 7, 1995-1996). In the interview below, she shares insights into the toughest challenges of being a contender (including that annoying spandex), compares the new show with the original and talks about one of her passions—small dog rescue.... [continue]

William Fitzsimmons isn't your average singer-songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist who holds a Masters degree in psychology, Fitzsimmons draws from his unique background to create music that reveals new, subtle facets with each subsequent listen. LAist recently sat down with Fitzsimmons (who will perform at the Hotel Cafe Monday night) during one of the last shows on the Hotel Cafe Tour to discuss the songwriting process, his favorite moments from the tour and, of course, beards.... [continue]

On June 3, Aimee Mann’s new album, @#%&*! Smilers, will be released on her SuperEgo Records label. Throughout the 13 tracks, Mann delivers a musical experience that packs an emotional punch. The songs hint at her playful side and deliver melodies you’ll want to hum for the rest of the day. LAist caught up with Mann to get the scoop on her new record.... [continue]

39 days • 12 musicians • 1 bus Though this may sound like the setup for “The Real World: Singer-Songwriter Edition,” it’s actually the description of the Hotel Cafe Tour—a traveling showcase of some of the best musical talent in the country, most of whom are LA residents and regulars at the Hotel Cafe on Cahuenga. You might think that with so many creative people packed into such a small space, drama would naturally... [continue]

Every so often you come across a CD so good that you enjoy every track—and this discovery is made even more precious when you find it before it's played on KCRW or included on a Paste sampler CD. For me, The Rollo Treadway is such a band. Their self-titled CD blends dark and melodic pop with surprising lyrics and a Beach-Boys-meets-The Zombies vibe. Although they haven't nailed down their LA tour dates yet, we figured LAist readers might appreciate getting to know them before they come to town. We recently spoke with The Rollo Treadway lead singer and songwriter David Sandholm to get the scoop on their self-titled debut CD, the songwriting process and what he's looking forward to when the band comes to LA. ... [continue]

LAist catches up with Michael J. Nelson, a former host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, as he talks about his latest project, RiffTrax. In the interview, he also gives us the scoop about political ads, bloopers and a possible live event in Los Angeles.... [continue]

It’s shaping up to be a busy year for singer-songwriter Cary Brothers. With the fourth annual Hotel Cafe Tour beginning in just a few days and his first full-length CD, Who You Are, getting great reviews, things won’t be slowing down for him anytime soon. Brothers first received nationwide attention when his song “Blue Eyes” was featured on the Garden State soundtrack four years ago, and his fan base has grown with the release of... [continue]

The piano man is also a guitar man I’m not ashamed to admit that somewhere among my Jon Brion, Of Montreal and Vampire Weekend albums, you’ll find a bunch of Billy Joel CDs. Although I wasn’t even born when he first hit the airwaves, I’ve always had a soft spot for his music. Since I didn’t get to see him perform during the days when he was releasing and performing new music, I was... [continue]

As far as live variety shows go, it doesn’t get much better than the 826LA Book*Smart events at Largo. The event, which usually takes place once a month, features an author, a comedian and a musician. Saturday’s event centered around headliner Zooey Deschanel, who blew the audience away with her vocal chops and helped raise funds for 826LA with sewn duck heads (it’ll make sense as you keep reading). ... [continue]

First Amoeba Music scored a "secret show" featuring Paul McCartney, and now Ringo Starr is coming to town. Amoeba announced tonight that Starr and Dave Stewart will play an exclusive short set at the House of Blues this Friday to promote the release of Liverpool 8, Starr's new album. In order to be guaranteed entry, you must be one of the first people in line to purchase the new CD at Amoeba Music on Tuesday morning. The only other way to reserve a place is to win a pair via a KLOS on-air giveaway. All others must wait in line at the HoB beginning at 9 a.m. Friday morning.... [continue]

Oh, to have unlimited resources and $8,000 to blow. My perceptions of rock 'n' roll fantasy camps forever changed this morning when my eyes skimmed an e-mail touting the mother of all rock experiences. My skepticism led me to open the e-mail and I was genuinely shocked by the caliber of the special guests and "camp counselors," which include Brian Wilson, Nick Mason, Cliff Williams and more. The Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp will take place Feb. 15-18 at a recording studio in Los Angeles and will include an on-stage performance with Cliff Williams at the House of Blues. ... [continue]