Some poor tuba players returned to school after a long winter break, only to find that they were victims of tuba thieves that struck again. Tubas have become a popular target for thieves, as banda music's popularity has grown. more ›

In a small interview piece posted today by the L.A. Times' Pop & Hiss blog, Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne talks about the band's forthcoming 24-hour-long track, particularly the song's unique playing format and packaging. more ›

It may not have begun with an earthquake, birds, or snakes, and more like some well-timed indie rock perfect for college radio in the 1980s, but now everybody hurts: R.E.M. is breaking up. more ›

When Orange County-based band Imperial Stars suddenly brought their bus to a halt on the 101 freeway in Hollywood one October afternoon, it didn't result in getting the musical group more any airply, or in raising awareness for homeless children. It just resulted in a really nasty traffic jam. It did, however, result in criminal charges. more ›

“Do you like my little tweets?” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl asked the crowd after playing through the band’s new album at the Dragonfly on Friday night. The show was the second “secret show” in as many weeks that Grohl teased to fans on Twitter leading up to the announcement of the location/time of the tiny club gig. “Up until last year I had no idea what Twitter was. My 72 year old mother, who can barely use the VCR, told me about it.” Yet another lesson in why you should be following your favorite band on Twitter. Granted they aren’t all going to up and surprise you at a tiny club in Los Angeles, but hell you never know! Now as Grohl says, “If I want to do a super sneaky club gig all I gotta do is tweet that ass.” You’ve been warned! more ›

The hope and dream that the White Stripes would make up that cancelled 2007 Forum date can now be put to rest as the band formally announced their split today. It was not a split for the classic “band breakup reasons” as a statement on their website states, “The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health,” and continued “It is for a myriad of reasons but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.” The 2007 Forum show and the remaining tour was cancelled as Meg suffered from “acute anxiety.” more ›

Remember Imperial Stars? You know, the jerks whose "save the children" stunt shut down the 101 Freeway in Hollywood for hours in mid-October? Today the OC hip-hop rockers were in court: "Christopher Roy Wright, 32, David Paul Hale, 30, and Keith R. Yackey, 32, are charged with one felony count of conspiracy, two misdemeanor counts of resisting, obstructing or delaying Los Angeles police and California Highway Patrol officers, and one misdemeanor count each of creating a public nuisance and false imprisonment," says the Daily News. more ›

Packing 19 bands in two nights is no small feat, but each year KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas does just that on their revolving stage of wonderment. This 21st installment of the annual Christmastime event kicked off with performances from the Smashing Pumpkins, Social Distortion, My Chemical Romance, Bad Religion, Jimmy Eat World, Cake, The Dirty Heads, Anberlin and A Day To Remember on Night One. more ›

The route is top secret. The garb is primary colors. The headwear and instruments are rigged to glow. The mission is clear: have a parade of live music, have a good time, have the route spell out OK Go. more ›

I guess being arrested and told your music is terrible by most of Los Angeles isn't enough of a deterrent these days. Imperial Suck Stars, the OC hip-hop morons who pulled sideways across the 101 freeway blocking traffic on Tuesday were released from jail and told reporters, "We would probably do it again," according to Curbed LA... more ›

Three members of an Orange County-based hip hop band were arrested yesterday following a publicity stunt that shut down the 101 Hollywood Freeway under the guise of raising awareness for homelessness. more ›

LA-based band The Soft Pack are hitting the road on Saturday--the roads of Los Angeles, that is. The San Diego-transplants (formerly known as The Muslims) will play 10 consecutive shows marathon-style all across town in an event that has them partnered with the FYF Fest and riding in a veggie-oil fueled 1992 Blue Bird school bus. The band is inviting fans to follow along all day or hit up spots wherever they can; while some of the locations have been announced some are still top secret, so you can follow the band via Twitter the day-of to see where their next stop is. more ›

An autopsy is scheduled for the 28-year-old drummer who was found dead yesterday morning in his Huntington Beach home, according to the LA Times. James Owen Sullivan, knows as The Rev, was found around 11 a.m. in an unresponsive state. The cause of his death is under investigation. Sullivan's death will change the band's sound forever, says MTV. Avenged Sevenfold formed in 1999 and combined "high-speed punk and theatrical metal," noted the music network. more ›

In 2001, Dan Nigro joined up with some friends from high school and did what surely plenty of young people do in Long Island, New York: They formed a band. It would be glib to say "And the rest is history!" since As Tall as Lions is one hell of a hard-working quartet; they've just kicked off a tour in support of their August full-length release, You Can't Take it With You (Triple Crown Records), serving as support for Mutemath, and you can see them at Club Nokia this Saturday. This tour follows their summer tour with Dredg and Rx Bandits, and by late November through the end of the year they'll be touring in the US with Minus the Bear and in the UK with Frightened Rabbit and Athlete. more ›

Looks like Fall Out Boy's Infinity on High has come to at least a temporary stall as one of the band members "is behind bars this morning," according to On the Red Carpet. Patrick Stump, the band's composer, vocalist, and guitarist was stopped last night while he was driving, and determined the 25-year-old "had a previous warrant out for his arrest in Beverly Hills [...] for being an unlicensed driver." more ›

Perennial rock idols Depeche Mode have been breaking hearts up and down the coast of California this week, after first canceling their Bay Area show Wednesday night, and now canceling tonight's show scheduled for the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre outside San Diego in Chula Vista. This evening's much-anticipated gig had the plug pulled on it due to lead singer Dave Gahan's heath: "Doctors have ordered complete vocal rest for [him] for several days," explains San Diego's 10News.com. more ›

Overshadowed by Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcet's death yesterday, a shout out to Sky Saxon is also deserved. He was the co-founder of the local garage band, The Seeds, and made the Top 40 Charts with “Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” and “Pushin’ Too Hard” in 1967. The band broke up in 1970 and Saxon recently moved to Austin where he was publishing music DIY style and playing with his new band Shapes Have Fangs. He was in his 60s and no details have come to light about his death other that he was recently sick, but only briefly. RIP, Sly Saxon. Videos of the two hits are embedded below. more ›

We first met the roving band Killsonic last year on Valentine's Day roaming the streets of downtown during the monthly art walk. The quality of music and the random nature of how it all felt gave us a fantastic feeling. Then last night, at the tail end of the Prop 8 march in Hollywood was the band, rocking it out, once again. more ›

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! more ›

Metallica. Slayer. Megadeth. These local boys gone legends are always worth a good mosh, but it's their lesser-known Canadian counterparts, Anvil, who have grabbed the city's heart by the horns. Continuing their residency at the Landmark, where documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil has rocked audiences for a month and counting, Anvil appears alongside film director Sacha Gervasi for two special Q&A sessions tonight, May 6th, at the 7:50 & 9:55 shows. And the rock doesn't stop there! Renegade punk-a-billy outlet Devil's Night fires up the Angel City Drive-In with Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly & derby girls. Yowza! more ›

Music of the 80’s ushered in groups like Roxy Music, Sex Pistols and UB40 that gave us “Red, Red Wine” and “If It Happens Again.” Saxophonist Brian Travers has been to UB40 to that of Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’ Band or Roxy’s Music Andy Mackay and whether listening to UB40 debut album “Signing Off” or 2009 compilation album “Love Songs,” its musical odyssey has been surreal to that of Salvador Dali, dada to that of Hugo Ball, and neoclassical to that of Nicolas Poussin. He spoke to us about the history, longevity and musical legacy of the band as he prepared for Thursday night concert at the Sunset Strip House of Blues. more ›

The first sign should have been the earplugs being handed out at the door... more ›

With the remarkable infusion of whimsical melodies and cutting lyrics, Stars has created a long history of fiercely bright pop. The kind of pop songs that lift you up with the beauty of their melodies and then crushes your heart with the tortured elegance that leaves you hungry for more. Touring to support their latest EP, Sad Robots, Stars frontman, Torquil Campbell was kind enough to grant an interview with the LAist from Oklahoma City. more ›

Imagine yourself gliding down the PCH with the warm summer breeze blowing through your hair in a red convertible (preferably with fins). This is the vibe that emanates from the Western States Motel's classic Californian sound. Originally a one man band, Carl Jordan formed, wrote, and produced this first album himself in his home in Los Angeles. With his new work hailed by critics as an intelligent, poppy disk Jordan was compared to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Rumors have been circling since that Jordan has got himself a proper band. Naturally curious, I caught up with The Jordan before his show at the Spaceland in Silver Lake to see how his new band was working out. more ›

Some bands are simply meant to be seen live. more ›

September is here, which means a slew of great residencies around town are launching their first week. That's right, people. Rock shows for free! What a magical concept. In a town where there are so many great acts to go and see the LAist will try and guide you through the best of the best. more ›

Dave Matthews Band sax player, LeRoi Moore, died earlier this afternoon at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center "from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia," according to a statement given to TMZ. more ›

Brooklyn indie rockers Pela were supposed to play Spaceland back on March 8, but a few days before, frontman Billy McCarthy was injured while playing a gig in Chicago, forcing them to cancel the rest of their tour. more ›

Walter Meego is not a dude, it's actually Justin Sconza (vocals, keyboards, guitar) and Colin Yarck (keyboards, computer), a Chicago-bred but LA-living electronic-alt-pop duo. Throw Andrew Bernhardt in the mix (or on the mix, hmmm?) and you've got one hell of a kick-ass live band. They hit the El Rey earlier this week as the openers on The Presets' tour, playing to a sold out crowd. more ›

So I think The Mae Shi are robots. more ›