Tonight Brooklyn-based neo-psych rockers MGMT will be headlining the Greek Theatre with NY-based electro-funk act Francis and the Lights. John Doe & Exene, two members of the formidable LA punk rock band X, are poised to grace the Autry National Center of the American West with none other than the Living Sisters—a triumvirate of venerable female troubadours... more ›

Tonight, or rather early today, local country-infused folk, twin-sister duo the Watson Twins (LAist Review, #2, #3) will be making an appearance near the Bruin Bear statue at UCLA for the LA Times' Festival of Books. the Living Sisters—a triumvirate of venerable female troubadours, which includes Inara George, Becky Stark, and Eleni Mandell—are poised to grace the Bootleg Theater with none other than pseudo-super group Black Prairie, which of course includes three moonlighting members of the Decemberists. And, lastly, local singer-songwriter Kenneth Pattengale will be performing a very special, collaborative set at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Mon Mon with folk singer-songwriter Joey Ryan. Although we strongly suggest heading to the aforementioned show, we highly recommend heading over to Spaceland to catch Austin-bred indie rockers Shearwater, who will be performing in support of their latest—2010's The Golden Archipelago. LAist favorites, Baltimore-based folk rock duo Wye Oak (LAist Interview) and Lawrence's own Hospital Ships. more ›

LAist was in attendance as an eager crowd filled up the sold-out El Rey Theatre for a night of googly-eyed swooning. Zooey Deschanel & Co.—best known as She & Him—took the stage in support of their latest album, 2010's Volume 2. The real highlight of the night though was the harmonious performance by the Living Sisters, which featured a very expectant mother-to-be Inara George. more ›

Tonight critically acclaimed Virginia Beach-bred hip hop duo Clipse will be performing at the Roxy in Hollyweird. Rock Island-based alternative country singer-songwriter Lissie is poised to grace the Hotel Café. And, lastly, one of LAist's favorite local singer-songwriters, one Mia Doi Todd will be gracing Spaceland yet again... more ›

It's not very often that local songstress supergroup The Living Sisters, comprised of Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark, Eleni Mandell, and The Bird and the Bee's Inara George, perform live, so it's little wonder that they drew a packed house on Tuesday night at the Bootleg Theater as part of Ferraby Lionheart's month-long residency. "Their sweet songs imbued with the cadences of doo-wop, classic country, and folk evoke a nostalgia for the pure and simple songs of last century," noted West Coast Sound last December, reporting that they "...have recorded an album with Vanguard Records that should be released in March." more ›

Tonight LA-based alt-rockers Olin & the Moon (LAist Interview) will be closing out their residency at the Echo with none other than local indie rockers the Henry Clay People (Review, #2, #3, #4). San Juan Capistrano-bred indie rock outfit the Union Line are poised to headline the Bootleg Theater with local indie rock act Voxhaul Broadcast and We Barbarians in tow. And, lastly, LA-bred uber psychedelic act Sun Araw will be gracing Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into Largo at the Coronet to catch the "Song Circle for Haiti Benefit." Local ruddy-haired songstress Jenny Lewis (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4), Nebraskan indie pop duo Azure Ray (LAist Interview), Lavender Diamond front woman Becky Stark and many, many others will be performing to benefit Haiti. more ›

Tonight Portland-by-way-of-San Diego Psych-infused folk outfit Castanets will be headlining the Bootleg Theater. Local rockers War Tapes are poised to take on the Dakota Live Music Lounge in Santa Monica with none other than Long Beach's own post-punk outfit Repeater and psych rock act Deep Sleep Ops. And, lastly, long-disbanded, acclaimed Glasgow-bred indie rock quartet the Yummy Furs will be gracing the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to Space 15 Twenty to partake in "Miracle: An Afternoon Acoustic Celebration." LAist favorites, local indie rock singer-songwriter Devon Williams, Lavender Diamond front woman Becky Stark and LA-based folk singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins—among many, many others of course—are all slated to perform as a part of the Mountains and Flowers, an exhibition by artist Susan Cianciolo. more ›

Tonight Brooklyn's crown jewel TV on the Radio (LAist Review) will be headlining the Glass House in Pomona. Moldy Peaches front woman Kimya Dawson is poised to headline the Troubadour. And, lastly, local chanteuse Eleni Mandell will be gracing the relatively newfangled Grammy Museum in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to Largo at the Coronet's Little Room to catch Lavender Diamond front woman Becky Stark. more ›

Tonight one of LAist's favorite local singer-songwriters Mia Doi Todd will be performing at the Echo. LA-based instrumental quartet Signal Hill are slated to perform at the Bootleg Theater. And, lastly, Lavender Diamond front woman Becky Stark will be gracing the Little Room at Largo at the Coronet. But we strongly suggest checking into the main room at Largo at the Coronet to catch bluegrass troubadour Gillian Welch and her longtime musical partner Dave Rawlings. Led Zeppelin multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones is slated to join on the mandolin. more ›

So many shows, so little time! Tonight Brighton-based pop rockers the Kooks (LAist Review) and the Whigs will be playing at the newly-renovated Palladium in Hollyweird. Gainesville's Against Me! will be doling out heavy-handed punk rock the Wiltern with Ted Leo & the Phamacists and Future of the Left. Venice-based folk songstress HoneyHoney (LAist Review) will be performing at the Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond (LAist Review) fame will be playing solo at Tangier in Los Feliz. But we recommend catching weyou. at Mr. T's Bowl. The endearing pop-driven twosome is set to host a wondrous night filled with equable duets. You just can't go wrong! more ›

Last month, local band Lavender Diamond (MySpace) performed at The Wiltern (MySpace), opening with the Seattle-based Smoosh (MySpace) for The Dresden Dolls (MySpace). more ›

Last month, the singer-songwriter supergroup trio The Living Sisters (MySpace), comprised of The Bird and the Bee (MySpace)'s Inara George (MySpace), Eleni Mandell (MySpace), and Lavender Diamond (MySpace)'s Becky Stark, performed at the 35th Annual Topanga Days Festival (MySpace). more ›

LA's Lavender Diamond has headlined shows in London and supported the Decemberists on their U.S. tour last fall. But tonight is their first-ever headlining gig in Los Angeles, with The Finches and Winter Flowers at Safari Sam's. We last caught up with Becky Stark, Lavender Diamond's 25-year-old frontwoman with the delicate voice in June 2005. Last weekend, we were lucky to chase her down near chicken corner for an update. So, what's up with you... more ›

Tues 5/30 - Bedroom Walls / Let’s Go Sailing / Lavender Diamond @ Troubadour ($8) – Catch three strong local bands on one bill. Bedroom Walls has a new, critically acclaimed album on Baria Records. Download “Somewhere in Newhall (string quartet version)” Let’s Go Sailing is Shana Levy with various members of Silversun Pickups, Tanya Haden and others helping her out from time to time. Lavender Diamond is Becky Stark backed by some other talented, soft 1970’s-style rockers. They’ve gotten a lot of strong national press lately. Download “You Broke My Heart” If you want something less mellow, try Pinback at the Avalon. more ›

TUESDAY more ›

THURSDAY more ›

Becky Stark smiles as she sings sometimes. Not a knowing smile, nor self-assured; it’s a curious, wondering look – “Are you on my side?” Her body floats beneath the gauzy layers of an ancient wedding gown, anchors the stage like a soft image drawn in peach-colored light, deep inside an old kinetoscope. Behind her, the band thumps in simple melodia, a progression drawn from prewar Americana. The sound could be something off a scratchy Folkways cylinder, tarnished by neither nostalgia nor irony. Then Stark’s voice sails up, stripped of affectation, into frequencies so ghostly pure that they seem to consume the aether, almost to bridge time and space. You feel her escape from her body; she completely inhabits the hushed room. ... more ›