Tonight Jenny and Johnny, yet another boy/girl duo featuring none other than ruddy-haired Rilo Kiley front woman Jenny Lewis and her middle-of-the-road actor/singer-songwriter boyfriend Jonathan Rice, will be performing for free, in-store at Amoeba Music in Hollyweird. Apple commercial inductees, LA-based indie pop duo the Submarines are poised to take on the Bootleg Theater with local "fancy pop" songstress Obi Best (LAist Interview, Review, #2) and Sacramento's Julie Baenziger, who performs under the pseudonym Sea of Bees. And, lastly, Portland-based alt-rock-leaning outfit Blue Giant, which is of course a splinter of celebrated indie pop act Viva Voce, will be warming up the stage at Spaceland for Nashville's own rock troubadour Bobby Bare Jr.. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Pacific Hurt, formerly known as Santa Ana-based indie rockers Aushua. LAist favorites, San Diegan buzz band LESANDS, LA-by-way-of-Glasgow retro 50s/60s pop outfit Neverever and folk-infused indie rock outfit Mississippi Man are all slated to perform as well. more ›

This week NYC-based dance-punk trio the Rapture will be headlining Sean Carlson's ever-so-famous Fuck Yeah Fest—now in its seventh year—which is set to take place in Los Angeles State Historic Park. Local electronic chanteuse Nite Jewel, who recently released a new EP entitled Am I Real?, is poised to grace the Troubadour with none other than recent collaborators Teen Inc. in tow. Portland-based alt-rock-leaning outfit Blue Giant, which is of course a splinter of celebrated indie pop act Viva Voce, will be warming up the stage at Spaceland for Nashville's own rock troubadour Bobby Bare Jr.. And, lastly, Pacific Hurt, formerly known as Santa Ana-based indie rockers Aushua, will be taking on the Troubadour with San Diegan buzz band LESANDS, LA-by-way-of-Glasgow retro 50s/60s pop outfit Neverever and folk-infused indie rock outfit Mississippi Man. more ›

Tell me this isn't the best single and video of the year more ›

It was either 1986 or '87. LAist was living in Inglewood within walking distance of the Fabulous Forum. We were young and impressionable. We had heard of the legend of "Clapton is God", but we were also fascinated by a new guy named Robert Cray who was just breaking into the scene with a blues tune that was actually getting played on MTV - something unheard of unless your name was Stevie Ray. So we walked down to the Forum, bought some tickets for face value from the box office and sat in the very back of the arena. Cray's set was damn good and we thought, ok British legend, let's see what you've got. And let's just say that even in the back row of the Forum, this would-be blogger was so completely blown away that we too followed suit and scribbled "Clapton is God" in the men's room, which we are certain will be repeated late tonight after the former Cream guitarist converts some new blood. more ›

Jesse Sykes, Phil Wandscher, Anne Marie Ruljancich @ Silverlake Lounge more ›

FRIDAY more ›