A new local-centric radio program, Close To Home (C2H) debuted last night at 11:00 on 98.7 FM. The show will air every Monday from 11:00 p.m.-Midnight. more ›

Radio Free Silver Lake presents a new monthly residency series on Tuesday nights at LaBrie's in Glendale. The FREE series starts this evening with The Californian and supporting bands Death To Anders and Alpine Decline. more ›

There's no question that FYF Fest promoter Sean Carlson can assemble a musical lineup that arguably rivals or even surpasses many of the longstanding festivals, including the Sunset Junction Street Festival. But will this year's problems be resolved next year? more ›

As mentioned previously, the 12th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival (aka "LobsterFest") was held last weekend at the Ports O'Call Village in San Pedro. For Kevin Bronson from Buzz Bands, the highlight of Sunday's musical lineup -- consisting of Devon Eisenbarger, Tijuana Panthers, Walking Sleep, Miss Derringer, The Section Quartet, and John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X -- was "...when [the headliners] -- in the middle of 'Give Me Flowers While I'm Living' -- were interrupted by the horn of a departing cruise ship. See what happens 1:04 into the song." more ›

Last weekend, the 12th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival (aka "LobsterFest") was held at the Ports O'Call Village in San Pedro. As Losanjealous noted, this festival is the only one of the three held this month that has programmed their live musical entertainment beyond tribute bands, and this year's edition, curated by Mr. Shovel from the late-Indie 103.1, produced what was arguably one of its strongest yet most diverse lineups yet. more ›

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Tonight, the month-long "Also I Like to Rock" free concert series kicks off at the Hammer Museum. Curated by Buzz Bands' Kevin Bronson and KCRW, the scheduled lineup is as follows: more ›

With advance tickets selling out two weeks ago and people lined up yesterday before noontime (and in the rain no less!) to buy the remainder, interest in last night's edition of First Fridays at the Natural History Museum, with performances by Warpaint and Yeasayer, was at a near-record pace. It was the most ambitious project yet for Spaceland Productions, who set up a whopping 14 videocameras, four of which were also used for the live webcast via Stickam, and two RED ONEs converted for shooting in 3D. more ›

As you may have heard, the 29th annual Sunset Junction Street Festival is this weekend. "I've only attended the last three years, and never knew the festival back in [its] free days," says Brad Roberts from Radio Free Silver Lake. "So, frankly, the cost isn't as much of an issue for me as it is for others. The days of expecting a bankrupt state and federal government to provide something as ephemeral as a music festival, are, unfortunately, relics of the past. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself at the last three, all of which introduced me to many of the local bands who are regular favorites of mine. The cultural mix is a Los Angeles specialty and in spite of occasionally resembling a frying pan, everyone seems to really enjoy themselves, the variety of food available is impressive and the atmosphere remains laid back and So Cal." more ›

New Year's Eve was a raucous, booze-filled celebration at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake, with triple headliners The Happy Hollows (MySpace), The Pity Party (MySpace), and The Henry Clay People (MySpace) -- all of whom have been previously mentioned here -- kicking off 2009 with a show that will undoubtedly wind up on many "Best Of" lists at the end of this year. more ›

Earlier this month, the 2nd Annual Christmas Sweater Festival took place at The Echoplex (MySpace). The fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders, featured a stellar lineup of rising stars from the local indie scene, including Amnion (MySpace), Castledoor (MySpace), The Pity Party (MySpace), The Deadly Syndrome (MySpace), The Happy Hollows (MySpace), and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (MySpace). more ›

Earlier this month was "Ho-Ho-Tel 2008" at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. The three night fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the LAFD's "Spark of Love" Toy Drive, featured a "very good" all-star lineup of singer-songwriters and bands that included The Abdomen (MySpace), Sweet Talk Radio (MySpace), Alvin Stewart (MySpace), Holly Conlan (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), AM (MySpace), The Paper Raincoat (MySpace), Meiko (MySpace), Buddy (MySpace), Gary Jules (MySpace), Brian Wright (MySpace), Joe Firstman (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Friday, while Sunday included Jenni Alpert (MySpace), Rob Giles (MySpace), Shane Alexander (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Lissie (MySpace), Austin Hartley-Leonard (MySpace), Jay Nash (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), Pedestrian (MySpace), Andy Clockwise (MySpace), Foster Timms, Tim Jones (MySpace), and Truth and Salvage Co. (MySpace). more ›

Last Wednesday, local indie band Obi Best (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- performed at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. Opening were Miami-based singer-songwriter Rachel Goodrich (MySpace) and the Rio de Janeiro-based Kassin +2 (MySpace). more ›

It was a sad day back in July when Buzz Bands columnist Kevin Bronson was let go from his near six-year LA Times post amid massive cutbacks. He wrote one of the LA Times' more notable blogs called Buzz Bands before it was folded into the paper's Soundboard blog. more ›

Nobody better covers the LA indie music scene than the local blogs, which include LA-Underground, Radio Free Silver Lake, Rock Insider, You Set The Scene, Squaregirls, Aquarium Drunkard, Classical Geek Theatre, Amateur Chemist, and the now-defunct Buzz Bands. Besides spotlighting up-and-coming artists and posting concert photos, many of those blogs regularly present shows -- Radio Free Silverlake's Let's Independent! have included The Happy Hollows (MySpace), The Deadly Syndrome (MySpace), Castledoor (MySpace), and Everest (MySpace). more ›

LA Times staffer and Buzz Bands blogger Kevin Bronson's story "Taking the L.A. indie rock scene personally" hit stands last Thursday. By means of an intimate portrayal, Bronson set forth his pick of indie rock up-and-comers for L.A.'s indie rock scene in 2008. While I completely admire that he would put his neck out there for three rather small, entirely worthy bands (The Airborne Toxic Event, Castledoor, and The Deadly Syndrome) at the forefront of... more ›

Imagine our surprise when we discovered from the LA Times' Buzz Bands blog last week that our friends Rocket were not only on the new tv show The Next Great American Band but they had made it pretty far already. Rocket is the all-female pop rock band from East Hollywood who we first told you about during the summer of last year when they were playing shows almost every day in LA. Then this... more ›

Signal Hill opened the show with an impassioned instrumental set. Lush layering of clean plucking driven by busy bass lines and punchy drums comprise Signal Hill's sound. Crowd pleasers like 'This New Year's Absence' exuded unbearable pangs of passion. I haven't felt this moved by an instrumental band since Explosions In The Sky and the mere comparison speaks volumes about their worthiness. Signal Hill performs remarkably poignant instrumental rock that grasps your attention and never ceases to let go. more ›

In what could be the finest form of stealing from the rich, the Artist Formerly Known as being far more comfortable touring outside of the US, could be setting up shop a block away from Hollywood & Highland for a royal residency. The LA Times Buzz Bands blog says the details are being ironed out between the purple one and the increasingly relevant-again Roosevelt Hotel. The string of shows is scheduled to start in... more ›

The Wherehouse, Licorice Pizza, Rhino, Tower, Moby Disc, Aron's, Penny Lane, db Coopers... and now you can add Echo Park's Sea Level to the list of once-essential local record stores that have thrown in the towel. The LA Times Buzz Bands blog has the scoop: the independent outlet that in 5 1/2 years had become a locus for Los Angeles' Eastside music scene, will close June 30, owner Todd Clifford said. "It's not so... more ›

The password for Goldenvoice's presale is... roxanne. Could there possibly be any more of a hint at a Police reunion? Also allegedly reuniting -- Rage Against the Machine, The Stooges (again)... Not a whole lot is confirmed but all we can say is THREE DAYS -- can you handle it? Presale ends at 8 PM for the 3 Day pass @ $199. April 27-29. UPDATE: Kevin at the Times' Buzz Bands blog sez: Damon... more ›