Joshua Radin's music has a way of arresting one's attention, which is probably why his songs have been used in more than 75 television programs and films over the last six years. But it's his full albums that offer the biggest payoff—they definitely live up to the promise of an initial taste. Radin's third full-length album, "The Rock and the Tide," showcases him at his most ambitious and playful, and proves he's just as adept at straight-up rock as he is at "whisper rock." more ›

Tonight the famed Watkins Family Hour (LAist Review) will be taking place at Largo at the Coronet. LA-based alternative rock troubadour Cary Brothers (LAist Interview) is poised to grace the Hotel Café, ringing in his latest endeavor—2010's Under Control. And, lastly, local experimental electro trio known as Ja Prawn will be performing in-store at Origami Vinyl. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch LA-by-way-of-New Orleans alternative hip hop duo the Knux (LAist Interview). Local indie rockers the Holloys are slated to kick things off. more ›

As mentioned previously, earlier this month, over 50 singer-songwriters and bands participated in "Ho-Ho-tel" 2009, a three-night fundraiser with the proceeds benefiting the LAFD's "Spark of Love" Toy Drive, at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. more ›

Starting tomorrow, over 50 singer-songwriters and bands will participate in "Ho-Ho-tel" 2009, a three-night fundraiser with the proceeds benefiting the LAFD's "Spark of Love" Toy Drive, at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. 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 Sunday and Monday was Obama Nights! at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. The sold-out Barack Obama Presidential Campaign fundraisers, featuring an all-star lineup of 23 singer-songwriters, included Marina V (MySpace), Caitlin Crosby (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), Charlotte Martin (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Terra Naomi (MySpace), Priscilla Ahn (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Sunday, while Monday included Kelly Dalton (MySpace), Marié Digby (MySpace), Tim Myers (MySpace), Schuyler Fisk (MySpace), HoneyHoney (MySpace), Rocco DeLuca (MySpace), David Ryan Harris (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Tom Freund (MySpace), Ben Lee (MySpace), and Brett Dennen (MySpace). more ›

Last weekend, the 24th Annual Abbot Kinney Festival took place in Venice. One longtime attendee noted that in past years, the quality of musical entertainment wasn't particularly memorable, so she was pleasantly surprised at the lineup this year, which included locals WAZ (MySpace), Buddy (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), Holly Conlan (MySpace) with Pedestrian (MySpace), Steve Reynolds (MySpace) with Cary Brothers (MySpace), Brian Wright (MySpace) with Sally Jaye (MySpace), Jesca Hoop (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), and Chris Pierce (MySpace) on the Brooks Stage (booked by the Hotel Cafe), Paul Chesne (MySpace) and Matt Ellis (MySpace) on the Andaluisa Stage, and War Tapes (MySpace) and HoneyHoney (MySpace) at the Palms Stage (although it should be noted that the set times listed on the website for this stage were woefully incorrect). more ›

39 days • 12 musicians • 1 bus more ›

As we said yesterday in this column, Robert Francis fell ill earlier this month, prompting the cancellation of his Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge. Good news, though, the new favorite local artist of ours is playing tonight at El Rey at 8:45 p.m. with the Australian Missy Higgins performing after. There's no better way than letting you get to know Francis via a few songs below. more ›

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 two EPs and the new LP. more ›

"Big Fish" - Jesca Hoop more ›

Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ The Mayan Dave Brubeck @ Hollywood Bowl Brave Combo, Orchestra Super String @ Safari Sam's Jackshit @ The Baked Potato Aimee Mann @ Largo Air Supply @ Cerritos Center Stevenson Ranch Davidians @ The Echo Eskimo Joe, Versa Vice @ Spaceland Cary Brothers, Stars of Track & Field, William Fitzsimmons @ The photo by godknows via Buzznet... more ›

Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party - Ultra Payloaded (Sony) R. Kelly - Double Up (Jive) Transformers: The Movie - Original Soundtrack [20th Anniversary Edition] (Sony Legacy) Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior (Shout! Factory) Moonbabies - Moonbabies at the Ballroom (Hidden Agenda) The Smithereens - Green Thoughts [REISSUE] (American Beat) Cary Brothers - Who You Are (Bluhammock) Madagascar - Goodbye East, Goodbye West (Western Vinyl) Juliana Hatfield & Frank Smith - Sittin' in a Tree... (Ye... more ›

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We'd like to congratulate Neil for winning The Stills contest. The Stills play tonight at the Henry Fonda with The Land of Talk. If you didn't win, stay tuned, LAist has contests every week for your ass. Here are some other options tonight, a night full of killer live music. Rocket (pictured) @ Spaceland (free) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blood Brothers @ Hollywood Palladium Band of Horses @ Avalon Andrew's Bad Stuff, Fluffer, Rick Surveuor... more ›

Sample these tracks and let us know what's in your iPod playlist this week.

At 7:30 PM, Beyond Baroque is hosting a third anniversary reading for POOL Magazine, hosted by poets/editors Judith Taylor and Patty Seyburn with readings from the new issue by Stephanie Brown, Rick Bursky, Gina Lain, Suzanne Karpilovsky, Louise Mathias, Jim Natal, Alicia Partnoy and Charles Webb. Wine and cheese will also be served. more ›