Kevin Bronson at his Buzz Bands blog reports on the next music venue to go under. "Safari Sam’s, the east Hollywood nightclub that opened in April 2006 with grand plans and big dreams, closed quietly last week." He says that the owner has been rumored to be in debt and "the club never found its niche in booking acts that would consistently fill the venue. Last week, employees got abrupt notice that the club was being shuttered." more ›

The Guide to March Rock Music Residencies has been updated with a few more listings -- it seems as if residencies are catching on, which is a good thing. Meanwhile, Howlin Rain plays their last LA concert before a tour promoting their new album, Magnificent Fiend, that was released yesterday. more ›

Despite SXSW starting up this week with 100+ Los Angeles based bands heading over there, residencies are growing stronger and more venue-diverse across the line, especially on Monday nights where the volume makes it hard to choose from. Here's to a great month of residencies, rock on. more ›

Tomorrow is the finish up the AMGEN Tour of California in Pasadena. But before hitting the old money city, they're headed towards Santa Clarita this afternoon (where Six Flags Magic Mountain has decided to stay put). From 4 to 10 p.m. tonight “Rock the Bike,” a free outdoor cycling expo and music festival, will bring together an array of people following the stage 6 finish. Various bands will be playing and headlining act, the Gin Blossoms, will be on stage around 8 p.m. (of course, if it rains, who knows what will happen, this is an outdoor event). The tour itself is aired on the cable channel, VERSUS, at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. For more check our TV weekend listings. more ›

Willie Nelson may be playing downtown tonight, but if you want some folk rock that's local and amazingly fresh, go hear Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies. We heard them last week at their first show of their Hotel Cafe February residency and it was in-your-face and beautiful. But you've got a tough choice if you like this kind of music because when it rains, it pours -- Canadian acoustic folk soul-grass band, The Duhks, will be at the Knitting Factory. more ›

One of the first murders in 2008 happened in the parking lot of Crash Mansion on Grand Avenue, an up-and-coming downtown music venue. A fight broke out in the club and continued into the parking lot where one person shot an 18-year-old dead, injuring two others. more ›

Sometimes Monday nights lead to tough choices. For Jax at Rock Insider, it's between The Pity Party (who we interviewed this morning) and The Henry Clay People. Luckily, both bands are playing all month. Still, there are many choices. If you like your music Folk, your drinks cheap and have never been to Joe's Great American Bar & Grill in Burbank, it's a pretty sweet place to catch music seven days a week -- tonight is Dafni. more ›

For those who joined us last night (thank you for coming!), we witnessed many hot and bothered moments with an excellent band we've never hard before -- The Makers (we can't find their website, help). They are in residency at Seven Grand every Tuesday and we highly recommend checking them out. For tonight, first night residencies for this month happen at the Viper Room, Hotel Cafe and the Silverlake Lounge (see our Guide to February Rock Music Residencies). We're feeling a bit rustic today, so we recommend Brian Wright & the Waco Tragedies at Hotel Cafe. more ›

Month-long residencies are one of the best ways to catch up-and-coming bands in Los Angeles. You have at least four times to catch a band, and each time, if they are gaining popularity over each show, it will be harder to see them. Last Thursday at their final residency concert, The Airborne Toxic Event played a sold out show with another 300 fans not getting in at the door. That's how crazy residencies can be. Catch 'em while you can. Here's your February line-up: more ›

Despite it being Superbowl Sunday, February residencies got off to a great start last night with Alex & Sam at Tangier. Tonight is the first night of February residencies at Spaceland, Silverlake Lounge, Crash Mansion and The Echo/Echoplex. By last Thursday, The Airborne Toxic Event had gained so much popularity from their January residency, they had to reject 300 people from the door. Case in point, catch these bands in residency early on in the month. more ›

Last Friday when A-Trak and Kid Sister played at New York City's Natural History Museum, Kanye West made a surprise visit. Neither Flavorpill or the Natural History Museum list Kanye for tonight's version of the NYC event, First Friday, but rumors are afloat, as they're bound to happen. Nevertheless, the evening looks to be killer anyway. more ›

Last chance to catch bands in their Monday night January residencies. That, plus Fred Armisen, who LA Weekly says "does Prince better than Prince." more ›

Ryan Adams sucks and Matt Costa is all the way in Long Beach, so if there's anything worth checking out tonight that you probably haven't done, then it's some salsa dancing in Studio City with Johnny Polanco (pictured right). His band has "contagious Latin Music that is truly appreciated by the dancing connoisseurs." Rock. more ›

Joseph Cosina was shot in the heart after bar-close early Friday morning at Crash Mansion nightclub on Grand Ave. (it was an 18-and-over event). The 19-year-old Downey High School graduate was pronounced dead at the hospital and two others were wounded. The gunman remains at large.

About closing time, a fight broke out inside the club, police said. Cosina and his friends had no connection to the fight, said his father, Hector. more ›

"Imaginary Places" - Busdriver (and excellent vid filmed on the streets of LA and a great piece too) more ›

It's a rockin' Friday night in LA with Stevie, Van Halen, RZA, and R. Kelly in town, a XMAS Sweater Party at Crash Mansion featuring local indie up'n comers, and cow punk comes alive at Safari Sam's, with X side project (since 1982) The Knitters. more ›

Metal Skool w/ Jeremy Piven - "Back in Black" Metal Skool @ Key Club Ky-Mani Marley @ Amoeba Emo Phillips @ Steve Allen Theatre Softlightes, Porterville, El Ten Eleven @ Spaceland The Ramonas, Shatto, All New Like @ The Airliner I See Hawks In LA, Cydney Robinson @ The Bordello D-Strutters, Ninja Academy, Masterslave @ Crash Mansion L.A. Saint Motel, Le Switch, Last American Buffalo, Voxhaul Broadcast @ Viper Room... more ›

Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, The North Mississippi Allstars @ Malibu Performing Arts Jill Scott @ House of Blues Meshell Ndegeocello @ Galaxy Theater Two Gallants, Blitzen Trapper, Songs For Mom @ El Rey Say Hi To Your Mom, The Velvet Teen, The A-Sides @ The Troubadour The Parson Red Heads, Acute, Le Switch, The Weather Underground @ Spaceland Electric Six, Gore Gore Girls, We Are the Fury @ Key Club Kari Kimmel, Sareet @... more ›

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill @ Honda Center more ›

Crash Mansion, a live-music venue and nightclub owned by the Bowery Restaurant Group and located at 199 Bowery in New York City , is opening their Los Angeles outpost tonight. They have transformed Myron's Ballroom downtown into a club. We read that is has a capacity for 1200 guests, 5 bars and two stages. Bands that have performed in the New York venue include: Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Norah Jones, Joss Stone, Usher, Gavin DeGraw, The Rapture, The Fray, Public Enemy, Wyclef Jean, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, and Le Tigre. If it's cool, you better get their quick before word spreads. more ›