If you have a hankie, please reach for it now: The cutest, palest, sweetest, veganest alt-rock couple are donesville: Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel have announced the are breaking up. more ›

It's rare you get the chance to see a live performance of a popular band in a very intimate setting, so when Death Cab for Cutie came through L.A. to do such a show for KCRW, the invite was impossible to turn down. more ›

We LAisters love music. We love to listen, we love to watch, we love to sing, we love to play. Help us wish a very happy 35th birthday to Death Cab for Cutie's lead singer, Ben Gibbard. Hubby to Zooey Deschanel, he probably doesn't need much to keep him happy. more ›

It was two summers ago, but from someone sitting among the thousands in the majestic Hollywood Bowl the night of July 5, 2009, trust me: I doubt I'll ever forget how lovely this was. Death Cab For Cutie live onstage, playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, closing with "Transatlanticism" and some incredible fireworks. It's been a long week, and it's a long weekend, and, sure, today's video lunch is a long one, but it's just lovely. Happy 4th! more ›

With the release of their third album, "Arrows," there are 12 new reasons to explore the sonic landscape of The Lonely Forest. This Pacific Northwest-based band will be Death Cab for Cutie's opener at the El Rey tonight. LAist caught up with guitarist Tony Ruland last weekend to get the scoop on the new album and the band's adventures on the Oregon Trail. more ›

Shepard Fairey discusses his collaboration with Lance Armstrong and his latest designs for Team RadioShack's Tour of California bicycles. Also, Death Cab for Cutie's "Home is a Fire" video, with lyrics appearing as street art across the Echo Park cityscape. more ›

Tonight Bellingham-based indie rock outfit Death Cab For Cutie will be performing at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic bolstering their sound. Local indie rockers Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview, Review) are headlining Silver Factory Studios. And, lastly, Long Beach's own surf punk trio Tijuana Panthers will be performing at the Echo for this week's edition of Part Time Punks. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Bootleg Theatre to catch legendary experimental French pop chanteuse Émilie Simon. more ›

The week Berkeley-bred rock singer-songwriter John Fogerty, best known for his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be taking on a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. Maryland-based singer-songwriter Bill Callahan will be headlining the Troubadour with Bachelorette in tow. Bellingham-based indie rockers Death Cab For Cutie are poised to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. And, lastly, local retro 60s soul act Fitz and the Tantrums will be gracing Spaceland for this week's edition of Club NME. more ›

"Grapevine Fires" was inspired by lead singer and guitarist Ben Gibbard's up-close-and-personal encounter with 2007's California wildfires. Death Cab For Cutie's mesmerizing new animated music video "Grapevine Fires" is directed by Walter Robot (a.k.a. the team of multimedia artist Bill Barminski and writer Christopher Louie). The song was included on "Change is Now: Restoring America's' Promise" the official commemorative CD-DVD set celebrating President Barack Obama's inauguration. more ›

December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. This year we asked some of the staffers what inspired them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008. more ›

Tonight Chicago-based pop punk outfit Alkaline Trio will be coming through the Keyclub in Hollywood. The Hotel Café is hosting the final night of its "ho-ho-tel 2008" holiday extravaganza with singer-songwriter types like Brother Sal (LAist Review). The Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club will be throwing a Holiday Party at All Star Lanes with a handful of great local acts, including Wait.Think.Fast. In a strained effort to make up for last night's botched bill, KROQ has booked an indie-centric line-up that would sate your average music lover. Night two of Almost Acoustic Christmas will be headlined by the Cure, Death Cab For Cutie (LAist Review), Franz Ferdinand and Vampire Weekend (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4). And, lastly, Lawrence-based experimental rockers Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk will be performing at Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echoplex for the Midnight Mission Benefit. Earlimart front man Aaron Espinoza will be joined by Rilo Kiley's Pierre De Reeder (LAist Review) for a great cause. more ›

Tomorrow music magazine Under the Radar will auction off handmade protest posters by some of indie music's biggest names. In the photos from the project, the musicians, hold their posters to shout there message loud and proud. Brit Daniel from Spoon show off his his 'VIVA LA RAZA' poster, Sharon Jones pleads "END THIS WAR NOW', and OK GO warns 'THEY BANK ON YOUR APATHY' . more ›

After a great start to the festival with a outstanding first day filled with solid performances from REM and MIA, day two continued picked up right where it left off the night before, rain and all. Luckily the rain subsided just before the first acts of the started and gave way to some beautiful weather that lasted throughout the day. more ›

Hey Dish Network customers, there was a drop of almost 90% in new subscribers to your service last quarter showing that the telcos are becoming even more competitive in the digital TV/broadband space. The company is recording higher profits though so all is not lost if they regroup and get their act together. more ›

In the previous installations of Coachella there have been some huge headliners. Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Bjork, The Beastie Boys but none quite on the level of day two's headliner, the Purple One, Prince. From the moment he hit the stage with Morris Day and Shelia E. it was apparent that the audience was in for a lesson in musicianship and showmanship. As he played through a set mixed of standards and the cover everyone was talking about (more on that in a second) he demonstrated his true mastery of musical performance. Whether it was his virtuoso guitar solos or his dance moves there was never a dull moment in the performance. But the real treat came when Prince played a cover of Radiohead's breakout hit "Creep." There have been many covers of the song but none as dramatic and unique as this cover. The song was given the Prince treatment, a few word changes and an incredible guitar solo. Before leaving the stage he declared "Coachella will always be Prince's house" and after the performance he gave Saturday, it will take alot to prove that statement wrong. more ›

The moment has finally materialized: The official lineup for the three-day mega music fest in the middle of nowhere (aka Empire Polo Field in Indio) has been announced. more ›

If you keep walking west down Hollywood Blvd past the nonsense of Hollywood & Highland, past the tourist and super heroes at the Chinese Theater and down the next block, you will find the Knitting Factory, tucked away beneath what was once a movie theater. Boasting three stages and tons of bands every night, the Knitting Factory comes to us via New York and has hosted some shows this year that LAist had a great... more ›

After last season's excellent cliffhanger, on August 13th Weeds returns to Showtime for its 3rd season. LAist asked Creator and Executive Producer, Jenji Kohan about breaking into television, being a working mom, and what draws her to the flawed characters she has created. LAist: The new season of Weeds begins on August 13. How do feel going into your 3rd season? Jenji Kohan: I feel tired, but great. We took the finale of season... more ›

Having achieved a degree of musical success in their pre-teen years that would make most adult musicians green with envy, Seattle indie rock duo Smoosh has become a musical sensation that manages to transcend the twin curses of both the tween and indie rock genres. Unlike the cloyingly precocious, prefab stars of Nickelodeon or the earnestly self-serious icons of indie rock, Smoosh has a unique sound that manages to be charmingly naive and authentically... more ›

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of Rock and in the face of Roll, to join together you, dear LAist reader, and this New Music Tuesday in holy Matrimony. This mystical union is not to be entered into lightly, or unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly (ha), and in the fear of the reaper. More cowbell. L'chaim. OUT TODAY: .38 Special - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (A&M)... more ›

Master Slave, The High Violets, Black Tales, Lady Sinatra @ Silverlake Lounge
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Death Cab For Cutie, Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins @ Terrace Theater The Delta Spirit, What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Spaceland The Parson Red Heads, Black Pine, The Faraway Places, Nico Stai @ Echo Four Good Men, (ex members of Simple Minds & Big Country) @ Knitting Factory Sarah Silverman @ Largo Metal Skool, The New Fidelity, Underwater City People, Pu$$y Cow @ Key Club Rib Bib, Faggot, Gay Beast, The Munchers, Mad... more ›

"NBA Basketball" (KCAL, 7:00 p.m.) Lakers @ Trailblazers "Jericho" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) The Mayor, who went wandering around the nuclear wilderness, gets sick - who'da thunk? "The War" (PBS, 8:00 p.m.) Ken Burns has a new mini-series about WWII, the "War to End All Wars". Expect the FCC to fine all PBS stations who air the 7-parter due to adult language. "The Biggest Loser" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) "They're Back" - nuff said "America's Next... more ›

Be Your Own Pet Be Your Own Pet (Ecstatic Peace) – Thurston Moore signed this teenage band from Nashville. Critics like to compare the lead singer to Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Most critics think it’s a fun, infectious record but detractors criticize the lack of sophistication. The whole thing only lasts 33 minutes. Tickets are still available for their show at the Troubadour on June 27th. more ›

Calling all members of the “[Frank] Gehry Army.” Tomorrow’s opening of The Frostig Collection 2006 at Berman Turner Projects E-1 Gallery will feature Gehry, Robert Graham, R. Kenton Nelson and others to benefit children with learning disabilities. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (via art.blogging.la) more ›

The alt-rock phenoms Death Cab For Cutie played to a full house last night at the Wiltern. With five albums of material at their disposal, the band selected an eclectic mix of new and old. All the big crowd pleasers were included, like "The Sound of Settling," "The New Year," "Soul Meets Body," and "Marching Bands of Manhattan." They saved the gems, "Transaltanticism" and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" for the encore. The latter was the strongest song of the evening. The lights were dimmed - leaving only Ben Gibbard, armed with his guitar, romantic lyrics, and vulnerable vocals. more ›

FRIDAY more ›

Here are five songs that are topping our iTunes playlist this week...


• Kick back and relax with Death Cab for Cutie's I
  Will Follow You Into The Dark. Death Cab play the
  Wiltern on October 21.


• Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am teams with DMC and Sarah McLachlan on the Just
  Like Me. The unusual "Cats in the Cradle" cover is plucked from
  McLachlan's new Bloom remix
  CD. The collaboration is odd, but it works. Of course, MacLachlan could sing
  the phone book and it would still sound amazing. Catch
  Black Eyed Peas with Gwen Stefani on October 21 at the
  Hollywood Bowl.


• Amos Lee slows things down a notch in Speed
  of the Sound of Loneliness. Some
  call him the male Norah Jones. We think he's more interesting and less
  predictable than Jones. Check out his Keep
  It Loose, Keep It Tight EP. You can hear Lee at the
  Avalon on
  November 17.