Mars Volta - L'Via L'Viaquez Mars Volta @ The Echoplex The Young Dubliners, Elevaters, Eject, Sugarwall @ The Roxy The Aggrolites, Los Hooligans @ The Knitting Factory 9 Volt, Timbuk II, RVC, Jonathan Shue, Nuttie, Drea, Darcy, Sabri @ Tangier Dirty Sweet, Year Long Disaster, Get Back Loretta, Sea of Air @ Spaceland Mike Watt & the Missingmen @ La Conga Mexican Cantina Hello Astronaut, Goodbye Television, Black Black, Devon Williams, Maria, Her Girl......

I've always been intrigued by other "best of" lists, but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I e-mailed a handful of bands that I've seen this past year in order to unearth what exactly captivated them in '07. As music listeners, it is our duty to take a keen interest in our favorite musician's influences. After all, they rocked our little world, might as well see what rocked their......

The Go! Team - "Grip Like a Vice" The Go! Team @ The Echo The Eagles, Dixie Chicks @ Nokia Theatre Bobby Vinton @ Cerritos Center Carlos Guitarlos @ Liquid Kitty First Wave Hello @ Troubadour Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, The Audition, We the Kings @ House of Blues Pierced Arrows, Jail Weddings, Devon Williams @ Spaceland The Go! Team - "Junior Kickstart"......

Patti Smith @ Roxy Chris Cornell @ Avalon What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Spaceland The Teddybears @ El Rey Theatre The Sea Hags @ The Cat Club The Supersuckers @ Viper Room Herb Alpert and Lani Hall @ Vibrato Grill & Jazz Castledoor, I Make This Sound, Ari Eskandarian @ Silverlake Lounge Dear Nora, Anna Oxygen, Devon Williams & the Allen Bleyle 3 @ The Smell Taylor Hicks @ Grove of Anaheim......

Blackalicious, Sage Francis (above), Brother Ali, Jean Grae, Mr. Lif, Visionairies, Cage, Zion I & the Grouch, Devin the Dude, Evidence & Alchemist, Pigeon John @ Orange Pavilion As Tall as Lions, Booka Shade, Circa Survive, Cute Is What We Aim For @ Avalon Pat Metheny @ Disney Concert Hall Pitbull, Rakim @ Shrine Auditorium Elvis Perkins, Let's Go Sailing @ Largo The Red Elvises @ Rusty's Surf Ranch West Indian Girl, The Slow......