Tonight Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand will be headlining the Hollywood Palladium. Brooklyn-based indie pop duo Matt & Kim will be performing to a sold-out crowd at the El Rey Theatre with none other than Philadelphia's own rapper/singer Amanda Blank. And, lastly, Omaha-bred Americana act Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band will be taking on the Echoplex with Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Kurt Vile and Swedish psych rockers Dungen. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch San Diegan garage rockers Crocodiles. London-based trios Graffiti Island and Pens are slated to kick things off. more ›

Tonight Nashville-based alternative rock super-group the Dead Weather are poised to take LA by storm, playing at the Mayan Theatre with none other than Tyvek. Swedish psych rockers Dungen are poised to perform at the Troubadour with equally heady acts like Kurt Vile and Woods. And, lastly, local alt-rockers Dawes will be closing out their month-long residency at the Echo with NY's own folk rock quartet Chief. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch Portland-by-way-of-Chicago folk rock outfit Fruit Bats. San Francisco-by-way-of-Wisconsin indie pop act A B and the Sea will be kicking things off. 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. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008. more ›

Tonight Chicago-based hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco will be stopping by the recently opened Club Nokia. NY-based singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke (LAist Interview) will be gracing the Largo at the Coronet. Prolific psych rockers the Entrance Band will be performing at Spaceland with LBC locals the Growlers. And, lastly, Sweden's own the (International) Noise Conspiracy will be playing a rather small room at El Cid. But we suggest heading over the the Echo to catch Canadian experimental garage rockers Women and Swedish psych rock group Dungen. more ›