Tonight Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (LAist Review) will be concluding a two-night stint at Largo at the Coronet. Two of the most prominent women in indie folk rock, Mirah and Thao Nguyen, are poised to combine forces, backing one another at the Bootleg Theater in what will invariably be deemed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And, lastly, local electro pop singer-songwriter Evan Voytas will be gracing the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch Long Beach-based indie rockers We Barbarians, who will be kicking off a free month-long residency. LAist favorites, Long Beach's own surf punk trio Tijuana Panthers (LAist Interview, Review), local folk rockers the Romany Rye and Chicagoan indie rock quartet Ezra Furman and the Harpoons are slated to perform as well. 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 ›