This year's FYF Fest -- last Saturday at L.A. State Historic Park -- had something for everybody and at $40 entry for 10 hours of music on four stages (plus a comedy tent) was the ultimate no-brainer for live music aficionados.
FYF Fest 2011 Wins Punk Rock Hearts with Nearly Flawless Festival
JC Penney Decides That No One is Too Pretty for Homework
L.A. has a(n unfair) reputation for being superficial, but even here, a t-shirt that reads "I'm Too Pretty For Homework" wouldn't fly. The full text of the shirt, made by JC Penney, was "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me." It was marketed to 7-16 year old girls and was made, ironically, by a company called Self Esteem, reports KTLA.
No Boobies For You: OC City Seeks Crackdown on Vietnamese Lingerie Cafes
OC coffee drinkers who have a hankering for something spicy with their brew might soon have to find a new Peach Pit. The OC Register reports that the Garden Grove City Council is going to consider an ordinance that will crack down on Vietnamese cafes in Little Saigon where waitresses dress in lingerie or bikinis. The ordinance includes specifications on how revealing outfits can be -- for instance, no underboob.
Tonight In Rock: Phoenix, Local Natives, Autolux, Dengue Fever
Tonight Silver Lake's own indie rock sensation Local Natives (LAist Interview, Review, #2) will be concluding a two-night stint at the Music Box at the Henry Fonda Theater. Local rock trio Autolux (LAist Review, #2) are poised to headline the El Rey Theatre with none other than Gold Panda in celebration of their long-awaited sophomore studio-album, 2010's Transit Transit. And, lastly, LA-based Cambodian rock outfit Dengue Fever will be headlining an impressive bill of local acts at Ports O' Call Village for the 14th annual Lobster Festival in Long Beach. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Hollywood Bowl to catch Grammy Award-winning Parisian indie rockers Phoenix. LAist favorites, Brooklyn-based indie rock act Grizzly Bear and San Franciscan lo-fi rock outfit Girls are slated to perform as well.
Week In Rock: Phoenix, Menomena, Local Natives, Mystery Jets
This week Grammy Award-winning Parisian indie rockers Phoenix will be headlining the Hollywood Bowl with Brooklyn-based indie rock act Grizzly Bear San Franciscan lo-fi rock outfit Girls. Portland's own experimental indie rock trio Menomena are poised to take on the El Rey Theatre with none other than Brooklyn quartet Suckers. And, lastly, English indie rock outfit Mystery Jets will be gracing the Troubadour, ringing in their third studio album Serotonin.
Matador Records Lost Weekend Tickets On Sale Tomorrow
Matador Records has announced that tickets for its’ 21st anniversary celebration in Las Vegas will go on sale tomorrow morning at 9am PST via ticketfly.com. As previously mentioned on LAist, the three day “Lost Weekend” music fest, will take place over October 1-3 at the Pearl Theater inside the Palms Casino. Given the ridiculous lineup and the fact that the Pearl has a capacity of 2,100, getting tickets might be akin to a crapshoot. But hey, a little gambling alongside our indie rock is part of what makes this such an appealing gig in the first place.
Coachella: Day Two 04/17/10
With so many bands playing, the breadth of Coachella’s line-up can be a curse as well as a blessing. It forces the fans to make a choice between potentially up to 5 acts they may all love. Unfortunately, I have been faced with decisions such as Them Crooked Vultures or Grizzly Bear, Dead Weather/MGMT or Muse, and on Sunday Phoenix/Thom Yorke or Pavement/Gorillaz. Most of these decisions have essentially been an old favorite vs. a curious desire to see a different band. So far, the old favorites are up 2-0.
Tonight In Rock: Castanets, War Tapes, Devon Williams, The Yummy Fur
Tonight Portland-by-way-of-San Diego Psych-infused folk outfit Castanets will be headlining the Bootleg Theater. Local rockers War Tapes are poised to take on the Dakota Live Music Lounge in Santa Monica with none other than Long Beach's own post-punk outfit Repeater and psych rock act Deep Sleep Ops. And, lastly, long-disbanded, acclaimed Glasgow-bred indie rock quartet the Yummy Furs will be gracing the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to Space 15 Twenty to partake in "Miracle: An Afternoon Acoustic Celebration." LAist favorites, local indie rock singer-songwriter Devon Williams, Lavender Diamond front woman Becky Stark and LA-based folk singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins—among many, many others of course—are all slated to perform as a part of the Mountains and Flowers, an exhibition by artist Susan Cianciolo.
Girls and The Morning Benders @ The Troubadour, 12/5/09
The Morning Benders are one of those bands who's promise is achingly painful to watch. They've got pretty piano melodies, poppy guitars, and sweetly high pitched harmonies: all of the ingredients for an infectious pop album, and somehow they fall a little bit short. It's like when you try and bake a cake without the baking powder. All of the parts are there, but the damn thing won't rise.
Week In Rock: Girls, Tom Brosseau, Little Dragon, Cold Cave
This week San Francisco-based alt pop act Girls will be headlining a sold-out show at the Troubadour with none other than the Morning Benders in tow. North Dakota-based singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau is poised to grace the Largo at the Coronet. The City of Brotherly Love's own experimental synth-pop outfit Cold Cave will not only be taking on the final show of the year at Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, but will also take part in this week's edition of Part Time Punks with local electronic chanteuse Nite Jewel. And, lastly, Swedish electronic act Little Dragon will be performing at the El Rey Theatre.
Tonight In Rock: NIN, Cass McCombs, Obi Best, Hecuba
Tonight Cleveland-bred industrial rockers NIN will be closing out their final date of their final tour at the Wiltern. LA-based "fancy pop" songstress Obi Best (LAist Interview, Review, #2) is poised to grace Edgar Varela Fine Arts in Downtown. And, lastly, local experimental electronic duo Hecuba will be performing at the Echo with the equally exploratory Echo Park-bred electronic outfit Rainbow^Arabia. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Bootleg Theater to catch Chicago's own alt-country troubadour Cass McCombs. LAist favorites, San Francisco-based alt-pop act Girls.
Week In Rock: Paolo Nutini, Brendan Benson, HEALTH, Cass McCombs
Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini will be headlining the Wiltern. Local noise-infused rockers HEALTH will not only be opening for NIN a second time—this time at the Wiltern—but they will also be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour. Chicago's own alt-country troubadour Cass McCombs is poised to take on the Bootleg Theater with none other than San Francisco-based alt-pop act Girls. And, lastly, Raconteurs guitarist, Michigan-bred singer-songwriter Brendan Benson will be gracing the Troubadour.
Tonight In Rock: Jon Brion, The Sonics, Benji Hughes, Girls
Tonight, as always, local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. Legendary Tacoma-based garage rockers the Sonics will be headlining the Echo with none other than Costa Mesa-bred rockers Japanese Motors in tow. And, lastly, Charlotte's own prolific indie pop singer-songwriter Benji Hughes is poised to grace Spaceland with Beck bassist B.R.A.M. for this year's Sunset Junction Pre-Party. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch San Francisco-based alt pop act Girls, who will be kicking things off for Welsh pop band Los Campesinos! LAist favorites Ramona Falls, a splinter of Portland-based indie rockers Menomena, will also be performing.
Tonight In Rock: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Pocahaunted, The Growlers, Last American Buffalo
Tonight psych folk act Pocahaunted (LAist Review) will be headlining the Smell in Downtown. Costa Mesa-based garage rockers the Growlers will be supporting Japanese Motors on the third night of their month-long residency at Spaceland. And, lastly, local indie rock outfit Last American Buffalo are poised to grace the Silver Lake Lounge with Spirit Vine and the Steelwells in tow. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch NY's own indie rockers Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. San Franciscan lo-fi rock outfit Girls will be kicking things off.
Interview: Robyn Cohen of Girls in Tech
Girls in Tech made a splash into the Los Angeles tech scene in December with a launch party and since has held hot events (co-ed so boys you're welcome too) around town for the Girls in Tech...and the people who love them.
Found in LA: The Downside to Being an American Girl
Unless you've got a 6-11 year-old girl in your life, you've probably managed to avoid the notorious American Girl Place at the Grove (and you consider yourself lucky, indeed). Oh, you've heard tell of their ostentatious parties for little darlings and their little darling dollies (that's around $90 a pop to sip tiny cups of tea and get matching hairdos for each girl and her girl doll) but you've steered clear, right?*
It was the Biggest UCLA Undie Run Yet
The event was so wild that LAist photographer Tom Andrews' camera came to near death in a water balloon fight (everything is okay now!), people were swinging from trees, the police put on their tactical/riot gear and there was a much more variety of happenings going on this time around. UCLA student Ryan D. Knight also helped out by contributing many of the wonderful crowd shots. And with that, finally, here's your Undie Run. See you next December.
Weekday Escape: Martinis & Manicures
Now that it stays light until almost nine o'clock, nighttime has taken up its annual habit of being more playful, with balmy temperatures and the hint of summertime. But weekday doldrums can still take over, which means weeknight relaxation and indulgences are a must-have. Here's where the beautiful and historic Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa comes in. From now until August 27, every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 4-8 they're having a poolside summertime special, starring you, your fingertips, and your thirst. It's Martinis & Manicures... and, ladies (and gents!) it's lovely!
Spike TV Throws a Playboy Mansion Bash
Going to the Playboy Mansion is like watching an episode of HBO's Entourage. You walk in and there are celebrities everywhere, almost like they are extras to your party going experience. McLovin' is chilling with the two girls of Superbad, Tila Tequila is hanging out by the sushi table, Jeremy Piven is chatting by the pool, Anna Ferris is waiting in line to use the bathroom, Obama Girl is relaxing on a couch and the list goes on.
LA's Wildest & Hottest Volleyball Tournament: Lushness X
Last Saturday at Dockweiler Beach was Lushness X, a volleyball tournament where uniforms and outfits are "highly encouraged." It's fair to say the tournament is a party, billed with rules that include make-out sessions (usually girl-on-girl), "corndogging" (pouring water on player and forcing them to roll in sand) and an occasional egging.
Monday Afternoon Sugar Rush
It's cold and rainy and dreary outside. LAist had the best intentions to get some R&R this weekend, but it's LA! There were too many amazing things going on and so after our weekend of an art walk, live music show, farmer's market, yoga, a friend's birthday party, a magazine party and a play opening, we woke up this morning to the grey-ness outside and just wanted to curl back under the covers and...
AVP Manhattan Beach Photo Essay
While the action on the sand was unscripted, the action around it was incredibly choreographed. AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) knows how to market their events. Yesterday the men's finals of the Manhattan Beach Open was held in the South Bay on the sands next to the Manhattan Beach Pier. AVP built a stadium in the sand, complete with corporate luxury boxes and flashy attention-grabbers everywhere you turned. The PA announcer joked with the players,...
UCLA Undie Run Photo Essay, Part Deux
You thought you had seen it all. You thought we weren't going to bring you anything more shocking than last week's UCLA Undie Run Photo Essay and Bonus Essay. Oh boy were you wrong. This town thrives on sequels, so we're delivering one of our own. Last time we brought you bras, panties, and not much else. This time we've got people in ninja turtle and banana costumes, walking their dog, hanging upside down on...
UCLA Undie Run Spring 2007 Photo Essay
We've never been bigger Bruins fans during March Madness, and we're not talking about basketball. Hundreds -- possibly thousands -- of coeds stripped down for the traditional UCLA Undie Run. This edition had a slightly modified course that kept the run on campus, starting in front of the fraternities and ending in a fountain by Royce Hall. LAist was on the scene to provide complete coverage of the uncoverage. In this post you'll find...
LAist Interview: Tucker Max at SXSW
Tucker Max spoke yesterday here at SXSW on a panel called "Turning Your Blog Into A Book" where he explained the success of his website and how it landed him, first a book deal with a $7,500 advance, and once his book "I Hope They Sell Beer In Hell" spent a fortnight on the NY Times Best Seller's List, a new book deal worth $300k. So not only were we all ears, but we...
Hottest & Cutest LA Women on Flickr of 2006
Flickr is full of pictures of women. The only ones worth a damn are the hot ones of women in LA. We will make an exception for photos of cute women. Thanks to Creative Commons it was easier to whittle down the best ones by using those which we are legally able to post on this website / blog / whatever this is. 21 more pictures after the jump so sit back and enjoy....
Project Runway Season 3: Finale Part II
The moment of anticipation has finally arrived! (Albeit amongst much more controversy than previous installments of Project Runway.) This season was more than peppered with its share of intensely dramatic moments—what, with Keith Michael’s disqualification, the bitter tension between Angela and her whiny mother and Detroit Neck, and the reinstatement of Vincent and Angela at the last minute for a challenge. But the final four have blazed through to Bryant Park will brilliance and...
The NoHo vs. WeHo Girls: Another Fake or For Real?
Let’s say it upfront. It’s a fake and ridiculous. On September 21st, only 8 days after the unveiling of LonelyGrl15’s identity, a video blog on YouTube popped up under the handle of NoHoGirls. Only one female appeared in the vlog, calling herself Cara Brimley who moved from Oregon to North Hollywood. Later, we meet her two roommates, Blue and Daniella, and Daniella’s boyfriend, Eddie, who occasionally is the cameraman. One day, Eddie cheats on...
Jackass Don Vito Has His Hands Full in Mile High
Bam's big fat crazy-eyed uncle isn't being allowed to leave Colorado after being accused of two felonies for feeling up teenagers at a skate park. Fifty year old Vincent ("Don Vito") Margera, the lovably obese slurring patsy for pro skater Bam Margera's lame ass east coast fraternity pranks (although the time the went medieval all over the front lawn with knights and jousting was pretty cool) was at a promotional event in Lakewood when...

