Tonight Mazzy Star front woman Hope Sandoval will be headlining the Mayan Theatre in Downtown. St. Louis-based singer-songwriter Jay Farrar, a veteran of not one, but two critically-acclaimed outfits—Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt—and Washington-bred indie rock god Benjamin Gibbard, who presumably needs no introduction, will be translating Jack Kerouac's prose into song and verse (?!) at Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, Tennessee-based country/rockabilly trio Those Darlins are poised to grace the Silver Lake Lounge with none other than the exemplary Australian indie rock act known as the Grates. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch San Franciscan experimental garage rockers Thee Oh Sees. Equally prolific San Francisco-based pysch-infused pop outfit the Fresh & Onlys are slated to kick things off. more ›

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a dark place at night. Inky black, like you need a flashlight to find your way out of the parking maze and avoid tripping over a headstone, which has got to be bad luck. Inside, it wasn’t much better. At this show, once the lights go down, they never do come back up again. There were a few candles to the left and right of the stage, some stage lights with the dimmer switch all the way to the left, and that was it. In the middle, barely visible at all, was Hope Sandoval, taking “mellow” to a whole new depth. more ›

Tonight Mazzy Star front woman Hope Sandoval will be performing for a sold-out crowd at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Nashville's own alt-country all-stars Old Crow Medicine Show are poised to take on the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. And, lastly, LA-bred psych rockers Dead Meadow will be letting loose at the seemingly makeshift venue makeshift Two One Nine in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to Amoeba Music to catch local afro-centric indie pop act Fool's Gold, who will be ringing in their 2009 self-titled debut today. more ›

Considering the amount of undiluted road rage our society has experienced in recent weeks, the return of Hope Sandoval to the American music scene comes not a moment too soon. Through The Devil Softly, her latest collaboration with musical partner Colm Ó Cíosóig of My Bloody Valentine and their group the Warm Inventions, has the power to soothe the savage beast with its dreamlike, candle-lit ambience and transcendent melodies. Fans of Sandoval’s earlier work with Mazzy Star and Opal already know what to expect: a warm bath and a glass of wine, surrounded by fog in a state of suspended animation. Hers is the odd hallucinogen that has a sedative effect, a thick, sensual slow drip into the bloodstream that inspires heavy lids and slackened jaws, just the kind of valium our water supply could use about now. If you already hold tickets to their heavily sold-out show at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Tuesday, we offer our congratulations. If not, we suggest you snap up tickets to her US-tour-ending stop at the Mayan while they last. more ›