Finally, after all the hubub and debate of the quality of this year's Coachella lineup, the festival got underway Friday afternoon. Featuring Jack Johnson at the top of the bill, the day featured outstanding performances from the Raconteurs who proved that they aren't just Jack White's side project but rather a band that is developing their own sound and identity. The Verve, playing for the first time in nearly a decade sounded like they hadn't......

Jack White discussed this bonus re-working of the Patti Page classic on NPR's Morning Edition:For the new B-sides, The White Stripes teamed up with Beck and recorded in his Los Angeles home studio. The new songs include an acoustic, mariachi-style reworking of "Conquest." Being in Southern California, Beck pointed out a place where they could find mariachi ensembles standing around waiting for work. "While we were working on a song, we asked if somebody......

Who says there's anything we wouldn't do for our readers? Here we are in all of our glory and humiliation for your viewing pleasure. We start off with our fearless leader, Mr. Tony Pierce, as Jack White. He has a very cute Meg, so he must be doing something right. Other LAist's memorable costumes: Ryan Jesena: When I was 11 years old, i was Chuck Norris for Halloween, and no I'm not sending pictures An......

Regina Spektor - "Us" @ Coachella, 2007 Maybe you're like us. Maybe you already have been to every great Halloween that Isla Vista has to offer. Maybe you are tired of scaring the little kids in your Dick Cheney costume showing them how Social Security will be wiped out by the time they're 40. Maybe the West Hollywood omg I'm a slut costume has worn thin(ner). Maybe you just want to get away from......

June of 2007" src="http://www.laist.com/attachments/tony/ifroneicky.jpg" width="640" height="406" /> Those of you who saw Jack and Meg at the Tower Records - whoops, we mean the Icky Thump Records in-store concert earlier this summer, you might be the only people in LA who will get to see the duo this year in the Southland. According to an email that was just sent out by the band's email team, the tour has been ixnayed. The White Stripes......

We didn't know how lucky we had it when the White Stripes came to Hollywood last month and took over the location formerly known as Tower Sunset and turned it into Icky Thump Records. OK, yes we did. But we had no idea how much more White Stripes love we were going to get compared to the other parts of North America in regards to these "secret shows". For example on their tour across......

Seattlest has a talk with the photographer from last week's "Segway Mom" and then experiences some dissension in the ranks over the question of wine vs. beer. It's not West Side Story, but about as close as they'll get. They're also still waiting on some inbox relief after a spammer is arrested. As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried......

We get a lot of cheesy people trying to get their hands down the proverbial pants of LAist every day. You know, those who try to get their crap on our crap so that you THE EYEBALLS will see and love and salivate and consuuuuume. Even though that's not really how it works. How do we know? Well, watch: Be nice to each other. Give $20 to the most shady homeless person you see......

A few interesting things happened today as the White Stripes announced that they have finished their new record Icky Thump (those things just seem to ease right out of Jack White's mind, dont they?). The first was the Stripes, who should know better, announced their news on their website that is only accessible via Flash, meaning it's impossible to cut n paste the info and pop it into an email or a web post......

Even though they have every record company at their beck and call, even though they can basically hand-pick the performers and the songs that they will play, MTV's Video Music Awards are usually hit-or-miss and as comfortable as watching Michael Jackson try to make out with Lisa Marie Presley. Last night's ceremony was no exception with generous parts cringe and a sprinkle of inspiration. Christina, Justin, and Jack Black were talented and wonderful, as......

The Raconteurs @ Wiltern "Despite a sound mix that bordered on muddy and amateurish, Jack White's new band, the Raconteurs, proved Tuesday in Tempe that they are much more than a 'side project' for the White Stripes star." - Arizona Republic 7/19 Mavis Staples @ Santa Monica Pier (free) Nine Black Alps @ Spaceland Gnarls Barkley @ Pacific Amphitheatre Sam Phillips @ Largo The Mother Hips @ 14 Below Slow Motion Reign @ Troubadour......

Any apprehension about seeing the Raconteurs at the Fonda last night disappeared when they took the stage. On the album, each song sounds like a different band trying on a new style. But in person, they're tight, unified and rock nice and hard and loud (are your ears still ringing a little too?). On tour the band (Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler) is supplemented with a fifth member who mostly......

Infinity (the Journey cover band that played Spaceland on Friday) is a lot of fun to see live. Here are some other bands that are hopefully fun live..... Mon 6/5 - Languis / Kind Hearts and Coronets / Ill Lit / @ the Echo (Free) – Languis is playing every Monday at the Echo in June. They put out a very good spacey rock EP earlier this year. You need to see them live......

Cam’Ron Killa Season (Diplomatic Man) – He’s straight-up gangsta. In the last two years he’s hunted internet pedophiles, gotten shot and beefed with Jay-Z. Some critics complain that the beats on this album sound too much like the last one, but most agree that his lyrics make it an enjoyable listen. He’s even got a song about his battle with irritable bowel syndrome. Dinosaur Jr. Green Mind and Where You Been (Rhino) – While......

Fri 4/14 – The Greenhornes @ Troubadour ($12) – This Cincinnati three-piece plays quality retro rock’n’roll that’s heavily influenced by The Yardbirds. The band includes the rhythm section that played on Loretta Lynn’s great album, Van Lear Rose, and they're also members of the Raconteurs (along with Brendan Benson and Jack White). Download Pattern Skies Sat 4/15 – Kennedy @ The 4th Annual Rock Paper Scissors Rumble ($5) – A rare opportunity to watch......