This past Saturday, the Third Annual Manimal Festival was held at Pappy and Harriet's Palace in Pioneertown near Yucca Valley, with performances by Diva (BlackBlack, Pocahaunted), Halloween Swim Team, Religious Girls, Gangi, Kenneth Pattengale, Sister Crayon, Dreamtapes, Love Grenades, Dante vs. Zombies, Afghan Raiders, Papercranes, Swahili Blonde, Aska (Moonrats), The Like, Amanda Jo Williams, Juliette Commagere, St. Clair Board, TEARIST, and Jeffertiti's Nile. more ›

Tonight legendary English rock singer-songwriter Sir James Paul McCartney will be taking on a two-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. English indie rockers Field Music are poised to perform in-store at Amoeba Music in Hollyweird. And, lastly, Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) will be gracing the Viper Room, warming up the stage for Québécois alternative rocker Melissa Auf Der Maur, who is best known for her stints playing bass for Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Roxy to catch LA-based indie pop quartet Robotanists, who will be ringing in their latest endeavor—2010's Shapes and Variations. LA-bred pop quartet Oh Darling and Pollyn are slated to kick things off. more ›

Earlier this month, local record label Manimal Vinyl (see our interview last year with its founder) held its 2nd Annual Manimal Festival at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. "In its second year, the two-day event showcases bands on Paul Beahan's record label... alongside musically bohemian peers," described Daiana Feuer from Papermag. "Manimal's experimental pop catalog -- which began most notably by releasing Bat For Lashes' record two years ago -- lends a unified voice to freak folk and its close cousins, many which are collected on yearly tribute albums to Madonna, The Cure, and in 2010, David Bowie. Manimal's focus mainly follows two streams: The ethereal, spooky soloist tradition [and] the dance beat, taking pop to strange outer space." more ›

Local songstress Juliette Commagere has had the Monday night residency at The Echo, and last week, she was joined by Ceci Bastida, Commagere's brother Robert Francis, and Fresno-based Rademacher. more ›

Tonight Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) will be concluding her month-long residency at the Echo with the Chapin Sisters and Jogger in tow. Brooklyn-based retro 70s psych rockers Golden Animals are poised to headline the Silver Lake Lounge. And, lastly, Kansas-bred experimental folk outfit Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk will be performing at Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch the final night of local experimental psych folk duo Gangi's (LAist Review) month-long residency. LAist favorites Local Natives (LAist Review) are slated to close things out. more ›

Tonight Indianapolis-based indie rockers Margot & the Nuclear So & So's will be headlining the Troubadour. Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) is poised to continue her month-long residency at the Echo. And, lastly, local psych rockers Xu Xu Fang will be performing at the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch the penultimate night of LA-based experimental psych duo Gangi (LAist Review). Local indie rockers LANDy, which, oddly enough, features actor Adam Goldberg, are slated to kick things off. more ›

Tonight Hello Stranger front woman and keytar goddess Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) will be continuing her month-long residency at the Echo. Brooklyn-based retro 70s psych rockers Golden Animals are poised to headline the Silver Lake Lounge with NY-based alt-folk outfit Arizona in tow. And, lastly, local experimental rock act the Antarcticans will be annihilating eardrums at the Smell. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch LA-based experimental psych folk duo Gangi (LAist Review), who will be resuming their month-long residency as well. LAist favorite Crooked Cowboy is slated to kick things off. more ›

Tonight local pop chanteuse Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) will be kicking off a month-long residency at the Echo. LAist favorites the Monolators (LAist Review, #2) are poised to ring in a new disc at Echo Curio. And, lastly, Fullerton-based garage rockers My Pet Saddle will be performing at the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch local experimental psych folk duo Gangi (LAist Review), who will be kicking off a month-long residency as well. more ›

This week Canadian poet, novelist and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen will be taking on a two-date stint at Club Nokia in Downtown. Local indie pop duo the Bird and the Bee (LAist Review, #2) are slated to headline the Echoplex with LAist favorite Juliette Commagere (LAist Interview, Review) in tow. Israeli shock rock troupe Monotonix (LAist Review) will be letting it all hang out at Spaceland. And, lastly, Portland-based folk songstress Mirah is poised to grace the Echo. more ›

Up to this point, Juliette Commagere has been best known as the keytar-playing frontwoman of the band Hello Stranger, which has opened for everyone from the Foo Fighters to Kings of Leon. And although "Queens Die Proudly" is her first solo outing, she's still surrounded by friends and family in this effort--including guest performances by legendary slide guitarist Ry Cooder, his son (and Commagere's high school sweetheart) Joachim Cooder, and her siblings, Robert Francis and Carla Commagere. LAist sat down with Commagere for dinner at Oaxacan restaurant Monte Alban to learn about the new record, how she's bringing the keytar back and the process of creating an orchestra via Craiglist. more ›

Tonight Metallica (LAist Review) and the Sword (LAist Review) will be concluding every metal aficionado's wet dream, a two-night stint at the Forum. The LA-based Latin/hip-hop eight-piece known as Ozomatli are slated to headline the House of Blues Sunset. Hello Stranger front woman Juliette Commagere (LAist Review) will be gracing the stage at the Troubadour and will be accompanied by LAist's favorite singer-songwriter Obi Best (LAist Interview, Review, #2). But we strongly suggest that you make it over to Bordello to catch Brooklyn-based buzz band Amazing Baby. It will be the band's first performance in the area, so catch them while they're still fresh! more ›

Last Wednesday, local indie band Obi Best (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- performed at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. Opening were Miami-based singer-songwriter Rachel Goodrich (MySpace) and the Rio de Janeiro-based Kassin +2 (MySpace). more ›

There is a plethora of shows tonight in LA. But none of them really spark our interest. Tucson-based indie rockers Giant Sand will be headlining the Echo. Our good friend Mike Watt is scheduled to perform at Harold's Place in San Pedro. And to top the night off, we've got Dub Club at the Echoplex and Club NME at Spaceland. However, we suggest heading over to Tangier to watch Guy Fantastico's debut performance. The twenty-something singer-songwriter, who once fronted the LA-based alt-rock band Acute, will be testing out songs from his forthcoming solo record, Nesting, which was produced and recorded by none other than Bobby Birdman. more ›

Last Wednesday, Hello Stranger (MySpace) frontwoman Juliette Commagere (MySpace) -- backed by a 13 piece band that includes Hello Stranger bandmembers Joachim Cooder and Ben Messelbeck, as well as Obi Best (MySpace) frontwoman Alex Lilly on backing vocals and keyboards, not to mention quartets of horns and strings -- performed her solo act at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake. Opening for Commagere were Charlie Wadhams (MySpace) and the aforementioned Obi Best, who premiered their music video "It's Because of People Like You." more ›

Last Sunday, local Alex Lilly's solo project Obi Best (MySpace), formerly known as Colorforms (MySpace), performed the first show of her month-long residency, celebrating the release of her debut album , at Tangier in Los Feliz. more ›