Civil rights. Rock and roll. Women’s liberation. Vietnam. The 1960s was one of the most disruptive periods in US history, and is constantly being explored in film, television and theater. One chapter of the story that has been neglected in popular culture is the challenges and great changes the Chicano community faced in East LA during the 1960s. Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe, a new play at the Bootleg Theater, hopes to fix this omission.
Los Lobos Rocker 'Evangeline, The Queen of Make-Believe' Debuts at Bootleg Theater
Steve Miller Band, Los Lobos @ Greek Theatre 07/11/10
Number one among auto mechanics nationwide, Steve Miller is one of those American institutions whose songs will forever be identified with the age of Classic Rock. In contrast to some of the outsize personalities that emerged in the late sixties and early seventies, Miller never wore capes or hosted fireworks shows. He might be rock’s ultimate everyman; while he hasn’t had a hit since 1981’s “Abracadabra”, he’s got enough juice in his catalog to spend every summer putting on his Casual Friday duds, hoisting his Bud to the sky and finding the feel-good groove in any style he tries on. Not even the cretins wearing “Disco Sucks” buttons in 1978 could resist “Swingtown”, whose beat, bass line and lyrics could have been ripped straight from the Commodores, yet sits easily alongside the straightahead cowbell rockers, blues vamps, mariachi ballads and spaced-out hippie meditations that make up his greatest hits. In Miller’s hands, it’s all as American as Creedence.
Tonight In Rock: Steve Miller Band, DM Stith, Peasant, Papa
Tonight San Franciscan rocker Steve Miller Band will be headlining the Greek Theatre with Chicagoan Chicano rock act Los Lobos in tow. Pennsylvanian indie folk singer-songwriter Damien DeRose, who performs under the pseudonym Peasant, is poised to grace Space 15 Twenty early this afternoon for free, and the Hotel Café later this evening for not-so-free. And, lastly, New York indie rock quartet Papa will be taking on the Bootleg Theater. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch Bloomington's own indie folk singer-songwriter DM Stith, or rather David Michael Stith. LAist favorites, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Silje Nes and Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Sebastian Krueger, who performs under the pseudonym Inlets, are poised to perform as well.
Tonight In Rock: Depeche Mode, Los Lobos, Nite Jewel, The Monolators
Tonight English electronic band Depeche Mode will be headlining the Hollywood Bowl with Swedish indie rockers Peter Bjorn and John (LAist Review, #2). East Los Angeles-based three-time Grammy Award-winning chicano rockers Los Lobos are poised to share the stage at the Greek Theatre with none other than Texas-based Grammy Award-winning rockers Los Lonely Boys. Little Radio's weekly Summer Camp, which features the likes of Har Mar Superstar, the Living Things and Restavrant, is kicking off today in the outskirts of Downtown. And, lastly, LAist favorites the Monolators (LAist Review, #2) will be headlining Spaceland. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch local electronic chanteuse Nite Jewel, who will be performing for this week's edition of Part Time Punks. NY-based experimental electronic act Silk Flowers are slated to kick things off.
Tonight In Rock: John Fogerty, Deer Tick, Imaad Wasif, Hootenanny Festival
Tonight Berkeley-bred rock singer-songwriter John Fogerty, best known for his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be closing out a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. Rhode Island-based rockers Deer Tick are poised to grace Spaceland with locals Dawes. And, lastly, the Hootenanny Festival, which features none other than Los Lobos, Reverend Horton Heat, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, among many others, will be commencing in Orange County. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Nomad Collective Art Compound to catch the New Weird America Festival. LAist favorites Imaad Wasif, Spindrift and Night Horse are all slated to perform.
Tonight In Rock: Phantom Planet, Los Lobos, Rick Springfield, Meiko
Tonight Australian-American singer-songwriter Rick Springfield (LAist Review) will be performing at Club Nokia. Social Distortion (LAist Review) front man Mike Ness is closing out his extensive stay at the El Rey Theatre. Grammy Award winners Los Lobos will be rocking out at the House of Blues Sunset. Local musician/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Review) is slated to jam with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. The Hotel Café will kick off their three-night "ho-ho-tel" holiday extravaganza with an impressive array of singer-songwriter types, like Meiko (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4), Greg Laswell (LAist Interview, Review, #2, #3) and Gary Jules. And, lastly, LAist favorites Radars to the Sky (LAist Review, #2, #3) are slated to celebrate the release of their forthcoming full-length at Spaceland with Swedish husband/wife act Wildbirds and Peacedrums. But we recommend doing whatever it takes to get into the Troubadour. Phantom Planet, who have struggled endlessly with their musical identity since the untimely departure of Jason Schwartzman (LAist Review), will be playing their last show ever!
Tonight in Rock: Will Kanye West Crash a Museum Tonight?
Last Friday when A-Trak and Kid Sister played at New York City's Natural History Museum, Kanye West made a surprise visit. Neither Flavorpill or the Natural History Museum list Kanye for tonight's version of the NYC event, First Friday, but rumors are afloat, as they're bound to happen. Nevertheless, the evening looks to be killer anyway.
Extra, Extra: Corn Surplus, Bacteria Rampage, Hey! At Least It's Nice Outside
Anti-war protesters have been gathering in Downtown Los Angeles this afternoon; the CHP has blocked off two ramps on the 101 because of the protest. Huge meat recall: Topps Meat Company is recalling over 20 million pounds of hamburger patties that may be infected with e.coli: more than a dozen people have gotten sick. The man who threatened Tom Cruise with extortion for stolen wedding pictures was found dead in his home, an apparent...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Los Lobos, Kronos Quartet, D.I.
World Wide Spies, Protection, Plans to Leave, The Drowning Men, Frantic Taste @ Safari Sam's
This Week in Rock in LA - Stevie, Wilco, Gogol Bordello
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco would probably prefer it if you didn't talk on Wednesday Spinal Tap @ Avalon, tonight Joss Stone @ Greek, tonight Metal Skool, Shapes of Racecars @ Key Club, tonight Stevie Wonder @ Santa Barbara Bowl, Tues Gogol Bordello @ Henry Fonda, Tues Wilco @ Greek, Weds. The Like @ Spaceland, Weds Los Lobos @ Santa Monica Pier, Thurs Kronos Quartet @ California Plaza, Thurs Mat Kearney @ House of Blues,...
LAist Interview: Pete Thomas of Jackshit
Pete Thomas, a drummer since he was a kid in Sheffield, England, joined Elvis Costello to form the Attractions and continues as the drummer for the Imposters. He has also played as a session musician with countless artists including Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neil Finn, John Wesley Harding, Joe Jackson, Los Lobos, Joan Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt, Squeeze, Richard Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, and the Waterboys. In 2003, Thomas was inducted into the Rock...
A.M. News: East LA in London
- In the name of the budget, Gov. Schwarzenegger seeks to end the Integrated Services for Homeless Adults With Serious Mental Illness program. The reason? The budget. The cut would save $55 million annually. - The Game was pimpin' while in custody and so a LAPD officer who decided to make a video and supposedly pimp it to TMZ. That doesn't make the bosses happy. - Even at the Downtown Art Walk, Daily News follows...
Extra Extra, OJ, We Know You Did It, We Don't Want To Read About It
O.J. to Auction Book Rights After a long string of controversies and cancellations, rights to O.J. Simpson’s If I Did It will be auctioned off on April 17, according to Los Angeles authorities. Freeing the slaves - in Los Angeles Tales of modern day slavery, in LA. And none of these people work for Disney. Benefit Concert For the Midnight Mission The Malibu Performing Arts Center (MPAC) was the place to be on March...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Los Lobos, Anti-Flag, Irish Rovers, Pretty Boy Floyd, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Los Lobos, Zen Cruisers (Blondie's Clem Burke, the Cars' Elliot Easton, the Knack's Doug Fieger and Teddy Andreadis) @ Malibu Performing Arts Center
Tonight in Rock in LA - Midnight Star, The Roots, Rocket, Bob Weir, Los Lobos, Cindy Lee Berryhill
Midnight Star, Heatwave, Bloodstone, El Chicano, Evelyn "Champagne" King @ The Forum The Roots, Jill Scott, Lupe Fiasco, Akon @ Gibson Amphitheatre The Ettes, Rocket, The Affair @ The Scene Bob Weir & Rat Dog @ Ventura Theatre Los Lobos @ The Canyon The Mentors @ The Knitting Factory Cindy Lee Berryhill, John Doe @ Largo The Groovie Ghoulies @ Alex's Bar Mirah, Anna Oxygen & Sir DSS, The Sharp Ease @ The Troubadour...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Los Lobos, DJ AM, Patty Booker
Fatal Mack, Born Leaders, Bad News, Parview Rec, Big Fats @ The Knitting Factory
Tonight in Rock in LA - The Delta Spirit
The Delta Spirit @ Spaceland (free) Bright Light Fever @ Safari Sam's Ioma, Gabriel's Falling, Moxie Tribe, 4 Star Tribe @ Viper The Hellzaboppers @ Joe's Great American Bar & Grill Matu, The Elevaters, Shakespeare, Solomon Cole @ Temple Bar Digital Fridge, Echoes of a Boundless Life, Cat Fur @ The Scene Plastic Fate, How I Became Invisible, Natasha Lewis @ Cat Club Coming up... Wed: Los Lobos @ House of Blues Fri &...
TV Junkie
Monday Night "Monday Night Football" (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.) Buccaneers @ Panthers "Kingdom Come" (IFC, 6:00 p.m.) Feel good neo-blacksploitation flick starring LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox "College Football" (PRIME 42, 7:00 p.m.) Oregon @ USC "NHL Hockey" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Sharks @ Kings "Prison Break" (FOX, 8 p.m.) see if these guys finally make it out of prison before the show goes on extended hiatus "Two and a Half...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Insane Clown Posse, Los Lobos
Bang Sugar Bang, Present Tense, Underwater City People @ Safari Sam's
New Music Wednesday - Bob Seger, Peter Frampton
Rock is back in a real way, including old school rock from some classic rock legends as well as Nicole Richie's dad! May we recommend the Black Keys, Catfish Haven, Everclear, Hella, Roger Manning Jr. (from Beck's band and Jellyfish), The Mars Volta, Los Lobos, (Santa Barbara's) Sugarcult, TV on the Radio, and yes even JT Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio (XL Recordings) Bettie Serveert - Bare Stripped Naked (with DVD; Minty Fresh)...
Audio-Video Fun
Tuesday, as always, is new release day. Scroll down to see what's new on CD and DVD for your listening and viewing pleasure.

