Elvis Costello’s not shy when it comes to genre-hopping. Folks who are only interested his “straight” rock and roll incarnation as leader of the Attractions/ Imposters (same difference give or take a bass player) need to do a little research before shelling out for tickets, to make sure they don’t end up on the wrong end of a jazz orchestra or an acapella choir. Those people may have opted out of this most recent trip fronting the Sugarcanes, a crew of traditional bluegrass musicians, each one a celebrated player in his own right. But the loss is their own. While the drumset-free, accordion-rich stage setup might have looked a little odd, there was no mistaking who the dude at the mic was. more ›

Tonight English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes will be headlining the Greek Theatre with Nashville-based three-time Grammy Award-winning folk songstress Lucinda Williams in tow. Oklahoma-based psych-infused alternative rock outfit the Flaming Lips are poised to unleash their rather euphoric theatrics upon onlookers at the Pomona Fox Theatre. And, lastly, Memphis-bred garage punk troubadour Jay Reatard will be performing in-store at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch local indie rock outfit the Minor Canon. LAist favorites, Long Beach-based experimental electronic act Blank Blue are slated to kick things off. more ›

This week English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes will be headlining the Greek Theatre with Nashville-based three-time Grammy Award-winning folk songstress Lucinda Williams in tow. Nashville-bred alternative rockers Kings of Leon will be taking on the Forum with Athens' own garage rock revivalists the Whigs. Oklahoma-based psych-infused alternative rock outfit the Flaming Lips are poised to unleash their rather euphoric theatrics upon onlookers at the Greek Theatre, as well as the newly-reopened Pomona Fox Theatre. And, lastly, Saturday and Sunday will mark the 29th year of the annual street fair that we all hold dear to our hearts: the Sunset Junction Street Fair. Both prominent, national acts (Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, Built To Spill, Sly & Robbie, to name a few) and local acts (Local Natives, Dengue Fever, Fool's Gold, to name a few) will be performing across four stages in the heart of the Eastside. more ›

Tonight the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, will begin a two-night stint at the House of Blues Sunset. Famed folk songstress Lucinda Williams is slated to perform at the Wiltern in support of 2008's Little Honey. Local multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion will be stopping through the Largo at the Coronet with his adept crew. And Brooklyn-based, Pratt Institute-bred noise rockers Japanther are set to tear down the Smell in Downtown. But in light of last night's cancellation of Kaiju Big Battel, we strongly suggest you head over to Ground Zero at USC to catch Busdriver's sinuous flow and Daedelus' burly beats. more ›

Tuesday nights in LA can be slow in the Spring; the energy of activation to get prettied up and brave the slick streets is much higher than that required to crack open a beer and settle on the couch. But when a heat wave hits with its concomitant restlessness, suddenly a weeknight outing is not only desired but sorely needed. It was in this fitful state I found myself making my way down a back alley off Cahuenga Blvd to check out songstress Audra Mae and finding a performance alight with the weather. more ›

Spoon - "The Underdog" Spoon @ Henry Fonda The Airborne Toxic Event @ The Viper Room I'm a Bird You're a Bird @ The Cat Club 14 Year Old Girls @ Pehrspace Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Gram Rabbit, Donita Sparks @ Spaceland Metal Skool, Zombies Ate My Nation @ Key Club Todd Rundgren @ Grove of Anaheim Doug Benson, Patton Oswalt @ Largo The Happy Hollows, The Western States Motel, Tigers Can Bite... more ›

Common - "The People" "The People" was one of our most-played summer jamz. It was on Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothin" sampler because Kanye produced it and listen to how sweet it is. It's the sort of non-thug, uplifting, positive hip-hop that people once talked about, but now people are buying. This is the direction BEP could have gone if they hadn't chosen the path of the lowest common denominator aka the Gwen Stefani... more ›

Blackberry Smoke w/Slash - "Highway to Hell" Stevie Wonder @ The Greek B.B. King @ Hollywood Bowl Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Subhumans, 50 Cent Haircut @ The Knitting Factory Blackberry Smoke, Roses on her Grave @ Viper Room Ben Kweller @ The Echo Sage Francis @ Ivar Theater Kittie, It Dies Today, Silent Civilian, Bring Me the Horizon @ Key Club The Monolators, Kissing Cousins, Ghost Kings @ Silverlake Lounge Gran Ronde, A... more ›

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Vedder, Ditty Bops (above), Woody Harrelson, others @ Henry Fonda Willie Nelson, George Strait, Lucinda Williams, many more @ Stagecoach Cypress Hill @ Vault 350 The Jerry Garcia Band @ Fais Do-Do Manic Hispanic @ Galaxy Theatre Rosanne Cash @ Disney Hall One+One (James Zabiela & Nic Fanciulli) @ Vanguard David Grier @ Boulevard Music Victor Wooten @ El Rey Suzanne Somers @ La Mirada Theater for Performance Arts... more ›

LAist is proud to offer a weekly chart roundup of Billboard Magazine’s most coveted rankings. Join us as we revel in the conventional standard of musical success. Let us cross our fingers, hoist our lighters, and dream together of the supreme resurrection of artist-driven recordings that will forever eclipse the dark cloud of big label greed, A&R sleaze and disposable audio. Amen. Here are this week’s chart toppers. Behold the #1s. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Billboard Charts... more ›

Original Soundtrack - A - Team [Mike Post & Pete Carpenter] (Silva) more ›

Is Indio the new Austin? Over two back-to-back weekends this spring, scores of the best indie, rock, pop, electronic, and country music will play to tens of thousands outside Palm Springs. The last weekend of April will bring three days of Coachella, and the following weekend will see the first Stagecoach country festival. Voici: Saturday, May 5, 2007: George Strait, Alan Jackson, Sara Evans, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Neko Case,... more ›

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Blood Brothers @ Henry Fonda Lucinda Williams @ Royce Hall Imogen Heap @ The Wiltern Joanna Newsom @ El Rey Jesca Hoop @ Temple Bar The Grande Mothers @ House of Blues Melvins, Big Business, Porn, Altamont @ The Troubadour Jill Sobule, Julia Sweeney @ Largo Los Abandoned @ The Echo Zach Brooke @ The Unknown Theater Mute Math, Cute Is What We Aim... more ›

Because you really can't get too much of a good thing, the good people of Goldenvoice announced last night that this year's hugely successful Coachella music and arts festival will grow to a three-day-and-night affair on the sprawling polo fields in Indio outside Palm Springs. The Miracle Mile concert promoters also announced that the weekend after Coachella they will throw a two-day country festival that will include stages for alt-country, bluegrass, and even storytelling.... more ›

Ten days before Halloween and so many killer shows to choose from tonight. Clearly the obvious choice for the season would be dressing up as Eddie and going to the Maiden show. Imagine that parking lot scene. Sun Ra Arkestra, Money Mark, Watts Prophets @ Arthur Nights, Palace Theatre Bob Dylan @ Long Beach Arena Iron Maiden @ Irvine Meadows Rancid @ Henry Fonda The Decemberists @ Wiltern Meshell Ndegeocello @ Temple Bar Lucinda... more ›

John Fogerty, Lucinda Williams @ Greek Theater Sha Na Na @ Cerritos Center Rollins Band @ Key Club Tom Freund @ Hotel Cafe The Radishes, The Ramonas, The Knuckledraggers @ The Scene The Super Bees, Flash Express, Chelsea Smiles @ Safari Sam's The Starfuckers, Bed, Naughty Pet @ The Cat Club Whiskey Dicks, Elegantly Wasted @ The Gig Neil Hamburger @ Spaceland Swimsuit Rights, Party Fowl @ The Smell Otherwise, Wet Brain @ Viper... more ›

Fri 3/31 - Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Theatre (SOLD OUT) - The immensely talented folk and country influenced singer-songwriter in an intimate setting with just her guitarist backing her up. We hope she doesn't throw a tantrum like she did the last time we saw her at the Austin City Limits Festival. more ›

FRIDAY more ›