Though beginning later in the year than in the past, the eighth annual New Original Works Festival starts up this weekend at REDCAT downtown. Referring to itself as a laboratory for boundary-expanding creativity in dance, theater, music and multimedia performance work, the three-week festival will uncover eight of the hidden artistic gems of our city. more ›

Tonight Oakland-based lo-fi garage punk visionary Justin Champlin, otherwise known as Nobunny, will be headlining the Echo. LAist favorites, local experimental psych folk duo Gangi's (LAist Review) are performing for the first time in a long while at the Bootleg Theater with none other than LA's own experimental music/art group Lucky Dragons and Swahili Blonde. And, lastly, New Jersey lo-fi duo Slow Animal will be concluding their sojourn here in LA, wrapping things up with a free in-store performance at Origami Vinyl. But we strongly suggest heading over to the hole-and-corner Pehrspace to catch local folk songbird Victoria Noll. more ›

Tonight legendary English rock singer-songwriter Sir James Paul McCartney will be concluding a two-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. LA's own experimental music/art group Lucky Dragons are poised to take on the Smell in Downtown. And, lastly, local indie rockers Downtown/Union will be gracing Three Clubs. But we strongly suggest heading over to Echo Curio to catch goth-infused electro act Zola Jesus. more ›

Tonight San Jose-bred DJ, hip-hop producer and founder of the hip-hop label Stones Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf will be performing at the Greek Theatre. Brooklyn's own punk rock trio Vivian Girls are poised to take on the Smell with the Beets and Lucky Dragons. And, lastly, local psych-infused folk rockers Eagle Winged Palace will be graving the Echo early for this week's edition of Grand Ole Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Hollywood Bowl to catch Grammy Award-nominated Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, who will be sharing the stage with none other than Brazilian singer-songwriter Seu George. more ›

Tonight the principal architect of P-Funk, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (LAist Review), will be performing at Club Nokia in Downtown. Grammy-nominated pop singer Katy Perry (LAist Review, #2) is poised to headline the Hollywood Palladium with none other than local indie pop duo the Bird and the Bee (LAist Review, #2). And, lastly, Brooklyn-by-way-of-Cincinnati indie rock act the National will be taking on the Wiltern with California-bred folk rocker Cass McCombs in tow. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch NY-based experimental folk rock outfit Akron/Family. LAist favorites Howlin' Rain (LAist Review) and Lucky Dragons are slated to kick things off. more ›

This week Nashville-based alternative rock super-group the Dead Weather will be taking LA by storm, playing both the Wiltern and the Mayan Theatre with none other than Tyvek. Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand are poised to perform with Green Day at the Forum and then by themselves at the Hollywood Palladium. Legendary Brazilian psychedelic rock act Os Mutantes will be performing at the Echoplex. And, lastly, NY-based experimental folk rock outfit Akron/Family will be taking on the El Rey Theatre with Howlin' Rain and Lucky Dragons. more ›

GOOD (named in a fit of unwarranted self-deprecation?) is all sorts of adjectives more grandiose than its namesake. Think Awesome, Impassioned, Rad, Staggering, Inspiring...well, you get the gist. Created in 2006, GOOD is "a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward" through a magazine, blog, videos, and community events. The people at GOOD stand as lighthouses among the seemingly insurmountable fog that is our consumable detritus, gently encouraging us to use our money wisely for change (subscription proceeds go towards a charity of your choosing). I mean, seriously, they are that...swell. more ›

I've always been intrigued by other "best of" lists, but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I e-mailed a handful of bands that I've seen this past year in order to unearth what exactly captivated them in '07. As music listeners, it is our duty to take a keen interest in our favorite musician's influences. After all, they rocked our little world, might as well see what rocked their... more ›

Whispertown 2000, Wintergreen, Satellite Class, You Me & Iowa @ Spaceland Toby Keith @ Irvine Meadows Mat Kearney @ House of Blues Sidestory, Greg Laswell, Marie Digby, Waz, Emma Hill @ The Hotel Cafe Tight Fitting Pants, Coffin Draggers, Tokyo Smog, Inazuma, Glen or Glenda @ Knitting Factory Paper Thin Walls, Sleestack, Great Glass Elevator, Radio Parade @ The Troubadour Old Time Relijun, Mr. Tube, Ettrick, Lucky Dragons @ The Smell Slow Motion Reign,... more ›

Muse @ The Forum George Thorogood & the Destroyers @ House of Blues Minibar, Shane Alexander, The Quiet @ The Troubadour Wovenhand, The Dodos, Fortune's Flesh @ Silverlake Lounge Pistolero, Crystal Antlers, Program the Dead @ El Cid Cute Phase, XRayOK, Airiel Down, Girl without Fear @ On the Rox Yo Majesty, Brother Reade, Desert Eagles @ Safari Sam's Mt. Eerie, Anna Oxygen, Lucky Dragons, Eric Lindley @ The Smell Dead Ponies, Sabrosa Purr... more ›