Tonight Philadelphia-based Grammy Award-winning hip hop band the Roots and Long Island-bred hip hop act De La Soul will be performing at the Hollywood Palladium with none other than Common, Ludacris and Nas. LA-based DJ collective the Glitch Mob (LAist Review), among many other electronic acts, are poised to take on the 15th annual Nocturnal Festival at the NOS Events Center in good ole San Bernadino. And, lastly, local indie rockers the Deadly Syndrome (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) will be headlining the El Rey Theatre for this year's Tarfest. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch the phoenix that rose from the ashes of Page France, Maryland-based indie folk act Cotton Jones. Oliver Future are slated to kick things off. more ›

If you thought that the local news was boring claptrap that only idiots watch, then you are outside of the ever-increasing popularity of the local newscast - Nielsen is reporting a 20% year-over-year increase in viewership. For TV, a fractional percentage change is big news but 20% is incredible. more ›

Tonight Chicago-bred rapper Common will be performing at the Los Angeles Sports Arena with none other than Ludacris. LA-based singer-songwriter Meiko is slated to grace the stage at the Henry Fonda Musix Box with Joshua Radin. And, lastly, Irish singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan will be headlining the Troubadour. But we strongly suggest heading over to Betalevel in Chinatown to catch Eagle Rock's own multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, who will be ringing in a brand-new EP with Keenhouse. more ›

This 'tube is an oldie, but goodie (now repackaged with the soundtrack of Move Bitch by Ludacris) brought to you by the War in Iraq. News Sophisticate a political news blog, is shocked: No wonder the people of Iraq see US as an occupying force. Could you imagine if someone drove through the streets of L.A. or D.C. like this? If the police would not shoot them, a citizen sure would. Watch as pedestrians... more ›

A Word or 76: Finale-fest tonight! Enjoy now because re-runs and other sub-par programming is all we have on the horizon. Tonight - Tuesday - May 22, 2007 Brewers @ Dodgers (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Angels @ Tigers (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) NCIS (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) The team's secrets unravel Dateline NBC (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) Author John Grisham discusses wrongful murder case The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) The fiancee is chosen(!)... more ›

A Word or 3: Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy! Tonight - Monday - May 21, 2007 Brewers @ Dodgers (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) The final 3 pairs Heroes (NBC, 9:00 p.m.) Pain and peril in Kirby Plaza - try to stop an exploding man 24 (Fox, 8:00 p.m.) 2 hours of Jack The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) Just 2 bachelorettes left. Law & Order: Criminal Intent... more ›

Dinosaur Jr., Awesome Color @ The Troubadour The Germs @ Galaxy Theatre Peter Case, Grant-Lee Phillips @ Largo Al Kooper @ McCabe's Don McLean @ The Canyon mere mortals @ Market Gallery The Fuxedos @ The Echo Atomic Punks, Lure, Demize, Flake @ Whisky A Gogo Los Infernos, Charley Horse, Hellbound Hayride @ Safari Sam's The Rock & Roll Adventure Kids, Les Hormones, The Lateenos @ Mr. T's Bowl Horse the Band, Black Pyramids,... more ›

LAist is proud to offerer 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 ›

- J.Lo defends Scientology by saying that her dad is one and she turned out fine - People - The Police are rehearsing in Vancouver for a possible surprise Grammy appearance? - stereogum - Gotta love Jessica Simpson's dress as she walks with John Mayer - Pop on the Pop - Is Diddy diddling Sienna? - Dlisted - Poor millionaire pop record "producer". None of his big name female clients went to his birthday... more ›

So if you don't feel like driving that hour+ to some party in the Valley, or to some party anywhere in Los Angeles, you can always turn on the TV. There's nothing like watching the 3-hour tape-delayed disco ball drop to reaffirm your existence. Tomorrow - Sunday - New Years Eve "Twilight Zone Marathon" (SciFi, ALL DAY) "Seinfeld Marathon" (TBS, ALL DAY) "Marx Brothers Marathon" (TCM, starting at 5:15 p.m.) (other marathons include "Ace... more ›

Today - Friday Lakers @ Bobcats (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Kings @ Flames (Fox Sports, 6:00 p.m.) Kings @ Clippers (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) "Wonderland" (IFC, 6:35 p.m.) Val Kilmer as John Holmes (yeah, he _wishes_) becomes implicated in a quadruple homicide. Good performance from Lisa Kudrow in this film BTW "20/20" (ABC, 9:00 p.m.) The year in review. "Rock 'n' Roll High School" (TCM, 9:15 p.m.) The Ramones classic. P.J. Soles, can you hear me?... more ›

Tonight - Thursday "My Name Is Earl" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) Back-to-back new episodes. "Survivor: Cook Islands" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Castaways' loved ones arrive on the island to pull at heartstrings, somebody cuts a finger with a machete "Total Eclipse" (IFC, 8:40 p.m.) It's dueling poets, with Leonardo DiCaprio as Rimbaud and David Thewlis as Verlaine in this truly awful 19th-century costume drama. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 9:00 p.m.) Danny Bonaduce guest-stars, providing us... more ›

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the Killers' new record, but Evanescence came out of nowhere to nab the top spot on the Billboard Top 200 album chart this week. Their fourth album "The Open Door" is their first time debuting at #1 and they beat out some pretty strong competition. more ›

Babydaddy, Jake Shears, Ana Matronic and the rest of the Abba-esque Brit dance group Scissor Sisters are finding just as much success here in the states as they did early last month in the UK where they debuted at #1. The follow-up to 2004's eponymous freshman offerring did extremely well here in LA last week due to several factors: they headlined a sold-out show at the Shrine last Thursday, they appeared on Indie on... more ›

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... more ›

Beenie Man - Undisputed (Virgin) Blag Dahlia - Nina ... and Other Delights (MVD Audio) Damage Case - Tyranny (Punkcore) Támar Davis - Milk & Honey (Universal Motown) Dirty Dozen Brass Band - What's Going On (Shout! Factory) Dream Theater - Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live (Rhino) Bob Dylan - Modern Times (Columbia) Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High (Cherry Tree) Gwar - Beyond Hell (limited-edition version with DVD also available; DRT)... more ›

Kobe Bryant, William A. Macy - Live w/Regis & Kelly, 9am (ABC)* Ludacris Live - 3:30p (E!) Food City 250, Nascar - 4:45p (TNT) The Hill - 6:30p (Sundance) Raiders vs Detroit Lions - 7pm (KCAL) Max Cleland, Christopher Hitchens - Real Time, 8pm (HBO) Kyle XY - 9pm (ABC) Katrina, Where Things Stand - 20/20, 10pm (ABC) Sarah Silverman, Cheech, Mobb Deep - Last Call, 1:36a (NBC) * * rerun photo by the... more ›

Dear LAist, more ›

The hook of Crash is its language. The characters, while archetypes and stereotypes through and through, sound real when they speak to each other and at each other, almost always leaving the conversations misunderstood. Outside of a Persian shop owner and his family, everyone in the film speaks English yet each character's assumptions about each other limit recognition and comprehension. More often than not, a character is too busy hearing his or her own self speak to listen to what is being said. That is what is accurate about life in Los Angeles. We all are so sure of what we know that it is difficult to understand the varying perspectives of our city, its wide expanse and its diversity. more ›

LAist would like to send one lucky winner a prize pack from the Lion's Gate release, Crash. Set in Los Angeles, Crash is about race relations and takes an unflinching look at how we all interact with each other. Crash opens in theatres on Friday, May 6th and stars Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillipe, Jennifer Esposito, Thandie Newton, Ludacris, Michael Pena and Larenz Tate. more ›