In an e-mail early, early, early this morning, McCabe's announced something unexpected: The Swell Season will be playing tomorrow night in the guitar shop's intimate performance space. You may not recognize the band's name, but you know them as Irish singer Glen Hansard and Czech pianist Marketa Irglova from the movie Once. The gig got booked serendipitously yesterday when Glen brought his guitar into the shop for repair. Of course, the bad news here is that tickets sold out quickly, probably before the light of day hit. Tonight, McCabe's presents Jackshit, who we interviewed here on LAist last August. more ›

UPDATE: Looks like the forces of Truth, Justice and the Irishican Way prevailed everyone - It's not hard in here for a Once after all: more ›

I had originally planned to forgo a "best of" list and just talk about all of the movies I enjoyed in this very deep and rich year. After some consideration, though, I decided I should stick my neck out a little bit and go with the best of the best. I'm sure I went with a few outliers and even ignored some consensus picks, but that's why you do these things, right? The hardest films to leave off were --see them all if you haven't already. With that said, here's my ten best. more ›

There are two movies that are being scandalously left off the year-end best lists. The first, is pure, guilty goodness. more ›

Since seeing Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova back in November, opening up for Damien Rice, I have been, and this is fairly rare these days, mesmerized by their music. You know, when I first started listening to Damien Rice, a friend asked what kind of music I would label it and I replied, sad rock. Sad though it is, I think you could put Glen and Marketa's music in the same category, though I believe... more ›

Movies like Once, happen ...well, just once in awhile. A 2007 Sundance darling, Once is a unique love story set in Ireland. The film is a departure from the regular summer blockbusters and yes, it is a musical- thats right, a musical, but not the break out into song with jazz hands type musicals we're used to. If there were to be a mellow indie rock musical where the songs fit into the story line of writing and recording music, Once is that movie. And its beautiful- both the story and the music that serves as its soundtrack, which one should get/download regardless of seeing the film. more ›

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of experiencing an enhanced version of what viewers all over the country will soon be exposed to when I went to see a screening of the movie Once, directed by John Carney and starting Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard. This film is a unique and singular treat, and while my experienced was bolstered by extras such as the Q&A with the directors and stars and the live musical performances afterwards, I have no doubt that the movie itself will hold up when viewed on its own. more ›