The “Monsters of Dub” double-bill of Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation wrapped up two months of co-headlining American tour dates in Los Angeles as part of the “LA 101” event at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Sunday night. The inspired pairing pulled an impressively large crowd that ran the gamut including post-rave survivors, music nerds, a thick swath of the city’s creative class and party people just down for heavy beats and heavier vibes (man). more ›

In what was their first Los Angeles show in nearly four years and the first of three consecutive, sold-out dates at the Wiltern, Bristol-based trip-hop legends Massive Attack treated the crowd to a nearly perfect two-hour set of their patented brand of atmospheric music. While the first half of the set was heavy on the newest release—2010's Heligoland—the well-known tracks that delivered them to prominence were not ignored. One of the highlights being a stripped down version of "Teardrop" with former Tricky collaborator and evening opener Martina Topley-Bird, who lent her soulful voice to the band on about a third of the evening's tracks. more ›

Tonight Bristol-based electronic duo Massive Attack will be concluding a three-night stint at the Wiltern. Swedish indie rockers Shout Out Louds are poised to kick off a two-night stint at the El Rey Theatre with none other than Queens' own indie pop buzz band Freelance Whales. And, lastly, local indie rockers Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, who released their debut almost a year ago to the date, will be making a brief appearance at UCLA's... more ›

Tonight Bristol-based electronic duo Massive Attack will be taking on the penultimate date of their three-night stint at the Wiltern. Canadian psych pop maestro Dan Snaith, otherwise known as Caribou, is poised to headline the El Rey Theatre with none other than South Carolina-bred experimental electro pop maestro Chaz Budnick... more ›

Tonight Bristol-based electronic duo Massive Attack will be taking on a three-night stint at the Wiltern, ringing in their first release in over seven years—2010's Heligoland. Massachusetts-based metalcore act Converge—who recently released their seventh studio album, 2010's Axe To Fall—are poised to take on the... more ›

This week Bristol-based electronic duo Massive Attack will be taking on a three-night stint at the Wiltern. Brooklyn-by-way-of-Cincinnati indie rock act the National are poised to headline the Wiltern two consecutive nights in a row later on in the week. Swedish indie rockers Shout Out Louds will be gracing the El Rey Theatre twice. And, lastly, Canadian psych pop maestro Dan Snaith, otherwise known as Caribou, will be performing at the El Rey Theatre with none other than South Carolina-bred experimental electro pop maestro Chaz Budnick, who performs under the moniker Toro Y Moi in tow. more ›

Fires raged across Southern California for the second day in a row. Helicopters joined the effort as did a Boeing 747, according to NBC TV. Also, 250,000 San Diegans were told to evacuate their homes. LAist is on top of recent developments. Fires in the region always make me think of when NBC newscaster Chuck Henry reported on the forest fires in 2003. His news van caught on fire and he and his crew had... more ›

Artist: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan + Gaudi Album: Dub Qawwali Label: Six Degrees Records Release Date: August 7th, 2007 I count myself incredibly fortunate to have seen Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan perform while he was still alive, this was back in 1990, at a little hamlet called Santa Barbara, a year or so after Martin Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ came out, which featured Khan on the soundtrack. The essence of one... more ›

New releases! Now newer every week!! We begin this installment with a boatload of terrifying and perplexing tribute records, followed by noteables in every genre, including some promising rock offerings, a vault of soundtracks, fancy cello-ing, and more Frankie Valli than you can shake a stick at. Tribute Various Artists - Bluegrass Tribute to Modest Mouse (CMH) Various Artists - Bluegrass Tribute to the Shins (CMH) Various Artists - Can You Bring It? Sing... more ›

It might not always feel like it, but LAist loves its readers. We do this for you. So while we were t-p-ing your block, smashing pumpkins, changing the street signs, and defacing the letters on the Hollywood sign to spell "wood lol!", it dawned on us that we probably shouldn't still be doing liquid acid at our age on the dark hillsides of LA. And then we realized that we should be more "interactive"... more ›

It never really feels like summer until I go to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. By that logic, summer begins tomorrow night, so pack your pic-a-nic basket and be there to usher in the new season with this bitchin’ bowl line-up. Tomorrow at the Bowl!! 7pm!! The legendary, electro retro future sounds of Massive Attack, and experimental, art rock, genre bending sweethearts, TV on the Radio (w/ Gang Gang Dance). Tickets are still... more ›

You gotta admit that this summer LAist has held some pretty sweet contests. Right now we're iin the midst of a haiku contest for Vegoose in Vegas, and today we have something to offer you closer to home -- and close to the stage. How would you like four box seat tickets AND free parking AND four picnic baskets to one of the upcoming three shows at the world famous Hollywood Bowl? Just follow... more ›

Did the 50 or so people, spread throughout the audience, plan this light saber spectacle for when John Williams brought out the Star Wars music at last night's Hollywood Bowl concert? It was especially funny when they started running through the aisles swinging those sabers. A few of the summer jobbing teenager aisle attendants were decapitated. Great show. John Williams is the man. But did anyone find it odd (yet, a little cute) that... more ›

Concerts at the Hollywood Bowl have a way of becoming historic, if you ask us. Maybe it's the rich history, or the casual class of the whole place, or the handpicked and careful bookings that have pretty much only given us the best of the best of musical performers. more ›

The Monday holiday makes it a very light week for new releases. Here are a few things that caught our eye.... more ›

We have many fond memories from Coachellas past, but right now we're totally jealous of that Lollapalooza lineup. Sunday tickets are sold out. You'll either have to buy a two-day pass or take your chances in the secondary market. more ›

The Flaming Lips At War with the Mystics (Warner Bros.) – As much as we loved The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots we're glad they're trying some new things on this one. While it's not as stylistically consistent as their other albums, there are enough quality songs to recommend it. Catch them live at the Hollywood Bowl on 7/23. more ›

We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw this: Madonna -- Midge, the Material Girl, Esther -- is playing Coachella's second night (April 30). The rumors turned out to be true. She's making her first appearance at a festival. Ever. That night (in the Dance Tent), she's joining the likes of Massive Attack, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sleater-Kinney. LAist was a bit stunned. It's kind of like seeing Phish in a Wango Tango lineup. more ›