Warm, hearty, back-porch folk is back in town tonight. That's right. Durham's own Megafaun will be gracing the Echo in support of their new mini-album, Heretofore, which will be out on HomeTapes later this spring. Since the disbanding of their previous band DeYarmond Edison (with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon) in 2006, the trio: brothers Phil and Brad Cook and drummer, Joe Westerlund, have acquired a reputation for raucous live shows that are heavy on audience participation. We caught up with Brad Cook, before his show in San Francisco last night and chatted about what a mini-album actually was, his jazz ambitions, and Gram Parson's corpse. Here is some of what was said. more ›

Tonight Akron-bred folk rock singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur will be headlining the Bootleg Theater. Former Nickel Creek fiddler Sara Watkins (LAist Interview) is poised to grace McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Mon Mon. And, lastly, local indie rock outfit Warpaint (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) will be performing at UCLA's Kerckhoff Grand Salon with none other than local rock and roll act Slang Chickens. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch Durham-based folk act Megafaun. more ›

Tonight Wisconsin-bred folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, otherwise known as Bon Iver (LAist Review), will be performing at the Wiltern with none other than Durham's own Megafaun. Brooklyn-bred TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone is poised to stop through the Echo with his solo endeavor Rain Machine. And, lastly, Wasilla's own rock outfit Portugal. The Man will be headlining the Troubadour with Cambridge-based rock duo Drug Rug. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch Telefon Tel Aviv, a Chicago-based experimental electronic duo that experienced the unexpected passing of one of its two members—Charles Cooper—at the beginning of the year. more ›

This week Wisconsin-bred folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, otherwise known as Bon Iver (LAist Review), will be performing at the Wiltern with none other than Durham's own Megafaun and by himself at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Local indie rockers Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are poised to take on not only the El Rey Theatre, but the Abbot Kinney Music Festival later on in the week as well. Telefon Tel Aviv, a Chicago-based experimental electronic duo that experienced the unexpected passing of one of its two members—Charles Cooper—at the beginning of the year, will be making a triumphant return to Spaceland. And, lastly, French "freak folk" outfit CocoRosie will be headlining the Henry Fonda Music Box. more ›

Tonight Anaheim-based ska-infused pop outfit No Doubt will be headlining the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater with Santa Barbara-bred pop singer-songwriter Katy Perry and Swedish new wave rockers the Sounds in tow. British indie pop duo the Ting Tings (LAist Review) will be performing at Club Nokia with Seattle-based electro pop outfit Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (LAist Review). And, lastly, Swedish chanteuse Lykke Li (LAist Review, #2, #3) is poised to grace the Wiltern with local indie rockers the Deadly Syndrome (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) in tow. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch Raleigh-based nu-folk trio Bowerbirds. Raleigh-via-Eau Clair trio Megafaun are slated to kick things off. more ›

This week English indie rockers Gomez will be headlining the Wiltern with Portland's own indie pop outfit Blind Pilot in tow. San Francisco-based psych-folk-pop act the Dodos will be gracing the Getty Center for this week's edition of Saturdays Off the 405. LAist favorites Local Natives (LAist Interview) are poised to take on a month-long residency at Spaceland. And, lastly, Raleigh-based nu-folk trio Bowerbirds will be performing at the Echo with none other than Raleigh-via-Eau Clair trio Megafaun. more ›

December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008. more ›