Have you heard about The Hudson Block Party? Well it’s back for round two on Sunday, May 20th. After last year’s hugely successful but ‘crazy’ year, the organizers have doubled the block party’s capacity and have also brought in bigger musical acts. Check out what bands we're excited to see. more ›

Tonight local rock and roll outfit Slang Chickens will be performing Studio 1444 with Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview, Review), Swim Party and the Black Apples, among many others. New Mexican country/bluegrass outfit the Handsome Family will be performing early on at McCabe's Guitar Shop. And, lastly, the Bay Area's own garage rockers the Blank Tapes will be taking on Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Hollywood Bowl to catch Athens-based avant-gardists Of Montreal (LAist Review). LAist favorites, local Cambodian rock outfit Dengue Fever (LAist Interview) are slated to kick things off. more ›

On Sunday night Cambodian psych-pop group Dengue Fever will make their debut at the Hollywood Bowl and couldn't be more excited. They will open a bill that features another Hollywood Bowl debut, legendary new wave disco dominatrix Grace Jones. Sharing this one-of-a-kind bill is the wildly theatrical Of Montreal, and with Henry Rollins hosting, it is sure to be a memorable show. more ›

This week Anaheim-based ska-infused pop outfit No Doubt will be headlining the Gibson Amphitheatre with Grammy-nominated pop punk outfit Paramore and Swedish new wave rockers the Sounds in tow. Athens-based avant-gardists Of Montreal will be performing at the Hollywood Bowl with none other than LA-based Cambodian rock outfit Dengue Fever. English alternative rockers Elbow are poised to take on the Wiltern with local indie rockers Mellowdrone and Manchester-by-way-of-LA singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop (LAist Interview, Reviews). And, lastly, London-based electro-pop duo La Roux will be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour. more ›

It's always fun to spot the first-timers at one of Jon Brion's Friday night shows. They're usually the ones with their jaws hanging open as they try to figure out how he's looping instruments into a 10-layered live performance, or how he's using the piano as percussion. Perhaps the greatest moments of awe occur as they realize he's improvising something that's never been heard before, and will probably never be heard again. It's no wonder some people have seen his show hundreds of times and keep coming back for more! LAist's two-part interview with Brion followed the same pattern as his live show--which often starts with a solo set, then incorporates other musicians during the second half. In part one of the interview, Brion discussed his early experiences with music and improvisation. In this second part, he talks about some of his favorite musicians--from the 60s to the modern day. In addition, LAist asked him about his sock collection, how he discovers new music and why he loves Los Angeles. more ›

Last week LAist contributing photographer Benjamin Hoste documented a wild, circus-like extravaganza. We are, of course, referring to the Of Montreal (LAist Review) show at the Glass House in Pomona. LA-based rapper Busdriver (LAist Review) kicked off the show, letting out his signature, sinuous flow with none other than local electronic mastermind Nosaj Thing on the decks. But now, without further ado, we present Hoste's strikingly singular images. 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. This year we asked some of the staffers what inspired them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008. 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 ›

Tonight the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, will conclude a two-night stint at the House of Blues Sunset. Old 97's front man Rhett Miller is stopping through the Largo at the Coronet. Swedish metal band In Flames will be shredding at Club Nokia. And, lastly, NY-based folk rockers O'Death are sharing the stage at Spaceland with some great local bands, Le Switch and Death to Anders. But we suggest plopping down at the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium to experience Of Montreal. The last time the prolific Athens-based indie pop act played here, nearly a year ago to the date, "I felt like I was tripping on acid." LA's own noise rock troupe HEALTH (LAist Review) will be opening. more ›

The newly renovated Hollywood Palladium has announced their fall line-up, which begins with JAY-Z on October 15. The rest of their schedule includes Flogging Molly, The Kooks, Of Montreal, Slightly Stoopid, Mudvayne, Gym Class Heroes/The Roots, Rise Against, Dragonforce, Alejandra Guzman, Onerepublic and La Fabrika Del Reggaeton. Tickets will be sold on Live Nation's website starting tomorrow for Rise Against, but all the other shows will be sold starting on September 13, except for JAY-Z on September 5. more ›

I’m not ashamed to admit that somewhere among my Jon Brion, Of Montreal and Vampire Weekend albums, you’ll find a bunch of Billy Joel CDs. Although I wasn’t even born when he first hit the airwaves, I’ve always had a soft spot for his music. Since I didn’t get to see him perform during the days when he was releasing and performing new music, I was excited for the opportunity to see him Saturday night in Anaheim. 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 ›

Friday night marked the final performance of Of Montreal's LA stint and it will never slip from my memory. I felt like I was tripping on acid. I had the worst cold I've contracted in years, surely that didn't help, and random imagery (Dave Navarro, grizzly bears, cartoon heads, and iTunes-like visualizers) was in full effect throughout the night. Between MGMT's psychedelic, synth-laden set, Grand Buffet's abrasive, hilarious antics, and the filming Of Montreal's... more ›

A listing of LAist picks for music in Los Angeles tonight. Includes Of Montreal, Poncho Sanchez, The Walkmen, Coheed & Cambria and more... more ›

Thursday night was a busy one and I probably could've used more of a decompression stop between the Hotel Cafe and the Avalon to give my brain ample time to switch genres, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It all began at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Cafe with Amy LaVere. I immediately knew I liked her when she took the stage with an upright bass that had a Bass (fish) sticker in the middle of it. It was cheeky, and I suppose that’s one way you can refer to LaVere. She took the stage wearing a trench coat and high heels, and throughout the set alternated between the upright bass and an electric one. more ›

Joanna Newsom - "Monkey and Bear" Joanna Newsom @ Disney Hall ZZ Top @ The Greek Of Montreal, Grand Buffet, MGMT @ Avalon Loudon Wainwright III, Joe Henry @ El Rey M.I.A., The Cool Kids @ The Wiltern Ben Harper, Piers Faccini @ Orpheum Rhino Bucket @ Knitting Factory Dave Mason @ House of Blues, Anaheim Eek-A-Mouse @ Galaxy Theatre Jesu, These Arms Are Snakes @ Echoplex She Wants Revenge, Kenna, theSTART @ Henry... more ›

Of Montreal - "Gronlandic Edit" Of Montreal, Grand Buffet, MGMT @ Avalon Phantom Planet, The Hives @ Staples Ween @ The Wiltern David Allan Coe, Dos @ Knitting Factory Gram Parsons @ Amoeba Valient Thorr @ Spaceland Ben Harper @ Orpheum Great Northern, Robbers on High Street @ Echoplex Peanut Butter Wolf @ El Rey Ima Robot, The Airborne Toxic Event @ The Roxy Hello Stranger @ The Viper Room Mason Jennings @ Troubadour... more ›

The Pogues @ The Wiltern - Tonight ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, Dethklok @ UCLA - Tonight Redd Kross @ Echoplex - Tomorrow The Polyphonic Spree, Rooney @ Henry Fonda - Tomorrow Yo La Tengo @ The Ivar - Tomorrow Low Versus Diamond @ Viper Room - Tomorrow The Bronx, The Mercy Killers @ Safari Sam's - Tomorrow Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Henry Fonda, 11/3 Yo La Tengo... more ›

MGMT Oracular Spectacular Columbia Records Release Date: October 2nd, 2007 (digitally) When Vanwyngarden and Goldwasser, the visionaries at the helm of MGMT, met at Wesleyan University back in 2002, neither of them could have expected a four record, six figure deal from Columbia Records. Let alone being hand picked by Steve Lillywhite. Yet somehow they managed to keep those monstrous figures from tingeing their ingenuity. MGMT's Oracular Spectacular is a wondrous, synth-laden extravaganza that... more ›

There was so much choice at this year's Detour Festival as French Electro duo Justice and British Indie darlings Bloc Party topped the bill however, one couldn't help but compare this year's lineup to last year's, the inaugural year, which featured Beck and Queens of the Stone Age and smaller acts like Of Montreal, Blonde Redhead, Basement Jaxx among others. While sporting more acts and another stage the overall quality or the acts was... more ›

Thursday night I got to see an old favorite local band and my new favorite local band at the same show at Echoplex. How could I resist? Irving have been off the map a little bit, touring in Germany and dealing with replacing their bassist (as someone in the crowd yelled, "Stupid Seawolf!"), but they are one of the hardest working bands I know, and always put on a good show. So I was... more ›

Björk - Volta (Atlantic) Bone Thugs -N- Harmony - Strength & Loyalty (Interscope) Barbara Streisand - Streisand: Live In Concert [2 CD] [LIVE] (Sony) Keren Ann - Keren Ann (Blue Note) Brakes - Beatific Visions (Rough Trade) Electrelane - No Shouts, No Calls (Too Pure / Beggars) Elliott Smith - New Moon [2 CD] (Kill Rock Stars) The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge) Page France - Page France and the Family Telephone... more ›

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Gogol Bordello, Bjork, Sonic Youth, Peaches, Arctic Monkeys, Stephen Marley, Of Montreal, Silversun Pickups, Satellite Party, Julieta Venegas, Noisettes, Amy Winehouse and others @ Coachella Gwen Stefani, Lady Sovereign @ Gibson Pigeon John @ Malibu Inn Grant Lee Phillips @ The Troubadour I See Hawks in L.A., Horsepainters, Amy Farris @ The Scene The Cinematics, The Heavenly States, Le Meu le Purr @ Spaceland Apes of the New Millennium,... more ›

Now that the line-ups have been announced, I'm happy to follow Sloane's lead and speculate on what my day will look like. more ›

Thrasher, Bomb Threat, Grim Death, Infantry, Disintegrate, Tyrant, Witchaven @ Cobalt Cafe more ›

Anavan, Crooked Cowboy, Bob Bellerue, Bizzart @ Il Corral (fundraiser - go) Brian Wilson @ Long Beach Terrace Theater (final all Pet Sounds concert) Robbers on High Street, Lemon Sun, Mezzanine Owls @ The Echo (6pm) Of Montreal @ Avalon Cherryholmes @ Citrus College The Chieftains @ Cerritos Center The Briefs @ Alex's Bar (LA Derby Dolls afterparty) Shirley Caesar, Angie Stone, Kelly Price @ Galen Center RTX, The Binges, Year Long Disaster, HDR... more ›

Echoes of a Boundless Life, The Lottery, Fkenal, The Natural Disasters, Muso @ Mr. T's Bowl more ›

This might be a good week to give your piggybank the ol' smasheroo and excavate your couch cushions for awol monies. The CD player NEEDS your donations. Don't delay. Rush out now in a buying frenzy. Here's a glanceable list of new noteables and rightous reissues being handed down today. Ten octzillion more after the jump... Arbouretum - Rites Of Uncovering (Thrill Jockey) The Bird & The Bee - Bird And The Bee (Blue... more ›

Wanna' know what's hot and fresh on our playlists? Look no further. Here's the 411 on what your favorite LA-centric blog is listening to. Whether it's sick and twisted or straight up embarrassing to mention -- it's all here: more ›