Boston based synth-pop outfit Passion Pit came through Los Angeles for what seemed to be the 100th time on Tuesday, December 7. Yet devotees of their 2009 release, Manners, packed into the Palladium ready to hear their keyboard-heavy tunes as if it were their first show. This performance was a victory lap of sorts as the band winds down and prepares to do it all again sometime next year when their sophomore LP is released. more ›

Here in California, we call soda, well...soda. But in other parts of the nation when we want a sweet, carbonated beverage, we need to change our tune and ask for a "pop," a "coke," or any one of a dozen other regional nicknames for the drinks. more ›

Last week a measure to generate $1.4 billion in revenue for the state was temporarily tabled. Not because legislators didn't want the money, but because the money wouldn't help solve California's budget problems. SB 1210 "would impose an excise tax of 1 cent per teaspoon of sugar or other caloric sweetener in beverages," with revenues going to a special fund to health programs in communities, according to the LA Times. more ›

The cheeky, flame-haired singer, Kate Nash played to a sold out crowd at the El Rey Theatre last Tuesday. Equipped with a back up band that played well, but never showed off, Nash showcased her latest release, My Best Friend Is You. With a thick cockney accent and an appreciation for mischief, Miss Nash has long won the hearts of those who like their pop on the saucier side, but find Lily Allen a bit too bitter and Adele a tad too sweet. (Honestly, London has got the cheeky 1960s girl group influenced pop market cornered right now.) more ›

Last summer a riot of neon notified Burbank that there was a new store in town and it was all about fun! Rocket Fizz is here to bring back the candy and sodas of childhood, as well as hard-to-find local products. They even have a wide assortment of obscure diet sodas. more ›

The state senate today passed a bill that would impose a sales tax on Amazon.com and other online purchases, which would raise $107 million annually, according to the Sacramento Bee. Governor Schwarzenegger said he would veto the measure when it was introduced last year and Overstock.com threatened to pull its affiliate program, which provides income to California residents, if the tax was approved. more ›

Walking in at the Troubadour that night was like walking into a magic forest glade. I half expected to see sparkling nymphs in gauzy outfits leaping around from behind the concert goers, cackling merrily as they played tag. Perhaps if there had been any absinthe in the place that would be exactly what I saw. Brooklyn's electro pop piece Bell was on stage spreading their musical glitter all over the Troubadour making it sparkle and shine. more ›

Let it never be said that Youth Group are sissies. After enduring a fourteen hour flight from Sydney to LA, through untold horrors otherwise known as "customs" and "baggage claim," the Australian band still managed to put up with my meeting them at the Custom Inn Suites in Hollywood for our interview. If our places were reversed, I would have been a howling, drooling grump, refusing to talk to anyone as I crawled back to my room to sleep off the jet lag. But lo, Youth Group were bright and cheerful; a little slap-happy perhaps, but more than game for a stop at the Starbucks at the corner of Franklin and Highland to talk music. Bless them. more ›

Racing through her apartment one day my friend Ashley yelled at me, "You have to hear this band! They're still in high school, but they're phenomenal." Dutifully I sat down and the most cheerfully elaborate pop about semen came out of the speakers. "I'm sorry. Are they singing about cum?" I asked. Ashley just grinned. I had to talk to this band. more ›

I'm used to conducting interviews at the back of 7-11s or at Target or a local coffee shop. So when I was told to meet Maia Hirasawa at a swanky little hotel in Beverly Hills called Maison 140, which requires that I mention it in the article in order for me to take pictures there (Mentioned!) it felt odd. Not just odd, but so un-rock n' roll. The host had reserved us tables at their bar which was packed with business men. more ›

From the intimate ballad “Julie” to the jubilant dance grooves of "That Time," Layton’s newest offering Shattered Kiss offers a colorful array of songs that evoke confident songwriting and skillful arrangements. Layton produced the album from his home recording studio located in Boyle Heights, playing almost every instrument except the drums. The EP features guest vocalist Gena Olivier of Midnight Movies on the contemplative “Living Alone.” more ›

It was almost 10 o'clock by the time iconic music superstar Madonna hit the stage at Dodger Stadium last night, and the crowd happily lapped up her "Sticky and Sweet" candy infusion of spectacle and song. more ›

Pop songstress Gwen Stefani can deliver the goods...and an 8lb 5oz baby boy. Zuma Nesta Rossdale was born yesterday afternoon here in Los Angeles at Cedars Sinai Hospital, according to CNN.com. Mom Stefani and baby are reportedly doing well. Zuma joins big brother Kingston, 2, and former Bush frontman and rocker Gavin Rossdale to make one more in the growing family of music and fashion movers and shakers. more ›

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I don't know if it was all those Ikea fish eggs I consumed this weekend, but I was definitely ready to be in a Swedish frame of mind Monday night at the El Rey, where Anna Ternheim and Lykke Li opened for El Perro Del Mar. All three artists are representing a new wave of Scandinavian indie pop, with danceable rhythms, melancholic lyrics, and a moody, sensual sound that feels like a cold, fresh breeze on the pop landscape. Abba they ain't, but Robyn sure likes to hang with them. more ›

If you haven't heard their infectious single "That's Not My Name" burning up LA radio stations, you will soon enough. The Ting Tings, the latest UK import, brought their carefree blend of electro/dance/pop duo to Echo Park's Rec Center Studio in what was their first (and most likely of many) "proper" show in Los Angeles Tuesday night. The Rec Center was packed to see the Tings, a band that at this point really only has thew previously mentioned single to their name (at least here in the US). But that did not matter to this crowd, all that mattered was the quality and freshness of their music. more ›

Luckily, since SXSW Music officially starts on Wednesday, tonight's massive line-up of residencies is hardly affected, save for The Voom Blooms who are replaced by We Barbarians and others at the Viper Room tonight (full list of tonight's residencies after the jump). However, the exodus of Los Angeles based bands is upon us. more ›

As we said yesterday in this column, Robert Francis fell ill earlier this month, prompting the cancellation of his Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge. Good news, though, the new favorite local artist of ours is playing tonight at El Rey at 8:45 p.m. with the Australian Missy Higgins performing after. There's no better way than letting you get to know Francis via a few songs below. more ›

For a band of two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old, Din Caliber has a huge sound that's quite exciting. And Linda Perry, record label owner/producer (credits include Gwen Stefani, Pink, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilara), has her eye on them. The home schooled trio practices four to five nights a week for four hours and has played the House of Blues and a few shows at the Whiskey A Go Go. Tonight they play the Knitting Factory on the Main Stage. Also of note tonight is the North Mississippi Allstars who mix punk, rock and down-home blues (it's quite lovely). They'll be sharing the stage tonight with the Drive-By Truckers at the Avalon. more ›

Usually Tuesday nights are slow for music in this town. Not tonight -- the spirit of Super Tuesday and democracy must have rung clear to bookers. Of course, LAist is having a party too, starting at 7:00 p.m. at Seven Grand. Choices, choices. more ›

If you're like me and you hate pro football, or if you're looking for something to do after Football Team A defeats Football Team B in the field of Superbowly Combat, go to The Scene in Glendale tonight, and see NYC based Indie Pop Band Murder Mystery, along with LA's The Tartans and Oxnard's Maria. more ›

Portland based musician and known as "the Stephen King of Indie Pop," Chris Robley and his band -- Fear of Heights -- play at Mr. T's Bowl tonight in Highland Park. Plenty of MP3s to check out of this indie-pop folk band below. more ›

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Pop the pink champagne and slip on that tiara to help welcome the arrival of 2008's first celebrity socialte and rock star spawn, Harlow Winter Kate Madden, who came into the world at the nicest hospital money can buy, aka Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, today. more ›

It’s the first day of work for many of us -- and it pretty much sucks. Thank God it’s a short week. If you haven't gotten enough going out for the New Year, here’s what's going on around town tonight: more ›

"La Gallina" - Ozomatli more ›

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

Helena Bonham Carter and her boyfriend, director Tim Burton, both Golden Globe nominees for Sweeney Todd welcomed their second baby together, a girl, in London this weekend - People more ›

Tonight is the most excellent show, Open Road on KCRW, which begins at 9:00 p.m., ending at midnight. DJ Gary Calamar mixes roots of Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues, and Soul with new releases that you can most see on his peer's lists. Calamar got his start at KCRW as a volunteer, moving his way to DJ after literally begging on his knees to Chris Douridas for a show. Douridas made a great choice. 1)... more ›

How apropos; today on LAist it's Sex Saturday, but today also happens to be World AIDS Day. Several events took place yesterday and will happen today in order to remind the world community that HIV/AIDS remains a global threat. The LA Times reports today on President Bush's public appearance yesterday at a church in northern Maryland, and that his speeches did not propose new plans or funding, but rather focused on humanitarianism. According to the... more ›