I've seen Ra Ra Riot many times before and this show at the Music Box at Henry Fonda Theater was no different. The energy they brought when touring for their first album The Rhumb Line was intensified by a thousand this time around for their sophomore album The Orchard. The show never had a dull moment. The energy each member brings lifts you up like a surge of electricity running through your veins and makes you dance and sing to every song. By and large, the highlight of the night was "You and I Know," the debut vocal performance of violinist Alexandra Lawn. Her soft, high ranged vocals made jaws dropped, mixed with the powerful tremolo picking solo of guitarist Milo Bonacci took the show to new epic heights. From the looks of it, there's no stopping these Syracuse, New York natives from taking the indie scene to places its never seen before. more ›

Tonight, as always, local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. Recent Saddle Creek signees, Toronto-based indie rock outfit the Rural Alberta Advantage will be performing at the Echo. And, lastly, Hawaiian-bred singer Sara Lov will be gracing the Mint. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Greek Theatre to catch Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (LAist Review). Syracuse-bred indie rockers Ra Ra Riot and Cincinnati's own garage rock outfit Heartless Bastards (LAist Interview) are slated to kick things off. more ›

This week Maine-based folk troubadour Ray LaMontagne will be performing with local ruddy-haired songstress Jenny Lewis (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) and LAist favorites Blitzen Trapper (LAist Interview) in tow. Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (LAist Review) is poised to headline the Greek Theatre with Syracuse-bred indie rockers Ra Ra Riot and yet another LAist favorite, Cincinnati's own garage rock outfit Heartless Bastards. Local alt-rockers Everest (LAist review, #2) will be performing with Red Cortez (LAist Review, #2) at UCLA's Hammer Museum for this week's edition of Also I Like To Rock. And, lastly, Brooklyn's crown jewel, the erratic experimental indie rock collective known as Dirty Projectors (LAist Review), will be gracing the Troubadour. more ›

Tonight Canadian folk rock singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright will be performing at the Getty. Recent Apple commercial inductees, LA-based indie pop duo the Submarines are poised to headline the Troubadour with the Morning Benders and the Mumlers in tow. And, lastly, famed punk rock front man, X's John Doe will be rocking out at the Largo at the Coronet. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch Syracuse-bred indie rockers Ra Ra Riot. Auckland-based indie pop outfit Cut Off Your Hands (Review) are slated to kick things off. more ›

Ah, so many shows, so little time. If teleportation was actually feasible, then we'd be all over LA tonight. The hypothetical festivities would somehow encompass NY-based feel-good pop rockers Ra Ra Riot at the Echo, the Watkins Family and their preposterous display of musicianship at Largo at the Coronet, and, of course, the invite-only No Age gig at the stylishly luxurious Opera & Crimson. Alas, the reality of the situation has finally settled in: Not everyone has an invite or teleportation for that matter. So we suggest you start your night off relatively early at Amoeba Records, where English singer-songwriter Pop Levi will be playing a free, short-lived set of songs from 2008's Never Never Love. Then make your way on over to Safari Sam's to celebrate the release of the Western States Motel's much-anticipated EP, Painted Birds Flying In The Orange Mirror Sun. We are aware that it's sponsored by KROQ, yuck! But Radio Free Silver Lake is equally invested in the event and we feel as though that effectively negates the yuck factor. more ›

The Submarines - "Brighter Discontent" more ›