The sold-out Smith Westerns show at The Echo on February 11 was, like their recent album Dye it Blonde, filled with awesome, George Harrison-inspired riffage. Unfortunately, that's where the awesome stopped. The young Chicago foursome’s 45-minute set was just short of tragic: the drums were too loud, the keyboard didn’t contribute anything, and lead singer Cullen Omori’s vocals were drowned out under the noisy playing of his band mates. more ›

Tonight the City of Brotherly Love's own dream pop sextet A Sunny Day in Glasgow will be headlining the Mint with none other than local act Pollyn in tow. Prolific San Franciscan psych-infused rock outfit the Fresh & Onlys are poised to take over Spaceland. Extra Life, a Brooklyn-bred experimental rock act who bear loose associations with the Dirty Projectors, will be performing down the street at Echo Curio. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo early this afternoon to catch Chicago-bred garage rock outfit Smith Westerns (LAist Review). LAist favorites, local "retro-leaning" pop rock quintet the Young Veins, which of course features not one, but two former members of Panic! At The Disco, are slated to kick things off. more ›

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Tonight the City of Brotherly Love's own experimental synth-pop outfit Cold Cave will be headlining the Echoplex with Chicago-bred garage rock outfit Smith Westerns and local lo-fi pop act Best Coast in tow. Upstairs from the aforementioned show, Highland Park's own deep crooner Crooked Cowboy & the Freshwater Indians is poised to... more ›

Tonight Chicago-based pop punk outfit Alkaline Trio will be headlining the House of Blues Sunset in Hollyweird with Omaha-based indie rockers Cursive in tow. Local country-infused folk, twin-sister duo the Watson Twins (LAist Review, #2) are poised to grace the Bootleg Theater with none other than Long Beach's own pop songstress (and general lass) Jessica Dobson—otherwise known as Deep Sea Diver (LAist Review). And, lastly, the City of Brotherly Love's own experimental synth-pop outfit Cold Cave will be taking on the Glass House in Pomona with Chicago-bred garage rock outfit Smith Westerns, local lo-fi pop act Best Coast and Long Beach/Los Alamitos natives and recent Sub Pop signees Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview, Review). But we strongly suggest heading over to the Airliner in Lincoln Heights to catch Texan experimental electronic guru Ernest Gonzales, who will be performing for this week's edition of Low End Theory. more ›

This week Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (LAist Review) will be headlining USC's Bovard Auditorium. The City of Brotherly Love's own experimental synth-pop outfit Cold Cave are poised to take on the Echoplex with none other than Chicago-bred garage rock outfit Smith Westerns and local lo-fi pop act Best Coast. San Pedro-based indie rockers Dios (LAist Interview, Review, #2) will be ringing in their latest endeavor, 2010's We Are Dios, at the Troubadour with Signals (LAist Review) and the Henry Clay People (Review, #2, #3, #4) in tow. And, lastly, Portland-based pop-folk songstress Mirah will be gracing the Bootleg Theater. more ›