It's been awhile since we've heard any action from the talented, farcical duo Tenacious D. But Jack Black and Kyle Gass are back, and their new comeback video, "To Be The Best," which we present to you for today's video lunch on a steaming platter of rock and roll, is chocked full of facts, funnies, snippets of Jack's ever-impressive vocals and Kyle's guitar jams, celebrity cameos and a couple exterior shots of L.A. more ›

Chamber Music Palisades (CMP) is holding a concert tonight at St. Matthew’s Parish in the Palisades. The concert features guitarist Marth Masters in a program that features Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. 8 pm. Other guest artists include: Roger Wilkie, violin, and John Walz, cello, who’ll appear with CMP Co-Founders/Co-Artistic Directors Susan Greenberg, flute, and Delores Stevens, piano. 8 pm. Tickets are $25; students with ID are free. more ›

The Pixies with Flea on bass instead of Kim Deal?! Followed by The Pixies with Weird Al singing instead of Black Francis? No, it’s not a horrible nightmare followed by the greatest dream ever - It’s two of the “surprises” promised at tonight’s Winston Calling benefit at the Echo. more ›

In their live shows, Trainwreck takes their fans for a memorable trip down the wrong side of the tracks. From their stage costumes complete with mullets and mustaches to their stage antics complete with onstage bickering and wacky guest stars, everyone in the room is always along for a great ride. Original songs like "J.B. Shredman and "Bothered & Hot" to covers of "Footloose" turn Trainwreck gigs into hilarious white-trash hootenannies. more ›

As usual, things at the Ivy Substation in Culver City are not status quo. Then again, when you’re trying to keep theatre alive in an economy more suited for food stamps than Shakespeare, nothing is going to be easy. Enter The Actors’ Gang, who for years have been at the Los Angeles forefront of doing things the hard way, and with amazing results. Their productions, workshops, and community outreach programs are second to none, and the current WTF?! Festival is right in line with such forward thinking. more ›

It seems that in the past month, you can't throw a joke book without hitting Garfunkel & Oates at some show around town. Not that you'd want to; these lovely ladies are quickly mastering the craft of beautiful songs with enough comedic edge to keep you in your seats. Both Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci are well known faces on television and film, but their most recent musical endeavors have made them fan favorites around the Los Angeles alternative comedy scene, as well as online, where their single-take 'couch videos' are blowing up all over YouTube. LAist was fortunate enough to catch up with the ladies in the middle of their whirlwind month of performing, recording, and making new music videos for the fans. And let's not forget their UCB show on Wednesday! more ›

Tonight English pop rock sensation Keane (LAist Review) will be stopping through the Roxy. Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Bryan Adams (LAist Review) is headlining the Wiltern. Local producer/musician extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Review) is performing one set only at the Largo at the Coronet, of course. LA-based hard rock outfit the Bronx are slated to perform at the Echo with LBC's Crystal Antlers (LAist Review). LAist favorites the Submarines (LAist Interview) will headline the Echoplex. And, lastly, the hilarious dudes in Trainwreck—featuring Kyle Gass of Tenacious D (LAist Interview)—will be rocking out on the tiny stage at El Cid. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch local singer-songwriter Robert Francis (LAist Interview), who will be doling out folk-infused ditties all night long. more ›

About 500 support and production workers marched down Hollywood Boulevard to urge an end to the strike that has paralyzed the movie and television industry. The "Strike a Deal" march brought together workers who are not on strike themselves but who have been laid off or are losing business as a result of the WGA strike, which appears far from over as it enters its sixth week. Today's rally and march -- from Grauman's... more ›

Tenacious D will be rocking their soli-fuckin-darity this Friday when they appear at the WGA rally in Burbank. The rally, in front of FremantleMedia (4000 W. Alameda), is intended to help expose the “deplorable industry practices” of the reality show producers. The list of shows that FremantleMedia produces includes American Idol, The Next Great American Band, America’s Got Talent and probably a lot of other shows with “America” in the title. Writers of these shows... more ›

From singing a Pussycat Dolls song in "Wild Hogs" to playing a hobo on "Friends", Kyle Gass is always ready to jump into character. (He and Jack Black have a little band called Tenacious D too.) Since 2002, Kyle's country-rock band has played over 150 gigs across the country. Trainwreck features lead vocals by J.R Reed and Kyle conducting the craziness with his trusty guitar. If you are looking for a honky tonk party... more ›

Zuma Dogg needs a dramatic and evocative musical score to accompany him as he travels back and forth to City Hall fighting injustice without the help of a cape or sidekick in stockings. Sadly, this is not that music. However, please to help yourself to some songs about the government and the city. Talking Heads - Don't Worry About The Government &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://andysternberg.com/laist/08 Don't Worry About The Government.mp3"> The Modern Lovers - Government Center &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://andysternberg.com/laist/12... more ›

So I heard it first tonight via the hot lips of G4TV's Olivia: the new Guitar Hero III (slated to be released on all "next generation" platforms - that means the Wii, the PS3, and the XBox 360), will include songs by Weezer, Muse, Heart, Tenacious D, The Rolling Stones, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Joystiq confirmed the dirty details, and we will get to RAWK on songs like "Barracuda," "Cherub Rock" and even Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" - sweet! more ›

About once a month here in LA there will be a night of rock that is perfect. A night where you really should do yourself a favor and take advantage of the overflowing monkey cup of killer tunes happening in our own backyard. A night so filled with great music that if you don't go outside and listen to the music you should really ask yourself why you a) read this blog b) have... more ›

A Word or 14: Nothing matters until the Police appear on TV this Sunday at the Grammy Awards. Tonight - Friday - February 9th, 2007 Clippers @ 76ers (KTLA, 5:30 p.m.) Lakers @ Raptors (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Ghost Whisperer/Close to Home/NUMB3RS (CBS, 8-11:00 p.m.) All new. Mary J. Blige guest stars on Whisperer. Crank Yankers (MTV2, 8:00 p.m.) Season premiere Las Vegas/Law & Order (NBC, 9-11:00 p.m.) A mummy is stolen in Vegas and... more ›

Tonight - Thursday more ›

Compton gangsta rap is #1, sweet girl harp is #2. We can't wait for that mash-up. more ›

Tenacious D @ The Gibson Sean Lennon @ El Rey Hot Chip @ Henry Fonda Jody Watley @ Vault 350 Partyline @ The Smell Dread Zeppelin @ 14 Below Mimi Fox @ McCabe's Wayne Federman, Margaret Cho, Paul F. Tompkins @ Largo The Damned, The Epoxies, The Adored @ House of Blues Pato Banton & Mystic Roots Band @ Forbidden City (6:30pm) Brett Dennen, The Weepies @ The Hotel Cafe Girls Play Boys, The... more ›

Tenacious D @ Gibson Frank Black @ House of Blues Sepultura @ Vault 350 Julieta Venegas @ Wiltern The Slits @ The Troubadour MF Doom, Madlib @ El Rey The Mutaytor, Stolen Babies @ Henry Fonda Midnight Movies, The Willowz @ Spaceland Jon Brion @ Largo The Fucking Ocean @ El Cid Golden State, Scissors for Lefty @ Viper Silent Meow, Beatmo, Dollyrots, Last Action Heroes @ Lava Lounge Have Another Monkey, Jeremy Buck... more ›

- New police video Episode III: Tazed at UCLA Library - LA Times more ›

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore 1970 (with DVD; Reprise) more ›

Tuesday Night "NBA Basketball" (PRIME 42, 6:00 p.m.) Clippers @ Jazz "Nova" (PBS, 8:00 p.m.) A genetic impairment causes an entire Turkish family to walk on all fours. PBS is attempting to become the Discovery Channel, or TLC or something sensational. What next, "When Anthropologists Attack"? "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) This is the finals, finally - does anyone think that they'll let Emmitt Smith walk away with this thing? I'd like... more ›

What do Donnie Darko and Me & You & Everyone We Know have in common, other than being rad cult movies? Composer Michael Andrews. You can hear him on KCRW this morning at the usual 11:00 a.m. MBE live band slot. You can also see him live at Amoeba Records on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Keep an eye on Andrews as he's working on more film projects (Cohen Bros., etc) and a performance installment at MOMA. more ›

We hear that Moris Tepper, onetime guitarist for Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits, takes the stage tonight at the Echo, early, with buddy PJ Harvey on bass. His band Candlebone will open for Tenacious D this weekend at a benefit for the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project. So you can always go see that and do some good. But tonight is Candlebone's chance to practice in front of a live audience. Do you want to be a guinea pig? You can get up right next to the stage where PJ Harvey is playing. Maybe she'll even let you stand next to her at the bar. more ›

First, the parties you might be too late to go to: Giant Step Records hosts a listening party for Simply Good Music, Volume 2 at Star Shoes tonight. They still have RSVP info up so you could still get on that list. In other listening party news, Faith Evans's new album will be previewed tomorrow night at The Lounge. The Lounge is at 9077 Santa Monica Blvd (it's near the Troubadour). If you can't make it out for that one, we hear there's another listening party on Monday at Joseph's but we've been finding that spot even more skeevy than usual of late. All listening parties are promising free giveaways of some sort. more ›

"Fresh coal in your engine, get your 'choo-choo' on the tracks, gather up your peeples, TRAINWRECK'S comin' back to your town..." more ›