The Check Yo' Ponytail (CYP2) crew must be doing something right if they can pack the Echoplex on a Tuesday in January. We suspect it has to do with curating an amazing line-up, which featured Pictureplane and openers Terminal Twilight and Teengirl Fantasy. DJs kept the atmosphere enthusiastic between sets, building the dance vibe to a roar midway through Pictureplane when audience members, photogs, and backstagers bum rushed the stage to shake what their mama gave 'em. If only we didn't have to work on Wednesday! more ›

This Sunday afternoon, the family-friendly Kidrockers returns to The Echo, hosted by comedians Matt Dwyer and Jonah Ray with performances by His Orchestra and LAist favorite Warpaint. In the meantime, enjoy photos taken at Kidrockers shows earlier this year with Buddy and Dengue Fever as well as The One AM Radio and The Watson Twins. more ›

It seems like everyone we speak to has a hankering for the baby-faced band that is Surfer Blood. We loved them at The Village Voice party at SXSW and decided to check them out locally for the Aquarium Drunkard presented-Waved Out last Saturday. Of course, any band claiming Pavement and Yo La Tengo as influences is on the right path, but it's a really good thing Surfer Blood have got the musical chops to back up their indie rock know-how. And it doesn't hurt that they are, to cite a fan and local LA band manager who I ran into that night, "so adorable I want to put them in my pocket and manage them forever". Definitely.
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Local indie band (and LAist favorite) Castledoor tweeted yesterday that "No easy way to say this... tomorrow at Spaceland will be the last show for Castledoor as we know it. Spread the word." Once branded in 2008 by Buzz Bands' Kevin Bronson as a "Band to Watch" alongside The Airborne Toxic Event and The Deadly Syndrome, the band self-released a full-length album last year ( in 2008). more ›

Don't get me wrong, I love me some indie rock. Dark stages populated with a handful of plaid-shirted and bespectacled gents with questionable hygiene pulling perfect amounts of distortion and fuzz out of a banged up Fender is my definition of a good time. But a girl needs variety to keep things interesting, and sometimes that means packing rap, sass, and style into 5 feet of lovely, aka Chicago's very own Kid Sister. Touring with DJ duo Flosstradamus in support of her November 17th album drop Ultraviolet, the lady with the Pro Nails had even the nonplussed bartenders doing a little head bob. more ›

Earlier this month, the Rock 'N Roll Summer Circus took place at The Echoplex, hosted by Eli Chartkoff from The Monolators with main stage performances by Marvelous Toy, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Fol Chen, and The Henry Clay People as well as sideshows by the Natural Disasters, Downtown/Union, The Damselles, Les Blanks, and Roadside Graves. more ›

Last month, local art-rockers Fol Chen dropped by KCRW in Santa Monica for an in-studio performance and interview on hosted by Jason Bentley. more ›

Earlier this month, LA-Underground co-presented a showcase, with KXLU and Manimal Vinyl, at The Smell in Downtown LA, featuring Alexandra Hope, VOICEsVOICEs, EXITMUSIC, and Warpaint. more ›

Last month, Vivid-Alt head Eon McKai (MySpace) celebrated the release of his new movie , his fourth directorial effort for the imprint, and one that LAist was witness to during its first day of filming, with a party at The Echoplex (MySpace). It was coincidentally held the same night of Miss Kitty's Parlour 7th Anniversary Ball. more ›

LAist has been a longtime fan of Vivid-Alt (MySpace). Since its creation in 2006, the Vivid Entertainment imprint has released 18 movies and utilized an all-star roster of directors that includes Vivid-Alt head Eon McKai (MySpace), photographers Octavio "Winkytiki" Arizala (MySpace) and Dave Naz (MySpace), artist Vena Virago (MySpace), and pornstar Kimberly Kane (MySpace). 2009 looks to be its biggest year to date, with 30 nominations at last month's 2009 AVN Adult Movie Awards, the release earlier this month of Kane's , and ambitious plans by McKai to expand the Vivid-Alt brand online. more ›

As mentioned yesterday, earlier this month was the 2nd Annual Christmas Sweater Festival took place at The Echoplex (MySpace). The fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders, featured a stellar lineup of rising stars from the local indie scene, including Amnion (MySpace), Castledoor (MySpace), The Pity Party (MySpace), The Deadly Syndrome (MySpace), The Happy Hollows (MySpace), and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (MySpace). It notably attracted two of the most prominent local scenester photographers, Ellei "Shadowscene" Johndro (MySpace) and Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter. more ›

Earlier this month, the 2nd Annual Christmas Sweater Festival took place at The Echoplex (MySpace). The fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders, featured a stellar lineup of rising stars from the local indie scene, including Amnion (MySpace), Castledoor (MySpace), The Pity Party (MySpace), The Deadly Syndrome (MySpace), The Happy Hollows (MySpace), and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (MySpace). more ›

Two weeks ago, local Kárin Tatoyan (MySpace) performed at The Echoplex (MySpace) as part of Indie 103.1's recently-relaunched weekly Check One Tuesday series. more ›

This past Saturday, the first annual OId Bank District Holiday Block Party was held at the intersection of 4th and Main in Downtown LA. The main stage, booked by Little Radio (MySpace), featured local bands Restaurant (MySpace), Dawes (MySpace), Rumspringa (MySpace), The Like (MySpace), Whispertown 2000 (MySpace), and The Afternoons (MySpace). more ›

Last Friday, local indie favorites The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra (MySpace), Xu Xu Fang (MySpace), and Castledoor (MySpace) -- all three of whom have been previously featured here, here, and here -- performed in the courtyard of USC's Fisher Museum of Art. more ›

Last night, local ethereal shoegazers Warpaint (MySpace) closed the evening's lineup at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. Formed in March 2007 with actress Shannyn Sossamon as drummer, the once all-female band has had two residencies this year -- February March at the Silverlake Lounge and August at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake -- as well as a spot on last month's Clean Air Clear Stars Festival (MySpace) at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace (MySpace). more ›

Last month, local band Radars to the Sky (MySpace) had a month-long residency at The Echo (MySpace). more ›

To celebrate the life and music of Richie Hass, a local musician who passed away in March from Myeloma, his friends have organized a marathon benefit concert tomorrow at the Echoplex. Many of the bands Richie once played with will be performing, and include some of the best punk, jazz, and experimental bands in LA. more ›

">over a year ago, then in May about Stagecoach (the roots version of Coachella) and this last December. We'll spare any in depth analysis this morning, but will just say if you're looking for things to do late this morning, whether your a parent or babysitting some little rascals, they could be your saving grace. more ›

Acoustice performance of "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs more ›

Mars Volta - L'Via L'Viaquez more ›

Etta James & Chuck Berry - "Rock n' Roll Music" more ›

It's a rockin' Friday night in LA with Stevie, Van Halen, RZA, and R. Kelly in town, a XMAS Sweater Party at Crash Mansion featuring local indie up'n comers, and cow punk comes alive at Safari Sam's, with X side project (since 1982) The Knitters. more ›

Beck, looking oddly like David Spade, played a not-so-secret show last night at the Echoplex. (Or should I say Beck-o-plex?) The “only North American date of the tour” was to give his new band a chance to get their live feet wet before heading out for some bigger shows in South America. A lucky crowd of about 700 people crammed into the club and were treated to a set comprised of mostly greatest hits... more ›

Redd Kross, Santa Monica Pier, 1982 Redd Kross @ The Echoplex The Bronx, The Mercy Killers @ Safari Sam's The Polyphonic Spree, Rooney @ Henry Fonda Yo La Tengo @ The Ivar Dropkick Murphys @ The Wiltern Jon Brion @ Largo Mezzanine Owls, The Black Kites @ The Echo Dax Riggs @ Spaceland Ferraby Lionheart, The Hundred Days @ The Bordello Low Vs Diamond, Something For Rockets @ Viper Room The Monolators, Correatown, Frankel,... more ›

Tell me this isn't the best single and video of the year 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 ›

Patti Smith @ Santa Monica Pier Public Enemy @ House of Blues Tony Bennett @ The Greek Delta Spirit, The Outline, Sparrow Love Club @ The Roxy The Detroit Cobras, Dan Sartain, The Willowz @ The Troubadour Stonehoney, Alejandro Escovedo, The Estate @ The Mint Bang Sugar Bang, Sin Serenade, The Prix @ Alex's Bar Gore Gore Girls, Midnight Movies, Irving, The Architects @ The Echoplex The Veils, Carina Round, Paul McLaney, Julia Darling... more ›

The Format, She Doesn't Get It First Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival - James Brown's band joined by special guests and fronted by stars like Dave Navarro, Jerry Cantrell, Mellow Man Ace, B-Real & Sen Dog, Vayden, Kings of Spain, Queen V, Kingbaby, others @ The Whiskey They pretty much had our favorite album of last year, they're great live, and they pretty much rule the galaxy, and they're playing at a beautiful theater... more ›

Come out and support local music labels and artists at A Community Record Fair, presented by Dublab and The LA Record this Sunday, May 20 at The Echoplex. Record labels, stores, DJs and independent collectors will offer new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, cassettes and collectible rarities. Visual artists, bookstores and clothing designers will also present their creative gems at special prices. For artist olive47, who designed the stuffed creatures above, this will be one of her last appearances in LA as she prepares to move to London. "I'm selling plush dolls, handscreened T-shirts, prints, stickers and badges," she says. more ›