Dane Cook has performed his high-energy brand of stand-up comedy in some of the country's largest arenas including New York's Madison Square Garden, TD Garden in his hometown of Boston and the Staples Center, here in the city he currently calls home. On October 2nd the popular yet polarizing comedian will take the stage at one of Los Angeles' most historic entertainment venues -- The Greek Theater.
Seven Questions: Dane Cook
Win a Box Suite for You & Friends for a Show at the Greek Theatre
You may not see them, but they are there. And they're pretty damn sweet. Behind the general seats at the Greek Theatre are a series of box suites, fit for four people. And they come with some nice perks like a personal waiter, access to the VIP deck and VIP parking (read: not stacked).
Seven Questions: Jared Leto, Thirty Seconds to Mars
Jared and his multi-platinum band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, are bringing their Into the Wild tour to town with stops at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Friday and The Greek on Saturday. Leto, who has appeared in films like Fight Club and Requiem for a Dream, founded the band alongside his brother Shannon. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2002. The follow-up, A Beautiful Lie, earned multi-platinum status.
Meet Matty McLoughlin - Guitarist for The Soft Pack (Formerly The Muslims)
The Soft Pack is officially screwed. Originally named, The Muslims, this hot garage band from San Diego (recently located to LA) , caught about the same amount of attention for their name as for their music. Eventually it got to the point where the band thought it would be better if they just changed it to the Soft Pack. As guitarist Matty McLaughlin explains, "We were sick of the shit people would say about the old name. I guess they were trying to be funny and some things that were said came off as racist
It just became fucking stupid." So they changed it, and were rewarded with a torrent of disapproval like a city under siege. Fans accused them of being lily-livered sissies and not sticking to their guns. Damned if they did, damned if they didn't.
Whatever their name, they rock, hard, so we'll ignore all this nonsense about names and labels and whatnot, and focus instead on their music. We had a chat with Matty McLoughlin about The Soft Pack's sophomore album, which they just finished recording in Brooklyn a few weeks ago. Here is some of what was said.
Seven Questions with Paola Palazzo, Senior Director of Talent for Nederlander Concerts
LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email.
Interview: Lisa Hannigan, Singer/Songwriter
I will never forget the strange way in which I discovered the music of Lisa Hannigan. Last summer, I was sitting at work trading listening ideas with a friend over IM. I don't remember which one of us suggested Damien Rice, but his name came up and I typed it into my favorite website of the moment (the now lamentably defunct www.mixwit.com). I remember pinging my friend to ask who the female back-up singer was on the song, but she didn't know so I typed it into Google. The answer -- Lisa Hannigan -- came back quickly, as did a link to her MySpace page which I quickly pasted into my browser.
Tonight in Rock: Lizz Wright, We Barbarians, Ari Shine
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.
Tonight in Rock: She Wants Revenge, Heavy Trash & More
Heavy Trash - "Dark Hair'd Rider" Heavy Trash @ The Echo The Octopus Project, Pedestrian, 8MM @ The Roxy Culver City Symphony Orchestra @ Veterans Auditorium Evanescence @ The Greek Theatre Henry Franklin Quartet @ Senor Fish (The Plan to End Homelessness benefit at 4 p.m.) She Wants Revenge @ The Henry Fonda Theater Nathan Hubbard's Everything After @ Cafe Metropol Very Be Careful @ The Regent Theatre...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Joanna Newsom, ZZ Top, M.I.A., Of Montreal, Loudon, Rhino Bucket
Joanna Newsom - "Monkey and Bear" Joanna Newsom @ Disney Hall ZZ Top @ The Greek Of Montreal, Grand Buffet, MGMT @ Avalon Loudon Wainwright III, Joe Henry @ El Rey M.I.A., The Cool Kids @ The Wiltern Ben Harper, Piers Faccini @ Orpheum Rhino Bucket @ Knitting Factory Dave Mason @ House of Blues, Anaheim Eek-A-Mouse @ Galaxy Theatre Jesu, These Arms Are Snakes @ Echoplex She Wants Revenge, Kenna, theSTART @ Henry...
Tonight in Rock in LA - The Pogues, Cypress Hill
The Pogues - "If I Should Fall From Grace From God" The Pogues, Ted Leo @ The Wiltern Cypress Hill @ House of Blues Regina Spektor @ Grove of Anaheim Danzig @ The Greek CéU @ The El Rey Ghostface Killah @ Vault 350 Lucha VaVoom @ The Mayan The Binges, Sasquatch, Jessie Deluxe, HDR @ King King Tristeza, Aqueduct, Georgie James @ The Echo Bela, The Mythical Creatures @ The Viper Room The...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Eagles, Dixie Chicks, UNKLE
The Eagles, The Dixie Chicks @ Nokia Velvet Revolver @ Irvine Meadows (postponed due to wildfires. The show will take place Dec. 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. More info...) UNKLE @ Echoplex RBD @ Home Depot Center Cute Phase, Black Tie Dynasty @ Vertigos The Warlocks, The Meek, Magic Lantern @ Alex's Bar Babyland @ Spaceland Blonde Redhead @ House of Blues, Anaheim Uh Huh Her, X Ray Ok @ The Knitting Factory Monsters...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Silversun Pickups, Eagles, J.Lo, The Go! Team, West Indian Girl, Harry Dean Stanton
Tell me this isn't the best single and video of the year
Reasons to Wake up Early Tomorrow: Bjork, ZZ, Ozzy
Tomorrow morning at 10am, all these sweet concerts will go on sale except for Queen Latifah which will go on sale at noon. You're welcome Bjork, Ratatat @ Nokia Theater, 12/12 Ozzy, Rob Zombie @ Staples, 11/30 ZZ Top @ The Greek, 11/9 Queen Latifah @ Royce Hall, 11/21 Puffy AmiYumi @ House of Blues, Anaheim, 11/18 Deborah Harry @ Henry Fonda, 12/7 Lamb of God & Killswitch Engage @ Long Beach Arena, 12/15...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Black Crowes, Shins, Turbonegro
Spongebob & the Hi-Seas, The Hectors, The Monolators, I Make This Sound @ Safari Sam's
Tonight in Rock in LA - Detour, Dengue Fever, Morrissey, Jethro Tull, Steve Miller, Har Mar Superstar
Bloc Party, Justice, Satellite Party, Kinky, Comedians of Comedy, Turbonegro, Teddybears, The Raveonettes, Shout Out Louds, Autolux, Celebrity Skin, others @ Detour Festival Dengue Fever, Mia Doi Todd, Chuchito Valdes, The Pity Party, others @ Eagle Rock Music Festival Kenny Burrell, The Pete Escovedo Family Orchestra (with Sheila E.), others @ Jazz at Drew Natalie Cole, Sheryl Lee Ralph, RuPaul, Linda Hopkins, Loretta Devine, Ann Nesby, Deniece Williams, Jennifer Holliday, others @ Divas Simply...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Morrissey, Metric, Reyes Bros.
Morrissey being interviewed in 1984 Morrissey @ Palladium Metric @ Henry Fonda Bobby Valentino @ El Rey Twelve Girls Band @ The Greek Jimmy Dale Gilmore @ Getty The Radiators @ Fais Do-Do Jon Brion @ Largo Bill Callahan @ Echo Sir Richard Bishop @ Echoplex Black Label Society, Dope @ House of Blues Helmet, Dub Trio, Icarus Line @ Malibu Inn Reyes Brothers, Butterfly Hancock @ Whisky The Whisky Saints, Crash Kings, Jacaranda...
This Month in Rock in LA - Detour, The Eagles, Go! Team
10/2, 4-6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 - Morrissey @ The Palladium 10/2 - Nick Lowe, Ron Sexsmith @ Safari Sam's 10/3 - Datarock, Foreign Born, Honeycut @ The Echo 10/3 - Mark Ronson @ The El Rey 10/5 - Metric @ Henry Fonda 10/6 - Bloc Party, Justice, Satellite Party, Kinky, Autolux, Celebrity Skin @ Detour Festival 10/6 - Lukas Rossi @ Viper Room 10/6 - Steve Miller @ The Greek 10/7 -...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Willie, Bright Eyes, Ziggy
Jimmy Buffett @ Irvine Meadows
Tonight in Rock in LA - Richard Thompson, St. Vincent
Richard Thompson - "I Feel So Good" Richard Thompson Band @ Royce Hall Toots & The Maytals, Elijah Emanuel & the Revelations @ House of Blues The National, St. Vincent @ The Wiltern Beausoleil @ The Mint The Groovy Rednecks @ SW Hill Country Leon Russell @ Malibu Inn Michael McDonald, Patti Austin @ The Greek Josh Rouse, Jason Collett @ El Rey Girl Talk, Dan Deacon @ Echoplex Imperial Teen, The Finches, Sounds...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Smokey, Rundgren, Louis XIV
Louis XIV - "Pledge of Allegiance" Mana @ Staples Smokey Robinson @ Pasadena Civic Todd Rundgren @ House of Blues Billy Vera & the Beaters @ Rusty's Surf Ranch Louis XIV, The Softlightes, Quazar & the Bamboozled @ The Troubadour Within Temptation, Tiefschwarz, The Dear & Departed, Jesse Rose @ Avalon Silver Apples, The Moon Upstairs, Residual Echoes, White Widow @ Spaceland The Quakes, The Henchmen, Gamblers Mark, Howlers @ Key Club Buck McCoy,...
Tonight in Rock in LA - The Rentals, Air, Cat Power, Muse
How the two best shows happening tonight are still not sold out is beyond me. If you dont wanna be outside listening to the pretty music coming from the pretty boys of Air you really should check out the Rentals at the Music Box. Word is there will be some special guests. The Rentals, Goldenboy, Copeland @ The Henry Fonda Air @ The Greek Cat Power @ Avalon Muse @ Irvine Meadows B-52's @...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Arcade Fire, New Porno, CYHSY
They're probably the best band in the world right now. And they're playing at the world famous Hollywood Bowl. If you don't have tickets, break your piggy banks, go to the show and overpay for the Arcade Fire. Think of how much you hand over to cable each month or your cell phone carrier. These Canadians with their punk sensibilities and violins and megaphones deserve your attention. If not, there are some mighty fine...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Dinosaur Jr., Jackshit, Paul Wall
It's amazing that the best rock record to come out in 2007 is by a band a gray haired guy who shreds harder and better than kids half his age. The return of the OG lineup of Dinosaur Jr. is something that should be celebrated, experienced, and savored. Beyond is old school grungy rock with omg guitar solos that twist and spiral and soar like nothing that is being played by today's mascara-wearing youth....
Tonight in Rock in LA - Peter Case, Ice T, John Doe, Joan As Police Woman, Red Meat, Hall & Oates
James Intveld, Red Meat @ Joe's Great American Bar & Grill
Tonight in Rock in LA - Common, Lucinda, The Frames, Killola, John Vanderslice, The Binges, Ben Kweller
Common - "The People" "The People" was one of our most-played summer jamz. It was on Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothin" sampler because Kanye produced it and listen to how sweet it is. It's the sort of non-thug, uplifting, positive hip-hop that people once talked about, but now people are buying. This is the direction BEP could have gone if they hadn't chosen the path of the lowest common denominator aka the Gwen Stefani...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Stevie, BB, Lucinda, Kittie, BS
Blackberry Smoke w/Slash - "Highway to Hell" Stevie Wonder @ The Greek B.B. King @ Hollywood Bowl Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Subhumans, 50 Cent Haircut @ The Knitting Factory Blackberry Smoke, Roses on her Grave @ Viper Room Ben Kweller @ The Echo Sage Francis @ Ivar Theater Kittie, It Dies Today, Silent Civilian, Bring Me the Horizon @ Key Club The Monolators, Kissing Cousins, Ghost Kings @ Silverlake Lounge Gran Ronde, A...
Wilco @ The Greek, 08/29/07
Last night Jeff Tweedy and the boys of Wilco performed a stellar two hour long set at the Greek. Since I had a wall pass, I had the pleasure of people watching and I must say that Wilco fans are happy folk. Singing along and even dancing at times, the fans were enraptured by the incredible musicianship. The bashful yet charismastic Jeff Tweedy led the crowd through a set comprised of half Sky Blue...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Wilco, Back Door Slam, The Like
loop: false, initialScale: 'fit', videoFile: 'http://www.archive.org/download/iamtryingtobreakyourheart/MVI_0518.flv', }"/> Wilco @ The Greek The Like, Chow Nasty @ Spaceland Meiko, Katie Herzig @ The Hotel Cafe Faraway Places @ The Echo Mae, As Tall As Lions, Dear & the Headlights @ Roxy Driveblind, Back Door Slam, The Black Summer Crush, Infantree @ The Troubadour Coyote Shivers, Augustana, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds, Skybombers @ Viper Room...
Tonight in Rock in LA - Stevie Wonder, Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello - "Ultimate" Stevie Wonder @ Santa Barbara Bowl Crowded House, Pete Yorn @ The Greek Gogol Bordello @ Henry Fonda No Age @ Amoeba Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds @ House of Blues The Watson Twins, King Straggler, Everest @ Spaceland Sally Kellerman, John Clinebell, Mimi @ Genghis Cohen The Mormons, Bad Dudes, The Frescas, The Janitors @ Mr. T's Bowl Lo Mass Republic, The Felice Brothers, Dan Mangan @ Viper Room I See...

