Last Friday I trundled up in the tram at The Getty Center to see a 'sold out', intimate performance. For the mere cost of parking and a little bumper-to-bumper on the 405, I and my brother from another mother, MX, got to sit in a comfy auditorium and listen to the laconic stylings of ex-punk (no pun intended) troubadour, John Doe. Now, ain't yah jealous? Of course, I've always had a crush on Mr.......

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....

LA is home to dozens of classic, independent, rock clubs. Many of these clubs helped launch most of your favorite bands. But those bands would have never made it on stage if it wasn't for the booker, the person who actually schedules the bands to play the show on the particular date. We start this series in Little Armenia at Safari Sam's, a club that was originally created 20 years ago in Huntington Beach......

Maria McKee fronting Lone Justice - "Don't Toss Us Away" Willie Nelson, The Knitters @ Pacific Amphitheatre 2 Live Crew @ The Good Hurt Maria McKee @ McCabe's Stephen Stills @ House of Blues Os Mutantes, Busdriver @ El Rey Theatre Tex & the Horseheads, Mike Watt & the Missingmen @ Safari Sam's The Peelers, Thee L.A. Gentleman Callers @ The Scene The Smithereens @ Hollywood Park Mad Parade, Anti Social, El Nada, The......

The Knitters, with vocalists John Doe and Exene Cervenka, guitarist Dave Alvin, bassist Johnny Ray Bartel, and drummer D.J. Bonebrake were born as a side project of the quintissential American punk band X....the group named its rockabilly-flavored offshoot the Knitters as an homage to legendary late 1940s folk group the Weavers. In 1985, the Knitters released their first album, Poor Little Critter in the Road, to critical acclaim and are recognized as one of......

The Germs, Dr. Know, Black President, The Diffs, The Politicians @ Safari Sam's The Knitters @ The Getty (rsvp: 310 440-7300) Aimee Mann, Paul Bryan @ Largo Mike Watt & the Missing Men, Bizzart @ The Troubadour The Submarines @ The Echo Lovelikefire, Eskimohunter, Mezzanine Owls @ El Cid Groovy Rednecks, Cheatin' Kind @ JD's Sports Bar Mustard Plug, Buck-O-Nine, Satori, Los Kung Fu Monkeys @ The Knitting Factory Murderland, The VooDuo, Funeral Director......

We've been to quite a few shows lately at Safari Sam's, one of Hollywood's newest live music venues, but until Friday night's show had yet to see the man behind the scenes: Sam himself. Before the show began, Sam appeared on stage to tell the audience about how excited he was to have the Knitters play his venue; they (and X) have been one of his favorite bands for a very long time. Even......

If you're over 30, and closer to 40 (if not older) tonight is your night... REO Speedwagon @ The Canyon Blondie @ Key Club Hepcat @ House of Blues Mikey Dread @ The Joint The Gears, Squiddo @ The Scene Adolescents, Agent Orange @ Galaxy Theater James Intveld @ Joe's Great American Bar & Grill The Knitters, Anne McCue, Steve Holberg @ Safari Sam's Feed the Kity, Chris Paul Overall @ Viper Room Royal......

Blondie @ The Canyon The Knitters @ Safari Sam's Blackalicious, Fatlip & Tre, Fatlip & Tre @ El Rey Atomic, Stone Vengeance, Witch of Endor @ The Joint Bad Acid Trip, Stolen Babies, The Dolemite Project @ The Knitting Factory The Chicago Afrobeat Project, Rhythm Roots All-Stars @ Temple Bar Trophy Girl, Skeeter Truck, Screaming Yeehaws @ The Scene Hollywood Roses, Fatum, Waking Hours @ Whisky a Go Go Buckcherry, Eighteen Visions, American Eyes......

The Delta Spirit @ Spaceland (free) Bright Light Fever @ Safari Sam's Ioma, Gabriel's Falling, Moxie Tribe, 4 Star Tribe @ Viper The Hellzaboppers @ Joe's Great American Bar & Grill Matu, The Elevaters, Shakespeare, Solomon Cole @ Temple Bar Digital Fridge, Echoes of a Boundless Life, Cat Fur @ The Scene Plastic Fate, How I Became Invisible, Natasha Lewis @ Cat Club Coming up... Wed: Los Lobos @ House of Blues Fri &......

FRIDAY • Juana Molina performs tonight at McCabe's Guitar Shop with special guest Jesca Hoop. Tickets are $16; the show starts at 8 PM. • Crooked Fingers, Eric Bachman, Solo Acoustic Set, Bobby Bare Jr. and Tom Heinl are at Spaceland tonight. Doors open at 9 PM. • The Knitters (John Doe, Exene and DJ Bonebrake from X/Dave Alvin from The Blasters), Phranc and The Lucky Stars perform tonight at the El Rey at......