Tonight, for some strange reason, Chris Cornell and Timbaland will be performing together at the House of Blues. Don't ask us for an explanation. Durham-based folk rockers the Mountain Goats will be playing the Troubadour with the wild party machine that is Kaki King. And Girl Talk is playing his second night of a two-date stint at the Henry Fonda Music Box. But we suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch LA-based the Monolators. They will be celebrating their record release with an array of other great local bands. more ›

It has been two days, and the dust still hasn’t settled from the embarrassing MTV Video Music Awards, which both the media and public seem to agree was the worst one ever. The reasons for the disastrous show range from the lackluster performance of Britney Spears to the confusing jumble of special performance spaces to the unhinged antics of Kanye West, Kid Rock, Tommy Lee, et al. But I know better. I also know... more ›

LAist is proud to offer a weekly, chart roundup of Billboard Magazine’s most coveted rankings. Join us as we revel in the conventional standard of musical success. Let us cross our fingers, hoist our lighters, and dream together of the supreme resurrection of artist-driven recordings that will forever eclipse the dark cloud of big label greed, A&R sleaze and disposable audio. Amen. Here are this week’s chart toppers. Behold the #1s. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Billboard Charts... more ›