Ever since her Fluxus days, Yoko Ono’s art has often revolved around the challenging of her audience’s assumptions, specifically about the nature of art, social mores, gender roles, and the nature of celebrity. The live show she brought to the Orpheum last weekend continued this tradition, bringing together a collective of first-rate musicians and famous guests for a show that held enormous emotional impact. It was a surprisingly diverse (where else are you gonna get RZA, Iggy, Vincent Gallo and Carrie Fisher on the same bill?) and even accessible package for a woman whose music is often thought of as difficult and anti-rock. But anyone expecting a Yoko show to be two hours of oi-yoi-yoi-yoi warbling hasn't heard her records, especially the new one, Between My Head And The Sky, which made up a good part of the set list. We heard a lot of different kinds of music, some of it simple, gentle and lovely. Some of it was tense and funky, some of it joyous and rocked-out. And, yes, some of it was dissonant, and she did break out the oi-yoi-yoi every so often. But the most discordant moments added texture, some of them loud and powerful, some quiet and fragile. more ›

Yoko Ono and her Plastic Ono Band are playing tonight and tomorrow at the Orpheum Theater. This is a big deal, as she's bringing in some very special guests: Nels Cline and Iggy Pop tonight and Lady Gaga and Mirror/Dash on Saturday. The band is also playing with Cornelius, Perry Farrell, Carrie Fisher, Vincent Gallo, RZA, Mike Watt and others (see the full line-up on this poster here). To enter our contest, enter via this Facebook link. It ends at 2:25 p.m. today so hurry up and good luck! more ›

The GRAMMY Museum is getting set to debut their newest exhibit -- John Lennon, Songwriter -- on October 4, 2010 in association with Hard Rock International. John Lennon would have been 70-years-old on October 9. The exhibition is a tribute to "the seven-time GRAMMY winner's songwriting genius," and highlights influences... more ›

Last week NAMM took over Anaheim, bringing its endless expanse of music equipment, some serious weirdness, and attracting some of the best musicians in the biz. Big hitters this year included Yoko Ono, Steve Vai, Rancid, Bootsy Collins and Shela E. more ›

So far E3, which is happening this week in town, has been filled with celebrities who love video games. At the EA press conference Pete Sampras played Grand Slam Tennis. At Ubisoft James Cameron described Avatar in detail and Pele shared his love for football and Academy of Champions. Joel McHale hosted the Ubisoft press conference revealing several times which games he was most looking forward to playing (Splinter Cell Conviction) and saluting the 'geeks' at The Los Angeles Theater. more ›

Today the crepe myrtles that were part of the Wish Tree for Pasadena installation at One Colorado will be planted at their new, permanent home at Arlington Garden. Dedication is 10:00 A.M. more ›

This Sunday, the wishes will be separated, or "harvested," from Yoko Ono's Wish Trees, but the 21 crape myrtle trees will stay in Pasadena. As the 80,000 wishes make their way to Iceland, the trees will find a new home at the Arlington Garden, a demonstration Mediterranean climate garden in Pasadena. more ›

The new Neiman Marcus slated to officially open this Friday in Canoga Park is expected to be a big one. It's the "centerpiece of the final phase of a $500 million renovation of Westfield Topanga," it will have "couture salons" (something not even the the NM in Beverly Hills has) and more than 100 pieces from the "The Art of John Lennon" will be on display this weekend at the store. "I'm proud of every work that's there," Yoko Ono told the Daily News. "I hand-picked them for good reason. They had to be artistically good and reflect his spirit." In Pasadena, Ono's Wish Tree project at One Colorado continues through November. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Translation of Wish (if it's too blurry for ya): "I wish Yoko Ono would call me." more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

As of last week, Yoko Ono's Wish Tree for Pasadena art installation has garnered over 10,000 wishes from the public. The project, which began on August 2, consists of 21 living crape myrtle trees installed amongst the café tables and chairs in the Courtyard of One Colorado. Visitors are invited to write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them on the tree branches. They are being added at the pace of around 1,250 per day, project coordinators said to LAist in an e-mail adding that "the installation has taken off in ways that none of us imagined, and it becomes more beautiful with every new wish." more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Every day starting today, LAist will be sharing wishes from Wish Tree for Pasadena with you. more ›

Last Saturday morning marked the opening of Yoko Ono's Wish Tree for Pasadena. It was an easy, family-friendly event with children climbing on the installation and adding their whimsical dreams of talking animals to those wishing for world peace. The day turned into a bit of a scorcher as morning slid into afternoon, and Johnny Rockets kindly provided free lemonade. more ›

Inspired by temple wish trees in Japan, Yoko Ono's Wish Tree project is devoted to encouraging the public to take part in artmaking as well as promoting worldwide peace and understanding. Starting in August, her Wish Trees, which will be chosen in relation to the surrounding environment or history of California, will be displayed at One Colorado in Pasadena. more ›

Christmas Eve is here. And today is no time for cynicism, irony or nastiness of any sort. Time instead to make something nice to eat, clink your glass with a loved one, and count your blessings with total sincerity. more ›

OUT TODAY: Aereogramme - My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go (Sonic Unyon) Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Men Belinda Carlisle - Voila [Bonus Disc] (Rykodisc) Bloc Party - Weekend in the City (Vice) Chicken Shack - Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (Blue Horizon) Deerhunter - Cryptograms (Kranky) Dexys Midnight Runners - Projected Passion Revue (Umvd Import) Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five (Zedtone) Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High... more ›

Our pals over at Austinist have been doing a bang-up job of Internet sleuthing, Googling, and MySpacing to confirm over 500 bands that will play SXSW even though the Austin music festival refuses to cooperate. After taking last week off because we were sure SXSW would release their master plan, we now return as there seems to be no end in sight to the band list embargo. Many indie labels and some marquee acts... more ›

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of Rock and in the face of Roll, to join together you, dear LAist reader, and this New Music Tuesday in holy Matrimony. This mystical union is not to be entered into lightly, or unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly (ha), and in the fear of the reaper. More cowbell. L'chaim. OUT TODAY: .38 Special - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (A&M)... more ›

I still want a hula hoop. But I'll settle for a sweet stash of new music and reissues. Here are the newbies for this festive holiday week. [via All Music] more ›

With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing through their heads, the -Ists began to get into that holiday mood. Well, some did. more ›

Instead of being looked at as the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, famous for being famous like so many other celebrity kin, Sean Lennon has taken his birthright and talent passed on to him, and has used them to his advantage. Eight years after releasing 1998's , he's written yet another album which allows you to enter the world of Sean Lennon, not the world of Sean Lennon, John and Yoko’s son. more ›