Andy Sternberg

New York you're bringing us down. One look at this weekend's Detour Fest lineup and it appears that Los Angeles, once again, is the center of all things rock. While dozens of acts will descend on downtown LA this Saturday, from as far as Australia, Sweden, France, Mexico, and Missouri, the NYC rock scene is MIA. Hell, even the two-headed Raveonettes are staking their claim to Hollywood, listed as hailing from "New York, Los...

Conor Oberst and friends were lucky to have one of the finest backing bands of all time Saturday night at the Hollywood Bowl -- the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Suzie Katayama's arrangements made even Bright Eyes' small songs sound huge, leaving us wondering who picked the setlist -- Katayama or Oberst? (Correction: (Thanks commenter) Bright Eyes multi-instrumentalist (and third permanent member) Nate Walcott arranged, Katayama only conducted.) In recent Hollywood Bowl history the Phil has teamed...

Autumn is upon us and here in LA we are harvesting art, music, and mayhem. For whatever reason, it seems that this is the busiest festival weekend of the year, with something for all ages, in all corners of LA, and all times of day and night. If ever there was a weekend to clone yourself and be everywhere at once, this would be it. Jump right in. Swerve Festival: This looks to be...

Need a reason to ride Metro? Tonight you can catch a bus or subway to Hollywood and surface to find Ladytron about to rock your socks off. Global Inheritance, a multi-faceted non-for-profit (also involved in this weekend's Swerve Fest) is back with their second in a series of Public Displays of Affection. Last October's inaugural PDA event fully vindicated the subways-are-fun philosophy lifestyle -- with DJ's, dancing, and a live set from Secret Machines....

Mayor Tony stood before a media gaggle at 7th & Fig in February and announced the birth of "LA Version 2.0." Free citywide Wi-Fi for all within two years, he proclaimed, momentarily appeasing critics and activists who have called for municipal funds and programs to help bridge the digital divide. But the skeptics among us are well aware of the extensive headaches and limited progress of the once-supposed trailblazing municipal Wi-Fi proposals in Philadelphia and...

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is stopping at Chapman University in Orange on Sunday, capping off weekend fundraising dinner rounds elsewhere in OC. The public forum is billed "Ask Mitt Anything," and we've got a few suggested questions with which you can do just that... after the jump. WHAT: Public Forum w/ Mitt Romney WHEN: Sunday 9/23, 2:15 p.m. WHERE: Chapman University Theater, Orange (map). RSVP: Call (857) 288-2667, or email california@mittromney.com. AP Photo...

Just got an e-mail from NYTimes.com confirming the end of the two-year-old TimesSelect subscription experiment. Our friends in New York are thrilled about this and so are we. All the content fit to publish should be freely available. The e-mail isn't exactly a Steve Jobs-esque love letter, leaving us to wonder whether or not there will be rebates for those who recently plunked down $50 for the right to indulge in the opinions of Maureen...

The Arcade Fire show at Hollywood Bowl is only a day away (and we might be dancing in the rain). If you're not already familiar with openers LCD Soundsystem (feat. James Murphy / DFA Records), check out the brand-spankin' new video for "Someone Great," the next single from one of our favorite releases this year, Sound of Silver. Shot by Doug Aitken ("sleepwalkers"). UPDATE: Sadly, this video has been removed from YouTube only one day...

Taylor Karras was reported missing by his mother yesterday, after running away from a Westminster social services facility where he was receiving therapy for autism. Around 9:30 p.m., the 15-year-old boy was found just a block from his North Tustin home. Orange County Sheriff's deputies spotted Karras pushing a shopping cart in the street, chased him on foot, Tasered him once, and handcuffed him. Only when a passing neighbor recognized Karras did the authorities...

NSFW as far as the video contains Hennessy and lingerie. Sean John's new Unforgivable Woman must be some stanky-ass perfume if MTV is really rejecting these ads. I mean, Mr. Combs remains fully dressed while striking multiple elevator-humping poses with Australian hottie Jessica Gomes. Above is the 3-minute long-player (the rejects were reportedly 30- and 60-second spots). Surely there's nothing a Britney or L.Lo couldn't get away with on eMpTV these days. Is Puffy...