Michele Reverte

The LA County Fair is now in its second week, and LAist again returned to snap some photos of the fun. Some of these photos were taken just as the fair was opening, before the hordes of people and the long lines. The "FairView Farms" area is always a highlight, and this visit included mischievous goats, the Budweiser Clydesdales and various animals giving birth. The fair continues through Sept. 28 and is open Wednesday through...

It's fitting that singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop got her big break via KCRW's morning show, because there's no more fitting way to describe her music and her life than the word "eclectic." From her early years performing in her family's "station wagon choir," to becoming a homesteader in Northern California and Wyoming, to working as a nanny for the children of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Hoop has used this diverse background to craft Kismet, her fresh debut album.

Golden State isn't just the name of LA-based singer/songwriter Brandon Schott's second album, it's also a great description of his outlook on life. Schott's two albums are infused with a thoughtful optimism, and when he was diagnosed with germ cell cancer last winter, he turned that experience into a new organization, Artists for Healing, through which musicians give back to the community. Now cancer-free, Schott is getting back into the LA music scene with a benefit this Sunday at Safari Sam's, from which all the proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. LAist recently caught up with Schott over espresso floats at Mel's Drive-In on Sunset to chat about his two records, his recent battle with cancer, and life as a musician in Los Angeles.

The Boxmasters are a great study in juxtapositions. Their band's sound is a fusion of 60s British Invasion and hillbilly music. Their original songs range from poignant to tongue-in-cheek. They are serious musicians, but their record is undeniably fun. And on their tour--including a performance at the House of Blues in Hollywood this Sunday--they serve as their own opening act (more about that later in this interview).

Although tickets to Wicked are available through Ticketmaster, most people don't realize that there's a way to get some of the best spots in the house for less than the price of the nosebleed seats. Before each performance, 26 front row seats are made available through the "Wicked lottery," which takes place next to the ticket booth at the Pantages. So with a little luck, some persistence and $25 cash, you could find yourself front and center for one of the final performances.

If you haven't caught a show at Largo at the Coronet yet, now might be a good time. Their recently posted, insanely good schedule for the next three months includes performers such as Randy Newman, Loudon Wainwright III, Joan as Police Woman, Maya Rudolph & Fred Armisen, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo, Jon Brion, The Ditty Bops, Colin Hay, The Watkins Family Hour feat. Fiona Apple & Dan Wilson, Greg Proops and Flight...

As of late, Greg Laswell and his music have been everywhere--such as a recent stint across the United States and Europe during the Hotel Cafe Tour, a GarageBand feature on the Apple website, and his music being played on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Smallville, One Tree Hill and Cold Case. This year has already seen the release of one Laswell EP, How the Day Sounds, and his new full-length record, Three Flights from...

As LAist announced yesterday, rumors have been swirling that the Flight of the Conchords will be joining Jon Brion during one of his Largo at the Coronet shows tonight. Today's message on the Largo phone line confirmed that Brion's first show at 8:30 p.m. will also feature "a couple of crazy bastards from New Zealand." Some tickets will be available for $30 cash at the door, and those wanting a confirmed seat should probably arrive...

Saturday night's inaugural Greg Proops Chat Show at the new Largo at the Coronet Theater was a fun three-hour ride featuring music, storytelling and, of course, comedy. The venue was close to being sold out, and the show began with one-man band Jon Brion, who threw a few Largo newbies for a loop. Some giggling people unfamiliar with his work must have figured that his sitting behind the drums was some sort of set up...

I'm convinced that the Annual Improv Festival at the iO West (Improv on Olympic) Theater is one of the best-kept comedy secrets in Los Angeles. How else could I have scored tickets over the last two years to see the likes of Eric Idle, Harry Shearer, and the casts of MadTV and The Office in such an intimate theater? This year's festival has already begun and will continue through June 7. If you're looking for...