Michele Reverte

British musician Newton Faulkner has been compared with everyone from Eddie Vedder to Jack Johnson, but I think Rolling Stone said it best when they declared, "If Prince was an English hippie who was obsessed with Bobby McFerrin-esque percussion and had long cinnamon dreadlocks, you'd have Faulkner." His first album, Hand Built by Robots has gone double platinum in the UK and is picking up steam in the United States. Faulkner will play the Troubadour...

Jim Bianco knows how to captivate an audience. You can't help but be drawn in by his charisma, and you never know what to expect when he takes the stage. Bianco's new record, Sing, is the first album to be released by the Hotel Cafe record label. Like his previous albums, Sing showcases his playfulness. "I Got a Thing for You" is destined to be a hit with burlesque troupes, and lyrics from songs like...

When you see singer-songwriter Jessie Baylin perform, there's something familiar about her. Sure, it could be the fact that her posters now grace the bulletin boards of many local Starbucks, or it might be because she's been a regular at local venues such as the Hotel Cafe and the Mint. Then again, maybe it's just the fact that Baylin seems to be an old soul. Though still in her early 20s, she's already so...

Over the weekend, teams of electrical linemen gathered at the Department of Water & Power in Sun Valley to compete in the 2008 Lineman's Rodeo. Hosted by the DWP and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 18, electrical journeymen and apprentices showed off their incredible agility and raced against the clock in various competitions.

With the Season 2 premiere of American Gladiators airing tonight, LAist caught up with Tiziana "Tee" Sorge, the last woman to win an entire season of the original American Gladiators series (season 7, 1995-1996). In the interview below, she shares insights into the toughest challenges of being a contender (including that annoying spandex), compares the new show with the original and talks about one of her passions--small dog rescue.

William Fitzsimmons isn't your average singer-songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist who holds a Masters degree in psychology, Fitzsimmons draws from his unique background to create music that reveals new, subtle facets with each subsequent listen. LAist recently sat down with Fitzsimmons (who will perform at the Hotel Cafe Monday night) during one of the last shows on the Hotel Cafe Tour to discuss the songwriting process, his favorite moments from the tour and, of course, beards.

On June 3, Aimee Mann's new album, @#%&*! Smilers, will be released on her SuperEgo Records label. Throughout the 13 tracks, Mann delivers a musical experience that packs an emotional punch. The songs hint at her playful side and deliver melodies you'll want to hum for the rest of the day. LAist caught up with Mann to get the scoop on her new record.

39 days • 12 musicians • 1 bus Though this may sound like the setup for "The Real World: Singer-Songwriter Edition," it's actually the description of the Hotel Cafe Tour--a traveling showcase of some of the best musical talent in the country, most of whom are LA residents and regulars at the Hotel Cafe on Cahuenga. You might think that with so many creative people packed into such a small space, drama would naturally...

Every so often you come across a CD so good that you enjoy every track--and this discovery is made even more precious when you find it before it's played on KCRW or included on a Paste sampler CD. For me, The Rollo Treadway is such a band. Their self-titled CD blends dark and melodic pop with surprising lyrics and a Beach-Boys-meets-The Zombies vibe. Although they haven't nailed down their LA tour dates yet, we figured LAist readers might appreciate getting to know them before they come to town. We recently spoke with The Rollo Treadway lead singer and songwriter David Sandholm to get the scoop on their self-titled debut CD, the songwriting process and what he's looking forward to when the band comes to LA.

LAist catches up with Michael J. Nelson, a former host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, as he talks about his latest project, RiffTrax. In the interview, he also gives us the scoop about political ads, bloopers and a possible live event in Los Angeles.