Michele Reverte

I was one hour into a four-hour flight out of LAX that had been delayed multiple times. Just as the beverage cart was making its way down the aisle, the girl in front of me put her chair all the way back so that the tray was nearly in my lap. I figured a nap sounded like a good idea, so after I finished my drink, I decided to lean my own chair back...

They're sure to fill up soon, but as of 9 a.m. this morning, you can still make reservations to see Aimee Mann at Largo on August 22, 23 or 24. Seeing her in such a small venue is a rare treat, and the cover charge will probably be only $20 (plus a $15 per person food minimum for dinner reservations). As soon as the mug graphic appears next to the dates in the Schedule...

Tuesday's Crowded House show was, well, just that. I've never seen so many people squeeze into the Troubadour, and concert organizers even opened the doors of the Loft (their VIP lounge) in an effort to fit everyone. The crush of people was worth it, though, and thankfully, it wasn't too hot. The Crowded House guys put on an energetic show that was a mix of their well-known stuff peppered with songs from their new...

After performing in a number small venues last year (Largo, Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre, etc .) the Flight of the Conchords made their triumphant return to Los Angeles this week during a sold-out show at the El Rey Theatre on July 11. The growing popularity of the group was apparent in the weeks leading up to the gig, during which people on Craigslist were offering upwards of $300 for a pair of tickets. On...

It's been a busy week in the world of Spoon. The biggest news, of course, is that they released their new album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga on Tuesday. Then next Monday, the band will perform an intimate show for the first 150 or so people who purchased their new CD at Amoeba Hollywood. According to a Little Radio myspace bulletin sent last week, it appears their venue will be hosting the exclusive event:...

Each year, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena opens its doors to the community for a two-day open house. Prior to this year, I had never heard of the event. On a recent Sunday morning, a scientist friend whisked me off to JPL at the last moment. Armed solely with my RAZR phone camera, I tried to capture the sights as best I could. The JPL website described the open house as: This popular...

Amoeba Music announced this week that the first 150 people to purchase Spoon's new release, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, on July 10 will receive admission to a "secret show" by the band on July 16. Though it's hard to imagine the show being much of a secret after the attention Amoeba Hollywood has received since last week's free Paul McCartney show, it continues to cement their reputation as one of the coolest record...

We're all used to tests by the Emergency Broadcasting System, but, thankfully, rare is the occasion when you hear those sounds, see that screen, and it's NOT a test. That all changed today when I was eating a little lunch and the above image popped up on my TV screen. And it could not have been more nebulous. What this alert told me was that we were having a "civil emergency." Unfortunately, there was...

The year 1987 marked both the release of the movie "Mannequin" and the final season of the children's program "Today's Special," which featured a mannequin that came to life every night and entertained kids. Obviously, both media ventures were marketed to very different demographics, but what if they had decided to cross-promote? I think I found the answer to that question while shopping yesterday at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park. I had...

Though it might be tempting to stay home tomorrow night and embrace the melancholy void left by The Sopranos, I'd like to suggest an alternative that'll at least get you out of the house. A little more than a year after playing a hypnotic set at the Hotel Cafe, Israeli-born French chanteuse Keren Ann will be performing Sunday evening at the Troubadour. Though initially known for her gorgeous, laid-back French songs, her last three...