Is the current cultural emphasis toward environmental responsibility here to stay, or just a Gore-ified fad? Will we ever be able to breathe clean air in the city of angels or will we be mired in an ever-increasing cloud of CO? BP, the international oil company, shows where they stand on the ecological divide with the creation of the first LEED certified gas station in the country. And where else did they choose to setup shop other than our own car loving, petroleum guzzling, auto-status capital of the world. Wait a second–an oil company touting green architecture and sustainability? Isn’t that like Martha Stewart giving investment advice you may ask? Isn’t that like the Yankees helping the Dodgers (Oh wait–that actually happened.) Before you make up your mind, let’s give BP some credit for spending part of their gazillion profit dollars on a good cause, be it the environment or boost in public relations. Losanjealous took a tour of the premises–code named “Helios House”–to learn more about BP’s efforts.
»continue reading Helios House: Gas Station of the Future?

At this time we’re going to throw out some tickets to see The Locust support their latest offering New Erections at the Knit this Sunday. Main room, four bands, doors at 7pm. Lineup includes The Locust, Upsilon Acrux, Yip Yip, Sleeping People. Natch, it’s a KXLU Presents affair. Should be a great night filled with costumes and dissonance. Allmusic’s bio lede reads thusly:

Innovative, controversial, and frighteningly loud, the Southern California rock band the Locust has been called the future of hardcore punk by more than a few people. Critics and underground hardcore fans alike have argued for and against the band, citing in their debates the destructive tendencies of the Locust’s intensely loyal fan base, insane stage antics, seemingly nonsensical lyrics, and questionable taste in merchandise.

Full lineup details here; tickets still available here.

UPDATE: Contest closed; winners have been contacted.

»continue reading Los Campesinos! at The Echo on November 27, 2007

Photo by Sung. Full set here.

When it comes to catchy hooks and a fun stage presence, Los Campesinos! pull out all the stops. Last night at the Echo, the Cardiff, Wales-based 7-piece played their hits along with a Pavement cover–”Frontwards” from their 2007 e.p. “Sticking Fingers into Sockets”–in the most humble yet adorable way.

Throughout the set Gareth, lead singer and frontman, made little remarks about their tour, their visit to the States and the inspiration behind some of their songs. He mentioned that this was their first show on the West Coast, which prompted loud applause and whistling from the audience, to which Gareth responded, “I knew that would get a good cheer.” They did little to introduce themselves at the beginning of the set, except to break out an opening lick that should have had everyone in the room dancing.
»continue reading Los Campesinos! at The Echo, November 27, 2007

Holy sweetastic pants a’fancy. So many Dons this week. Friday! Will it be Don Giovanni at the LA Opera or Don Caballero in Long Beach? One’s an opera featuring a gigolo in fancy pants (see right); one’s a prog-rock outfit featuring odd time signatures, loops and sweaty fans. Don the appropriate attire, take the date to Don Antonio’s out west on Pico and choose the Don of your liking for the main event. Can’t decide which Don you should see? Flip a 1994 series $20 mexican peso in the air. Heads - Miguel Hidalgo, let’s pretend he’s Don somebody just for tonight - you go see Don Giovanni, what do you care.

I’m staring at my HDTV. He looks sexier than I do, but I know better: He’s had work done and one of his component inputs is fried (Y,Pr,Pb? I think it’s Pb. Also, who cares.)

Still and all, he is my television at the end of the day. He’s going to interview me now, briefly. Stay with me.

WH#########T Hello Who’s There.

Yes. Hello Television.

What is this dreck. Why are you recommending The LA Opera’s production of Don Giovanni to the reader? Are you even going to go see it?

I’m all about the music theatre. Not the lavish Andrew Lloyd Webber productions mind you, can’t stomach that bullshit. Pull my fucking hair out. But if something contains music I’d enjoy, I’d see it in a heartbeat. I bought tickets to Porgy and Bess at Dorothy Chandler this year and actually didn’t get the chance to see it. Found out I was going to be out of town so I offered the tickets to a friend. Look at this shit, here’s my order right here. They sold me $20 tix, they were running some promotion. My seats look unbelieveably shitty:
»continue reading In Which Ryan Waxes Dons Giovanni, Caballero, Music Theatre, Other Topicks To His Television

Previously in Giant Dongs At The Farmers Market: Giant Dongs Spotted, Farmer’s Market, 11/26/06

PICK OF THE WEEK

Jose Gonzalez & Friends
with
Cass McCombs
Tuesday
November 27
Henry Fonda Theater
Info

STRAYLIGHT RUN | Tues 11/27 | El Rey | (Show Canceled)
JOSE GONZALEZ & Friends w/ Cass McCombs | Tues 11/27 | Fonda | Entry Closed - Winners TBN
The Hypnotic Films of JEAN PAINLEVÉ | Thurs 11/29 | Aero Theater | Info | Entry Closed - Winners TBN
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY | Fri 11/30 | Fonda | Info | Entry Closed - Winners TBN
DUST GALAXY w/ DJ Rob Garza of Thievery Corp. | Fri 11/30 | Knitting Factory| Entry Closed - Winners Notified
VHS OR BETA w/ Foreign Born | Sun 12/2 | El Rey | Entry Closed - Winners TBN
VOXTROT w/ Division Day | Sun 12/2 | Fonda | Entry Closed - Winners TBN

MONDAY
Band of Horses @ Glass House
Saint Motel, Voxhaul Broadcast, Le Switch & Last American Buffalo @ Viper Room (Free with RSVP)

TUESDAY
Jose Gonzalez w/ Cass McCombs @ Henry Fonda
Los Campesinos @ The Echo (moved from Troubadour)
Straylight Run @ El Rey (CANCELED)

WEDNESDAY
Iron and Wine @ Orpheum Theater

THURSDAY
Oslo w/ Eastern Conference Champions @ Viper Room Thu 11/29
Decemberists @ The Wiltern (CANCELED)
Sea Wolf @ UCLA Westwood Plaza (12 pm, free)
Spain @ Echoplex (Performing Blue Moods of Spain)

FRIDAY
Decemberists @ The Wiltern (CANCELED)
Aimee Mann, Grant Lee Phillips, Ben Gibbard & Paul F. Thompkins @ El Rey (2nd Annual Christmas Show)
Dust Galaxy w/ DJ sets by Ursula 1000 & Rob Garza of Theivery Corp. @ Knitting Factory
Ghostland Observatory @ Henry Fonda
Ozzy Osbourne & Rob Zombie @ Staples Center

SATURDAY
The Cribs @ El Rey (Postponed to April 4, 2008)
The Lemonheads @ Troubadour

SUNDAY
Homesick Elephant @ Hotel Cafe (7 pm sharp)
VHS or Beta @ El Rey
Voxtrot w/ Division Day @ Henry Fonda

Orphaned in Los Angeles this Thursday and looking to volunteer your services to mankind before boozing away your loneliness with a $5 jug of Carlo Rossi per tradition? Get creative and make up your own project post-haste; updated status of some of the largest food-related volunteer opps follows.

LA Downtown Mission Thanksgiving: FULL
Midnight Mission: FULL
Food on Foot: FULL
GobbleGobbleGive @The Echo: FULL
Post-Soda Stereo Concert Baconwrapped Cart Vendor Helpers Intl: OPEN; LIMITED
Westside Thanksgiving: FULL, but they do need the following items dropped off at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium this evening…..

• large boxes of instant potatoes
• large cans green beans (jumbo cans)
• jumbo cans turkey / chicken gravy
• jumbo cans cranberry
• Bottles of Patrón Añejo and Silver (NOTE: BRING THESE DIRECTLY TO MY HOUSE; THEY WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO THE PROPER AREA)

Happy Thanksgiving.

Every week Blake and readers just like him send me grainy, blurry, sometimes horribly-framed yet always interesting photos of life in Los Angeles as seen through the lenses of their trusted telephones. Every week, never fail. Join us now, won’t you, as we take a look at the next-to-last offering…From Blake’s Phone.

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving, denizens of Los Angeles. But wait! Did I read that intro correctly? THIS IS THE NEXT TO LAST INSTALLMENT OF BLAKE’S CRAPTASTIC CELL PHONE PHOTOS, EVER!? Yes. It is. So if ever you’ve wanted to share an incredibly terrible, foolish, interesting, or too-blurry-to-tell-what-the-fuck-it-is cell phone photo with our readers, now’s your chance. You have until next Friday (November 30) to submit. Right now let’s get into this week’s entries.

Radioactive Turkey
Approx 7:30PM, Beverly Blvd. & N. Detroit Street. (Just down the street from Starbucks on Detroit). November 13, 2007; Samsung A900M phone

After the jump: Blake Visits El Gran. El Gran Welcomes Tacos. Blake Finds Naughty Graffiti in Pasadena. Blake Hits The Black Dice show. Your Submission Instructions for THE WORLD’S LAST INSTALLMENT OF BLAKE’S PHONE…SOB…HOORAY…SOB…
»continue reading Blake’s Phone: Special Tangentially Related To Thanksgiving And Even Then It’s A Stretch Thanksgiving Edition

It’s early in the season, but an intervention needs to be staged. A style intervention. No, I’m not referring to Russell Westbrook’s “flaming mohawk”:

No, I am referring now to Kevin Love’s–heretofore refered to as “K. Love” in perpetuity, barring any future Mata-Real-style surname appendages–and his pencil-thin 3-in-1 sideburns/beard/Van Dyke facial hair:
»continue reading Bruin B-Ball Report: Hair Follies

6:47pm. November 17, 2007. DF prowls the streets of Echo Park on a brisk Saturday eve. This time, however, my goal is not to find a bodega that sells my favorite brand of imported Oaxacan mescal, but something even more exotic and forbidden. I take a quick left off Temple, and - oh, glorious! - dead ahead lies The Doll Factory, the steaming, teeming site that will house tonite’s contest involving the fierce yet somehow also adorable ladies of the L.A. Derby Dolls.

6:50pm. Outside the venue, a helpful gentleman security professional reminds us that guns, knives, or other implements of violence are prohibited inside. Dang. I return to my vehicle, dump off assorted assault weapons, and retrace my steps, feeling far less safe. When will the lefty-loon gun control commies learn? Guns don’t kill hard-hitting rollerchicks; bullets do.
»continue reading Bitches on Wheels: L.A. Derby Dolls @ The Doll Factory, 11/17/07

PICK OF THE WEEK

SODA STEREO
Reunited Pop Argentinian Legends
1 of 3 U.S. reunion dates
Wed Nov. 21
Home Depot Center
Info

What Would Jesus Buy? Screening & Q&A Wed Nov. 21 | Info Laemmle Sunset 5 Entry closed–Winners TBN

Rahsaan Patterson El Rey Theater Friday Nov. 23 | Info Entry closed–Winners TBN

Band of Horses Avalon Hollywood Saturday Nov. 24 | Info Entry closed–Winners TBN

TUESDAY
Isis @ Troubadour

WEDNESDAY
Rashaan Patterson @ El Rey
Soda Stereo @ Home Depot Center
Travis w/ Maximo Park @ The Wiltern

FRIDAY
Cold War Kids @ The Wiltern

SATURDAY
White Magic @ The Echo
Band of Horses @ Avalon

»continue reading Neko Case at the Disney Concert Hall on November 16, 2007

»continue reading Athlete & Gemma Hayes at the Troubadour on November 14, 2007

»continue reading Annuals at the Troubadour on November 15, 2007