PICK OF THE WEEK

RICKY GERVAIS
Kodak Theater
Two Shows
Sat 7/12
Fri 7/11
 
 
 

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THIS WEEK’S TICKET GIVEAWAYS

HIEROGLPHYICS
Blue Scholars, Knobody, Musab and Prince Ali
Sat 7/12
El Rey Theater
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]

MATMOS
Dublab DJs
Sun 7/13
Echoplex
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]

 
Mods & Rockers Film Festival
Egyptian Theater
Wed July 9, 7:30 pm
Tony Gayton Double Bill
ATHENS, GA. — INSIDE/OUT (1987, 82 min)
Interviews and performance footage from R.E.M., the B-52s, the Flat Duo Jets, the Bar-B-Que Killers, Love Tractor and more.
TWO HEADED COW (2006, 87 min)
Chronicles the rise and fall of psychobilly duo, The Flat Duo Jets, complete with performance footage of the pair.
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]
 
 

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HEADS UP

Dan Deacon @ The Getty (Fridays Off The 405) Fri 7/11
Matmos w/ Dublab DJs @ Echoplex Sun 7/13
El Guincho @ The Getty (Summer Sessions) Sat 7/26
Dawes & Chief @ Troubadour Thu 8/14
Sondre Lerche @ Troubadour Sat 8/23
The Wedding Present @ Troubadour Fri 9/19
Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ Henry Fonda Wed 10/22
Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ Henry Fonda Tue 10/21
The Last Shadow Puppets @ Mayan Theatre Mon 11/3

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MONDAY
Princeton @ Silverlake Lounge (Mondays in July residency)
Stevie Wonder @ Hollywood Bowl

TUESDAY
Yaz @ Orpheum Theatre
»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: July 7 - 13

One man, two women and two little boys gather ’round to enjoy the defining moment of our most patriotic holiday. Yes, collectively as a society we Americans just love to gather ‘n gawk at flying sparks provided by festive explosives mass produced in the place where they were invented more than one thousand years ago, China. It’s our way of saying Happy Birthday USA!

The women both have handy sparkler lighters, aka cigarettes. And between those lovely multi-media butter sculpture to me. But everybody knows that even after the sun goes down on the 4th of July in El Monte, CA, its still to hot to display your latest work of butter art. Who do you think she is? What do you think she could be!

Here’s to flying sparks, the Chinese that invented them, 232 years of Americana and YOU!

Visit Charles’ site or join his Slide of the Week Mailing List.

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4.42pm. Hollywood, CA. DF awakes on the floor next to his sofa and takes stock of the situation. Shirt on, shoes off, pants mysteriously missing. Floor littered with copies of “Gigantic Asses” magazine, and a faint tincture of A1 sauce in the air. Pretty typical for a Sunday afternoon. And then the realization: there’s derby to be watched–the conclusion of the Battle of the Bank begins in mere minutes! DF gathers his wits, grabs his keys, and races out the door.

4.48pm. DF returns to his house to put on much-needed pair of pants.

4.54pm. DF speeds toward the Doll Factory, desperate not to be late for the first jam. No time to brake! DF simply aims his extensively dented, magenta 1996 Chevy Monte Carlo into a nearby cinderblock wall and lets the air bag cushion most of the blow. He walks up to the Factory, assuring onlookers that all is well despite his bedraggled appearance and the steaming automotive wreck behind him. Plus, much of that viscous reddish liquid you see oozing all over me is not blood, but harmless and delicious A1 sauce. It’s derby time!
»continue reading A Derby Smorgasbord, Part II: Banked Track Roller Derby Tourney @ The Doll Factory, June 29, 2008

A little over a week ago, at the Silent Movie Theater in the Fairfax District, I and a bunch of local artsy musician types were glued to the screen, watching the most recent Dublab short film festival, “Labrat Matinee V: Daytime Goes Dark.” After seeing thirty or so pretty good shorts and music videos (featuring, among others, Michael Cera, Flight of the Conchords, Charlyne Yi, Daedelus, Laura Palmer’s mom, Ariel Pink, and John Malkovich being interviewed and simultaneously bathed by Craig Bierko), I somehow corralled Cinefamily honcho and cinematic curator Hadrian Belove away from his buddy Billy Zane (loved you in Orlando!) and into my journalistic clutches.

What exactly is Cinefamily?
»continue reading Interview: Hadrian Belove of The Cinefamily

Prologue: Sandalwood Conference Room, Marina Del Rey Courtyard Marriott

The other day, a heavily besequinned note appeared in DF’s mailbox reading “You are invited to a feast of roller derby.” DF reacted to the invite with titillation, but also suspicion. The last time I was invited to something, it was a free-boat giveaway down at the police station. But when I got there, they just wanted me to pay my forty-six outstanding parking tickets. And they still haven’t given me that goddamned boat!

Then I began to read, and the next thing I knew, Losanjealous jefe LaVerne Casagrande was slapping me into regained consciousness. “My God, DF,” LaVerne explained, “I heard you in here screaming something about a big two-day banked track derby tournament. Then you must have gone into some kind of fit of ecstasy and blacked out!” “All true, LaVerne”, I responded, “But now that I’m back to my senses, can you stop hitting me?”

After a few more hearty slaps, LaVerne’s arm tired and DF was left alone. But the sweet dream was true: I had received a special invite to an event where roller derby gourmands like yours truly would be able to engorge on eight sumptuous games, spanning two gut-busting days, and featuring some of the most delectable roller girls from around the nation.
»continue reading A Derby Smorgasbord, Part I: Banked Track Roller Derby Tourney @ The Doll Factory, 6/28/2008

Like my man Gregg Gillis, I like to rock out to 80’s tunes now and then. The line-up for this year’s True Colors show headlined by Cyndi Lauper at The Greek also held a little of Girl Talk’s mashup quality.

»continue reading True Colors Tour 2008: Puppini Sisters, Andy Bell, Wanda Sykes & Carson Kressley

Now that it’s summer and I’ve made it through an entire season without owning a vehicle in L.A., I decided to add up the miles I’ve traveled (excluding rides with friends and walking) since taking on the experiment with carlessness. I’m not great at math, but here goes …

Total miles biked: 546
Days biked to work: 85
Miles driven: 26
Cost of refueling the rental car ($4.63/gallon): $6.74
Number of hybrid bikes I could buy for what the (previously desired) hybrid Honda costs: 60
People who told me I inspired them to ride a bike: 2
People who looked concerned about my mental health when I answered “no” to the question “So, are you going to buy another car?”: Far more than 2
Weekend days it was hot enough to sear flesh but I got out there anyway: 3
Months before I broke down and bought a basket for grocery purchases: 3.5
Calories burned, according to dubious online calculator: 28,050
Executives at my company that I unexpectedly encountered post-ride (i.e. disheveled, sweaty) on the weekend: 2
Normal people at my company that I encountered: 0
Days I’ve seen that squashed crow on my commute: 9 (somebody pick that thing up)
Yippy dogs charging at me: 1
Car doors smacking me: 1
Group rides: 1
Freeway rides: 0

»continue reading The Bicycle Brief, Chapter 4: Math And Stuff

PICK OF THE WEEK

Modey Lemon
with
The Muslims
Wed July 2
The Echo
Info

Contest closed–Winners TBN

 

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THIS WEEK’S TICKET GIVEAWAYS

Mods & Rockers Film Festival
Egyptian Theater
Wed July 2, 7:30 pm
Triple Bill! Two World Theatrical Premieres!
The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story (2001, 50 min) / Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death…And Insects (2008, 60 min) *Discussion with filmmaker John Edginton / All My Loving (1968 50 min) *Discussion following with filmmaker Tony Palmer

Contest closed–Winners TBN

Festival runs through July 9
Full Info

Modey Lemon w/ The Muslims @ The Echo Wed 7/2 — See Pick of the Week, above.

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HEADS UP

Teddy Thompson @ Largo Wed 7/9
Nico Vega w/ Gods & Monsters @ Key Club (David Lynch Foundation Benefit) Wed 7/16
Lili Hadyn @ The Roxy Sat 7/19
Dizzee Rascal @ Echoplex Thu 7/24
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down @ Troubadour Sat 8/2
Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) @ Troubadour Mon 8/4
Sunset Junction Festival @ Sunset Junction (Broken Social Scene, Isaac Hayes, Antibalas, Cold War Kids & more ) Sat 8/23
Sunset Junction Festival @ Sunset Junction (Kinky, !!!, Black Keys & more) Sun 8/24
El Vez @ Key Club (Ron’s Pick) Sat 8/23
Sondre Lerche @ Troubadour Sun 8/24
Marc Broussard @ The Roxy Thu 8/28
Paul Weller @ The Wiltern (2 Night Pass - 9/2 & 9/3) Tue 9/2
Paul Weller @ The Wiltern Tue 9/2
Paul Weller @ The Wiltern Wed 9/3
Nada Surf @ Troubadour Sat 9/6
Nada Surf @ Troubadour Fri 9/5
NIN (Nine Inch Nails) @ The Forum Sat 9/6
Ratatat @ Henry Fonda Tue 9/9
Ratatat @ Henry Fonda Wed 9/10
Silver Jews @ Echoplex Fri 9/26
Liam Finn @ Echoplex Sat 9/20
Stars @ Avalon Wed 10/1
Dandy Warhols @ The Wiltern Fri 10/3
Santana @ Nokia Theater Fri 10/3
The Kooks @ The Palladium Tue 10/28

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MONDAY
Patton Oswalt, Michael Penn, Tim, Eric @ Largo
The Afternoons @ Spaceland (free)

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: June 30 - July 6

»continue reading No Age at The Getty, June 27, 2008

Tourists bask in the glorious glow of yellow, pink and aqua neon as they stroll the spectacular central plaza of Old Chinatown. The highly stylized, 1938-vintage themed environment of extreme exotica is one of my absolute favorite places in all of Los Angelesland and an Americana landmark of the highest order. A better virtual sweet-and-sour-pupu-platter of authentic 1930s Chinese modern architecture you will not find anywhere. The legendary Chinese Theater in Hollywood is its closest cousin. Sometimes I like to imagine them living next door to each other.

I can’t think of a more colorful place than Old Chinatown. Can you? The paint scheme is straight out of a comic book. And if you love neon like I do it’s a treasure trove. This weekend a great place is about to get even greater. After decades of not being there anymore the neon highlighting those spellbinding pagoda rooflines has been replaced. Miracles do happen! I weep! The relighting ceremony is part of Chinatown’s 70th anniversary party, Saturday evening June 28, 2008. The neon light switch will be flipped on at 8:30.

If you love timeless Chinese modern style like I do, I seriously recommend while experiencing Old Chinatown that you see two of the best vintage Chinese restaurant interiors in country. The upstairs dining room at Hop Louie (formerly the Golden Pagoda) is still serving sweet and sour pork, while Realm, a gift shop housed in the long-gone Hong Kong Low Restaurant, serves up the most spectacular retail space in the city! Oh, and speaking of Chinese modern time-warps, the old lawyers office upstairs in the Hong Building (seen here on the left,) was recently revealed after decades of being moth balled. Don’t miss that either. Ask to do so inside of Realm and make sure to tell them I sent you!

Here’s to Chinatown, Chinese modern, those that restored the neon and YOU!

Visit Charles’ site or join his Slide of the Week Mailing List.

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HEADS UP

Sigur Rós @ Greek Theatre Thu 10/2

Ticket pre-sale this morning, Thursday, June 26 at 10 am.

General ticket on-sale this Saturday, June 28 at 10 am.

[ENTER TO WIN TICKETS]

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Related Sigur Rós News

Gagnrýnendur lofa Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós ! Nýjasta plata Sigur Rósar, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, kemur formlega út í dag, en í nokkurn tíma hefur verið hægt að hlusta á hana á heimasíðu hljómsveitarinnar.

Dómar um hana hafa þegar birst í nokkrum erlendum blöðum og eru gagnrýnendur mjög hrifnir af plötunni sem þykir talsvert frábrugðin fyrri verkum Sigur Rósar.

Gagnrýnandi breska dagblaðsins Guardian segir hana sólargeisla úr óvæntri átt og andrúmsloftið á henni hlýtt og gleðilegt. Hann lofar sérstaklega lagið „Ára bát“ sem hann segir metnaðarfyllstu tónsmíð sveitarinnar frá upphafi.

Gagnrýnandi Independent er sömuleiðis jákvæður og segir plötuna aðgengilegri en fyrri plötur. „Þessi fimmta plata hljómsveitarinnar inniheldur, sumum heitum aðdáendum hennar til mikillar skelfingar, nokkur lög sem hægt væri að kalla popplög,“ segir hann og lýkur máli sínu á þessum orðum. „Það klingir ekki lengur í álfabjöllum hjá Sigur Rós, en það gæti farið að klingja í peningakössum þeirra í staðinn.“

»continue reading 2008 Make Music Festival, Pasadena: Raveonettes, Little Ones & Autolux

»continue reading 2008 Make Music Festival, Pasadena: Kinky

Setlist:
»continue reading Radiohead à Paris, Parisian Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, 10 Juin 2008