Rally going til 5 pm today, down at the Kodak Theater. We’ll spare you a link to his campaign site with the rally deets as their server is tapped out from heavy use today. You should be able to figure out the drill once you get down there (hint: it’s a rally). But do us all a favor and take the Metro. D. Markland has some great early photos from the scene over at blogging.la.

Shirt design by Scarlet Ibis. Live photo by EPBabe. Via Morrissey-Solo.com + The Music Slut

This just in: Beck’s Odelay reissue (released two days ago on Geffen) is suffering from a bit of a snafu in the printed lyrics dept, but he’s taking a proactive step to let you know he’s aware of the situation:

The first pressing of the recent Odelay Deluxe Reissue was found to have gone out with unproofed lyrics that were taken from a lyrics website as place holders for layout purposes.

Beck apologizes for this unfortunate oversight and is making arrangements for the corrected lyrics to be available gratis via Beck.com. Subsequent pressings of the Odelay Deluxe will also include the corrected lyrics.

We have a couple of questions regarding this announcement: With the exception of Beck himself, who the hell’d actually be able to tell if the lyrics are printed incorrectly on that particular album? Just as well use a few nonsensical spam messages and call it a day (”Jackass” excepted). Next question, would those be Lyricsdepot lyrics, Members.tripod.com lyrics, Lyricsforall lyrics, or an entirely different (albeit equally altogether incorrect) member of the 49,500 google results for odelay lyrics?

Beck @ Detour by Jeannette

FURTHER BECK
» Beck @ The Echo - Pictures & Video
» First Annual LA Weekly Detour Festival, Downtown
» Additional, Unnecessary Notes on Detour Festival
» Becho vs. Spaceland, 3/22: One Night, Two Gigs
» Beck To Hancock Park

E. & Eels at the Roxy, June 2006, before we stopped using flash photography and watermarked our photos.

HEADS UP
Eels @ Galaxy Theater Thu 2/14
Eels @ El Rey Wed 4/16

For the impatient but willing freeway commuter, there is a Valentine’s Day show lined up down the 5 at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana.

Also of note: Apparently, E., not content with his sundry musical output, has gone and written a book under his full name (Mark Oliver Everett, for the trivia buffs), Things The Grandchildren Should Know. It’s out now in the U.K. and will be issued Stateside this Fall.
»continue reading Eels U.S. Tour Dates, Finale in Los Angeles

Anyone (not) catch the multiple instances of Apple product placement on last night’s new episode of House M.D.? A new high–or low, depending on your take–was reached. But lest you think it gratuitous, the props in question–an iPhone, a MacBook Pro and a MacBook (Or were they older Powerbook and iBook models?–Help me out here, Engadget or Gizmodo)–were woven into the plot fairly deftly: House steals James’s iPhone (James being the obvious character choice for iPhone ownership) and wraps it as a gift to himself, which he opens in front of his team with an aim to get the to raise the stakes of their Secret Santa; the team breaks into the patient’s home and brings back her and daughter’s Macs to scour their hard drives for personal history and diagnostic clues.
»continue reading Apple Product Placement All Over House

NEWS

Repub Candidates to Debate in Simi Valley Today

EXPLORE SIMI VALLEY

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
East County Courthouse
Spahn Ranch
Box Canyon Caves

Yep. Discuss.

John Edwards photo courtesy John Edwards 2008 on Flickr; Ralph Nader by wickenden on Flickr. Both Images: Some Rights Reserved.

Vampire Weekend’s debut album dropped today. Review one of one at press time on online merchant Amazon’s website reads as follows:

Look Out!!! This band could go places., January 29, 2008

I didn’t hear about this band until today. I saw the CD at Target and skipped over it because I had no idea who they were. Then as I was watching E! News, I heard a review of the album and how Chris Martin of Coldplay fame was a big fan. I thought, how could I go wrong? After listening to the samples of the songs on this site, I went back out to by it just before Target closed. After listening to the first few tracks, I feel this band could really go somewhere if they can get any airplay on the independent stations around the country. The CD seems to be fairly short though, so get it while it is still under $10. I can’t wait to see where this band goes!!!!!!! [link]

Our jaded, music-blog-comment-reading sensibilities initially smelled an ironic phony…but then we discovered he’s using his “real name” — Amazon’s way of saying “we basically think this guy is legit (though we aren’t any more sure than you at the end of the day).” Let it be legit, then! Somebody call Chris Martin so we can get these Vampire Weekend guys on the air. Apparently they are good. In other news, in the time it took to write this post Amazon appears to have further chipped away at its remaining stock: the album is now on that dreaded “Usually ships within 1 to 2 weeks” back-order status. Note to Amazon-browsing Martin allegiance: try area Target.

FURTHER READING
» Vampire Weekend @ Silverlake Lounge (photos & review by Karen)
» Vampire Weekend @ Echo (photos & review by Karen)

Should Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani lose the primary in Florida today, chances are high that his “trophy” wife may drop out of the 2008 race to become First Lady of the White House of the United States of America tomorrow morning. Will she bow out, forcing our staffers to round up a bunch of fair use photos of “Judi on the campaign trail” to run with the announcement? Readers weigh in! (Latest FLA polling info from CNN)

VOTE AGAIN

FURTHER READING: TROPHY FIRST LADY DROPOUTS
» Elizabeth Kucinich, Trophy Wife of Dennis Kucinich, Bows Out Of First Lady Race
» Jeri Thompson, Trophy Wife of Fred Thompson, Bows Out Of First Lady Race

Scandinavian automotive news rocks the Westside late today: Saab of Santa Monica, one of just three remaining Saab dealerships in LA County, is fated to be shuttered forever on February 1, 2008, having been taken over by a Cadillac dealership. Their website has already been taken offline.

I remain ambivalent on the news of their imminent demise. While I won’t miss the ridiculous markups on their parts and service, there was something about their unassuming presence on Santa Monica Blvd., their always-full pot of burnt profoundly terrible coffee and “complementary” off-site car washes that made the shop an enjoyable, if quirky destination.

There are few reasons I can in good conscience direct anyone to visit Sherman Oaks–no, not even the new ArcLight–but in there in Sherman Oaks remains one of two Greater Los Angeles area Saab dealerships. CORRECTION: The other is down in the South Bay in Torrance in Pasadena. [Thanks commenters, you’re my fact-checking cuz.]

Better yet, orphaned Swedish motorcar enthusiasts in need of service would do well to find a good independent shop. I recommend Viking Motors on Pico, freeway convenient and walking distance from Joker.

Fun fact: Kurt Vonnegut managed Saab of Cape Cod. He was not able to name it “Cape Cod Saab” as he desired as Saab corporate HQ mandates the “Saab” must come first in the official business name. (Note that precise transposition typo in the header of the enclosed letter.)

Dissecting Four Vinyl Gems Unearthed Last Saturday

1. R.E.M., Superman 12″ promo single (IRS; 1986)
   Condition: CASE: NM VINYL: M
   These are the kinds of oddities I live for. Goofy baby sketch by Kaleb. Photo in triplicate by Sandra-Lee Phipps. You know the song. Here it is on vinyl. DJs, use either side: the song remains the same. Why spend £15 plus shipping and handling ($29.23 + shipping if you prefer) on this rarity when Amoeba serves it up for one (Peter) Buck? Buy it from me today; yours for only $125.89 (tax not included) (autographed by losanjealous ryan, $20 extra)

»continue reading Tales From The Amoeba Dollar Bins, 1/26/08

Dancing Bull
Zinfandel
2005
$9.99 (with Ralphs Club)

Notes: This is a really wet wine. An eminently drinkable table red, sourced from a hodgepodge of California grapes. The blend is 80.7% Zinfandel, 5.3% Syrah, 4.5% Petit Syrah, 3.5% Tempranillo. A great dinner wine with bold fruity notes greet the palate like a knock on the door–dark berries, grapes, of course, plum perhaps–while a soupçon of pepper on the backend hangs up your coat and welcomes you to your next smooth swallow. The color, a dark purple, is deep and regal but drinks clean, if a bit sweet, and not at all velvety. »continue reading Losanjealous Wines: 2005 Dancing Bull Zinfandel

R.E.M. will play the Hollywood Bowl this May. No on-sale date announced yet; the band will be supported by Modest Mouse and The National while on tour.

PICTURED: Bizarre-yet-cool “Superman” promotional 12″ vinyl found in Amoeba dollar bins last weekend (more on those dollar bins TK).

ILL-ADVISED BRAG: The last time I saw R.E.M. they still had four members. Radiohead opened. Bill Berry gave me a virtual hi-five.

HEADS UP
R.E.M. @ Hollywood Bowl Thu 5/29

UPDATE: Presale info now live. Presale begins April 3 (Thursday) at 10am. General onsale is this weekend.

All 2008 tour dates after the jump, plus R.E.M.’s Hollywood Bowl setlist from 2003.
»continue reading R.E.M. Head to Hollywood Bowl, Announce 2008 Tour Dates