On January 29, 2010 Rock and Roll legend Roy Orbison will receive his Star on the Walk Of Fame.

Roy Orbison was one of the very first rock and roll stars, and was an international household name by the time he was 21. Loved the world over for a soaring 5 octave voice, and his incredible and innovative way of writing songs, Orbison was an artist without limits. Orbison is one of the very few artists to have been accepted by the world in all forms of popular music, and Roy is one of the exceptional artists to have won Grammys in pop, rock and roll and country categories.
 

Almost impossible to believe the man did not have a star all this time. He cuts an iconic silhouette even in an 8-bit grayscale graphic pulled from the extensive Losanjealous Photo Library.

George Harrison’s Walk of Fame Star Ceremony, Capitol Records, April 14, 2009: Exclusive Photos
Capitol Records, 14 April 2009: George Harrison’s Walk of Fame Star Ceremony: The Star Is Revealed At Last

Saw this in the theater and, yes, enjoyed it. A solid 7.5 entertainment. But the praise heaped upon feels way out of proportion. Are it’s fans bringing real world war time sympathies to the film and grading it on a curve or something?

Attempted to re-watch on blu-ray and try to see what I’m missing. Got 20 or so minutes into it and got bored. Liked it probably even less. Don’t particularly care for any of these characters. And they’re mostly stock characters. Don’t particularly like the action to go from set piece to set piece in lieu of actual plot. Overall, just didn’t do it for me.

And yet, I see some guy (nerdy, disheveled writer type) buying it on the release day at Best Buy. I worry about anyone who wants to watch this thing over and over.

What Am I Missing Here?™ is an infrequently recurring feature wherein Victor questions himself when his critical judgment and personal taste is out of step with the masses.

»continue reading Philip Glass Performs on Colbert Report

HEADS UP

The Wedding Present @ Troubadour (Performing Bizarro) Fri 4/2

We’ll grant the Weddoes a pass on the whole full album performance trick that has long since been played out. Happy to have them back on any terms. Bizarro is closer to a true 20-year reunion, but returning Stateside with 1991′s epic Seamonsters might have been a bigger statement.

We do espy a curious gap on 4/18–coincidentally the 3rd day of Coachella–in their North American schedule:

»continue reading Full Album Performance Trend Refuses to Die–Next Up: Wedding Present Doing “Bizarro” at Troubadour, April 2

Solid triple bill of them singer-songwriter types over at The Echo this Saturday, Jan. 16, put together by the folks at FYF & MFG:

AA Bondy
Nik Freitas
Willy Mason
w/ Keith Morris and Evan Weiss manning the decks

This is us throwing you a shot to win a pair of tickets to check out the show:

[ENTER TO WIN TICKETS]
 
 

HEADS UP

Deer Tick @ Natural History Museum (First Fridays) Fri 3/5

We’re getting early word here from Deer Tick’s camp–nothing up on the NHM website yet. (Deer Tick will also swing through town with Dr. Dog at the Henry Fonda on 4/27.) We’ll keep you posted as the March First Fridays line-up fills out, including who will be proving the all-important Science portion of the evening’s program.

Before we get ahead ourselves though, remember February’s First Friday will feature “Energy, Power, and the Transformation of Early L.A.,” a presentation with the History Staff, a discussion “Where in the World Will Our Energy Come From?” led by CIT’s Dr. Nathan S. Lewis and music by Yeasayer & Warpaint.

The Pee-wee Herman Show Begins Los Angeles Run [Playbill]

In addition to Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, the cast also features Lynne Marie Stewart as Miss Yvonne; Phil LaMarr as Cowboy Curtis; Jesse Garcia as Sergio, a new character; Josh Meyers as Firefighter; John Moody as Mailman Mike; John Paragon as Jambi; Drew Powell as Bear; Lance Roberts as King of Cartoons; and Lori Alan and Maceo Oliver as voices.

Pee-wee’s talking chair Chairry, Pterri the pterodactyl, Conky the robot, Magic Screen and Randy, will also be on stage at Club Nokia.

“Pee-wee dreams that one day he can fly,” according to press notes. “The play follows Pee-wee’s quest to see this lifelong wish fulfilled. Pee-wee is torn when he has to choose to have his wish granted or better the lives of his friends. Along the way he embarks on hilarious adventures filled with his playhouse friends and some new ones. Throw in some funny pop culture references, and of course, your favorite Pee-wee-isms.”

Full list of engagement dates and ticket links below.
»continue reading The Pee-wee Herman Show is (Finally) Here

L.A. Prostitutes, a rock n’ roll band from Denmark have washed up on our shores to play their debut shows in their namesake town. (Note sweet GNR at the Whiskey T-shirt.) Catch Fussy, Morten, Jack Andy and Kim tonight at the Viper Room and/or tomorrow at the Surf City Saloon in H.B. Then they head back to Europe for the Rock Shock Festival in Aars, Nordjylland.

Read on:

»continue reading L.A. Prostitutes–Rock Band From Denmark Finally Hit City of L.A., Its Prostitutes

‘Law & Order’ set in Los Angeles may hit NBC soon [MyDesert.com]

A Los Angeles-based version of “Law & Order” could air on NBC next season, network officials said Sunday.

NBC and Universal Media Studios Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad said she asked “Law & Order” creator and executive producer Dick Wolf if he would consider producing a Los Angeles version of the series that mixes the investigation of a crime and its prosecution.

“We’re talking about developing that,” Bromstad said during NBC’s portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena.

Well, you got your Criminal Intent, your Special Victims Unit, your Trial by Jury flavors of L&O. So what could the L.A. version focus be? Law & Order: Paparazzi Prosecution? HA.

Note to NBC: A hi-res version of the above title card graphic can be yours for the using for the right price.

With Spoon locking in a (East) Bay Area date for 4/13, it’s all but a given that they’re down for Coachella. Indeed, Coachella lineup authorities Consequence of Sound has bumped them over to the Confirmed column.

With Vampire Weekend scheduling a Fox Theater Pomona stop on 4/14, you can pretty much count that as a done deal for a Coachella set.

Less certain at this point, though looking doable, might be an appearance Kings of Convenience who have a tour of Japan finishing up on 4/7. It might make sense to swing across the Pacific for the desert 10 days later, but who knows.

Britt Daniel of Spoon photo by Karen from their 2007 Little Radio show.

It seems like since the mid 90′s popular re-discovery of the music of Nick Drake–Volkswagen commercial soundtracks, echos of inspiration heard in the music of Elliott Smith and Belle & Sebastian, to name a few–the flavor-of-the-month types have moved on. The true fans remain steadfast, perhaps more than a few of which have picked up a 6-string and tried to work out some of his noodling.

As such, an intriguing seminar is set for McCabe’s Guitar Shop tonight, for which tickets are still available.

Veteran McCabe’s guitar instructor and Nick Drake afficionado Amilcar Dohrn-Melendez invites fans and players of all levels to learn more about the late, great guitarist/singer/songwriter and his amazing music. Amilcar will discuss tunings, picking patterns, song structure, and other aspects of Drake’s body of work. Deepen your knowledge and appreciation of this one-of-a-kind artist and the timeless music he created.

Tickets & Info

PICK OF THE WEEK

The Meeting Places
w/ Wrong Way Driver, The Robotanists & Ovideo
Wed Jan 13
Spaceland
Info
 

The Pee-wee Herman Show
Thurs Jan 14
Club Nokia
4-week engagement starts January 12
Performance schedule & Info
[ENTER TO WIN]
 
 
 

Carnivale 2010 – Brazilian Nites @ Club Nokia Sat 2/20
The Dan Band @ Club Nokia Fri 2/19
Christian Death @ El Rey Fri 2/12
29th Annual Ragga Muffins Festival @ Long Beach Arena Sun 2/21
29th Annual Ragga Muffins Festival @ Long Beach Arena Sat 2/20
Liars @ El Rey Sat 4/10
Vampire Weekend @ Fox Theater Pomona Wed 4/14
Aziz Ansari @ Largo Tue 1/19
Lalah Hathaway @ El Rey Fri 1/22
Watkins Family Hour w/Ben Lee & Guests @ Largo Thu 1/21
Jon Brion @ Largo Fri 1/22
They Might Be Giants @ Largo (two shows) Sun 2/7
They Might Be Giants @ Largo (two shows) Sat 2/6
Eddie Santiago @ Conga Room Thu 2/11
Poncho Sanchez @ Conga Room Sun 2/14
Infected Mushroom, ATB & Awakening @ The Palladium Sat 2/20
Bamboozle Featuring Something Corporate & The Maine & more @ Festival Grounds at Angel Stadium Sun 3/28
Bamboozle Featuring AFI & Angels and Airwaves & more @ Festival Grounds at Angel Stadium Sat 3/27
Gomez @ El Rey Sun 3/21
Gomez @ El Rey Sat 3/20
Owl City @ Club Nokia Fri 4/9
Owl City @ Fox Theater Pomona Wed 4/7
Patton Oswalt @ Largo Sat 2/27
Meshell Ndegeocello @ Largo Thu 2/25
Meshell Ndegeocello @ Largo Thu 2/18
Meshell Ndegeocello @ Largo Fri 2/12
Richard Thompson @ Largo Thu 2/11
Louden Wainwright III @ Largo Tue 2/9
 

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: January 11 – 17

Ryan migrates east: fries get fatter, prices fluctuate accordingly

Here at Gardena’s edge do I then temper Thursday’s Tustin Timor et Tremor tussle with a plate of heart-stopping fries and mighty bacon cheeseburger. It is as it should be. Welcome, 2010: Thick fries; $4.69/plate. More than a meal in itself; still, Piggies, a chili fry’s throw away, has nothing to worry about per se. Not a true Googie, this Fabulous, but dig that crazy SoCal façade just the same, Dad: booths built in to the outside wall!

Brief notes:

• Requisite off-duty security guard spotted chowing down. Good sign
• Cheery, cordial staff
• As I eat I chat with a few locals about Jason Patric stinking up the Geronimo movie on the telly. Christ, man. Just how may different Native Americans has Wes Studi played, at this point?
• Novelty machines galore crowd the walls, including one that vends “jokes and tricky toys” (whoopee cushions) and at least two fully-stocked rows of “Cooby Doo Playing Cards” (sic)
• I do believe that I’ve just shat my pants. More soon

HEART STOPPERS
» The Last Chili Cheese Fries of the Decade
» Under $10 And Incredibly Shameful: Carney’s Derailer
» The Last Oki-Dog of 2006
» Black Widow Out-Chili-Cheeses Chestnut By Ounce
» Tommy’s At 60: The Six Sixty-Cent Chili-Cheese Chiliburger Cheeseburger Challenge

GM puts Saab put into liquidation despite new bids [Sydney Morning Herald]

Saabs United is a good spot to find out more info on the international campaigns to save Saab from being killed by GM. The website is written by the tireless Swade way down in Tasmania and is a great resource for all things Saab. His analysis of GM’s move today cuts to the bone as to how bleak the future of Saab is.