Synopsis: Those old guys in vests can still put on a good show. Tom, Tom, Randall, Mike, and Benmont took the stage shortly after 9, performing a set of old and new Mudcrutch tunes, a few bluegrass and rock classics, and two Bob Dylan covers. I am very anti-bloated-old-guy-reunion tour, and this show avoided those traps and remained true to the spirit of the Mudcrutch story: a few (albeit very talented and accomplished) buddies decided to hang out again and have some fun.

General vibe: Your dad got drunk at the best Fourth of July barbeque he has ever attended. I would estimate that 10% of the audience was under 30; most of the rest were in solid dad territory. Some were drunk dads, some were sober dads (lots of bottled water). Some were reminiscing hippie dads, who loved the inclusion of “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” in the encore. Whoever was in the control booth was a responsible dad, as the volume was not painfully loud. This was the first show I have been to in over a year where I have not been compelled to put in earplugs.
»continue reading Mudcrutch at Troubadour, Tuesday April 29 2008

Anybody make it out to Amoeba last night to catch Flight of the Conchords? Come the 6pm hour I was deep in thought, hunched over the Coachooser in the Sandalwood Conference Room at the Marina Del Rey Courtyard Marriott with a team of analysts determining the precise location and time of their unannounced appearance at the fest this weekend.

We’ve got midnight reports from Metblogs and LA Weekly Style Council. Looks packed. Who else turned out…and how was it?
 
 

In which we finally catch up with a few new and soon-to-be-new titles. This round: The Hands, Peasant, Chris Walla, Baby Dee, Darla Farmer, Dengue Fever.

1. The Hands - The Hands (Selector Sound; out 2/19/08)
   Hailing from Seattle, The Hands epitomize what may have been created had Seth Brundle thrown Jet, 1972 Jagger and Grand Funk Railroad into pod #1, waited ten seconds, and opened pod #2. After that comparison, throw aside all references to molecular physics. Make no bones: The Hands are out to rock - loudly - and in this attempt they succeed triumphantly. Lyrically they pose no threat, but who cares when it’s this loud? Note to The Hands: Given all the cheese graters and bloody digits on the album art, consider changing name to The Bloodied Hands - it does have a ring, yes?
    

»continue reading New Release Roundup

HEADS UP
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Steve Winwood @ Hollywood Bowl Wed 6/25
ON SALE NOW

So what did we think of Tom Petty at the Superbowl yesterday?

I thorougly dug it. Last year he told Rolling Stone he wasn’t going for the medley, and he stayed true to his word. Sure, I would’ve loved to have heard something like “Even The Losers (Get Lucky Sometimes)” or “The Waiting” - both fitting for a championship game, if you ask me (”Every day you get one more yard” - that line’s written for football!) - but at the end of the day I have no complaints with the songs he selected (you already know I’m biased, though - I’m a fan). The mini-setlist can be found here someplace (thanks, JJ). My father called me immediately following halftime to get my take on the set; we both agreed it was solid.
»continue reading Tom Petty, Steve Winwood Head to Hollywood Bowl: Tix On Sale Today

That’s right motherfuckas! I am Live-Blogging Superbowl XLII Presented by Planters Instinctively Good From My Couch. Latest at the bottom.

325pm
Jordan Sparks Sings The National Anthem. Commercial break. LET US TAKE STOCK OF THE SITUATION.

Tivo Remote CHECK
Queso CHECK
Smokies CHECK
Beer CHECK
Wine CHECK
LA Minis - sloppy joes - CHECK
Pizzas CHECK
»continue reading I am Live-Blogging Superbowl XLII From My Couch

NEWS

Lakers Pickup Gasol, Unload Kwame, Javaris

INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS

I like this move. I like a move that plugs a 7 footer and his 19 and 9 to the lineup in one fell swoop. And I especially like any move that ends with Kwame, his $9 mil a year, and his oven mitt hands in a different time zone.

Besides having just about the most awesome-sounding first name ever, Javaris (just say it a few times to yourself aloud—“Ja-VAR-is”—see what I mean—and, sure, “Pau” its own right is a pretty sweet name—like POW!—but it’s no Javaris) Crittenton has shown some spark to breakout as a star, so that’s a loss that could very well come back to haunt us. He has a ton of headroom on his game, but now he can develop on someone else’s dime, while we run for a title today.
»continue reading Lakers Pickup Gasol, Unload Kwame, Javaris

This not a full recap like our Season 3 finale piece, but just some collected moments from the episode, unedited and jotted down in real time. –Ed.

–Hurley has a vision of Charlie while in a police interrogation room. Without going into all the details, Charlie’s hand has written on it, “They Need You.” This is a particularly problematic vision as it contains imagery that Hurley did not personally witness and (I think) marks the first vision where the action is pure fantasy and physically impossible to stage. (As opposed to merely planting a horse on the island or the appearance of someone resembling a dead loved one.) More on this below.

–Jack is drinking, but, hey, who doesn’t start the day off with a screwdriver or two? On the plus side, he has upgraded from Dharma brand vodka though. He does not have the bushman beard of the Season 3 finale yet, so that suggests this flash-forward predates the season 3 flash-forward. So this flash-forward would in fact be a flash-back if we were in the previous flash-forward timeline. Got that?
»continue reading Lost Season 4 Premiere Bulletpoints

LOSANJEALOUS:: Ringo Starr (of THE BEATLES) and Dave Stewart (of EURYTHMICS and, more recently, “A Sound Map of Tom Petty’s Los Angeles”)* will join forces this Friday afternoon at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, an event which will surely be marked as historic on someone or something’s LA Sound Map at some point in the not-too-distant future. Backed by a full band, the duo will perform a FREE short set celebrating the January 15th release of Ringo’s latest album Liverpool 8, co-produced by Stewart on Capitol/EMI. Showtime is at 1pm; the event will also be livecast from Ringo’s website at http://www.ringostarr.com. Though the show is free, admittance is of course limited to the capacity of the House of Blues. Fear not; there are ways inside the House. Losanjealous is giving away “guaranteed admission” entry passes, allowing unfettered access to the former Beatle’s gig. Winners can bypass the general admission line, cozy on up to the venue’s presumably shorter “Already Got My Passes” line and ensure a spot inside. (See: How To Get Inside below…)

How To Get Inside
Including our own contest, following are the various known methods for gaining admittance to Friday’s lunchtime bearded-Beatle-and-Eurythmic-inclusive show at the House of Blues:
»continue reading Ringo Starr @ House of Blues Friday (1/25): Win Tickets Now

Words by Ryan

»continue reading New Maximum Donkey @ The Knitting Factory, 1/17/2008

Not three full days into the new year, yet it is already time to vote on a pressing topic! David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson returned to live television last night, although the WGA strike is not over. Dave and Craig had writers; Jay, Jimmy and Conan did not. Dave and Conan had beards; Jay, Jimmy and Craig did not, though it should probably be noted that Craig wore and later removed a phony beard as part of his opening skit. (Refer to our rudimentary yet informative venn diagram of beard and writer sets after the jump if you are confused.)

Let us not discuss monologues, guests, WGA strike rules, writing or the painful lack thereof but focus instead on the most important aspect of last night’s television selections: magnificently groomed ’80s beards. Who had the best?

VOTE AGAIN

As previously mentioned, informative talk show host venn diagram follows the jump. »continue reading Reader Picks ‘08: The Late Night Beard Battle