Music
Tomorrow: The Corners Festival in Downtown L.A.
Hit the corner of Spring and 5th Street tomorrow for the motherload of music, theater and poetry. A few bars and book stores around the Alexandria Hotel are hosting. I’m DJ-ing at The Down and Out Bar from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., between band sets. If The Down and Out sounds familiar, it’s the […]
Listen Up: Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World”
Apparently, “Whole Wide World” is is a classic, two-chord punk melody from 1977. Will Ferrell also sang it in 2006 in “Stranger Than Fiction,” while playing acoustic guitar. But I had never listened to it until I turned on 88.9 KXLU today. Sometimes, it astounds me how much good music there is that goes unheard. […]
Listen Up: Jacuzzi Boys’ “Cool Vapors”
This catchy ditty from Miami’s Jacuzzi Boys evokes images of cruising across town with the top down, playing dashboard drums, on the way to the beach. Granted, the lyrics aren’t the most thought-provoking. But c’mon people, it’s garage rock. And while the L.A. forecast currently calls for rain, this is the perfect song to add sunshine to […]
It’s Time to Get Art with Mike D
Starting Friday, April 20, MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary is blowing minds and multiple senses with 17 days of the best in contemporary design, food, film, music and culture—compiled through the vision of Mike D. Yes, that Mike D. It’s all part of TRANSMISSION LA: AV CLUB—an exhibition that shows how audio and visual art forms feed off of each […]
Listen Up: Marilyn Manson’s “No Reflection”
While I’m not a huge Marilyn Manson fan, he does have a number of songs that pleasure you with a pulsating, clenched fist. And if you haven’t read his book, I highly recommend it. The man is extremely articulate and intelligent. Don’t let the codpiece fool you. This track is from his newest album “Born […]
Listen Up: Jucifer’s “The Lambs, Pt. 1”
A handful of people in L.A. listen to 88.9 KXLU, which is broadcast from Loyola Marymount University and operated by students, faculty and volunteer staff. But more should listen, on account of the fact that they play an eclectic mix of stellar indie, rock, electronica, punk and hip-hop–much of which is yet to be discovered. […]
Listen Up: Skillz’ “Take It Back”
Here’s an old school jam to get you bumpin’ on this hump day. Originally released in 2004, this song was also on the “Never Not Fresh” compilation, featuring stellar tracks by hip-hop artists including Dilated Peoples, RJD2 and Jurassic 5.
Listen Up: 2:54’s “Scarlet”
There’s just something about this spellbinding, lethargic track from London’s 2:54. Sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow unknowingly foretell its impact with their moody lyrics, ‘Love, she said. It’s all I hear in my head’–because this song haunts you long after your first listen. Find it and other heady melodies on their full-length self-titled debut, which […]
Listen Up: Willis Earl Beal’s “Monotony”
I can’t get enough of this simple, yet hypnotically-beautiful song from Willis Earl Beal. If you like his music, you can see him perform live at the Gene Autry Museum in L.A. on May 2.
Daffodils & Devil Horns 