Apr 072016
 

DMX- Party Up (Up in Here)

This song is from DMX’s 1999 album …And Then There Was X and was his most successful single. DMX has had some serious ups and downs over the last decade and a half since this song was released.  He had a cameo in Chris Rock’s 2014 film Top Five and guest starred on a recent episode of the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, but in February of this year he was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a hotel parking lot.

He’s doing better now though, and is on tour making a stop at The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) in Los Angeles on Sunday, 4/10/16 to play a $15 show.

Apr 072016
 

Froth- Nothing Baby

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (4/7-4/10/16)-

Thursday

Froth is playing a live set as part of the free (with RSVP) event, Drinking the Sunlight on Thursday, at Resident with DJ sets by Kevin Morby and two of the members of FIDLAR

The second of the Monument performances at MOCA Grand Ave pairs musicians Metal Rouge and Palmbomen II with specific works in the gallery (free)

For Craft Night at CAFAM this week, guests will create black light paintings ($8 includes materials, food and drink)

Pop Up Magazine returns with its “live magazine” to the Theatre at the Ace Hotel with Daniel Alarcón, Ava DuVernay, Doreen St. Félix, Lindy West as part of the line up

Friday

Gothic Tropic are headlining a night of bands at The Hi Hat in Highland Park

The Aero Theatre is showing all three of Richard Linklater’s films Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight in one triple bill

For Covering Fashion: The Changing Runway Story, “fashion journalists Tim Blanks, editor-at-large of The Business of Fashion, and Booth Moore, fashion journalist and former fashion critic of the Los Angeles Times, discuss fashion journalism and the history and culture of runway shows with Sharon S. Takeda, LACMA’s senior curator and department head of costume and textiles” at LACMA (free)

Acid Dad are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Melted and Plum opening

Saturday

NELA Art Gallery Night is Northeast LA’s monthly art event and a great way to check out the area’s art scene and you can stop by Eastside Handmade market beforehand

Meth Dad and Terror Pigeon are both playing at Los Globos

Saturday and Sunday

The Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books is at the USC Campus and there are numerous free and ticketed author talks throughout both days as well as performances, cooking demonstrations, a travel section, children’s activities and so much more.

Sunday

It’s the second Sunday of the month so Rose Bowl Flea Market is open for treasure hunting

Missing Persons are at the Echo with Panthar and Fatal Jamz opening

DMX is playing at The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) for $15

 

Mar 312016
 

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding

This song was written and produced by Nick Lowe with Costello’s version  released on the B-side of Lowe’s 1978 single American Squirm.  Elvis Costello released the song on the American version of his 1979 album Armed Forces.

Costello is playing two shows at The Theatre at The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles this weekend 4/2 and 4/3.

Mar 312016
 

Leikeli47- Heard Em Say

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/31-4/2/16)-

Thursday

Leikeli47 is opening for Santigold at the Hollywood Palladium

The Hammer Museum is screening Stan VanDerBeek’s short animated films that he made while he studied at Black Mountain College (free)

Noel Fielding (from The Mighty Boosh) is performing at The Fonda Theatre (also Friday and Saturday)

For the poetry reading for Tender Omnibus at LACMA, some of the authors included will read work from the volume of landmark texts chronicling the first 25 years of Tender Buttons Press

A little outside Los Angeles, in Valencia, Kim Gordon is speaking at CalArts

Friday

Bleached are playing a free set at Amoeba Hollywood to celebrate their new album Welcome the Worms

Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours is back this Friday (sold out but limited tickets will be sold after 9:30pm)

Natural History Museum is having its First Friday event with Car Seat Headrest performing along with Night Beats

Martin Starr (Silicon Valley, Party Down) is one of the judges and is playing with his band as part of Literary Death Match at the Ace Hotel. For the match itself four writers read their work (for seven minutes or less) and then are judged and reduced to a final two who compete in a literary game. New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean is one of the writers participating this time.

The Shining is the horror movie this week at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park

Dante Elephante and Cool Ghouls are opening for Mothers at the Echo

Saturday

Deru is performing his concept album 1979 with EFFIXX at The Regent

The biannual open studios Brewery Art Walk downtown begins (free)

As part of the 5th Annual Wayne Federman International Film Festival at Cinefamily, Rob Corddry will be presenting Arthur, and later John Mulaney will present The Burbs

Cool Ghouls are playing at the Hi Hat in Highland Park

Field Music are playing at The Roxy

Sunday

Skirball is having an afternoon of poetry readings for the anthology Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond, with actor Wes Bentley, contributors Erika Ayón, liz gonzález, Ron Koertge, and Florence Weinberger presenting poems from the collection. Afterword poets Lynn Emanuel (Then, Suddenly), David Lazar (The Body of Brooklyn), and Tim Seibles (Fast Animal) will read from their respective works.

Help break the world record for largest tea party at the California Science Center with unlimited tea (bring your own cup) and activities with proceeds going to Miriam’s House

The biannual open studios Brewery Art Walk downtown continues from Saturday (free)

Mar 242016
 

A Tribe Called Quest- Jazz (We’ve Got)/ Buggin’ Out

Malik Isaac Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg, passed away this past Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 45 years old. He was a founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, whose albums played an influential part in hip hop history. The Low End Theory, from 1991, with its jazz sampled beats and lyrical stylings of Phife and Q-Tip, remains one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

There is an interesting documentary about the band- Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. It was directed by actor Michael Rapaport, and although the group ended up not supporting it, Phife went to the premiere anyway and seemed to be glad he did.

2016 is really taking a lot of talent from the world.

Rest in Peace.

 

Mar 242016
 

Sunflower Bean- Easier Said

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/24-3/27/16)-

Thursday

Sunflower Bean are playing at The Echo with Weaves

The Hammer is hosting the panel- Crafted at Black Mountain: Skill, De-Skill, and Contemporary Art Practicewhichconsiders emergent practices against the backdrop of Black Mountain College’s legacy of highly skilled workmanship” with organizer and  moderator Jenni Sorkin, assistant professor, UC Santa Barbara; Wendy Kaplan, head of decorative arts at LACMA; Helen Molesworth, chief curator at MOCA;  Jenelle Porter, independent curator; and Andrew Perchuk, deputy director, Getty Research Institute at 7:30pm. If you get there early you can also check out the exhibition walk-through with artist Krysten Cunningham at 6:30pm.

The Central Library is having a free screening of Tangerine and a Q & A with the director Sean Baker

designLAb are having a public reception at the Pacific Design Center with several art and design exhibitions on view (free)

Plague Vendor are performing and signing their new album Bloodsweat at Amoeba Hollywood (free)

Yuck are playing the Echoplex with Bigthief and JUNK

Friday

It’s the last week of Music for Train Stations with dublab at Union Station- this week it’s a DJ set by Victoria O’Halon with a live performance by Mark Van Hoen, a UK artist “whose experimental music straddles both the electronic underground and pop worlds”. (4-6pm)

Cold Showers are playing at Complex in Glendale

The Egyptian Theatre is showing a Sterling Hayden/ Stanley Kubrick double feature of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb / The Killing

The Aero Theatre is showing a Terrence Malick double feature of perhaps his best films- Badlands/ Days of Heaven

Hibou are opening for Hey Marseilles at The Echo

The Memories, Dunes and Crow Baby are playing at The Hi Hat in Highland Park ($5)

Saturday

Wolfmother are playing at The Fonda Theatre with Deap Valley

Terrence Malick weekend at The Aero continues with The Thin Red Line

Cinefamily is showing Errol Morris’ excellent The Thin Blue Line in the afternoon and Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger than Paradise in the evening

Dengue Fever are playing at The Regent

KXCS is having a free festival at USC with a list of bands that includes Tennis System and Mansions on the Moon (register if you are not a USC student here

Sunday

Happy Easter!

The Aero is showing Bugs Bunny Cartoon Classics in the afternoon including Easter Yeggs for some holiday fun that is good for kids and adults

All Weekend

Opening Thursday night and running 11-5pm Friday through Sunday, it’s the return of the Cat Art Show LA – this time at Think Tank Gallery. Artists include Mark Ryden, Norman Reedus, Scott Hove and more with part of the proceeds going to Kitten Rescue.

Wondercon, the sister show to Comic Con International is at the Los Angeles Convention Center

 

 

Mar 172016
 

September Girls- Love No One

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/17-3/20/16)-

Thursday

Black Radical Imagination is a touring program of “experimental short films emphasizing new stories from within the African diaspora” showing tonight at MOCA Grand Avenue (free)

Artist Roy Dowell is giving an exhibition walk-through of Hammer Museum’s exhibition Leap Before You Look, and later painter and associate professor and director of graduate studies of painting and printmaking at Yale University, Anoka Faruqee will be giving a lecture on Josef Albers

Tam O’Shanter is having an all day celebration for St. Patrick’s Day

Friday

LACE in Hollywood is having a Feminist Friday Mixer– a “Consciousness-Raising-meets-Happy-Hour” event (free)

PaleyFest continues with the cast of Difficult People and Patton Oswalt moderating

Slow Hollows are playing with Jerry Paper at the Teragram Ballroom

Friday through Sunday

Grrls on Film at Loyola Marymount University is a series of free panels and screenings including  a showing of The Decline of Western Civilization with a discussion afterwords with director Penelope Spheeris on Saturday, and Lost Grrls: Riot Grrl in Los Angeles on Sunday. Also on Sunday is Grrls on Stage with musical sets by Peach Kelli Pop and Kim and the Created, spoken word performances and a fanzine making table

String Theory is performing Remembering Water, a combination of dance, projections and music that incorporates giant harps, at Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica

Friday and Saturday

Crispin Glover is at the Egyptian Theatre presenting “Crispin Hellion Glover’s Big Slide Show, Part 2,” an hour-long presentation of images from Mr. Glover’s illustrated books accompanied by his dramatic narration” before a showing of his second feature It is Fine! Everything is Fine. On Saturday it’s the “Big Slide Show, Part 1” before a screening of his debut film What is It?. He will also be signing his latest book following both performances.

Saturday

Bergamot Station is having a Spring Fling Event with live music, tango and origami lessons, and plenty of art to check out in the galleries

Chairlift are playing at the El Rey Theatre

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is having a spoken word event for their current exhibition SKIN with artists Derrick Maddox, Linda Ravenswood and special guests Yosimar Reyes and Maceo Paisely ($5)

Tubing in the LA River may sound crazy- but it’s happening-L.A.ZY River is having a tubing event but you have to email them for the full details. You can also cheer from the sidelines or go to the opening event or after party. (free but bring your own tube)

Blanck Mass is at the Resident in the Arts District

Sunday

September Girls are playing at the Echo

MOCA’s Artists on Artists series continues, this time at the West Hollywood Council Chambers with Miranda July speaking about Catherine Opie and her current exhibition Catherine Opie: 700 Nimes Road  (free)

As part of Bach in the Subways, there is a Bach Marathon at Union Station with performances throughout the station as well as a dance performance and one that includes the Bob Baker Marionettes (free)

Mar 102016
 

Black Moth Super Rainbow- Windshield Smasher

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/10-3/13/16)-

Thursday

Hammer Museum is having a workshop titled Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking, which “introduces synergetics, a comprehensive energetic geometry system developed by (Buckminster) Fuller, through demonstrations and hands-on model building” (free with material provided)

DTLA Art Walk is back for its monthly event andcheck out SKYLINE 2016’s opening art and architecture event (running nightly until the 19th)

Lucius is playing a live set at Amoeba Records Hollywood to celebrate their new album Good Grief

Filmforum at MOCA Grand Ave is having an evening of video work by Carrie Mae Weems including her feature length Coming Up For Air, preceded by Afro-Chic ($12)

Eleanor Friedberger is playing at The Satellite

At REDCAT, Toronto piano virtuoso Eve Egoyan is performing “Earwitness”  a multimedia performance concert experience in which she plays compositions specially commissioned for piano and visuals ($20)

Friday

ArtNight Pasadena is back with its night of free museums, art shows, performances, music and more with free shuttles to all destinations

Music for Train Stations continues at Union Station- this week with a DJ set by Richard Cartier and a live performance by Electric Sound Bath, “a duo creating music as a meditation with traditional Nepalese singing bowl, acoustic bells, found sounds and modular synth”

PaleyFest begins tonight at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood with the cast of Empire and continues through 3/20 with a variety of current popular televisions shows and their actors and creators

Great Horror Movie Night is showing Poltergeist in the Griffith Park Old Zoo

Saturday

NELA (Northeast Los Angeles) Second Saturday Gallery Night is a great way to check out the area

The 10th Annual Santa Monica Airport Artwalk has live music and performances as well as open studios (free)

Theater artist Taylor Mac is having his performance event 24-Decade History of Popular Music at UCLA’s Royce Hall

Terry Malts is part of a lineup at the Echo that includes Lightning Bolt, Wax Idols and more for Force Field’s 10 Year Anniversary

Saturday and Sunday

Black Moth Super Rainbow are just one of the many, many, many bands playing the last two shows of the Burger x Observatory 5 Year Anniversary Show in Santa Ana. Slowdive, Black Lips, and Thee Oh Sees headline Saturday and Crystal Castles and The Orwells headline Sunday ($40/day or $70 both days)

Sunday

LACMA is celebrating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year and spring with a day of performances and a parade

Pure Bathing Culture are playing at the Echo with Pillar Point