Live Show Reviews

Live Review: Steel Panther - The Key Club, Hollywood

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:52:14

Metal Skool, now re-named Steel Panther, remains a Monday night ritual in Hollywood. They're the Sunset Strip's most purely "RAWK" cover band, and they turn the time machine's dial to 1986 every Monday at the stroke of midnight. Remember "K-Billy's Super Hits of the '70s" in Reservoir Dogs? Well, Steel Panther's the '80s equivalent of that, and ...more

Air Traffic

Live Review: Elbow, Air Traffic - Avalon - Los Angeles, CA

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:38:25

In their very first tour of the United States, UK natives, Air Traffic impressed everyone with their piano driven rock tunes, youthful enthusiasm and boyish good looks. If you haven’t heard Air Traffic yet, don’t fret, odds are that in the near future you’ll be seeing and hearing much more of them. Their music is pleasant, and uncannily contagious. ...more

Camp Freddy

Live Review: Camp Freddy - The Roxy, Hollywood

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:00:02

Hollywood's notorious for cover bands. In fact, L.A.'s premier cover band, Metal Skool, recently renamed Steel Panthers, have become the hottest Monday night attraction on the Sunset Strip. They sell out the Key Club almost every week with a set that spans everything '80s, from Journey to Poison. It's largely throwback shlock, but it's all good, ...more

Paddy Casey

Live Review: Paddy Casey, KT Tunstall - The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:48:29

Paddy Casey is a charming young Irish man who will make you want to pick him up and put him in your pocket once you've heard his bittersweet folk rock. His Cinco de Mayo set at the Wiltern was riveting, captivating and comedic to say the least. Opening with the song "Sweet Suburban Sky," he commented ironically that he had gotten his "happy song" ...more

The Verve

Coachella 2008: Surfer Sounds, Electro Thumps and Rock Titans

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:56:46

Day One: The crowd was light, getting into the venue was a breeze, and - wtf? - it was freezing at night. Coachella on a Friday was an interesting experience. Since the festival only expanded to three days last year, I hadn’t yet made a Friday appearance. I was wondering how it might be given the fish-out-of-indie-water named Jack Johnson ...more

Kanye West

Live Review: Kanye West, Rihanna - Nokia Theater, Los Angeles

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:37:42

At the first soldout Los Angeles stop of "The Glow in the Dark Tour," minus a big thank you, Kanye West said next to nothing to the crowd. That's because he truly doesn't have to say a thing to anyone anymore. He just needs to perform. That's what he does best, and if last night's show was any indication, West may very well be one of the best. ...more

Jay-Z

Live Review: Jay-Z & Mary J. Blige - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Irvine

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:19:15

"The girl working the other beer line is way hotter. Let's get in that one," exclaimed an Abercrombie-clad attendee of the Irvine stop of the "Heart of the City" tour: Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige's juggernaut spring jaunt. That's typical behavior for Orange County dudes. Watch any lame TV show about The OC for proof. Nevertheless, that remark's a sign ...more

Lady Antebellum

Live Review: Lady Antebellum - The Key Club, Los Angeles

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:43:03

In early 2006, three individuals came together to create the new country sensation, Lady Antebellum. While Lady A fans patiently awaited the release of their debut album, the band quickly became the talk of the town. They have been nominated for an ACM award for “Top New Group” and toured with award-winning country artist, Martina McBride. Their ...more

Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi - Staples Center, LA

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:57:26

It's been nearly two decades since Bon Jovi delivered America their first dose of "Bad Medicine." Now it seems that a healthy shot of country is just what the doctor ordered. Making their third sold-out Southern California performance in less than a week, ...more

Scars On Broadway

Scars on Broadway - The Whisky, Hollywood

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:55:11

"Come eat some chemicals with me," screamed Daron Malakian, the creative mastermind behind System of a Down, and now, Scars on Broadway. That's an invitation that 90 percent of the packed crowd in Hollywood's famous Whisky-a-go-go was gladly ready to take him up on. However, it was merely the refrain from one of Scar's amazing new tracks and ...more