Last month, Joe Fielder, whose local music blog Radio Free Silver Lake has been in existence since February 2006, celebrated the second anniversary of his monthly Let's Independent! event, at Boardner's (MySpace) in Hollywood, with performances by Death to Anders (MySpace), The Savages (MySpace), and Xu Xu Fang (MySpace). Showcasing the best and most promising artists from the local indie music scene, past editions of Let's Independent! have included Great Northern (MySpace), The Movies......

Julia Fordham | Photo by freefall 2007 via flickr If you cannot make it to hear the amazing jazz vocalist, Julia Fordham, at The Roxy tonight, opening up at Hotel Cafe tonight is Tiffany Randol, who we caught at one of strong>Alex & Sam's Tangier shows. The front woman of NYC based glam rock band, Valeze, has now gone solo singer/songwriter style, making Los Angeles her second home, and is bringing out a new......

Everest at The Echo | Photo by Shayna Peveler via their MySpace page Last night we checked out What Made Milwaukee Famous playing to a small crowd at Spaceland. Simply put, amazing. We're shocked that more people were not there. Lucky for us, luck for you, they have four more shows within the next nine days here in LA starting Thursday at the Silverlake Lounge. "Sultan" - What Made Milwaukee Famous &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/zfiles/sultan.mp3"> "Resistance" -......

Dan Deacon at SXSW | Photo by Tod Seelie Thanks to those who responded yesterday to help make this LAist column more useful. You can still chime in, it's never too late. Today, here's a short form list of our picks with select MP3s embedded after the jump. THE LIST The Hectors, Coco B's and You Me & Iowa @ Silverlake Lounge | Free Why? @ Tangier (Read our preview from yesterday) | $10......

US Figure Skating champion Christopher Bowman, 40, was found dead yesterday in a room at the Budget Inn in North Hills. The former child actor and successful figure skater in the late 80s and early 90s was also known for his powerful struggles with alcohol and drug use. His death is being investigated as a possible overdose. A fire that took place last night at San Jose Edison Academy, a West Covina charter school, is......

I'm still waiting for all your hot happy hour tips, Los Angeles! We'll be posting happy hour listings at least a few times weekly in 2008; send your secret spots and recommendations my way at carrie@laist.com. And besides, what better way to get 2008 started than with some cheap booze at some happening city spots? Here's a few more we managed to dig up this week: Miss T's Barcade, Koreatown, Happy Hour 5-9 pm:......

For those interested in entertainment I might liken to wrist-slitting, there's Disney on Ice or George Lopez live at the Nokia. For everyone else there's a few things going down around town. FILM Scarface (1932) scribe Ben Hecht's moody 1927 film Underworld screens tonight at the Silent Movie Theatre. "Viennese director Josef von Sternberg’s gritty revenge narrative follows the turbulent romantic and criminal phiursuits" of felon Bull Weed, and the film is often considered "the......

Jean Paul Yamamoto @ outside Vroman's, Pasadena, 7/27/07 Social Distortion @ House of Blues (Hollywood) Nu-Tra, Jean Paul Yamamoto, Capitol Radio, The Fuxedos @ Safari Sam's Io Echo, Mighty Six Ninety, Jason Eldredge @ The Troubadour Castledoor, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra @ Boardner's Chanticleer @ Walt Disney Concert Hall Marvelous Toy, One Trick Pony, Sam and Alex @ Silverlake Lounge The Kris Special, Get Set Go, Stevenson Ranch Davidians @ The Echo Cousin Lovers......

KITSCH: The Charles Phoenix Holiday Jubilee returns to REDCAT for the next four evenings. LA kitsch expert Charles Phoenix brings together an evening of live comedy, including the Bob Baker Marionettes, roller rink organist Dominic Cangelosi and a few other surprises. The entertainment's all in combination with his "Retro Holiday Slide Show," comprised of slides he found at area thrift shops and flea markets. 8 pm // REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall //......

Morrissey @ The Palladium Gwar, CKY, Vains of Jenna @ The Wiltern Aesop Rock, Black Moth Super Rainbow @ Henry Fonda Theater Kool & The Gang @ Cerritos Center Mickey Avalon @ Boardner's Dark Star Orchestra @ El Rey English Beat, The Disrepair @ Key Club Bloodcat Love, Army Navy @ The Viper Room Airborne Toxic Event, Low vs Diamond @ Echoplex Nellie McKay @ Largo Genesis @ Hollywood Bowl Berlin @ The Canyon......

I swore I had never been to Boardner's before, but I realized I was completely wrong as soon I entered the dark bar. I had never explored the depths of the sprawling bar and so I was surprised to discover a small outdoor venue in the back. Amidst the "posh" clubs and red carpets of Hollywood Boulevard, a slew of fantastic LA bands performed with emphatic precision. Signal Hill opened the show with an......

Biz Markie, Fat Mac @ Key Club Deftones @ The Gibson The Ventures @ Santa Monica Pier The Mooney Suzuki, Photo Atlas @ Spaceland David Lovering, Monsters Are Waiting, Mellowdrone, Gliss @ Roxy The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo Xu Xu Fang, Secretary Bird @ The Echo The Young Royals, Dizzy Riders @ Boardner's The Album Leaf @ El Rey Azur, Ruido De Fondo, 5%, Jubal, Tres Colores @ Safari Sam's......

Joe Fielder’s three ring indie-circus took to Boardner’s last night for the monthly Radio Free Silverlake event, “Let’s Independent.” With an entry price of FREE, the place was packed. Outdoor, under the tent by candelabra light, Bonnie and Clyde played silently on the giant screen and LAist henchmen lurked and lingered, collecting the vital details and the choicest informations as they pertain to the music and the masses. Also, we brought a flask of Nicaraguan......

Sean Lennon @ The Roxy The Blood Brothers @ The El Rey The Nightwatchman, Buddy @ The Hotel Cafe Xiu Xiu, Sunset Rubdown @ The Troubadour The Prix, Radars to the Sky, Eagle & Talon @ Boardner's HDR, Anathema, Melotia, Conner, The Wandering Sons @ Viper Room Sasquatch, Smash Fashion, Dark Ages, Sweet Evil @ Silverlake Lounge 8mm, Wait Think Fast, Ezra Reich @ Spaceland Adult, Erase Eratta, @ Safari Sam's......

Joe Fielder's Radio Free Silverlake, with support from KXLU and Sea Level Records, has been presenting a monthly, indie music night called Let's Independent at the lovely and historic Boardner’s in Hollywood. Last Tuesday’s unwashed-hair trifecta included local acts, Tigers Can Bite You, The Black Pine and Let’s Go Sailing. TCBY (heh) went on first and went on loud, but did not actually come to life until halfway through the set when they energized......