This week didn't seem to be as hot as predicted, but this week's classical pick is packing some heat! Which is literally the case here, since they will have fireworks at the end of the show this Thursday at the Hollywood Bowl. The program has a distinctly Eastern flavor, with music from Russian and Chinese composers, with the world famous pianist Lang Lang and LA Phil's Assistant Principal cellist Ben Hong as the soloists. The......

The original Rutles reunited for the first time! Well, they actually reunited for the movie showing previous to this one. And they probably had to have a meeting to discuss things, perhaps they went to tea together beforehand, so actually, this is the one of the first of many first times the Rutles reunited - that day" Monday The Mods and Rockers Film Festival pulled out all the stops, and reunited The Rutles for......

Photo courtesy of travelin librarian via flickr One of my favorite films of 2007 arrives to DVD today, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. I know what some of you are thinking--why would I want to watch a documentary about grown men competing at Donkey Kong? To that question I can only say, "Trust me. You won't be sorry." Like all great films, King of Kong is about much more than its......

a writer's perspective I’m not sure why, but there is such a difference between 5am and 6am. When I show up to picket at 6, it feels like it’s early in the morning. Today, when I pull up at Warner Brothers just before 5, it feels like it’s the middle of the night. It’s dark. It’s freezing. I drink 5 cups of coffee, not to wake up, but to stay warm. It doesn’t work......

Okay, so for October, let me share with you my scariest movie experience, which was the original Dawn of the Dead. ...Good God this movie scared the hell out of me. For some reason my parents decided it was okay to rent this and watch it all together as a family when I was in fifth grade. I am still confused about why this happened, but okay, whatever. There's a good plot summary here, but......

I confess to being somewhat of a geek. I read Zapp comics, collect vinyl records and can recite Monty Python sketches verbatum. Which I guess makes me a "stoner-variety" geek. I am not a "braniac-geek" of the chess club, sci-fi variety. I don't watch the Sci-Fi channel unless TiVo decides I have to watch Outer Limits. Because TiVo is my god and must be obeyed. I picked up The Lost Room in the video store......

Artist: Sunset Rubdown Album: Random Spirit Lover Label: Jagjaguwar Release Date: October 9th, 2007 Sunset Rubdown is the brainchild of Spencer Krug, member of major indie band Wolf Parade, and seemingly half a dozen other outfits. Instead of the pseudo-dance rock of Wolf Parade, we have a much more lyrically-driven product in Sunset Rubdown. Krug's curious copious screeds are lengthy and complex, and run the gamut of fable-telling ("The Mending of the Gown") to nearly......

Before catching The Simpsons this past weekend, this LAist poster had to sit through -- not just one -- but four lame ass trailers. Usually, you get a 50-50 chance of seeing at least one good trailer...because, now call us crazy, but isn't the purpose of a movie trailer to entice people to actually go see the film? At the very least, aren't we supposed to say, "Yeah, the trailer's the best part of......

This might be a holiday week(end), but LA's theatre scene never rests. Here are this week's five picks: The Catskill Sonata Veteran writer/director/actor Paul Mazursky directs this play about a bohemian (read: leftist) group of writers, artists and musicians who gather at a Catskill hotel in the 1950s. But times are a' changing this particular summer because of McCarthy's blacklist. Matrix Theater 7657 Melrose Ave., L.A Opens Saturday at 8 pm. Runs Fridays and......

586 New Releases on the wall, 586 New Releases! Take 16 down, pass em' around... Monty Python - Monty Python and the Holy Grail [Bonus Tracks][REMASTERED] (Sony Legacy) Sly and the Family Stone - Collection [Box Set] (Sony) CocoRosie - Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (Touch & Go) Madlib - Other Side: Los Angeles (DeAf Dumb & Blind) Blonde Redhead - 23 (4AD) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (Saddle Creek) Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers (Nonesuch)......

OUT TODAY: Aereogramme - My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go (Sonic Unyon) Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Men Belinda Carlisle - Voila [Bonus Disc] (Rykodisc) Bloc Party - Weekend in the City (Vice) Chicken Shack - Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (Blue Horizon) Deerhunter - Cryptograms (Kranky) Dexys Midnight Runners - Projected Passion Revue (Umvd Import) Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five (Zedtone) Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High......

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of Rock and in the face of Roll, to join together you, dear LAist reader, and this New Music Tuesday in holy Matrimony. This mystical union is not to be entered into lightly, or unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly (ha), and in the fear of the reaper. More cowbell. L'chaim. OUT TODAY: .38 Special - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (A&M)......

Let's take a look back at a week that raised this Zen koan: if Kevin Federline got into a wrestling ring with a wrestler, who would you root for? Austinist was in an entertainment state of mind as they covered the dickens out of the Austin Film Festival, depicted all the Big 12 football coaches as South Park characters, and interviewed Jose Gonzalez. Chicagoist talked about the passion as they bid adieu to Bell's......

Of the hundreds of shows going down in LA this week, heres two that we're thinking about checking out. The Grates at Spaceland tonight. Giddy, fun, silly, and adorable, the Aussie quartet was recently in Vancouver in support of their new record "Gravity Wont Get You High" where they charmed the locals: Near the end of their set, Patience got off the stage and sang "Rock Boys" while waving around one of those ribbons......

LAist made the mistake of tuning in to Fox's Kelsey Grammer presents: The Sketch Show (they might want to trim that title...or the whole show) last night, and we will forever be longing to have those wasted 30 minutes returned to our lives. Apparently someone at Fox had the brilliant idea that this successful British comedy show in the vein of "Monty Python" and "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" could survive an American version, but......

Despite the gorgeous, sunny weekend, Monday brings gloom once again. LAist won't pretend we're not bummed about that, but I guess we'll have to learn to get over it. • Strange bedfellows tonight at The Echo, when Mike Stinson performs with former Fear lead singer Lee Ving and special guests Hillstomp Blues. Admission is free and begins at 8:30 PM. [21+] • The duo known as Handsome Boy Modeling School (Prince Paul and Dan......

We have a blister on our right little toe, eyes chronically bigger than our stomach, a bit of a hangover, and 399 pictures uploaded so far onto our trusty iBook. But, no matter: We love New York! First off, we have to apologize to the fine folks at Gothamist and Six Apart, because we had to forsake their Happy Hour out of sheer exhaustion. LAist had a few too many $4 martinis yesterday in......

Monday has crept stealthily back around, dashing all of LAist's hopes about sleeping in. In compensation, here are the happenings around town tonight. At the Hotel Cafe, see Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley in his other band, The Elected, peforming with Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis. The show starts at 9:00 PM. But if Monday means you require a laugh or two, head to the New Beverly Cinema to see a Monty Python double......