Results tagged “myspace”

A Los Angeles federal judge tentatively threw out a jury's verdicts against a Missouri mother who used MySpace in a hoax directed towards a teenage girl who eventually killed herself. The trial about the out-of-state incident happened in Los Angeles because MySpace servers are located here. Judge H. Wu's decision will become final once it's in writing.

About 500 employees were slashed from MySpace's company roll call, CNET reported today. "Simply put, our staffing levels were bloated and hindered our ability to be an efficient and nimble team-oriented company," Owen Van Natta, CEO of the News Corp.-owned social site, said in a release. "I understand that these changes are painful for many. They are also necessary for the long-term health and culture of MySpace. Our intent is to return to an environment of innovation that is centered on our user and our product." Van Natta was hired in April and used to be the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook. MySpace will continue to employ around 1,000 people in the U.S.

The impending birth of her first baby didn't keep British-Sri Lankan rapper diva M.I.A. from hitting the stage at this year's Grammy's, and just a couple of days later she delivered her son. Although plans to roll the new mom onstage at this year's Academy Awards show didn't pan out (thank goodness?), she has just been added to the line up for next month's Coachella, ostensibly replacing fellow Brit Amy Winehouse, whose legal troubles are making crossing the pond a bit difficult.

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..."

So much of this holiday season is about giving ‘gifts’. It’s all so commercialized, bro. You’ve got gifts for kids, gifts for drinkers. You’ve even got gift ideas for people who sure as hell can’t afford to buy you a gift in return. Thanks but no thanks, douchetards. This year, it’s all about getting people shit they don’t need. And probably don’t even want. For stocking stuffers, I’m just getting everyone a picture of my wiener inside the stocking they’re holding on to. That’ll teach you to trust a twentysomething with limited income and anger management issues. Bro.

Just like many of his peers, T.I. has a roster of nicknames as long as the chain around his neck. One of the most popular of those nicknames is "The King of the South," but on Friday night, at the Key Club T.I. was simply the King.

MySpace is throwing two "secret" concerts, one at The Echo on Friday with Spiritualized and another with Trivium on Monday at the Whisky A Go Go. You have to befriend the Secret Shows profile to get the announcements via the bulletin board and usually they ask you to bring a printout of your profile with Secret Shows as one of your top friends. This time, they don't say it, but you might want to play it safe by doing so. Also, the free shows are on a first come, first served basis, so it's line waiting if you're hardcore about these bands. The announcements can be read here.

              

Last month, the local electropop duo Uh Huh Her (MySpace), consisting of Leisha Hailey, formerly of The Murmurs, and Carmila Grey, formerly of Mellowdrone (MySpace), performed at Nettwerk's The Sync in Hollywood.

Everyone loves a mystery. But Mondays turn into Fridays turn back into Mondays and it’s not long before you arrive at the sobering realization that the last time a good, old-fashioned whodunit inundated your methodical lifestyle was during a chance encounter with the collected works of Agatha Christie. Imagine your surprise, then, when going about your normal A.M. routine – coffee, toast, LAist (ahem), MySpace status update (mood: exanimate!) – you happen upon a peculiar friend request from someone called “The BSE.” Nary an identifier save a graphic of a fighter jet in flames, you click over to find a well-designed, visually appealing web page with a red, “Who is the BSE?” button in the upper right corner daring you to solve the riddle.

                     

On Friday night, The Damn Sons (MySpace), BlackBlack (MySpace), and The Like (MySpace) performed at the 6th St. Warehouse in Downtown LA.

According to AP, as reported on CNN, Lori Drew was indicted today in the case of the MySpace hoax. Lori Drew and cohorts allegedly set up a fake MySpace profile that romanced and then dumped 13-year old Meghan Meier. These actions are believed to have led to her suicide on October 16, 2006.

No, it was not Tom. MySpace founder Brad Greenspan's $2.9 million home was discovered burglarized on Saturday. Police say it may be related to all the recent cat burglaries in the Hollywood Hills. Greenspan's home is located at 2177 Sunset Plaza Drive.

First Nova Express Cafe? Now Largo? The good news, however, is that Largo's alleged closing is about opening a new space on La Cienaga according to bulletin board threads on www.fairfax-avenue.com and the Ditty Bops' website.

It's hard not to notice when Jeffree Star enters a room because he is wearing high heels, has bright pink shoulder length hair, is heavily tattooed from head to toe, and carries a large Louie Vuitton purse.

On Sunday evening, local band Midnight Movies (MySpace) performed on Part Time Punks (MySpace) at The Echo (MySpace), opening for Spectrum. Also on the bill was Chicago's Grimble Grumble (MySpace).

On Saturday evening, local green-minded band (and covergirls) The Ditty Bops (MySpace), with Jesca Hoop (MySpace), John Reynolds, and Kaveh Rastegar (MySpace), performed at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica.

The Guide to March Rock Music Residencies has been updated with a few more listings -- it seems as if residencies are catching on, which is a good thing. Meanwhile, Howlin Rain plays their last LA concert before a tour promoting their new album, Magnificent Fiend, that was released yesterday.

Don't get too excited, Hambone, the local stolen Hollywood dog made local celebrity via the internet, is not home...yet. But Hambone of Hollywood's reward is now up to ten thousand dollars - yes, you read that right - boosted by a $5K donation from Chris DeRose and Last Chance for Animals. Hambone's Dad just sent me the latest video update.

Our brain is going to explode with all the great choices tonight. From friggin' amazing jazz (see, we're not swearing) at UCLA to folk-punk sensibilities of The Hackensaw Boys at Tangier in Los Feliz (video after the jump), tonight is a bounty of gold. Also, Jim Bianco will be at Amoeba and it's the first night for Wednesday night March residencies.

Tuesdays are usually slow nights in LA for music and as bands prep to head Texas-way for SXSW, we'll probably see even fewer choices like tonight. But fewer doesn't mean worse. Mountain Goats and Jeffrey Lewis (great video below) play at the Troubadour tonight (and tomorrow), Working For A Nuclear Free City is back with another concert, this time at Cinespace (though it's a private premier party. Crash?) and LA Weekly says to head over to Glendale and check out The Scene.

Despite SXSW starting up this week with 100+ Los Angeles based bands heading over there, residencies are growing stronger and more venue-diverse across the line, especially on Monday nights where the volume makes it hard to choose from. Here's to a great month of residencies, rock on.

Some may know that there is the LA Homeless Blog, written by the CEO of People Assisting the Homeless (PATH). Tonight, the Hotel Cafe is hosting a benefit concert for the organization called Rock and Run for Charity. The name is not merely because the Marathon happened this morning. Sara Radle from Calamity Magnet and Chris Radle from Supersport both ran it and then will be playing later tonight. Talk about a lot accomplished in one day.

Holy Fuck, A Place to Bury Strangers, In Waves @ Spaceland (Silver Lake)

Last Thursday evening, photographer/director Octavio "Winkytiki" Arizala (MySpace) celebrated the release of his Vivid-Alt (MySpace) movie at the Redwood Bar & Grill in Downtown LA.

Last Tuesday, local singer/songwriter Jesca Hoop (MySpace), whose album was number one on Nic Harcourt's Top Ten Albums of 2007, performed a solo acoustic show at Temple Bar (MySpace) in Santa Monica, opening for Van Hunt (MySpace).

Earlier this month, San Diego-based singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman (MySpace) and G. Love & Special Sauce (MySpace) performed a two-night stint at the House of Blues in West Hollywood as part of their current tour. The duo collaborated on the song "Beautiful", from G. Love's album .

A few months ago LAist interviewed writer/creator/director Marshall Herskovitz about his web series Quarterlife, and lo and behold, the series debuts on NBC tonight! MySpace, which showcased Quarterlife has a new show of the hidden-camera comedy variety debuting this week as well, "Special Delivery", which will have episodes twice weekly. From these new media developments we turn to television's ancient past on today, Jackie Gleason's birthday, JackieGleason.com has been launched with rare stills and clips of "The Great One" - a true TV pioneer.

As we said yesterday in this column, Robert Francis fell ill earlier this month, prompting the cancellation of his Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge. Good news, though, the new favorite local artist of ours is playing tonight at El Rey at 8:45 p.m. with the Australian Missy Higgins performing after. There's no better way than letting you get to know Francis via a few songs below.