Butthole Surfers

The 20 Worst Albums of the '90s: The Complete List

Sure, you had the Bill Clinton blowjob scandal, OJ, Pakistan and India going nuclear, mad cow disease, the Rodney King decision, and Titanic. But what made the '90s truly awful was its music. That's not to say that there weren't bright spots -- early Beck, say, or Ok Computer and much of hip-hop's g ... More >>

The 20 Worst Albums Of The '90s: 20-11

Sure, you had the Bill Clinton blowjob scandal, OJ, Pakistan and India going nuclear, mad cow disease, the Rodney King decision, and Titanic. But what made the '90s truly awful was its music. That's not to say that there weren't bright spots -- early Beck, say, or Ok Computer and much of hip-hop's g ... More >>

Fanatics! Henry Rollins' KCRW Show Tomorrow Night: David Bowie's "Lodger"'

KCRW Broadcast #195 for Saturday, December 22, 2012 See also: Henry Rollins: Gay Marriage Is Punk Rock Fanatics! It is week four (fo!) of our month of Bowie. Of the five albums we are checking out, for me, Lodger is the most interesting. Over the years, I keep listening to it, trying to get differ ... More >>

Henry Rollins: The Column! Justice, Texas Style

[Look for your weekly fix from the one and only Henry Rollins right here on West Coast Sound every Thursday, and come back tomorrow for the awesomely annotated playlist for his Saturday KCRW broadcast.] I was just in Texas for a show. Since 1981 I've done a lot of shows in Texas. Whenever I am the ... More >>

Here's The Full List of How Much Each Sunset Junction Band Was Supposed to Be Paid

In August Sunset Junction was denied a permit by the Board of Public Works, due to unpaid fees. This left everyone scrambling to get money they were owed, including ticket buyers, vendors, and bands themselves. Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance proceeded to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protec ... More >>

Sunset Junction Owes Nearly $1 Million to Artists, IRS and the City, According to Bankruptcy Filing

When the Los Angeles Board of Public Works refused to grant permits to the Sunset Junction Street Fair in August, hundreds of unpaid bills were left littered in the canceled festival's wake. The city wished to be paid up front for costs associated with the street fair; festival organizers scrambled, ... More >>

Fanatics! Henry Rollins' KCRW Show Tomorrow Night: New Track from Fall's Upcoming Album Ersatz GB

​KCRW BROADCAST #139 for Saturday, November 5, 2011 Fanatics! The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. At least that's what I've heard. For the first hour of our show, we will focus on music from the great state. I am in Austin, TX this weekend. I will be at the Fu ... More >>

Music Picks: Fucked Up, Dolly Parton, Ty Segal, Fitz & the Tantrums,

Also, Soundgarden, Iceage, Earth, Wu Lyf and others

Exclusive Interview: Sublime with Rome Talks New Album Yours Truly, Tour and a Slice of Humble Pie

Jena ArdellChilling with Rome, Eric and Bud of Sublime with Rome.​ We caught up with Sublime with Rome before they embarked on their summer tour with 311 to talk about their new album Yours Truly, which drops July 12. Here's what the laid-back trio had to say about their new album, their first ... More >>

From Hanson to Happy Hour: El Cid To Host New Stage At Sunset Junction 2011

Awkward family photos​Ever chock full o' surprises, organizers of L.A.'s annual Sunset Junction festival announced they've partnered with Silverlake landmark El Cid to host a new sixth stage at its 2011 festival. The news comes on the heels of the recently-announced Hotel Cafe stage at the f ... More >>

Psychic TV Live at SXSW: The Godfather/mother of Industrial Rock Rides Again

photo by Wendy GilmartinPsychic TV​ What: Psychic TV Where: Elysium, Austin TX When: March 15, 2011 Psychic TV and their outer-planetary transport trip blasted off Tuesday night with the gloriously pandrogynous Genesis P-Orridge back at the helm after years of professed retirement and perso ... More >>

Henry Rollins Column: How to Talk to Right Wing Talk Show Callers

Maura LanahanOur eminent columnist, Mr. Henry Rollins!​[The one and only Henry Rollins will be contributing a weekly column and far-reaching reportage to the music section of the LA Weekly. Look for your weekly Henry Rollins fix right here on West Coast Sound every Friday and make sure to tune ... More >>

Guest Blogger: Letters from Rasputina, Part 4

Guest Blogger: Rasputina's Melora​ [Rasputina's Melora Creager, the undisputed doyenne of cello-based, kinda-goth, steampunk-avant-la-lettre indie music, has graciously agreed to guest-blog for West Coast Sound in anticipation of their upcoming LA gig at the Troubadour, this Saturday, August 1 ... More >>

Interview: Seminal Deathrock Band Burning Image Hits LA for Halloween

​ Back in the early '80s, when deathrock was taking over California, a group of young guys from Bakersfield formed Burning Image. They released a 7" single and played with bands like Specimen, Dead Kennedys and Butthole Surfers. Years after their demise, Jello Biafra re-released Burning Image ... More >>

Rock Picks: Electric Daisy Carnival, Explosion in the Sky, Rodriguez

Also, DAT Politics, Mika Miko, Etta James and others

Kenneth James Gibson: Hollywood Shuffler

Techno DJ produces more beats than an EKG machine: "My whole thing is sort of chaotic and crazy"

SMMoA on Sunday: Mike Watt, Lee Ranaldo, Raymond Pettibon, others Celebrate Rock, Paper, Scissors Opening

FROM FRIDAY: Seriously. Take John Payne's advice below. Go to this. First of all, Animal Collective is sold out, and all your friends who will be there will be bragging in tomorrow about the AMAZING SHOW they saw at the Troubadour. You, however, will have a trump card. Background: Mike Watt, Ray ... More >>

Rock Picks: Everest, Mumiy Troll, Busta Rhymes

Also, Faun Fables, Chris Darrow tribute, Allen Toussaint and others

Seminal Indie Label Touch & Go Lays Off 20, Leaving Crystal Antlers Without a Label and PPM Without Distribution

Very very sad news in the world of true-blue punk rock. Estimable Midwest label Touch & Go announced today that it was laying off its 20 employees and scaling back its operations. The label, responsible for releasing some of the great post-punk records of 80s, 90s and 00s, played home to legends, i ... More >>

SXSW Postmortem...but first a word from our sponsors

Now you name your band Fuck Buttons and you figure: that'll keep the wolves of commerce at bay, right? Well, welcome to the brave new world of indie rock.

Moon Men

Echo Park psych-rockers feel connected to it all

Fashion Faux-Tel

And rebels with a cause

Stella

The voice at 2 a.m.

A Small New Future

ALEC HANLEY BEMIS on the casualties and survivors in the war between the Cynics and the True Believers

Saved by the Light

Too High To Die

Coming down with the Meat Puppets

Let It Be Beautiful

Secrets of the universe revealed by the Flaming Lips

Sons of the City

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have made an unlikely pop masterpiece by singing bittersweet songs of salvation that could have only been born in L.A.

Death Mix 2001

The Last Astronauts

The return of the Butthole Surfers

Flannel Surfing

This Is Our Music

The Napster museum of cultural heritage

Sound of the Taurus

Vintage soul to please the people

The Low L.A. Dee Da Life

A kaleidoscopic history of the L.A. scene based on our readers’ votes for the Top 20 clubs (listed in vaguely chronological order), from 1978 to 1998

The Six-Strings Mystique

Better living through metal