Mica "Mika" Penniman

Porn Star Karaoke at Sardo's: A Valley Industry Tradition, Also Featuring Fake Bono

Paul T. BradleyNicki Hunter and her superfan: a night's expectations achieved.​ We'll get to (Fake) Bono in a minute. Ok, you know that one where the librarian loses the glasses and becomes the master of all things sexual? All it takes is a change in music and a little lighting...and voila! ... More >>

The Unbearable Frustration of Being Mika (at the Palladium)

By Gustavo Turner Click here to view a slide show of Timothy Norris' photos of Mika at the Palladium. Halfway through his set last Friday at the Hollywood Palladium British would-be pop superstar Mika unveiled "Touches You," one of the shiniest tracks on his slick new album The Boy Who Knew Too ... More >>

Mika Miko Announce Release Date for We Be Xuxa on PPM Records

Mika Miko: They be xuxa. Given that they've been around since 2003, it's kinda shocking that LA's Mika Miko have released only one proper full-length. Yeah, they've had their cassettes and demos and 7-inches and compilation appearances and their fantastic 666 EP on Post Present Medium. Last year's ... More >>

Election '08: The Night Before Christmas

I have a special guest blogger today. His name is Justin Warfield. You may know him as the frontman and songwriter for the great band She Wants Revenge. He's a very cool guy who has an interesting and emotional take on this election. His post is below. Also, here's a link to my piece on socialism, o ... More >>

Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2007 (#20-16)

20. Jens Lekman-Night Falls Over Kortedala [Secretly Canadian] On first listen, Jens Lekman reminds you of Morrissey. Like the ex-Smith's frontman, the 26-year old Swede's got a rich baritone warble, a sly wit and a penchant for moony-eyed romanticism. But that's where the similarities stop. Lekma ... More >>

BBB (Big, Bold and Beautiful)

The clouds have parted and the birds are chirping what sounds like Japanese power pop. SXSW being an industry event I attend my first industry panel, "Idiots Unite!" (The idiots, of course, being anyone involved in this crazy business of show.) David Katznelson, president of Birdman Recording Group, ... More >>

Mika, Superhero in Red Levis

EARLIER IN THE EVENING I caught an exuberant, colorful, hooky, melodic, absolutely flat-out life-affirming set by Mika, a glam-piano man who approximates a marriage of Queen, Elton John and Erasure. Mike is my new hero, and I will do my best to make sure the world hears his message of fun and passio ... More >>

Pop 'n' Stuff

After the Lights Go Down

What's up at AFI Fest 2004

Isn't It Romantic?

LaBute's Possession may be; Chabrol's Merci Pour Le Chocolat's anything but