Usher (Entertainer)

Our Ten Most Anticipated Indie Albums For 2013

With the anticipated return of big-name indie bands like Phoenix, Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend this year, 2013 is shaping up to be big. But aside from the usual suspects, there are also some newcomers and reunited acts expected to make noise this year. Here are some albums we speculate may end up ... More >>

The Man Who Smelled Too Much

William Nowell got a windfall and got off the streets. The only problem were his neighbors -- and his foul odor

What's the Difference Between the EDM Scene and the Beat Scene?

Dance music is all the rage these days. That time you thought giant robots were battling at your recent family reunion? Nope, that was just your 12-year-old niece listening to dubstep. See also: *Moon Rocks: The Best High on Earth *What the Hell Is Trap Music (and Why Is Dubstep Involved)? But no ... More >>

Flying Lotus' Nocturnal Visions

Once believing himself destined to fail, the DJ-producer returns triumphant on his new album

Music Picks: Charli XCX, Polica, Esperanza Spalding and More

As Cirque du Soleil Show Michael Jackson The Immortal Returns to L.A., Choreographer Travis Payne Reflects on the King of Pop

It seems a shame to be talking to Travis Payne on the telephone, where he's a disembodied voice. Payne is a storied dancer, choreographer, producer and director who twice danced on tour with Michael Jackson, so it would have been great to see him, watch him move, even. See, maybe I could have talk ... More >>

KDAY, the Gangsta Rap Oldies Station, Breaks New Ground by Playing Music From the Bad Old Days

LMFAO 'Bikini Girl' Says She Was Fired For Being 'Big Boned'

Stephanie Arakel shook her thang on stage with LMFAO for the better part of the year in 2009, just as they were blowing up. Only 21 years old, she quit her job, strapped on a polka dot bikini, and traveled all over the country with them. You can see her downing drinks in the "Shots" music video, bel ... More >>

Aziatix - El Rey Theatre - 3/31/12

Aziatix, Dawen El Rey Theatre 3/31/12 Since producer Jae Chong formed Aziatix a year ago, they've been on the cover of Newsweek in South Korea, sold out a 10-city U.S. tour last year, hit No. 1 on Japan's R&B and Soul charts, reached No. 4 on the iTunes R&B and Soul chart and were in two showcases ... More >>

The Most Overrated Male Musician Sex Symbols

See also: Top 20 Sexiest Male Musicians of All Time: The Complete List Last week, we unveiled the Top 20 Sexiest Male Musicians of All Time. As usual, there were cries of "What about that one guy I think is hot?" We agree with some of them. Jim Morrison was a talented mess with serpentine hips that ... More >>

'Don't Stick Your Dick in My Mouth Before We've Kissed': Sheri Sanders' 10 Tips on Auditioning for Rock Musicals

Rebecca HaithcoatSheri Sanders​Inside the Lyric Theatre on La Brea, the compact Sheri Sanders is curled in a chair, squinting her eyes and smiling almost apologetically at the nervous girl in Uggs onstage who keeps forgetting her lyrics. "I hate to be a cunt," Sanders murmurs. "I hate to be a ... More >>

Meet Jahlli, the Gender-Bending Rapper-Producer Duo From Watts

See also: *Save Sessions LA *Syd the Kyd on Odd Future, Her Sexuality and Why She Hates the Word "Lesbian" When Jahcyy and Galli, the lyricist-producer duo Jahlli, are asked how they got together, Jahcyy's husky voice dips into a lower register. "Girls," she says. They might be the first male-f ... More >>

William Hung Speaks, Fresh Off Being Crowned The Greatest Musician Of All Time, In Any Genre

​See also: Top 20 Musicians of All Time, In Any Genre: The Complete List Last week we crowned former American Idol contestant William Hung the greatest musician of all time, in any genre, beating out luminaries including Beethoven, the Beatles, Michael Jackson and Guido D'Arezzo, the guy who ... More >>

Music Picks: Shelby Lynne, Marsha Ambrosius, John Scofield Quartet, Wiz Khalifa

Also, Leon Russell, Chris Brown, Azar Lawrence Quintet and others

Wavves of Pleasure: Indie Poster Boy Nathan Williams Makes Time For Recreation

Pooneh GhanaNathan Williams​See also: Wavves On How They Managed To Get Kicked Out Of Both The VMAs and Lil Wayne's Afterparty The decor of the Eagle Rock home Nathan Williams shares with his girlfriend, Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino, looks kind of like how his music sounds: fun, a little gr ... More >>

Music Picks: Agnostic Front, the Latebirds, Def Leppard, Jay Rock

Also, Kristeen Young, Diego Garcia, the Human League and others

Interview: will.i.am Discusses Science, Snoop's Quasi-Diss of Him, and the SNL Sketch Making Fun of Taboo and apl.de.ap.

​As we noted earlier in the day, Forbes does not consider the Black Eyed Peas a rap group. But that's okay, because will.i.am is a scientist! No, not a "hip hop scientist" who makes beats in the "lab." And, technically, not the real kind of scientist either. But, he thinks science is very im ... More >>

Music Picks: The Undertones, Prince, Eternal Summers, Check Yo Ponytail 2

Also, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tinie Tempah, Arctic Monkeys, Woodsman and others

Music Picks: Ornette Coleman, Gary Numan, Natacha Atlas

Also, Marnie Stern, Kristian Hoffman, Elton John & Leon Russell

Stage Raw: Rachel Rosenthal at 83

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSLATEST NEW REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on Poland, where theater is hipRACHEL ROSENTHAL AT 83 ​The Rachel Rosenthal Company (founded in 1989) is throwing a fundraiser to help celebrate the performance artist's 83rd birthday, past achievements and the upcoming publication o ... More >>

Stage Raw: L.A. shows NYC-bound

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSLATEST THEATER REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on Leonard Nimoy and Company of AngelsL.A. SHOWS HEADING EAST ​SoulArt Productions presentation of Alex Lyras' The Common Air - a nominee in last year's L.A. Weekly Theatre Awards solo performance award for its 2008 run at the Asylu ... More >>

A Conversation with Posdnuos of De La Soul: On Nike Run Mixes, The Current State of Hip-Hop and Oodles of O's

De La Soul, back in the day Only a handful of rap groups can be bandied about as G.O.A.T: Wu-Tang, Outkast, EPMD, Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, UGK, The Geto Boys, and De La Soul. If you need an introduction to the De La -- Posdnuos, Dave/Trugoy the Dove, and Maseo -- you obviously hav ... More >>

The B-Sides: Bishop Lamont Interview

Q: What was it like for you growing up in Los Angeles during the 80s? A: It was the LA of the Reagan administration. Drugs were really heavy in the streets at that time…more crack addicts…crack babies. It was a good time simultaneously because there was more creativity within the music and it ... More >>

Bonnie "Prince" Billy Invites You to Lie Down in the Light

In the flaccid world of indie rock, Will Oldham stands fully erect

Boyz II Men: A Philadelphia Story

The only thing these guys didn't do was cater

Neko Case: Deep Red Belle

She's an auburn-haired Caucasian woman of Ukrainian descent. Is Case also the blackest woman in indie rock?

Where To Eat Now

Politics Meets Street

Why are politicians and civic leaders bellying up to the eyebrow-raising 740 Club?

Where To Eat Now

Where To Eat Now

Bow Down!

Nine Inch Nails, with Bauhaus and Peaches at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, July 7

Music Picks

For Feb. 17 - 23

Courage, Cardigans, Kanye

At the moment, middle-class Kanye West is the hardest man in rap

The Ego Has Landed

A Small New Future

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

Radio Provocateur

Phil Hendrie conquers the AM dial one deluded caller at a time. So why can't he get his mug on TV?

Hassan Christopher: Moving Force

The Tell-Tale Tone

Talking with Lou Reed about sound, spirit and Poe

Five Not-So-Easy Pieces