About Halfway to the Top

Ownerless, the third release from country-tinged rockers Everest, draws plentifully from the mineral-fresh wells of Joe Walsh, The Flying Burrito Brothers and heirs apparent like Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, but never bothers to dig for an underground vein of its own. Though there’s no arguing lead vocalist Russell Pollard intently feels everything he’s singing, there’s a certain oomph, credulity—call it fire in the belly—missing from the songs’ content, perhaps arising from a set list sounding too safe, too often. The themes and melodies just aren’t focused and fully-formed enough to push the album’s condition beyond a standard, middling result. Read more…

By Owen Schumacher Posted in Reviews Everest, Ownerless

Amanda Palmer readies her new album with The Grand Theft Orchestra called Theatre Is Evil and unveils cover art and track listing. Read more…

By Nick Moffitt Posted in News

Mass entertainment company Live Nation has purchased LA based electronic music promotion HARD Events. Read more…

By Nick Moffitt Posted in News HARD Events, Live Nation

A New Zealand judge has declared that the raid on Kim Dotcom’s mansion and seizure of personal property was illegal and that the warrants were invalid. Read more…

By Nick Moffitt Posted in News Kim Dotcom, Megaupload

Watch Metallica play Ride The Lightning in its entirety from Atlantic City’s Orion Music and More Fest. Read more…

By Nick Moffitt Posted in News Metallica, Orion Music & More Festival

Muse’s new song “Survival” has been selected to be the main theme for the 2012 Olympic Games. For more information and a listen to the song  Read More. Read more…

By Nick Moffitt Posted in News MUSE

Festival season is in full swing! San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival has just announced it’s 2012 lineup, and as usual, it’s a great collection of dance and indie talent. Day one, held on Saturday October 13th, features headliners Girl Talk and The Presets, along with other greats Public Enemy, SBTRKT, Toro y Moi, Grimes and The Coup. Day two, held on Sunday October 14th on the other hand, features the first U.S. festival headlining spot for England’s The xx. They’re backed up by M83, Gossip, Best Coast, Divine Fits (new band featuring Britt Daniel of Spoon), Hospitality and Imperial Teen (featuring Roddy Bottum of Faith No More). Tickets are on sale via the festival’s web site right now. Full lineup details after the jump.

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By Raymond Flotat Posted in Top Story Best Coast, Girl Talk, M83, Public Enemy, SBTRKT, The Gossip, The Presets, The XX, Treasure Island Music Festival

The good folks at FADER never fail to impress with their free events. This year’s FADER Fort at SXSW featured one of the festival’s best performances, Santigold. Curiously, FADER nabbed the only LA-area show for the newly reunited band The Afghan Whigs for a free show as a part of their “Step Into The Black” event series put on by them and Captain Morgan last night on the Sunset Strip at a small venue called Bootsy Bellows. After announcing their reunion last February, the band have gone on to release a new cover song, announced a full slate of tour dates including stops at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and a slot curating All Tomorrow’s Parties New Jersey, but oddly, no proper ticketed performance in LA has been announced yet. Those lucky enough to catch the RSVP and line up early enough, saw the reunited band play (minus members Rick McCollum and Rick Nelson) in the most intimate space imaginable.
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By Raymond Flotat Posted in Reviews, Show Reviews The Afghan Whigs

Writer Alan Moore and photographer-turned-director Mitch Jenkins are teaming up to release a series of short films.

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By Moses Sumney Posted in News Alan Moore, Mitch Jenkins

There’s not much intro I have to give to this post. Basically, there’s a free party featuring good music and giveaways and you should be there.

….Wait, am I the only one who jumps at the phrases “free music” and “free party” and pretty much “free anything”?? Do the rest of you actually need details after hearing those words or something??

Fine. Well here they are:

Vans is teaming up with IAMSOUND to throw a bunch of sick ass free parties around the nation featuring artists I’m sure you’d be willing to shell out more than just a couple of bucks for. The party in LA features dancey indie electropoppers (did I just make up a word?) Yacht and local lo-fi rockers Papa. The night also promises a DJ set by resident LA cuties/band Kisses, interactive video installations and merch giveaways like customized Vans shoes, totes and tees.

Word on the street is there’ll also be a nail bar by Minx featuring customized Vans prints – whaaaat. So you can rock out, get free swag and get your nails prettied up? At the same time??? (Okay maybe not at the same time.) Either way: So. Down.

See you there.

Make sure to RSVP beforehands HERE

DEETS:

What: Vans Classic Summer Parties presented by IAMSOUND Records

When: July 7, 2012

Where: Bootleg Bar
2220 Beverly Boulevard  Los Angeles, CA 90057

21+

RSVP HERE

By Faith Xue Posted in Los Angeles