Toys That Kill @ Meat Market Garment Factory

It’s high praise for a band to get compared to ’80s pop punks Descendents, and fellow Los Angeles County melodic-punk vets Toys That Kill share a similar backstory. Todd Congelliere previously fronted F.Y.P., a hardcore band with a rotating lineup. F.Y.P. followed a strategy employed by Descendents: changing the band’s…

Take Cover: Bears of Manitou Cover Damien Rice

Local folksters Bears of Manitou have been covering Damien Rice since the band first formed. “He [Gabe Williams] said that he’d been practicing ‘Volcano,’ and I love that song so much,” says guitar/guitarist/pianist Maria Sais de Sicilia. “It was just crazy, the first time we played it. It felt so…

Nadia Ali at Monarch Theatre, 5/26/12

Nadia Ali Monarch Theatre Saturday, May, 26 Better than: dishing out hundreds of dollars to see Katy or Britney, only to find out there’s no room to dance. Thanks to Comicon, downtown was a great place to people watch last night. I spotted a rickshaw-driving Darth Vader, girls with cat…

Throwback Thursday: TLC

Tupac’s hologram appearance at Coachella sparked all sorts of buzz, from the Hologram Tupac Twitter to the exclusive all-hologram Coachella lineup. And, sure, it would be pretty rad to see Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, and Bob Marley & the Wailers on the same bill, but Goldenvoice would…

Wetter by the Dozen

Nothing says summertime like lounging in the sun and living it up poolside. Both activities are encouraged at Wet ‘n’ Wild’s Memorial Day bash, which celebrates our nation’s heroes and the park’s shift to daily operation. All rides and attractions will be open, so vets and civilians alike can work…

Take Cover: Darkness Dear Boy Covers Fugazi

See also: Fugazi: Five “Waiting Room” Listening Essentials It’s usually a safe bet to cover an artist that influenced a band’s sound, so Darkness Dear Boy opted for some Fugazi. “I’d say we’re rock, reggae, punk, and a little honky tonk. With Fugazi, you’ve got the punk and rock,” says…

Pennywise: New Album, New Singer, Same Contentious Vibe

Punk and hardcore bands aren’t usually known for lineup stability, but Hermosa Beach, California, rockers Pennywise had a pretty solid run for their first 20 years of existence. Beyond the death of bassist Jason Matthew Thrisk (they dedicated “Bro Hymn” to him) Pennywise’s lineup remained solid as the band toured…

R.I.P. Donna Summer; The Queen of Disco Succumbs to Cancer

It’s been a week of sad news: The auto world lost Carroll Shelby, Vidal Sassoon’s passing shook up the fashion realm, and Mary Kennedy is once again stirring up rumors of the Kennedy curse. Today, the world of music has lost another great voice. Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco…

Throwback Thursday: What is “Orgcore Punk?”

We’ve taken a look at the bands that dominated the ’90s with chart topping singles and one hit wonders, but this week, we’re doing something different. The term “orgcore” may have you scratching your head more than a cultural institution like Green Day, but it’s always been my favorite subgenre…

Kitty Pride

Cats are evil. That’s the only fitting explanation as to why something so cute and furry would take such visible pleasure in shitting outside its litter box and systematically breaking every glass item in our house. Fortunately so-called cat whisperer Jackson Galaxy possesses powers beyond our own that make him…

Take Cover: Mill’s End Covers Whiskeytown

Before Ryan Adams was winning (and breaking) hearts with albums like Heartbreaker and last year’s strong Ashes & Fire, he was a member of the seminal alt-country act Whiskeytown. Whiskeytown had a good six-year run and helped define the genre’s sound and influenced a number of bands. “A lot of…

Gwen Stefani Rules (As a Rude Girl and/or Pop Princess)

I’m glad I grew up in the ’90s. I had strong, independent, beautiful women as musical role models, and they ruled the airwaves. The Spice Girls preached girl power, Lilith Fair paraded feminine gusto across the country, and No Doubt , fronted by Gwen Stefani, assured us that being treated…

Peachy Keen

There’s something sweet, decadent, and juicy about the warmer seasons, and it’s not just because we can sport all our sweat-stained sundresses from last summer. Some tasty fruits are back in season, too. And while we like apricots, cherries, kiwis, strawberries, peaches are perhaps the most succulent of them all…

Club Candids: Dani Danger’s Going-Away Party at Olive Branch

Body-modification superstar Dani Danger is moving to Hollywood, but in gregarious fashion, freaky folks gathered to wish her well with a huge party. Tempe Mediterranean restaurant Olive Branch was transformed on Saturday, May 5, morphing into a sight-to-see circus. Pink-haired gals dressed as flappers and puffed on long, elegant cigarette…