Category Archives: TVD Los Angeles

“Roadshow Revival: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash” is set to take over the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Father’s Day weekend, Saturday, June 15.

The fifth annual event will feature outlaw country, rockabilly, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, and Johnny Cash tribute bands, as well as a pin-up girl pageant, hot rods, custom cars, and motorcycles, Johnny Cash memorabilia, and vendors offering food, beverages, and collectibles.

There are a lot of great talents on the roster this year including Chris Shiflett (lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters, No Use For a Name), Junior Brown, country guitarist and singer who’s charted twice on the Billboard country singles charts, and The Americans, a Los Angeles-based original rock and roll and traditional American music band who recently appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Read More »

Thursday, April 18th The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) kicked off their 8th annual ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo, at the Loews Hollywood Hotel (formerly known as the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel) in Los Angeles, CA. Spanning 4 days, the event is the first and only national conference dedicated to songwriters and composers.

We started the day of panels with a bang (or should I say “Fireworks”) with California Girl and pop sensation keynote Katy Perry, who spoke with ASCAP EVP of Membership, Randy Grimmett. During the interview, Perry revealed she’ll be working hit producers Max Martin, Dr. Luke, and Greg Wells. She gave insight to her writing process, including a patented “word vomit” method:

“[Greg Wells] allows me to vomit words. Not that I can’t find that with others, but he just lets me [makes vomiting sound].”

She went on to say: ”Max and Luke push me the most. As a team we have certain strengths. With Max, it’s melody choices, Luke is production, and I’m topline and melody.”

Read More »

On Friday April 5th, innovative advertising agency 72andSunny proved they had their finger on the pulse by hosting an outdoor screening of Dave Grohl’s documentary Sound City and concert—featuring New York’s atmospheric indie rock band DIIV and Los Angeles’ own alternative darlings Dead Sara– co-curated by Dave.

Fittingly, the date coincided with the anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death, and the subtext of the night was a leather-clad, tattered jean, unwashed, amplified tribute to the legacy of grunge and its quintessential frontman. During his performance, lead singer and guitarist of DIIV, Zachary Cole Smith acknowledged from behind his reminiscent blonde locks and baggy garb that he was inspired to start the band after reading Cobain’s biography 2 years ago.

Hosted at 72andSunny’s unique new space (and interestingly, businessman/ film maker/ aviator Howard Hughes’ former offices) on the Hercules Campus in Playa Vista, the event the event carried a laid back festival vibe—Coachella extra light if you will—and a fitting precursor to the summer’s best outdoor art and music events.

Read More »

By DOMINIQUE MINIACI | There’s something really different going on in southern California. A community of artists collaborates and forms some of the best musical events in the country, including the Desert Daze Festival. They do it often, they’ve done it for years, and if you let them, they’ll implant the moon in you. Moon Block Party’s Desert Daze festival opens pineal glands on Saturday April 20th in Mecca, CA.

Have you heard of the Moon Block Party? I hadn’t, until I came to know its founder Phil Pirrone and the music from his inter-dimensional band JJUUJJUU last year. (Brooklyn’s a big borough, you can get lost in it.) So, I was over the moon to talk with Phil about Moon Block/Desert Daze, keeping shit real in the musical events scene, his amazing band JJUUJJUU and Beyond.

Greetings, Phil! Thanks for taking the time. Desert Daze is around the corner, your band JJUUJJUU’s first record just came out..what’s your sleep schedule like?

Sleep? Not sure I understand the question…

For anyone who hasn’t experienced a Moon Block Party event, how would you explain the overall vibe in one word?

Different.

Indeed. A lot of music events as they grow become corporatized and soulless over time. Your Moon Block Parties have been going on for a few years now, how do you keep the whole thing honest?

Good people put it together. We keep each other honest. Plus, the people who come to Moon Block events are like us, they want something else. They inspire us to keep making it better each time.

Read More »

Alexandra Starlight  here, answering the call of love & announcing a special TVD giveaway of my heart and arrow shaped red vinyl 7″ which releases TODAY!

I’m really exited to announce my brand new 7″, featuring two brand new singles about love, “Love Like Fire” and “Love Ain’t Easy” written in collaboration & produced by my main man, Zachary James!

These records are hand-made here in Los Angeles, produced in collaboration with my favorite record company Erika Records. As far as we know, Erika Records is the ONLY company that creates heart shaped vinyl with an arrow. These are actually 12″ records that are specially die cut into the shaped vinyl!

Read More »

The ringing in my ears from endless shredding, electronic drum pad fandangling, jazz fluting, and the brittle whooshing of hairsprayed rock locks ever so softly flapping against leather-studded trenchcoats in the breezeless Anaheim Convention Center is finally subsiding—so it must be time to recap …NAMM!

Considering there were 93,908 registrants for 2013 NAMM, held over four days from January 24 to 27, it was a dizzying pentatonic swirl of white noise, Whitesnake, and stage snakes.

So, I’m breaking my NAMM recap into sections: Stonehenge (ancient and mystical monuments), Tech Talk (gadgets and wizardry debuted at NAMM 2013 that musicians will hopefully find useful), Party Time! (fun stuff at NAMM), and You Go Girl! (repping women in music).

Read More »

Last Thursday night, at an intimate gathering of just 200 at The Sayer’s Club in Hollywood, Prince proved that he truly is king.

The anticipation was palpable pre-show, while celebrities like Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Minka Kelly mingled in the crowd amongst members of Prince’s band.

The late-night performance kicked off with Cameroonian artist and Prince protege Andy Allo taking center stage. She performed her new single “People Pleaser,” the single off her upcoming album Superconductor, executively produced by Prince. The track had everything you’d want and expect out of a Prince track: a super-funky, wah-laden guitar hook, killer horn lines, and an undeniable soul groove. Mid-song, Prince’s 11-piece horn section flooded center stage, really kicking it out with their stomping, swaying, and undeniable playing. Prince jammed on guitar at the side of the stage.

When the first song was over, Prince took center stage. Alhough he (and the rest of the band, in fact) wasn’t dressed in typical over-the-top fringe and metallic stagewear, he was still funky in black bells, a grey sweater and heels—commanding the attention of every person in the house and lending a more intimate vibe to the performance.

Read More »

Wednesday, Ellie Goulding took the stage at Amoeba Records in Hollywood, a day after her sold-out Troubadour show—which, it just so happens, you can catch in its entirety right here. 

Fans hidden behind rows of CDs and vinyl hollered the 25-year-old English singer’s name as she walked out to perform, accompanied by an acoustic guitarist and pianist.

Cell phones were drawn capturing the live show, and a sing-a-long during her single “Anything Could Happen” from the new album Halcyon proved that the audience in the room was truly filled with excited and supportive fans.

Available October 22 on vinyl, Ellie’s album Halcyon can be purchased for pre-order here before it hits your local store shelves.
Photos: Russell Ramos