Events for May 9-15, 2013

Get with THE PROGRAM

THURSDAY, MAY 9

MUSIC

Pokey LaFarge @ Carpenter Performing Arts Center (Long Beach)
Join the St. Louis-based musician and songwriter as he leads the South City Three through an evening full of his trademark blend of country blues, ragtime and western swing. LaFarge's songs have the ability to transport listeners to eras past, but don't mistake him for a simple nostalgia act. His infectious energy and keen musicianship are utterly timeless. The night is part of the Carpenter Center's Cabaret Series, so you can opt to add a three-course meal to your experience.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

FILM

In Theaters This Week
Aftershock stars Eli Roth as an American tourist in Chile in the Nicolás López-directed horror/suspense thriller; The Baz Luhrmann adaptation of The Great Gatsby finally releases in theaters, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton, and is one film that is truly meant to be seen in all its 3D glory in a theater; Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington and David Alan Grier are hilarious in Peeples. Also in theaters: Assault on Wall Street; Desperate Acts of Magic; He's Way More Famous Than You; Java Heat; One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das; Sightseers; Venus and Serena

MUSIC

Touché @ The Echoplex (Echo Park)
The L.A. duo of Alex Lilly (the bird and the bee, Obi Best) and Bram Inscore (Beck, Thurston Moore) celebrate last week's release of their debut album, It's Fate, with a show at one of their usual haunts, the Echoplex. With their unexpected beats and trippy vocals, they make for a unique soundtrack to an evening. One thing that you can assume will happen, though, is the eruption of an all-out dance party throughout the club.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

COMEDY

Bill Maher @ Terrace Theatre (Long Beach)
For the past seven years, there has been one constant to my weekends: "Real Time with Bill Maher." Whether I watch it live on Friday night or at some point over the following two days, the comedian and politics satirist's monologues, witty banter and final New Rules bits never fail to make me laugh even if I don't always agree with everything he says. His stand-up specials are hilarious, too, so seeing him for a full live set is going to be a guaranteed good time.

FILM

Alien @ Electric Dusk Drive-In (Downtown)
I know it's crazy, but being the gigantic horror-movie chicken that I am I just barely watched the Ridley Scott sci-fi/horror classic for the first time a few months ago. Although it was released 34 years ago, the film still holds up today; it successfully had me holding my breath in petrified anticipation and hiding my eyes at certain parts. Whether it's your first or 15th viewing, being engulfed by the darkness of Downtown at night watching the suspenseful moments and performances from Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Harry Dean Stanton will leave you breathless.

MUSIC

The Laurels @ The Satellite (Silver Lake)
The Aussie quartet is know for their mind-blowing live shows, so if you haven't witnessed them live now is the chance to see them up close and personal at the Satellite. They just released their U.S. debut, Plains, last month, and the fuzzy, dreamlike atmosphere of the 10 tracks grab you at the get-go. Also on the line-up for the night are Acid Mothers Temple and Tjutjuna.

SUNDAY, MAY 12

FILM

The Sound of Music @ The Aero (Santa Monica)
Psycho/Mommie Dearest @ The Egyptian (Hollywood)
After taking your mom out to brunch, you can relive childhood memories of singing along with Maria (Julie Andrews) and the seven Von Trapp children as they traipse through the hills that are alive with The Sound of Music, run from Nazis and become a whole family once again. Or, perhaps you and your mom like films with a darker edge? Then the double feature of Alfred Hitchcock's horror classic Psycho and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in cult favorite Mommie Dearest is sure to hit the spot.

TUESDAY, MAY 14

DRINK

Eastside Critter Crawl @ La Cuevita (Highland Park), Thirsty Crow (Silver Lake) and Bigfoot Lodge (Atwater Village)
From 7 p.m. to midnight, Lyft is offering rides between each of the three locations, so you can drink and be merry all night long without having to worry about driving. Start off with some free tacos and $5 margaritas at La Cuevita (formerly Little Cave). Then partake of $5 absinthe cocktails at Thirsty Crow and $5 Jameson at Bigfoot Lodge. If you successfully make it to all three bars, you will receive a shot on the house.

MUSIC

The Egg and Sophie Barker @ The Satellite (Silver Lake)
British electronic music pioneers the Egg and Sophie Barker (of Zero 7, Groove Armada) join forces for a West Coast tour that stops at the Satellite tonight. The Egg released their latest, Something To Do, at the end of last year, while Barker has new songs from the forthcoming Gold Dust EP as well as the full-length follow up to her first solo album, 2011's Seagull. Aside from performing separate sets, they will treat the crowd to some classics, such as "Walking Away," together.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

BOOKS

George Lopez @ Barnes & Noble (The Grove)
The comedian/actor released his latest book, I'm Not Gonna Lie: And Other Lies You Tell When You Turn 50, last week and will be on hand to sign copies tonight at the Grove. The book chronicles Lopez's experiences being ready to start a new decade as a healthy and newly single man yet facing all the challenges that life after turning 50 brings.

New Release Tuesday - 4/16/13

April 16, 2013

MUSIC RELEASES

Charli XCX – True Romance (Atlantic)
Whether she's singing on the tracks of her debut album or singles like Icona Pop's "I Love It," England's Charli Aitchison (aka Charli XCX) brings fierce energy and edgy attitude paired with heartbreaking honesty. From the pensive "You (Ha Ha Ha)" and "You're the One" to the incredibly catchy "What I Like," you'll be singing along to every song on True Romance. Charli XCX swings through Los Angeles May 11 at the Shrine in support of Marina & the Diamonds.

Fall Out Boy – Save Rock and Roll (Island)
It's hard to avoid Fall Out Boy's black posters emblazoned with 'Save Rock and Roll' in huge white letters hung all over town, just as it's impossible to escape their music as your walking through a mall or scanning radio stations in your car. After a four-year hiatus, the foursome is back with more of the same high-energy, sing-along pop punk that has so endeared them to their legions of fans. If they haven't already invaded your subconscious, new tracks like "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)" and "Young Volcanoes" are sure to permeate your brainwaves soon. FOB performs Sept. 20 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The Laurels – Plains (Rice Is Nice)
This debut from the quartet of Australians washes over you with a sonic "Tidal Wave" of psychedelic shoegaze lushness. Taking its name from a novel by Aussie author Gerald Murnane, Plains envelopes listeners in a blanket of fuzzy guitars, driving baselines, unwavering drums and dual vocals from Piers Cornelius and Luke O'Farrell. Don't miss the band unveiling their live show on Angelenos for the first time with a trio of shows in the near future at Family April 24, Origami Vinyl April 25 and the Satellite May 11.

The Thermals – Desperate Ground (Saddle Creek)
Desperate Ground marks the Portland, Ore. trio's sixth album and debut on Saddle Creek and was recorded with John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in New Jersey just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area. With songs bursting with raw energy, like lead single "Born to Kill" and "I Don't Believe You," the album boasts dark yet joyous theme that simultaneously makes you contemplative and bouncing off the walls. See the new songs performed live June 14 at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana.

Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin (Castle Face)
Each of Thee Oh Sees' 12-plus albums has its own distinct personality, and frontman John Dwyer calls their latest, Floating Coffin, "pretty dark, and much heavier than our other albums," which isn't so surprising considering the multiplicity of horrors witnessed over the past year since the release of their last effort. There are moments of optimism to be found within the layers of songs like "Minotaur." The San Francisco quintet play this Sunday at Coachella.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito (Interscope)
While conducting interviews with musicians, I am often asked to name my favorite bands. Over the course of my 10-plus years being a music journalist, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have consistently been a top pick. It's no secret that I have been eager for the release of their first album in four years, and Mosquito is no disappointment. Incorporating new sounds – such as a gospel choir on lead track/first single "Sacrilege," a train running along an underground track on "Subway," roots-reggae elements on "Under the Earth" and a screeching flock of birds on "Wedding Song" – with their uniquely ferocious brand of art-punk, disco-sleaze rock on songs like "Slave" and "Area 52." The trio performs tonight at Ventura Theater and this Friday at Coachella.

Also available – ADR's Chunky Monkey; Andrew Wyatt's Descender; Andy Mineo's Heroes for Sale; Art Brut's Top of the Pops; Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013; Dead Can Dance's In Concert; Echopark's Trees; Folly and the Hunter's Tragic Care; Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge's Twelve Reasons to Die; Groenland's The Chase; Illogic & Blockhead's Capture the Sun; Iron & Wine's Ghost on Ghost; Jessie Ware's Devotion; Kid Cudi's Indicud; The Leisure Society's Alone Aboard the Ark; Meat Puppets' Rat Farm; Metal Mother's Ionika; Nametag & Nameless' For Namesake; N.O.R.E.'s (aka P.A.P.I) Student of the Game; Oleander's Something Beautiful; Olly Murs' Right Place, Right Time; Shellshag's Shellshag Forever; The Shouting Matches' Grownass Man; Slaine's The Boston Project; Steve Earle's The Low Highway; The Summer Set's Legendary; Tera Melos' X'ed Out; Turnover's Magnolia; Willie Nelson's Let's Face the Music and Dance

DVD RELEASES

Film – Jamie Foxx stars as a slave who joins forces with a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz in an Oscar turn) in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson; Save the Date features Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Martin Starr and Mark Webber.

TV – Counting Cars: Season 1; Flash Gordon – The Complete Series; Ethel; French Chef: Julia Child's Dinner Part Favorites; In the Heat of the Night Complete Season 8 (The Final Season); Parade's End

Also available – 4some; Angels of Sex; Attack of the Herbals; A Bottle in the Gaza Sea; The Colombian Connection; Crazy Enough; Disneynature: Wings of Life; Dragon; Escapee; Future Weather; Going by the Book; The Great Divide; The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia; HP Lovecraft's The Dark Sleep; Jacob; Makers: Women Who Make America; Message from Space; A Monster in Paris; Not Suitable for Children; Pedal-Driven; Reincarnated; Repo Man (Criterion Collection); Spies of Warsaw; State of Emergency; Sugartown; This Is Our Time; A Whisper to a Roar; WWE: For All Mankind – The Life and Career of Mick Foley (Mr. Socko Sock Puppet)