The all-powerful Reigning Sound roared out of Memphis with the realest soulful rock ‘n’ roll since the Flamin Groovies, the Real Kids and Esquerita all ruled the earth together. They visit California far too seldom, so don’t miss these shows at Alex’s Bar this weekend! (With the Strange Boys opening!? How will we ever go back to normal?) Win tickets here, and then read this interview by Chris Ziegler.

[Read more →]

L.A. reggae band the Aggrolites have been slogging it out Studio One style since the early 2000s, most recently releasing their Rugged Road on Boston label Young Cub. Hot in pursuit of the question of just how a man comes to play reggae in Southern California anyway, we called Jesse Wagner for a few minutes diagnosis. This interview by Ron Garmon.

[Read more →]

King Tuff recorded every song on his new record all by himself in the dead of night. It’s one of the best freak-in-full-freak-mode albums of the decade. Find it, buy it, cook it, eat it. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

[Read more →]

[Read more →]

[Read more →]

so many wizards SO MANY WIZARDS, EUGENE AND THE 1914, AND KENSETH THIBIDEAU ON THURSDAY DEC. 16TH AT ALEX’S BAR, 2913 EAST ANAHEIM STREET, LONG BEACH. 9:00PM/ $5/ 21+.

[Read more →]

[Read more →]

When he began to play, looking like a drunk, face glazed with sweat and mouth askew, it took a while to reconcile the image of Mike Watt with what was happening with his hands and face and body. Much like when you see something shocking on the street—like people having sex or a grizzly car accident—there’s a lag time between the sensory and intellectual registration of what’s going on.

[Read more →]

Instead of keeping convention by writing songs in line with her other, louder music projects, Cervenka’s Midwest epiphany helped her do what Lil Wayne could not in The Carter, fearlessly emerge from behind the mask of public expectations and expose your soul to a bunch of drunk Long Beach fans. Somewhere in a pot-and-sizzurp stupor, Young Money is jealous.

[Read more →]

Exene Cervenka helped invent what Los Angeles is now and helped save the best of what it used to be. She releases a new solo album Somewhere Gone on Bloodshot in October and is moving back to California after years in a historic farmhouse in Missouri. She speaks now while camping on the beach. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

[Read more →]