Save The Date: Glory/Struck's New Production The Album Project - Volume One Kicks Off March 30!

This has all the makings of an amazing night of music featuring some super talented folks like Anthony Starble, Lindsay Pearce, Topher Rhys and MORE performing the music of Ed Sheeran.

I've been super supportive and a fan of the works of Glory/Struck since I saw their wonderful version of Spring Awakening a couple years ago and the equally wonderful Bare last year and I am super stoked to be able to tell you guys to GO SEE THIS SHOW.

March 30 in North Hollywood at Sterling's Upstairs (Just above The Federal).  What better way to spend the evening than with these amazing folks and the music of Ed Sheeran?!  I don't think there is any.

Click HERE for more information.

Hope to see you there!

When:  Sunday, March 30 Doors: 5:30pm Show 7pm
Where:  Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal 5303 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
Why: Because it is going to be amazing.

Get Tickets Here:  http://www.inticketing.com/events/403715

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The 2014 Rose Parade: Flowers, Horses, and Co-Hosts Calling It In

by Kari Tervo

Mustard seed! Hydrangeas! And "nuts and leaves and bark and so on," according to co-hostess Stephanie Edwards. All fashioned into mobile rockets, robots, and giant baby heads! IT'S TIME FOR THE ROSE PARADE!

Every New Year's Day, Los Angeles TV station KTLA mounts a booth in the prime viewing spot on the Rose Parade route in Pasadena, and treats us all day to an 8-hour loop of "Bands! Horses! And flowered floats!" And best of all, the unscripted banter and non-sequiturs of long-time hosts Bob Eubanks (of game show hosting fame) and Stephanie Edwards. I'm pretty sure they can't stand each other and don't want to be there, which is part of the reason I watch the Rose Parade every year.

As I drove home in the early morning after an exciting evening of New Year's Eve festivities, I saw the Goodyear Blimp taking off from its base in Carson, CA. I didn't know it at the time, but it was on its way to the Rose Parade! I was excited to watch the parade, partly because I was really looking forward to watching Bob and Stephanie bicker. Sometimes Stephanie gets really mad! One year, I saw her terminate an employee during the credits. It went something like, "We thank Producer Brad Smith, Director Sarah Brown--well, she's fired!--Associate Director Lynn Cera. . ." 

You don't want to mess with Stephanie Edwards. I've seen Bob and Stephanie bicker plenty during past parades, but I think they were put on notice this year that they had to play nice. So there was a lot of, "Exactly, Bob!" and "I couldn't agree more, Stephanie!" It was a little disappointing, but I could sense the phrases were being spat through clenched teeth, so it was almost satisfying. 

CLICK RAWR TO PARADE AND PROMENADE!

DON'T TRIP OVER THE TUBA PLAYER OR THAT PILE OF HORSE POOP!

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IRON COMIC: The Time I Wrote A Joke With Kumail Nanjiani!

by Kari Tervo

Monday nights at Largo in Los Angeles have become legendary, primarily due to Tig Notaro's comedic confessions about her very difficult year in 2012. Even prior to Notaro's touching and talented set, Largo was known as a comedy laboratory: Monday nights are when comedians like Sarah Silverman show up to massage some new material. And it's a celebrity comedian oasis, too. One night, Ed Helms appeared on stage without any pre-announcement or fanfare. In this intimate small-theater setting, it's like a private party: It's impolite to gawk at the celebrities, and we're all on our best behavior. Any night you're at a Largo comedy night, you're probably going to feel lucky to have been there.

CLICK RAWR TO ENTER THE COMEDY OCTAGON!

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New York vs. Los Angeles: The Run-Down Coast Loses A Cultural Player

by Kari Tervo

Angeleno

New York City odor-apologists (seriously, that place either smells like freezing cold tenements or hot garbage soaked in piss) love to cut down Los Angeles by saying that we have "no culture."

What? Whose culture? What culture? I'm guessing that kind of "culture" that nobody actually enjoys? Los Angeles is the home of pop culture, appreciated and coveted worldwide. I mean, who is bootlegging the ballet? Let's get real.

Let's talk the latest nail in the coffin of that "New York has cuuulltureeee" argument: The failure of the New York City Opera. A little stain on your opera gloves there, huh, Mrs. Douglas? Or Mrs. Drysdale, or Mrs. Howell, whoever (sorry, whomever, lovey*) you fancy yourself to be.

Marilyn raises the roof, knowing life's too short to be a snob.

CLICK RAWR TO IMPRESSIVELY TOE-DANCE PAST THE JUMP, AND HAVE NOBODY CARE!

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Bare: A Rock Musical Opens This Weekend in Los Angeles!

Looking for a great way to spend a couple hours?  Check out Bare: A Rock Musical opening this weekend at The Hayworth here in Los Angeles.

The wonderful folks at Glory/Struck are bringing Bare home to Los Angeles after its wildly successful original run over a decade ago that made it a bona-fide phenomenon.

After their absolutely amazing production of Spring Awakening, I have high hopes for Bare and can't wait to see it.  We'll have a review for you after this weekend but don't wait for that.  Get your tickets now.

Show dates:

Fri, Sep 06 – Sun, Sep 22
Fri, Sat: 8:30pm
Saturday Matinee: 2:30pm
Sunday: 7:30pm

Hayworth Theatre
2511 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90057

Get your tickets fast by clicking HERE.

For more information visit the official site at bare-la.com.

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Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour Comes to the Staples Center

Rihanna’s fans packed the Staples Center Monday night for her Diamonds World tour concert.  The show opened with the many floating, rotating video panels covered in a diamond motif and then closed with “Diamonds,” but the diamond theme ended there.  It could have just as easily been called her Diamonds, Marble, Fire, Chain-Linked, Smoke, Semi-Truck, Mug-Shot, Shattered-Glass World tour.  It was all over the place.  Even Rihanna’s hair was part sexy sophisticated and part punk, with the left side shaved and the right side full of long waves in a permanent Jessica Rabbit ‘do.  She even completed the image by wearing a red dress with a slit all the way up to her hip for “Stay.”

It’s fitting that her concert would be made up of so many diverse scenes; Rihanna’s musical history is just as eclectic.  Her songs range from Pop to R&B to Dance to Reggae to Rock, and she performed some of her best-known and well-loved songs from each genre as well as some of her less mainstream music.  Her voice can be delicate and heartbreaking, but she also knows how to get the crowd up and dancing.  Rihanna also knows how to be powerfully sexy, to the point of being raunchy.  Much of her dancing consisted of a lot of hip thrusting and crotch tapping.  Granted, that may have been all that she could do in her white stiletto boots, which were tall enough to reach just below the bottom of her see-through t-shirt.  Of course, she did have half a dozen costume changes, and she and her backup dancers did some great dancing later in the evening.

All in all, the concert was damn entertaining and the crowd loved the spectacle.  While I don’t need flames shooting from the stage to enjoy a show, I did leave feeling like I just experienced something very special and exciting.  Like many, I only really knew Rihanna from her biggest radio hits, so it was great to be reminded of the many sides of her musical personality.

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Just Released: Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour Tickets!

We just got word that a fresh batch or tickets has been released for next week's performances of Michael Jackson:  The Immortal World Tour at Staples Center in Los Angeles!  These tickets are sure to go FAST so head over to ticketmaster.com and grab yours now!

The show is August 14 and 15.  It is a can't miss show!

Check out the press release:

ADDITIONAL SEATS RELEASED IN LOS ANGELES FOR
 MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR
LAST NORTH AMERICAN STOP BEFORE LONDON PREMIERE ON OCTOBER 12

 Los Angeles, August 10, 2012 – Additional seats have been released for the August 14 and 15 performances of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour™ at STAPLES Center. Los Angeles is the tour’s last North American stop before beginning the European leg in London on October 12, 2012. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com  or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices start at $50.

 A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds his artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations.

 THE IMMORTAL World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael’s inspiration and the wellspring of his creativity. The secrets of Michael’s inner world are unlocked—his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature.
 The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson’s powerful, inspirational music and lyrics—the driving force behind the show—brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael’s global messages of love, peace and unity.

 Writer and Director Jamie King has been called one of the most influential “movers and shakers” in the music industry, and the “Jerry Bruckheimer of tent-pole concert tours" by Variety. A multiple Emmy Award® and MTV Video Music Award® nominee, he has choreographed some of the most popular music videos and directed some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. For the past 12 years, he has served as Madonna's creative director, and most recently directed world tours for Rihanna, Celine Dion, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne. King has worked with an array of superstars including Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Shakira, George Michael, Elton John, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez and even Ellen DeGeneres. This is Jamie’s first show with Cirque du Soleil.

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LA Shows: May - June (and a couple in August)

Have a look at some great shows coming up here in Los Angeles courtesy of Live Nation!  There are some amazing acts coming to town (Indigo Girls!).  Check them out below and get your tickets from Livenation.com or Ticketmaster.com!  Most, if not all, are on sale now!

AVALON HOLLYWOOD

May 3  

James Morrison, honeyhoney

August 11       

The Promise Ring

THE WILTERN

May 4  

 Lindsey Buckingham

May 12  

       The Brian Jonestown Massacre

May 17  

The Dandy Warhols

May 18

Best Coast

May 22

Spiritualized

May 26

Glenn Frey

June 12 

 Tallest Man on Earth

June 15

        Mayer Hawthorne and The County

June  16  

The Indigo Girls

June 20

Glen Hansard

June 27

 Meat Loaf

July 21

 Ray Davies

July 28 

Dirty Projectors

HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM

May 8
Snow Patrol, Ed Sheeran

May 15
Creed
 (performing Human Clay in its entirety)

June 15
The Temper Trap

June 16
Scissor Sisters

June 23
The Cult

August 28
 Trespass America Festival 
featuring Five Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage, Trivium and more

ORPHEUM THEATRE

May 12 

Rufus Wainwright

May 18         

Greg Lake - “Songs of a Lifetime 2012” tour.  

The show will feature an intimate autobiographical musical journey in song and story. The performance will feature some of the best-known songs from Emerson Lake and Palmer and King Crimson, along with story-teller style commentary by Greg about his entire life and career.

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Win Tickets!! Good Old War and The Belle Brigade with Family of the Year at Avalon (Los Angeles)!

Want to see Good Old War, The Belle Brigade and Family of the Year for FREE?? 

Well, thanks to our friends at Live Nation, you can win a pair of tickets!

It's easy! Just send an email to contest@popculturebeast.com with your name!

We'll pick a winner at random.

The contest ends on Thursday, 3/22 so enter fast and tell your friends! The show is Sunday March 25 at Avalon in Los Angeles and is sure to be a great evening of wonderful music.

ENTER NOW!!

Oh and should you want to buy tickets you can do so HERE.

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Upcoming LA Shows - UPDATED THROUGH MAY!

 Some great shows coming to Los Angeles next month courtesy of Live Nation.  Check them out below and get your tickets now!

THE WILTERN
March 20      of Montreal

AVALON HOLLYWOOD
Feb 17           Machine Head, Suicide Silence and Darkest Hour

Andrew WK

March 8          Andrew W.K - Performing "I Get Wet" in its entirety with his band!

Sharon Van Etten

March 20       Sharon Van Etten, The War on Drugs

Good Old War and The Belle Brigade

March 25       Good Old War/The Belle Brigade (co-headlining) and Family of the Year

UPDATE:



AVALON HOLLYWOOD
May 3            James Morrison

THE WILTERN
March 20      of Montreal
May 12         The Brian Jonestown Massacre
May 22         Spiritualized

HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM
April 7           Rodrigo y Gabriela and C.U.B.A.
May 8           Snow Patrol, Ed Sheeran
May 15         Creed (performing Human Clay in its entirety)

ORPHEUM THEATRE
May 12        Rufus Wainwright
May 18         Greg Lake - “Songs of a Lifetime”, an intimate autobiographical musical journey in song and story. Included are many of the best-known songs from Emerson Lake and Palmer and King Crimson, along with story-teller style commentary by Greg about his entire life and career.

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This October: DELUSION, a Haunted Play Production

I can't say how excited I am about this. It looks like it will be a helluva good time. We're going to check it out later this month and will let you know for sure whether it brings the scares or not. In the meantime, head over to HauntedPlay.com and plan your visit.

This is local to Los Angeles but hopefiully its success will lead to more of this sort of thing around the country.

For more information, visit HauntedPlay.com

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Some Great Upcoming Shows in Los Angeles

Just a quick post to let everyone know of some great shows coming up here in Los Angeles.

713 & 7/14 Widespread Panic @ The Wiltern
7/21 Ben Folds @ The Wiltern
7/22 INXS @ The Wiltern
8/9 Deerhunter @ The Wiltern
8/17 Old 97's @ The Wiltern
8/19 Rock Boxx @ Palladium featuring DJ Z Trip, De La Soul, Nosaj Thing, Daddy Kev
9/7 Iggy & The Stooges @ Palladium

For tickets and information visit ticketmaster.com or livenation.com

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