As the days roll along, we find ourselves upon another sunny weekend in LA. Last we were packed with things to do and lines to stand in. As predicted, our Memorial Day Party on Sunday night at Opera was off the hook, and many had to be turned away. Our apologies to all those who were unable to get in, the pictures are up for you to get a glimpse of what happened behind those closed doors. This Sunday we are right back at it, Entrée Sunday’s at Crimson/Opera.

To pass the time before you head over to Entrée, check out Jazzy’s show at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica. New music by a great performer with a beautiful voice will no doubt make the trip to Santa Monica worth while. If you aren’t familiar, I suggest you do your homework before the show.

Jazzy - In Love

Temple Bar
1026 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica

If you don’t know about Pacific Division yet you’ve definitely been sleepin’. So wake up and come out to the Key Club tonight, where the LA natives will be performing along with J Davey and Diz Gibran. They’ve created quite a buzz, especially in the last year, and have been featured in the Source (last year) XXL (this month) and Billboard (this week). They were named one of URB Magazine’s next 100 artists and Myspace’s featured artist of the week. The F.A.T. Boys video was a Myspace featured video of the week. Needless to say, these boys ain’t playin’ around!

If you didn’t catch their guest appearance at our Cool pool party at the Standard, you can check them out on the Wake Up Show and in the Women Problems video below.

So come join us at their show tonight…it’ll be $15 well spent.

After all, sleep is for suckas.

The Key Club
9039 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310.786.1712

Women Problems Video (I see you Ms. Loveless!)

While there are few things I look forward to each year, as i try not to count days, Memorial Day Weekend seems to stand out amongst the rest. The fact that it is a three day weekend holds less weight with me as I make my own schedule, but the amount of activities packed in those three days that makes it something special. I know the world awaits the details on our Annual White Party, but in the mean time, we should all focus on getting prepared for the 22^nd Annual UCLA Jazz & Reggae Fest. The annual two day concert draws over 30,000 people making it one of the largest concerts in Cali.

Jam Day (Sunday, May 25^th), marks the first day with Goapele, Dr. Lonnie Smith and headlining act The Roots. The Roots being arguably the best live show on earth, makes Jam Day well worth the visit. Reggae Day (Monday, May 26^th) the most attended of the two days will feature Mr. Vegas, Capleton and Stephen Marley. With Doors opening at 11am each day, getting prime real estate on the grass Is similar to that of the market in California, you wont be able to get anything. “A weekend of Peace, Love and Music” is what you can expect from the Jazz Reggae Festival, as well as great food and vendors. Save a couple bucks and get your tickets early. Look our for the elevated crew, we will be hard to miss.

Click Here for Advance Ticket Purchase

“…that’s all relationships are. they aint that complicated. it’s just f***in’ and eatin…if you dont like f***in’ somebody, and you dont like eatin’ wit’em, y’all dont need to be together.” -Never Scared, 2004

Now, I don’t know how qualified Chris Rock was to dispense relationship advice at that time, but at least he kept things simple (b/c lord knows relationships can be TOO too complicated).

If you’re feeling the side effects of love (or work, or traffic, etc.), consider a hefty dose of laughter to make you forget (if only for a moment) that everything sucks, and go check out Chris Rock’s “No Apologies Tour” that hits the Gibson Amphitheatre stage starting tomorrow (April 23).

Two decades into a very successful career and the already legendary comedian is still talking lots (and lots….hey, we’re living in dire times!) of sh*t. Unlike this post, he is (still) very much uncensored. (Ahh, Chris, it’s good to know that a hit TV show, an Oscar-hosting gig, a trip to “Madagascar” and numerous appearances on “Oprah” haven’t taken the Jack out of your coke).

There are many reasons to love the Rock, and this 1996 classic is a reminder that if keeping it real goes wrong, then you must not have had Chris tell it:

Chris Rock: No Apologies Tour
4.23-4.26 | 8:15pm
$45.60-$75.50
Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal CityWalk

If you haven’t seen this girl on stage, then you’re missing out.

Although it may seem that the Long Island native has been promoting her first album “I Am” for, hmmm, forever, you gotta remember that people. are. a little. slow. to catching onto something good.

If you’re tired of filtering through the gar-bage clogging up the airwaves and violating your eardrums, consider - no, scratch that - go catch Chrisette at the El Rey Theatre tonight.

If you haven’t heard her album, I’m pretty sure you’ve at least heard her voice (Jay Z’s “Lost One” or Nas’ “Can’t Forget About You” ring a bell?). The mature and soulful voice of the young songwriter and Def Jam artist is unmistakable.

I’ve seen her do some live sets a couple of times earlier in 2007, once with a band and once without (just her, her voice and the keys), and both times moved crowds (literally, they were groovin) even as they wondered who the small woman with the big voice was.

If you don’t know, you should know…tonight.

Wed, 3/5/08 ($20)
El Rey Theatre
5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles 90036

Hip Hop may be dead in the eyes of some, but with so many hot artists on tour, it seems like there is something to be excited about.  The Glow In the Dark Tour will feature Kanye West, N.E.R.D, Rihanna and Lupe Fiasco.  Having seen all of these artist perform–with the exception of Rihanna–I can guarantee this will be a great show.  Kanye popped up as a special guest during the Common show last night, adding to an already hype show.  With two dates in Los Angeles–April 21^st and 22^nd–at the new Nokia Theatre, getting tickets early is a must.  You can also expect a performance or two from the new super group CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers ), Ye, Pharrell and Lupe.  While browsing the net I found a Glow in the Dark Mixtape put together by GFC NY to commemorate the tour; download it here.  CRS – Us Placers

“J*Davey this. J*Davey that” ….that’s all I seemed to hear early 2007. Now that I’ve finally had the pleasure of catching MANY shows and purchasing the album I now know what the fuss is all about. I won’t give you their life story but I will say that there is NOTHING like seeing them LIVE. They’re an eclectic mix of Surf/New Wave/ Fusion with a bit of Funk, Soul & Hip-Hop influence. So if your in the mood for one hell of a show this Tuesday J*Davey is it. RSVP on going.com for $8.00 admission. Arrive early show is guaranteed to sell out.  Be sure to check out J*Davey’s myspace page.

J*Davey Live | 12.11.07 | 8:30pm
The Viper Room
8852 Sunset Blvd
W. Hollywood

I know this may seem a bit obvious–seeing how it’s a three-time Tony Award winner and Time Magazine hailed it the “Best Musical of the Year”–but I have to post about the play Wicked anyway. I saw it at the Pantages Theatre last week and was really amazed. I had seen the ads, heard the rave reviews, and vaguely heard what it was about (the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz); but I really didn’t know what to expect. What I witnessed was a fresh, funny, smart production that reinforces the old adage that there are two sides to every story.

I’m not what you would call a “play person,” but I really enjoyed Wicked. It’s definitely a conversation-starter, and everyone will take something different from it. One person might be drawn in by the love story, a younger viewer might identify with the struggle of a young girl trying to find her place, while another may be stirred by the huge influence a government can have on determining what the public views as “good” and “evil.” There’s definitely something for everybody.

So take a break from the club one night (or hit it up before you come!) and get a little Wicked this Halloween.

Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Click here for tickets