The Roots (Band)

Revisiting the February 23rd Club as The Roots Go Platinum

This month came the somewhat surprising news that, 14 years after its release, The Roots' album Things Fall Apart has finally gone platinum. An album whose reputation as the group's most critically acclaimed has made it the go-to entry point for new fans as their popularity has grown, it's still kin ... More >>

Top 10 Concert Films Every Music Writer Should Own

For music fans, there's nothing better than seeing your favorite band or checking out an up-and-coming act in person. While the records serve as a tangible finished product that fans can jam on until eternity, the live show experience explains more about a band than their recorded work. With concert ... More >>

A History of Violence in 'Django Unchained'

Quentin Tarantino upends the Western—and America's original sin

Sonar Festival Brings EDM Insanity From Spain to the States

On Saturday November 10th, "Sonar On Tour"--Barcelona's international and world-renowned festival of electronic music and new media art-- ends it's eight day circuit at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles. While the tour had an abrupt cancellation due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy at the New York ... More >>

The OCeeker: A Natural Healing Center of Orange County and the Queens of the New Age

​Welp, the OCeeker just scared the Shirley MacLaine out of a psychic. He took his seekin' ass down to A Natural Healing Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa, to hop into a meditation circle for some energy healing.Looks like the queens of the New Age down there may need some healing the ... More >>

Michele Bachmann's Fallon Intro Music: "Lyin' Ass Bitch" by Fishbone, Chosen by House Band The Roots

As Michele Bachmann, congresswoman and GOP presidential contender, walked across the stage to sit next to Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, house band the Roots chose to play Fishbone's "Lyin' Ass Bitch." While the audience only heard a "la la" refrain, the message was pretty clear.

R.I.P., Legendary Soul Musician Eugene McDaniels

​Songwriter, artist and producer Gene McDaniels passed away today, his friend Ann Ruckert announced on her blog.  McDaniels was famous for his 1961 hit "A Hundred Pounds of Clay," which reached No. 3 in the charts in 1961.  He also recorded "Tower of Strength," "Chip Chip" and "Point o ... More >>

Members of the Tribe

Michael Rapaport observes the vibe and checks out the scenario

Top Five Rappers in Movies

​Making it big on the big screen is rough. Judging by the forgettable attempts by the cast of Friends--sans Jennifer Aniston, whose most memorable roles involve playing some semi-neurotic version of herself in intellectually-gutted rom coms--transitioning to movies isn't made any easier through su ... More >>

Yo La Tengo at Detroit Bar Last Night

Christopher Victorio/OC Weekly​​Yo La TengoFebruary 24, 2011Detroit BarIt was the most soothing of times, it was the most startling of times--it was the tale of two dramatically different sets. It was a night of answers, it was a night of variety, it was a packed-house show at Detroit Bar; it wa ... More >>

Sade and John Legend Team Up for Tour Concluding at Honda Center

​R&B singer/songwriter Sade announced that she will be joined by John Legend for her "Once and a Lifetime" tour. Yes, he will be at every single concert. The Live Nation-produced tour hits the Staples Center in L.A.  Aug. 19 and 20. Since the demand was so high, they slated their last dat ... More >>

John Legend and the Roots Cover Arcade Fire

​According to Pitchfork, you can now buy the John Legend and the Roots cover of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" on Amazon. It's selling for $1.99 today only, or you can listen to the stream below. The cover is an outtake from Wake Up!, a set of classic soul covers that the two acts collaborated on. The a ... More >>

Matt Costa Tells Us Why His Songs Sound Old on 'Mobile Chateau'

John Gilhooley/OC Weekly​Matt Costa--he of the pro skateboarding past, smooth voice and palatable singer-songwriter appeal--is back with his third album, Mobile Chateau. The latest set definitively wears its influences on its sleeve--a lot of the songs have that old, laid back, '60s pop vibe that ... More >>

Don't Panic, it's Organic: Miniature Tigers Overcome their Own Hype

www.myspace.com/miniaturetigers​When Rolling Stone magazine listed Miniature Tigers as one of the Top 25 Bands on My Space in 2006, Charlie Brand took it in stride. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the ink. He did. But to him, it represented the difference between life in the virtual world and ... More >>

Sesame Street vs. Yo Gabba Gabba! The Musical Battle for Your Kids' Coolness

Sesame Street​Sesame Street wants your kids to be cool. And not by learning the alphabet, easy addition or "good government bullshit" (sorry, it's the 20th anniversary of the release of GoodFellas).No, they're doing it through pop music.This week, The Street (I hear that's what the cool toddlers a ... More >>

"Fuck the _______," says Andy Kindler

www.andykindler.com​Last Comic Standing judge Andy Kindler might consider himself an anomaly, but you can consider him hilarious. From cameos on David Letterman to writing the "Hacker's Handbook," to almost having a career in music, Andy Kindler is a complex breed of funny man. Get a taste of how ... More >>

Fishbone Still Party Hearty

Except now they rage with everyone they've influenced

Record Review: The Roots, How I Got Over

​The Hype: Waiting for the new album from the Roots to come out has been torturous--especially for those who love them enough to endure the entire hour of the Jimmy Fallon's comedy just to watch them play every week, all the while knowing that they should be on tour with an album th ... More >>

Chiddy Bang Talk the Hip-Hop Talk

Can the teenage rap duo live up to it?

Musicians Twitter News First: R.I.P., Gary Coleman

​ When you find out that Gary Coleman, child star from '80s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes died via Twitter, you know you live in the future. But it wasn't just any Twitter account; we found out Coleman was dead from the Roots' drummer Questlove's Twitter account.

New Year's Eve Party Playlist

Looking for some tunes to blast at the bash you're hosting tonight? Or maybe to crank up in the car on your way to a slamming soiree? Here's my New Year's Eve Party Playlist, featuring the best from the past year and stone cold classics. Enjoy. Flickr user Sada 1988Click song title for YouTube clip ... More >>

Last Night: Chula Vista Soldier Club at Commonwealth Lounge

​The Hype:If you're a fan of San Diego's vibrant music scene, you probably recognize these guys as the B-Side Players. Lead vocalist/guitarist SOLRAK, bassist Omar Lopez, drummer Luis Cuenca and trombonist/ percussionist Mike Benge often double as a similar group called Chula Vista ... More >>

Yo Gabba Gabba! Soundtrack Coming in October

​Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba! isn't a typical kiddie fare and anyone that's into music should know that by now, and it's not just those oddly appealing monsters and robots like the Gary Baseman-esque Muno. The show--co-created by Huntington Beach resident/Aquabats lead singer Christian Jacobs, by th ... More >>

Jimmy Fallon: Savior of Hip Hop?

  For some reason, when ?uestlove announced in November that The Roots would cease touring and become the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, there was minor outrage. "Black Thought opening for Jimmy Fallon every night is the cultural equivalent of Miles Davis playing his horn on the ... More >>

[Locals Only] Modern Subject Keep It Up-to-Date

New Releases: The Mars Volta, Dinosaur Jr. and (gasp) Ginuwine!

Wow, what a great day to spend your disposable income (even if its not so disposable). After a quick scan of all the new albums that drop today, I have to say that this is probably one of the biggest days for summer releases that you're likely to see. I counted about 20 new sonic gems that include j ... More >>

Tokeinstoke Music Fest

On-Sale Saturday: Live, Keane, More

Bet you had pretty much forgotten all about Live, didn't you? Well. They didn't forget about you. Their love is. Like water. They're coming to town, and tickets are on sale tomorrow. And so is other stuff!

Etta James

On-Sale Saturday: Bloc Party, Donavon Frankenreiter, More

Some good shows announced this week, highlighted by, as pictured, Bloc Party and OC's own Donavon Frankenreiter! Woop woop!

Last Night: Gym Class Heroes, The Roots and Estelle at The Grove

Better Than: Breaking up with a girl friend and writing a sappy song about it...leave that to the pros. I didn't quite believe my eyes when I stumbled across The Grove's Oct. 16 concert listing a few weeks ago. As a perpetual sucker for hip hop bands, a chance to watch The Roots, Gym Class Heroes ... More >>

To Do Tonight 10/16

Gym Class Heroes; The Roots; Estelle, 8 p.m. Can't make the show? Check out photos from the concert tomorrow on ocweekly.com The Grove of Anaheim 2200 E. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 714-712-2750 Ubiquity Records Presents: Soul Kitchen, 9:30 p.m. What 'cha got cookin'? Memphis Soul Cafe and Bar 2920 Br ... More >>

Listen to the Band: Audible Mainframe

When it comes to Long Beach transplants Audible Mainframe, their unique blend of charisma and conscious hip hop gives wanton O.C. hip hop fans plenty to buzz about. But here's a few words of advice before attending one of their shows: if you're not a fan of watching a cramped stage of musicians sw ... More >>

Listen to the Band: The Lost Art

The Lost Art Since the release of his second album "Escape From Lala Land" on July 25, Technicalli artist The Lost Art has been making hip hop heads world wide wake up and take notice of his skills behind the mic. Boasting roots from the golden age of hip hop, Art has a knack for meshing together c ... More >>

Blast Beats, Dark Harmonies and Monstrous Melodies

The top nine heavy metal albums of 2006

I Steel Them From You!

10 Mexican-bashing songs from the rock & roll canon

Active Eats

And its one, two, threewhat are we dining for?