THE GODFATHER OF GOTH ROCK BITTERLY ENDS HIS NEW THEATRICAL VENTURE

David J has closed “The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse.” The play, which opened on September 8 and was expected to run through October 1, had its final performance at the Bootleg Theater on September 17:

“On Saturday, September 17, I was faced with an agonizing dilemma, and after much deliberation, decided that the plugs had to be pulled on this ambitious theatrical production,” says writer/director David J, “Several factors pushed me to call this shot.  The most pressing being that we were over budget in a climate of economic downturn.  Not a good combination.  The latter resulted in a lack of ‘bums on seats’, despite positive and often glowing reviews.  Having come to this pass, I realized that I simply could not risk jeopardizing the production, artists and crew any further.  The experience of working on this piece has been most gratifying and my thanks go out to all who have had a hand in its realization thus far.  Still the work continues and due to everyone’s extraordinary generosity and faith, it will rise again.  The re-staging on November 12 is all set.  I hope that those of you who missed it this first time round will be there at the historic Million Dollar Theatre on that night, pregnant with magic as it is!
My sincere thanks and love to all.”

For those who are holding tickets for future dates of the run at the Bootleg Theater, those tickets will be honored for the performance on Saturday, November 12 at the Million Dollar Theater. “The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse” will be staged alongside Helene Federici’s “ET Mostavy” as part of the rescheduled Theatrefication event. This event is part of the City of Los Angeles’ Broadway 100 celebration, commemorating the centennial of the Historic Broadway District.

KURT COBAIN'S LITTLE GIRL IS ALL GROWN UP!

This Saturday, Nirvana's "Nevermind" -- the landmark album that brought alternative music crashing into the mainstream -- celebrates its 20th anniversary. If it's hard to believe it's been two decades since Kurt Cobain, his cardigan and his crew challenged the idea of what a pop star could be, it's equally surprising to realize Cobain's only child, Frances Bean Cobain, is already 19 years old.   No longer resembling a kidney bean -- but eerily evoking both of her famous parents simultaneously -- the rock 'n' roll daughter is just beginning to step into the limelight as a model. Her piercing eyes, striking dark looks and tattooed back were highlighted in a recent series of black and white photos taken by renowned fashion photographer Hedi Slimane.

Ms. Cobain's interests extend well beyond fashion, though. In keeping with the philosophy inked across her back ("Art is the solution to chaos"), Frances Bean premiered a collection of drawings last year in Los Angeles. She also provided backup vocals on a track recorded by the unusual indie band Evelyn Evelyn (a male/female duo who pretend to be conjoined twin sisters onstage). She even interned at Rolling Stone during the summer of 2008.

Sadly, Frances' relationship with her headline-making mother Courtney Love has remained strained. In 2009, a judge put 17-year-old Frances in the custody of Kurt Cobain's mother and sister -- and smacked a restraining order against Love, the details of which were sealed to protect the teen's privacy. At least as recently as Bean's 18th birthday, contact has not resumed between the mother and daughter, in spite of Love's lengthy Twitter rants.

To read the entire story go to: http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/392258/frances-bean-cobain-takes-small-steps-into-the-spotlight/ 

DRIVE: RETRO-HIPSTER-GANGSTER-BLOODBATH

Set in Echo Park and the surrounding areas of LA, with references from the 80s oozing out of it, and a spacey indie synth pop soundtrack and a cast comprised of indie cult film heroes, this is bound to be a hipster pleaser.

The film starts Ryan Gosling, who in classic Eastwood, McQueen fashion, exposes himself as the chivalrous stonef-aced loner of the movie who takes on a heist in order to save the girl he loves.

Ron Perlman plays the the mob who’s willing to destroy anyone who gets in his way. And the super cute Carey Mulligan, is the single mom with a cute smile and a lot of baggage.

The heist goes bad and a bloodbath ensues. Interlacing the lives of a number of people ending in an unforeseen finale.

The supporting performances by Albert Brooks (Broadcast News), Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") and Ron Perlman (Cronos/The City of Lost Children) are all fantastic. Each of their performances enriches the film adding subtle bits of genius. 

Without much dialogue, this neo-gangster flick manages to appease the skeptics. Yes there's lots of empty space within most of the conversations in the film. However the constant tension between characters and the silent and subtle expressions 
let your mind wonder and imagine what motives and thoughts truly hide within each character. 

This movie takes various elements from the streets of LA and creates a poetic love affair the romantic and glamorous and l and dirty rigidness of everyday Los Angeles.

A COCAINE RING + INTERSCOPE RECORDS + FEDS = BIG TROUBLE!

In case you haven’t heard Interscope Records has been the topic of conversation with the FEDS! Once again, the Smoking Gun cracked a scandal, this time involving the major music label Interscope. Members of a narcotics ring that sent large amounts of cocaine and cash back and forth across the U.S. in music “road cases” arranged pickups and deliveries at the offices of Interscope Records, a music industry power whose roster includes artists like U2, Eminem, and Lady Gaga, according to federal investigators.

Department of Justice prosecutors this week provided defense lawyers with shipping records detailing “pickups and deliveries” made at Interscope’s Los Angeles office by a cargo firm that was used to transport the music cases, which were alternately stuffed with kilos of cocaine and upwards of $1 million in cash.

A year-long Drug Enforcement Administration investigation has resulted in the indictment of James Rosemond on 18 felony charges, which could result in a sentence of life in prison for the 46-year-old rap music manager. Rosemond, pictured in the mug shot, is being held without bail in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center.

In a letter sent this week to Rosemond’s lawyer, prosecutor Todd Kaminsky disclosed that investigators were turning over an assortment of discovery material that included 65 pages of records from Rock-It Cargo, a large freight forwarder whose client list includes scores of musical acts.

Investigators allege that kilos of cocaine were shipped via Rock-It from L.A. to New York, where “members of the Rosemond Organizaton retrieved the road cases and distributed the cocaine,” according to a court affidavit sworn by DEA Agent Steven Miller. Ring members, Miller added, “collected the proceeds from cocaine sales, packed the cash into the road cases and transported them to music studios in Los Angeles.”

To read the entire story go to: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/interscope-records-cocaine-shipments-654820

INDIE ROCKERS MY JERUSALEM RELEASE A BUNCH OF NEW STUFF!

They have a new single, they have a enw live video and they just returned from a SOLD-OUT European show. They are on Fire!

The outfit, fresh off the heels of European festivals and tour dates with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Avett Brothers, make no time for rest.

The Austin based Indie Rock band My Jerusalem bring you, the single for "Sweet Chariot" off of their debut album Gone For Good released on 259 Records in North America and One Little Indian overseas. "Sweet Chariot," the band's self-imposed calling card, is 3 minutes and 31 seconds of raw, vaguely orchestral, indie rock anthem bliss. The single, available online September 27th, also includes a stripped down live version from a session on Austria’s FM4 Radio as well as several b-sides.

Download the single and preview the rest on Soundcloud

But that’s not all, the band is also excited to launch the release of their video for "Shake The Devil." The video, directed by Jess Carfield and filmed by Preston School Of Industry/Spiral Stairs sideman Chris Heinrich, was filmed during the band's Bootleg Theater show earlier this summer.

This band’s definitely had a busy summer. And I’m sure we’ll get more musical treats from them soon.

ECHO PARK LAKE: NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T

About one million gallons of water a day have been flowing out of Echo Park Lake since the end of August as part of a nearly two-year long,  $65 million clean up project. The receding waters and emergence of muddy flats have many residents, such as Conor Collins of Angeleno Heights,  snapping photos through the construction fence that now wraps around the lake and park.   Collins, a photographer and photo retoucher, began taking pictures with his iPhone and Canon 50D when the fence went up. He is now publishing those and other photos on his Tumbler blog.  Many of his photos have been taken in the morning. “If you go there fairly early, it’s strangely idyllic.”

More photos on ConorCollins.com

Original story at: http://www.theeastsiderla.com/ 

DEATH COMES TO R.E.M.

Sad but true, R.E.M. announced that they are putting their instruments to rest forever in a direct statement on their website, along with a band photo:

“To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.” R.E.M.

Its not really known sure what sparked the beginning of the end, but we do know that this marks the end of one of the most important, creative, innovative, bands of the past fifty years. And please don’t start with the: “Oh, I stopped being into them when they stopped being good” bullshit, because they have always been good, great even! And now it’s over.