It's time to get Halloween serious and dust off my Elvis costume. For at least 15 years I have been Elvis. Not the skinny young one used by the U.S. Post office in the early ‘90’s for white envelopes, but the fat old one they used for bulk mail. The first time I put on my white sequined suit with the wig, the shoes, the bangles, and the sunglasses, I could feel the King’s energy in my veins—it transformed me. As Elvis, I have hosted many a costume contest, and sung on the subway to thunderous applause. I have walked in the parade and had a zillion photos taken with babies, girlfriends, and tourists. Each year I add a little more padding, and the wig gets a little more gray, as art imitates life. Last year, I added real freeze-dried flies to the wig, but the schtick is getting a bit old and it may be time soon to bury the old codger. This year Elvis will appear two more times: as I DJ as him at the Hudson Hotel’s monster soiree with my pal Paul Sevigny, and as I jet out to LA for the actual night of Halloween, a Standard Hollywood gig. Should I just wear the costume on the plane? Will they let me board if I decide to?

"People assume I just write lyrics and sing over tracks"

The French love a strike. Today there's one that's causing traffic pile-ups all over Paris, so you can imagine that the 9am car ride over to Viktor and Rolf—with no time to stop for coffee—was not exactly the best way to start my day. But oh how the tables turned once I (finally) arrived at the show!

So you're selling livers, kidneys and daring yourself to forgo food for weeks until mid-April in order to pay for your trip to Coachella. It's understandable, really. And while the big draws, like Muse, Jay-Z, Gorillaz and MGMT, appear on this flier (not this one) in enormous typeface, the true breakouts are in such fine print that you'll likely go blind trying to read their names. But please don't! Instead, consult a handy guide to Coachella's fine print gems, after the jump.

The 'Bulletproof' songstress' strong shot of style

Islands, Vapours (Anti-) - Once a schizophrenic, overstuffed Montreal outfit full of potential, Islands have finally learned to edit. The result: an infectious and weird third album that was worth the wait. Lead singer Nick Thorburn, more commonly known by his stage name Nick Diamonds, and his crew have stripped away the orchestral layers and theatrical pomp that turned the band’s sophomore album, Arm’s Way, into a bloated, highfalutin’ rock opera. What’s left is masterful, refreshing synth-pop, served up pure and simple. Snappy drums drive the album’s first single “No You Don’t,” while Thorburn’s charming, spot on lyrics come through loud and clear -- “Don’t buy dope from the man you don’t know.” What he said. --Alexandra Vickers

Synth-pop duo La Roux has captivated the U.K. with all the fervor of their rapidly paced songs, trying to revive the ’80s faster than you can say, “R.I.P., John Hughes.”

Grief! Anguish! Confusion! Ire? Well sure -- if you're any number of pop aspirants or B-list pop idols seriously gunning for a comeback, Michael Jackson's untimely death may be something of a nuisance. As seen from a number of trends on iTunes sales charts across the world, the King's death has derailed the usual goings-on in some countries, while in others, his presence remains detectable, but not so earth-shattering.