BlackBook

"And then we became butt buddies!"

One of the cruel ironies of living in Los Angeles after living for years in New York is that because of Los Angeles' geography, that pesky drinking-while-driving-thing is much more difficult in L.A. unless you live in the clubbing centers like Silverlake, Echo Park, or Hollywood. Ironic, because whereas New York has this cabaret law problem (an odious regulation that requires venues to have a license to allow dancing for three or more people) and has a shortage of decently sized venues that aren't crippled by bottle service and idiots, Los Angeles has a bounty of venues to go dancing. It has no cabaret law and has any number of decent-sized joints with good sound systems that can fit between 200 or 500 people. (Also thankfully missing from the L.A. nightlife scene: the narrow hall closet that passes for a bar.)

Los Angeles summers are a strange thing. They don't have a clear beginning or ending -- you just sort of wake up and realize it's a little bit hotter and there's a bit more to do than normal, and it seems appropriate to go to the beach all the time. Oh yes, usually some part of the city is burning. While the rest of the country is gearing up for this weird thing called Fall, we're still having summer jams. This weekend you'll have three parties to shake your booty at.

You may have already been exposed to the charms of Anya Marina and not been aware of it. The Michigan-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter has not only had her songs featured on television shows like Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl, but has also had an acting stint in the film 100 Girls, a role which the pixie chanteuse had to appear in sans eyebrows. Her sophomore album, Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II, was produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel and Louis XIV’s Brian Karscig and, with Marina’s breathy vocals and sharp lyrics, is best enjoyed with a snuggle companion and a glass of something tasty in hand. Marina is currently on tour with The Virgins and Lissy Trullie, but she took some time out to talk with us about getting topless while recording, her Roman Polanski-inspired video for the single "Move Me", and gender play when covering T.I.’s “Whatever You Like.”

Adam Freeland is a cheeky Brit, an internationally recognized DJ and now the frontman for the band (appropriately dubbed) Freeland. The group's first album, Cope, will be released on Marine Parade Records in June. But for now, the boys are rocking the live concert series, appearing at The Echo in Los Angeles on May 22 and the Cow Palace in San Francisco on May 23. Cope is a stellar debut, including guest collaborators like Tommy Lee, Jerry Casale of DEVO, Joey Santiago of the Pixies, Brody Dalle of Spinnerette, and bassist Twiggy Ramirez. Known as a man who speaks freely, Freeland gave us the rundown on LA's finer points, playing tricks on the fans, and what's wrong with American culture.

Before you start reading my blog entries and wondering who that crazy lady wandering around L.A. at all hours of the night is, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tricia Romano, and I've previously terrorized the shores of the East Coast where I wrote a column about nightlife called "Fly Life" for the Village Voice in New York. That five-year run ended in 2007; I packed up and moved to Los Angeles last spring and was living a quiet life by the beach, when BlackBook lulled me out of retirement. I'll be reviewing the latest in Los Angeles nightlife, dishing news and gossip about the city's parties, bars, clubs, restaurants, and even the occasional taco truck.

After escaping unscathed from a Midwestern car crash, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead is back on the road (bus engine and trailer repaired), heading home to Austin to play SXSW (March 21 at Emo's). As festival veterans and Austinites, Trail of Dead is in the position to give rookies and tourists advice on where to eat, what to do, and how to survive the orgy. While en route to the Echoplex in Los Angeles, Jason Reece took a few minutes to discuss which bands he plans to decapitate and the charm of a gun-crazed, pig-blood-covered, PCP-fueled last stand at SXSW.

Alexis Rivera, the underground force behind Echo Park Records and Little Pedro’s Blue Bongo, on putting together the illest acts in town, guzzling expensive drinks with cheap women, and getting sucker punched by veteranos as he brings music to the peoples.