That’s right Myke Armstrong covered the Tropic Thunder red carpet this week for LA.CityZine. We had the chance to ask many of the celebs questions and some of them even answered!

Check out the pre-Thunder now!

Also check out our red carpet photo gallery and review!

Special thanks to David Beglin for filming and editing.

LA.CityZine brings you duo, Gangi, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. Matt Gangi and Lyle Nesse originally started in Brooklyn, but lucky for us, they have now relocated to the city of angels. Sure, many bands make the move across the nation in hopes of finding a better niche as well as better reception. However, in the sea of many indie bands as well as mainstream bands that come out of LA today, the phrase “It’s harder than it looks,” now has an abundance of new meanings, if not just the levels of intensity within it. Yes, the melodies, the images, and the purposes of bands have eventually taken the music to the masses. But it’s the actual substance within the band members themselves who create those melodies, images and purposes that fundamentally matters.

As musicians these days, Gangi is aware of the many hats they wear as they are creating. With this mindset, they take their understanding into another dimension with their songwriting. The result is indescribable. It is exactly that with no exaggeration. My mind has been searching for ways to describe their music but to say that it’s Grizzly Bear meets Animal Collective just wouldn’t do them justice. Instead, I asked them what others have said. Was the press in the past even close? The question is a difficult task in itself. To determine this answer, you would have to comprehend the thoughts of Matt and Lyle, themselves, and I’ve somewhat cleared a path for you, the listener - the fan, to do so. However, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This interview below includes some massively surreal intellectualism that could literally blow your mind. Then again, there are some funny parts too. Enjoy.

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I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Tom Clarke of The Enemy before their show at the Troubadour on Wednesday, August 6 (read my concert review) and discuss their US tour, including Lollapalooza, what it was like to open for the Rolling Stones, and who could possible play a post-punk Brit from Coventry. With a thick accent and loud sound checks going on in the background it was difficult to hear but one thing was clear: The Enemy are here to remind us that music with an opinion is what we want, what we need and, really, what we should be listening to.

Take the time to get to know a band whose MySpace page so poetically states, “Keep your friends close but keep The Enemy closer:”

What three words would you use to describe The Enemy.

F***ing proper music.

When did you first become interested in music?

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LA.CityZine brings you artist, Inara George, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. Inara is both a solo artist and part of a band and very well known for both individual and collaborative projects. Her 2006 solo album, All Rise, was a hit and her band, The Bird and the Bee, with Greg Kurstin has gotten much critical acclaim for their jazz influenced electro-pop sound. Although her work with Greg has been light, fun and undeniably catchy, Inara’s solo music has always had a deeper, richer and enchanting resonance for listeners. This couldn’t be truer with her latest solo album, An Invitation. If Inara’s angelic voice and out of the box compositions weren’t already magical enough, renowned composer/arranger/producer/musician/singer and dear friend, Van Dyke Parks joined forces with her to arrange heavenly magnificent songs for her voice, strings and the piano. Out August 12th, this album will be a treat for listeners who enjoy the combination of melodramatic, lush, epic melodies and beautifully quirky pop music.

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A couple of months ago I had the distinct privilege of reading and reviewing Felicia Sullivan’s memoir A Sky Isn’t Visible From Here.  Admittedly, it was a difficult read, the subject matter being her extremely hard life painted so vividly in detail, but one that I could not put down.  I felt captured by her words and images and it gave me a really sick feeling.  She leads you down the dark tunnel that was her life in which she battles her family, her environment and herself to get a glimmer of light for survival.

This woman whose understandable influences include Vladimir Nabokov, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Joan Didion and Michael Cunningham to name of few, has created a work of art in attempt to find closure to her past.

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Do you ever wish your new favorite songs always stayed new and fresh? Isn’t it a shame when you know a track is a great song but you’re just sick of hearing it on the radio or having your roommate playing it over and over again? Well, thank god for DJs who can take a different spin on the everyday popular songs as they hype them back up. By remixing and putting those mad beats into those tracks you love oh so much, DJs, like Flosstradamus, pump it up and create a dance party anywhere they go.

Flosstradamus, or Floss - as many fans like to call them - is the duo bringing you remixes like “Overnight Star” with Twista and Kanye West as well as “CYOA” with M.I.A.’s infamous voice haunting us on top of a pulsating rhythm. This duo is comprised of the young mastermind DJs, J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci). J2K and Autobot have played numerous festivals and have yet to disappoint audiences. In just the last year, they were able to tour with popular electronica/funk duo, Chromeo, on the Fancy Footwork Tour. They also had the chance to release a remix album through Vice Records as part of Toyota’s Scion “CD Sampler” series. Catch a show of theirs and you’re bound to see a special guest such as Kid Sister, A-TRAK, or Diplo, - all whom are the most up and coming DJs and rap artists of this generation.

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Jonathan Shaw. There are many words different people may use to describe him. What some may see as only a shallow, brash and impetuous incendiary; actually is a true philosophical, transcendent soul. With layers of insight waiting to be peeled away.

When I decided to approach Mr. Shaw for an interview, I was filled with apprehension. Once he agreed to the initial questions, I then developed a great anxiety over what to ask him just imagining the responses I would receive. Stepping out in faith, I sent him a basic group of inquiries with instructions to answer all, or only the ones that  moved him to respond. What I expected to learn about this man from his answers was not at all what I brought away from the interview. I can truly say what had begun as intimidation, turned to pure wonder and enlightenment with this man who calls Johnny Depp his soul brother.

One thing, Jonathan shared with me is the fact that when he did tattoo art, he was heavily influenced by the interaction he would share with the subject. Everyone knows that Shaw has inked some of the biggest names in Hollywood so I asked him about one of Hollywoods biggest actors, Johnny Depp’s ink. So how many of Johnny’s tattoos has Jonathan done and were Johnny’s tattoos a collaboration of their great genius together? He shared with me that he has done most of Johnny’s work and that they were always Johnny’s idea.

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LA.CityZine brings you band, Uh Huh Her, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. There couldn’t be a better story than theirs when it comes to making it big as a band that is actually originally from Los Angeles. Uh Huh Her is is the sparkling and evocative synth-pop duo comprised of singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist, Camila Grey, and musician/actress, Leisha Hailey. Both members have been in bands previous to Uh Huh Her, but neither ever had the chemistry in the friendship and musicianship they found while creating these songs together.

With past music careers that have aged into wisdom and Leisha’s popularity from her memorable character on The L Word, the pair went from recording demos in a bedroom to playing a sold out show to tons of music executives. It’s not a surprise that they were quickly picked up by a label. Both have a fun yet mysterious charm to their songwriting and stage presence - not to mention, style!

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Watch out Beyonce and Jay, Angelina and Brad; there’s a new fashionable couple on the scene! The cutest Chemical Engineer majors ever spotted at UCLA prove that physics can be hot, too! Amber and Jason give us a taste of what wearing lab coats everyday and being in a loving relationship can do to your wardrobe.

What is L.A. street fashion to you?
Amber: L.A. street fashion is like saying “my personal style, meet the city of Los Angeles.” L.A. street fashion is about bringing your own flavor and allowing yourself to broadcast that. People are open canvases, billboards, and another form of mass media in my opinion. Some people may look at you and say “What was she thinking?” or “Wow, how did she think of doing that?” but either way it’s about infusing your own personal touch into what’s hot and trendy.

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When it comes down to the bare bones of a musician’s being, there is nothing but determination, perseverance, and dedication embedded. LA.CityZine is proud to bring you artist, Toho Saunders, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. Toho Saunders was lucky as a kid. His mom was a music school teacher and his dad was part of Motown’s greatest era.  With these family influences along with what he absorbed from the radio, he became very fond of all genres of music. However, he found his greatest love in Jamaica.

Toho Saunders is now an accomplished bass player, producer and composer of the greatest reggae/funk/r&b beats we have ever heard from the Bay area. Although you may hear influences of Bob Marley and Don Carlos, that doesn’t mean his arrangements haven’t been sought out by artists in other genres. He’s worked with Ghostface Killah and Wu-Tang and is looking forward to collaborating with artists such as Mary J. Blige and Will.I.Am.

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As an alumnus of UCLA, I am always extremely excited to hear about other Bruins doing awesome things. I recently had the opportunity to interview Lady Danville, a group of three guys that grew up in Danville, CA but didn’t end up meeting until after joining Awaken A cappella while at UCLA. Their music certainly has hints of their A cappella experience with Awaken and has won local accolades including the annual 98.7 Star Lounge Competition with their song “Tired Magician,” off of their self-titled debut EP. In addition to sounding great on the radio, Lady Danville knows how to put on an awesome show. They will be playing Saturday, August 2^nd at the Ford Amphitheatre for the Kollaboration Acoustic Show (All Ages. Tickets $20-45. Buy Tickets) and can also be seen (for FREE!) at the Apple Store on 3^rd Street in Santa Monica on Saturday, September 6^th. Take the time and get to know Lady Danville:

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Oh, the life of a singer-songwriter. It means having a career where you can actually tell the masses what you think. However, it’s only now and then that you can actually find a musician who truly does the opportunity justice in this genre. Originally from Iowa City, Jason Reeves takes this mission very seriously. He’s been known to say, “I’m just a simple boy that believes in love and dreams,” but his greatest characteristic is his willingness to share this belief. His songs aren’t just about young puppy love or the announcement of doing the taboo (Katy Perry pop).

Self taught on the guitar after discovering Bob Dylan and James Taylor, he has taken this this skill and honed it into tremendous talent. Of course, songwriters write about love and heartbreak but Reeves pulls you in a little closer with his lyrics of hope and renewal as well. He’s been the #1 MySpace folk artist for 9 months and has held a consistent spot in the unsigned acoustic top 5. He now has the chance to share even more with audiences as his album, The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache (and Other Frightenting Tales) becomes available on iTunes on August 12th. If you want a physical CD, you’ll have to wait until September 9th.

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