By Andrew Lopez Dan Bejar, who has released nine albums under the “Destroyer” name for over 10 years, has always been distinct in sound and style. From the often-indecipherable poetry that are his lyrics, to complex song structures that challenge most first-time listeners, Bejar has found permanency in the eclectic. On his latest effort, “Kaputt,” released on Merge Records, Bejar transforms himself again, lulling casual listeners into believing he’s made a simple album. The truth is “Kaputt” is one of… Read more

Although he has toured and played numerous shows, J.C. Chan still needs some liquid courage to get him on stage. “(I’m) either drunk or shy,” he said when asked how he performs. “It’s rare that I’m ever in the middle.” Chan plays the mandolin for Sons of August, a local alternative band who recently released their debut album, “Vaudeville.” Last week, the band performed at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles for their record release. The six-member group consists of… Read more

With the biggest award show of the year on Sunday we thought we’d inform readers on the voting breakdown of some of the top award shows.  Here you can find what the shows are awarding, who votes, how many people vote and how the voters are chosen. Academy Awards What it awards: The Academy Awards have been a long standing tradition in Hollywood since its first ceremony in 1929, and awards Oscars for the greatest cinematic achievements from the previous… Read more

Pizza ingredients: Needed: DOUGH 1 pound of flour (16 ounces or 2 cups) 10 ounces of warm water 1 teaspoon of yeast 1 tablespoon of canola oil 1 tablespoon of salt *Optional: Add spices to add flavor to the pizza crust. Suggestions: garlic salt, parsley flakes, onion powder and Italian seasoning. Pizza instructions 1. On a clean counter top with plenty of space, dump flour into a pile and carefully dig out a well in the middle. Pour warm water… Read more

It’s that time of year again when a bunch of film buffs try our hands at predicting who is going to walk away with the coveted little golden man. Best Supporting Actor Christian Bale (“The Fighter”), John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone”), Jeremy Renner (“The Town”), Mark Ruffalo (“The Kids Are All Right”), Geoffrey Rush (“The King’s Speech”) And the Oscar will go to: Christian Bale  (“The Fighter”) He’s the candidate most likely to win since he snagged both honors, Golden Globe… Read more

It’s lunchtime and you feel your stomach screaming for something to eat.  You need something quick and tasty.  As you walk out of your office, you spot a large, yellow vehicle parked in front of your building. No, it’s not a school bus; it’s The Grilled Cheese Truck. The Grilled Cheese Truck is one of the many specialty food trucks in Los Angeles. Loyal fans of these popular mobile eateries can follow their favorite food trucks using Twitter or other… Read more

By Andrew Lopez Radiohead has made a name for themselves by challenging the way listeners think of music. Where we see a platform for verses, chorus and a bridge, Radiohead sees a platform to experiment with sound, time and space. After 18 years of making unclassifiable music, is seems their sound might finally be a little easier to classify: they sound like Radiohead, and no one else. The English Quintet recently set the music world abuzz by announcing, without warning,… Read more

CSUN students performed for the first time in the Valley Performing Arts Center’s black box theater Friday night. The theater department presented Charles Mee’s “Big Love”, a bold rendition of the classic Greek play, “Suppliant Maidens” by Aeschylus. Although the Greek drama was originally performed in 463 BC., the modern rendition, directed by Christine Menzies, stays true to the original’s themes of love, sexism, identity and marriage. The drama centers on 50 Greek women who flee to Italy in an… Read more

I was afraid that “The Social Network” (now available on DVD and Blu-Ray) would be just another documentary leeching off of the popularity of the latest big thing. Instead, the film has story substance and character development, although it’s not accurate enough to be a documentary. The film, which has been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, is a dark psychological drama loosely based on the court case involving the creation of Facebook, and the people who were involved… Read more