Photo by Burns! Image gets bigger with a click; the tiny guitar doesn't.

Bruce Cockburn is coming to the El Rey in Los Angeles next week in support of his 31st studio album, Small Source of Comfort. Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, Blogging.LA has your free tickets. Read on…

Cockburn is one of my favorite recording artists, but when I mention him friends are often unfamiliar. He has a pretty solid fan base here in the U.S., but north of the border, in his native Canada, Cockburn is a legend.  In a career spanning four decades he has received 13 Junos (Canadian Grammys,) seven honorary doctorates, he’s in the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, and next month will be featured on a postage stamp issued by Canada Post.

Cockburn often tours solo, but this time out his deep, soulful lyrics and virtuoso guitar playing will be backed up by a full band. Opening the show will be violinist Jenny Scheinman, also featured on Small Source of Comfort. (Samples of the new album can be heard at that link, by the way.)

It seems Bruce Cockburn only passes through Los Angeles every few years, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a truly fantastic performance.

Want to join me at the El Rey next Tuesday night? I’ve got a few pairs of tickets for lucky B.LA readers. Just leave a note in the comments section below telling me why you want to see this show. Winners will be chosen at my whim and notified via email.

What: Bruce Cockburn live
Where: The El Rey Theater
When: Tuesday, 31 May 2011. 8:00pm.
Win: Leave a comment below

Don’t want to wait for tickets? There are still some available for purchase here.

Fight Crew vs. Sirens by Stalkerazzi

The L.A. Kings’ hockey season is just getting started; the L.A. Dodgers’ baseball season is mercifully drawing to a close. The L.A. Derby Dolls‘ roller derby season is in high gear, though, and this Saturday night you can see the most exciting sport in Los Angeles as the Fight Crew battle the Sirens in a race toward the 2010 Championship (in December.) Keep reading to find out how you can win your free tickets.

Banked track roller derby is an aggressive, fast-paced, full-contact sport. These women may look nice all dolled up in skates and fishnets, but do not be fooled. They are fierce competitors who give everything they’ve got on the track in order to achieve victory.

If you’ve already been to the Doll Factory, then you know. If you haven’t, you just have to experience it for yourself. Surrounded by the roar of a sold out crowd, you’ll watch a high-speed chase on the track that will leave you breathless. Before the game and at half time, you’ll enjoy various food vendors including Hot Dog On A Stick and Garage Pizza, ice cold beer from Alex’s Bar, and a vendor village packed with jewelery, t-shirts, skate gear, and all sorts of other stuff. There’s even a live band at half-time (Eternal Youth.)

Here is a preview of Saturday night’s bout:

What: L.A. Derby Dolls Fight Crew vs. Sirens
When: Saturday, 2 October 2010. Doors open 6:00pm, bout starts 8:00pm.
Where: The Doll Factory, 1910 West Temple Street, Los Angeles.
Why: Most exciting sport in L.A. You won’t find more fun anywhere (with your pants on.)
How: Get tickets online now! The L.A. Derby Dolls sell out every bout.

Now for the prizes:

I’ve got a pair of tickets for Saturday’s bout plus a Derby Dolls t-shirt for one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me who your favorite Fight Crew or Sirens skater or Enforcers ref is. (You’ll find the team rosters at the links above; Enforcers below.) Contest ends Thursday, 30 September, at 9:00am pdt. Keep an eye on your inbox Thursday, as the winner will need to reply to my email asap.

Good luck to all. Don’t want to chance winning? Don’t let the bout sell out without you. Get your tickets online now.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I may be a bit biased toward the sport of women’s banked track roller derby, and the L.A. Derby Dolls specifically. I am a member of the Enforcers (referee team.) In truth, I’d have been happy to tell you how awesome it is, long before I ever became a ref.)

Primus will be performing both Thursday, September 16 and Friday, September 17 at Club Nokia at the LA Live complex, and I can’t wait! Mariachi El Bronx will be opening both nights, and I’ve heard great things about them as well, so I’m going to get there early. You should, too.

We’ve got pairs of tickets for each night. To get yours, just leave a note in the comments section below. Tell us your favorite Primus song, and which show (Thursday or Friday) you’d prefer to see. That’s it. Perhaps the easiest ticket contest we’ve ever run.

Special bonus: Whoa. For those of you who are able to make the show on Thursday, I’m told there will be a special performance of Frizzle Fry (Primus’ first studio album) in its entirety. Awesome!

There are, of course, deadlines for this sort of thing. Entries for Thursday night must be received by Tuesday, 9/14 at 5:00pm. Entries for Friday night must be received by Wednesday, 9/15 at 5:00pm. Keep your eyes on your email; if you’re one of the winners, you’ll need to confirm by noon the following day (Wednesday & Thursday, respectively.) None of that has to be as confusing as it sounds; we’re keeping it all straight. Just get your entry in NOW, confirm as soon as you get the winning email, and you’re in!

Primus is a spectacular live band, and this show is not to be missed. Don’t want to wait and hope to win? You can buy your tickets for Thursday and/or Friday online now.

In early April we sent some MetBlogs readers to see The Dan Band. Here is what a couple of them had to say:

“This band is best when encountered as a surprise. Obviously, going to see them live, the primary novelty of the band is no longer a surprise, but, fortunately for me, there were still plenty of hilarious surprises in the live setlist.” ~Riki Ataki

“We had such a good time! Dan caught a woman texting during the show and took away her phone to send rude replies.” ~FlowerOfHighRank

I’ve got several pairs of tickets for next Friday’s show, so to win, leave a comment below telling me why you need to see The Dan Band live. Winners to be notified by email, so make sure I’ve got your correct address. Don’t want to take a chance? You can buy tickets here. A word of advice: guard your cell phones; Dan can be filthy when texting your friends.

Motörhead by Mark Marek Photography, used under Creative Commons.

Motörhead and special guest Reverend Horton Heat are coming to Club Nokia in downtown L.A. on Friday, October 9. Also on the bill are Nashville Pussy and Chelsea Girls. Best of all, LA MetBlogs has your tickets to the show.

Motörhead is one of my favorite hard rock bands. After 34 years on the road, Lemmy & co. still rock harder than most bands half their age. The influence they’ve had on rock & roll is undeniable. Ask any latter-day hard rock or speed metal band who taught them how to rock, and if they’re honest, the first name on the list will be Motörhead.

Here’s your chance to see these legends (and the other great acts on the bill) with Lucinda Michele & me!  Well, we’ll give you the tickets; whether you hang with us is up to you.

Tell me via comment below which band(s) you want to see and why. Or tell me about your favorite Motörhead song. Really, just tell me something that will convey how much you want, need, demand to be at this show. Winners will be chosen at my whim and notified via email, so make sure you enter yours correctly. Complete show info is here.

Bonus: My all-time favorite photo of Lemmy is here.

UPDATE: First, ticket winners have all been notified and confirmed. All the responses were great, and I wish I could take everyone to the show. If you didn’t win, buy tickets at the link above and meet us at the show. This is going to be an unforgettable concert!

Second, I just got off the telephone with Motorhead’s manager. He wanted to let everyone know that Motorhead will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live tomorrow (Thursday) night, so stay up late.

Finally, for those going to the show (which should be everyone,) doors open at 7:30pm, show starts at 8:00. Reverend Horton Heat goes on at 9:40, and Motorhead hits the stage at 11:00pm. Get there early to see Chelsea Girls and Nashville Pussy, and get ready for Motorhead to rock your ass off. Also, bring earplugs. Safety first.

See you at the show!

Photo by Michael Zampelli/Rinkrat gets bigger with a light massage with your mouse.

The Los Angeles Derby Dolls are about to go on summer hiatus. They won’t be back until the end of August, so this is your last chance to see them…for a while.

The good news is they’re packing twice the roller derby action into the Doll Factory on Saturday, June 27, and LA MetBlogs has a pair of tickets and more for one lucky reader.

I’ve previously gone on (at length) about how awesome the Derby Dolls are. I won’t do that again; you already know this could be the most fun you’ve ever had. Instead, I’ll give you the details on the special Double-Header on Saturday, and how you can get your tickets.

Make with the clicky to follow me past the cut.

Saturday’s first bout is the Baby Doll Brawl. Beginning at 3:00pm, the Scars and Stripes will face the Meteorfights, two teams made up of the best of the Derby Dolls newer skaters. This promises to be an exciting match up, as the rookies will be working hard to show themselves as future Derby Dolls stars. The Baby Doll Brawl is also an all ages event, so it’s fun for the whole family.

The second bout will feature the Aftershockers, LA Derby Dolls’ All-Star B-team, made up of the best skaters from all four teams in the league. The Aftershockers will be looking to put a hurtin’ on the Prom Queens, Angel City Derby Girls‘ All-Star team. Doors open for the All-Star bout at 6:00pm, and this one promises to be even more exciting than the first. Keep in mind, the evening bout is strictly 21 and over, so you’ll have to drop the kids at home.

Tara Armov photo by Shutterthug. Larger with a click.

Tickets for the individual bouts can be purchased through the LA Derby Dolls, or you can get tickets for both games of the double-header for one special low price. When you go to the Dolls’ site, make sure you click the proper link for which tickets you want, but seriously…do yourself a favor and get the double-header tickets.

Killo Kitty photo by Charlie Chu. Click to embigify.

I mentioned a prize, right? Here is what I’ve got for you: one lucky winner will get a pair of tickets for both games of the double-header, but that’s not all. You’ll also get a photo with Aftershockers co-captains Killo Kitty and Tara Armov. They may put you in a headlock or body block you in a Derby Doll sandwich, or just generally rough you up. Whatever they do, it probably won’t hurt (much) and you’ll have a photo and a great story that will never get old. No promises, but Tara Armov may even provide the winner one of her famous Sharpie Tattoos at the after party.

For this contest there are two big ways to win big. First, you were all so good at coming up with roller derby names in the first contest, let’s do it again. Make up a derby name for me that somehow incorporates “Burns!” and leave it in the comments. The second way to win is to think “roller derby” and leave a comment with two things that just naturally go together. You know, like lipstick and bruises. Fishnets and _____. Skate wheels and _____. You get the idea.

Either method (or both) work to win. Enter as many times as you like. Contest ends Thursday, June 25 at 11:59pm pdt. Winner will be notified by email, and must confirm with me prior to noon Friday.

On a final note, big thanks to my Derby Doll pal Tae Kwon Ho. Ho is the one who has been hooking up the tickets, t-shirts and photo-ops for MetBlogs readers all season long, and she has definitely helped me surpass my own personal fun quota, too. Thanks, Ho!

L.A. Derby Dolls in action. Photo by Stalkerazzi f/8, courtesy of laderbydolls.

The L.A. Derby Dolls return to the Doll Factory on Saturday, April 18 as the Sirens battle the Varsity Brawlers. Because I love you L.A., I want to share the roller derby awesomeousity. (That’s right, my fun is so awesome I have to make up new words to describe just how awesome it is.) I’ve got free tickets for you. Read on…

If you’ve learned anything about me since I began writing for MetBlogs, it’s that at heart, I am still an adolescent. No…wait. If you’ve learned two things about me, it’s that I’m still an adolescent and I love the L.A. Derby Dolls. And our chief weapon is surprise. Suprise and fear. Come in again…

Really, what’s not to love? Roller derby is a fast paced, full-contact, action packed sport. And the Derby Dolls? In addition to being poised, refined, attractive young ladies, those girls are bad-asses and that is sexy as hell. The bouts at the Doll Factory are some of the most exciting sporting events in Los Angeles. My only wish would be for more.


If you’ve ever been to a bout at the Doll Factory, you already know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Either way, you’ll want to follow me past the jump to find out how you get your free tickets (and nifty bonus prize)…

The contest this time around is based on roller derby haiku. In the comments, leave a haiku (follow 5-7-5 format) about anything derby-related; could be about your favorite Doll, what you like best about the sport, whatever. For example:

L.A. Derby Dolls
Poised and lovely bad-asses
Best thing on eight wheels

As you can see, my own haiku skills are somewhat rudimentary, so don’t worry if you’re not a poet-savant. All entries will be considered and appreciated. Feel free to enter as many times as you like. Bonus points if you can work in some of those fantastic derby names from the last contest (or make up new ones.)

This contest is a little harder than the last one, so the pay-off is bigger, too. Second place will get two free tickets to the April 18 bout. First place wins two free tickets and a Derby Dolls t-shirt AND the bonus prize. The bonus prize (suggested by my Varisty Brawler pal TaeKwon Ho) is a hip check or a body block from a Derby Doll, to be administered by the Sirens’ Cannon Doll X. Wow! I think the bonus prize may be optional, but I would totally take the hit if I were you. That’s a Facebook-worthy picture if I ever heard of one.

The contest will run until 5:00pm pdt on Wednesday, April 15. I’ll pick a winner soon after that. Many thanks to the LA Derby Dolls, TaeKwon Ho and Cannon Doll X for providing tickets, t-shirt and violence. As usual, this event will sell out; probably at least a day or two in advance. Don’t wait until it’s too late. You can purchase tickets through the link at the Dolls’ website.

I’m really looking forward to your roller derby haiku. I’m sure you’ll all make it incredibly difficult to pick a winner for this contest, just like the others. Good luck to everyone and I’ll see you at the Doll Factory!

Minnie Juggs #32A, photo by Michael Zampelli

There are just over 24 hours remaining in which to win free LA Derby Dolls tickets. There are lots of great roller derby names being submitted over there, so follow that link and get yours in! The winner gets a pair of tickets to Saturday night’s Derby Dolls bout and a Derby Dolls t-shirt. Everyone else wins my undying admiration, as all of the names submitted so far have been fantastic. It’s going to be extremely difficult to choose a winner.

Join Team MetBlogs for Booze Clues!

Also, don’t forget that tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 2/24) is Booze Clues in Los Feliz. There is still room at the Team MetBlogs table, so leave me a note to let me know you’re coming. We need your brainz. For trivia! We’re not gonna eat ‘em. I mean, it’s not like we’re zombies (as far as you know.) We had a blast last month at Booze Clues, so come join the fun this time.

Click to make it bigger.

The next bout at the Doll Factory between San Diego Derby Dolls’ “The Swarm” and L.A.’s own “Varsity Brawlers” is happening next Saturday night (2/28,) and we’ve got free tickets.

If you weren’t at last month’s season opener, you missed an incredible double-overtime win by the Tough Cookies. It was one of the most exciting nights in L.A. sports in recent memory (I’m looking at you, Kings. How ’bout a win at home?)

In addition to the excitement on the track, there will also be a half-time performance by Barrio Tiger, as well as the usual vendor village featuring Alex’s Bar, gourmet cookies and lots of other cool stuff. They’ve even got Hot Dog On A Stick!

You don’t want to miss this one, so follow me past the jump to find out how you can win tickets and a Derby Dolls t-shirt.

photo by Stalkerazzi

In case you’re unfamiliar with roller derby, all of the skaters have names like Tara Armov, Gori Spelling, Paris Killton, Tae Kwon Ho, and Ivanna Knockemova.

Make up your roller derby name and leave it in the comments. The best name, chosen arbitrarily by me, wins a pair of tickets and the Derby Dolls t-shirt of your choice. If you come up with more than one, multiple entries are encouraged. Make sure I’ve got your email address so I can notify the winner (it should be listed with your MetBlogs registration.) Contest ends Tuesday, February 24 at 5:00pm pst.

Don’t want to take a chance on winning the tickets? You can purchase tickets from the Derby Dolls website. Don’t wait ’til the day of the event. The last one sold out, and this one will, too.

Also, don’t forget, this event coincides with Classic Eats again this month, so come out early to join us for the eats and drinks, then follow me to the Doll Factory for the roller derby action.