​Los Angeles power trio Behold! The Monolith's sophomore effort Defender, Redeemist mixes stoner rock, sludge, doom, classic thrash, and black metal into a massive cauldron.

Since forming in 2008, vocalist/bassist Kevin McDade and guitarist Matt Price have been pushing the band forward. But during our interview over hearty plates of mac & cheese at The 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood, the founding members credit new drummer Chase Manhattan with helping them evolve their sound.

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​Last year was a busy one for Irvine's Young The Giant. They released their first album on a major label, toured all over the world and played at both the VMAs and MTV Unplugged. Meanwhile, the band's two singles, "My Body" and "Cough Syrup" both were in rotation on rock radio stations nationally.

Beginning a three-month North American tour, the band plans to eventually head back to the studio, according to singer Sameer Gadhia and drummer Francois Comtois. We spoke to them about what's next for the group, and those who would diss them, ahead of their shows at the Wiltern this Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12.

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Walton Brush

​Since dropping out of art school in 2010 to pursue music full-time, Shlohmo has become an L.A. electronic-music rising star. Born Henry Laufer and raised in the Fairfax District, the lanky 21-year-old producer -- a regular performer at beat mecca Low End Theory -- combines house and hip-hop with his own hazy ambient style. His first full-length, Bad Vibes, was well-reviewed by Pitchfork and put him on the international map. We talked to him ahead of his first European tour; his new EP, Vacation, is out today.

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Aaron Frank

Electric Guest's Matthew Compton and Asa Taccone

​While recording Electric Guest's debut album Mondo, which comes out in April, singer Asa Taccone took several weeks off to recover from a bout of shingles. The condition had been brought on by the stress of finally recording his passion project, which included sifting through over 100 song ideas amassed during years of producing hits like "Dick In A Box" for his brother Jorma of The Lonely Island, with whom he grew up in the Bay Area along with members Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer.

Luckily, Taccone found salvation through bandmate Matt Compton and a longtime friend, producer Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse. Taccone and Compton met while living in a house in Mt. Washington that played host to a revolving cast of musicians, including Burton, whose room Taccone took over. On Mondo -- a soul-tinged pop project with hints of indie rock -- Taccone sings in a falsetto so effortless that it sounds disembodied. Ahead of their residency at the Echo which begins tonight, Electric Guest talked to us about working with The Lonely Island and recording their debut with Danger Mouse.

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Virtual Boy

​Henry Allen and Preston Walker of Virtual Boy are two modest guys, mild-mannered to the point of shyness. They are prompt and polite; their hair isn't shaved ridiculously. Their music isn't the product of drug-fueled benders or nightclub culture. They are the opposite of what you'd expect from a rising electro-pop duo.

So is their eponymous debut, out tomorrow, February 7, on Alpha Pup records. It's more OK Computer than Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites; a haunting concept album described by the band as an "intergalactic love story" and recorded entirely on a ranch in New Mexico.

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Dailey Pike

Judith Hill In The Studio

​Before she was picked to sing back-up for Michael Jackson's ill-fated 2009 London shows, Judith Hill was a relatively unknown perfomer from Pasadena.

When Hill appeared near the end of Jackson's memorial service to lead the stage in singing "Heal The World," most of the Staples Center audience didn't know who she was, and her name wasn't listed in the program. A flurry of Google searches in the next 24 hours followed, and she was on her way to being discovered. This Is It shows Hill singing "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Jackson at their very first rehearsal together, with the show's dancers and supporting cast giggling in delight as Jackson is inspired to sing out for the first time.

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The Mae Shi

​The Mae Shi never broke up, technically. Still, the L.A. group's last show was nearly three years ago, in Germany, and featured only one original member.

In the meantime, they've all gone on to other projects; co-founder Jeffrey Byron has worked with Busdriver, Brad Breeck is a television composer, Tim Byron became an attorney, and Ezra Buchla develops music software and synthesizer firmware.

But tonight -- at Sean Carnage's weekly Pehrspace event -- The Mae Shi will return to the stage with this complete line-up, which originally made a splash on the local circuit with their raw, almost chaotic sound and in the early '00s and emerged from the acclaimed DIY scene surrounding downtown venue The Smell. As for the name, Jeffrey claims he doesn't recall its origin and it doesn't have a meaning.

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Photo courtesy of The Adicts

​The Adicts' music is fast-paced and upbeat, and they sport a Clockwork Orange droog look - except for front man Keith "Monkey" Warren, who dresses like some kind of evil joker. Their live sets feature bubble machines, streamers, giant beach balls, and sing-a-longs. They invite their fans on stage.

But this ain't no kids' birthday party -- they're one of the most beloved punk rock groups of all time. Formed in Ipswich, England, in 1975 the band -- which also features Pete Dee Davison, Mel Ellis and Michael "Kid Dee" Davison -- is sometimes called "punk pathetique." They've had a couple of hits, landed their songs in some video games and continue to produce quality records. They play at House of Blues Sunset Strip tonight tomorrow night, January 28, and we talked with Pete Dee and Monkey.

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​See also: Our coverage of the bizarre Michael Jackson handprint ceremony

Some out there may believe Michael Jackson is still alive, but most of us suspect he'll never emerge from his coffin "Thriller"-style for a glorious comeback. Perhaps the next best thing, dance guru Jamie King has partnered with Cirque du Soleil for a new show, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, which starts tonight at Staples Center and runs through the weekend.

King -- the King of Thrill! (see page three) -- started dancing for Jackson in 1992, and says that his show gets into "Michael's head." That said, he went out of his way to omit the controversial bits, though that's probably to be expected. If you can leave your cynicism behind, you can expect a dazzling menagerie of dancers, costumes, and theatrics. We spoke with King about the performance and his relationship with MJ.

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See Also: Das Racist, Danny Brown - The Roxy - 11-3-11

Despite a troubled past topped off by a year-long jail stint, Danny Brown maintains a strikingly serene and friendly disposition. Over the past several years, the Detroit rapper released a handful of well-crafted mixtapes, his most recent XXX yielding widespread acclaim, including a nod from Spin for rap album of the year. As dark as some of the album's lyrics are, Brown's no gangsta rapper; he wears super skinny jeans, for starters. In fact, his vivid descriptions of blighted urban landscapes have some calling him hip-hop's Cormac McCarthy.

Ahead of his show tomorrow, January 24, at the Echoplex's monthly Check Yo Ponytail 2, we spoke with Brown about stuff like his inspirations (Adderall) and who he's been listening to (Sufjan Stevens).

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