The theremin is best known as the instrument Brian Wilson used to make spooky noises in the wall of sound single “Good Vibrations.” On Halloween in Royce Hall it was one of many instruments ““ musical and otherwise ““ used to supplement the already intense words of Edgar Allan Poe. Read more...

Columbus, Ohio, is like many other Middle American cities, only more so. In other words, it’s predominately white and boring. I was there to attend the annual national conference of the American Musicological Society, and while the fresh air and nice waiters were a welcome change, the trip showed how desolate the place was ““ the hockey arena had nothing around it and the mall was closed, and it was only 9 p.m. Read more...

A good friend of mine will tell you that the Dismemberment Plan is the best band in the world ““ bar none. At worst, he’s not far off. Read more...

Sounds can often be deceiving. Listen to The Rum Diary and try not to picture epic noise-making bands like Scotland’s Mogwai. Mogwai is resoundingly serious, larger than life, and has that certain panache for being different and artsy that is often associated with successful indie rockers. Read more...

Cock fighting in Oklahoma and the reformation of marijuana laws ““ not only is Nov. 5 voting day, it’s also the opening day for UCLA’s second-year master’s of fine arts acting workshop. Read more...

The full-length documentary film is that elusive Hollywood art form which from time to time rises to the mainstream with releases such as “Bowling for Columbine” and “The Kid Stays in the Pictures.” This weekend, through the School of Theatre, Film, Television and Digital Media, UCLA students have the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of what goes into making a documentary from Academy Award winning documentarian Freida Lee Mock, and it’s free. Read more...

Looking around UCLA, protesters and dissidents fill the campus. However, it’s often easy to forget the people who fought for their beliefs on the same soil generations ago. Read more...