My dear friend Charles Mallison, whose previous photos for KSCR have been a resounding success, has shared with me a fabulous photo set from our show on Saturday. See more full-sized pictures here.

army navy with modest bling

other lives bringing oklahoma to l.a. and also professing their love for pete carroll.

gangi with colorful props.

See you there. This Saturday.

Movies are expensive to go to and lately with our poor economy, some theaters have been going out of business. Unfortunately, the most expensive and corporate ones are still standing and constantly flooded with people. Here’s a list of some cheaper and more interesting alternatives that not everybody knows about.

Academy 6 1003 Colorado Blvd (Pasadena)
This is hands down my favorite theater in Los Angeles. Showing all the movies you might have missed, mainstream and independent, its a great place to go if you want to avoid crowds and inflated movie/popcorn prices. The free parking lot in the back and its proximity to the Lake metro station make your trip worthwhile and if that doesn’t, the $3 admission will. The best part, however, is $2 matinees and $1 Sundays. Even better is the tiny Gourmet Cobbler Factory on your way back to the parking lot, which you should stop at and pick up the most delicious peach cobbler ever made!

Highland 3 5604 N. Figueroa St (Highland Park)
Not the most amazing selection of movies (mostly mainstream) and not the cleanest theater but the movies are $3 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All other days, movies are $6. It’s also in close proximity to the highland park metro station and there’s plenty of street parking.

Los Feliz 3 1822 Vermont Ave (Los Feliz)
I’ve only been here once but my experience was pretty satisfying. The theater room was narrow and the screen was very small and high up, I felt as if I were in an old train. Some people may find this slightly bothersome but I really enjoyed it. My favorite movies of 2008 have been playing at this theater all year, its relatively cheap ($6 matinees), and its located right next to Fred 62 (great food)!

Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 (Pasadena)
This is the ultimate place to go for independent and less mainstream movies. A little pricier than others ($8.50 students / $7 matinee), but it is walking distance from the Memorial Park metro station and it has a free parking lot located 1 block behind the theater.

Vista 4473 Sunset Dr (Silverlake)
A beautiful and elegant theater, screening one movie at a time at a rather cheap price of $8 ($5 matinee). Occasionally they have midnight screenings but currently there isn’t anything scheduled that I know of. Street parking is a bit tricky but the theater is in walking distance from the Vermont/Sunset metro station.

Echo Park Film Center 1200 N. Alvarado St (Echo Park)
Not actually a theater but on Thursday nights they have open screenings where anyone can come and show films they have made. Its free, inspiring and fun. They also sell super 8 film and rent out camera equipment. If you are a student you can get a yearly membership for $20 and get 50% off all equipment you rent.

Fairfax Regency 7907 Beverly Blvd (West Hollywood)
A quick drive down the 10 freeway will get you to this theater, where admission is $7.50 ($5 matinee) and parking is available around the corner. The chairs are comfortable but the rooms are quite cold. I have only had great experiences at this theater and they tend to show intelligent and interesting movies. They also screen midnight movies every Friday and over the next few weeks you can go see The Big Lebowski, Robocop, The Princess Bride, and Ghostbusters among other cult favorites.

Good movies out right now:
Waltz with Bashir
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
The Wrestler
Wendy & Lucy (Fairfax & Academy 6)
Let The Right One In (Fairfax)
Synecdoche, New York (Fairfax)

Pitchfork has compiled in a friendly list (without any commentary, thank god) upcoming winter 2009 releases, with corresponding US/UK and vinyl release dates. The list is here.

January 20th will be the first huge batch of gifts: Animal Collective’s physical copy of Merriweather Post Pavillion (vinyl and digital will already be out), and new albums from A.C. Newman, Andrew Bird, Antony and the Johnsons, Bat For Lashes, Bon Iver, Cut Off Your Hands, Jim O’Rourke & Loren Connors, Squarepusher, Telefon Tel Aviv, etc. will be available for your purchase. Mark your calendars!

Morrissey is due soon! Aw, yes. She’ll be named “Years of Refusal”, and we’re expecting her in March! Personally, I have been generally pleased with late works from Moz — You Are The Quarry is one of my favorites — and this new track seems to continue the legacy of that and Ringleader of the Tormentors.

I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris is now on Morrissey’s Myspace. I’ve only listened about five times and my general impression is that it contains all the elements we typically associate with Mr. Steven Patrick. It’s definitely no return back to a Smiths track, but so far, so good. Too bad he’s not making a stop in Los Angeles this spring.

KOREAN BBQ TACOS. My mouth salivated when I heard about them. My mouth was salivating while I was eating them. My mouth is salivating right now thinking about them. The hybridization of L.A. cultures is now complete, as evidenced by this fusion of fomerly unacquainted, yet quintessentially Angeleno foods (I can’t believe you guys haven’t met yet!). Kogi takes its mission for fusion seriously, offering not only the delicious BBQ with a light refreshing salsa, but other specials like a kimchi quesadilla and Korean horchata (Korchata). While gourmet on-the-go is not typical for taco trucks, Kogi has executed the idea with resounding success.

Tacos and beverages are $2 a pop. Burritos and specials are around $5. Expect a bit of a line, and prepare to eat on the curb. I recommend 3 tacos for a hungry person, and 4 tacos if you have to wait more than twenty minutes. The burritos are a bit heavy for me (scrambled egg, hash browns, and tofu! yeow!), but for a hungry man it may be the cure for what ails you

You’ll be served by ultra-friendly people at a random street corner. The young entrepreneurs utilize mediums like Flickr and Twitter, so you’ll know exactly where the traveling truck will be. A rough schedule is posted on their website. Contrary to what you might think appropriate, the truck does not remain parked at Wilshire and Alvarado (heh). Venice seems to be their main location, but I have caught them twice in Little Tokyo.

For a Korean girl who has ousted meat, the tofu tacos may be a saving grace. Thank you, Kogi.

Winter is still in full swing, and east coast musicians are being drawn in by Los Angeles’ (literal and figurative) warmth. A few days in January will undoubtedly inspire conflict:

• January 20 - Crystal Antlers at the Smell OR The Walkmen and Beach House at the Henry Fonda
• January 22 - Chromeo at the Key Club OR High Places at the Echo
• January 23 - Jay Reatard at the Echoplex OR Animal Collective at the Henry Fonda?

I have highlighted my choices, although it should be noted I would much rather see AC at the Troubadour, and catch Jay Reatard on the 23rd. …And were in not for already seeing Crystal Antlers twice, the 20th would have undoubtedly been a difficult call. Worry you not if you should miss a great show; Coachella is coming up…

If you are holding back on shows because you spent $45 on an Animal Collective ticket or are saving for Coachella, here’s one exception that you should consider. On Thursday, experimental Los Angeles duo Gangi (undoubtedly one of my favorite emerging L.A. bands) will be headlining a show at Spaceland with Daedelus and Gaslamp Killer (KXLU/L.A. Record Presents… 8:30pm, 21+). This should be a spectacular show.