Imagine if students could major in magic and enroll in courses taught by magicians. Unbeknownst to the general public, magic is similar to more recognizable forms of performance art such as theater, music and dance in that aspiring magicians often attend academies to learn from the masters and participate in competitions. Read more...

Stars “Heart” Arts & Crafts “I am Evan, and this is my heart.” So begins “Heart,” a song cycle about love and relationships from the Montreal-based rock band Stars. Read more...

Behind UCLA piano Professor Vitaly Margulis’ large square-framed, thick-lensed glasses there’s a benign, pensive gaze. But looks can be deceiving, especially when one discovers that behind Margulis’ calm expression there is a mind of such fiery passion. Read more...

While she glides onto the stage in a purple-sequined jacket and does a little salsa step, there is only one word to describe Omara Portuondo: diva. Read more...

For his unique blend of world music, bluegrass and jazz, the contemporary music scene reveres guitarist Bill Frisell. Last Sunday, Frisell graced the stage of Royce Hall to perform with his eclectic world music band, The Intercontinentals. Read more...

Corporate hipsters can pick off ideas from Giant Robot, but they can never outrun the trend-setting magazine. “It’s cool that buyers for Urban Outfitters shop at the Giant Robot store, but we’ll always be one step ahead. Read more...

Sequins. Leopard-print, bell-bottomed bodysuits. Teased hair. What do all of these have in common, besides being all the rage in the ’80s? Well, they are all imperative to creating the image of The Darkness, a British glam-rock band at the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, and the band is ready to cross over to the States to rock our proverbial socks off. Read more...