the BEAT of the week: KCRW at Who Shot Rock & Roll.

This, no doubt, will be a fun one. L.A. public radio station KCRW is teaming up with the Annenberg Space for Photography for the museum's current exhibition -- Who Shot Rock & Roll, the first major museum exhibition of rock music photography -- for a series of outdoors concerts. Not only will you get to check out a fun, very L.A.-esque exhibit featuring works from a number of influential photographers -- Anton Corbijn, Dennis Hopper, Richard Kern, David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Laura Levine, Ryan McGinley, Mark Seliger, to name a few -- but KCRW has also rounded up some great musicians to bring the rock.

First up this Saturday is none other than Moby (with a DJ set by Morning Becomes Eclectic's Jason Bentley). Then there's Portugal. The Man next Saturday, celebrating the station's release of its “T. Rex vs. KCRW Soundclash” remix EP. And finally, on Aug. 4th, it's L.A.'s very own Band of Skulls and Raphael Saadiq, celebrating songs of Bob Dylan. Plus: It's all free. Just be sure to RSVP and arrive early!

Who said museums aren't cool?

Who Shot Rock & Roll is being shown until Oct. 7 at the Annenberg Space for Photography, located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City. For more information on the KCRW outdoors concerts, check here.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer.

Now that Carmaggeddon has come and gone, it's time to try and venture out to the westside again, if you so dare. Also I Like to Rock, the summer music concert series at the Hammer Museum, is worth the trouble.

The series is already halfway through, but you've still got great performances ahead of you: Grouplove this Thursday, and the Henry Clay People the next. Put on by one of my favorite local bloggers, Kevin Bronson at BuzzBandsLA, and KCRW, you know you're getting a look into what's next and what's good in the indie music scene. And an extra plus: the concert and the museum are both free! A great way to enjoy a summer night.

Also I Like to Rock takes place Thursdays in July beginning at 7pm at the Hammer Museum, located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood.

-- Chau Tu
Photo credit: Laurie Scavo

Do It. Save NPR, PBS and other public broadcasting.

We here at the BEAT are big public broadcasting fans, and it's no wonder, considering L.A. has so many great public broadcasting offerings, from KCRW to KPCC to NPR and PBS. But right now there's some legislation about to hit Congress that really threatens the government funding for public broadcasting across the country, and therefore, its survival.

The issue has become political, mainly because the legislation is being introduced and supported by the Republican Party. And some argue that operations like NPR are liberal-leaning, and therefore the people's taxes shouldn't be paying to support someone else's political affiliations.

But it's important to remember that the point of public broadcasting, and its government funding, is to provide content for everyone, because that's its audience -- everyone. And sure, public broadcasting isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean it can't and shouldn't improve. Public broadcasting is a major part of the media landscape -- 170 million Americans connect to it -- and to lose it would mean eliminating an ever-needed neutral and balanced voice in the media.

Check out this great piece by the L.A. Times' Robert Lloyd on the issue, and please do your part and support public broadcasting by signing the petition here.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: NPR

Check It. KCRW merch.

You've only got about eight more days until the end of the year, and your last chance to get that tax write-off for the next year. Don't know where to offer your extra dollars?

KCRW, arguably L.A.'s best public radio station, is always a great choice. They're set to kick off their latest membership drive in late January (and you should sign up to volunteer!), but in the meantime, you can still become a KCRW member and enjoy the benefits. There are a multitude of packages you could choose to both donate and get rewards, but my pick right now would have to be the new T-shirts and mugs. If you happened to watch the awesome documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop earlier this year, you're sure to recognize the name of the artist: Mr. Brainwash. The street artist has offered his services to make for some fun KCRW merch, and a quick and easy donation to the station. (On a related note, the Kleen Kanteen was designed by Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One.)

You could always make a donation in the name of someone else too -- a perfect last minute Christmas gift! Check out all your options here. Happy giving!

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Radiolab [The Monday Download].

If you're a fan of This American Life (which you should be), it's time to check out one of their own favorites, Radiolab. Produced by WNYC, this radio show is like a science- and philosophy-oriented sister to TAL, using the same personal anecdote format to divulge further into certain themes. Hearing the words 'science' and 'philosophy' may throw some people off at first, but just as TAL is able to make the recession an interesting story, so can Radiolab with its own topics.

For example, Radiolab's show on "Numbers" followed a narrator to a convention of mathematicians, and focused on this peculiar way that these math geniuses identify themselves--by their Erdos number, or rather a sort of Six Degrees of Separation game played with a near-mythological mathematician named Paul Erdos as Kevin Bacon. There was also a show focusing on "Oops," which had hilarious stories about mistakes, minor and major, that people have made. And then there was "Words," which tried to imagine a world without words. Imagine! Radiolab tried. And they also had this fun video to go along with its podcast--can you 'see' all the words?:

Radiolab airs on KCRW on occasional Sundays (like if This American Life is in reruns), but to fully catch up on the episodes, download the podcasts or stream online at the Radiolab website. It's another great (and sadly, rare) example of what radio can do, so go out and support it!

-- Chau Tu

ps. Also, doesn't co-host Jad Abumrad sound like Ira Glass? Major plus.

Check It. Edgar Wright on KCRW.

Undoubtedly, one of my most anticipated movies of the summer/year is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Starring two of my favorite actors--Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman--the movie is an adaptation of the highly successful comic series Scott Pilgrim created by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film itself is helmed by Edgar Wright, who can also be credited for writing and directing the absolutely wonderful Shaun of the Dead and its somewhat companion piece Hot Fuzz.

Because I've been so excited for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I've been trying to avoid most of the recent press surrounding the film. But while watching a screening of Shaun of the Dead on Comedy Central a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but be entranced by the special Scott Pilgrim previews that included commentary by Wright. The English filmmaker is well-spoken, funny and smart, and made the commentary actually interesting to pay attention to.

So despite wanting to avoid any possible spoilers--and I doubt there'll be too many (hopefully)--I'll probably tune in today to catch some more fun insight into the movie, when Wright appears on The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell at 2:30 p.m. on KCRW. As always, you can listen (old-school) on the radio on 89.9 FM, or (new-school) streaming live online at kcrw.com. Wright also has a pretty cool personal website.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World premieres Aug. 13. Check out the trailer here.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer.

This whole museum + cool concert thing sure is catching on, isn't it? Tonight we're headed on over to the Hammer Museum, which is kicking off its own free outdoor summer concert series, called Also I Like to Rock.

This month-long program is curated by KCRW and Buzz Bands LA, who definitely know a thing or two about up-and-coming local bands. For tonight's edition, they're featuring the dance-worthy Saint Motel and the edgy-rock Kitten, which just so happens to be led by a 15-year-old (but a pretty darn talented one at that!). Next week, look for mini-supergroup Admiral Radley, and beyond that, the rising Fitz and the Tantrums. There'll also be appearances by your favorite KCRW DJs (Garth Trinidad's soothing voice in person?!), and of course, the galleries for your perusal (open until 9pm).

The fun is set to officially begin at 8pm, but seeing as how these cool free L.A. events have become quite the uber-popular, stretching-into-almost-annoying settings as of late, you better plan early. Not just an hour before showtime early, but really early. Trust me. Or you can invest in a "Rock the Summer" pass courtesy of KCRW, which will get you express (but not guaranteed) entry into all the AILTR shows plus some of those awesome KCRW benefits (and it's tax-deductible!).

The Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood. Parking is $3 after 6pm (but really..you might need to show up earlier).

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Soundsuits After Dark.

If you're not headed out to the music/arts fest Silver Lake Jubilee this weekend, head over to the other side of the town for another cheap (i.e. FREE) musical event: Soundsuits After Dark.

Part of the grand finale for the Fowler Museum's latest exhibition, "Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth," (no, unfortunately not that Nick Cave) the event will feature the exhibition's most prominent pieces: the soundsuits. Large, multi-layered and comprised of items like yarn, sequins, toys, etc., these soundsuits are intricate sculptures that create unusual sounds when worn. You'll get to see them in action firsthand as performers don the pieces for pop-up appearances, and if you're one of the first 750 people to show up, you'll even get a pair of American Apparel socks to adorn and make your own personal 'soundsuit.'

Also providing entertainment for the night will be KCRW DJs Jason Bentley and Garth Trinidad, and the usual assortment of food trucks will be on hand for grubbing. A creative and musically fun weekend for all!

Soundsuits After Dark will begin at 8pm on Saturday at the Fowler Museum at UCLA. It's free, and no tickets are needed.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: KCRW

Advance Notice. Ira Glass at Royce Hall.

For his wondrous skills of storytelling and an unbeatable combination of intelligence and genuineness, This American Life's valiant leader Ira Glass is one of my most favorite people in the world. (Plus, look at him, he's a stud.) And if he isn't one of yours yet, get on the boat already! You won't look back.

Here's another chance: Glass is bringing his live show "Radio Stories & Other Stories" to UCLA's Royce Hall on March 27th for two separate editions, one at 7pm and one at 10pm. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am--but note, you have to be a KCRW member to purchase (and you really should be subscribing anyway).

I saw this show back in 2007 at USC, and it was incredibly fun, insightful and inspiring. Glass, alone on the stage with his sound devices and players, brings all the great stories and moments that make This American Life fantastic and adds his own personal experiences into the mix, making everything intimate and personable. He'll also be taking questions at the end, but try to refrain from going on and on about your unabated love for him (I know it'll be difficult).

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: This American Life