"If you live there, then you slowly die." That's how Brandon Welchez, frontman and beat programmer for drone-pop duo Crocodiles, describes his band's hometown of San Diego. "A lot of the nastiness in our music comes from reacting to the boring culture there, and the sunshine," adds guitarist Charles Rowell. "The sunshine can be oppressive."

Fuck Elvis and Keith Richards," Dave Grohl has said. "Lemmy's the king of rock'n'roll." And on this sunny L.A. February afternoon, the king is holding court. From his black cowboy hat and Civil War–reenactor duds to his sunken eyes, corpselike pallor, and questionable oral hygiene, Lemmy suggests the last of a dying breed.

"Pain in the ass!" rasps Michael Angelakos as he struggles to heave a Fender Rhodes keyboard onto the stage of Los Angeles' Henry Fonda Theater. Angelakos, 21, is the benevolent dictator of synth poppers Passion Pit, and his band are soundchecking for their slot opening for French electro sensation Yelle.

Fear and loathing in Las Vegas are in notably short supply during Gym Class Heroes' show in late June at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. "I've had problems with pharmaceuticals for ten years, and I stand in front of you four and a half months sober, and I feel good as fuck!" exclaims frontman Travis McCoy to the roaring crowd.

By: Matt Diehl

When he was courted by major labels this past year, Cody Chesnutt had two demands: (1) release the singer/songwriter's funk-rock, lo-fi freakout debut, The Headphone Masterpiece, as a two-disc set, complete with tape hiss; and (2) videotape every label meeting for Breaking the Masterpiece, a documentary tracking his rise (Chesnutt canceled a meeting with DreamWorks when one exec refused to appear on camera).