Soundboard and Extended Play merge to become Pop & Hiss

You might have noticed that at the L.A. Times, there are two music blogs, Soundboard (psst, that's the one you're reading now) and Extended Play. Well, those two blogs have decided to join forces and become one white-hot, radical blog by the name of Pop & Hiss. Expect the same coverage of local shows, new music, breaking news and awards buzz at our new home.

Blog mascot? It's got to be this pet serval in Texas, who didn't take too kindly to the camera in his face. We at Pop & Hiss promise to be a little more cuddly from time to time but don't tick us off by neglecting to bookmark our new home!

Bookmark this link.

--Margaret Wappler

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

Dave Navarro, former Carmen Electra man-thing and Jane's Addiction guitarist, wants to know if you'd like to come cuddle with him and his very pouffy pillow?

No? Well, OK. On Wednesday, LATimes.com's Home section put up some pictures of Navarro's loft in the Broadway Hollywood, and it makes for some prime, time-sucking clickage. Now, there's no denying that the loft is cool with lots of playful, sleek design (I'm totally digging the faux deer), but there are also a few elements that can't help but provoke a snicker, not to mention a resounding sense that a few illicit activities have gone down between these walls, which, thankfully, cannot talk.

But, going back to those quintessentially Navarro touches, what do we think of the snakeskin table with the silver skull on it? I don't know about you, but is that the first thing you want to look at when you're groggy in the morning, sipping juice and reading the newspaper? A silver skull perched atop slithery snakeskin? I guess this is what separates the rockers from the rest of us, the ability to eat one's eggs while surrounded by reptilian splendor.

Then again, maybe Navarro doesn't eat eggs at all for breakfast. Or maybe not chicken ones, anyway. Maybe, say, lizard ones. Yum!

-- Margaret Wappler

Photo credit: Edward Duarte

A peek inside Dave Navarro's loft: Naturally, there's snakeskin involved

Dave Navarro, former Carmen Electra man-thing and Jane's Addiction guitarist, wants to know if you'd like to come cuddle with him and his very pouffy pillow?

No? Well, OK. On Wednesday, LATimes.com's Home section put up some pictures of Navarro's loft in the Broadway Hollywood, and it makes for some prime, time-sucking clickage. Now, there's no denying that the loft is cool with lots of playful, sleek design (I'm totally digging the faux deer), but there are also a few elements that can't help but provoke a snicker, not to mention a resounding sense that a few illicit activities have gone down between these walls, which, thankfully, cannot talk.

But, going back to those quintessentially Navarro touches, what do we think of the snakeskin table with the silver skull on it? I don't know about you, but is that the first thing you want to look at when you're groggy in the morning, sipping juice and reading the newspaper? A silver skull perched atop slithery snakeskin? I guess this is what separates the rockers from the rest of us, the ability to eat one's eggs while surrounded by reptilian splendor.

Then again, maybe Navarro doesn't eat eggs at all for breakfast. Or maybe not chicken ones, anyway. Maybe, say, lizard ones. Yum!

-- Margaret Wappler

Photo credit: Edward Duarte