Most bands would flinch at the prospect of opening up for Metallica at South By Southwest or playing Coachella while Morrissey is prancing about on the main stage, but Silversun Pickups aren't like most bands. The Los Angeles-based quartet consisting of singer/guitarist Brian Aubert, bassist Nikki Monninger, keyboardist Joe Lester, and drummer Christopher Guanlao have transcended early comparisons to the Smashing Pumpkins to become one of rock's brightest new attractions.

The band's just-released second album, Swoon, features the kick-ass first single "Panic Switch." The song has a nice mix of blistering guitars and a throbbing rhythm section. The breakdown that comes two-thirds of the way in, when Aubert sings, "I'm waiting, fading, floating away" repeatedly, before an explosion of guitar, will stick in your head for days. Check out the band's exclusive live performance below.

I'm happy to report "Panic Switch" isn't the only good cut on Swoon. The album is

There was a time when the cast of Saturday Night Live was referred to as "the Not Ready For Prime Time Players," an apt description for a group of up-and-coming comedians doing edgy comedy on late-night TV. Yet over the years, SNL went more mainstream with blockbuster and under-performing movie spinoffs, and former Not Ready For Prime Time Players became some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

SNL's musical guests have also been a mix of big stars and up-and-comers, from such superstars as Paul Simon, the Rolling Stones, Sting, etc. to occasional acts on the rise, such as Beck, the Shins and the Arcade Fire--which brings us the SNL's most recent musical guest, Fleet Foxes.

After releasing an EP and self-titled debut album on Sub Pop in 2008, Fleet Foxes have received much critical acclaim. Billboard's staff named it album of the year and U.K. publication Uncut recently bestowed its first-ever Uncut Music Award on the album, besting titles by Radiohead and Elbow.

But does a soft-rock band,

This space is usually reserved to spotlight fresh new talent on the rise. Today, however, for the first time-and hopefully the last-I'm going to pay tribute to a rising talent whose life was cut tragically short on Monday (May 18) as the result of senseless violence. His name was Roderick Anthony Burton II, but hip-hop fans know him better as Dolla. He was only 21. Before I climb atop my soapbox, take a look at Dolla's clip for the track "Make A Toast."

As you may have read, Dolla was fatally shot in the head on Monday (May 18) at the Beverly Center, a posh mall in West Hollywood, California, after an argument near the mall's valet parking stand. I'm not sure what the argument was about and it doesn't really matter, because no matter what the issue was, it's safe to say it was not more important than Dolla's life and the life of the alleged gunman, who police identified as Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, of Georgia. The shooting may have been prompted by an altercation between Dolla and other

Sometimes this hip-hop game can get a bit confusing for all but the hardcore followers. When I first heard the name Big B, I have to admit I confused him with Bun B, the incredibly successful rapper who was once half of UGK. (Why do I feel like I'm looking into a bowl of Alpha-Bits cereal?) Funny thing is, I was going to pretend that I had Bun B confused with Bun E. Carlos, the drummer in Cheap Trick and Tinted Windows and joke that Mr. Carlos must have a lot of time on his hands to launch a career as an M.C. right after unveiling Tinted Windows, but now that joke is completely played out. So, instead I'm going write about Big B--who. as far as I can tell--has absolutely nothing to do with Bun B and/or UGK, nor Bun E. Carlos, Cheap Trick and Tinted Windows.

Big B, however, does have some ties to some rockin' dudes. His current video/single is a track called "Sinner" and features a guest shot by Scott Russo of noted modern rockers and Big's Suburban Noize labelmates Unwritten Law. Check