Yet most of the biggie shows are still months away. And fans need to get their live music fix sooner rather than later. Never fear — January has plenty to offer for the eyes and ears. But several of the intriguing shows over the next few weeks aren’t happening at cavernous amphitheaters, arenas and stadiums. Here are some recommendations (listed chronologically) for shows to catch while we wait for Taylor, Bono and the gang to show up. (8 p.m. Friday; Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley; $22-$24, www.thefreight.org).

Krystal Meraz, director and choreographer for Academy of Villains, with her fiancé Christopher “Pharside” Jennings, says that the lack of a competitive aspect sets the event apart, Not that the company ballet shoes leather bracelet, ballet shoes charm bracelet, leather bangle, personalized bracelet, initial bracelet, monogram has shied away from challenges, In 2012, the Academy of Villains were the U.S, champions at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship, the same year they made the semifinals on “America’s Got Talent.” Earlier this year they competed live on the popular Fox show “So You Think You Can Dance.”..

Mayor Tom Butt has said that his office will be investigating how the city can better serve at-risk youth and find solutions to stem the violence. “We need to find out what is driving this new trend and revisit our current strategies,” Butt said in a statement. “We need to find out why these young people were targeted, and we need to find out who the perpetrators were and what motivated them to engage in violence and murder.”. Friends say Russell was a quiet person who never mentioned much about his life outside the center, though he was proud when he brought his mother in to visit a few months ago.

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LOS ANGELES — Seven years after her Oscar debut, Ellen DeGeneres is back. The 56-year-old TV personality talked with The Associated Press about her plans and preparations for hosting her second Academy Awards on Sunday. AP: What did it take for you to say “yes” again?. DeGeneres: “It took my agent saying, ‘Yes, you should do it.’ And I said, ‘OK.’ Look, it’s the greatest gig in the world. And it’s also really, really hard. So, I wasn’t going to do it, because I’ve done it before. And I thought, ‘I don’t need to do that again.’ And then I realized I’m too comfortable and too complacent and I should scare myself and take a chance. So here I am, scaring myself and taking a chance.”.