While punk rock is most closely associated with the London and New York City scenes of the late 1970s, the Los Angeles strain that erupted in the early ’80s was just as vital — something Dave Travis attempts to document in his forthcoming DVD ‘A History Lesson Part 1: Punk Rock in Los Angeles in 1984.’

With its new album ‘Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes’ arriving in stores yesterday, Social Distortion dropped by ‘Conan’ last night to rip through the record’s lead single ‘Machine Gun Blues.’

Peter Buck is no stranger to jumping on stage for a good jam, so when former Hüsker Dü frontman Bob Mould swung through Athens, Ga., on July 25, 1990, in support of ‘Black Sheets of Rain,’ the R.E.M. guitarist pitched in on a crunchy cover of Neil Young’s classic-rock staple ‘Cinnamon Girl.’

J Mascis will unplug this spring — or, as Dinosaur Jr bandmate Lou Barlow put it, ‘pretend he’s a peace loving acoustic guy’ — for a just-announced 22-date North American tour in support of his first-ever solo studio album ‘Several Shades of Why.’

Last October, Sonic Youth ventured to Austin, Texas, to tape a performance for the venerable public-television concert series ‘Austin City Limits’ — an episode, also featuring The Black Keys, that finally debuts next Saturday.

On a recent swing through Los Angeles, Damon Gough — aka Badly Drawn Boy — stopped by Village Studios to record a few songs for the Nic Harcourt-curated blog Live Buzz, including this cover of The Stone Roses classic ‘I Wanna Be Adored.’

Check out the official music video for Crystal Castles’ re-recording of ‘Not In Love’ featuring The Cure’s Robert Smith on lead vocals.