In L.A. you are encouraged not to acknowledge a celebrity’s existence —certainly don’t say anything to them, that’s what tourists do! It’s understandable why. After all we are all human beings who wish to be rewarded for our deeds but allowed our personal freedoms including the right to peace and privacy. But I’ll have been a citizen of the The City of Angels for 3 years come Valentine’s Day (romantic I know) and I don’t give a fuck what you say, if I want to talk to someone regardless of who they are…I’m gonna. Of course even I have my rules and standards. You never, ever bother a famous person with their kids or at dinner…EVER! And I want it very clear that I’m not trying to bother anyone just because they are famous. It’s ALWAYS about WHAT they do, which is why they are famous to begin with unless they are a non-celebrity like cast members of The Hills*. I’m not going to say something unless I really have something to say. Problem is, you always think of something to say out-of-the-blue 5 minutes later. Fortunately this afternoon. I had just such a 2nd chance.
You should know that I have an EAGLE-EYE for personalities. Some people just have that “glow-of-importance” to them. Maybe I can subconsciously observe their aura. I know that sounds ridiculous.** I have no real explanation for it. When I first moved to California my inner dialog after a quick glance at someone was always, “That person looks a lot like _________.” only to realize at 2nd glance that it most likely was that person, just doing whatever. I’ve learned now to accept that it probably is that person as it proves true more likely than not.
Last March I recommended Echo Park dance troupe/electrosiezure We Are The World as a band “You Should Know” and really, this recommendation is for your own good if you feel that music needs an artistic boost removed from the cult of celebrity currently seized ahold of iTunes. Finally the Echo Park quarted have made a hauntingly spectacular video for standout track “Clay Stones” in anticipation of their first release, a single of the song available today via IAMSOUND (still saying pre-sale). The Vinyl will be out 2/23 on Manimal.
And as I’ve said before if you get the chance to catch their kenetic live show (of which they play very few) consider yourself very lucky. Their myspace page indicates an upcoming February residency here in Los Angeles but a venue has yet to be revealed. Rest assured I will be making as many trips to Silverlake/Echo Park this month as necessary.
I may technically live in the city of Los Angeles but OFFICIALLY I am a citizen of West Hollywood, CA which has been it’s own entity since 1984. I think the city planners could forsee that LA was set for collapse or realized eventually Sarah Palin would become president and knew us freaks and wierdos would be herded into internment camps for our deviant lifestyles and decided that we should just have our own city so it would be easier to decide where to put the razor-wire fences. Honestly, I can’t see myself living anywhere else or being stuck with a better group of freaks.
Sometimes the wild nights take a couple of strange turns and the next thing you know you’re devising a way to not only destroy your liver with alcohol and your lungs with smoke but we may have collectively devised the largest timebomb you can possibly send down your gullet. I’ve already told you about The Real Sunset Strip, a show that comes live from that famous WeHo drag via USTREAM hosted byScheff and The Hawk whom each have their own regular “narrowcast” channels. Here is a clip that was streamed live recently where the hosts along with myself and photographer Andrew Herrold took a trip to Duke’s Coffee Shop* (between The Whisky A Go-Go and The Cat Club) and had them bring to reality an epicurean idea hatched next to a “street meat” cart in front of The Roxy minutes before the stream began.
The Real Sunset Dog: 1/4lb. Hot Dog wrapped in Bacon, Dipped in Batter and fried (w/Bun).
Optional Condiment Suggestions: Cholula Hot Sauce, Ketchup, Mustard
Estimated Calories:700-1,000+
*Sunset Strip History: The current site of Duke’s Coffee Shop used to be a club called The London Fog, which is where The Doors had their first regular gigs in West Hollywood before becoming the house band next door at The Whisky A Go-Go. Jim Morrison in his later years would probably have eaten The Real Sunset Dog without flinching. He was The Lizard King, he would probably eat anything!
Saddle Creek recording artist Orenda Fink (of Azure Ray, wife of Todd Fink of The Faint) has made her 2005 debut album Invisible Ones available for free download on her website now through the end of January in an effort to encourage relief effort donations for the current crisis in Haiti. In a very personal letter posted to her site that recounts her time in Haiti spent making music, art, and – most importantly – friends, Orenda asks that people make a donation to a relief effort organization in return for downloading the album. Invisible Ones, her solo debut, was inspired by and mainly written during her travels there in 2003.
Luca Brasi sleeps wit the fishes…but you can sleep with the horses! Or your prize racehorse’s head at least! It sells here for $45 stuffed…$35 without fiberfill or FREE if you ask Don Corleoné on his daughter’s wedding day.
Brings new meaning to the phrase “going to the mattresses”.
I’m fully jazzed that Omaha indierock veterans Cursive will be doing 2 shows this spring on the Sunset Strip. They’ll be out from Feb.16 – Apr.2 supporting Chicago’s Alkaline Trio starting and ending the tour in the LA area. If you haven’t caught Cursive since their days with Cellist Greta Cohn you may be pleasantly surprised with the renewed energy/texture that the addition/replacement of keys/horns has been to the bands live show. I felt like using a lot of slashes today. Need fulfilled. See you next month, Cursive!
Cursive tour dates (all in support of Alkaline Trio)
FEB. 16 POMONA, CA GLASS HOUSE
FEB. 17 LOS ANGELES, CA HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)
FEB. 18 SAN FRANCISCO, CA REGENCY BALLROOM
FEB. 19 PORTLAND, OR WONDER BALLROOM
FEB. 20 SEATTLE, WA NEUMO’S
FEB. 23 BOISE, ID KNITTING FACTORY
FEB. 24 SALT LAKE CITY, UT IN THE VENUE
FEB. 25 DENVER, CO GOTHIC THEATRE
FEB. 26 LAWRENCE, KS GRANADA THEATRE
FEB. 27 CHICAGO, IL METRO
FEB. 28 CHICAGO, IL METRO
MAR. 2 ROYAL OAK, MI ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE
MAR. 3 COLUMBUS, OH NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
MAR. 4 CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 5 PITTSBURGH, PA CLUB ZOO
MAR. 6 TORONTO, ON PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE
MAR. 8 CLIFTON PARK, NY NORTHERN LIGHTS
MAR. 9 HARTFORD, CT WEBSTER THEATRE
MAR. 11 PHILADELPHIA, PA TROCADERO
MAR. 12 NEW YORK, NY NOKIA THEATRE
MAR. 13 SAYREVILLE, NJ STARLAND BALLROOM
MAR. 14 PROVIDENCE, RI LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
MAR. 16 TOWSON, MD RECHER THEATRE
MAR. 17 CHARLOTTE, NC AMOS’ SOUTHEND
MAR. 18 CHARLESTON, SC MUSIC FARM
MAR. 19 ATLANTA, GA MASQUERADE
MAR. 20 JACKSONVILLE, FL FREEBIRD LIVE
MAR. 22 ORLANDO, FL HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 23 FT. LAUDERDALE, FL REVOLUTION
MAR. 25 NEW ORLEANS, LA HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 26 HOUSTON, TX WAREHOUSE LIVE
MAR. 27 DALLAS, TX PALLADIUM BALLROOM
MAR. 28 AUSTIN, TX EMO’S
MAR. 30 TEMPE, AZ THE MARQUEE
APR. 1 SAN DIEGO, CA HOUSE OF BLUES
APR. 2 LOS ANGELES, CA HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)
Intr0vert may have reviewed Brooklyn’s dirty-glamorous Semi Precious Weapons back in November, but I wanted in on the action. So when the chance came along to interview them before their show on Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour, I picked my jaw up off the ground, threw some glitter on and rented a sexy Kia Spectra to get to Rosemont.
From ditching their Brooklyn apartment and hopping on a tour bus that follows my beloved Lady, their lives have been turned a bit upside-down in the past year. Lady Gaga actually opened for Semi Precious Weapons, back sometime between being Stephanie Germanotta and a 23 year old woman with her own army of Monsters.
Sitting down on the bus with SPW, I was expecting 30 minutes of me being awkward turtle while they stared at me blankly, wishing for a legit interview. To my utter amazement, it was just the opposite. Yeah, I did have four gorgeous rock stars staring at me, but to my relief it was just 6 people (including Justin’s mom for awhile) having a conversation about rock and roll, tits, blood, glitter-you know, normal stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
Finally more KITH! Does it get any better than these cross dressing Canadians? How about morbidly obese fatsuits! (Be jealous: Bruce McCulloch and I go to the same Trader Joe’s).
