My co-author intr0vert made me hip to this video-and to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, back when ‘Fever to Tell’ came out. To be honest, I am only a couple notches above ambivalent to the band, I skip past most of the YYY songs on my iTunes about 40% of the time. I have, however seen them 3 times now and I have to admit they can definitely work it out live. After much insistence from my roommate, I have acquired their latest album, ‘It’s Blitz!’ and am going to make an effort to get into it.
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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.

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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 by Scheff 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!

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).

via (eye weekly)

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Who uploads bad cuts to YouTube. You make the world suck.

Hey! I’m back in my homestate somewhere in middle America and I’ve been hanging out with a lot of people who really want to come visit me on the coast but with money tight don’t really have that luxury. Behold a solution (of sorts)! Lauren Scheff and The Hawk host a show via UStream called The Real Sunset Strip LIVE from The Roxy Theatre. It’s a great chance to see what goes on during a typical Saturday night in the musical heart of West Hollywood that spawned bands like  The Doors, Van Halen, Motley Crue and Guns N Roses.

Speaking of which, former GNR/Velvet Revolver/The Cult drummer Matt Sorum, a regular fixture of the strip, even stopped by a few weeks ago to chat with the guys about the glory days of The Strip (video below). Other recent guests have been Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Harry Perry, B-Real from Cypress Hill and Tattooed Millionaire to name very few. Other regular guests and skits from Scheff & The Hawk include bartenders, managers, drunks and misfits from various other Sunset Strip institutions like The Viper Room and The Comedy Store. You’ll probably see me pop-up there every now and then.

Check out the show! Join the Ustream chat sometime and make Twitter and Facebook friends with The Real Sunset Strip!

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I’m the one taking pictures at the crime scene.

“You Don’t Say!”

Last week I posted about the upcoming DVD for Live At Reading and Amazon who was hosting the “School” video wasn’t allowing an embed, so here it actually is! Reminisce over the best band of the 1990’s. Don’t debate me, fuck you for trying!

You know how I know that The Sunset Strip is BACK? Because I’ve seen sooo much amazing live music this week! Between The Sunset Strip Music Festival and all of the other fantastic shows that happen on the regular out here, as a live music fan I don’t think I’ve ever felt more at home.

And of all this amazing music I’ve seen lately (honestly 4-5 nights a week), the best act I’ve seen in a while to really, genuinely impress me has been the “Indie Gospel” that comes from NICO VEGA. I’ve seen them 3 times this week alone and everytime feels completely new; but this is not a new band by any stretch. Dan Expand (drums), Rich Koehler (guitar+) and Aja Volkman (vocals) have certainly been making a name for themselves in the indie scene around Los Angeles for years now, but I think very soon this will be a band that will illuminate a lot of peoples’ worlds. Their Self-titled album has been available on Myspace Records since February and what absolutely mystifies me about it is how versatile the sound is while at once being such a cohesive collection. Each song is so different yet such a complete part of a sonic narrative. And an expansive narrative it is for one that comes from just ONE melodic instrument onstage! The way that dancing maestro Rich mixes his guitar sound through Octave and Delay pedals is that of a psychedelic mad scientist whose found the cure for having a bassist or synth player to clutter Aja and Dan’s stage. And believe me, there may never be a big enough stage to hold Aja; within the first minute of seeing them live, you will be in love.

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I kinda miss these guys sometimes. I guess I’m still kind of a 14-year-old.

Beavis sounds a bit different. I guess that’s what a decade of Hank Hill will do to your voice, I tell you what.

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about Michael Mann’s Public Enemies. I mean, I think I know, but then suddenly I’ll feel like I don’t. Is it possible to dislike a movie, yet at the same time leave the theater feeling as though you did enjoy the hell out of it? Does that make any sense? I’ll try to work that out in my review but for context, I’m a huge fan of Michael Mann. I adore Thief and Manhunter. I slurp the greatness of Heat. I will argue vehemently that Collateral is one of the 10 best films of the decade. The Insider, Ali, and The Keep are all fantastic. I love Mann’s attention to process, procedure, and work and how he will show the most minute detail of a robbery or gunfight during the tensest of moments. I love how he can capture cities in ways we’ve never seen with his camera and how his villains are tragically flawed, yet human. In fact, pretty much the only thing I don’t like about Mann is Miami Vice. That movie was disgustingly bad. But hey, every great director is entitled to a bomb every now and then (he should also be admonished for producing the tripe known as Hancock). I can forgive Mann for Miami Vice. After all, the followup film promised Johnny Depp and Christian Bale shooting at each other with Tommy Guns. It’s got to be good, right?

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Although it was revealed on a Bump I just heard from a friend of series creator Brendan Small that Metalocalypse will be back on [Adult Swim] for it’s 3rd season around November of this year. As us nerds will recall the season ended in an Empire Strikes Back down note with band manager Ofdensen in pretty bad shape and the questionable safety of the bands world-saving next album. Speaking of albums Dethklok’s Deathalbum II is finished and will be released on September 8th.

In other [Adult Swim] news the similarly cliffhangered (cliffhung?) next season of The Venture Bros. will also pick back up in November.

“I’d rather die than go to heaven.”

If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There’d Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats

This has been my favorite blog for a long time now. In fact, many of the recurring segments on Deadlantern.com were patterned from stuff I saw on this site. It’s chock full of everything that AvantTrash readers would find interesting: musicians, beautiful women, artists, fashion, etc.

I encourage all of you to make it a daily visit.

And yes, Joan Blondell is the goddess. Be cultured and watch Three on a Match.