Words are haunting me today. I'm easy prey.

Sea Turtles

My friend (MFR) at Vet School on St Kitts just sent me some cool pictures of sea turtles coming to lay their egss. Pretty neat so I thought I would share.





Hello everyone,

Sorry for the mass email, but I just wanted everyone to see this. From March to June is mating season for sea turtles and St Kitts is one of the islands that they build nests on. Since they are endangered, it is a very big deal. All kinds of people (students, conservationists, hunters, tourists) walk the beaches every night to try to spot a sea turtle. Most never see one. I know of a couple people that have walked the beaches almost every night for the past month or so and still have not seen a sea turtle! So when Megan and I met a guy who knew where to find the sea turtles, we did not get our hopes up, but we went anyway because we had nothing better to do. We got to the beach at about 10.30 pm. We saw our first turtle at 12.30 am. It was in the process of covering its nest. Then, about 10 feet down the beach, was another turtle that was in the process of covering its nest. So we watched the two of them cover the nests and then make their way back to the ocean. We were more than satisfied with that because we were lucky enough to see not one, but two sea turtles! On our way back to the car, we tripped over some fresh turtle tracks and found a turtle that was just in the process of digging a hole to lay her eggs in. So we got to watch her dig the hole, actually lay her eggs, and then cover them up before heading back to the ocean. It was so amazing. I wish I could describe it to you. These turtles are enormous. They probably weigh about 600-1000 pounds, depending on the age of the turtle. And they live for a long time too, so the turtle you are looking at may be like 80 years old! Anyway, we were more than lucky to see one turtle, much less 3 in one night! So I just wanted to send you a couple pictures so that you can all fully appreciate how awesome seeing these turtles was! Sorry if I sound super lame, but I am so excited that I got to see them!!!

Minutes Til Midnight

Band: Minutes Til Midnight
Song: Vintage Hearts (youtube link)
Why: Best played loud while driving fast at 2 AM

I totally forgot about this local band and if it wasn't for the itunes shuffle feature I might have not noticed in a runabout way their free show next Monday at the Echo (with Black Pine).

I don't know anything about them (I don't know much* actually. me stupid) other than their description listed on myspace: "Minutes til Midnight is a Band, a Multimedia Event, a Production/Remix team..." and that the singer Cliff Magreta co wrote a couple songs with Paul Oakenfold. Interesting enough for further research next Monday.



There are some live videos from an earlier Spaceland show here if you want a better idea of their sound.

* "..I don't know much, but I know I love you"

words work both ways

should we put an ad on craigslist?

JP and I want to start up a tiny instrument band. We're thinking an ukulele, triangle, melodica (aka a hooter), and maybe a xylophone too.

Since neither of us can sing or carry a beat we'll be employing the use of a wind up organ monkey with cymbals as the band leader.


Any band name suggestions would be helpful so I can set up a myspace page with a better name than this:
myspace.com/untitledtinyinstrumentwithwindupmonkeyband.

I like when I make the right choice

I decided that I would make the 45 minute drive down to Costa Mesa for the seconds to last Deep Sea Diver's residency at the Detroit Bar since MFR is coming next week and I simply did not want to wait until May for my next j-do fix.

Let me tell you (Corey esp) that you seriously missed out on a great show last night.

Met friend and Southern OC local Ms. Johnny Pumpkin just in time to catch The Slings, a multi instrumental three piece that impressed me with their multitasking performance. Sometimes there was dual drumming, or dual xylophone whilst drumming and (my favorite) a saw and violin bow were mixed into this creature of heartfelt indie sounds.

JP was a big fan of the melodica they were using enough so to ask what that keyboard harmonica thingy was called. I'd always called them a hooter as in that one hit wonder 80's band which Ms JP smarty pants was surprisingly unaware of.

What? You don't remember the hooters ?

Deep Sea Diver came on stage, played a song or two before inviting the Slings back up for some j-do songs and a series of covers by Magnetic Fields, Leonard Cohen and a more than amazing rendition of Bjork's Human Behavior.

One aspect I love is not knowing how DSD is going to come across on any particular night. I've seen Jessica Dobson play straight by the book full band renditions of her recordings to solo stints with a electric guitar where I imagined her feeling the song more than just playing it. It's that close your eyes, hold my hand and trust me on this musical journey she launches into mid-song that the first time audience member just might not understand. Well this night was a show that would be a perfect first time experience: a full bodied, encapsulating set that showed off everything I loved about her sound.

Yeah, I surprise myself to the levels of my gushing I have for this band sometimes.

As always so so good and I hope for a repeat experience when the Slings open for Deep Sea Diver again on May 9th at the Plush Lounge in Fullerton.

It's not just me, these folks liked it too:
from The Slings livejournal
from this myspace blog post

Upcoming shows:

4.30.07 @ Detroit Bar - Free 21+
with Matt Death & the New Intellectuals
5.04.07 @ Gypsy Lounge, Lake Forest
All LBC bands, but in Lake Forest huh?
I.Me.Mine. 8.30, The Soft Hands 9.30, Forcefield ON 10.30, Deep Sea Diver 11.30
5.09.07 @ The Plush Lounge
With My Pet Saddle, The Slings $5, all ages
5.11.07 @ The Echo
opening for The Delta Spirit $7?
5.17.07 @ Alex Bar LBC
21+, $3 - the other bands listed sound questionable
but maybe southwell will be working. hmm
5.20.07 @ Koos Art Center LBC
$6 with Agent Ribbions, Dusty Rhodes & the River Band

photo from the 3.28.07 SilverLake Lounge show by dj cheese zombie

choices...

Listed in distance from my apartment.

The Happy Hollows @ the Echo
The Black Pine, Luna is Honey, Winter Flowers
My thoughts: well it's free, blocks from home and I'm fixing for a Happy Hollows energy blast.

The Soft Hands @ Mr T's Bowl - Free
with The Henry Clay People, & The Clark 8
My Thoughts: Keep meaning to see this band but waiting for some lineups with them next month. It's been awhile since I've visited T's and they treat me right on Mondays at Little Cave down the street

Meiko (8pm) @ Hotel Cafe
opening for Rosie Thomas
My thoughts: Corey loves her but a little too mellow for me tonight.

The Oohlas @ Troubadour
Men Women and Children, Bedouin Soundclash
My thoughts: I have a thing for the Oohlas but not so much of the headliner.

Deep Sea Diver (Jessica Dobson) @ The Detroit Bar
with The Slings - Free
My Thoughts: Costa Mesa is so so far but so so worth it in my opinion

Conclusion: I have a bad haircut.

I look like a Q-tip today

I don't know where I'm going to be in twelve hours. (9hrs now) That is neither here or there - this is post is all about my hair right now.

So driving up the 5 from Lake Forest, oops I mean Mission Viejo (they're interchangeable) I decided to head right up the 57 away from my home by the lake to get a haircut by my old house. If you've seen me in the last couple months or more frighteningly the last couple weeks, I've been sporting a hella kick ass Friar Tuck 'do.

Yeah it was bad. Yeah I was very aware of it. Yeah I have great friends who continue to let me embarrass myself in public.

At my old place I sit down in the chair in front of Mindy.
"Did you cut this yourself?" She looked pissed.
"No my friend did." lie, lie, lie I did.
"They don't know how to cut hair. They gave you a girl haircut!"
I wasn't sure if she was more disgusted with me or the bad trim I gave myself.
"Sorry! I've been busy."
"Yeah everyone busy."
"I probably shouldn't wait six months between cuts huh?"
"You have a girl cut. I'll fix it." She limply lifts up my bangs, "So how do you want it?"
I grab the back I instruct her to cut the large mass off but keep some of the length.
"Oh you mean a normal man haircut. No more girl cut?"
"You're making fun of me aren't you?"
"Don't worry I'll make you have a guys haircut again."

And with that and a giant razor it's now super short.



taken with a crappy cell phone but that's not really an excuse for fugliness.

on a separate note:
sorry if you had to work this weekend and found yourself still bored enough to read my blog.

one sentence at a time

me thinks I'm sick again.
Sometimes it's hard to say no to someone.
Sometimes I want them to say yes to me.
tapped the back of her knee with my foot and apologized with: "Sorry. How incredibly fresh of me!"
I was drifting and brushing hair off faces.
blue light bulb in the patio.
Before 3am windshield sprinkles, there was car talking.

scribbles

One of the best recommendations from the LA music blogs I ever followed was to check out the The Parson Red Heads.

This just came across from their myspace bulletin: rough cut of the Punctual as Usual video.



Next show (amazing line up):
@ The ExPlex? Echo Plex?, behind the Echo, $8
With Earlimart, The Watson Twins, and Sea Wolf

Thursday Choices

The Dollyrots US Tour Kick Off @ Safari Sams
with The Waking Hours
16+, $10 / $7 with flyer

Audio presents @ Three of Clubs
21+, Free
The Poor Excuses, Fawnhawk, IO Echo

Club Yoostah Be Cool presents @ Old Towne Pub Pasadena
21+ $5
Chissum Worthington, Beat Mo, Pu$$y Cow, Bang Sugar Bang (now a 4 piece), Rock Paper Scissors
*underground railroad to candyland canceled

window sill tapping

I've been coasting on this wonderful calmness since Saturday night. Headed out to Acme for a late sketch show, a beer next door and then ate at Swingers for the first time.

Maybe it was the shared vegan chocolate chip pancakes that calmed my nerves, or my coke settling the stomach knots I tend to battered up beforehand that some read differently from my actions: Quiet yet I engaged in conversation, smiled knowingly and wrote in the air with my fork.

Maybe I was just happy.

Ended the night 'round 3 AM making faces at stoplights down Beverly until it split at Temple forcing my way home. I couldn't sleep with blocks of words still forming above my eyes until 4.30 when thankfully I heard the thunder and lighting coming for me outside.


Random Bits:

Wed @ Kiss or Kill:
THE FUXEDOS are America's favorite apocalyptic lounge-punk-comedy-rock and roll-free jazz-storytelling-freakout-cinematic-what-the-hell? band, complete with costumes, props, and bizarrely humorous theatrics.
The Knives 9:30, The Generators 10:15, Automatic Music Explosion 11:00,
The Fuxedos 11:45, Front Row For The Meltdown 12:30

~~~~

I'm completely fascinated by this Brazilian band Bonde Do Role today.
watch this video and this video

jangle

On doorsteps waiting for her to return lugging groceries from the Mexican market down the street. Over the same candy wrappers and concrete chunks that worried me as I pulled my bag out of my car earlier, throwing the strap over my neck thinking how someone might toss that rock right through my window. Over and over the same thoughts as she never came by as promised.

On magazines my cell buzzed letting me know that she was calling, now hours later. "I don't care. I don't care." jingle jangle. The magazines didn't care for my ringtone song so I picked up.

"Hey."

This is all she said.

"Hey".

This is all I said at first.

"I can't stop thinking about you either."

She laughed. "Um, I can't stop thinking about me either."






Gemma Hayes - Back Of My Hand (video link)
none of this is true.

Kids in the Hall - 4 nights only

The Steve Allen Theater Presents

Kids in The Hall

Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald,
Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson

Thurs May 3rd 9pm -- Fri May 4th 11pm
Sat May 5th 9pm -- Sun May 6th 8pm
Tickets: $25

Reservations for this event are absolutely
essential, as it will sell out... quickly!

Buy tickets online, like now.

Ben might still be dead

After a little encouragement from my friend* Saturday night I just made my first edit to wikipedia with an addition of a link to Darby Romeo's new blog: coconutgirlwireless.wordpress.com.

If you're having trouble placing that name, let me help. Darby Romeo was the creator of a highly influential 90's Los Angeles based 'zine called Ben is Dead. It's also possible you might remember the "I Hate Brenda" newsletter (book?) about one of television show 90210's main characters. That was her too.

Now this might mean nothing to you, fall into the the what ever happen to category or for some people, that zine changed my direction in life classification. I know Joe fits the latter but like most things I was an merely an aware bystander (usually inside Tower Records) to my friend's obsession reading Ben is Dead.

From my understanding she closed shop many years ago and moved to Hawaii to surf and decide that 2007 would be a good time to start writing something again.

From Darby's Romeo's myspace:

Come check us out at Coconut Girl Wireless Tropical enlightenment ...
between sessions. Mix music, culture, health, environment, politics with a strong Pina Colada and fresh seared ahi and waves off-shore, double overhead. From some island wahines and creator of Ben Is Dead Magazine, Retro Hell: Life in the 70s & 80s from Afros to Zotz, UCLA's Arts Library Darby Romeo Collection of Zines, Killzine: Socially F*cking Retarded, I Hate Brenda Newsletter (r these things to be proud of? why not!). Come play; the water's nice and salty...and my bikini just won't stay on!.... xo

*Darby's sister and occasional contributor to Ben is Dead

Chissum does Bond. James Bond

(video link)

Chissium Worthington
with New Fidelity (acoustic)

Free - 9pm
@ The Pike, Long Beach
Eat the "Best Fish & Chips in Long Beach" - Press Telegram"
"DRUMMER CHRIS REECE OF SOCIAL DISTORTION FAME OWNS AND OPERATES THE PIKE RESTAURANT AND BAR IN LONG BEACH, CA. A 50s DINER TURNED INTO A NEIGHBOORHOOD FISH JOINT. NAMED AFTER THE ABANDONED LONG BEACH AMUSEMENT PARK, "THE PIKE", IT IS A RESTAURANT BY DAY AND A KICK ASS LIVE MUSIC VENUE BY NIGHT. THE MENU HAS FOOD FAVORITES FROM YEARS TOURING THE U.S. IN A PUNK ROCK BAND. COME CHECK IT OUT!!"

someone from my past said that you're only boring if you're bored.

someone once confused my patience as being slow; I waited three weeks to spring the perfect punchline. my timing was anything but slow.


I have questions for you unknown readers: is there anything you want to know? should I stick with the random and reject the music listings? are you folks just voyeurs to my boring life?

just curious and a little too sick to concentrate on writing blogging today.

amuse me.
comment anonymously - or not

Kiss or Kill 4.11.07

Kiss or Kill presents @ Safari Sams

Inazuma 12-12:30, Silver Needle 11:45
Automatic Music Explosion 11:00-11:30
The Prix 10:15-10:45 The Lieutenants 9:30-10:00

The Prix are great.
Don't miss The Prix.
You must see The Prix.
read an interview with them here

After last week's Kiss or Kill, Joe (of p=cow) feels the same way (well maybe more so) about about Automatic Music Explosion as I did a few weeks back but said it a billion times better with his posts and bulletins. While not my favorite band they definitely bring the fun spirit back that keeps many of us returning each week.

And I keep returning even after a week of almost sick left me achy, tired and grumpy so with a quick whiskey and coke I drove three miles to park and had another swig before going in. Wanted a little numbness to stand alone for the night while waiting in between bands, in between thoughts of being boring, which I am. WASH. As for music the singer of Enid the Down had a sweet kay hanley-ish voice and what the heck was the name of her old band? The Randies were up second but made it only through half before hiding in the back against a pole thinking of all the issues I have with them. so many of my boring issues. RINSE. Bummed a smoke within the group as one called out "hey how are you doing? just hanging back smoking, huh?" they looked at me. "Do I look tired?" "yeah" they responded. "well I feel tired" and that is not how to make an impression but hell I'm shaggy haired coughing these days and how I wish I had your confidence, and I can't escape, so I'll head the other way. REPEAT.

what?

Easter - what is it good for?

I wanted to post this before Easter but between feeling tired last week and with a half day on Friday I just plain old didn't care to post anything.

Gram Rabbit - Bloody Bunnies (video link)


(I'm happy this band has picked up traction over the years since Corey, CB and I went to check out Midway at the Scene way back in 2003 and GR happened to be the first band on. It was an original cracked out musical experience. If I ever did Meth (which I wouldn't of course) this is the band I would want to be in.)

Anyhow I know this is stupid but has Easter always included conning little kids into the belief of the Easter Bunny as a Santa like figure?

So I was chatting with my Mom and questioned if one was suppose to play the Santa role and give gifts ever year as I never remembered that from my childhood.

She paused for an extended minute before answering, "Where do you think all those stuff animals came from? Skunky? That skunk you carried around for years and that turtle...with the jeans and pockets? And who did you think hid the eggs out in the backyard or left the basket outside your bedroom door?"

"Well you did. It was more of a birthday party set up than a surprise Mom. Like, come out and open your basket of crap *we* got you. Come out and play this party game where you search for the eggs that you colored the day before. The Easter Bunny didn't color those eggs Mom, I did. Right?"

I could hear my mom's eyes rolled back and then clank down like a crapped out slot machine line where only one of the symbols was centered.

"Um that's not what you use to think."

"What?"

"Bobby Dean, you believed in the Easter Bunny longer than you did in Santa."

If you looking for some funny this weekend (or the next three weekends) come by and watch my friend perform in some sketches she wrote for Charlie Company's "The Best Damn Sketch Show Ever!" show at the Acme Theatre.

When:
Saturday’s March 31st till April 21st at 11:00p.m.
(or 10 for Bravo Company too)
(note to friend: I'll be there on the 14th, I swear!)

How much:
$10.00 (Ignore the price on the flyer)
(If you pay with card at door add $2.50...so pay with cash)

Where:
Acme Theatre
135 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90036

Bar and restaurant next door / Vallet and street parking.
Come early to buy tickets at the door or order tickets on line at www.acmecomedy.com or by phone at (323) 525-0202

I can't go but you should see these bands

My pick for Friday:

She's Your Sister CD release party - tonight @ Safari Sam's
Followed by Versa Vice @ 12:30
$8 w/ flyer (click to print) $5 CDs

Simply put, this band should be bigger.
I wrote about my first experience with sys here

Also:

Katie the Pest @ pehrspace (HiFi/EP border)
$5
with mospeada 9pm,
Old River School 10 pm - (new band, two songs - one word: catching)
Katie the Pest on at 11pm

so sad.
so so close to my place and I can't even go.



Loverlee @ Tangier
21+ , Cost : $8 with flier

Note it's a Can o Jam production = the rest of the line up is hit or miss.


Also part 2:
New Fidelity @ Gallaghers in Huntington Beach

New Maximum Donkey, Get Set Go, The Powercords @ The Kitting Factory
$7, all ages - Shows starts at 8 with the Powercords, NMD 9pm, GSG 10 pm

Sat: Hearts of Plam UK @ the hive gallery
Sun: Soft Hands @ Alex's Bar LBC

Kiss or Kill - the Randies tonight

Kiss Or Kill - Safari Sams - all ages 3/5 bucks
Hosted by Rob Z!

Enid the Dowl 9.30
The Randies 10.15
automatic music explosion11
Wake Up Incinerate11.45
The Mulhollands 12.30

Watch a live broadcast on ustream.tv and you can interact live and chat with the Randies @ 9 pm from Kiss or Kill @ Safari Sams

Hey CB, the first band is that girl who did the song we couldn't remember when naming you mp3s before you moved.

The sidewalks in LA are highly underrated

Review: The Reaping

The Reaping is big heaping waste of time.

This movie doesn't know if it wants to Carrie or The Omen and while I'm down with predictable endings at least they could've made it interesting. Throw in some retarded special effects and save for the locusts plague, the others come off as more comical than foreboding enough to cause a chill down your spine. Badly CG animated cows dying never looked funnier.

So the movie focuses on the little girl (don't they all do these days?) as the cause of biblical plagues centrally located in small, backwater, overtly religious town as master miracle debunker/onetime ordained priest Hillary Swank drives in to find the scientific reason. Did I mention she lost her faith? Did I mention that there ar evil up in dem swamps?

The wonderful actor Stephen Rhea plays a priest friend who hardly used and easily could be replaced with a scene of the researchers googling information while Hillary Swank's partner is there to drive the truck or something. I'm not sure why this character exists. The only thing not predictable was the lack of reaction as he was only non-white (i.e. black) guy there. If you're going to film in a Louisianan swamp, I want at least one stereotypical, creepy, racist degenerate in it. gees.

An utter piece of crap that I'm sure Ms Swank was optioned into.
Not scary or creepy at all.
Pointless plot + Pointless characters = I actually thought about leaving.


Two out of ten Loranges for making Hillary Swank look good in those pants and the decent locust sequence that most of the sfx budget apparently went to.

yesterday was a rough day

(I know this Boomtown Rats song well but I don't remember this video (link) with a creepy, bugged eyed (Sir) Bob Geldolf.)

Grrr I'm in a mood and if this was an anonymous blog I would be telling you it was due to too much caffeine, nicotine, a bout of a specific colored emotion, sleep deprivation, and allergies over the weekend but it's not so I think it really was just me waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Yeah that's mostly a lie.

The sleepless nights have returned and for some unknown reason it's been three days without hot water in my building. So I took a shower Sunday night hoping the all would be well after a crappy day at work.

It wasn't.

As mentioned before I was already in mood so I called the manager's office to leave a not so friendly message or better, to see if there was an after hours number.

There wasn't one.

Beep

Hi this Robert Dxxxxxx in Apt X on Xxxxxx street. It's Monday, about 5.30pm. There hasn't been hot water in my apartment for the last three days...Since Saturday around noon.

I assume someone [the contact person in Apt 1] called you already about this.
I assume this is already being worked on.

Well if I'm assuming incorrectly - since there is still no hot water - please call me back on my cell xxx-xxx xxxx...because, um, I'm just wondering when will be the next time I'll be able to take a shower, at least a hot one.

thanks.

I am a very patient person. A very reasonable person, but there was no mistaking the annoyed tone in my message. What, they couldn't leave a note on our doors? Grr.

Frustrated with everything I tried to make the day a little better by eating a lot of junk, pretending I wasn't anything like 'that guy', flipped on 24, and threw down some more Tylenol for my all day headache. Oh too much Tylenol might give the world beneath closed eyelids the look of purple and yellow streaks with gray beaded static. Who knew?

On an up note: I think I might go see a screening of this movie tonight after another cold shower.

Saturday was all about Ashley

Last week Sorby (my current nickname for her) and I hatched up the idea for the best present idea ever for Ashley's Party (2):

Because everyone wants a diorama for their birthday.




Eventually we made it over to the party at the old warehouse underneath the 6th Street Bridge for an semi acoustic set by Get Set Go, then full on P=Cow before it degraded as it always does around 2 am into "the worst idea ever" cover band of random people jumping in P=Cow. Matt from Bang Sugar Bang played along with Emma or Ricky of the Waking Hours or Eric from GSG or basically whoever.

We even got a thumbs up from the party crashers who wandered in from the illegal dance club down the street though it was already winding down at that point.

Then I was tired and in a mood so I left around 3.30 am. blah


photos by DJ Cheese Zombie.