Blogging on an iphone. Yay!

Regular posting on Tuesday

I can has a cheezburger yeah it's been around for awhile - yet still amusing to me.

It is the rare day like this when I wish I could crawl into bed and take a nap next to someone.

yeah I know. one last thing

Mountain Goats in-store
July 22nd at 5 p.m. Rhino Records
235 Yale Avenue, Claremont

I'm not posting this week

work work work

that and I'm trying to hold back from writing vague notes to strangers here

ha. I won 1st place.

The Dairy Store of Echo Park

Tonight's Kiss or Kill

I swear the third spot for tonight has been the biggest revolving door of bands: first it was mother tongue, then p cow was booked but danny had prior plans, and finally the Randies were to set to play until late yesterday when the word was "The Automatic Music Explosion returns to the Kiss or Kill stage to fill in for The Randies after a busy recording period."

Um that would be code for drummer issues again and right after I causally mentioned how this might be a good year for them with said new drummer last week. As a fan I hate to hear news like this.

Since The Automatic Music Explosion has been the flavor of the month at kork this should be a good turn out coupled with, I think, their second show since recording with producer Mike Chapman (Blondie -parallel lines, the knack -my shorona, Pat Benatar) last month. If you like that self described "Blast Pop" sound and attitude you'll love AME. (read AME's blog about it here)


These pictures I snatched from Ashley were taken at last weeks Old Towne Pub show where it felt like the stage couldn't contain them (literally too small) with band members on the bar and tables for good parts of the set. Fun like a rock'n'roll version of the Tiki Room at Disneyland.

Wake Up Incinerate starts off the night at 9.45 and then Looker at 10.30.
I might have mentioned this band, no?

Strangely I never saw this video (or head the song actually) that Siria posted of "Bullet Train" until yesterday. Catchy and so it this older video for Someone Else Hallways link



Kiss or Kill @ El Cid, $3/5, 18+

cold rice

how many times has this post has been drastically rewritten: 5, 6, 7 times?

this post is not deep - just rambling.

two weeks ago
after the night show I'm down at the top of my stairs, I'm down staring into a pot of cold rice I pulled out of the refrigerator thinking about over the shoulder smiles and the answer my friend came back with.

two weeks of
my head down blurry eyes watching late night poker with a slightly less salt in the mouth reaction to infomercials. The television reception lost I give up and in to sleeping on top of comforters with the fan buzzing out sounds of buses and trucks rumbling down Glendale over the same bump in the street. Two weeks of staying in then a week mostly up and about to three most nights and all I wonder if this week will even out somehow.

So Friday I slept and Saturday still sick and I remember cooking and sleeping for hours as the 99cent nyquil put me out and over comforters without revelations to my current state of mind. I slept on it and failed even that.

Sunday was normal laundry at Lucy's where the firehouse opened to Sunset and a crew filmed in the apartments out back. Waited for important to me calls that never came, waited for awhile before grabbing lunch and a movie with my best friend which I would call close enough to being a great day. Thank you dj cz.

And it was even better for the music soundtrack was the greatest hits of perfect among aged blond over gray ladies in pastel shirts, mini frosted wheat size dog teams leading them through clothing racks peaks. Ok some of the dogs were cute I'll admit. Ok I did laugh when the amplified strumming scooted from the Chanel purse display those who didn't bother to look her in the eye. People who could afford so much can't even give away a smile shuffling by on polished cement floors. we give the best we have and try to be ourselves. maybe someone notices maybe someone doesn't.

I've reached this point of acceptance; this is how it goes.
I like the reality of today.

Looker this week

If you picked up the current issue of the LA Weekly you might have noticed on page 140 tonight's Looker [myspace, website] show at Metal Skool is listed as their GO pick of the week for Monday.

Pretty cool but even cooler is that they're playing Kiss or Kill this Wednesday at El Cid, and unlike the Sunset Strip parking is free and ample (relatively). Only five bucks and less big hair.

Monday:

Killradio.org - show/interview 3.30pm

Key Club with Metal Skool $15-20?

Tuesday:

Little Radio (God's Girls) interview/show 3pm

KXLU interview/show 5pm

Wednesday:

Looker @ El Cid (Kiss or Kill)
with Wake-Up Incinerate 9:45, Looker 10.30, The Randies 11:15, The Killdevils12:00

le orange county evening

Feel sorry for me. I've been sick for a few days now. ok don't. ok do.

I had to leave work early Wednesday not so I could crawl into bed wishing for nyquil dreams but to make a last minute recital in Mission Viejo by 6:30. Nothing like rushing home to shower then down the Golden State in sold traffic for nearly two hours. Worth every minute of it even though it last barely over a half hour.

With time to kill before the Deep Sea Diver show in Fullerton I stopped for dinner ala drive-thru and had Caribbean phone calls in a target parking lot yet as I got to the Plush Lounge the bands were running late so now I ordered up a beer so I could kickback and get some writing done. This is when I crossed paths with Jessica who informed me that it would be just her playing solo eventually that night.

We chatted for a few minutes and I'm just going to note a part of the conversation here where she mentioned picking up little side jobs recently and as she took a breath between the the end of those words and the start of her list I just had to insert "like mowing lawns?" but thankfully I don't believe she heard me and continued on being her charming self.

le sigh. terribly charming.

The second band Dietra Krushev was described in the same vein of the band Clinic and they were interesting enough to move away every few minutes from the outline I was working to watch. Good music to write to. Jessica came up next and went through songs off the forthcoming ep and after reminiscing about the defunct Hub she pulled out a margo lee demo that I'm not sure if I ever heard played live. After hearing her songs over the years go from a rough solo demo to a polished recording I love how she translates it back again. As a few folks listened with their eyes closed I'm always fascinated by the great tones she pulls out from her guitar. These highly confident solo sets for me are always le wow.

After standing for the last hour I was feeling a little tired/sick (the beer was a bad idea) and didn't stay for Fun Tree who looked like they could've been a lot of fun to watch. Instead said my goodbyes but looking back now pretty sure I wasn't really making sense (as if I ever do) but I left smiling nonetheless.

Next show this Sunday:
Free acoustic in-store @ CUSP (a clothing store in Century City)
with Bedroom Walls 3pm, Deep SeaDiver 4pm

le sigh
le wow

kork homecoming bits

When I went to Kiss or Kill last week I was out to prove a theory that's been floating around in my head: drinking more than my usual 0-1 beers will make my blog less boring the next day. Um nope. All I proved was that cheap beer is hard to shake off the next morning and very much unlike how I felt after all the great beer at this event last night (more on this later).

So the "Homecoming blah blah..whatever it was called" was a blast and the atmosphere at El Cid was perfect for Kiss or Kill with its dark booths and hidden nooks and crannies for discreet moments or in my case silly conversations about jobs. There is something to be said about lounging at the outdoor bar, standing at the top of the stairs to people watch or enjoying the bands in the old timey main room that makes this one of my favorite venues.

Rob Z & JP pictured on right

After a little prep (take a three hour nap, skipped diner, drink coffee (past my one cup in the morning limit), debate which slacks to wear for the Homecoming, realize I'm too fat for the cool slacks, settle for the old black dockers, black tie, black roll up sleeves shirt trifecta and think oh well better than nothing.), picked up my friend and made our way over to El Cid.

and it then went a little like this (random bits / pics):

walked in and say hi to to some friends, had one crappy tecate, then shortly later started on what was to be last drink of the night. Took note of someone that I have seen only once since they were a little drunk and trying to participate in a group discussion but ended up being ignored. It wasn't intentional but I acknowledged what ever comment she made because I fucking hate when you're left thinking why do I even bother talking. Yeah I'm probably projecting a bit here.

Chissum with a C!

Drink another tecate (why?) as my friend tries be helpful and pushes me to talk to people I don't know. I know where she's aiming so I block with: "Um pretty sure she has a boyfriend."
"Do you want me to find out for sure?"
"Mmmm No."
"I'm going to find out!"
I roll my eyes. There is not stopping her pit bull grip on this mission.
"Fine go ahead"

New Fidelity plays a great set with the new to me keyboard adding so much to the sound. After JP wins miss Kiss or Kill (no surprise) I take my friends home and on my return am offered to join the car bar in a friend of a friend's "rape van" as she called it. MiniVan owner corrects her: "No. No. Van of opportunity!"

Thankfully declined their cheap tequila and settled in with a Guinness and Pat Benatar on XM Radio. Eventually realizing I 'm no longer in high school I head back in for the last two bands and some retarded picture taking at two in the morning.




Tonight:
Kiss or Kill @ El Cid, 4212 Sunset Blvd (@ Sunset Junction in Silver Lake)
18+, $3 Cover before 10 pm $5 after

with The Press Fire 9.45, Underwater City People 10.30,
The Mulhollands 11.15, The Virginia City Revival (formerly Cakecutter)

3 hours at The Scene

20 more minutes again. typical neurotic post to follow eventually

I've been trying to flesh out a schedule this week that involves other bloggers (with real notable blogs - yikes) if I don't flake tonight, kiss or kill (maybe), the Plush Lounge in Fullerton (most definitely), Pasadena show on Thursday or I might just stay at home and read.

Last night I finally felt back in to the groove of weekday shows and couldn't past up the freeness of seeing the Randies and Bang Sugar Bang at the Scene Bar.

A Randies show is only as good as their present confidence level and lately it's been running high again. With a great new drummer name Chelsea and catchy new songs for the audience, this might be a good year for them.

Between sets outside I heard Joe's story of how their (p-cow) Burbank show earlier that night went bad: "...so last night we played 4 songs before we were asked not to curse. After changing motherfucking to mother grabbing & changing fuck to [shut up] schtup [ed: I mistakenly thought this Yiddish term was a misspelling on Joe's part. oops] a few times, we were told to wrap it up. we performed 7 songs and got paid. We love Burbank!!!!!! Best gig ever!" Ha! They only have songs that run 1-2 minutes in length.

Also didn't realize that this person I couldn't place at first was Sara Radle (Solo / The Rentals) until she was leaving so I didn't get to say my usual introduction of how MFR and I stalked attended her solo stops (first at the Plush Lounge)back in 2004. Looks like she also has a new side project called Calamity Magnet with fellow Rental Lauren Chipman and others so I'll be keeping an eye out for that.

Noticed that all of the Dollyrots here there which now includes Chris Black the former drummer of BSB who left on strained terms (this is putting it mildly) a year ago. Well BSB played a great final show as a three piece before the new guitarist finishes his move to California next week and watching the playful tension between Matt and Cooper was amusing to say the least (insert back story here).

The cool part was at the end when BSB started the old "Beer Song" sing along and invited Chris to join them on stage. Considering how it was publicly stated by one of the party that the other person was now dead to them, this was kind of a big deal to those much closer than I am to the band. Understanding the significance of the moment of Matt and Chris in arms singing was actually quite touching and made me smile.

Closing the night with that was a good way to start my week.

Weds:

Deep Sea Diver (Jessica Dobson) @ Plush Lounge - Fullerton $5, all ages

Meiko @ hotel cafe

Kiss Or Kill presents @ El Cid. $3/5, 18+
UCP, The Mulhollands, The Press Fire etc.

Thursday:

P-Cow, Automatic Music Explosion, The New Fidelity, Artie Lang Vegas [ed: oops again]
@ Old Towne Pub, Pasadena $5, 21+

Don't say that "g" word

I've been playing this game of catch up for the last two weeks at work so I'll give you twenty minutes like Tony says. More stuff coming later

My big plans this weekend was to visit the Fern Dell section of Griffith Park located right at the elbow of Western Avenue and Los Feliz Blvd. Wacky Huell Howser did a segment on it a few weeks ago on PBS and me and Huell are of the same breed of dork with overly excitable childlike enjoyment at funky places to visit so this place was a must do.

First It didn't hurt that the trail is maybe a half mile long for my out of shape ass and could also be easily managed by my gimpy friend that I invited to tag along with me. Secondly I also teased her with the possibility of vegan pie at the The Trails Cafe /snack shack at the end of the dell. This was our carrot.


We parked at the lower end and started walking up the trail that hugged the side of small stream that ran about ten feet below the roadway. According to this 3rd & Fairfax post the dell was created to take advantage of water released as a byproduct of the Observatory's cooling system so besides the planting of numerous ferns species, every little turn and waterfall is completely man made for your enjoyment. Even the rustic handrails on closer inspection are just concrete molded to look like some logs were cut down and and bolted together.

What I loved about it was that there were plenty of benches to sit and listen to the water tricle by. I think this would be a great place for a romantic stroll or just plant yourself with a book for a couple hours. In some ways with the few redwoods growing there (not a common tree down here) it felt a like a little slice of the trails I've walked up in the Bay Area.

When we made it to the Trails Cafe they were out of anything vegan (we were told that it depends on the baker of that day) so we decided to leave and hit Scoops again for another gelato fix. Now I was just there on Friday and alright with a couple more servings but somehow I managed to have five on Saturday because it was getting "too cold to eat ice cream" for my group (wimps) and well, I have a problem saying no to leftovers.

Yeah I feel ill right now just thinking about how I felt afterwards. Good times.

upcoming posts

[Friday 3.30 update: I'm going to enjoy this day by not blogging and instead going to Scoops for gelato. See you Monday]

-blah tired cheap beer headache
(aka Kiss Or Kill @ El Cid)
-cold rice
-Bay Area wedding
-various music posts

Yeah I know this LAist post is a few days old (6/4) but I still cannot picture anything else when I look at London's 2012 Olympic logo. read it here

(sorry for all the rss feeds from January and beyond. Just editing photo tags and labels)

Kiss or Kill Homecoming this Weds @ El Cid

Kiss or Kill Homecoming Show at El Cid

9:45 pm - Chissum Worthington, 10:30 pm - No Thanks,
11:15 pm - The New Fidelity, 12:15 am - The Black Comets

18+, $3 before 10pm / $5 / dress up!

Returning to where it all started years ago at the historic El Cid in Silver Lake, Kiss or Kill is throwing a dress up and rock event tomorrow night for it's first weekly show at the new location. With a great patio for socializing and the overall better atmosphere of the venue hopefully this will breathe new life in the Kiss or Kill scene.

So come down, have some stiff drinks, listen to some decent bands and don't forget to vote for Miss Kiss Or Kill 2007!



[Since they are all my friends I'm voting for the first one who promises to share their winnings ($50 bar tab) with me. Just saying.]

weekend revisions

Friday: I fell asleep on the couch around 8pm
Friday: She smiled. Of course she smiled; she understood that I wanted to be liked and a smile was a warm acknowledgment universally understood. I stuck my hand out as a joist to her opening embrace without thinking. Not only did this stop her advance but confused her enough with an upper body step back that her lower portion did not follow. My guard was up. Fuck!

Saturday: Cleaned out my refrigerator, went to the LACMA alone, picked up Corey for some Tito Tacos.
Saturday: I skipped into the elevator, swung to my left past the stranger controlling the buttons by his default location to land against the far end of the stainless steel box. The man looked back to me as the doors started to close. I said hi. I think he was waiting for me to call out a floor but I noticed the glowing ring around the P before his purple shirt and dark black wool slacks. His belt was that twisted leather strap kind found in Macy's or with that gold coated buckle possibly Pennys. It obvious that we shared destinations if not also a love for junior mints and spicy pierogies (I'm just guessing on the latter) but the fact that I boarded on the upper floor of a two story building ensured my initial silence.

Sunday: I stayed in all day listening to music, falling asleep with my headphones on.
Sunday: She spoke (ins Deutsch) in blocks of words that I tried carving away to her true intentions. Eventually I managed to get over myself.

Artist: Kitty Hoff


Monday:
Underwater City People 9pm, Metal Skool (ugh) @ Key Club
Thailand, I Make This Sound, Coco B’s, The Breakup Brendas
free at the Silverlake Lounge

Tuesday:
The Randies (9.30), Conquistador, Girl in a Coma, Teaneck
@ (Ruby Tuesday) the Key Club

things I do to myself # 4822

1) I make popcorn the old fashion way by stovetop with oil and seeds.





2) Hot soldering seeds will fly out and burn you if you take off the lid to peek inside.


3) This isn't the first time I've been burned.

button up shirts

Yes that was me dancing around to Porterville the other night.
I mean no it wasn't.

Sometimes I'll do that moving my body to music in spastastic ways thing - something I always did for many a Midway show - if you weren't around back then you probably didn't know that I have moves to be reckoned with.

Clearly this is a lie.

The truth is I'm incredibly out of shape (and old) that I could only manage a couple songs of bouncing around before being a bit winded. Didn't help that I was wearing docs (excuses, excuses). No I've degraded into complete slothhood lately.

So I was in a good starter beer mood by the time Chissum finished his cheeky set, loving the melody recap for those coming in past the half way point . Ordered my born again usual (hefeweizen) as Bobot Adrealine played and wondered why people were smiling - not at me - just strange devilish grins walking about that night. After Porterville was the Randies with their new drummer and then The Fizzies who made leaving at a quarter to two feel not so late. Saw the Fizzies once long ago but when I briefly (drunkenly) chatted to the singer David a couple weeks ago I was clearly under the impression of another band:

After bumming a smoke from my friend he flyers (sp?) us for an upcoming show.
"Oh yeah, you're in that band." I said.
"The Fizzies?"
"No I mean like two years ago."
"Yup, the Fizzies."
"No! Annoother one."
"Nope. Still the Fizzies."

I finally figured it out: Brown Sabboth (1/05 post) - though I think he was part of the Seratonins too. Grr. This is going to bug me until I can figure out if I'm right or not.

Anyhow they're no where as mellow as this video for "High" comes off but the song played live did make all the short girls dance last night.