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May 27, 2004
LOST IN EAST LA!
Tecate 4 Tu
It was a carefree evening driving down the 5 freeway, as we headed for East LA with the windows down and the breeze totally screwing up our hair. Yet, there was an air of "bring it on baby" whipping through the car, that is until Frederico lost his way, totally bypassing East LA and ignoring my imploringly "nice" gestures of "I know this area and I think we've gone too far". "I go to Burbank often and we're not too far from there." But, I didn't care, because I had just been to the Boot Barn earlier and snagged a couple of cute shirts on sale, and Carlotta was having problems getting her lip liner on straight, so she was set on her lips, and not the map. Ricardo was along for the ride and the cool cd's playing in the car, until he too realized we were lost and then he got all pissy. When we suddenly approached the hillside of Echo Park, I said to Frederico, "Dammit you stupid bus driver, get the hell off this freeway here, and then turn onto San Fernando Rd. and follow it back, so that WE WILL get to East LA alive, even if we are to die there! (long run on sentence).
So, there we were cruising down San Fernando looking at all the old buildings and taco stands. Our salivating tongues longing for some carne asada while we read the signs - Tacos el carbon, Tacos La Fonda, and on and on. Ricardo with a map in one hand trying to figure out which way was up, or was it North, East, West, South, or "we're going to die" lock the doors.
Finally, we hopped back on the freeway and minutes later we approached the Indiana off ramp. And, then we passed Ditman.
Ditman? That name was pounding through my head, because I remember my mama talking about Ditman Ave. when I was just a little tacquito. What happened on Ditman? Who died there, or lived there, or was robbed there? I could not remember...a sure sign of old age. Well, so much for Ditman.
We finally arrived at Alejandro's house. Please note: If you are ever driving to Alejandro's and it's already dark, all you have to do is follow the big yellow lighted "DIESEL" sign. If it's daytime, you're screwed, so stop and ask for directions. Oh yes, I guess I should tell you the reason for this trip in the first place was to help our loco vato brother and friend, Alejandro, celebrate his 26th birthday, along with 100 other people who had no place to park, much less maneuver two cars down a two inch street at the same time!
At some point there was also cerveza, beer, cerveza and more cerveza. And, did I say beer? Tongues were wagging (literally) and cleavage was aplenty. Betty's, red lips, pomps, and tatts ruled. Ahem...well yes, and there was music too - lots of it, from three different houses all next to each other; each having their individual parties. Yihaaa! What a cultural experience! I think Isaw the ghost of Ceasar Chavez sitting on the old Mustang toasting the crowd. But, I thought to myself, "Damn, I never knew Alejandro had this many friends (and good looking too!). And then, I found out they were not his friends but friends of his lovely girl. He confessed to me that unless he drinks he doesn't talk to anyone much, because that is just the way he is - a rather shy young man. I think they call it deprived, and something in my heart softened, so I gave him a special scapula with a prayer. I told him he must repeat it out loud every day, even in public restrooms.
And, then I knew...YES!! The moral of the story is to get a guy who has no friends -- no social life, no popularity, possibly even self-esteem issues. In general, no LIFE, but a helluva nice guy. Then, you tell him what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. It all made perfect sense. It was like a lightening bolt hit me in the head, and I was suddenly transformed!! I knew that my next sermon to the congregation in Calexico was going to be directed to the women, and I would set them straight, once and for all. It would be the forefront of a new era. Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, but women rule the roost and the cock crows thrice!
Sadly enough, the clock ticked quickly and suddenly, we heard cock-a-doodle-do. It was time for us to pack up the car La Raza style and say our goodbyes. 10 cervezas rolling around in "Frederico's small trunk". What purpose did it serve?? Vitamin P??? That must have been it, because we beheld a very strange sight on the way home. A woman in a parking lot stepped out of her car and let out a flood large enough to be a major oil leak. There she was...reverse spread eagle, and she was...well, watering the plants in a large way?
Never was this night an ordinary night of `Up in Smoke". It was likened to an alien abduction (beam me up Ricardo) and we laughed loud and nervously as we whipped away into the pale moonlight. We sang the rest of the way home: East LA, it's pretty okay - East LA, it'll make your day - East LA, in the middle of May - yeah, East LA, we got there one day, and did it our way!
(Based on a true story. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent and prevent a riot.)
Posted by CindyLu at 9:20 PM | TrackBack
May 23, 2004
What is wrong with the Music Industy...
The Big Picture sums up what is wrong with the Music Industry in one sentence chock full of links.... (via Pho)
The Big Picture finishes up the post with the question:
How are these guys still in business?
This is a danged fine question. I frequently wonder when the multi-national media conglomerations (oops ... corporations, sorry... or are they...) that own the major labels are going to either close them down due to lack of quarterly profits or sell them off as Vivendi is/has done with Universal Music Group or as AOL/Time-Warner is doing with Warner Bros. Records.
A return to long-term vision, willing to wait for long term returns rather than quarterly profits, as well as embracing new technologies and new ways of distributing recorded music will be the first step for the majors towards returning to arts/music friendly business practices.
Posted by Ms. Jen at 10:02 PM | TrackBack
How do you really feel about the FCC, Mr. Idle?
Monty Python's Eric Idle has a lovely litte song about the FCC and the current Bush/Cheney admin that is funny and worth a listen if you need a good laugh. (Via plasticbag.org)
Posted by Ms. Jen at 10:17 AM | TrackBack
May 11, 2004
Last Remaining Seats 2004
"Each June for the last seventeen years the Los Angeles Conservancy has been presenting classic films in the historic theaters of Broadway. In a time when most movies are viewed on television screens or in the unremarkable box-like spaces of the multiplex, an evening of film in one of Broadway's opulent entertainment palaces has a magic that transports viewers to another time,another place --"
Continue reading, view photos of the glorious movie palaces of Los Angeles's past & purchase tickets at the LA Conservancy's homepage. Make sure to get your tickets as far as possible in advance, as this yearly event sells out quickly!
The Last Remaining Seats
Sponsored by the Los Angeles Conservancy
All shows begin at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
June 2 Some Like It Hot - Los Angeles Theatre
June 9 Sunrise - Orpheum Theatre
June 16 Gold Diggers of 1935 - Alex Theatre
June 23 La Otra - Orpheum Theatre
June 30 It Happened One Night - Los Angeles Threatre
July 7 Shanghai Express - Orpheum Theatre
$73+, entire series
$13-17 per individual showing
Photo: Tom Zimmerman
Posted by Lucky at 10:46 AM | TrackBack
May 9, 2004
Coachella Music and Arts Festival
Great bands- (Pixies, Flaming Lips, Cure, Radiohead, Muse, Moving Units, International (Noise) Conspiracy, lots and lots more.
Not so great weather- It was 113 on Sunday.
The only place there was air conditioning was in the film rooms.
The highlight of my weekend was dancing to Electric Six. They put on one of the best live shows I have ever seen. I have never danced so hard.
Oh and I also had fun living with 21 people in one house all weekend.
Posted by ashleykiana at 10:52 PM | TrackBack
May 5, 2004
Tiki Oasis After Party
PROJECT PIMENTO, SEKSU ROBA, LUSHY,
THE MAIKAI GENTS FEATURING THE MYSTERIOUS MISS MAUNA LOA
DJ Jonee and others from Sinking With The Ship.
DJs start at 8:00, bands at 9:00
Bigfoot Lodge
3172 LOS FELIZ BLVD
LOS ANGELES,CA
$3
21 AND OVER WITH ID....
THE BIGFOOT LODGE - 3172 LOS FELIZ BLVD, LOS ANGELES, 21 AND OVER WITH ID
(Live night) SUN MAY 9: TIKI OASIS AFTERPARTY: PROJECT PIMENTO, SEKSU ROBA, LUSHY, THE MAIKAI GENTS FEATURING THE MYSTERIOUS MISS MAUNA LOA: DJ Jonee and others from Sinking With The Ship. DJs start at 8:00, bands at 9:00
As a cap off for the yearly Tiki News-Caliente Tropics sponsored Tiki Oasis weekender in Palm Springs, we are bringing four Tiki Oasis bands to perform for you here in Los Angeles on Sunday May 9th. The Oasis features all that is Tiki; a daytime bazzare, live entertainment, DJs, slides, film and lots of exotic drinks. THE MAI-KAI GENTS, LUSHY, SESKU ROBA and PROJECT PIMENTO will make a bee-line from The Oasis to the Bigfoot for a Sunday Evening of Hawaianna, Theremin and Exotica.
PROJECT PIMENTO: Fresh from their scintillating performance at the ultimate lounge exotica experience, the Tiki Oasis 2004 in Palm Springs, we give you project: pimento - a San Francisco-based band with a potent cocktail of hypnotic sounds from the Theremin mixed with swanky lounge tunes from the 40s, 50, and 60s then played in a space-age pop style with hints of jazz, swing and bossa nova sprinkled on top - all for your listening pleasure!
SESKU ROBA: The way out sounds from LA's own spaced out Theremin and disco ball nunchucks duo will be specially tailored to celebrate all that is TIKI. Beyond easy listening, Seksu Roba's electronic sound comes from a dimension where sex and space go together like fruit and rum. Expect vivid visual and aural pleasure.
LUSHY is a Seattle band devoted to creating a refreshing international style, which blends influences from exotica, jazz and Latin to French pop, ska and lounge. The sounds produced by the band are a post-modern mélange of jazzy, exotica, space-age tiki-Latin surf funk: always interesting, listenable, and danceable. Drawing on the best in modern technology and inspired electric and acoustic playing, the band plays original and unique music. Their performances draw on a keen sense of musicality coupled with a dash of humour, tempered by a good dose of humility and a sense of the absurd. Lushy's debut album on Dionysus delivers a sound firmly rooted in their inspirations, but by no means derivative or copyist!
THE MAIKAI GENTS FEATURING THE MYSTERIOUS MISS MAUNA LOA: The lilting melodies and romantic crooning of The Maikai Gents will call you back to the Hawaii's yesteryears. With softly strumming ukulele and guitars along with beautiful vocal harmonies and the swaying hips of The Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa, The Maikai Gents have created a rare and wonderful phenomenon: a musical group that can entertain and delight audiences anywhere from senior centers to ultra-hip young urbanite soirees. Let their music beckon you to your island paradise.
Posted by Lucky at 10:29 AM | TrackBack
May 3, 2004
Relentless! An evening with James Intveld and the Western Continentals
Of all the bands I've seen over the years, I always seem to come back home again. That's what I did last night at the Doll Hut in Anaheim. I've been going to see James Intveld for well over a decade, and I've recently found myself thinking about all the years and all the bands, because I've sort of taken a step back to reflect. I suppose I'm the type of person who is loyal...who doesn't forget roots, and the people I started out with, but then again, when those people have true talent, it's extremely easy. I wouldn't care if James Intveld was famous or infamous... he delivers the kind of music I like, and I have admiration for his songwriting and tenacity in this business. It's that simple, and I like simple things. Therefore, he will always be number one in my book. I can tell you why, and then I can't tell you why, because life is a mystery. But, I sure am glad I know when I am home!
I was sitting in my car when the Western Continentals started their set, and from the first note I heard, I knew I would like their music. The evening flows so smoothly when I hear one song and know immediately that I will like the band. The first song echoed through the night sky and literally sounded better from outside than when I stepped foot into the room itself. Now, that is great sound! If you like country music you will like the Western Continentals, and so I highly recommend them.
Special thanks to Eddie (Hellbound Hayride) and Jimmy for their acoustic version of Relentless!
In retrospect, if I were Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I would tell you "there's no place like home" and to keep following the Yellow Brick Road, because what your heart tells you is always true. Be true to your heart...true to the sound you like and you won't be disappointed!
