The Saturday Boy

Saturday night, you've got some decisions to make.


First, there's a group opening Saturday night at the Fluxco Gallery, downtown. 2042 Bay St. 6-10 PM.

Features Dan Monick, Anton Schneider, Ingrid Allen, Cali DeWitt, Jessie Spears, and more. Best of all, David Scott Stone will be melting brains on modular synthesizer!


Next, an instore at FAMILY. Bob Odenkirk, Mat Walsh and Eric Hoffman reading/performing "Comedy By The Numbers." FAMILY rarely disappoints and this looks to be no exception to the rule.


And later that night, Cave Singers, Lightning Dust, and Mr. Free and the Satellite Freakout at 6th St. Gallery. Granted, New Ship events usually start later than promised, which allows you to head over to Fluxco or FAMILY.

So many promising events. Play yr cards right and you might just be able to attend all three.

Dangerous MC's

Journalistic integrity?

Let's Panic Later

Happy travels, Abe Vigoda!

Word is, you'll be hearing from Juan Vigoda shortly on So Fresh, So Cold.

Just Abandoned Myself

Last week's Fader Mag party. Soft Circle, No Age, and Jerry Garcia. Oh, and free beer. I love free beer.








Sorry, no Soft Circle pics. Nate Harrington's got some - give him a ring if you feel so inclined.

If You Get Bored

Then.


Now.

Wednesday night wasn't a Murder City Night at the Radio Birdman show, like I hoped it would. Instead, I got a healthy dose of old punkers attempting to revisit past glory. And it sucked.

Where to begin? Singer Rob Younger appeared jaded by his many years as a musician, performing Radio Birdman songs with a flagrant, perverted vulnerability. At best, the aged Younger resembled a poor, messy imitation of David Johansen. It was nearly unbearable watching Younger prance onstage.

Guitarists Chris Masuak and Deniz Tek weren't nearly as offensive as Younger was. Their efforts appeared far more subdued, lending little more to the performance than the sound itself. Bummer, huh?

Maybe I'm incorrect, but when facing the late teenage and early years of your adulthood, the creativite mind performs in, like any other time in a person's life, a unique frame of reference. With time, that creativity changes, leaving it's original core hardened by years of growth. The shadows left by bands comprised of young adults, teenagers even, oftentimes can't be performed years later without destroying the ethos of the original band; that goes for bands like the Stooges, Jesus and Mary Chain, Bad Brains, or any other band attempting to return to form today, especially those with new albums. As a youth, how do you expect to excite anyone with your songs twenty, even thirty, years later? I'm certainly not arguing that it's an impossibility - I'm simply pointing out the amount of change and growth involved with the creative mind.

Admittedly, I nearly always reserve some hope within me for bands returned from long ago, lodged somewhere in between my appreciation for the records and the band's dated performances (available thanks to the modern wonder of YouTube.) Almost every time, I leave disappointed (last weekend's HR show was no exception to the rule.) The lesson learned, for me, is to approach each event with a carefully weighed grain of salt. In all honesty, what other approach can remedy you from not feeling totally bummed?

The best part of the night? Someone demanded Radio Birdman play "I'm Stranded." Get it?

Hello Goodbye

Farewell, Michelle Dents.

The Mika Miko/No Age European Takeover begins.

Going Modern

Not to be missed - Radio Birdman performs tonight at the El Rey. Tonight's gon' be a Murder City Night.

See you there.

Burning World

Bad Brains' HR performing "Leaving Babylon."

Other than that, last's night's show was a disaster. Below is my review of HR & Dubb Agents for the LA Record:

When you hear rumors of a special Bad Brains performance (at 6th St. Warehouse, no less!), your interest perks. All validity of the rumors aside, you imagine, briefly, Bad Brains in their element. And then you have to go, if not out of sheer curiosity, but to fulfill the subconscious void in your head where Bad Brains should be. I should've known the rumors were false (truth be told, I expected a compromise, at worst.) That compromise? HR and Dubb Agents. HR's Dubb Agents, I'd like to mention, were seemingly hand picked from the shores of Santa Cruz - cargo shorts, flip flops, backwards trucker hats, the works (sans ten foot bong, surprisingly.) HR, meanwhile, lazily sat onstage in a leather office swivel chair, calmly packing away his guitar with a full grin, just to open it all over again. Every so often, HR would feel so inclined to stand, only to sing or introduce his songs (few of which were old compositions) as some sort of greater invitation to peace and love and understanding. HR and Dubb Agents were received with mixed reactions, at best, considering the fight that broke out early on, the thinning crowd as the night progressed, and the endless pleas for "Pay To Cum" and other Bad Brains jams. HR's single recognition of his past, to my knowledge, was performing Bad Brains' "Leaving Babylon." Otherwise, I embraced my necessary trips outside, to smoke and digest what it was I was watching. Sadly, Dr. Know, Darryl Jennifer, and Earl Hudson were nowhere to be found - the idea of Bad Brains performing at 6th Street Warehouse were the irrational fantasies of the night's promoters, just as they were mine and many who also attended. HR's snub of Bad Brains tunes, in favor of his own, was an intentional separation from his past, while I clung to it with growing disappointment.

Dear Jon,

This isn't Matzah. OHHH NO, I'm updating this blog because I don't want to update my own. Basically, Matzah is telling me that I'm abusive and mean and that I'm violent. That's kind of funny, right? What's even more funny is that we are both wearing No Age shirts like we're married or some shit. And a theme song will be playing when we enter every room. So, while Matzah forces me to watch Sopranos, I watch the L word on Demand, because he has it. Best part is that he thinks I'm using him for it. He sleeps. I don't know, man. I cannot wait to go to Whole Foods so this dude will stop putting his stinking socks in my face. I will miss him while I'm on tour, but he will delete this before you read it. Michelle Suarez reporting from West Holly.

We gotta go, he says.


I listen.

Love,
Tick Dent

Wig-Wam

Bad Brains are playing 6th St. Warehouse tonight. 10 dollars, get there at 10pm.

Don't forget about Silver Daggers at the Smell neither!

UPDATE 8:52PM:
I'm hearing tonight's Bad Brains show at 6th St might be a solo performance from HR. And if you don't know, now you know.

Spirits

Later that night, the (non-muslim) Muslims performed at Pehrspace. Best of all, dudes covered "Walkin' With Jesus" by Spacemen 3!

Jenna deserves top honors for her Spacemen-like contribution to the feedback.

Pardon My Freedom

Delays are inevitable in the blogger's handbook (shit happens, right?) Bad habits aside, I've finally purchased a USB camera upload cord! All the content held captive by the disappearance of my first photo cord is now free, the first freed being Abe Vigoda at the opening of Bow & Sparrow.







If you can't already tell, it went down. Everyone had fun and Abe Vigoda's crazed, So Cal cowabunga jams entertained. Really, who better to bring the cowbell back than Abe Vigoda?



My only regret? Not being able to check out the work on display given the volume of people attending. There's always tomorrow.

Sex And Dying in High Society

Between the DJ Screw homage and singer Janet Kim's knack for puking flowers, Softboiled Eggies shine in "So High." You should know that at our latest team meeting, Michelle Dents and I agreed that this song rules.

Mr. Weekend

A photographic recount of last week's Soiled Mattress & The Springs afternoon show at Ooga Booga, made possible by Maia.











There isn't a space more architectually awkward for a show than the upstairs platform that houses Ooga Booga. No matter, SMATS' performance was the perfect Sunday afternoon jammer for me, having filled myself beforehand with a dim sum brunch from my favorite resteraunt in Chinatown, The Golden Dragon (right across the street.) If anything, I've learned Soiled Mattress & The Springs are the perfect soundtrack for a lazy day.

Vertigo

Best Fwends

Yer daily dose of awesome - Austin's Best Fwends covering James Gang's "Funk 49."

What you tryin' to hand me?

Petty Thief Lout

I've found myself consumed lately by the errors of the human way; the impatient motorist who, especially upon my approach, intentionally jeapordizes my safety on my bicycle in the best interest of their time, the incosiderate women littering pages of her magazine as she walks down the street, the racist bicyclist who blames a woman's race for her plain inattention to her surroundings, and most everything discussed in the news. Alone, the forementioned events may seem irrelevent or petty in the greater scheme of humanity. But they're not. They pile upon each other in my subconscious. And I wonder, what compels one to behave against their fellow human with little regard?

I learned a few days ago of the theft at Little Radio (best of all, the crime occured following a free event they'd hosted.) Like the others, it ate away at my confidence in the human existence. Soon after, to my surprise, Little Radio announced that they'd discovered the thief. His name? Richie, from Santa Ana.

Little Radio's public discovery of Richie as their thief serves as another scapegoat to channel my dissapointment with humanity in. Hey, maybe it's not everyone who sucks? Maybe the chosen few, like Richie, bring down the rest of us. Maybe we all bring each other down? I can safely say that I've made choices no better than Richie's and I know I'm not the only one. The single consolation of shitty decisions is the first step set forth, after all is said and done. How will you carry yerself after you've fucked up?

I'm glad Little Radio recovered their belongings and I'm also bummed that, as a result of one man's poor choices, Little Radio will restrict it's outreach to the community.

If Karma truly exists, I hope Richie is fairly compensated for his actions.

Read the entire story here.

Hello Morning

Remember how nice sleeping in on a Sunday morning is? Well, don't plan on it (at least this weekend.) Take a shower instead and head to the Smell for No Age, Mika Miko, Party Fowl, and Abe Vigoda - oh, and pancakes and orange juice too. Free yer Sunday.

Party and Bullshit

Abe Vigoda, tacos, and beer? Are we there yet?

(We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet

Michelle Dent is DJ'ing (a first timer!) tonight at the Cha Cha. Fake ID or legal age, get up to get down.

Best of all, I hear she'll be playing the Fun Things 7" all night long.

Make Believe

Nearly two years ago, I started I Hate Rock N Roll Records on the principle of putting something exciting into the universe, something that I want you to hear. No thanks to failed partnerships and failed ideas, I'm faced with the coming release of IHRNR001, a split release between LA's Darker My Love and Denver's Moccasin. That which I've created has only caused major headaches and concerns, but I'm confident that the release will make all of it (and I mean all of it) worth it.

Please bear with me just a bit longer as I empty out the remainder of my savings and make the final arrangements to make this happen. Thanks to the few who supported the project, the many that declaired it a failure, and everyone else in between.

I Choose You

Ooh wee! Served over a Willie Hutch sample, the unexpected meeting of the minds that is "International Player's Anthem," between Bun B, Pimp C, Andre 3000, and Big Boi, shines oh so bright. The video steps up to another level, as Andre 3000 (clad in traditional Scottish garb from head to toe) weds among a festive gathering of hip hop's who's who. "International Player's Anthem" is a diamond in the rough, rough being the majority of hip hop videos that are overproduced, overfinanced garbage. "International Player's Anthem" looks to be a big jam for UGK - Can you feel the positivity?

Tha Mobb

Once again, my emotional attachment to the characters of HBO's Sopranos has been shaken to it's very core. Notwithstanding the fragile relationships holding up the Soprano crime family, the demise of the family is more than apparent as the series nears it's end. There's one episode left and I'm awaiting it with an anxious anticipation. Anyone with me?

Strange Things Happen

Last night, madness ensued. It only began at the Echo and kicked into full effect at 6th Street. The only people who left 6th St. to my knowledge were unnerved that Matt & Kim weren't playing. Oh well, they're loss.

Teardrops has the rundown (again, my camera escaped me.)

Enjoy the Silence

Drug Rug

It'd be too easy for me to attribute the way I've been feeling lately as my defining attachment to Drug Rug's "Day I Die" (no emo), but I don't think that's it. Rather, I think I identify with the feel good simplicity the song carries itself with, similar to Beat Happening circa "Black Candy" (with heavier pop overtones, sans Calvin Johnson's calming monotone.) To sum it up, "Day I Die" lyrically holds true to it's morbid name, all the while exuding this unexplainable satisfaction (happy-like, at that.) Who knows? Maybe I've misinterpreted the song in it's entirety (if such a thing even exists?)

I've heard other songs from Cambridge's Drug Rug before, but haven't responded as well as I have to "Day I Die." Give it a listen.

Going Nowhere

Soiled Mattress and the Springs are in town! I missed them at Family on Thursday for circumstances beyond my control, but I won't make the same mistake twice. I believe I'm overdue for a visit to Ooga Booga anyway (I'm a total sucker for those Calvin Johnson themed mixtapes.) The Soiled Mattress takeover concludes at the Smell later that night.

Below is the video for Soiled Mattress & the Springs' "Tidal Wave."

Human Interest

James Osterberg will voice Donald Rumsfield, endearingly referred to as Lil' Rummy, in Comedy Central's upcoming cartoon series, Lil Bush. The queue of musicians lining up to reinvent themselves in the vast world of animated programming appears to be steadily climbing upward. First, Andre 3000. Then, David Banner. Now, Iggy Pop? No complaints here.

Endsville

Echo Park's Sea Level Records is down for the count. Below, Sea Level mastermind, Todd, explains:

You may have heard some rumors lately about Sea Level. If you have, they're true. If you haven't, well, I've got a little bit of news for you.

After five and a half years, Sea Level will be shutting our doors permanently at the end of June. This was an incredibly tough decision for me to make and one that I've been wrestling with for some time now. While there is no doubt that I believe Sea Level should be around, I'm just not up for running it anymore and, to be honest, I want my life back. It's hard to say it, but I've actually burnt out on what should have been the perfect job. I shouldn't dread going to "work" every day and sadly, that's what it has become for me.

It's been five of the best years of my life and at the same time five of the worst. I've met some of the most amazing people over my time in beautiful Echo Park and am extremely grateful for meeting some customers that I now consider friends! I will miss seeing you "regulars" and can't put into words how much you all have meant to me. You were what kept it, and me, going for as long as it did! You made Sea Level what it was!

We're going out like we came in too, with a party. So mark your calendars for Friday June22nd and plan to be at Safari Sams for a little going away party! (details soon)

Extra thanks go out to Sea Level Sylvia. She probably single handedly kept Sea Level alive an extra year (or two)!

Also thanks to everyone that volunteered/worked/helped out over the years. And of course those that helped actually set up the store. There are too many of you to list but I owe you all! (what it this, liner notes?)

And most importantly, I thank every one of you for supporting Sea Level! It honestly has meant the world to me and will be an experience I never forget!

SeaLevelTodd

Admittedly, Sea Level wasn't a favorite of mine, but I've spent a considerable amount of time digging through the vinyl and used cds, before heading over to the Echo. Best of luck, Todd!

Maddening Cloud

Total Bummer.

Considering the increasing frequency of dissapointing decisions the Laker's organization has made in the past few years, would Kobe's departure mark the tipping point for Laker Nation?

My advice? Get it together, Dr. Buss.

Friday Night, Saturday Morning

It's a rarity for me to find myself more excited about the bands opening than the show's headliner. Case and point - Mika Miko, No Age, and Japanther setting the mood for Matt & Kim. Following the event are Brother Reade and Abe Vigoda at 6th Street Warehouse for a free warehouse jammer.

Sounds like The New Ship's got Friday night covered.