Hot Hot Heat @ One Colorado, Pasadena

I had always wanted to see Hot Hot Heat live and had heard about the show at One Colorado, Pasadena from The Scenestar.  I loved their first two albums and their EP Knock Knock Knock.  Honestly, their album Happiness Ltd. wasn't even on my radar (I know, I'm a bad HHH fan.  I will definitely listen to it now that I know about it!). 

Hot Hot Heat was entertaining, teasing the Il Fornaio patrons, and joking around with the audience.  Due to the outdoor being enclosed by neighboring businesses, they had to play a semi-acoustic set, which I thought was a fantastic reinterpretation of their past and present tracks.  I loved the acoustic guitar put to keyboard and occasionally synthesized vocals.  The songs sounded almost entirely different, but still great.  Steve Bays voice sounds just like it does on CD.  Impressive.  My favorite songs of the night:

1. Get In or Get Out
2. Oh, Goddamnit
3. Middle of Nowhere
4. Running Out of Time
5. Jingle Jangle

Hearing some of the new songs live got me really excited about their latest album Future Breeds.

Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" Video

Hey Lady Gaga, 1995 called, they want this video back! (Videogum) 

As soon as I read that, I was thinking the same thing, but I think Ace of Base wants their song back!  Then I saw the video and realized there are a ton of references to early Madonna and even some stuff (like the stomping and coloring in that scene) that reminds me of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation.  I don't think the video is up to par with Telephone (that video was so strange, I couldn't help but watch it more than once), but the rubber nun's habit and machine gun bra definitely stand out.  And I can see how the song is catchy, but I wonder if anyone else noticed that it sounds like something from the early 90s and isn't really that fresh or unique. 

Savor the Sounds 2.0: Starry Kitchen @ DTLA

I finally went to Starry Kitchen the first night they began their dinner service and was surprised to see so few people there, especially after hearing about their unbelievably long lines (Nguyen Tran, the PR portion of the husband and wife team, mentioned lines that would stretch out the door during the lunch rush).  They expect it to get busier once the California Plaza free concerts begin.

Here's what I had:

1. Protein - Spicy Korean Pork Belly I thought it was a little on the dry side, but all the spicy flavorings were good.  I also got to try some of the Nebraska Angus Japanese Meatball Curry.  I kind of wish I had ordered that instead because the meat was so soft and juicy and the curry was delicious. 
2. Vessel - SK Lunchplate I had this with pineapple fried rice, which was awesome, but maybe that's because I'm partial to pineapple.  I loved the SK Asian Sesame Slaw.  Sesame just makes everything taste better... that's why I used to use it to cook instead of corn oil (me != good cook for those out there who have ever programmed :P )    
3. Side - Korean Glass Noodle / Japchae was some of the best I've ever had.  Perfect noodle consistency.  Not too mushy, not too hard.  

The energetic Nguyen was walking around the restaurant, talking to people and sharing funny stories.  He mentioned that he was becoming famous for yelling at people and slamming the chalkboard if they didn't know how to order.  So famous, in fact, that customers were requesting the act for their newbie friends' first experiences.  To think, I was almost a victim when he was at the register, asking me if I knew how to order.

Turns out Nguyen and his wife, Thi, are also big fans of Glee.  They were disappointed they couldn't make it to the LA concert, but he was pretty excited to talk about it and asked if the cast performed Run Joey Run.  They did not, but I couldn't help but laugh because Nguyen is the only other person I know, besides Wing, who actually likes that song.  He mentioned how awful the original song was.  I just listened to it and it's pretty bad.  It sounds like a 12-year-old boy is singing in the duet.  We talked about how a lot of the time Glee's covers sound better than the original songs.  So true.  We both agreed that the Lady Gaga covers were amazing.  I still think that piano duet of Pokerface on Glee is way better than the one Lady Gaga did herself.

I will definitely be returning, especially since there's a limited edition dish every week, which I think is clever because it keeps people coming back for more.


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