Hey Hey Scenesters!

Random Ninjas @ Asian Expo - Pomona Fairplex

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

The last time I saw Random Ninjas, they had a Japanese frontwoman (which fit in with the whole anime theme) and a male bassist. It was refreshing to see a new lineup with more girl power: the current much more talented singer, Soozana, and the rocking Agent Katchu on bass.

The band's performance was seasoned by experience and packed with energy. They had fun on stage and with the audience. They even got some old ladies on their feet.

I thought all their new songs (well, new to me since I hadn't heard them in so long) were great. I'm glad they expanded from the anime-style songs. I could hear influences of Linkin Park, 311, and Evanescence (because of Soozana's amazing voice).

Looking forward to hearing more from them in the future.

Coachella 2012 Lineup

2012-01-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

Image via Coachella

Can't believe how fast Coachella sold out even with TWO weekends! Hopefully, it won't be as crowded as it was 2 years ago. Looking forward to better food as well (yay, for Coolhaus in the desert heat).

I'm excited to see The Black Keys (their new album is catchy even though some of the tracks sound like songs from the previous album) and shocked that Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg are making an appearance (I remember listening to them when I was in elementary school!). Even though Radiohead is headlining, Saturday is looking pretty weak. I could even skip Radiohead since I've already seen them at Hollywood Bowl and I've seen Thom Yorke twice.

Top Picks:

Arctic Monkeys
Cat Power - probably during some downtime since she's so mellow
The Black Keys
The Rapture - always amazing live
Andrew Bird
Feist - really just songs off The Reminder since I find her old albums pretty boring and I didn't even realize she had a new album out
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Radiohead
The Big Pink
The Shins - haven't seen them live in forever
Band of Skulls - saw them at Coachella 2 years ago. Can't wait to see them again. They deserve a bigger tent
Beirut
Calvin Harris
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
Florence and the Machine - ALWAYS wanted to see her live
Justice
La Roux
Santigold
The Hives
Wild Flag - just because I saw Carrie play live at the Portlandia show on Monday

Maybes:

Atari Teenage Riot
Explosions in the Sky
Frank Ocean
M. Ward - during downtime only since I consider him the male version of Cat Power
Neon Indian
Refused
The Horrors
Black Lips
Bon Iver
David Guetta
Flying Lotus
Gary Clark Jr.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Kaiser Chiefs
Miike Snow
St. Vincent - just because Windattack mentioned her so many times
At The Drive-In - I wasn't THAT much of a fan back in the day, but Wing won't stop talking about them
DJ Shadow

Thanks to Coachella for having all the bands' links on one convenient page.

Sound Bites 12.0: Fat Spoon @ Little Tokyo

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Vegetable Curry

I was surprised to see Brussels sprouts (which I'm not usually a fan of, but they actually tasted pretty good here) and shitake mushrooms (I had to pick them out due to an allergy) in my curry, but delighted by the amount of veggies.

My dining companions enjoyed the Pescatore pasta and the beef curry. They have both decided that their new favorite curry place in Little Tokyo is Fat Spoon.

I wish I could combine the fresh ingredients at Fat Spoon with the variety offered at Curry House to make one super curry shop!

Delicious uni croquette

Song Pairing:
Radiohead - Lotus Flower

More Reviews:
LA Weekly
KevinEats
LA Times

Near Death Photography Club @ The Good Hurt

2011-12-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

After a year of recording, Near Death Photography Club have finally released their first EP, Guillotine Games.

Image via Bait Comics

They packed the medical-themed nightclub, The Good Hurt, for their record release party. Despite the sound being too low for the backing vocals, the show went off without a hitch. The lighting looked professional and the stage looked great.

Photo via NDPC

I could see heads bobbing during the punkier songs, in which Xander's voice excels. I overheard someone agreeing to this, but disagreeing with his style on the more experimental tracks. I can imagine their 80s influenced, moodier songs with a singer like Jonathon Pierce of The Drums.

The Rapture @ Henry Fonda Theater / Music Box

2011-10-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

Murakami Sushi

Before the show, we grabbed some dinner at Murakami, a restaurant Wing used to frequent when she worked in the area. Chirashi bowl was good for the low price. Although, my albacore tasted weird, I did like being able to Make My Own Bowl.

The Rapture

Thanks to The Scenestar's Twitter updates, we knew exactly when The Rapture would be on stage and didn't have to waste too much time waiting around during and after a potentially mediocre opening act.

We thought The Rapture would open with Heaven, instead they opened with (what must have been inspired by The XX) In the Grace of Your Love, which was equally great as an opener if not better. Surprisingly, they didn't play Heaven at all that night.
They knew how to keep the crowd dancing all night. The songs were practically back to back. Wing's excitement over songs off Echoes may have exceeded my excitement over songs off the latest two albums. The audience didn't discriminate; they loved it all. My favorite song of the night: Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh. EVERYONE was dancing to that. I worried about a mosh pit starting, but each time someone tried to start, they were given dirty looks or immediately stopped. I love the less violent, I-just-want-to-dance Rapture fans. The encore only included two songs, but at least one of them was the extremely radio-friendly How Deep is Your Love?, which got stuck in my head for days after.

High Note: less moshing, more dancing.

Low Note: Two German girls, who didn't seem to understand that it's rude to dance around by forming a bridge with your hands and arms straight out, whipping your hair with reckless abandon, and steamrolling your way to the front. I'm hoping my bony elbows weren't the only ones they felt.

More:
Review on Urb

Adele, Wanda Jackson @ The Greek Theatre

2011-08-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Wanda Jackson

Photo by Dana Yavin via Brooklyn Vegan

I've heard her name quite a bit recently, but never paid any mind. After seeing her live, I wondered how I had never heard of her before. She used to tour with the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis, and Johnny Cash, all singers that I love. Although her singing has slowed down at the ripe age of 73 (I'm amazed she's still alive, let alone yodeling!), I could still hear her unique vocal style. She still sings like the Queen of Rockabilly, which was kind of a disconnect for me because of the seductive crooning and her age, but I did enjoy the tour through her song catalog: teetering from rockabilly to yodeling, from an Amy Winehouse cover to gospel (which maybe wasn't the best choice for a general audience, but everyone still cheered because who can resist such a vibrant personality).

Riot in Cell Block #9

I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse cover)

I wish I could have seen a duet with Wanda Jackson and Amy Winehouse.

Adele

Photo by Timothy Norris via LA Weekly

The venue was much bigger than the last place I saw her at (HOB SD). The sound was great, but I wish the big screens were as crisp as what they have at Hollywood Bowl. The Greek reminded me of a baby version of The Bowl. I disliked the stacked parking, but luckily, the cars in front of me were leaving around the same time, so we made it out pretty quickly.

LA Times has a fantastic concert review of that memorable night, so I'll keep mine short. I loved hearing all the stories behind her music and her interactions with the crowd. She was cackling (LOVE her laugh) and joking around all night, which really personalized the show. When she mentioned her latest album was all about her ex, it made all the songs sound much more depressing, but also more meaningful.

Set List:

"Hometown Glory" - always reminds me of how patriotic everyone was after 9/11
"I'll Be Waiting"
"Don't You Remember" - I was neutral about this and Lovesong, but they definitely sound better live
"Turning Tables"
"Set Fire to the Rain"
"If It Hadn't Been For Love"
"My Same" - always thought it was about a bf, but like it even more now that I know it's about her bestie
"Take It All" - so sad. Written for her bf right before he broke it off
"Rumor Has It"
"Right as Rain"
"One and Only"
"Lovesong"
"Chasing Pavement" - entire stadium knew this song and sang it at the top of their lungs
"Make You Feel My Love" - dedicated to Amy Winehouse. Was actually listening to this the day of Winehouse's death and thought it would be perfect for a dedication

Encore:
"Someone Like You"
"Rolling in the Deep" - great song to end the night

Of Montreal Covers The White Stripes

2011-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Of Montreal covered The White Stripes' Fell in Love with a Girl. It's not a bad cover, but I thought they would somehow have a more Of Montreal sound to it, like you could tell it's them singing. Instead it just sounds like the song, but with screechy vocals.

Sound Bites 11.0: The Market @ Santa Monica Place

2011-05-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

The Market (it's like a gourmet food court) just opened last weekend and Jennio and I got to check it out during their preview. It was nice to see some new dining options for 3rd Street Promenade.

Here were some of the standouts:

Beachy Cream - retro girls serving up tasty, organic ice cream sandwiches
L'Artisan du Chocolat - they had such a beautiful display of chocolates, I wanted to eat them all
Primi Al Mercato - liked their interesting, handmade pastas
Röckenwagner - with their array of dessert souffles
Venokado - I didn't get a chance to try their wine, but I did like their whimsical gift items
Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar - they had some great mortadella and sopressata
The Cookie Guru - had some amazing chewy and gooey chocolate chip cookies
The Curious Palate - their menu made me curious, but they were only serving beer, so I actually thought it was a pub at first. I do like the idea of farm-to-table cooking

Local Natives, Arcade Fire @ The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas

2011-05-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Nathan's Famous

As soon as we got to Las Vegas, we settled into our hotel and only had time for a quick bite at Nathan's Famous (for their hot dogs). Matt was shocked that I had never heard of Nathan's ("but they're famous at Coney Island!"). 1. I've never been to Coney Island and 2. I didn't grow up in New York.

Later on I listened to a Stuff You Should Know podcast and learned that they're also famous for their hot dog eating contests. Okay, maybe I should have known that. Anyways, I could see why he liked them so much. The hot dog produced a nice snap as I bit into it and the Crinkle Cut fries were addictive.

Local Natives

As we entered the Hard Rock Hotel, I was inundated by douchiness (although I did like seeing the music memorabilia). I thought the floor plan for The Joint would be similar to House of Blues, but it was much bigger. I actually liked it a lot. It had 3 balconies for VIP and several raised levels on the ground floor, so you could get a good view in various spots.

That is a mighty mustache.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately because people missed out on a great band), not many people there knew who Local Natives were, so we got really close to the stage.

Now, whenever I listen to Local Natives, I always imagine them playing acoustically around a campfire. I know they sound great with strings (definitely check out their KCRW performance) and they sound good live (listen to Brainstormer I - Riverhouse Barn), but I still thought of them as a pretty mellow band. I never thought they would be moshable, but they changed my mind after they got everyone throwing their hands up and jumping around for Sun Hands.

I haven't sung that loud, or jumped around that much, at a show in awhile.

More Video:
Wide Eyes

Arcade Fire

I have to agree with @grimyGoods' tweet

They were definitely done sound checking before the hour it took for them to come out. I hate when bands keep you waiting for no reason.

I couldn't be mad for long because they played a high energy set.

I loved hearing Haiti, The Suburbs, Rococo (my favorite song off The Suburbs), and the epic Wake Up, but I was disappointed they didn't play My Body is a Cage.

Loved how Win joked about how corny he used to think Hard Rock Cafe was

* Local Natives and Arcade Fire photos courtesy of Renee Barrera

Oyster Bar in Palace Station

I was apprehensive as soon as I stepped foot into Palace Station because honestly, it looked like the Walmart of Vegas hotels. And I know midnight probably isn't the ideal time to eat seafood, but I'm glad we went because there was hardly a wait (it was still full, so we did have to wait for a couple to leave) and the most experienced chef was working that night.

We ate:

Seafood Combination - there was cause for concern after reading about this starter in Gas-tron-o-my, but we were so hungry! The oysters and clams were surprisingly good (although I did have 1 bad clam) and the huge shrimp were unfortunately overcooked
Pan Roast - I had heard so many good things about this and they were all true. I wish I had some right now
Manhattan Clam Chowder - this is how Manhattan Clam Chowder should be, not like the sad tomato juice version I had at Sam's Chowder House

Top: Manhattan clam chowder. Bottom: Pan Roast

Coincidentally, we ran into a Long Beach, food-loving couple who had also come here to eat right after the same concert. Small world.

High Note - Glee's "Prom Queen" Ep: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You

2011-05-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lately, I don't understand the song choices for Glee. They either choose really overplayed songs or they don't even seem to make an effort to cover them in a different way. I can't believe they contributed to Rebecca Black's undeserved wealth by covering Friday...badly (although Art can do no wrong). I guess it makes sense that it would get played at a prom because it's so bad it's funny and so many people already know the lyrics, but I didn't think I'd have to experience it on TV.

I was a little worried about hearing another Adele song on Glee because of Gwyneth Paltrow's paltry version (lyrics fit the scene, but there's no way she could ever have a strong enough voice to sing one of Adele's songs. That was the first time I was really disappointed by one of her covers), but Jesse and Rachel had the chops to carry it. I'm just not a huge fan of the church choir version. They didn't even really try to put a new spin on it besides turning it into a duet.

Black Kids + unbelievably catchy dance song + Blaine (I love how The Warblers cover songs in a barbershop quartet kind of way) = high note of ep.

The Idyllists EP Release for Waiting for the Midnight Show @ Hotel Cafe

2011-04-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since the last time I saw The Idyllists. This show was somewhat bittersweet: sweet because 2 bandmates were back in town for the show and another bandmate was about to start a family (evidenced by the very pregnant wife, whom singer Ian was charmingly serenading); bitter because although the band was reunited, it was only for a short time. Matt (piano / guitar), who now lives in New York (hence the city mention in Rose Coloured Glasses), exchanged songs with Ian before meeting up with him to help select tracks for the EP.

The Idyllists' classic, dancey songs padded the new, mellow ones, giving the show a more melancholy than expected tone.

Ian's tracklist off his iPad

I loved all the old tracks and it was great to finally be able to sing along. The new songs were enjoyable too, although more grownup. Maybe their sound is starting to age a little...like a good red wine.

Favorite New Tracks:

Good Red Wine

Rose Coloured Glasses

More:
I discovered Ian and Sam's side band, Hopelessly Devoted (love the name), who I can't wait to see because I've always thought Ian's voice was made for rockabilly!

David Chang Likes to Play Pavement, AC/DC, The Kinks @ Momofuku

2011-03-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

I'm digging this new feature, Desert Island Discs, that Food is the New Rock is starting, where they ask chefs about their favorite music. Food is the New Rock is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs to read and the name is genius. It's so simple it makes me feel stupid for not thinking of it first. I've always wondered how to best blend food and music into one blog and they have done it perfectly.

Favorite questions from the post:

First love? Food or Music…

DC: Food. Eating blue crabs at the Chesapeake Bay when I was 5 years old.

Musician you’d most like to cook for (alive or dead) and what would you serve them?

DC: Fat Elvis. Samoa Girl Scout Cookies.

5 Albums on Your Desert Island iPod?

Luna “Penthouse”
Pavement “Wowee Zowee”
Bob Dylan “Nashville Skyline”
GZA “Liquid Swords”
Pixies “Doolittle”

Read the rest here.

Cee Lo @ Club Nokia

2011-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

Photo via Neon Tommy

I enjoyed listening to The Lady Killer, a mix of motown and r&b with a film noir theme, and loved Forget You, so I thought it'd be fun to enter The Scenestar's contest for free tickets to Cee Lo's show. To be honest, I didn't start listening to Cee Lo's latest album, The Lady Killer, until I heard Gwyneth Paltrow covering Forget You on Glee (which is probably the only reason anyone even knows she can sing because, really, who even watches the Country Music Awards? Glee is also the only reason she got to do an entertaining, colorful duet with Cee Lo at The Grammys). That's not to say Cee Lo isn't talented (he has a great, soulful voice and put on a good show when I saw him at ACL), he just wasn't really on my radar after Gnarls Barkley.

The day of the show, I found out I won. Because I had forgotten about the show, up until I won, I had already made dinner plans that night (I couldn't miss out on Kokekokko's chef's 3-day stewed ox tail curry, which is awesome BTW), so I had to miss Big Boi's performance, which I'm now a little disappointed at because I found out later that Janelle Monae was a guest.

When we got there, Cee Lo was finishing up his opening set with Goodie Mob. He had some issues with sound after his all female band (which reminded me of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love music video) set up to play his first song, but he kept the crowd entertained while it was being resolved. He had a slow start, but ended strong with his two biggest hits Crazy and F- You. He was a ball of energy, getting the crowd to dance, chatting at high speeds, and having fun dancing to his own songs. I love watching Cee Lo perform because he always seems to be enjoying himself.

More:

Photos from L.A. Record and LA Weekly
Another review from Neon Tommy

High Note - Glee's "Silly Love Songs" Ep: P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

2011-02-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

I wasn't too excited about Glee covering Michael Jackson's Thriller in the previous episode even if it was a mashup because really, that song has been covered to death. And I'm not a Katy Perry fan, so I'm getting tired of hearing her songs. So I enjoyed The Warblers cover of Teenage Dream. It was good enough for me to enjoy the song even though I despise the original, but enough already with California Gurls and Fireworks.

One of the few redeeming songs of this episode was Artie (one of my fav characters on the show) singing P.Y.T. That song is so rarely covered, I wonder if many people have even heard of it. It was terrific and I loved the whole dance number with Mike Chang.

Matthew Morrison @ The Grove

2011-02-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

When I arrived at The Grove, I could hear Matthew Morrison rapping to Gold Digger, which I was surprised he was doing, but I'm sure the Gleeks loved it. I missed half the concert thanks to a PR snafu with Kraft, but what I did see was just like watching Will Schuester perform on Glee. He was full of energy and got the crowd really excited. He sang mostly covers and the one original song above, My Name, which fell into the adult contemporary category and sounded like something you'd hear on KBIG. I was hoping to hear more original songs, but his album does drop in May, so he's probably still working on it.

“When I started the process, I had a vision of what I wanted it to be, and it’s now completely different,” he says. “I went into it wanting a Justin Timberlake-meets-Michael Buble kind of feel, but what came out of it was something more raw.” [Hollywood Reporter] When I read Morrison's above statement I thought his upcoming album could be interesting if it was an update of oldies like what Glee did with Singing in the Rain / Umbrella. Before hearing that mashup, I never thought Singing in the Rain could be turned into a good pop song. But then I read this "Mercury Records president David Massey, who signed Morrison soon after Glee premiered in 2009, says he hears a little Jason Mraz, too." [Hollywood Reporter] which worries me. Anything that sounds like Jason Mraz is so overplayed. I'm just tired of it. I'm hoping Morrison will be more original on his record. He's very talented and I look forward to hearing what he puts out.

More:

Photo coverage from GleeHab and Broadway World
Video of the concert and interview

Matthew Morrison's First Live Performance Sat Jan 29 @ The Grove

2011-01-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

As a Gleek I am extremely excited about Matthew Morrison's (aka Will Schuester on Glee) first solo performance this Saturday January 29th 12PM at The Grove. I'm even more excited that Oscar Mayer is joining him in donating $50,000 to the GRAMMY foundation, an organization dedicated to music education.

For those of you who can't make it, all you have to do is click "Like" on the Oscar Mayer Facebook page to see a live stream of Morrison in concert.

More:

I am in love with the Oscar Mayer WienerMobile!
Join the Good Mood Mission.

Violet Sedan Chair on Fringe's "The Firefly" Ep

2011-01-27T13:19:00.000-08:00

Photo via BuddyTV

This is a post from Wing, who is a bigger fan of Fringe than I am:

In the latest Fringe ep, Christopher Lloyd guest-starred as the ex-keyboardist of a once popular psychedelic rock band "Violet Sedan Chair" that Walter is a big fan of. Guess what? J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot crew actually made a real album for this fake band! You can stream it here:
http://soundcloud.com/letitplayout/sets/violet-sedan-chair-seven-suns-lp-side-2/

This show...I have no words!

This was such a great episode. I loved the romantic struggle between Olivia and Peter, the Tessla mention, Walter acting like a giddy fanboy, the twist at the end about consequences / the butterfly effect, and the use of Lloyd in a time traveling theme.

And the music is actually pretty good! "The band "Violet Sedan Chair" is a fictional band, but one that J.J. Abrams had named-dropped two years earlier in an issue of Wired for which he had guest-edited, alluding to the band's album, Seven Suns, recorded in the 1970's. Prior to the broadcast of "The Firefly", a number of vinyl records of Seven Suns were shipped to a select number of independent record stores across the United States, which have been discovered by some people. The album does contain twelve songs in the style of psychedelic and folk. The album itself has been briefly shown in the series." (Wikipedia)

Coachella 2011 SOLD OUT

2011-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

It's barely been less than a week and Coachella is already sold out. What happened?! Last year I was able to buy tickets up until a month before the festival. I blame fans of Kanye West fans and maybe even *shivers* fans of Kings of Leon. Oh well, I'm hoping to hear back from Coachella about press passes, but that's looking bleak.

Some ways you MIGHT be able to get passes are listed on The Scenestar. For now, I guess I'll just have to listen for them on KCRW's Winter Pledge Drive.

Sound Bites 10.0: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dinner Party

2011-01-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

Lovely table setting by our host, Andy

I feel kind of silly blogging about this dinner party when I didn't really contribute anything besides chipping in for HC's sparkling wine, so this post will be mostly pics!

Appetizers:
Tangerines and olives - good thing there were snackages because we were getting HUNGRY before the grilling started.

1st Course:
Taleggio cheese, capers, chanterelle mushrooms, and Gruyere on Zingerman's rye bread by Chef Andy, paired with Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil Cambremer Cidre Pays d’Auge - At first, I was skeptical of bread worth FedExing for, but I was proven wrong when I tried the tasty crust,

which was made even tastier with cheese. Mmmmm...

Before

After

Nathan brought the surprisingly dry apple cider from DomaineLA.

I have to thank him for the great notes he took during dinner. Sometimes I just see food and all my brain functions (except for seeing, eating and tasting) stop working.

2nd Course:
Preserved quince, manchego cheese on homemade olive oil tsoureki by Chef Anna, paired with Spiral Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2009 - secret ingredient: tears. Kidding kidding... unless it was baked into the bread... I mean, look at it. Who makes bread that looks THAT good?

Before

After

I had quince for the first time in Boston and now I LOVE it.

3rd Course:
Salted coconut butter, homemade paneer, masala sauce, and vadovan naan bread by Chef Andy, paired with Maui Brewing Company’s Coconut Porter - this was his Indian version of a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, inspired by LudoBites 5.0.

I felt a little guilty eating a spoonful of butter, but it was soooo good. Andy was kind enough to remove fresh cilantro from my sauce, but after trying some of HC's sauce, I found that I actually didn't mind cilantro so much, not when Andy cooks with it anyways. I loved the sauce so much that I even asked for extra to go. What? I already had to take half my "sandwich" to go since I had to save room for HC's.

4th Course:
Mesquite honey, Wisconsin mascarpone, blackberries, black currant jam on honey wheat by Chef HC, paired with Granny Smith Sparkler cocktail - just when I thought I could barely eat any more, HC brings out this light and tasty treat. HC has taught me to never leave a dessert behind, so I devoured it.

Besides helping contribute to the sparkling wine, I helped mix the cocktails.

Yep, that's my half sandwich I took home

HC, Andy, and I ended the night with Maui Brewing Company’s Mana Wheat beer made with (one of my favorite fruits) PINEAPPLE! It is now on my list of favorite beers. I'm actually still craving it...

I got to try new kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches and make new blogger buds. The night was such a success that Andy suggested another themed dinner party for next time. I almost regret suggesting a beer theme because everyone else is already extremely familiar with cooking with beer and next time I might actually have to make something. :O

Song Pairing:
Of Montreal - Oslo in the Summertime

Coachella 2011 Lineup Announced

2011-01-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

And The Scenestar had it first...from what I saw on Twitter anyways. Announced it even before Coachella's Twitter did. Awesome!

Ugh, Kings of Leon is still a headliner. I heard about this a few months ago, but I kept praying that they would try to cancel before the poster was made. Bleh. Anyways, the other bands look pretty good. Too bad Daft Punk isn't on there, but I still excite. Let the listmaking begin! Here are my preliminary choices (after I make my top choices, I usually try to listen to the other bands - tedious, I know - to discover some new music):

Top Picks:

!!!
Arcade Fire
Cee Lo Green - been listening to a lot of his Lady Killer album lately
Bright Eyes
Cold War Kids
Cut Copy
Empire of the Sun - they put on a fantastic show
Jimmy Eat World
Kanye West
Ratatat
The Black Keys
The Morning Benders
The National
The New Pornographers
The Presets - hell yes!
The Strokes
Two Door Cinema Club
Yelle

Maybes:

Best Coast - guess I should find out why people like them so much
Brandon Flowers - this is a maybe. I saw one of his videos, still not convinced that he's any good
Broken Social Scene
Crystal Castles
CSS
Elbow - Grounds for Divorce is pretty much their only good song, but I haven't seen them in awhile
Erykah Badu
Flogging Molly
Interpol - I know all their music sounds the same, but I should probably listen to their new stuff
Jack’s Mannequin - for old time's sake
Klaxons
Ms. Lauryn Hill
Ozomatli
Paul van Dyk
PJ Harvey
Robyn
Scissor Sisters
She Wants Revenge
The Aquabats
The Chemical Brothers
The Kills
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The Swell Season - probably during some down time. They are really mellow

Thanks for the alphabetized lineup and larger image, Stereogum!

More:
Ticket info at The Scenestar

Sound Bites 9.0: Roy's Restaurant @ DTLA

2011-01-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

The tiki torches outside the Roy's Restaurant in Pasadena gave me the impression that the interior would resemble that of Trader Vic's. Apparently, the torches weren't allowed at the downtown location, but I think that helped make the restaurant look less cliched.

This was supposed to be a pit stop for drinks and snacks before HC and I headed over to Hatfield's for dinner, but manager, April McCaa, was generous enough to give us a taste of all the appetizers on Roy's Aloha Hour menu. They have not just one but TWO happy hours: Sun - Fri 4:30 - 6:30pm and 9pm - close. The second happy hour is great for people who work late like I do. Another plus: you can order any cocktail off their menu for $5!

Drinks:

Lychee Caipirinha - I'm a sucker for anything with lychee in it
Lemongrass Saketini
1988 - more than one person raved about this, so I had to try it. Success! Lychee again! It was just as strong as the bartender said it was. HC wasn't a fan because he doesn't like guava, good thing I do!
Pineapple Ginger Mojito - less gingery than I thought it would be

Best Bar Bites:

Tempura Crusted Spicy Ahi Roll - loved the crispy exterior
Crunchy Golden Lobster Potstickers

Biggest Bang for Your Buck (recommended by bartender):

1988
Wagyu Beef Sliders

September Issue

2011-01-09T23:14:00.000-08:00

Photo via ShoppingBlog

I just finished watching The September Issue and was very impressed by the documentary's soundtrack. The behind-the-scenes action was fascinating (I wish there had been an interview with Andre Leon Talley because he was such a character, but I enjoyed learning about Anna Wintour, who only showed real emotion when she talked about her what her siblings thought of her job, and Grace Coddington, who seemed so down-to-earth, and a bit tragic, for someone in the industry), but definitely was helped along by the music selections.

Here's the track listing:

Opening Title - Craig Richey
Destroy Everything You Touch - Ladytron
Back From Paris - Craig Richey
The September Montage - Craig Richey
Anna's History - Craig Richey
Textures/ Grace's History - Craig Richey
Grace's Photos - Craig Richey
Burn It All Down - VHS Or Beta
Golf Cart - Craig Richey
Around the Bend - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Nostrand - Ratatat
Packing For Rome - Craig Richey
At Sea - Electrelane
S to U - Chessie
Grace at Versailles - Craig Richey
Give It Up - LCD Soundsystem
Diversion - Mark Ronson
Anna's Meltdown - Craig Rickey
That Home - Cinematic Orchestra
Grace In Car - Craig Richey
Don't You Worry - Jim Noir
Flathead - The Fratellis
Swisha - Ratatat
Suffer for Fashion - Of Montreal
Be A Star - Oh No! Oh My!
End Titles - Craig Richey

Suffer for Fashion, one of my favorite Of Montreal songs, was PERFECT for the start of the end credits.

More:
indieWIRE

Sound Bites 8.0: Sweet Lady Jane @ Santa Monica

2010-12-28T18:01:00.000-08:00

Sweet Lady Jane makes some really beautiful cakes

Every time I drove by Sweet Lady Jane in West Hollywood, I wondered what cakes filled their cute shop. I wondered no more after HC and I were invited by their PR to try their lunch menu and some sweets at their newly opened location in Santa Monica.

What we tried:

Grilled cheese sandwich with gruyere on walnut wheat bread - I had never had walnut wheat, so I was excited to try it. The cheese wasn't as melted as I thought it would be, but they certainly didn't skimp on slices (there were 4)
Apricot tart
Triple layer berry cake - highly recommended by others. I enjoyed the plump, fresh berries

Favorites:

Cream of asparagus soup - was thick without being too heavy and overly creamy
Albacore tuna salad sandwich on rosemary bread - the bread went perfectly with the scrumptious tuna salad

What to come back for:

Red velvet cupcakes
Any kind of pie - just because I'm curious how their pies taste
Chocolate anything - they looked SO good. We just didn't have the stomach space for any more food

I know this isn't food-related, but this cute dog was
wandering around our table trying to eat our scraps

More:
gas-tron-o-my

High Note - Glee's "A Very Glee Christmas" Ep: Baby, It's Cold Outside

2010-12-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

Usually I find Christmas songs very irritating and this episode was full of it, but the above song (that I've even found certain versions to be creepy) was untraditionally sung by two males and came off as sweet and endearing. Plus it doesn't hurt that I love Kurt and am crushing on Blaine.

High Note runnerup: Last Christmas
because it's one of the few Christmas songs that I don't mind hearing constantly.

High Note - Glee's "Special Education" Ep: Valerie

2010-12-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Loved all the dancing in Santana's number and she has a great voice. It never fails to impress.

High Note - Glee's "The Substitue" Ep: Singin' in the Rain / Umbrella

2010-12-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

I thought Gwyneth Paltrow was an odd choice for guest starring on Glee. Then I was surprised by how many numbers she sang. Next I actually found her likable (I'm not really a fan of her work besides Royal Tenenbaums). Finally, I was impressed with the dance number and wondered why no one had thought of doing a mashup of these two songs before.

Looks like the idea occurred to Jamie Cullum last year, but it's not nearly as good or as catchy.

Sound Bites 7.0: SugarFISH @ DTLA

2010-11-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

If you're tired of hearing how great the new sugarFISH in downtown LA is, well too bad. What I can do is keep it short and sweet.

Earlier this month, HC and I were invited by their PR to try The Nozawa, one of three Trust Me's (prix-fixe menus) offered. Lele Massimi, co-owner of sugarFISH, took the time to sit down and give us some restaurant facts and menu recommendations.

It was the first time I had ever had warm rice in my sushi and I have to say it's going to be a difficult to go back to cold. And I loved all their housemade ponzu sauces (original, yuzu, chili).

Favorites:

Salmon Sushi - okay, so it's one of my favorite types of sushi and I never go to a sushi restaurant without ordering at least 2 pieces if not more, but I've never had it with a sesame topping. It really added to the already buttery flavor
Photo by The Minty
Toro Hand Roll - I had heard that I wouldn't have time to stop and take a picture, but I didn't know I had about a minute before the entire hand roll would get soggy. Before I had this hand roll, I didn't even know seaweed could be that crunchy. The first bite was a crispy, buttery wave of flavor.
Photo via Harb Knock Life
Uni Sushi - really fresh
Photo via Harb Knock Life
Halibut Fin Sashimi - light and refreshing

Because we had to eat the sushi so fast (or else the delectable, warm rice will fall apart) I kind of wished the pairs of sushi came out one plate at a time, so I could better savor it. The best solution is probably to split a Trust Me, like HC mentioned, and then order a la carte.

It's rare to find a sushi restaurant that serves such high quality fish at sugarFISH's price point. I've been craving their sushi since the day after our dinner there. I can't wait to return.

Sound Bites 6.0: Momfuku Milk Bar @ Manhattan, NY

2010-11-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

I had to come here after hearing so much about it. We picked up our snacks and ordered a few cocktails from the bar and enjoyed them on the mezzanine floor of Chambers hotel.

What I tried:

Blueberry & Cream Cookie - which was my favorite out of all the sweets I tasted. It was deliciously moist and just like having a blueberry muffin in the form of a cookie. Plus it was still good even after a few days! (OK, I admit it, I saved this cookie for last because I already knew it was good since Kung Food Panda brought one back for me when he went to NY). A recipe for these delectable cookies can be found here.

Photo by Momofuku for 2

Compost Cookie - aptly named seeing as it contained pretzels, potato chips, coffee, oats, butterscotch, chocolate chips. My friend loved these cookies, so I tried it. It was just too much for me. I could taste a lot of the ingredients, but too much of a good thing isn't always good for my taste buds.
Crack Pie - one of their most talked about pastries. I took one bite and my tongue was overwhelmed by sugar. It was too sweet for me. I could envision my dentist asking about my new cavities. A recipe for this compressed sugar in a pie can be found here.

My Picks from Stereogum’s 50 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2011

2010-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Photo via The Village Voice

Ok, I know Cake isn't even on the top 50 list, but I'm really excited because they haven't released a new album in 7 years!

Here are the other bands off Stereogum's list that excite me:

02 Fiona Apple – TBA
09 Cut Copy – Zonoscope (2/08 via Modular)
10 Death Cab For Cutie – TBA (via Atlantic)
13 Dr. Dre – Detox (February via Aftermath/Interscope)
15 Foo Fighters – TBA
18 Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (1/25 via Warner Bros.)
21 Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Interscope) - I've been a fan ever since I heard Bad Romance at a gay birthday party (really, all the guys were gay and knew all the lyrics to her song. To this day, I have never seen so many well-dressed, attractive men all in one room) and on Glee.
22 Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes (3/1 via LL Recordings)
35 Radiohead – TBA (via Teh Internetz)
37 The Rome (Danger Mouse & Daniele Lupi) – The Rome
38 Santigold – TBA - great first album. Can't wait to hear more from her
39 The Shins – TBA
43 The Strokes – TBA - I'm hoping they incorporate some of Julian Casablancas' sound
48 Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch The Throne (via Def Jam)

HONORABLE MENTIONS & SPECULATIONS:

Akron/Family – S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2/8 via Dead Oceans)
Beck – TBA
Cake – Showroom Of Compassion (1/11 via Upbeat)
The Get Up Kids – There Are Rules (via Quality Hill Records)
Gorillaz – TBA
Jane’s Addiction – TBA

Sound Bites 5.0: Osteria La Buca @ Mid-City LA

2010-11-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

I first heard of Osteria La Buca when I read about the co-owner's mother leaving to start up Osteria Mamma. I've driven by Osteria La Buca so many times and finally got the chance to try the food when I was invited by HC and Dan Cox last month when the restaurant was painted pink to promote National Breast Cancer Awareness.

An electric motorcycle is used to make food deliveries. (Photo by Julie Wolfson via LAist)

My Favorites:

Pink Italian Rose Sangria - light and refreshing cocktail
Burrata, Prosciutto, Heirloom Tomatoes - I couldn't stop eating the tomatoes and who doesn't like prosciutto?
Garlic Roasted Kale, Tomato, Fig Flat Bread Pizza - the kale was so tasty, I wish each slice had more of it. The fig was a sweet surprise
Osso Buco Risotto - is a lot for one person to eat, but great for sharing family style
Tiramisu - was surprisingly light and I adored the topping design
Photo by Jennio

More:
Dishing Up Delights
EstarLA
Green LA Girl
Hungry Hungry Hanh

Sound Bites 4.0: Magnolia Bakery, Hatfield's @ Mid-City LA

2010-11-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Magnolia Bakery
I can't believe how fast Caroline on Crack and BrandX wrote about the Magnolia Bakery preview. They posted the very next day! I, on the other hand, am very behind. Check out Caroline on Crack's post for details about the cupcake and prosecco party and BrandX for some great photos.

I was unaware of the free valet for the event, so I ended up parking a few blocks away. I'm not sure if valet will always be free, but it should be available. And if you'd prefer to just make a quick stop, there will be curbside pickup.

HC and I felt like kids in a cupcake shop (to quote Caroline on Crack) when we were told we could try anything on display.

HC's overwhelmed by sweet choices.
Love the idea of cupcakes in an egg carton.
(Paying tribute to HC's new love of collages on his blog)

Some of what we tried:

Banana pudding - it was fluffy and ice cream-like, minus the ice
Brownie bites
S'mores cupcake
Double crust apple pie - which is one of my favorite kinds of pies and the crust on this one was amazing
Lemon cornmeal shortbread
Pumpkin cupcake
The classic ice box cake

My favorites:

Blueberry Jamboree ice box pie - not overbearingly sweet or heavy
Red velvet with a chocolate cookie crust mini cheesecake - having red velvet in cheesecake form WITH a chocolate crust just blew my mind with deliciousness

What I took home (Sidenote: I only asked for the cookies and red velvet, but they were so nice when they offered to include the other desserts that I just couldn't turn them down!):

Chocolate chunk cookie
Oatmeal cookie
Pumpkin pecan with gingersnap crust mini cheesecake
Red velvet mini cheesecake - it was my favorite! I couldn't resist having another piece
Double crust apple pie
Vanilla cupcake and chocolate cupcake - included in a lovely pastel green eco-friendly goody bag (also sold in-store). I only had a chance to take a bite of the rich dark chocolate

What I have to go back and try:

White chocolate macadamia mini cheesecake - I wanted to try this so badly because it's my favorite type of cookie, but I felt guilty after having so many sweets
Snickers ice box pie - I was told this was delicious

Hatfield's
After having sweets for dinner, we met up with Caroline on Crack and John, so HC could their Manhattan a second shot. I had a Ginger Grant, which was refreshing. I have to rave about how fantastic the popcorn at the bar is. I went through 2 bowls, leaving HC with hardly any.

Photo by HC

Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box Limited Edition Set

2010-10-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Photo via Slashfilm

What?!

Warner Bros has announced the release of the Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box, a limited edition set which celebrates 25 years of creative collaboration between the duo. The box set features more than 19 hours of music, including fan-requested expansions of 13 film scores (in CD cases featuring artwork created by Burton), plus seven hours of previously unreleased music, a Tim Burton-designed USB skeleton Flash Drive containing MP3s of the whole collection, and a bonus DVD featuring an exclusive conversation between Elfman and Burton. -via Slashfilm

I want this so badly, but why does it have to cost $500?! Christmas gift? Anyone? Please?

Sound Bites 3.0: The Woods, Dumont Burger @ Brooklyn, NY

2010-10-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

I don't claim to be a food connoisseur (honestly I haven't eaten at even half the amount of restaurants that LA's most popular food bloggers have eaten at), but I think hanging with HC has made my palate a bit more particular. Since I've become more interested in cuisine lately, I thought I could make some future posts, dubbed Sound Bites (formerly Savor the Sounds), about my forays into food writing. Again, I'm not an expert, these are just my opinions.

The Woods

Photo via NY Press

We were wandering around Brooklyn (my first time in a borough other than Manhattan) and stumbled upon The Woods. It was late afternoon and we entered because the decor we saw through the open window looked cool. I was sick, so I was very disappointed I couldn't have a drink here, but they offer beers and alcohol minus the frills. The place felt like it was a flea market, but with alcohol. Liquor lined the shelves along with trinkets like animal skulls and odd statues. It had a hip neighborhood bar kind of feel and a fantastic patio filled with picnic tables and benches merged with planters.

Photo by Plate of the Day

More:
Free Williamsburg

DuMont Burger

DuMont Mini Burger

I had the Dumont Mini Burger with sauteed mushrooms and fries. Don't know why no one else has ever thought to cover their burger with grilled brioche. The meat and mushrooms were so simple and delicious together. Matt and his cousin both said it was the best burger they've ever had. I think I have to agree. I wasn't sure at the time, but even now I still can't think of having had a better burger. The fries were kind of sweet and definitely the backup singers to the Beyonce of burgers, but that was alright because after the burger (even though it was a mini), I could barely eat anything else.

More:
Chowhound
A Hamburger Today
NY Times
nyc.com
Plate of the Day

Blogger Prom 2010

2010-09-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Yamashiro

I had heard of Yamashiro before, but I had no idea that it was hidden away on a hill just past The Magic Castle. I've been to The Magic Castle and didn't even realize the restaurant was right above it. Yamashiro was such a beautiful venue, I just don't know how the Blogger Prom Committee's going to top that next year. Can you believe the view from the entrance?

The landscape was just gorgeous: perfectly full moon, no fog, dazzling lights. This was a rare moment in my life as a Los Angelean where I actually thought my city was beautiful. I was captivated by the view every time I stepped outside or glanced out one of Yamashiro's broad windows.

As I filed into check-in area with other glamorously dressed bloggers, I felt like I was taken out of Hollywood and dropped into an ancient Japanese palace.

I still can't believe a place like this has been resting above Hollywood this entire time. I must go back and check out the Farmer's Market before it ends in October.

Drinks

I was surprised that we all only used one of the three drink tickets (the line got a bit long, but that's understandable since there was only one bar compared to having two at last year's Blogger Prom), but I definitely didn't feel like I needed the other two tickets thanks to The Dalmore, The Beer Chicks, and the after party at Test Kitchen.

The Dalmore 15 - nice, spicy start to the evening

Photo by Heather Kincaid

Eagle Rock Brewery IPA - recommended by The Beer Chicks to go along with Chef Brock's tacos

Photo by Heather Kincaid

Pinky Confidential signature drink by The Liquid Muse - Jennio found this sweet and tasty
Zaya Gran Reserve Rum and Coke

Appetizer

Hukilau Poke Ahi, teardrop tomato, macadamia nuts, soy-sesame marinade on a wonton crisp
Charred Albacore with serrano chilis, blackened shallots, cilantro, tomatill-ponzu salsa on a tortilla chip - our favorite. My companions had several

Photo by Heather Kincaid

Hoisin-Braised Kurobuta Pork with scallion risotto and honey-mustard sauce - I enjoyed the pork but not the risotto, my +1 doesn't really eat pork but liked the risotto. This just couldn't win with us
Asian Baby Back Ribs with house-made BBQ sauce - I was surprised that this was served as finger food. Seemed a bit messy, but Jennio and her date enjoyed them

Photo by Heather Kincaid

Food

Miso-Sake Black Cod taco - wish we had gotten in line for the tacos right away because the table got popular real quick
Kleweno Farm's Smoked Sausage with Maple-Black Pepper Aioli taco
Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwiches - we absolutely loved their ice cream sandwiches. I had the green tea ice cream between two chocolate cookies. Their table looked great, like an old-fashioned candy store

Photo by Heather Kincaid

ChocolateBox Cafe Chocolates
Crumbs Cupcakes - I can't resist eating something that looks like a mini Hostess Cupcake

Photo by Heather Kincaid

Music

I noticed the live band was missing. Turned out Dirty Martinis Jazz unreliably canceled a week before Blogger Prom. Seems pretty unprofessional to bail so last minute and missed out on a lot of free publicity with all the tweeting going on all night. Luckily, DJ Steve kept the party going with a variety of jazz music.

Goody Bags

There's so much good stuff in there. My goal is to try to make a day of it and use as many coupons and gift certificates as possible.

Photo by COFG

I'm excited about:

Disney Tote - I <3 Disney! The tote's the perfect size for carrying a book and a lunch to the park
Free Admission to The GRAMMY Museum - which I've always wanted to check out
Free Pass to The American Cinematheque
$5 Gift Card from Pinkberry
$10 Dining Certificate for Border Grill Truck - they serve awesome churros!
Drink Coupon with Purchase of Meal at Hugo's - free drink with food that I already enjoy? YES!
Free Cupcake from Sprinkles - must redeem ASAP since it's expiring very soon
CostPlus World Market Chocolate Bar - mmmmmm, chocolate!

Congrats to the Blogger Prom King and Queen, Food Marathon and JozJozJoz!

Photo by Heather Kincaid

And thanks to 1933 Group for the drink token winnings! I have my eye on some drinks at Thirsty Crow.

Jennio, Tom, Windattack, me, Winn
Photo by Heather Kincaid

More:
Heather Kincaid's (great idea to have a photo booth and photographer there. Hope Blogger Prom has her again next year) Blog and Photo Gallery
BrandX
Sure Beats Work
LA Times / Image
kevinEats
Naked City

The Juliana Theory @ The El Rey

2010-09-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Since HC was my show companion, he didn't allow me to make just one stop throughout the night.

Spitz
It was my first time eating a falafel and it was delicious.

Photo from The Happy Hour Tour

I couldn't believe how meaty (in a heavy kind of way) it felt even thought it was all vegetables...all tasty vegetables.

The pita strips were so light and crispy, like a healthier version of chips.

Photo from The Happy Hour Tour

Then we had my favorite menu item, the Street Cart Fries, which was a bit too heavy on the dressing at the Eagle Rock location compared to the Little Tokyo location.

Photo from The Happy Hour Tour

We tried a half order of fries and a half order of sweet potato fries. HC put it best when he said the sweet potato fries weren't bad, but they didn't really add much to the side order either. I had to agree that the regular fries went so much better with the toppings. I always find that there's always a risk when it comes to ordering sweet potato fries: they can be great or disappointing.

Colorado Wine Company
Fortunately, it was Sangria Saturday. Yay! They serve one of the best sangrias I've ever had.

Luna Park
We still had some time before the start of The Juliana Theory show, so we stopped here for a drink. Little did I know, HC meant a Scorpion Bowl.

The Juliana Theory

Photo from The Juliana Theory FB Page

We attended the fourth stop on their six-show anniversary tour for one of their best albums ever, Emotion is Dead. We arrived around 9pm. HC had an inkling that they were already them on stage, but I was in disbelief that they didn't have an opening act (and I admit, I didn't recognize the singer w/ his long hair). Luckily, we didn't miss too much before we were on our way to the front. I finally realized it was them when they started playing Don't Push Love Away.

Not many people seem to know what I'm talking about when I bring up The Juliana Theory, but you wouldn't have been able to tell if you had been at The El Rey; the place was packed. When they started playing We're at the Top of the World, everyone went crazy and started singing along; a mosh pit started forming. Poor HC had just gotten a massage earlier that day and he was rubbing his punched shoulders after the show. I was surprised they even had a mosh pit going for such mellow music, but everyone just got excited.

Standout tracks for me were:
We're at the Top of the World (To the Simple Two)
Is Patience Still Waiting?
Something Isn't Right Here
You Always Say Goodnight, Goodnight (which was absolutely mesmerizing)
Closest Thing (from Understand this is a Dream album. They played songs from other albums mixed in with Emotion is Dead)

I'm really glad I got to see them since I missed their shows during the height of their popularity in the late 90s / early 2000s. I have to say they are still amazing. Brett Detar's (vocalist) voice still sounds as good as it does on the albums.

Emotion is Dead Track List

"Into the Dark" – 4:03
"Don't Push Love Away" – 3:17
"To the Tune of 5,000 Screaming Children" – 3:52
"We're at the Top of the World (To the Simple Two)" – 3:17
"Is Patience Still Waiting?" – 3:51
"Emotion is Dead Pt. I" – 2:04
"If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop?" – 3:52
"We're Nothing Without You" – 4:14
"Something Isn't Right Here" – 2:07
"Understand the Dream Is Over" – 2:56
"This Is Your Life" – 3:35
"You Always Say Goodnight, Goodnight" – 9:30
"Emotion is Dead Pt. II" – 4:45

Luna Park

Yes, back again, this time for dessert (Make Your Own S'mores - the graham crackers broke too easily because they were so thin) and Mini Bar.

Suehiro

Because the yakitori place a Colorado Wine Co patron mentioned looked pretty empty and suspect, we tried to go to Honda Ya, but got there right as the kitchen closed. Ended up here because HC was starving. I just wanted Spam onigiri, but HC added Hiyashi Rice, which was pretty tasty, kind of like a beef stew-type gravy over rice. Very simple, but way too heavy for me to have as a late night snack.

More:
Yod Blog Public Waste
The Void Remains
P.S.A.M.P.

Sign up to download the new album from Brett Detar Bird in the Tangle for FREE.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

2010-08-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Photo from Daemon's Movies (great photo BTW)

Absurdly entertaining movie that sadly won't make as much money as, say, The Expendables (awesome in a corny 80s action movie kind of way) because the Scott Pilgrim-loving audience is so specific (nerds and geeks). I'm not saying the audience is bad (hell, I'm a geek), but I think the general audience just won't get all the jokes, which the movie is chock-full of. You get stuffed with pop culture references (per Edgar Wright's usual style. BTW, Spaced is one of my favorite shows) until you burst into laughter, which happens almost nonstop. I didn't even notice the movie was over two hours. I wasn't as geeky as my two video game-loving companions, so I missed a few jokes here and there (I'm sorry I never passed Zelda :\ ), but they loved the movie and picked up on many small details that hardcore gamers would notice.

The movie was really well-cast; Michael Cera played Scott Pilgrim to a tee. Kieran Culkin was a fantastic sidekick and Jason Schwartzman was perfect. Who knew Mary Elizabeth Winstead could so easily go from perky cheerleader to space punk tough chick.

I was surprised at how good the music was for all the made-up bands in the film. Music had to be vital when the main character was named after a song.

With the likes of Beck, Nigel Godrich, Broken Social Scene, and The Rolling Stones contributing to the soundtrack, the music had to be exceptional.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World soundtrack:

01 Sex Bob-Omb: "We Are Sex Bob-Omb"
02 Plumtree: "Scott Pilgrim"
03 Frank Black: "I Heard Ramona Sing"
04 Beachwood Sparks: "By Your Side"
05 Black Lips: "O Katrina!"
06 Crash and the Boys: "I'm So Sad, So Very, Very Sad"
07 Crash and the Boys: "We Hate You Please Die"
08 Sex Bob-Omb: "Garbage Truck"
09 T. Rex: "Teenage Dream"
10 The Bluetones: "Sleazy Bed Track"
11 Blood Red Shoes: "It's Getting Boring by the Sea"
12 Metric: "Black Sheep"
13 Sex Bob-Omb: "Threshold"
14 Broken Social Scene: "Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl"
15 The Rolling Stones: "Under My Thumb"
16 Beck: "Ramona (Acoustic)"
17 Beck: "Ramona"
18 Sex Bob-Omb: "Summertime"
19 Brian LeBarton: "Threshold 8 Bit"

More Reviews:
NPR (comprehensive)
NY Daily News
MTV
Guardian
Stereogum

Fun Interview:

Empire of the Sun @ Henry Fonda Music Box

2010-08-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

Photo from Pretty Much Amazing

Great reviews from LA Weekly and Golden Bloggen. I caught Empire of the Sun on Friday, Day 3 of their 4-day stint at Henry Fonda. My favorite song of the night, and the most radio-friendly, was We are the People.

Frontman Luke Steele put on a great show for being just one man, but I have to agree with LA Weekly that his dancers stole the show with their bizarre costumes and frantic dancing. Favorite costumes of the night: the swordfish.

Some people thought Steele's voice cracked a bit, but I didn't really notice because there were so many distractions from the stage show (screensaver style background, costumes, headdresses) and you have to give him some leeway when he's been singing for a third night in a row. The music and singing was still good enough to dance to.

Most Amazing Drummer Ever

2010-07-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

Where in the world did this guy learn how to play the drums? and what's he doing in THAT band.

Planet Earth Live @ Hollywood Bowl

2010-07-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

Since the Hollywood Bowl usually allows food, we decided to have a Porto's picnic:

Meat pies - nice and flaky. I can see why they make such good pastries. Wish there was just a little more than just meat in there. Veggies would have helped
Potato balls - free! But they got a little chewy because we waited a bit to eat them. Note: eat the potato balls ASAP

Potato Ball sandwich (a little dry. Maybe because of the balls' exteriors or too much starch altogether)

Double Danish - cherry on one side, apple on the other. Unfortunately, I was so full I only took one bite. It was good though!

Tiramisu - really good despite being a little melted from the warm weather.

Maybe this should have been called a starchy picnic instead of a Porto's picnic.

I've never seen the Planet Earth series (I know, shame on me), so I was really excited to finally see some of it, especially to the sounds of the LA Phil. That weekend was the first time Hollywood Bowl used their HD screen located center stage, above the orchestra. It was amazingly crisp and clear, like watching TV in your living room, but with better sound.

Turned out, the conductor, George Fenton, wrote the music for Blue Planet and Planet Earth. He made some humorous intros for each of the condensed episodes. My fav episodes: Babies, Predators (epic shots and music), Caves (the environment and animals looked so alien!), and Behind-the-Scenes.

There were more kids at The Bowl than I'm used to seeing. I was surprised they showed Predators with children present. The episodes were beautifully shot. I can't believe how many hours and months photographers wait just to get a 10 minute shot of an animal. Editors must go through so many hours and hours of footage just to produce a single episode. I really admire all the dedication and work that went into the series.

The LA Phil was fantastic and I hope they decide to do this again because I think it's a great family activity. Can't wait until they do Frozen Planet Live.

Dirty Martinis Jazz to Play @ Blogger Prom

2010-07-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Photo from Dirty Martinis Jazz

Jazz trio Dirty Martinis Jazz will be providing live music for Blogger Prom along with guest singer, Christiana Moffa.

Inception

2010-07-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Inception is probably the best film I've seen this year. I haven't left a theater doubting reality like that since I watched the first Matrix.

The trailer reveals the tip of what the film is actually about. This review is going to sound kind of general because it'll be difficult to discuss it without ruining it for everyone and I think EVERYONE needs to see this movie.

The fight scene was incredible. It gave the impression of being in space, but still had human speed, adding up to a disorienting, but amazing action sequence.

Joseph Gordon Levitt has to be one of the best actors of our time. He has been extremely convincing in the past movies I've seen him in (Brick, (500) Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You) and he is no different in Inception. His walk, his words (I adore his gravelly, private eye type voice), his look (loved his flawlessly pressed, neat suits), his mannerisms made me believe he was this extremely serious character and helped to make him the perfect straight man in certain scenes. Leonardo DiCaprio looked ratlike to me, but I think that emphasized the deceptions he participated in. I adored Ellen Page's Asexual Chic wardrobe, which came off as Parisian / Bonnie & Clyde (I wanted all her handkerchiefs, except for the western hipster one) meets 1940s professor (loved all the vests and blazers).

Photo from OnlineMoviesHut

Was it just me or did anyone else find it ironic that Cillian Murphy, who played Scarecrow, was in another movie about dreams? Marion Cotillard really scared the poop out of me in one scene where her eyes were bulging. I almost thought her head was going to start spinning around. She convincingly conveyed mystery and fear through her mood swings.

The soundtrack, which was written and composed by Hans Zimmer, really enhanced the film by creating so many different levels of anxiety through fantastic string arrangements that made me think of large machines and machinations. I think the score is right up there with Jaws' in instant recognizability. Also, it won't sound outdated when you watch the film years later, unlike The Matrix, which obviously sounds like the 90s.

More:
Camerawork
Visual Effects

Good Music + Good Food = Good Idea

2010-07-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

Photo from last.fm

It's a great idea to pair She & Him (a band that appeals to the musical tastes of any age) with great food from the likes of Ludo Lefebvre, Mark Peel, and others for Los Angeles Times' Celebration of Food & Wine on Sept. 5.

And what? Lollapalooza tapped Chicago chef Graham Elliot Bowles to curate the festival's food options (Pop & Hiss). I wish more festivals would do that because it's pretty common to expect overpriced crappy food at music festivals. If we're going to pay so much money to go to these festivals, we might as well be served good food.

Blogger Prom 2010 Announces Venue & Date

2010-07-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

So, it's that time of year again and Blogger Prom is just around the corner. It was born last year with high expectations that were definitely met and exceeded with a great venue, goody bags, and food. This year's venue has just been announced and it will be the theme of Hollywood Confidential on September 22, 2010 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the beautiful Yamashiro Restaurant.

Photo from Blogger Prom

I just finished watching LA Confidential and I can't wait to see all the bloggers in their glamorous, old Hollywood getups!

Also, I hear Blogger Prom is looking for a big band. Possibly to play live during Blogger Prom, which would be fantastic! I would LOVE it if everyone started swing dancing on the floor! It sounds like the band would be paid in publicity, but trust me, Blogger Prom provides amazing publicity. So, if you are a big band or know of one (my dream is to have Squirrel Nut Zippers play there), please contact EstarLA by email or twitter.

More from some of the Blogger Prom committee:
Caroline on Crack
EstarLA
Happy Go Marni
ShopEatSleep
Tara Met Blog

Hot Hot Heat @ One Colorado, Pasadena

2010-06-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

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:

Get In or Get Out
Oh, Goddamnit
Middle of Nowhere
Running Out of Time
Jingle Jangle

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

Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" Video

2010-06-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

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:

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.
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 )
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.

More Reviews:
Food GPS
gas-tron-o-my
Eating LA
Midtown Lunch

Glee in Concert, LXD @ The Gibson Amphitheatre

2010-05-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

LXD
is the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, a side project of Harry Shum Jr., who plays Mike "The other Asian" Chang on Glee. We were running a bit late, so we only made it in time to catch Shum's (known for his freestyle and fusion type of dancing and also as a choreographer) solo performance and a group dance. I was a bit confused because it seemed like they were some sort of dance crew, but they weren't doing anything like what I had seen on America's Best Dance Crew. After watching their TEDTalk, I realized LXD was something completely different.

They're like a group of performers who mix ballet and street dancing. The video showed an elegance to an unreal, gymnastic style of movement. I'm disappointed I missed out, but I would definitely like see them perform again.

Glee in Concert
I was SO tired from driving around all day and sitting in traffic, but as soon as the cast came on stage, a huge smile instantly appeared on my face and we were treated to something akin to sectionals...that lasted 90 minutes. I was glad Will Schuester and Sue Sylvester made some sort of appearance, even if it was only in the form of videos interspersed in the concert, because it really added to the believability of the characters on stage.

It was great hearing all the songs from the show, although, I could have done without Push It, but it was still funny. Seeing and hearing Don't Rain on My Parade live in a theater setting was fantastic. Sweet Caroline was a fun singalong song and I liked how they got the audience to karaoke to it, but I found Puck's voice to be noticeably weak on The Lady is a Tramp. I loved hearing Defying Gravity (Kurt was fantastic, but Jennio says she heard Rachel mess up. It wasn't too noticeable to me), could barely contain myself when I saw a car come out for Bust Your Windows, was in awe of the costumes and performance for Bad Romance (my absolute favorite song of the night. At the time I hadn't even seen the episode yet, so the song came as a surprise. And I loved how into it Kurt was! Santana's voice sounded amazing!), and definitely shouted out loud for It's My Live / Confessions, Pt. II (who DOESN'T love Bon Jovi?!).

Photo by Adam Rose/FOX

When Vocal Adrenaline came out, I didn't quite know how to feel about them. They were good, but they're New Directions' competitors! Wing and Matt agreed that Jump was a lot of fun to watch. All the encore songs were amazing and I was astonished by Jesse's sudden appearance for a duet with Rachel. I must say, Brittany is an impressive dancer. She was in practically every number. And even though Artie plays handicapped on the show, I marveled at his proficiency with the wheelchair.

Setlist:

"Don't Stop Believin'"
"My Life Would Suck Without You"
"Push It"
"Don't Rain on My Parade"
"Beautiful"
"Sweet Caroline"
"The Boy Is Mine"
"The Lady Is a Tramp"
"Defying Gravity"
"Bust Your Windows"
"Bad Romance"
"Dancing with Myself"
"It's My Life" / "Confessions, Pt. II"
"Halo" / "Walking on Sunshine"
"Rehab"
"Mercy"
"Jump"
"Faithfully"
"Any Way You Want It" / "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"
"Like a Prayer"

Encore

"Hello" on certain dates with Jonathan Groff
"True Colors"
"Somebody to Love"

More:
Zap2it review

(500) Days of Summer Tour @ Downtown LA

2010-05-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated with the old pre-war buildings in downtown, so for Jennio's birthday we decided to do a self-guided tour of sites from (500) Days of Summer (what other recent movie has celebrated the architecture of this area?). So, here's the route we took along with some details (and pictures from moi) from the tour guide provided by Los Angeles Conservancy:

San Fernando Building

Nook in Old Bank DVD (video & record store in film)

I loved the DVD store. It was really kitchy and had all these plants in old tins and a cute little dog running around. I would definitely rent from here if I lived nearby.
Location: 400 South Main Street (at Fourth Street)
Facts:

Designed in the Renaissance Revival style
Achieved local attention in 1910, when a series of police raids occurred on the sixth floor due to illegal gambling in the rooms
Redeveloped by Gilmore Associates; reopened in 2000 as seventy loft-style apartments - one of the early projects that sparked downtown’s current renaissance

Old Bank DVD located on 1st floor of San Fernando Building

Barclay Hotel

It's a shame they don't seem to have enough money for the upkeep of the exterior and interior because you can tell how beautiful it once was.
Location: 103 W. Fourth Street
Facts:

In the film, the lobby serves as the hangout for Tom and his buddies
Designed in the Beaux-Arts style with Romanesque features (which are less detailed and ornate than the more formal Beaux-Arts style)
Look up to the top of the building to see "The Van Nuys Hotel" (commercial venture by Isaac Newton Van Nuys, one of L.A.'s wealthiest businessmen and landowners)
Opened in 1897 as the Van Nuys Hotel, one of the finest in the city with the latest amentities (first hotel to provide phone and electric service in every room)
Fourth Street lobby has many original elements, including ceiling decorations, columns, arched doorways, stained-glass windows with old-fashioned scenes
Oldest continuously operating hotel in Los Angeles, now a low-income residential hotel

Continental Building
As much as I love fire escapes, I was a little scared of stepping out on the 12th floor fire escape just thinking about how old it might be. The 2nd floor Continental Library was very cute.
Location: 408 S. Spring Street
Facts:

In the film, this is one of Tom's favorite buildings, as viewed from Tom's bench; identified by him as "L.A.'s first skyscraper."
One of the first examples of the Beaux-Arts business block
At 175 feet, considered the city's first skyscraper
First floor has been altered, but the second story retains its stone block design
Notice the row of lion heads on the projecting cornice made of pressed galvanized tin
Served as office space and later housed many banks
Now owned by Gilmore Associates, which converted it into 56 loft-style apartments, which opened in 2001

Bradbury Building

Hydraulic elevators originally powered by steam-derived boilers in basement

One of my favorite buildings in DTLA. I always thought it odd that the exterior was so plain, but the interior was so ornate. I've always felt there was a steampunk feel to the place.
Location: 304 S. Broadway
Facts:

In the film, this is the site for an important meeting for Tom
Built in the Victorian Romanesque style
Simple sandstone and brown brick exterior gives way to 5-story interior court willed with light from the glass roof, cast-iron railings, and open cage elevators
Oldest commercial building in the center city
Has long been a popular filming location, probably best known for the 1982 sci-fi epic Blade Runner

Million Dollar Theatre
It's sad that the halls of the apartments look like modern day offices and don't resemble anything like the elaborate exterior. I was disappointed the theater lobby was closed, so I didn't get a chance to see any of the original detailing (at least I HOPE there is still some vintage decor).
Location: 307 S. Broadway

Longhorn skull over apartment entrance

Facts:

Sid Grauman's first L.A. theatre
One of the earliest movie palaces in the U.S. and, with 2300 seats (originally), one of the largest
Designed in the ornate Churrigueresque style
Lavish exterior terra-cotta ornamentation by Mora includes bison heads, longhorn skulls, and allegorical figures representing the arts
The name Million Dollar comes from the combined original costs of the land and building
Originally had a 2-story exterior foyer/lobby; has been altered over the years, though some details such as murals remain underneath
Upper stories originally housed office space; now apartments

Grand Central Market
This was the perfect precursor to the end of the tour. We grabbed a banana split from Jose's Ice Cream Corner.
Location: 315 S. Broadway
Facts:

This was the site of a deleted scene from the film in which Tom and Summer are shopping for fruit
The city's first fireproofed and steel-reinforced structure
Market opened in 1917
Today has over 50 vending stalls, each privately owned and operated
Project removed a tile facade added in the 1960s to reveal the 2nd-story windows and many of the original Beaux-Arts details

Angels Knoll

I've driven past this park so many times and have always wanted to visit and check out the view. It's surprisingly nice. Too bad there are a few ugly parking structures and unattractive buildings. Still, it's a very peaceful spot. I've always had the same sentiment as Tom about the streets being kind of unappealing, but surrounded by towering beautiful old architecture.
Location: Hill Street and Fourth Street, go all the way up the 100+ steps
Facts:

In the film, this is Tom's favorite L.A. spot, offering a great view of (mostly) pre-war buildings. As Tom shows Summer the architecture, he says words along the lines of, "There's so much beauty here. Sure the street level isn't much to look at, but if you look up, there's some exciting stuff going on. If it were up to me, I'd get people to notice!"

We did a driveby of the rest of these places:

Fenton Building (aka Roseland dance hall)
Location: 833-835 S. Spring Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets
Fact: In the film, this is where Tom works as a copywriter for a greeting card company

Fine Arts Building
I only got a quick glance at it, but it looks like it would be amazing. What other building in DTLA has reclining figures on the exterior?! I must return because I think the lobby will be just as impressive as the exterior.
Location: 811 W. Seventh Street
Fact: This is one of Tom's favorite buildings; he singles out architects Walker and Eisen

Eastern Columbia Building
Definitely one of my favorite buildings in city. It looks absolutely gorgeous and my dream is to one day live there. I'm still trying to find the time to visit and explore the building
Location: 849 S. Broadway, across from The Orpheum Theatre
Fact: Another one of Tom's favorites

More:
Map of some key sites from the movie

View Los Angeles in (500) days of Summer in a larger map

Savor the Sounds 1.0: LudoBites 4.0 @ Gram & Papas

2010-05-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to win a seat at LudoBites 4.0 last Thursday through a raffle The Scenestar was having on Twitter. Whoever replied first would get the spot. I was shocked I won and was slightly worried it might be awkward to have dinner with a stranger I followed on Twitter, who was a pretty big deal in the music blog world. Turned out I was worried over nothing because the only thing the dinner lacked was wine (I forgot it was BYOB). Conversation was great, fun, and insightful. It was like chatting with a friend who loves music as much as I do, and I received a ton of tips on how to improve my own blog. He also told me about how the blog was built on him wanting to fill a void a previous blog left behind when it shut down. I'm so glad The Scenestar was created because, honestly, I find out all my info about tour dates, presales, and shows from him.

So, it was my third time attending LudoBites and The Scenestar's first time. It was a great meal and he said it was one of the best meals he's ever had next to his mom's cooking (awww, how sweet!). Since I can never take photos as good as food bloggers do, I will be borrowing pictures from kevinEats, Kung Food Panda, and Mattatouille. Here's a list of my favorite dishes of the night:

Tartine Plate, Warm Baguette (Honey Lavender Butter & Smoked Lard): like Kung Food Panda said, there must have been crack in that lavender butter because I love it. I even wanted to take some home with me. I could eat that every morning! The Scenestar mentioned it was tasty to mix the butter and lard together. Maybe I'm a purist, but I still prefer to eat the lavender butter alone.

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Foie Gras Black Croque Monsieur, Cherry Amaretto Chutney: I have been dreaming about this sandwich since LudoBites 2.0 at The Breadbar. It might look alien with its black squid ink bread exterior enclosing a rich foie gras heart attack, but it is absolutely one of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my entire life.

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Squid Carbonara, Pancetta, Poached Egg (63 degrees), Parmesan Snow, Chive Flowers: the egg was perfectly poached. Chef Ludo, can you please make me eggs for breakfast every morning? It was just unfortunate that I was so busy talking to The Scenestar that the egg started getting overcooked on the squid. The squid wasn't overly chewy and I liked the look of the dish. It did look just like pasta but with a slightly chewier texture.

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Dark Chocolate Soufflé, Vanilla Whipped Cream, Hot Chocolate Ganache: I adore dark chocolate, so I had to have this. The souffle was perfectly light, fluffy, and rich. It was bigger than I thought it would be and halfway through, it was too rich for even my dark chocolate worshiping palate.

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Strawberry, Macaron, Lemon Verbena Meringue: taking a cue from HC, we ordered a second dessert and it was absolutely worth it, especially after finding out there were Pop Rocks candy in it! It was kind of like having a deconstructed strawberry pie.

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After reading the Yello! Smashbox interview with Ludo (I was especially interested in the part where Ludo discussed his musical interests. Also I loved the hip hop playlist he had at dinner), meeting The Scenestar, and having a discussion about blogs with Matt, I got inspired to make some changes to my blog. This is the first of a series of posts where I will be combining my two favorite things: food and music.

More Reviews:

Conan O'Brien @ The Gibson Amphitheater

2010-05-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

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Seeing as I lost the battle to a fever that night, I'm a little fuzzy as to some of the details that occurred, so I figure it's best to let some real journalists do the talking on LAist and LA Weekly. From what I can remember, I really enjoyed the inflatable bat and found O'Brien to be in excellent form and absolutely hilarious. Reggie Watts opened for him and had a slow start, but towards the end was actually really funny.

More:
You can see bits and pieces of the show on 60 Minutes, as well as his first interview since he left the show.

Coachella 2010 Day 3

2010-05-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

FAIL: I was really hoping for smaller crowds for the third day, but I guess since people were forced to buy three-day passes, everyone just ended up showing up for the last day, so it was just as packed as Saturday.

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FAIL: Despite Julian Casablancas' amazing voice (that somehow manages to like he's singing through a bullhorn even though he's not. He has some sort of naturally lo-fi voice), his solo stuff was kind of mediocre. The only thing that was good his most popular track, 11th Dimension, and that just sounded like a remix of a Strokes song. Speaking of The Strokes, I really enjoyed getting to hear Hard To Explain and I'll Try Anything Once live because I'll probably never be able to see The Strokes play in a small venue ever again.

WIN: I was so disappointed by Julian Casablancas that I didn't mind having to leave early to catch Jonsi. I've always thought of him as the male Bjork, and I was reminded of that once again when I saw him on stage with his elaborate Native American getup. It was nice to lay on the grass and listen to his music in the late afternoon, but his last song, Grow Till Tall, made me sit up and pay attention to it in all its epic glory.

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WIN: I have to say Phoenix was absolutely one of the best acts I saw during the entire weekend. For playing such poppy music (which they played PERFECTLY, by the way, set list and everything. They just sounded fantastic live), they had one of the rowdiest crowds I had seen all weekend. There were tons of crowd surfers, giant beach balls, smaller beach balls, and an inflatable monkey. Just like LA Weekly, I was also really surprised that the audience knew all the lyrics to Phoenix's songs. Also they were in the best time slot: it was the perfect soundtrack to a gorgeous sunset. I thought the band was so simple in music and in lighting. I was kind of surprised that their lighting was so minimal for being on the second largest stage, but I really liked that it didn't distract from the band or their music. I was told later on that their lighting technician wasn't able to make it to Coachella, so they had to keep it simple. I don't even want to know how they usually illuminate the stage because in my mind, the show was flawless.

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WIN: Thom Yorke's music was much better suited to the outdoor festival crowd than the indoor theater crowd at The Orpheum. The set was very similar to The Orpheum show, so it didn't seem that new to me, but what was new was the way Yorke really got the crowd going.

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WIN: I was half-expecting The Gorillaz to be on stage as cartoon projections, but all their human counterparts actually came out, dressed like their characters. They put on a good show, got the crowd dancing, and sounded just like their albums. I was a bit disappointed there weren't insane fireworks or something because they were the last big band of the festival.

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More:
Coachella Dos and Don'ts for Next Year

Coachella 2010 Day 2

2010-05-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

WIN: Band of Skulls may have played in the smallest tent (Gobi), but they performed like they were on the main stage. They sounded great live. I was surprised to find out there were only three band members, but they were all very skilled. Russell Marsden (vocals) was amazing on guitar. His voice blended perfectly with Emma Richardson (vocals).

WIN: I got so into Band of Skulls that I forgot Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' set overlapped. We rushed over there and got to hear one other track before getting to hear my favorite song of theirs, Home. Gotta love songs with whistling and it sounded great live. I just wish I had gotten a chance to listen to more of the set. I didn't realize Sharpe was such a hippie until I saw him dancing barefoot onstage, looking like Jesus.

FAIL: Overprivileged high schoolers who think they can be rude and shove their way to wherever they want in a crowd just because mommy and daddy paid for their overpriced tickets.

FAIL: I heard SO much hype about The XX up until the very moment they came on stage. I agree with a lot of what LA Weekly said about them: The XX should have played in a tent after sundown. Maybe they should have also been backed by live drums instead of an extremely low drum machine. I admit to enjoying Intro and the last song because I could finally hear drumming from Oliver Sim physically on a (still electronic, but at least it was audible!) drum. At some points, I found myself wishing I had gone to see Corinne Bailey Rae instead. They seemed awkwardly shy as they left the stage with no goodbye, merely a whispered "Thank you."
On CD, I gave the XX another chance and they did sound much better than they did live. I understood the kind of sound they were going for and it's just something that would play better in a small club. I enjoyed the dreamy new wavey music, actual audible beats, and Romy Madley Croft's breathy (as opposed to live whispery) singing.

WIN: Hot Chip was fantastic live, as expected. They got everyone up and dancing and brought in a huge crowd. They were just as good as when I saw last them at The Wiltern.

WIN: MGMT sounded clean and professional, VERY different from the last time I saw them at Hollywood Bowl. I have to admit they sounded really good. I guess their just-like-the-CD sound comes from all the touring they've been doing and from actually having a band back them up instead of just them two on a big stage, but I found that I kind of missed their previous nervous awkwardness and found it endearing. I enjoyed hearing all the old songs. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the tracks off the new album. They don't really have that same electro pop feel that I fell in love with on their prior album. The new songs just sound like the usual pop songs. I'll have to listen to their album some more to get a better feel for it. Either way, I think they put on a great show for anyone who was seeing them for the first time. My friend particularly loved the Brian Eno song.

WIN: Everyone says Muse is douchey, but you know what? They know how to put on an amazing show. Everyone knows their songs and it's impossible not to go wild over their excessive, hilariously pretentious, entertaining performance. They are definitely a stadium band that knows how to put on a flashy show with flamboyant clothes and stage antics (like spinning a guitar around and playing behind his head. At one point, Matthew Bellamy just finished up a song and merely held his guitar in the palm of his head, into the air, and people still cheered!). Bellamy knows knows how to arouse the crowd. I guess the band can get away with this kind of absurdity because really, every member is just ridiculously talented at what they do.

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FAIL: The same annoying lights I hated back when I saw The Dead Weather at The Wiltern seem to be a permanent part of their act. If it weren't for the screens, I'd never know what they were actually doing on stage. The lights were horrible, flashing in people's eyes, blinding them. WHY?! The band doesn't want to be seen on stage?! Otherwise, the music was good and they played some new songs from their upcoming yet to be released album that had a very similar sound to their previous album.

FAIL: Tiesto was SO loud that you could hear him even in the farthest corners of the field. He was at the main stage and managed to drown out Jack White's normally fantastic guitar solo during The Dead Weather set. We went to the Sahara Stage and FINALLY couldn't hear Tiesto anymore ONLY because he was being drowned out by whichever DJ was on at that tent. We could even hear him as we were leaving Coachella for the day because he went over his set time.

More:
Coachella Day 2 WINs and FAILs - LA Weekly

Coachella 2010 Day 1

2010-04-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

Because I like it so much, I'm going to follow LA Weekly's (who had fantastic coverage of Coachella, by the way) format of WINs and FAILs of Coachella.

WIN: The iPhone app was surprisingly useful. I checked it pretty much every day to see when bands came on. Improvements for next year's app: an alarm to let the user know when an overlapping band is coming on and an indicator for when bands you choose are conflicting.

FAIL: Lines into the parking lots and into the venue. Better traffic directing to parking could have prevented cars from sitting in traffic for hours (for us on Jefferson) starting north of the 111 freeway. We sat in traffic for about 20 minutes before we finally got out of the car and walked 4.5 miles to Coachella. It was ridiculous. When we finally got to the entrance, the lines were disorganized and not well labeled. Plenty of people got into the Purple Wristband Only line by accident, making it twice as long to get in.

FAIL: Ticketmaster selling Coachella VIP tickets without questioning the user about purchasing an actual ticket along with it. This happened to someone in my party and he mentioned that it happened to tons of other people who thought the VIP package included the price of the ticket because it was the same price as a ticket plus $240. That package was so outrageously overpriced it's no wonder people thought it included the actual ticket. Coachella's solution: go to the ticket window and ask for your money back; tickets are completely sold out. What they should have done was give him the actual Coachella ticket. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if he lost some money and didn't get the VIP wristband. What kind of shady business sells a VIP package without ensuring the buyer has already acquired a ticket? Apparently, Ticketmaster, who wants to make extra money off people who unknowingly buy it by accident.

WIN: Them Crooked Vultures (made up of Led Zeppelin bassist, John Paul Jones; Nirvana drummer / Foo Fighter frontman, Dave Grohl; Queens of the Stone Age singer, Josh Homme; QOTSA collaborator, Alain Johannes) rocked the main stage. I was aware that they were a supergroup and I liked what few tracks I had heard before Coachella, but actually seeing and hearing them live blew my mind. They're all so astonishingly, individually talented, it's hard to believe they could all be contained on a single stage. Their set rock and rolled through the 80s, 90s, to present times, tinged with amazing solos from every band member.

FAIL: LCD Soundsystem didn't even play the one song I wanted to hear, Daft Punk is Playing at My House. Instead they played all the stuff that I actually dislike, all the beats and him just talking or repeating himself in a monotonous voice. BORING! LA Weekly said, We still take issue with LCD's anti-DJ, bearded-hipster melieu... It's strange to see a band whose leader has dissed contemporary dance music as tired but at the same time promotes a strangely retro sound driven by incessant hi-hat tapping and electric bass-lines that belong in a 1978 Dodge van. For someone who kept whining about his set time being cut short and how DJs all suck nowadays, he didn't really seem to pay much attention to what his fans actually wanted to hear and just played a bunch of his new, and apparently bad, tracks.

WIN: Despite his fading voice, Jay-Z put on a fantastic show with back-to-back songs, an Oasis singalong, an Obama reference, surprise guest appearance by Beyonce on Young Forever, and fireworks. I felt like he really knew how to cater to his fans by trying to fit in as many songs as possible and trying to give personalized shout-outs. It almost felt like a cult when I was surrounded by people throwing up diamonds in the air. I can't even imagine how he must have felt seeing a sea of diamonds. I heard people saying Jay-Z put on the best performance at Coachella and that people were amazed at how many of his songs they actually knew. My favorites: Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Empire State of Mind, Young Forever, Hard Knock Life, Can I Get A... If you can't tell already, I like me some classic Jay-Z.

More:
360 Views of Coachella
5 Ways Organizers Can Improve the Coachella Experience

Radio Room @ The Edison, Red Rover @ First & Hope Supper Club, Lazy Ox Canteen

2010-03-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

Radio Room
Since Gourmet Pigs posted so quickly about the Radio Room Press Preview, I guess I should also give a quick rundown.

My favorite drinks at Radio Room were:

Wild Orchid

WILD ORCHID - Straight from the mind of New York’s Giuseppe Gonzalez, this is a delicate gin cocktail with notes of almond and elderflower, kissed with red wine. The Edison might be indoors, but the first flower of spring happens to be this cocktail.

GLOBO ROJO #2 - An intensely aromatic yet refined blend of strawberries, mezcal, tawny port and bitters, fruit, smoke and tannin in perfect harmony, courtesy of Zane Harris.

GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM - An eye-opening blend of gin and ginger with a dollop of orange marmalade. From Simon Ford, this is clearly his breakfast of champions.

Runner Up (because I would only have this if I'm in the mood for something strong):

VIEUX CERDE - Another aromatic creation by Seattle’s Zane Harris. 12-year Irish Whisky mingles with VSOP Cognac with a light drizzling of Elisir M.P. Roux and bitters. Good enough to make the Hotel Monteleone jealous.

Absinthe shots

I couldn't resist trying a shot of absinthe since they came in such cute little souvenir bottles. I have to say that I'm not really a fan of absinthe, so I preferred the pineapple flavored shot. If you love absinthe then go for the pomegranate.

I'm glad it was a press preview night because there were less people, the atmosphere was much more relaxed, and the lighting was brighter for better photography. I also feel like the bartenders (Simon Ford - Pernod Ricard / London & NYC, Giuseppe Gonzalez - Dutch Kills & Painkiller / NYC, Zane Harris - Rob Roy / Seattle, Don Lee - Momofuku Restaurants / NYC) were more at ease and having much more fun. It was kind of like they were hanging out together and happen to be making drinks for a few people at the same time. They were really friendly and it was nice to actually get a chance to converse with them in a quieter environment. I also really liked that they all solely made their own cocktails, so the drinks were always made consistently well.

We were also treated to crab claws and deliciously fresh British Columbia Fanny Bay oysters personally shucked by Maitre Ecailler, Chef Christophe Happillon.

For tonight's Radio Room, look out for the band March Fourth marching band. I listened to some of their stuff on mySpace and I liked the mix of gypsy, jazz, swing put to a marching band beat.

More:

Q&A with Simon Ford - FoodGPS
Q&A with Zane Harris - FoodGPS
Cocktail descriptions - FoodGPS
Radio Room recap -

Red Rover
My favorite drinks at Red Rover were:

EASY LIVING - “This drink recipe is a modern twist on the classic combination of rum, sugar and lime juice – the ‘island trinity’ – The Modern Mixologist. STRAIGHT FROM HIS NEW BOOK, CREATED BY THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND…TONY ABU-GANIM! Rhum Clement VSOP, Ginger Liqueur, Fresh Pineapple and Lime Juices

LITTLE MONSTER’S EXOTIC PUNCH - From the depths of the Caribbean comes this spicy and flavorsome punch that is said to be the boon of sinful pleasures and visceral delights. Yet, who are we to pass judgement on the lustful hearts of others? WICKED FUN BY MIXOLOGIST EXTRAORDINAIRE, ERICK CASTRO! Clement VSOP Rum, Dry Sack Oloroso 15 year Sherry, Allspice Dram, Fresh Lime Juice, Organic Cane Sugar, Fresh Grated Nutmeg and Sparkling Water

Xante - I loved the flavor of this pear-blended cognac I sampled

More:
Cocktail descriptions - FoodGPS

Lazy Ox Canteen
H.C. and I FINALLY got to check out the mythical Lazy Ox Canteen (that once told me I had to make reservations a week in advance) thanks to Sam Kim. I have to say, it lived up to all the hype. Here's what we tried:

Yellow Beet and Wild Arugula Salad with satsuma orange, radicchio & yogurt dressing - for a salad, it was heavier than I thought it would be, but I enjoyed the beets and dressing
Dashi Marinated Yellowtail with avocado, hash brown & creme fraiche - I thought the crispiness of the hash brown went really well with the very fresh fish
Hand-Torn Egg Pasta with sunny-side egg, brown butter & fine herbs
Brick-Roasted Mussels with white wine, house made siracha and French feta - the broth was delicious. I would have eaten all of the leftover broth if I had had bread to soak it all up
Burger with fries - those fries were awesome and the burger, I'd have to try a whole one to fully judge what Sam calls the best burger in LA
Lamb Hash - was delicious. I would definitely order it again
Veal with potato salad - I was expecting hot mashed potatoes to go with the veal, so I'm not sure how I feel about the dish overall. The veal was very tasty though
Chilled Rice Pudding with caramel and hazelnut brittle - it tasted good, but the thick, heavy texture of it kept throwing me off, so I couldn't really eat too much of it
Strawberries and Butter Biscuit with peppercorn ice cream - I liked the way the butter biscuit tasted with everything else. I never would have expected to see a biscuit with something other than fried chicken

I don't know if this is restaurant policy or not, but the waiter gave us a 10% discount because we had a downtown LA resident with us.

Crazy Heart

2010-03-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Photo by Nashville Music Buzz

I was curious about the movie after seeing Jeff Bridges win an Oscar for it. I went into the theater not knowing much about it except that he was a musician and there was country music involved, which made me a bit concerned because I'm not really a fan of country. Surprisingly, the music didn't really distract me from the movie at all. I even shocked myself by actually LIKING some of the songs. I enjoyed the bluesy piano playing of Wesley Barnes (the uncle of Maggie Gyllenhaal's character, played by Rick Dial). Robert Duvall's freestyle singing of Live Forever made me think of a John Mayer song. I could imagine those lyrics not being restricted by a style of music. There was a Johnny Cash quality to Brand New Angel that Jeff Bridges sang in the bar after getting out of rehab. I found this old school style of country music to be more blues and more meaningful than the current country crap today that irritates me to no end. After watching Bad Blake (Bridges) go through the journey that was the movie, I found The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) to be sad and beautiful. I didn't want to leave the theater until the song was over.

I can see why Bridges won the Oscar; he was amazing in the role. I also loved the landscapes in the film. They reminded me of warm vintage photographs. The sweeping shot of scenery at the end of the movie made me want to return to the Grand Canyon. The cinematography was fantastic. It really emphasized the grittier, darker times in his life with the dingy clothing and shadows leading into a sudden lightening and cleanliness after sobering up.

I did get a bit grossed out by the relationship between Jean Craddock (Gyllenhaal) and Bad Blake because she was young enough to be his daughter! But I can see why they were attracted to each other. I chuckled when I saw Colin Farrell as a country singer, but I guess he had a really good speech coach because if I hadn't known he had a heavy Irish accent then I would have been convinced he was an American country singer.

Track List:

Hold On You - Jeff Bridges
Hello Trouble - Buck Owens
My Baby's Gone - The Louvin Brothers
Somebody Else - Jeff Bridges
I Don't Know - Ryan Bingham
Fallin' & Flyin' - Jeff Bridges
I Don't Know - Jeff Bridges
Once a Gambler - Lighnin' Hopkins
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Waylon Jennings
Fallin' & Flyin' - Colin Farrell, Jeff Bridges
Gone, Gone, Gone - Colin Farrell
If I Needed You - Townes Van Zandt
Reflecting Light - Sam Phillips
Live Forever - Robert Duvall
Brand New Angel - Jeff Bridges
The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) - Ryan Bingham

More:
NY Times Review

The Mezz Bar, Downtown LA

2010-03-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

is located in the Alexandria Hotel on the second floor (The Gorbals is on the ground floor of the hotel that has been turned into apartments). They barely opened and seem to still be in their soft open phase.

Half the place is a dance floor and the other half has a small stage, where live jazz is played, and some small tables and 2 pews. I'm not sure what they plan on doing with the dance floor, but I think it would be fantastic if they used it for swing dancing while a big band plays.

Since the bar is still being advertised by word of mouth, I got the feeling that the people in there were really hardcore jazz fans, which I really appreciated. I loved the dark secret jazz club vibe of the place and the musicians were really talented that night. Unfortunately, there isn't too much information about the bar yet, so I have no idea what the name of the band is. I did, however, really enjoy the Louie Armstrong-ish voice of the singer and I thought the drummer was great.

I adored the detailed ceiling plaster. I mean, I could actually see individual grapes on vines and different types of fruit strung across the ceiling. I couldn't stop staring at it. I thought it a bit strange that the ceiling was so ornate and low until the bartender told us that it used to be the ceiling of the hotel lobby, which made complete sense to me. I found it really added a historical element to the bar and made me forget that I was in the middle of dirty downtown LA.

Now I'm not sure if it's because The Mezz Bar is still testing things, or that I had just come from The Edison, but the drink I had was kind of awful. I hate to say anything bad about the drinks because the bartender was SO friendly and told us the history about the bar (how it went from bar to rave club to classy jazz bar). Honestly, the variety of liquors was very limited and it seemed like they were sponsored by a certain brand of vodka because I saw several huge bottles of the same alcohol lining the bottom shelf. I saw Chambord and figured they couldn't really go wrong with that, but I was mistaken. It seemed like all the bartender did was add some tonic water to it. Also, Matt didn't even finish his drink (I believe it was something basic like a Jack and Coke).

I'm really hoping the cocktails improve once they get settled in because I will definitely be returning to catch the live jazz bands and take a break from the city.

The Idyllists - Les Singles EP

2010-03-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Photo via The Idyllists

FREE album download here!

More:
Review of Les Singles

Musical Tweets

2010-03-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Amused by the organ music they've played during tonight's ep of #WhatNotToWear about the priestess
RT SquashBlossom: websites that instantly play music-esp new agey cocktail lounge chillax junk-are the bane of my existence, esp those w/out OFF button.
Fyfe Dangerfield - When You Walk in the Room #fb @swiftfm http://bit.ly/atVRB4
Alexander McQueen, Rock Star Designer, Dies. Read an interview between him and Bjork http://bit.ly/aRzTnr (via @LAWeeklyMusic)
Wow "Check out this music video that really should be considered a short film. http://vimeo.com/6540668 " (via @mothman @DannyTRS)
The Morning Benders - Excuses http://vimeo.com/8322868
YES! Glee preview for Madonna episode! http://tinyurl.com/yhc82tx (via @MyLastBite @nancy_feng)
RT @TheGlassHouse The Pillows tix on 5/23 onsale now http://bit.ly/a2d81L ~Listen to "Ride on Shooting Star" @swiftfm http://bit.ly/bp87OG
Hipster puppy http://hipsterpuppies.tumblr.com/post/392873383/barney-is-more-concerned-with-dynamic-range
Beatles legend Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) set to play the Hollywood Bowl (@HollywoodBowl) in March! Info: http://tinyurl.com/MaccaBowl
Hey Mercedes-Eleven To Your Seven http://www.last.fm/music/Hey+Mercedes/_/Eleven+To+Your+Seven ~feeling nostalgic
RT @stereogum: MP3 premiere: She & Him - "Thieves". Roy Orbison-y and soothing! Should you need to be soothed. http://is.gd/90vZE
Loved Vagabond Opera's cover of Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
RT @gourmetpigs: Thank you @DanCoxPR for a fab evening! Fun times at Radio Room. Great drinks, great band, unique space.
RT @LAWeeklyMusic: Has Great Music Sharing Site @Soundcloud Reached a Tipping Point? http://bit.ly/dsPnRp
RT @TheScenestar: Corinne Bailey Rae (@CorinneBRae) will be playing a pre-@Coachella benefit show for KCRW (@KCRW) in April! Info: http://tinyurl.com/CBRKCRW
RT @TheScenestar: Thom Yorke (@ThomYorke) adds pre-Coachella (@Coachella) show at Santa Barbara Bowl (@SBBowl)! Info: http://tinyurl.com/TYSBBowl
RT @stereogum: Watch Shane MacGowan, Johnny Depp, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Cave et al do "I Put A Spell On You" http://is.gd/9eZV5
RT @allsongs: Hear the entire album by Broken Bells, the Danger Mouse James Mercer (The Shins) collaboration starts Monday at 12:01am http://bit.ly/3dR26N
RT @TheScenestar: The Whitest Boy Alive add a pre-Coachella (@Coachella) show at Slim's (@SlimsSF) in San Francisco! For info: http://tinyurl.com/TWBASlims
Love being home on rainy days like this. Adele - Chasing Pavements #fb @swiftfm http://bit.ly/bk6sYX
Nickelback and Avril Lavigne are still popular in Canada??
'Glee' Cast Announces U.S. Tour: http://bit.ly/bFJPE9 (via @addthis) ~who's interested?!
WATCH WATCH WATCH! New @okgo music vid will whip your mind's pants off and blow it. AMAZINGTASTIC! http://afx.cc/okgo (via @nerdist)
RT @stereogum: Stream the morning benders 'Big Echo' in full http://bit.ly/bWIGO9
RT @digg_technews: "Wiseguy Ticketmaster.com Scam Netted Hackers $25M" - http://digg.com/d21KLUH?t4
RT @kcrw: Members only pre-sale open for tix to Corinne Bailey Rae, April 6, at the Vibiana, downtown LA http://bit.ly/9DfiW1 Proceeds benefit KCRW

Captain EO, "Remember...Dreams Come True" Fireworks Show @ Disneyland

2010-03-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

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Disclaimer: Okay, so I love Disneyland...a lot. I often went there when I was a kid, which eventually led to me getting a job there during college. It's one of the few places I wouldn't mind visiting alone. There's just something about the nostalgic rides and the unforgettable food that just improves my attitude for the rest of the day.

By the way, Disneyland now sells annual passes with monthly payment options ranging from $8.09 to $30.59. If you visit the park at least once a month, you already get more than your money's worth AND the passes get you discounts on food!

Anyways, I stray. So, I went to Disneyland yesterday on a free ticket, a week after I participating in the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" program.

Captain EO Tribute
was the main thing I wanted to see at the park because it had just reopened a few days earlier on Tuesday. As soon as we entered Disneyland, my sister and I pretty much ran straight to the attraction. I was super excited because I hadn't seen it since the 90s (it ran from 1986 - 1997), and it was always a favorite. I would watch the 3D movie at least once, if not more, every time I came to the park.

I really enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes video they showed right before the start of the movie. What other film will ever have George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Michael Jackson working on the same set again?

I have to say the movie was even better than I remembered, thanks to the 70mm print, improved acoustics, and awesome 4D effects. This is a must-see for anyone who has ever been a fan of the original or of Michael Jackson. Hearing the music tracks (Michael Jackson's We are Here to Change the World and Another Part of Me as I leave the theater) brought back so many memories. Classic MJ songs, just classic.

I really wish they had sold the white rainbow shirt that Jackson was wearing in the movie because I would have bought that in a second.

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(Closest thing I could find to the shirt without it being
the original vintage one sold in 1986)

It's pretty crazy to think about how my sister and I were part of the first generation of kids to see the movie and now a whole new generation will get to experience it. I really hope they keep the Captain EO Tribute for a very long time.

"Remember...Dreams Come True" Fireworks Display
Was I the only one who was kind of moved by this fireworks spectacular as it helped us board the Disneyland Railroad and took us on the same journey through the park that we took, not only earlier in the day, but throughout the times that we've visited the park? I was reduced to a childlike state of wonder as I listened to the recordings and music and watched the fireworks represent The Main Street Electrical Parade (the fireworks actually looked like one of the floats!), Enchanted Tiki Room, Indiana Jones (music epic as usual. Loved the balls of fire), Haunted Mansion (fireworks shot up all around us to create something similar to the stretching room), Pirates of the Caribbean (felt like I was caught between the battle of two ships), Matterhorn Bobsled announcement, Space Mountain, Star Tours, and more, while Tinkerbell flitted in and around the castle to signal the beginning and end of the fireworks show. It was just amazing, one of their best fireworks displays.

More:
The Untold Story of Captain EO
Fireworks details

Vagabond Opera @ Radio Room at The Edison

2010-02-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

I've been to The Edison a few times during happy hour and to Radio Room only once, and Tuesday night was the most crowded I have ever seen it. I saw a tweet from Dan Cox, who does PR for The Edison, that said "RADIO ROOM!! 500plus reservations! ARRIVE EARLY, KIDS!!!" I didn't even know the place could hold that many people! Guest bartenders (Joseph Brooke - Edison's new director of Spirits, Brian Miller from NYC's Death & Co, and Erick Castro from SF's Bourbon & Branch) and special cocktails were making an appearance for the night.

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I hope some of the special cocktails become regulars on The Edison menu because I really enjoyed the Old Fashioned-like Porco Rosso, but I have to say my favs were the sweet flavors of Sancho's Lady and the bubbly Miss Behavin' (I'm talking about the drinks here. Get your minds out of the gutter!).

In a hidden away corner, shellfish specialist Christophe Happillion was plating British Columbian Fanny Bay oysters. He was kind enough to allow HC and I a taste of some of the best oysters I've ever had, something definitely worth coming back for.

Vagabond Opera
I was listening to some of their music on MySpace the day before the show and thought it fit in really well with Radio Room. I wonder how bands are selected to play there. Do bands ever contact The Edison? Or does someone actively seek out bands that would be perfect for Radio Room? Is there an audition process?

Vagabond Opera actually reminded me of the gypsy sounds of Fishtank Ensemble. Little did I know, the very same band had also opened for Vagabond Opera the night before Radio Room! What a great combination. I think Fishtank Ensemble would also be great for the next Radio Room. I can also picture The Squirrel Nut Zippers there. The Edison could draw in a lot of swing music fans, not that they need any help in that area.

The music I heard that night really fit their self-described brand of "1920’s European Cabaret! Vintage Americana! Balkan Belly Dance! Neo-Classical Opera! Old World Yiddish Theater!" Everything they played fit in with at least one of these descriptions if not all of them in one song! I loved their cover of the famous Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps). Great, sometimes operatic vocals, that somehow fit in perfectly with the song. GourmetPigs enjoyed their version of Scott Walker's Amsterdam. HC thought the band sounded like "a rambunctious fusion of big band, cabaret and Monty Python's Spamalot."

The six-piece band put on a fantastic stage show. At one point, two of the singers came down from the stage to dance with some obvious fans of the band. Later on, they threw playing cards into a cheering crowd as they sang. I love it when bands involve the audience.

I was really impressed when I saw a musical saw being used in one of their songs. It added an unexpected ghostlike melody to the music. Mattatouille said it had an oddly familiar sound to it. I think anyone who's a fan of sci-fi shows or movies would say that.

Some of the songs' story-telling features were akin to The Squirrel Nut Zippers' The Ghost of Stephen Foster.

I guess that's where their "Old World Yiddish Theater" classification comes into play, and I have to say I think it's a fantastic combination of theater and gypsy swing.

Songs by Vagabond Opera:

More reviews on this month's Radio Room from:
LA and OC Foodventures
Caroline on Crack
Gold Members

See Vagabond Opera @ The Edison - Radio Room

2010-02-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

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I'm very excited about getting invited to check out Vagabond Opera at The Edison tonight, Feb 23. So far, I'm digging the swingy operatic music on their MySpace page. If you're looking for something different to do, come to The Edison at 8pm and check out the Radio Room and enjoy some music and drinks specially made by bartenders from around the US.

Tickets sold online.

More info about and a cocktail list via Caroline on Crack.

I'm excited to try the Miss Behavin' because I've been looking everywhere for a bar that carries pear brandy.

The Idyllists Record Release Show, Freddy & Francine, The Passports @ Hotel Cafe

2010-02-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

I went to Hotel Cafe to check out The Idyllists album release show upon HC's recommendation. We showed up a bit early after our dinner at Blue Palms Brewhouse (liked the variety of beers and awesome lobster mac n cheese w/ mushrooms. Didn't like the slow service: I admit the bar stools were packed and there was only ONE bartender, but the rest of the restaurant was barely half full and there were two waiters, one of whom kept taking our orders to the wrong table) and caught half of the set for

Freddy & Francine
Now I like some folk music, but what I can't stand is country; and what they play is folk that leans towards country. I enjoyed some of the folky parts of their songs, but as soon as they would hit anything remotely country, I felt myself die a little inside. HC thought some of it was catchy and Wing, guitarist of Near Death Photography Club, absolutely hated it. Every time I looked over at her, she looked like she wanted to puke. I thought the female vocalist sounded great; it's just such a shame to hear her talents wasted on this style of music.

The Idyllists
HC mentioned the entry fee would be $5, so we were a bit shocked when we were asked to pay $10. Then the shock instantly turned into excitement when we were told we could use our ticket to redeem the band's new self-titled album AND a button! Now this wasn't just a burned CD in a paper bag (you may think that sounds ridiculous, but I've actually received one of these before), it looked really well made and professional. I would have been happy with just the CD, but the addition of the button really made me feel like The Idyllists cared about their fans. I think a free CD with admittance fee is something bands should really consider doing. It makes the fans feel special. If a band charging $10 can do this, why can't a band charging over $100 do this?

Before the show, I had only listened to a few of the songs on their MySpace page. They played a catchy brand of Brit Pop. I thought Let's Fly Away was particularly addictive and even better live. I loved every single song. Head bobbing could not be prevented. Here was the set list for the night:

I love how much effort they put into set list, like the use of different kinds of font and shiny paper.

My favorite tracks were / are:
Let's Fly Away
Sweet Loretta
Empire State
Come On Home
The Dreamers
Butterflies

They sounded so 50s on some of their songs that I kept picturing them playing on stage at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance in Back to the Future where Marty McFly's parents hooked up.

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The lead vocalist had a Buddy Holly look about him, while the piano playing of Matthew Barge reminded me of Jerry Lee Lewis. I loved the semi-matching blazers (but still keeping their own style) they wore on stage.

They really surprised me with how many band members they fit on stage and with how talented they all were. I don't think their style of music will see the light of day on mainstream radio. However, I can see their music vastly increase in popularity as soon as someone has the foresight to put them on a soundtrack for a future indie darling, such as (500) Days of Summer or Juno.

I have to say that it's been two weeks (I know, I know, I got behind on my blog posts), and I've been listening to their album almost EVERY day. It's ridiculously catchy and instantly puts a smile on my face even when sitting through traffic.

The Passports
I was told by a member of Siberian Summer Camp that The Passports sounded like a mix of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, and that's exactly what they sounded like. Nothing really stood out. Although, The Passports do harmonize well. The highlight of the show was when they decided to stop for Harmonica Time, where they broke out the harmonica and started dancing a wild jig. Although entertaining, I kind of lost interest because it seemed like they didn't really care that much about their music or performing in front of a crowd. I don't even know if it was just because they were on last or if they didn't bother rehearsing. I could tell that they liked having fun, but they came off as unprofessional and I couldn't really take their songs seriously.

Near Death Photography Club @ Hive Gallery

2010-02-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

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They were performing at the Hive Gallery as part of the Downtown LA Artwalk. The gallery was much bigger than it looked outside. It had a kind of lobby that led into a room with a small stage (where Near Death Photography Club played) that, in turn, lead into a long room. All the walls were covered in artwork. At the moment, the one I remember most was the piece of art with a disturbingly realistic sewn up mouth. Fortunately, there was a variety of art that was dissimilar to my previous description.

The last time I saw NDPC play was at Tribal Cafe and I wasn't actually able to see the performance, but I'm told it was similar to this night's. Xander's stage dramatics seemed to draw the crowd in even though he often didn't face the audience and seemed to be in his own world.

No one else seemed to notice, but I thought the singing was actually a bit lower and slower this time around, which I thought made the voice less distracting from the overall music. Even with a missing guitarist (Wing had to play his parts and create her own solos), the band didn't sound incomplete. The songs could form a good soundtrack to a dark and stormy night.

Low Note: Feedback from an amp was very apparent during quieter moments in the set. Not sure if it was due to the size of the small space NDPC was playing in.

High Note: Great to see people getting really into the music. Hostess and two other guys were dancing in front of the audience.

I love the above pic of Wing. She reminds me of this anime / manga character from FLCL.

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Is Indie Dead?

2010-02-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

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If you've ever pondered the meaning of "indie", here's an interesting read. (via Paste Magazine)

Radiohead @ Henry Fonda

2010-01-25T16:40:00.001-08:00

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Great review on the intimate Radiohead benefit for Haiti that most of us couldn't afford. Wish I could have been there! [via LA Weekly]

Coachella Lineup Announced

2010-01-19T16:41:00.001-08:00

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Coachella's band lineup has FINALLY been posted and it looks pretty good. Not as good as the fake lineup, but, come on, having Lady Ga Ga in The Tent and not as a headliner was kind of a dead giveaway that it was fake. Although, Lady Ga Ga would have been a cool headliner. I think that would have sold a LOT of tickets.

Here are a list of bands playing at Coachella that pique my interest (anyone giving away tickets or need a music blogger to cover it? Anyone? Anyone??):

Friday, April 16th


Echo & the Bunnymen Grizzly Bear Jay-Z La Roux LCD Soundsystem Ra Ra Riot She & Him The Cribs The Specials The Whitest Boy Alive Vampire Weekend

Saturday, April 17th


Band of Skulls Beach House Corinne Bailey Rae DEVO Hot Chip MGMT Muse RX Bandits The Dead Weather Tokyo Police Club White Rabbits

Sunday, April 18th


Gorillaz Phoenix Spoon Sunny Day Real Estate Thom Yorke Yann Tiersen Yo La Tengo

The Friday and Saturday lineup look pretty awesome, but Sunday, as usual, is kind of lacking. Sunday always seems to have just one or two big names, although, I am really curious about Yann Tiersen. I love his work on Amelie.

Interview with Glee's Matthew Morrison

2010-01-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

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Joe Zee from Elle interviews Matthew Morrison, who plays Will Schuester on Glee.

Video Interview

Glee Returns for 2nd Season

2010-01-12T14:33:00.001-08:00

and will be taking online auditions to fill three new roles! I think it's cool that they're opening up casting calls to the public in an American Idol kind of way. I wonder if they're going to have a show about the selection process.

More details on Mashable.

The Crushing Low

2009-12-29T21:03:00.000-08:00

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I was contacted by The Crushing Low to review their recently released debut EP, All Orbits are Free. This is a description of their style of music taken from the band's bio:

"Combining decades of influences from both sides of the Atlantic, The Crushing Low has created their own unique brand of sonic bombast. Holding the band's DNA under the microscope reveals strands of Interpol, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Catherine Wheel, Swervedriver, U2, Drive, Doves, Sonic Youth, and Radiohead chaining together with a variety of more far flung influences to form a sound that is at once familiar and distinctly their own."

There are many great influences listed in the above blurb and I can hear some of them in their songs. The vocals do remind me of a bit of My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, which honestly, I'm not a huge fan of; however, I think fans of those bands will appreciate this band because they stay true to that singing style. In that case, the music stands out more than the vocals, which can be pretty catchy. I do like that not all the songs sound exactly the same. Some of the standout tracks are Skies Divided and Dead Man's Hands.

More about the band:
http://www.myspace.com/thecrushinglow
http://www.reverbnation.com/thecrushinglow
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crushing-Low/25442325288
http://www.thecrushinglow.com
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheCrushingLowBand&view=videos

Near Death Photography Club @ Tribal Cafe

2009-11-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

Photo from ReverbNation

Tribal Cafe is an artsy little cafe that serves healthy organic food. It's small and gets especially stuffy when it's filled with people. I like that they have a place for live performances, but I feel like such a small venue is better suited for acoustic sets. Although, it is cool that they support the local music scene.

Near Death Photography Club is made up of some members of Crimespree in Candyland and other bands. I was all the way in the back and didn't really get a good view of the band. It was so stuffy in there, I almost couldn't pay attention to the music. I did like their black and white dressy attire. I always love seeing guys in ties and things. They wore some face makeup to appear as if they were puppets. I'm not sure if they just did that for Halloween or if that will be the case for all future shows. The music was more indie rock compared to Crimespree in Candyland. I liked the music. It was catchy. Although, sometimes Xander's singing was a bit distracting. Not that he's a bad singer, it's just the style of singing he does, which fits better with his more punk rock band Siberian Summercamp. I felt that the music NDPC was playing would have sounded better if the singing was slower and lower, similar to Echo and the Bunnymen or The Cure.

The Sounds, Shiny Toy Guns @ Wiltern

2009-10-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Shiny Toy Guns
We arrived at The Wiltern just in time to catch them playing Ricochet!, which sounded great live. I also enjoyed Rainy Monday and Don't Cry Out. Honestly, I haven't really heard too many of their songs, but I like their style. The male vocals, Chad Petree, sounded great, just like on their albums. The only downside to their performance was Sisely Treasure. She didn't seem to understand voice control. Don't get me wrong, she was great on stage, dancing around all over the place. However, all that frenetic movement seemed to make her sound very out of breath on the mic and she just sounded like she was yelling all the time instead of actually singing. Turns out she's actually the third in the line of changing female vocalists. She's been with the band since last year. Maybe she still hasn't had enough practice coordinating her singing and dancing on stage?

The Sounds
were great live, especially compared to the only other time I've seen them, at The Palladium, which was kind of a craphole. I really hate that venue, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt because it just reopened after being shut down for renovation. The place did look nicer, but they seemed to have upgraded everything BUT the awful sound system. I even passed up a $10 Franz Ferdinand show (even thought I've been wanting to see them since forever) because it was at The Palladium. Also, I got stuck all the way in the back and couldn't really see anything. I know their performance was probably great and I enjoyed it because I like the music and the people I was with, but certain circumstances didn't make it their best show.

I know people might think I'm mean for the comment I made about Treasure's singing above, but honestly, Maja Iversson was dancing, doing high kicks, climbing on things and her voice still sounded fantastic live.

I loved everything they played off their first two albums. I honestly hadn't heard anything off their latest album, Crossing the Rubicon, except for what they previewed at The Palladium show. I have to say that I did like some of their new stuff, a lot. Note to self: get new album, put it on repeat.

I knew Maja was very sexual in The Sounds' music videos, but I didn't know that was part of her stage show, since I couldn't really see them at The Palladium. I was a bit shocked, but I think she pulled it off well. She has the right look for it. She was wearing this leather body suit that looked like it was painted on her and very high heels. I'm surprised she was able to do all that dancing and climbing without tipping over!

High Note: Great view of stage and great friends to enjoy the show with.
Also, seeing this ridiculously drunk / high (?) girl with her boyfriend who was merely there to prop her up. Extremely glad she was propped up across the aisle from us because she looked like she was going to throw up any minute. She was so hilarious, some of us watched her more than we watched The Sounds.

New Moon Soundtrack Out

2009-10-21T17:18:00.001-07:00

New Moon Soundtrack: Track List
1. Death Cab for Cutie—“Meet Me On the Equinox”
2. Band of Skulls—“Friends” 
3. Thom Yorke—“Hearing Damage”
4. Lykke Li—“Possibility”
5. The Killers—“A White Demon Love Song” 
6. Anya Marina—“Satellite Heart”
7. Muse—“I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)”
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent—“Roslyn” 
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club—“Done All Wrong” 
10. Hurricane Bells—“Monsters”
11. Sea Wolf—“The Violet Hour” 
12. OK Go—“Shooting the Moon” 
13. Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand)—“Slow Life” 
14. Editors—“No Sound But the Wind”
15. Alexandre Desplat—“New Moon (The Meadow)”

Looks surprisingly decent. I know, I'm lame, but I just watched Twilight the other night out of boredom and it was kind of bad, but some of it was funny because of sheer ridiculousness. Embarrassingly enough, I'm a bit eager to see New Moon because that wolf boy is pretty hot (He's like a young Mario Lopez) and Edward is going to try to commit suicide.

Thom Yorke @ The Orpheum

2009-10-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

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I don't know why there are "?????" when every Radiohead fan, or fan of good music, already knew who was playing there. I have to admit that being in the know was sort of cool.

Since my friend, W (aka Cymbalista of Crime Spree in Candyland fame), is a MUCH bigger Thom Yorke / Radiohead fan, and sat MUCH closer to the stage than I did (she was in second row orchestra, practically in front of Yorke's piano), I decided that she'd be the better person to write this review. So, here are her thoughts:

Being a huge Radiohead fan I was ecstatic when I heard Thom Yorke was going to have a couple of solo shows in Los Angeles. The only other time I've heard him perform solo was when he played "Cymbal Rush" as part of Radiohead's encore at Hollywood Bowl last year. Although it was amazing, I didn't want to have too many expectation for the Orpheum gig, especially after I learned that Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers (a band that I don't particularly like) was going to be part of his "supergroup". Turned out that I was worried for nothing. It was Thom Yorke, after all, and he wasn't about to put on any mediocre shows.

Aside from Thom Yorke on vocals / guitar and Flea on bass, the band consisted of Nigel Godrich on synth, Joey Waronker on drums, and Mauro Refosco on percussion. Unfortunately, Ticketmaster only allowed two tickets for purchase at a time, so I was only able to get two B-row seats, and one separate Mezzinine seat, which HeyHeyScenester kindly took (thanks again for being such a good sport!). We were surprised to find out how close B-row was...it was literally right in front of the stage! Due to our slightly delayed dinner at The Must, we missed the opening act, Lucky Dragons; but that only meant we got to see Thom Yorke & co. that much sooner.

The performance, in a nutshell, was mind blowing. They played mostly songs from Thom Yorke's solo album, The Eraser. It was exciting to see how an album that relied so much on electronic beats would translate to a live, more rockish setting. The rhythm section was especially amazing. Joey Waronker was flawless on the drums; he made it seem almost too easy to bang out beats that were originally programmed on a COMPUTER. Flea did not become a distraction the way many people were afraid he would. In fact, his manic headbanging worked well alongside Thom Yorke's spastic dance moves. Yorke, alternating between guitar and piano, was perhaps even more alive here, with his constant dancing and jumping around, than when he played at the Bowl last year. He really did look like he was having a lot of fun. The fact that we were so close to the stage made it even better. We could even see the waistband of his underwear (ahem, black, Calvin Klein, in case you're wondering...).

My favorites of the night are "The Clock", "Black Swan", and a new song called "Judge, Jury, & Executioner". The setlist is below:

01 "The Eraser"
02 "Analyze"
03 "The Clock
04 "Black Swan"
05 "Skip Divided"
06 "Atoms For Peace"
07 "And It Rained All Night"
08 "Harrowdown Hill"
09 "Cymbal Rush"
----
(Thom solo)
10 "Lotus Flower" [New alternate title: "Moon Upon A Stick"]
11 "Open The Floodgates"
12 "Supercollider"
----
13 "Paperbag Writer"
14 "Judge, Jury, & Executioner"
15 "The Hollow Earth"
16 "Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses"

Last random note: it was surreal to see Flea play the melodica (a musical instrument I played often when I was little) during "Skip Divided". Who knew melodicas would become trendy? (I did, of course!)

In case you want more:
Awesome photos from Stereogum
Another review from Caroline on Crack
Setlist from Echoplex show

The Elixir of Love @ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

2009-09-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

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It was my first opera and my first time in Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. I had been invited by HC to attend the night before the opera. Sitting in row 19 orchestra gave me a pretty good first experience. HC said that was the first time he didn't have to climb stairs for an opera performance. I read up a bit on The Elixir of Love just in case it was in another language, which it was (Italian). I was relieved to find out that there were supertitles above the stage, so that I'd be able to understand the story. I hate to admit that I did get a bit sleepy during the first half of the opera, but that could have been due to the fact that I work extra early on Fridays or that the head of the woman sitting in front of me blocked part of the stage. I really wish theaters had stadium seating because my seat was even worse when I went to see Phantom of the Opera. Anyways, the opera was more humorous than I thought it would be and the singing was amazing. I was shocked that the human voice could reach such a variety of ranges. It was mesmerizing. The second half of the opera was much more exciting and I loved the ending. I guess I got lucky that my first opera was more simplistic, I'm told. So, it was more entertaining than I thought it would be. I think I would definitely like to attend another opera.

Read more...
Another review by LA Times.

The Get Up Kids @ Avalon

2009-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sadly, no one I knew seemed to know who The Get Up Kids were (I also used to be a huge fan of one of their side projects, Reggie and the Full Effect), so I ended up attending solo for the first time. It was interesting. It's true what my friend says about how certain people in the audience can really ruin a show for you. I purposely stood farther back, at the edge of the steps, to get a good view and because people would be less likely to mosh. Unfortunately, no one told the rowdy, drunken bunch next to me, who, by the end of the show, had forced me a foot from where I was originally standing. I've never seen people get that drunk at a show. Full drinks kept showing up in front of them until the show was over. They were constantly screaming like they were at a Mexican soccer game with their hands constantly jabbing the air much too far into my visual range. Don't get me wrong, I understand they were just expressing their love for the music, but it seemed really unnecessary for them to get their sweaty arms near me and constantly bump into me. And really? Screaming inappropriately during an acoustic performance? That kind of took me out of the emo moment. Other than that, I enjoyed the nostalgia of the music I used to listen and relate to. I loved everything off of Something to Write Home About. I barely started listening to some of the newer stuff the week of the show and I have to say to the haters of the more recent albums that it wasn't half bad. There was a lot of catchy music on On a Wire.

High Note: Hearing Beer for Breakfast live
Low Note: Obnoxious wannabe futbol fans

Pix
Wei Never Sleeps

More reviews
Rockscope
LAWeekly
Campus Circle

The Dead Weather, Tyvek @ Wiltern

2009-09-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Tyvek
I enjoyed the humorous explanations behind each punk-by-hipsters song more than the music itself. My friend thought the guitar was interesting, but the voice wasn't all that great (at some points it was high and scratchy).

The Dead Weather
I've always been an admirer of Jack White, so I was intrigued by his latest side project with The Dead Weather. Honestly, I spent about a week or two listening to the debut album Horehound. It sounded really experimental (my fav song was So Far from Your Weapon, which reminded me of White's duet with Alicia Keys, Another Way to Die, but better. Although Another Way to Die probably would have been better with Alison Mosshart). Alison Mosshart has a good voice, but I found it to be so similar to Jack White's that sometimes they became indistinguishable from one another. I did enjoy the hard rocking, bluesy tunes, but was starting to get worried about how it would sound live because I wasn't enjoying the album as much as I thought I would. Up until the show, Band of Skulls was what I wished The Dead Weather sounded like. Once I heard The Dead Weather live, I was blown away. They sound SO much better live than on CD. I loved the grittiness of the sound. Everything sounded more blues rock than the clean studio sound of their album. Mosshart's voice sounded fantastic live with her seductive growling and definitely distinct from White's, who actually sounded much more gravelly live, but I still enjoyed his singing. Just seeing White play guitar during Will There Be Enough Water was worth the admission alone.

I was blown away by his deft playing. I went to the concert a Jack White fan and left an Alison Mosshart fan.

High Note: The Dead Weather sounded great live
Low Note: I'm not sure if it was because we were sitting in the balcony, but the stage lights were blinding and seizure inducing. It made it extremely difficult to watch the show because I was getting blinded every few minutes. Sometimes I even had to look away because I was starting to get a headache. I was SO glad that there wasn't flashing lights during Jack White's guitar playing.

Other Dead Weather reviews:
Rock is a Girl's Best Friend
LA Weekly

Dead Weather flickr pics

(500) Days of Summer

2009-08-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

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I have to say this is my favorite movie of this year. What can I say? I’m a sucker for movies about weird people finding love, albeit short-lived. First, I absolutely adored the wardrobe of the two main characters: Tom (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Tom’s style was Old Man Chic.

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His wardrobe was the stuff of every indie girl's dreams of what they would love their boyfriends to wear. I loved every outfit. In fact, I would love to know where he shopped because I'd like to go there myself to make a future investment... Deschanel must have either chosen her own wardrobe or had her own stylist do it because it was spot-on for her look. I loved the accents (butterflies, ribbons, pins), all the ruffles, and the secretary outfits. Only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of were the high-waisted pants, but maybe because I can’t really pull them off (darn my short torso!).

It was nice to see LA being used as a beautiful landscape instead of the typical representations of grit, poverty, and crime. I feel like so often (of the movies I've seen so far) LA is seen as a dirty battleground. I'd like to visit all the places where Tom and Summer went on dates. I felt like I was a bit alone in my excitement over seeing Tom get past the first floor of the Bradbury Building (as seen in Blade Runner

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and Pushing Daisies).

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I've been there and it's gorgeous. I would love to go on the other floors. Guess the only way is to get an interview there. Tom also mentioned when he's in downtown LA (Pershing Square, it looks like) he knows people look at the first floors of the buildings and think they're ugly, but there is so much beauty when you look up into the sky at their architectural elements. I've always had the same exact thoughts every time I've gotten stuck in traffic in that area. Sometimes when I walk around there I get distracted because I'm always looking up to the tops of these beautiful old buildings. I loved the individuality of the apartments Tom and Summer lived in. Tom's chalkboard, albeit messy, is so fantastic. I wish I had one, except maybe in the form of something neater like a glass over a wall? or whiteboard? Somehow those just don't seem as aesthetically pleasing. I loved how Summer's apartment looked like a little French flat. The flowery wallpaper could have easily come off as creepy, but her decor made everything look cute and perfect. Having seen a loft downtown in an older building, I believe these two apartments could actually exist there.

I thought it was so creative how the movie jumped back and forth through time, showing the audience glimpses of the good and bad and the causes. I know the movie was sad, but I also found it to be a bit optimistic. He had all these high ideals of love and it eventually infected the girl he once thought was the one and in the end, he was still the idealistic romantic that he started out as.

Loved all the music. Everything fit in with the scenes really well. And I liked recognizing a lot of the songs.

Track List

1. A Story of Boy Meets Girl – Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
2. Us – Regina Spektor
3. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths
4. Bad Kids – Black Lips
5. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
6. There Goes The Fear – Doves
7. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
8. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
9. Quelqu’un M’a Dit – Carla Bruni
10. Mushaboom – Feist
11. Hero – Regina Spektor
12. Bookends – Simon & Garfunkel
13. Vagabond – Wolfmother
14. She’s Got You High – Mumm-Ra
15. Here Comes Your Man – Meaghan Smith
16. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – She & Him

iTunes Bonus Tracks

17. Here Comes Your Man - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
18. Sugar Town - Zooey Deschanel
19. At Last - Kevin Michael

Karen O and the Kids Single

2009-08-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Read and listen here. I have to say, I'm kind of not digging the kids' voices.

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8-Bit Weezer

2009-08-19T18:49:00.001-07:00

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Buddy Holly actually sounds pretty good. I'm thinking of making it my ringtone!

Win Passes to SF's Outside Lands

2009-08-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to check it out. Here's the lineup. Enter to win!

Karen O. Composing Music for Where The Wild Things Are

2009-08-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

along with "the Kids" made up of members from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and other bands, and an untrained children's choir. This should be interesting. More...

Jack White's Solo Single

2009-08-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

More info

Ken Oaks Band

2009-08-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Recently two people were shocked that I could write a music blog without knowing who Ken Oaks was.

I'm not religious, so I had no inkling of his worship leader past. Judging by his looks, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a large female following.
It turned out I actually DID know who he was (point for me and my blog). I actually saw him at a small venue a long time ago because two of my friends thought he was hot after watching him perform on 3rd St, Santa Monica. Honestly, I didn't remember him at first because he really wasn't worth remembering besides the fact that he played cello. I thought his music was alright, but the lyrics were awfully trite and predictable. He sounded like a high schooler writing love songs.

Hey Hey Scenesters!

Random Ninjas @ Asian Expo - Pomona Fairplex

Coachella 2012 Lineup

Sound Bites 12.0: Fat Spoon @ Little Tokyo

Near Death Photography Club @ The Good Hurt

The Rapture @ Henry Fonda Theater / Music Box

Adele, Wanda Jackson @ The Greek Theatre

Of Montreal Covers The White Stripes

Sound Bites 11.0: The Market @ Santa Monica Place

Local Natives, Arcade Fire @ The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas

High Note - Glee's "Prom Queen" Ep: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You

The Idyllists EP Release for Waiting for the Midnight Show @ Hotel Cafe

David Chang Likes to Play Pavement, AC/DC, The Kinks @ Momofuku

Cee Lo @ Club Nokia

High Note - Glee's "Silly Love Songs" Ep: P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

Matthew Morrison @ The Grove

Matthew Morrison's First Live Performance Sat Jan 29 @ The Grove

Violet Sedan Chair on Fringe's "The Firefly" Ep

Coachella 2011 SOLD OUT

Sound Bites 10.0: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dinner Party

Coachella 2011 Lineup Announced

Sound Bites 9.0: Roy's Restaurant @ DTLA

September Issue

Sound Bites 8.0: Sweet Lady Jane @ Santa Monica

High Note - Glee's "A Very Glee Christmas" Ep: Baby, It's Cold Outside

High Note - Glee's "Special Education" Ep: Valerie

High Note - Glee's "The Substitue" Ep: Singin' in the Rain / Umbrella

Sound Bites 7.0: SugarFISH @ DTLA

Sound Bites 6.0: Momfuku Milk Bar @ Manhattan, NY

My Picks from Stereogum’s 50 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2011

02 Fiona Apple – TBA

09 Cut Copy – Zonoscope (2/08 via Modular)

10 Death Cab For Cutie – TBA (via Atlantic)

13 Dr. Dre – Detox (February via Aftermath/Interscope)

15 Foo Fighters – TBA

18 Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (1/25 via Warner Bros.)

21 Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Interscope) - I've been a fan ever since I heard Bad Romance at a gay birthday party (really, all the guys were gay and knew all the lyrics to her song. To this day, I have never seen so many well-dressed, attractive men all in one room) and on Glee.

22 Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes (3/1 via LL Recordings)

35 Radiohead – TBA (via Teh Internetz)

37 The Rome (Danger Mouse & Daniele Lupi) – The Rome

38 Santigold – TBA - great first album. Can't wait to hear more from her

39 The Shins – TBA

43 The Strokes – TBA - I'm hoping they incorporate some of Julian Casablancas' sound

48 Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch The Throne (via Def Jam)

Sound Bites 5.0: Osteria La Buca @ Mid-City LA

Sound Bites 4.0: Magnolia Bakery, Hatfield's @ Mid-City LA

Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box Limited Edition Set

Sound Bites 3.0: The Woods, Dumont Burger @ Brooklyn, NY

Blogger Prom 2010

The Juliana Theory @ The El Rey

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Empire of the Sun @ Henry Fonda Music Box

Most Amazing Drummer Ever

Planet Earth Live @ Hollywood Bowl

Dirty Martinis Jazz to Play @ Blogger Prom

Inception

Good Music + Good Food = Good Idea

Blogger Prom 2010 Announces Venue & Date

Hot Hot Heat @ One Colorado, Pasadena

Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" Video

Savor the Sounds 2.0: Starry Kitchen @ DTLA

Glee in Concert, LXD @ The Gibson Amphitheatre

(500) Days of Summer Tour @ Downtown LA

Savor the Sounds 1.0: LudoBites 4.0 @ Gram & Papas

Conan O'Brien @ The Gibson Amphitheater

Coachella 2010 Day 3

Coachella 2010 Day 2

Coachella 2010 Day 1

Radio Room @ The Edison, Red Rover @ First & Hope Supper Club, Lazy Ox Canteen

Crazy Heart

The Mezz Bar, Downtown LA

The Idyllists - Les Singles EP

Musical Tweets

Captain EO, "Remember...Dreams Come True" Fireworks Show @ Disneyland

Vagabond Opera @ Radio Room at The Edison

See Vagabond Opera @ The Edison - Radio Room

The Idyllists Record Release Show, Freddy & Francine, The Passports @ Hotel Cafe

Near Death Photography Club @ Hive Gallery

Is Indie Dead?

Radiohead @ Henry Fonda