Mega July Update

Lots of great stuff happened in the last two weeks.  First of all, my July 4th Gravely Disabled gig went very well.  Our best set ever by most accounts.  Thanks to Jober for making it and being our official cameraman.  Songs we played included Photograph, I wanna be sedated, Do you wanna dance, Rocking in the free world, In your bed, You really got me, Ring of fire, Animals, Grave Disability theme song, Here comes your man, Jumping jack flash, Anything anything, Do you remember rock and roll radio, I think we're alone now, Great love sound, Daydream Believer, and the Joker.  It was also really good seeing Sam (Juddy's brother) and Jody (juddy's sister in law) that 4th of July weekend. 

On July 6th, I caught an amazing amazing show at Hollywood Bowl.  In attendance included Mixygirl, Greedymonger, Pat, Toro, Bagel, Kristen, and Greg.  (I heard Courtney Love was there also).  It was the Shins opening for Belle and Sebastian.  I was more there to see the Shins but was intrigued because Belle and Sebastian was to be backed up by the LA Philharmonic.  We were also pretty psyched b/c our clan upgraded our tickets to garden boxes, and I had never sat that close at the Bowl before.  It was great, Pat made an excellent picnic and I felt really bourgeois sitting so close to the stage.  Shins put on a beautiful set.  The sound was excellent, and much better than when we saw them at All Tomorrow's Parties.  The crowd enjoyed them but didn't go nuts.  They always seem to have a good sense of humour. 

The shocker of the night, was how awesome Belle and Sebastian was.  I have most of their albums, but I never really became that big of a fan.  They play a unique brand of preciously folky indie-pop.  First of all, the stuff sounded amazing backed by the LA Phil.  Second of all their rabid obsessed fans really made it a special evening.  At the end of the set when they played Boy withe Arab Strap, the audience rushed the stage, and people were being carried off by security guards left and right.  Hardly what I would have expected at the Hollywood Bowl, and at Belle and Sebastian nonetheless.  The show really had that special mind blowing feel to it, akin to the David Byrne/Arcade Fire show at the Bowl last year. 

The Day after the show, Mixy, Toro, their parents, and Greedy/Pat and I took a road trip to the Central Coast area.  Unfortunately I started getting a cold that day, and was moderately miserable (physically) for most of the trip.  Pat did score us a really beautiful house to stay in near Pismo Beach, and we only had to walk a half a block for gorgeous ocean views.  I loved just sitting on a bench during the sunset and watching the ocean while listening to the ipod.

On our main activity day, we went wine tasting through the Paso Robles area.  I knew the Central Coast produced pretty decent wines, but I had a great time, and I think maybe even a better time than my prior visits to Napa/Sonoma.  The first winery highlight was Claiborne and Churchill.  They specialize in Riesling and Gewurtztraminer, and those respective wines were really great.  Their Website

Next, we headed over to the self proclaimed "Happiest Place on Earth", Opolo winery.  This place had more of a corporate feel to it, but I enjoyed their wines as well.  After I got sick of feeling happy, we picked up a few bottles including the Viognier and Zinfandel and headed off to the next winery. Opolo Website.

Tablas Creek winery turned out to be my favorite winery of the day.  They specialize in Rhone-style blends.  I was getting pretty sick of cabs and over-oaked chardonnay and this place that just does french style wines that tend to be more subtle was just perfect.  I joined their wine club.  I really enjoyed a couple reds they had which aren't typically produced in America 1) Mourvedre 2) Tannat.  Check out their website here.  I had a great time despite being sick.  Toro, Greedy, and Pat also checked out Adelaida winery later which they said was pretty cool as well.  On our last day up there, we watched the World Cup final before "heading" back to LA. 

Mixy and I caught a great great show this Monday.  Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth at the forum!!!  Sure, Pearl Jam aren't that punk, but I enjoy them as what  they are, a really great rock band.  It was good seeing Sonic Youth open for them with songs mostly off their new album "Rather Ripped", but they didn't translate as well in a large arena setting.  The Pearl Jam set was just fun.  They have so many songs that everyone knows from listening to the radio over the years.  They rocked it and weren't moping or whining at all.  Oddity of the night was actor Tim Robbins singing duet with Ed on a X song and then ending it by playing ripping punk rock guitar,  who woulda guessed that Tim Robbins knows how to rock.  It was a great fun energy arena show. 

Set List:  pre-opener Ed Vedder solo: Walking the Cow

Set: World Wide Suicide, Brain of J, Animal, Marker in the Sand-our favorite song on the new album, Severed Hand, Evenflow-sounded a little rushed, MFC, I got Id, Corduroy, Daughter (It'sOK/I Believe in Miracles/Blitzkrieg Bop Medley), Sad, Garden, Down, Go, Betterman (Save it for Later), I must not think bad thoughts, Porch

Encore 1: Man of the Hour, Off he goes, Footsteps, Once, Alive-sounded incredible

Encore 2: Big Wave, Comatose, State of Love and Trust-so glad they decided to play this one, Leash, Rockin in the Free World-I thought the Gravely Disabled version held up pretty well compared to the Pearl Jam version.

So in a crazy alternative 90's comeback coincidence, the very next night, Mixy, Bagel, and I caught Soul Asylum at the Troubadour.  It was like a KROQ Flashback lunch.  I have been fond of Soul Asylum ever since 90-91 when I participated in my first slam dancing experience in the Valley at the Country Club at a Soul Asylum/Thelonious Monster gig.  Sure, they've gone kind of mellow since then, but again like Pearl Jam, they are a great rock band.  They aren't necessarily punk anymore, but what's wrong with playing good rock music?  Dave and Dan sounded great.  In fact the sound of the show was amazing.  It sounded loud, punchy, and professional (in a good way).  Bagel and I couldn't believe that they even played two Hangtime era tracks (Sometime to Return, and Cartoon).  Other highlights included Without a trace, Close, Somebody to Shove, and the set opener Misery. 

Last week Mixy and I went to LACMA and caught a great new David Hockney exhibit based only on his portrait work.  Hockney is my favorite living artist.  Juddy and I used to have a print of his hanging in our apartment for three years.  I love his more abstract landscapes and still lifes, but his portraits were very interesting as well.  I like the one on the right of his two close friends during the 70's. 

Although we went to LACMA to catch the Hockney exhibit, it turned out that there was a really interesting mini-Klimt exhibit going on as well.  It featured a few paintings that belonged to a high society lady named Adele Bloch-Bauer in the WWII era.  The interesting story is that the Nazis stole the painting, and it's been in possession of the Austrian government until just very recently (it's been returned to Adele's heirs).  I really love this gold painting of Adele.  It's very similar to the "Kiss" painting.  I think the lush gold mosaic is much more impressive and stunning in real life, as opposed to just seeing a picture or a print.  In fact I was surprised at how magnificent this painting was face to face, because the Klimt gold painitngs are so ubiquitous.  It's really interesting how Klimt paints her face in a realist fashion,  and then how the rest of the painting just goes nuts with swirls, and textures, and gold.  Truly incredible. 

Last week, Mixy, Jober, and I celebrated Juddy's 32nd birthday.  On the left is the famous "devil-Juddy" photo from the Monchik wedding turned into ice cream cake.  We went to Gulfstream before that (Seafood branch of Houston's restaurant) which was excellent as usual. 

Later on in the week Mixy and I headed to Koreatown to indulge in our favorite Korean dish:  Chia Chiang Mein.  Pictured on the left, it consists of great chewy noodles, usually hand pulled, topped with a viscous black bean sauce with pork bits, zucchini bits, and onions.  It's a deliciously decadent meal.  China invented the first version of these noodles, but it's sweeter, and not as gooey, and I have to admit, not even close to the greatness of the Korean version.  There are two restaurants in K-town that are known for this dish, Shin Peking being one of them (it's competitor is right across the street).  Chia Chiang Mein is normally served at Korean restaurants specializing in Chinese food, which Shin Peking is.  Pictured on the right, the beef, black mushroom, and bamboo dish was excellent as well.  We washed down the meal with  Hite beer, while others in the dining room had come to eat an afternoon meal and to watch world cup soccer. 

This past Tuesday marked the release of the movie "We Jam Econo", on DVD.  It's the story of the 80's punk rock band the Minutemen.  Although I was too young to actually see the Minutemen perform, I love their music.  The Minutemen ended in '85 when lead singer/guitarist D. Boone died in a car accident.  I was more into the later incarnation without Boone, called fIREHOSE.  The movie was actually really touching.  The Minutemen were nerdy outcasts, not even fitting well into the punk rock scene designed for misfits.  Seeing the footage of three really nerdy weird guys playing such incredible music, with so much heart, reminded me of why I got into punk rock in the first place.  Mike Watt, the bassist and current punk rock legend and George Hurley the drummer were at Amoeba records the day of the release to DJ some music, and to sign autographs.  Watt spun some Stooges songs, and it was really nice to talk to him and Hurley and to get my DVD signed!!! (Watt's on the left, and Hurley's on the right)

So I caught Radiohead this Thursday at the Greek Theatre.  I was disappointed by the Hollywood Bowl and Coachella shows a couple years back.  Surprisingly this show was incredible, and my favorite Radiohead show to date.  I say surprisingly because they played even more inaccessible, obtuse, moody, unconventional songs than they normally do.  Somehow I think the venue being a smaller sized outdoor theater really added to the vibe.  Even though I was sitting near the back, the sound was great and you could see the band pretty easily.  The new songs are even more bizarre than the direction they've been heading in, but they work.  I think I'm finally appreciating the direction Radiohead has chosen to go in the past three albums.  You have to respect them for taking rock in a different direction.  When I listened to them I really felt like I was listening to what music would be like in the future.  Here's the setlist:

You and Whose Army?, The National Anthem, 2+2=5, 15 Step, Morning Bell, Arpeggi, Videotape, Kid A, Dollars and Cents, Street Spirit, All I need, Nude, Paranoid Android, Bangers 'n Mash, The Gloaming, Idioteque, Follow me Around, Everything in it's Right Place.

Encore 1: There There, Down is the New Up, The Bends, How to Disappear Completely

Encore 2: House of Cards, Lucky

On Friday, Mixy and I caught the new Superman movie.  Overall I liked it, but I can't say I was thrilled with it.  I like the new actor that plays Superman, I like the cinematography.  I didn't like the overly somber tone of the movie, and I didn't think that Kate Bosworth was a good choice for Lois Lane.  Kevin Spacey was good but not perfect as Lex Luthor.  I'm glad they decided to revive the franchise, but I want the next movie to be more fun.