Eastern Conference Champions and Glacier Hiking at Spaceland

I have this new band I really like called Eastern Conference Champions. I learned they were doing a gig at Spaceland so off I went to catch them. This was only my second time seeing them and once again I was not at all disappointed. What a great joy.

I was thinking of taking off right after their show, but then I noticed that Spaceland was starting to fill up. The next band up was Glacier Hiking. I admit that my first impression as I was seeing the band set up was, "These guys look a bit dorky." On the other hand, I couldn't help but see that Spaceland was getting crowded. "Okay," I thought, "I'll stick around for a couple songs and then take off." I didn't take off after a couple songs. I stayed for the whole set. My first impression was totally wrong. What I assumed as dorky simply wasn't true. As they went from setting up to playing their music, they turned into awesome musicians. I'm not sure I've had such a quick switch of opinion regarding a local band. I'll have to keep this band in mind for the future, because I'd like to see one of their sets again.

Eastern Conference Champions







Glacier Hiking

Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven/Sister Crayon @ Hotel Cafe

I headed off to Hotel Cafe to see Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven. My friend and I have this you pick, I pick music agreement -- though I think it is really one of those you pick and I never pick situations. My friend likes Maxim Ludwig and so it was off to Hotel Cafe.

I arrived early and got to see Sister Crayon. Actually, I showed up on time, 8:30 p.m. This was the time my friend set for us to meet up at Hotel Cafe. She didn't show up till 9:30 p.m. Interesting.

Sister Crayon had an interesting story. There vehicle broke down while they were heading to Hotel Cafe. Someone had to come pick them up to get them to Hotel Cafe on time.

Sister Crayon photos.





Maxim Ludwig





Update 4/6. Interesting note. This was the second time my friend and I saw Maxim Ludwig. The first time we saw them, she loved them and I was a bit more neutral. This time around, I loved them and my friend was more neutral. Interesting turn of events. Anyways, in my opinion, this is a band to check out.

A Movie Review: She's Out of My League

She's Out of My League. I enjoyed this movie. The two main actors, Jay Baruchel (Kirk) and Alice Eve (Molly) were endearing – though I personally think Krysten Ritter (Patty) is hotter than Alice Eve and should have been the “She’s Out of My League” actress (blonds vs. brunettes shall we say?). Outside of the hotness question is rather Molly is dating an underachiever while the question for Kirk is will his self-esteem problems destroy his relationship with Molly. This premise could run out of steam, but I think the movie had enough going for it to get it over the finish line.

There are some indications throughout the movie that Stainer (T.J.Miller) and Patty had scenes that were left on the cutting room floor. There were some eye contact going on at a party and towards the end of the movie there was a conversation between the two of them that didn't seem to have an appropriate reference point.

A Movie Review: The Runaways

The Runaways. I found myself totally involved in the telling of this story. This is a true story about the rise and fall of an all-girl rock band. The band included Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), Cheri Currie (Dakota Fanning), Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton) and Sandy West (Stella Maeve). The band also included a bassist, but since the real band had multiple bassists during its short life the movie doesn’t focus all that much on this individual. Actually, Lita Ford is given rather little film time considering the fact that she had a solid music career post-The Runaways.

From my understanding, I got to listen in on a Q&A with Cheri Currie, the film is rather accurate. Obviously, when you are condensing two years into 90 minutes you have to take certain liberties such as not having a rotating bassist. Other disconnects that I learned in the Q&A: The film shows Joan Jett meeting Cheri Currie at Rodney Bingernheimer’s club. Cheri stated they met at an all ages club in the Valley. Also, Cheri left the band during a photo shoot, not during a rehearsal session as depicted in the movie. (Hopefully, that isn’t considered a spoiler as it isn’t like one doesn’t know that the band breaks up in the end.)

This film doesn’t back down from the drugs and sex of rock and roll. You see Joan Jett and Cheri Currie taking too many drugs throughout the film. It actually made me squirm a bit at moments as I am definitely not one to take drugs. You are also provided glimpses into the relationship between Joan Jett and Cheri Currie.

What did I enjoy about the movie?

I love seeing the band working out their sound.

Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon) is just crazy.

You see how Joan Jett is driven and Cheri Currie is looking more for an escape.

I loved when Rodney Bingenheimer is interviewing Joan Jett. I’ve seen Rodney around various locations and the mannerisms were rather accurate.

Kristen Stewart is obviously awesome in this movie.

What did I not like about this movie?

Since the band only lasted a few years, they did rise to fame rather quickly, but I wish the various steps were more defined. You have them forming the group. You have them practicing. You have them going on road tours playing at skating rings. Suddenly you have them opening for bigger bands. Then they get signed. Then they’re off to Japan. You do have that progression in the movie, but I didn’t feel like there was enough explanations associated with each step. I don't think these steps even needed to be part of the film. They could have been quick notes sprawled on the screen.

A March Night at El Cid: a Rob Z night

After heading to the Viper Room, it was off to El Cid to catch the Rob Z night. There were no specific bands playing that night. The bands were collaborations of various bands, mainly Underwater City People and Midway. The theme of the night was “Cartoons and Cocktails St Patty’s Day Edition.” It was a lovely night outside and there was a projector set up playing various cartoons. As always, it was a fine time to catch up with friends.

Derek Webb and Kevin Max at the Viper Room

I got an e-mail from a friend about going to see Derek Webb at the Viper Room. I’m always up to taking suggestions from my friends so I said I’d go. I didn’t know who Derek Webb was, but I did know the other guy that was on the set with him, Kevin Max.

Both are actually well known Christian artists. I obviously had heard of Derek Webb, because he used to be in a band called Caedmon’s Call. Kevin Max used to be in a band called DC Talk.

Since they’re professional artists, I’ll be a bit more critical of them versus my usual positive tone on local bands. I was a bit under-whelmed. Sorry. The back end of Derek Webb’s set was rather good. Kevin Max just didn’t bring it. I think he even knew it as he apologized towards the end of the set saying how his vocals just weren’t warmed up. I also felt that for artists that have been around for so long they should have had more stage presence.

From the face of things, Derek Webb seems like a great person. There was an uncomfortable incident during his set. The curtains closed when he wasn’t even finished with his set. He responded, “I thought we had 45 minutes. I was told we had 45 minutes, but that’s cool. We’d love to have an extra 10 minutes, but we’ll end our set now.” They gave him an additional ten minutes. I think the situation was that they were giving him from 7 p.m. till 7:45 p.m. He didn’t start his set till around 7:15 p.m. so I think that was the disconnect. I thought the way he handled it with his humble response was awesome.

As for Kevin Max, he had a bit of a sarcastic humor going on there. He made fun of the DUI roadblocks mentioning that wasn’t it amusing that many of the police officers were Irish – he then thought about it and said, “Well, maybe not here in Los Angeles.” He also thanked Derek Webb, “The only Christian who can use the word F!*k.”

Sorry, no photos from the night. The Viper Room has a camera policy and I wasn't able to get a photo pass.

A movie review: The Yellow Handkerchief

"The Yellow Handkerchief." This is a lovely though flawed film. The movie starts with Brett Hanson (William Hurt) getting released from jail. He ends up at a cafe where Martine (Kristen Stewart) is having a hard time dealing with a guy she'd met the previous night. Also in the cafe is an annoying young man named Gordy (Eddie Redmayne). Through circumstances, they join up for a few days. Brett has this desire to head towards his home where his wife May (Maria Bello) lives -- or at least he hopes she lives there. Gordy is on an adventure. Martine just wants to escape her life for awhile.

There are flashbacks where you go back six years or so where Brett and May got to know each other.

Flaws

I didn't buy the fact that Martine could fall for Gordy. I read one review where Gordy is described as cocky. I saw him as having a rather low IQ with a tendency towards the weird.

There are also two scenes of near sexual violence. Definitely not rape. Probably not sexual assault. But scenes of two men taking excess liberties and in both cases their "victims" fall for them.

Beauty

A slow movie that seems to give you nothing through most of the running time, but everything is slowly building until you come to the end where you get an emotional lift.

After seeing 'Twilight: New Moon,' it was nice to see Kristen Stewart in a good role. The movie was made in 2008. I don't know when it was actually filmed. She was probably somewhere between the ages of 16-18.

Oscars 2010: some thoughts

What did I think of the Oscars?

I started to tune out towards the back half of the show when there were various dance routines.

The whole Elinor Burkett/Roger Ross Williams short documentary acceptance dual was a tad awkward. I have a feeling they don’t like each other. Verified here. And here.

I think Sandy Powell, winner of costume design, was trying to be gracious but came across as arrogant.

Sandra Bullock gave the most gracious speech.

I’m not a fan of ‘Avatar,’ but that film got knocked way too much for my liking.

I wonder if Tom Hank’s quick reveal of the Best Picture was planned or if he just took matters into his own hands and decided the show needed to end.

A Movie Review: Shutter Island

Shuttler Island. Intriguing, but in the end a let down. Leonardo DiCaprio is great, as always. The movie is a visual delight. The interplay between the actors is compelling. And yet . . . I couldn’t stand the ending. From one perspective, the ending worked just fine. The background story of Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) fit in perfectly with the twist at the end. It is the actual real-time storyline that I found didn’t add up. Perhaps I wasn’t listening to the dialogue close enough so perhaps there were signs throughout the movie, but my problem is the actual decision making process by the institution. To me, it just adds up to being irresponsible.

The Fourth Annual Dre Day @ Blue Star

The line-up was:

The Dharma Bums

Pu$$y Cow

Madison Bloodbath

I may write more about this later, but for now some photos.

You can see the covering over the stage. Luckily; however, no rain.









I'm an alien from a Twilight Zone episode.



In search of . . .







A very happy drummer.





The poster for the night. Underground Railroad to Candyland canceled due to illness.



In my opinion, super cold night. I was wearing four layers of cloths. Then there were those just wearing t-shirts.

In my opinion, super cool night.

Birthday Parties at the Kibitz: The Shakers, The Mulhollands

A couple favorite friends had a combined birthday party at the Kibitz: Sarah Jeanette from The Mulhollands and Jodie from The Shakers.

As mentioned in a previous blog, I caught Queen Kwong at The Echo before heading off to the Kibitz to see The Shakers and The Mulhollands so I missed Audra Mae. When I arrived, The Shakers The Shakers were starting to set up.

Jodie was getting ready and then disappeared. Her band mates started to stroll around the front of the stage. Someone asked when they were going on. The reply, "Where's Jodie?"

Comment: "No more shots for the Birthday girl. I'm a jedi. Jedi Jodie."

The place was decorated by Frankie, from The Mulhollands, but no one should know this.












Next up were The Mulhollands. It was getting past my bedtime, but I stuck around. Sarah Jeanette was looking sophisticated. As was mentioned by Jodie, "I'm wearing my better torn t-shirt and zipper pants, but just look at Sarah."

Both Sarah Jeanette and Jodie joined for a song in each others bands.