Up on Intraffik: April playlist

I'm up on Intraffik with my list of bands seen around Los Angeles. Check it out.

Here's the list of bands.

Garbaj Kaetz
Seasons
Schoenberg Knife Fight Ensemble
Day of the Outlaw
Princeton
Oh, The Spanish Moss
Roll the Tanks
The Dharma Bums
Jared Mees and the Grown Children
Olin and the Moon

Comments, photos and videos can be seen on the intraffik.com site.

Tomorrow, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th: LA Times Festival of Books.

LA Times Festival of Books. One of my annual joys in life. I'm getting myself prepped. I am excited.

Twilight Sleep at Spaceland

It was off to see Twilight Sleep at Spaceland. I've wanted to catch one of their sets for awhile. I noticed awhile back that they were playing at Pershing Square. I wanted to go, but just couldn't make it. I believe they played a couple other times that I noticed and I just couldn't make those either. Finally, I made it to one of their sets.

What did I think? Very awesome from start to end.

Comment: I have to do something really nerdy, I'd like to introduce our new drummer.

A Movie Review: Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans. I’m not saying this is a brilliant film, but I enjoyed it. I didn’t look at my watch, trying to determine how much time remained before the film ended. Does it rank as a bit cheesy? Yes. Crabs running around, attacking folks. A Medusa who’s face looked computerized. A “release the kraken” line that borders on brilliant and silly. But set that all aside, it in a fun adventure that goes from one battle to the next. Hey, it isn’t summer yet, but it had a nice popcorn feel to it.

A woman looking to cause a traffic accident?

I was driving behind another car. We approached a red light. The woman dropped a whole car length in front of another car. The light turned green. We drove along the road. I kept a safe distance. We came to another red light. Once again, she stopped a whole car length. Looking to get rear-ended?

A Movie Review: Date Night

Date Night. I have mixed feelings about this movie. There were a lot of humorous scenes between Steve Carell (Phil Foster) and Tina Fey (Claire Foster): the two of them at a restaurant making fun of other couples, Central Park scene, at the police station. On the other hand, the movie script was rather thin. If you’re looking for a good laugh, this is a good movie to see, but just don’t expect a good storyline.

A Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon. I’m generally bias towards Pixar movies versus Dreamworks. I just find Dreamworks cartoons to have over-simplified plots. How to Train Your Dragon breaks that mold. I sat in the theater enchanted by the storyline of a young man trying to find acceptance in his tribe, displaced because he didn’t have the necessary skills – or at least his skills weren’t recognized.

I also love the fact that this movie opened with a disappointing weekend box office, but has shown remarkable legs. The American audience has learned that this is a great movie.

A Movie Review: Greenberg

Greenberg. I did not like this movie at all. Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) had few redeeming qualities. He was abusive to his friends. He was abusive to his girlfriend, Florence, (Greta Gerwig) – if she really was his girlfriend. I’m not even sure what she found attractive in him. In the movie, she said it was because he wanted to do nothing. Maybe that is intriguing, but he was also a cruel person. I was totally with Florence’s girlfriend who questioned why she was in such a relationship. I suppose one could argue that this is a great movie, because it realistically looks at a person who is really messed up emotionally. I argue it isn’t, because someone so messed up would be totally abandoned by his friends.

Up on Intraffik: Ill too often this winter

I'm up on intraffik.com with an article on the Los Angeles music scene during the winter months.

Homeless Woman Changing at a Gas Station

I am at a gas station, early morning. I notice a homeless woman (40-ish and over-weight) next to the air pump/water machine. The gas attendant is near her, acting somewhat agitated. Then homeless woman is changing out in the open. She’s commando. She takes off her shirt first, gets a shirt from her bag; she takes off her sweats. The gas attendant in some frustration decides to just walk away. I look around me; all the drivers are looking in the opposite direction of the homeless woman.

Underwater City People and Get Set Go at Old Towne Pub

It was off to Old Towne Pub to catch Underwater City People and Get Set Go.

I went a few weeks back but had to leave before Get Set Go went on stage, because their start time was going to be past midnight. Well, this time around went a bit better as they started their set at around 11:30 p.m. Awesome.

As for Underwater City People, this is a band I've followed for awhile. They're about to release an album.

Underwater City People








Get Set Go

Silent Star and Helen Stellar at Spaceland

After watching Duke beat Butler for the national championship, I headed off to Spaceland to check out some bands. I wanted to catch Mere Mortals, but when I got there I found out that they were replaced with a band called Silent Star.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Silent Star. They had an old time fashion taste associated with them. It was a good time. Amusing moments . . . the lead singer had some issues with microphone. He accidentally disconnected his microphone from the cord. He mentioned that he tended to do that at least once during every set. Another time he fumbled with his microphone stand. Then during an acoustic song, he suffered through some feedback.

Next up was Helen Stellar. They're the residency band for April. Shoegaze. I do have a soft spot for shoegaze. Lights were turned down for most of the set. During one song the lead singer asked for the lights to get turned up. For a brief moment, some bright strobe-like lights beamed before they reset to brighter lights than previously but not strobe-like bright. I hate when Spaceland does something like that. I think a lot of other folks didn't like it either, because I heard some brief protests. Luckily, it was only a brief second. I guess it is how the lighting system works at Spaceland.


Silent Star





Helen Stellar

A movie review: Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland. I simply loved this movie. I enjoyed it from the start to the end. First off, it is just beautiful eye candy. The colors, sets are just a joy. Second off, the acting is wonderful. I think the movie works because of Mia Wasikowska (Alice). Wonderfully acted. Third off, I just loved the storyline. I loved the storyline of Alice having to save Wonderland from the evils of the Red Queen.

The Mo-odds, Madison Bloodbath, The Slow Death at Blue Star

It was off to Blue Star Café to catch some bands. I ended up getting lost. I was day dreaming as I was driving down the 5 freeway. Instead of taking the 10 West, I ended up taking the 10 East. Oops. I learned rather quickly enough that I had no clue how to get to Blue Star from where I was. In fact, I believe I nearly got a traffic ticket from a cop as I was going here and there. Finally, I just got back on the freeway and did this strange loop around Los Angeles.

All this led me to missing the first band of the night, which I heard was good.

The next band up was The Mo-odds. Here’s the interesting story about their set. I was standing in front of the stage. Someone was playing around with my pants. I was like, “Man, who’s doing that?” I looked around, no one was around me. Who was it? It was Jonah, kicking at the bass drum. The air was forced out and shooting right for my pants.

Madison Bloodbath was up next. Comment of the night, “Maybe I should come down among the peasants.”

The final band of the night was The Slow Death. They were on tour and were stopping by in Los Angeles. Second comment of the night, “I hope this isn’t like Riverside and we end up playing during a fist fight.”

It was a fun night though also a chilly night out at the Blue Star.

The Mo-odds







Madison Bloodbath





The Slow Death

At a grocery store

I was at a grocery store on Saturday. I had a couple of items so I went to the express lane.

In front of me was a guy with four Yoplait yogurt bottles and sausages. He asked that each Yoplait yogurt get rung up separately. So the cashier would run through a yogurt, the guy would put in his phone number for the membership card, then he'd run his credit card/debit card. He did this a couple times. I noticed he was putting the yogurts into a plastic bag so he'd obviously had done this a few times already. He had a couple yogurts left and his sausages. The cashier asked if he wanted to continue. He said no and took his unpaid yogurt and sausages and went to the back of the line -- I suppose he felt uncomfortable holding up the line.

Why was he doing this? I have no clue.

Duke Basketball vs. Butler: 61-59

We are the national champions!!!

Intense. I was on the edge of my seat nearly the whole game. Interestingly, I just slumped back for the last 30 seconds or so. I was just too stressed out. I was just too worried. I didn't want to look.

I will say I’m amazed this game was so close, which says a lot about Butler. I believe it was Bill Walton, interviewed on a radio station that said, “Duke had the better offense. The better defense. The better coach. And yet Butler nearly won the game.” I totally agree. The first half was a time spent figuring out each other, but it seemed to me that Duke just wanted to blow out Butler in the second half, but it just never happened. The knock out punch was there, but it just failed to strike.

And then we were left with that near miracle heave from half court by Gordon Hayward.

What I found most interesting about the game was the last 2:30 minutes when Duke was up by 5. It looked to me that Duke decided to place a bet. They were up by only two possessions. They decided to milk the clock instead of playing at their normal speed. It obviously worked out, but I was worried that they were playing too conservatively too early. Also, the Brian Zoubek missed second free throw with about three seconds left was totally strategy. It was basically saying we’re either going to win it or lose it here. We’re going to miss that shot and hopefully take a whole second off the clock and then see how quickly Butler can take the ball down the court for a good three point shot. All calculated strategy that worked. All Coach K.

Things I loved: The defense put on Gordon Hayward. I think we had Butler figured out in the second half, but I don’t think Butler had us figured out. Our fourth national championship. The fact that this was a very unexpected championship. The fact that I consider this a miracle season.

Things I didn’t love: I’ve got to throw in one final criticism for the year; Duke wasn’t able to put away Butler like I thought they should have in the second half. I remember listening to the announcers around the five minute mark saying that it looked like Duke was trying to put this game away. I agree. It just didn’t happen, which is my way of praising Butler.

Update 4/6. Regarding Kyle Singler, in my mind, he has to test the market and see where he stands in terms of the draft. If he is a lottery pick, he should take it. If he comes in as a low first round pick he should probably stay another year, because he could slip to the second round. If he's somewhere in between, well that's a tough choice to make.

Duke Basketball vs. West Virginia: 78-57

First off, after initial reports being that Da'Sean Butler might only have a sprained knee, it looks like the injury is much worse. I believe I heard him scream, "I can't walk. I can't walk." That was extremely painful to hear.

I cannot believe what a great game Duke played. I think as many commentators have said, this was the best game Duke's played this year. You had the Big Three hitting shots: Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith. My constant issue with Duke not having an inside presence in terms of scoring was blown up as they drove into the key almost at will as well as the fact that the big men got some scores down low. Brian Zoubek grabbed some awesome rebounds and then tossed the ball out for three-point shots (though honestly, I think he should have gone up for a shot on one or two of those rebounds, and he may have even gotten fouled for a potential three point play from the free throw line -- I believe that when open you've got to go for the 99% shot versus the 50% shot.)

Yes, Butler got hurt with about 9 minutes to go, but this game was already over at that point. It should also be noted that the intensity of the game declined dramatically after the injury. You could just tell that Duke had total control of the game. As for Joe Mazzulla who got cocky in the 2008 game and actually was a bit cocky in a pre-game interview, was held to 2-5 shooting for 4 points as well as 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 turnovers. Essentially, not a great stat line.

Admittedly, this game would have been closer if West Virginia hadn't lost their starting point guard, but that is life.

In the end, an amazingly solid game by Duke. If they play this way on Monday, they'll be cutting down the nets. Peaked too soon? From a Duke fan, I hope their peak play comes on today.

up on intraffik.com: March Playlist

I am up on intraffik.com with my March Playlist.

The local bands listed are:

The Resonant Heads
The Ignorant
We Barbarians
The Union Line
The Hundred Days
Bathroom Murders
The Truth
Vas Defrans
Tommy Peacock
Hydrovibe

Check out the link for photos, videos and a small write-up.

Up on intraffik.com: Dead Rose Beauty

I am up on intraffik.com with an article on Dead Rose Beauty

Metric, Nico Vega and Codine Velvet Club at Palladium

Will probably be doing some on intraffik.com about this night so just some photos of the night.

Nico Vega





Codeine Velvet Club



Metric