Up on Intraffik: Sevilla Part 4

I am up with the conclusion of my Sevilla experience, Intraffik.com.

Up on Intraffik: Sevilla Part 3

I'm up on Intraffik.com with Part 3 of my vacation.

A Movie Review: Hanna

Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is being brought up by her father Erik (Eric Bana -- do you think they picked the name Erik because of Eric Bana?) near the Artic circle. She is trained to kill Marissa (Cate Blanchett), a CIA agent. Eric tells his daughter that Marissa wants her dead. At the age of 16, Erik gives her an option: she can decide when she is ready to kill Marissa. Hanna decides she is ready and sets off a tracking signal. Erik leaves the area while the CIA comes in to pick him up -- thinking he set off the tracker. Instead, the CIA finds his daughter. Once brought to a holding cell (we later learn is in Morocco), Hanna asks for Marissa. An agent acting as Marissa is brought in. This is not a good idea. Hanna kills her, escapes the rather secured building and the chase begins. The goal is to meet up with her father in Germany.

A great little action movie though one has to admit that there was some nice film editing during Ronan's fight scenes -- especially when she was going up against the three males who were contracted to chase her down. Also, after leaving the theater, one has to ask, "Why wouldn't her father knock off Marissa instead of leaving it up to his 16 year-old daughter?" Yes, yes, he's an ex-CIA agent and might trip certain security systems, but isn't he essentially taking a chance by sending his daughter to do the dirty work. I figured if a father really loved his daughter, he'd try first.

A Movie Review: Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch.  Okay, I must be one of the few folks that actually liked this movie. It isn't a great movie. It doesn't reach classic heights, but while sitting through it I just thought, "This is really a fun movie." Now the setting of this movie in a whorehouse is a little sick -- especially considering that the actresses are portraying teenagers/early twenty-somethings -- and the ending makes you wonder what the whole point of the movie was, but over-all who cares. Sit back and enjoy some butt kicking.

The Shakers, Barb Wire Dolls and New Years Day at the Viper Room

It was off to the Viper Room to catch New Years Day, The Shakers and Barb Wire Dolls.

I was aiming to see the full set of New Years Day, but only caught the last couple songs.  I didn't leave as early as I wanted (took too long to cool down from my exercising) and then hit every possible red light through Hollywood.  I did find a place to park for free around the Sunset Strip.  It is a little of a walk, but I'm always willing to save $7.

The Shakers, in my mind, keep getting better.  Jodie just seems to gain better command of the stage as time goes by.  One of her formal bandmates, Matt, from Automatic Music Explosion was in the audience.

Barb Wire Dolls is a new favorite local band for me.  Their lead singer can twist her body in the most sexy ways.  And their music makes you want to jump.

New Years Day





The Shakers















Barb Wire Dolls

Amanda Jones & The Sugar Tits and Pu$$y Cow at La Cita

It was off to La Cita to catch Amanda Jones & The Sugar Tits and Pu$$y Cow.

I arrived a little late and only caught part of Pu$$y Cow's set.  As for Amanda Jones & The Sugar Tits, they're working in a new bassist.

If you've read my past music blogs, you know I am working in a new camera.  The light is low at La Cita.  I was having to push it on the camera.  Another lens will need to be bought to deal with this low light.    

Pu$$y Cow



Amanda Jones & The Sugar Tits

Up on Intraffik.com: Sevilla Part 2

I'm up on Intraffik with part 2 of my Sevilla vacation. Go check it out!!!

Up on Intraffik: AgesandAges and Lake

I'm up on Intraffik. Go check it out.

A Movie Review: Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer. This movie is based on a Michael Connelly book. I’ve read plenty of Connelly’s books, but I haven’t read this one specifically. We have Mick Halley (Matthew McConaughey) who is approached to defend Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe). Louis is accused of beating up a woman after meeting her at a bar. We soon find out that she is a prostitute and that Louis is a wealthy young man. It brings into question her motive. Mick along with his private eye, Frank Levin (William H. Macy), start to do their research and find that Louis isn’t as innocent as he claims.

This is a really solid movie. I’m not sure how much there is to quibble about. The acting is well done. There doesn’t seem to be any holes in the plot. There are some lucky breaks in the movie, but aren’t there often lucky breaks when dealing with criminal investigations? I think it all works marvelously well.

A Movie Review: Paul

Paul. This is essential a road movie that mixes in an alien named Paul, resulting in a parody of ET. We have Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost) enjoying Comic-Con and planning a road trip to various UFO-famed sights in America. As they’re traveling out of San Diego, a vehicle wildly passes them by and then crashes. They discover Paul (voiced by Seth Rogan) who just happens to be a green alien.

This was a fun movie. There were jokes a plenty. And the chase scenes were done in classic comic fashion. My one reservation here is that it is decidedly anti-Christian. It is one thing to joke about over-the-top fundamentalist, but this movie towards the end decides to take a swipe at all Christians. If you can handle that spin, you’ll find the movie amusing.

A Movie Review: Limitless

Limitless. We have Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper). He has an advance on a book, but can’t even get past the first word. His girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish), tired of being his bank account breaks up with him. Luck is with him (or maybe not) as he runs into Vernon (Johnny Whitworth), his ex-brother-in-law. Vernon gives him a pill, telling him it’ll free up his brain. He takes the pill and he ends up writing a most amazing first few chapters of his book. Well, Eddie needs some additional pills to help him finish up his book. He heads over to Vernon’s apartment/condo. He’s asked to do some errands. When he returns, Vernon is dead and the living room/kitchen has been torn apart. It dawns on Eddie that someone was searching for the pills. Well, Eddie goes looking for the pills and finds a rather large stash. With it, Eddie finishes his books and then decides to make some money on Wall Street. When you make money fast, questions result. Those who were/are also on the pill go looking for him, which includes a mafia guy -- oops. He also learns there are some unintended health consequences from the pill.

We have a well done movie here. Solid acting. Interesting story line. The only problem, is at the end of the movie, the new hair color for Eddie Morra makes him look like Data from Star Trek. Of course, maybe that was the point, but as his girlfriend implied, it was a little eerie.

Up On Intraffik.com: Sevilla Part 1

I'm up on Intraffik.com with part 1 of a 4 part series on Sevilla.  Go check it out!!!

Prince at the Forum: Thursday night, April 14th

A friend got tickets to see Prince.  I was in . . . and at only $25.  Sorry for those who read my blog on a regular basis.  I usually have photos, but I wasn't sure of the photo policy at the Forum so I didn't bring in a camera.

As for the concert, it was a wonderful 3 hours and 30 minutes.  That's right, 3 hours and 30 minutes.  After about 2.5 hours, there was a break and than we got about an hour of encores.

Favorite song of the night:  Raspberry Beret.  


I wish he'd sung Diamonds and Pearls.  


Two twin dancers were very stunning.

Quote 1:  Now you call someone and tell them this is the coolest party in town.

Quote 2:  This is an abstinence arena.  (The LA Times has this as:  This is an abstinence ring.  I suppose that makes sense.  Of course, the Forum is also a church, so what I heard also makes sense.  I might give more creed to the LA Times quote.)

Quote 3:  No you don't, I'll get pregnant from that song.

A couple reviews from Rolling Stone and LA Times.

Walking Sleep at Satellite

After hanging out at the Bootleg, I drove off to The Satellite to catch Walking Sleep. I figured this might be the only Monday I'd get to see them. I tend to rotate around the various venues during each month on Mondays -- see who the various bookers and such think are the up and coming LA bands.  This, of course, is not the first time I've seen Walking Sleep.  I do believe the last time I saw them was back last summer.  After just the first song, I knew that was too long of a time.  I think one just needs to hear half a song and you'll end up falling in love with them.

Walking Sleep

Masxs and Hanni El Khatib at Bootleg

The Fold's website had the band list wrong for this night. I thought I was arriving early to see Moses Campbell. When a band went on stage, I was thinking this didn't really look like Moses Campbell.  Anyways, it was Masxs.  Next up was Hanni El Khatib.  He was actually the reason I showed up at The Bootleg.  My intraffik.com editor/friend had suggested checking out his set.  No disrespect to Ramspringa (I did see them at Satellite awhile back), I took off after seeing Hanni El Khatib to hang out with a friend over at Satellite to check out Walking Sleep.  A busy night of music.

Masxs











Hanni El Khatib

Chop Chop and The Dollyrots at All Star Lanes (Eagle Rock)

It was off to the All Star Lanes at Eagle Rock for the Chop Chop's album release and The Dollyrots.  First up on the night for me was Chop Chop.  They gave us a nice space opera night.  And to close the night The Dollyrots took the stage.  Can't go wrong with The Dollyrots.

Chop Chop











Dollyrots

The Mots Nouveaux, Jen Foster and Cahn & Yang at Hotel Cafe

It was off to Hotel Cafe to catch The Mots Nouveaux. While there I caught the back end of Jen Foster and the front end of Cahn and Yang.  I only got to catch the last couple songs of Jen Foster.  She had the audience in her hands.  The place was packed and I could get any decent photos.  She had an interesting story.  She sent out a tweet saying she'd burn a CD for folks if they'd send in $10.  She got 500 such requests plus they bought a whole lot of other stuff and so a whole lot of money came in from that one tweet. Good for her.  Artists do need to make a living some how.  I was able to maneuver my way closer to the stage for The Mots Nouveaux.  Below are some photos from the new camera I just recently purchased.  In fact, these are the first band photos that I took from that camera.  The camera was so recently purchased that I barely even knew how to work it.  In fact, I still don't really know how to use it -- reading  through the directions to understand all the different buttons.  This was probably the third time I saw The Mots Nouveaux.  They get better all the time.  Aaron and Emma's vocals just work wonders together.  To end the night, I caught a little of Cahn and Yang.  There are few male lead singers who know how to work the microphone stand like their lead.

The Mots Nouveaux











Cahn & Yang