Make Music Pasadena: Dom La Nena

So long since Make Music Pasadena.  Here's a photo of Dom La Nena.

Make Music Pasadena: The Dustbowl Revival

Been awhile since Make Music Pasadena, but I've been busy.  

A photo of The Dustbowl Revival.

A Movie Review: Monsters University

Monsters University. An enjoyable movie about characters who aren't scary, but want to be scary. Kids, please don't look under the bed or listen too hard.

A Movie Review: Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2. Minions. Birthday parties. Girls growing up. Evilness in the world that needs to be resolved. I consider this cartoon to be the best movie of the year (so far).

A Movie Review: The Heat

The Heat. When a movie is liked both by critics and audiences, I usually find myself agreeing. Not with this movie. I could have saved my money on this one.

A Movie Review: This is the End

This is the End.  The movie starts out hysterically with Seth Rogan picking up his friend Jay Baruchel at the airport. It is funny that everyone is trying to talk to Seth while ignoring Jay. They soon party it up, getting stoned at Seth’s house. They then take a taxi (nice add to the move as you don't want folks high while driving) to a house party being hosted by James Franco. A number of celebrity cameos pop up. For awhile, it looks like a Project X for celebrities. Then the inevitable end of the world hits. The earth opens up and many of the celebrities are swallowed up and sent down to the burning pits of hell. Our remaining celebrities (Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson also survive) are left in purgatory, trying to figure out what in the world is going on.

This movie lasts close to 2 hours. With about 30 minutes to go in the movie it feels like this movie is just a one joke movie and really should just wrap up; however, it takes a nice turn with them leaving the house and the movie picks back up in a fun way.

The audience I watched the movie with was laughing from the beginning to the end.  That is always a good indicator.

Jail Weddings at the Echo Country Outpost

Jail Weddings closed out the night at Echo Country Outpost, kicking off the summer.

Comment of the night:  Usually I have to ask people to come three feet forward.  I need to ask you all to move three steps back.

This band loves to interact with the audience.  The whole back half of the set was spent hanging out in the crowd.

Echo Country Outpost is not out there in the middle of an empty spot in Echo Park. The name might give that impression; however, it is set along Glendale Blvd. I half wonder if folks live in the building. There is a kitchen. And the stage area could be a nice living room. Up stairs and out to the back yard is an outside bar. Some random items are sold such as pine cones and 1960s/1970s type phones. Interesting posters line the wall. I wonder how many folks randomly enter this place on a standard day. It might be a cool place to hang out during a hot afternoon, especially if the bar area is open.

Raw Geronimo at the Echo Country Outpost

Raw Geronimo hit the stage at the Echo Country Outpost.  This band can send you into a wonderful trance. Last time I saw Raw Geronimo, Lauren Fey was MIA. This time she was back -- a wonderful add when she goes wild on the percussion set.

The Lexingtons at the Echo Country Outpost

I’ve hung out in the Los Angeles music scene for awhile and so there aren't many opportunities to head off to a venue I've never heard of before.  Well, Echo Country Outpost is one of those venues and from the look of things it has been around for awhile. I got an update that Raw Geronimo was playing there along with Jail Weddings. Since I don’t get to hang out in the Los Angeles music scene all that much anymore, anytime I have a chance to catch my favorite local bands, I take it.

First up for the night were The Lexingtons. This is an all guy band that likes to dress up. Well, except for one of them. The comment of the night was: We have merch for sale. I know we dress well, but . . . well except for this guy.

A Movie Review: Obivion

Oblivion. Jack and Victoria are doing some final resource collection from earth. The planet was destroyed when a war between alien invaders and humans broke out.  Humanity won, but needed to leave the planet. 

This was an okay movie, but I left with many questions (spoilers):

1.  We find out towards the end that the aliens actually won the war.  Planet earth was pretty much wiped out with very few humans left alive.. Why did the aliens feel the need to continue to rely on human clones?

2.  Jack seemed to quickly make up his mind that the human rebels were being honest with him.  I don't know, it would take me little longer to trust them.  I mean, my whole existence and reason for leaving was being questioned.

3.  Why would the aliens want Jack to come up to their station in the first place?

Young Creatures at El Cid

Young Creatures had their release party at El Cid.  The crowd was pumped for their friends on stage.  Stage lighting.  Smoke.  The stage show.  It all worked perfectly with the band's passion.

Eastern Conference Champions at El Cid

Eastern Conference Champions hit the stage first.  There was a nice crowd waiting for them; however, nearly everyone was in the back.  Only three of us stood near the stage.  After a trio of songs, a handful of folks ventured closer to the stage and then it was an avalanche as everyone came up close. 

They put on their usual great stage show along with stunning songs.  Mercy, I love this band.

Bloody Death Skull at Pehrspace

The New Folk LA Festival held a night at Pehrspace. Bloody Death Skull came on second. The band name seems like a rather violent band name for a band that appears to be full of folks with pleasant personalities.  I ended up being part of the set when their lead singer took a quick rest on my lap.

The mystery:  The lead singer took off into the audience and somehow her microphone wire got tangled up in the ceiling fabric.  How did that exactly happen?

Comment of the set:  How's your shaker?  Is it in tune?