Let's go
Last night, my friend Doug and I went to the Radio Birdman show at the Wiltern. In some circles, the band is legendary. Its history goes back to the mid '70s when one of the MC5 took off for Australia. As a result, the crowd was populated by a lot of dudes in black T-shirts adorned with band names like Thee Hellacopters, The Heartbreakers, Turbonegro, and Dead Boys. You know--junkie rock.
If you've never been to the venue, located on Western and Wilshire, it's a massive Art Deco movie palace that was built in 1929. It was equipped with a state-of-the-art screen, huge pipe organ, and ornate fixtures everywhere.
These days, it's a fancy place to see bands play. When I was in college, I saw bands like Love & Rockets and Aztec Camera there. More recently, Mötörhead and Death Cab for Cutie. It's not bad for such a big place. There's a lot of street parking, you can't get more centrally located, and the sound ain't bad. Too bad tickets are so expensive.
The venue has changed ownership numerous times, and its current owner is LG. Seems weird, but it makes sense since that corner is now the heart of Koreatown. Incongruous to the fans dressed in tight black pants and Converse high-tops is an LG flatscreen display, as well as a very modern refrigerator unit.
Granted, along with Samsung, LG has helped South Korea's image and econmy, but they're kind of dicks when it comes to running the Wiltern. In particular, they have a ridiculous camera policy. Even if you have a photo pass, you can only shoot for three songs from a handicapped ramp before they escort you out to the lobby to check in your gear. Also, you can't even shoot bands in or around the premises because they want to protect its image. WTF? (We wanted to shoot in the alley anyway.)
Doug used his kick-ass gear to shoot some nice photos of the opening band The BellRays for our next issue, but I felt sorry for other zine photographers who wound up with blurry photos taken from afar. Those guys were bummed! After Radio Birdman played three songs, we decided that we'd rather split than check in his gear again.
Sorta lame, but what can you do? See you at the Wiltern when The Pogues come to town in a couple months...
If you've never been to the venue, located on Western and Wilshire, it's a massive Art Deco movie palace that was built in 1929. It was equipped with a state-of-the-art screen, huge pipe organ, and ornate fixtures everywhere.
These days, it's a fancy place to see bands play. When I was in college, I saw bands like Love & Rockets and Aztec Camera there. More recently, Mötörhead and Death Cab for Cutie. It's not bad for such a big place. There's a lot of street parking, you can't get more centrally located, and the sound ain't bad. Too bad tickets are so expensive.
The venue has changed ownership numerous times, and its current owner is LG. Seems weird, but it makes sense since that corner is now the heart of Koreatown. Incongruous to the fans dressed in tight black pants and Converse high-tops is an LG flatscreen display, as well as a very modern refrigerator unit.
Granted, along with Samsung, LG has helped South Korea's image and econmy, but they're kind of dicks when it comes to running the Wiltern. In particular, they have a ridiculous camera policy. Even if you have a photo pass, you can only shoot for three songs from a handicapped ramp before they escort you out to the lobby to check in your gear. Also, you can't even shoot bands in or around the premises because they want to protect its image. WTF? (We wanted to shoot in the alley anyway.)
Doug used his kick-ass gear to shoot some nice photos of the opening band The BellRays for our next issue, but I felt sorry for other zine photographers who wound up with blurry photos taken from afar. Those guys were bummed! After Radio Birdman played three songs, we decided that we'd rather split than check in his gear again.
Sorta lame, but what can you do? See you at the Wiltern when The Pogues come to town in a couple months...
posted by gr at
1:29 PM
Hey Martin!
Weird man, The Bellrays have a studio space a few doors down from mine out here in Riverside. Pretty random eh? I've never went down and introduced myself, I guess I should...
hey martin,
ha! i stumbled upon your blog. hope you is good out in LA.
dang, i was about to try to get a pogues ticket but i realized i'm flying out of town that day...
Jeff, I mentioned that you live out there. They have a copy of the mag with you on the cover, so go for it!
Chifford, great to hear from you. How's life?
Souther, what are you and Saelee doing on October 18? I have extra tickets for that night because I have a birthday thingy to go to...
aw man...we are flying to Mass, for saelee's harvard talk. hmm...pogues or harvard? (poguespoguespogues)
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