Comic-Con costumes

Working the GR booth at Comic-Con was kind of like watching a parade. Well, maybe at the front. I sequestered to the rear, and on one hand I didn't get squads of Stormtroopers or gangs of greased-up barbarians, but when someone wearing a costume did come by it was easy for me to ask for a photo. Some of the best were the simplest; above, Mario and Luigi.


Coed from Battle Royale with map, bloodstains, and nice homemade collar.


After I apologized to the girl in red for giving the Joker an excuse to touch her, she said, "Maybe I'm not stalking him!"

Impressive plumage and pose, but Princess Mononoke needs to work on her expression.


After asking the Scarecrow for a pic, he chirped "Sure," and I suggested he use a scarier voice.


I remember these dudes from UglyCon 1! Not dressed as UglyDolls this time, but a Jedi and Indy.


The Wonder Woman TV show from the '70s had the best theme song ever: "She fills heart with pride. I'm so glad she's on our side..."


Argh! Pirates looking for booty at the Con. There were some Captain Jack Sparrows out there, but I prefer the generic ones.


Not the Dark Knight, but Batgirl! In the background, Supergirl.


Don't touch, it's Rogue checking out GR T-shirts!


The number of Federation members at the Con dwindles every year. These two had great hairdos and a Tribble, too.


Elfquest or Lord of the Rings? At the Comic-Con, it can be either.


The girl from Gatchaman. Totally homemade and totally awesome.


To be honest, I'm not sure if these women were wearing costumes of if they dress goth every day... I hope it's the latter. There were actually tons of kids in cosplay, and this has been just a small sampling of it all.

Repeater

This song by the Cold War Kids is getting a lot of airplay on the radio on Indie in L.A. Whenever I hear it, I think of Fugazi's mighty "Blueprint" from 1990. Check out the similarities...



But never mind what they're selling, it's what you're buying...

The Human Race

My dad and I just signed up for this summer's Nike 10K run. The L.A. edition of The Human Race takes place on Sunday, August 31 and Kanye West is performing at the finish line. (Previous finish-line acts that I've seen include Devo, Joan Jett, and De La Soul.) I haven't run since Eloise was born, so this event provides motivation to make time to hit the pavement... It also raises money for the charity of your choice. I selected the UN Refugee Agency.

Any other runners out there? Nike is sponsoring similar runs around the world on the same day, so check it out.

HEALTH at the Smell

Health isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of The Smell. The all-ages venue in Downtown L.A. is hot, sweaty, sticky, and, yes, smelly. (It's also awesome--the closest thing we have to Jabberjaw.) But HEALTH the band? They pack the place every time they're on the roster.


My photographer and main man Ben Clark and I arrived around 10:00 only to find that the first of the three openers hadn't even gone on yet. As if the waify, neon-hued, art-damaged kids at the club didn't make me feel old enough already, being forced to stay up past my bedtime reinforced the feeling.


The openers were spastic energy--as if twitching nerves were flowing out of their fingertips and throats into the air. They were more primal than musical, with a decent amount of performance art thrown in. The short-but-powerful sets capably served to lubricate the already moist air for the headliners.


The first time Ben and I saw HEALTH was at UCLA when we put together the PRE interview (in the current issue). We liked what we heard, and looked forward to the band's homecoming show after a tour of Europe and a handful of festival dates across the U.S.


The band has a new album of electronic-based remixes--including the Crystal Castles' version of "Crimewave" that became a hit in Europe--and the live show has no resemblance to it whatsoever. They play super heavy rock with somewhat tribal rhythms, more like Killing Joke than DISCO (the name of the remix collection).


Around 12:30 a.m., a stream of exhausted people with ringing ears streamed into the alley exit and onto 2nd Street. Wearing sweat-drenched clothes, steaming in the night air, we walked to our cars through the cool, empty landscape.

Comic-Con day 4

I have mixed feelings about Hollywood's takeover of Comic-Con. Yes, it sucks that the floor's gut is congested with glorified commercials and cheap T-shirt tosses. And you know that the big studios bring in hundreds of slick marketing people and trend forecasters who take it in as a field trip, anthropology lesson, or mining excursion. But I have to admit that it's pretty neat to see life-sized sculptures of Jabba the Hut and replications of The Office. One company that is completely separate from any debate is Troma, which has been at the Con since the Toxic Avenger days. This low-budget, high-ingenuity company fits right in with underground comix, MAD magazine, and classic genre cinema. Founder Lloyd Kaufman came by to say hi and even invited me to drop by the office and have coffee. Amazing!


Jim and Greg founded Strangeco with the goal of making toys on par with the best of the Asian brands. Today, their vinyl is renowned by toy geeks around the world. I heard the company threw a slick party in conjunction with G4 at some nightclub, but I don't go to those things... I was making LEGOs with my niece that night! (Check out Zuniga from Fantagraphics hiding out in shades in the background.)


I didn't buy anything on the floor, but Charles from Sony and friend gave me a Kubrick made in conjunction with Patapon for the PSP.


Filmmaker Quentin Lee (left) gave me a preview of the comic book that he's making with artist John Hahn.


Ted from Poketo wallets and apparel came by to say hi. Angie must have been tending the booth while he was screwing around!


Remember the high school student who helped copy edit the last issue? Nikki took Amtrack all the way from Pasadena to San Diego, attended the show, and then rode the train home again by herself. Hardcore and awesome!


Jane Yin (right) from the Asian Art Museum in S.F. and friend. Last time I saw her, she drove down to L.A. just for the GR screening of CJ7!


The otro half of the indie comics gods Los Bros Hernandez. When Jamie dropped by, he was stoked because (1) Fantagraphics sold out of the new Love & Rockets book and (2) we were selling a plush Snoopy and Sally set that was perfect for his daughter.


GR store alum Edward is still a serious of fan of the shops and reader of the magazine. Still a nice dude, too.


Alvin Buenaventura (of the mighty Buenaventura Press) ponders paperwork for next year's convention... Sadly, 2008's Comic-Con is over.

Comic-Con day 3

Today's Comic-Con programming focused on TV shows like Heroes and Lost, and you've probably already read about it on some entertainment sites. I don't know what I missed out on as far as celebrities and such go but I did sell some stuff to Seth Rogan while I was in lockdown at the GR booth. I didn't take a picture, but that was kind of cool. Now for some other friends and acquaintances who dropped by our booth...


Filmmaker, director, writer, and BET head Reggie Hudlin is a longtime GR reader, and we talked at length about the Black Panther--how he was part of the greatest mainstream comics ever (he calls FF 42-70 the Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's of the superhero genre) and about the cartoon series he's making. I'd met him before, but never talked to him this long.


You often see photographer Ben Clark's work in the pages of GR. This time he came to do some work for Yo Gabba Gabba, and dropped by to say hi. He and I are going to see HEALTH play The Smell on Monday. You should go, too.


Beto is one of Los Bros Hernandez, the genius team behind Love & Rockets comics. Very influential in the evolution of comics and making indie comics cool for punk rockers as underground comix were for hippies.


I used to make bets with Bumperboy creator Debbie whenever her Sharks would play my Kings. Now the L.A. skaters stink so much, she doesn't even bring it up... (Her dude is a Wings fan, trumping us both.)


We know David Walker from when he was our neighbor in the Small Press area and was the HNIC of Badazzmofo, kind of the African-American GR. He dropped off his new mini-epic DVD, With a Vengeance.


Artist, comic book maker, and GR contributor and friend John Pham arrived to present his new book for Fantagraphics, Sublife.


Kevin and Barbara introduced themselves to me as friends of Ben and workers on Yo Gabba Gabba. Totally cool couple, and unless I misheard them, they are engaged. Congrats to the cool couple. I wonder if DJ Lance will MC the wedding?


Lance from FUNimation came by to say hi. They are putting out movies now, like Gegege Kitaro.


I first met artist Miran Kim by introducing myself to her at an X-Files panel at Comic-Con years ago and then interviewing her for GR. Maybe she'll contribute to an art show at GR one of these days...


I totally remembered these girls from last year, selling felt pandas and donating profits to pandas. This time they doubled their team.


Shelly is a GR proofreader who came by to bring homemade cookies to our table! How awesome is she?


Yuki came over from Viz. She is a fellow magazine editor, working for the Jump mag. (I hope this is the right picture... It was a long day.)


Souther Salazar spent some time at our table signing prints and things and just hanging out. With him, godfather of cool art in L.A., Billy Shire of Wacko, Luz de Jesus, and Billy Shire Gallery. (He's been carrying GR at his shops since early on.)


We've known Tom from his days at the legendary Highwater Books. He put out early books by Ron Rege, Brian Ralph, and tons of our other favorite artists. Today, he is at Drawn & Quarterly.


David Horvath couldn't make it from Korea, but Uglydoll Japan made the trip to San Diego and dropped by to say hi!

Kook go home

This morning my brother Greg took me to one of his secret surfing spots. He is a paddling machine, and can catch waves at will. He got a little tube! As for me, I got tossed a few times before settling for whitewater and getting some long, fun rides. Look at how pale and soft I look compared to my twin. I'm a total kook! But going longboarding with him is totally fun and I love it.


Also present was the third member of the GR surf team and regular part of our Comic-Con board meetings, Scott. He's a regular at GR art shows and sometimes he helps proofread our mag. Maybe he'll come through this issue?

Cao town

There's more to SD than Comic-Con. Last night I had dinner with Jimmy Cao at Roberto's in Mira Mesa. Check out his skating on YouTube.

Comic-Con day 2

It's easy to bitch about how Comic-Con is getting too Hollywood, the industry is squeezing out the true comic-book fans, and the convention is appealing more to Variety and E! than true nerds. Even I gripe about how stars that have never, ever read a comic book are attending to cash in and make a buzz. But I have to admit that it was cool to be filmed talking to Randy Couture this morning. I wasn't fast enough to shoot a picture of us, and I wonder if the clip will be shown somewhere? But, really, most of the people I talked to today aren't famous in that way... More friends from all over the place that came by the booth!


Two artists who depict new worlds: Jeff Soto and Souther Salazar.


I first met Scott Bradley when he was playing bass for J Church and stayed at my house. Now he's publishing comics!


Sunny used to be by the GR table when it was in the Small Press Section. Now she's publishing a punk rock gossip mag!


Artist, instructor, and zine maker, Esther Pearl Watson!


Bonnie Burton from grrl.com and Lucasfilm's ministry of propaganda!


But not everyone I talked to were established or old friends. I made new acquaintances, too, like these three who shared a knit Nosferatu, art sample, and stickers/buttons!

Comic-Con day 1

Going to Comic-Con is a lot different than the old days. Not just because it's huge and Hollywood now, but also because I'm at a table all day and not walking around going to panels, shopping, watching movies, etc. But I was thinking about it and realize that working is actually a lot more social. If I were a guest having fun like in the old days, I'd probably talk to the same 3 or 4 people that I'd be at the Con with. Instead, I'm talking to tons of friends at the GR table, including regular customers, repeat exhibitors, and artists. Here are some of the latter group (mostly) that dropped by on Day 1. (No links because I need to go wake up tomorrow before 6:00 to go surfting...) Above, James Kochalka Superstar, musician, comic artist, and GR gallery artist, too.


Fine artist, Gama-Go kingpin, and DJ Tim Biskup.


Master crafter, awesome artist, and karaoke queen Susie Ghahremani and her dude Michael.


From Monument To Masses bass player, friend of GR, and closet geek Sergio Robledo-Maderazo. (New album on Dim Mak to drop in the fall.)


Burly but sensitive artist and comic book artist Justin "Scrappers" Morrison and Jeffrey Brown. Really cool guys.


Roy Wasson Valle from Fuzy Balls. (As seen in GR!)


Metal-inspired artist and toymaker Martin Ontiveros and GR's Michelle.


Kaiju-influenced artist and softball ace Joel Nakamura.


Indie comic artist, punk rocker, and GR contributer Hellen Jo and pal (seen in the issue's landing).


Award-winning designer, artist, and GR reader Chip Kidd.

Comic-Con preview night

A couple years ago Comic-Con started having "preview night," where four-day members could check out the booths and shop a night early. I can't remember what it was like not having it and I can't imagine setting up a booth for a 10:00 a.m. opening. You'd have to start before dawn or do it the day before.


I didn't arrive until 1:00 in the afternoon, and Eric, Michelle, and Jenny (not pictured above) already had the tables arranged and boxes around. Later on, Diana and Rosanna showed up. There was no way we could set up in time for the doors opening at 6:00 but we did the best we could. We have to get in early tomorrow to shape it up.


I think it's cool that people dressed up even for three hours of browsing. Of course, the hardest core dressers are the cosplay kids. Both of these girls (above and below) attended Anime Expo, and they have different outfits for every day of Comic-Con. I asked them to say hi when they come back to the booth in case I don't recognize them.


Check out Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. I like homemade costumes the best.


Below, artist Matt Furie (right, remember him from the group show at GR2 with Albert Reyes?) and his pal. Shoot, can't remember his name.


And Mark Todd. He and his wife Esther Pearl Watson are at the Alvin Buenaventura booth, right by us. He told me that they didn't bring their daughter to San Diego, which makes me feel better about leaving Eloise at home with Wendy. I saw Jordan Crane at the booth, too. It's funny how we all live in L.A., but see practically only each other at the Con. (Also, Fantagraphics (Gary Panter, Los Bros Herndandez, Jason, etc.) and Top Shelf (Jeffrey Brown) in the background.)


Afterwards, we went to Convoy Street (the Pan-Asian neighborhood) for Vietnamese food. It was that or the 24-hour Super Sergio or Alberto's. Maybe I'll get some Mexican food tomorrow night!


Below, Jenny and Michelle ponder waking up early to do it all over again but four times as long.

With or without U2

Going to the GR restaurant is like going to the Cheers bar or something. Okay, maybe not everyone knows my name, but today my friend Doug and I bumped into the jet-setting Eugenia (Shanghai and HK) and ex-GR softball ringer Rodfather (Watsonville). Nice. In the middle is Eric's mom, Margie. (She, Nelson, and the crew don't even count as sightings anymore.)


Doug is moving to NYC in a couple weeks, so I wanted to catch up with him before he bails. I'll miss his photography gig stories--remember the Talladega photo essay or the piece on Chinese orphanages? Totally great. But honestly, I hardly see him anyway since he's always on the road. Recently, he was in Dublin. There's been a lot of talk about Dublin...

Sound and vision

Finished reviewing DVDs last night and am onto music. I selected about 20 prospective CDs (I don't do online streaming or downloads) from the slush pile, and figure that with the two or three pieces that I've bought from bands on tour there should be enough to fill the 13 slots that I'm responsible for. Maybe fancier headphone will help?

After this, it's not over. There are still comics to read and anime to watch. Pretty slim pickings in both departments as of now, but I figure that will be remedied at Comic-Con.

People think it's weird that 14 years after starting GR, Eric and I not only still write the vast majority of each issue's articles but also do most of the reviewing. Really, why would we give it up? It's one of the most fun parts.

Long-life noodles

Last night I went to Golden Dragon for my father-in-law's birthday. We had three tables in the triad room with gold wallpaper, the bar, and an altar. Badass! I think we got hooked up because Wendy's family has ties to the restaurant. In fact, when we first started dating, the family would go there for dim sum every weekend.


Here's Wendy, her brother, Eloise, and me (mirror) hanging out by the kids' table. Check out Chi and Jenny, who were dressed up because they came straight from a wedding. I was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Oh well.


There were a ton of veggie dishes for me to eat, and they were all quite good. GD is kind of old school with its gold decorations, lazy susans, exposed fish tanks, and everything, but I like their food a lot. The dish that made the biggest impression on me was the sesame and coconut desserts... Why haven't I had that before?


Happy birthday, Baba! (Cool shirt, too.)

Smells like shoebox 3

More scraps of paper from the shoeboxes... This one didn't get left in pants and put in the wash. The Palladium was really that packed and sweaty during my first "real" concert--The Cure on The Top tour in 1984. Amazing. I was under the impression that the band didn't play much because Robert Smith was afraid to fly and would only cross the Atlantic by boat, but after this I'd saw the band play on The Head on the Door and Standing on the Beach. Those would be at big amphitheater-type places full of new wavers; this was a ballroom with goths, post-punks, and doom-and-gloomers.


Charged GBH is one of those bands that you see on a lot of patches and T-shirts, but is hardly ever heard. Well, I saw them back in the day and it was one of the scariest shows I ever attended. It was at this divey ballroom in Long Beach and everyone in line was a mohawk or a skin. Somehow, we survived.


This show at Cal State Northridge's cafeteria was on The Funky Rumpus Tour for The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. It was a show where the Chili Peppers indeed rocked out with their strategically placed socks out. I found a T-shirt in the pit and decided to split it with my friend Jeff who gave me a ride; we went halfers on a second T. I'm pretty sure the openers were Fishbone, who were always red hot.


This was on the Quickness tour. At the time, I thought Bad Brains were old. Now I realize they were still at their peak. The show was like two hours long and HR was like a god--pure energy doing backflips and more. It took place in another school cafeteria, and the openers were Killing Time and Royal Tea.


The Roxy isn't an especially cool place, but it's small and the sound is great. Perfect for seeing MBV on the Loveless tour. (You weren't there? Looks like someone bootlegged it!)


The moment when NOFX became a "real" band and Green Day was breaking. Damn. At this point, I think the guys in Green Day still remembered me from staying at my house and me getting a ticket while driving them back to UCLA to get paid/see a lunchtime show with Samiam.


One of my Gilman Street membership cards. A reminder that I don't buy a ticket for most of the really great shows--just a handstamp or generic stub...

Double-o soul

Like last Saturday, I had brunch with Martin C. We've been doing this when our wives and daughters are at their Mommy Talk class at the Pump Station, and it's been a nice tradition and good chance for some bro time. Too bad the courses end next week. Since I'll be in San Diego for the Comic-Con, this was our last Saturday hang out. We, along with Mart's cousin Mario, went to Winchell's.


You can tell the franchise is trying to keep up with the times because they've changed up the menu to include fruit smoothies, breakfast bagels, etc. I think it's funny because the clientele is old school all the way, with senior citizens and cops being the predominant customers. I got an iced coffee and mini apple fritter. The former was way too sweet and the latter was not bad, but both were cheap--about $2.75 total.


Good times, but you cannot compare Winchell's to Donut Man. This afternoon, Wendy and I visited her cousin who just had a baby two weeks a go. I looked up directions to the Covina address on Mapquest and recognized them as the route GR's favorite donut shop! Since it was less than 3.5 miles away, we decided to bring some fresh strawberry donuts to the new parents. We were shocked to see massive construction on one side Donut Man's lot. It's going to be more difficult for truck drivers to park their rigs without such ample space.


But that's not the real news. Check out the sign: This is the last week for fresh strawberry donuts! It's been a good season, though, so I can't complain. (Fresh peach donuts will begin in the middle of the week. Awesome.)


Here's Wendy's cousin Jeff, the new dad. With his shorn head, busted collar bone, wife beater, and stubble (hasn't been to work in two weeks), he looks totally gangster! But you can't look tough eating a donut, can you?


The new baby, Alyson. A cutie. I thought the new mom, Jannie, looked great, too, but she was not so confident so I'll post pics of her next time.


Hitting two donut shops in one day can really make your head spin. Good thing Jeff and Janny recently got this vibrating head massager from the mall!

Deadline thoughts

You probably can't even tell, but the mag has been getting just a little bit later with each of the last few issues. It wasn't even a big deal until they started adding up. Now we're trying to catch up.

So articles went in the works as soon as the last one finished and we're actually looking pretty good. I made a mock book map today, and 84 or 85 of the 88 pages are accounted for. (Hey Daniel, how many pages is your article going to be?) Eight articles have rough layouts waiting for doctoring and approval by Wendy.

The hardest part has been clocking in hours every night after Eloise and Wendy go to bed at 8 and 9 or 10, respectively. This particular work isn't difficult; watching and reviewing movies and DVDs is super fun. The hard part is forcing myself to sleep at 12 (usually more like 1) because I know I'll have to wake up at 6 or 6:30 to change Eloise's diapers. When your mind is spinning with words and ideas, it can be hard to relax--especially when you know you have to.

Between going to sleep late for work and waking up early for baby, something has to give. That's why there's coffee. But will even that remedy the added stuff competing for time such as art shows, concerts, and Comic-Con? We'll see, and you'll read about all of it in the next issue.

It's Koushik

There was a time when I could recall every interview and article in every issue of GR. That ended at least 7 or 8 years ago. So I can't tell you exactly when I interviewed Koushik--two, maybe three years ago?--but I do remember that him being a real mellow, cool guy. His music is like that, too, with shoegaze and pop thrown in. Gorgeous, dreamy stuff.

Check out a sneak preview of his upcoming album here. It comes out in August (digital) and September (tangible).

Melvins and dudes at Amoeba

After (1) the Internet went down and (2) my InDesign file crashed, I knew that the rock gods were telling me to restart the computers, lock up the office, and start driving across town to the Melvins tour kick-off show/release in-store for their 21st album at Amoeba in Hollywood.


I'm not an antisocial person, but I have no qualms going to shows by myself. I don't have to wait around for anyone and can get closer to the stage. I can hang out any time; at a concert I want to soak in the music. Tonight's show started right on time at 6:00, and lasted an impressive 45 minutes (for a free show). Heavy, grinding, pummeling, and relentless are some of the adjectives often employed to describe the band's sound--which ranges from proto-doom to precise, crazy-time signatures powered by the two drummers--but I think exuberant can be added to the list. Yes, they are dead serious, but some of the sped up songs actually touch on fun.


Eventually, the show will be posted here. As you might expect from a stoner rock band with sludge metal tendencies and punk work ethic, the show was a real sausage party. That and the fact that the group has been around for almost 25 year meant that I was likely to run into friends...


Above, a familiar face. Ken is an award-winning industrial designer and longtime friend and contributor to GR who works down the street from Amoeba. Good thing I sent him a text message to see if he was going to the show because I had misinformed him that the show was tomorrow!


Brian used to work at the record store around the corner from my house and now works at Amoeba. You know the show was loud because he's wearing earplugs way in front of the store. I don't see him often enough, but at least I get to see his wife and baby every now and then when I take Eloise around the Reservoir!


Here's Adam Bomb, legendary KXLU hardcore DJ and veteran of too many L.A. punk bands to count. I haven't seen him since the San Pedro premiere of the Minutemen documentary (which he was in). Perhaps Adam's most notorious group is Brujeria. You wouldn't know he's part of the allegedly Satan-worshipping drug-dealing Mexican death metal cartel, though, since he wears a bandana onstage and goes by the alias of Fantasma. He informed me the band is working on some new stuff, so lock up your children.

I&I at The Getty

Longtime friends of GR Aurelito and Shakespeare are driving their Rasta-fied ice-cream truck up the hill to play the Getty on Saturday, July 19. It's free, so check it out.

Pupusas, papas, and Melvins

Went back for breakfast at that pupuseria on Vine with Martin C. This time, his cousin Mario came along. Mart has a 7-month-old daughter and Mario has a 5-week-old little boy. I'm right in the middle with 5-months-old Eloise, so I guess we had a lot to talk about.


Right after finishing my breakfast burrito ($3.99 and huge) and massive coffee (.99 with ongoing refills), I suggested we stop chatting and walk to Amoeba during this infreqent chance to stop being daddies and be dudes for a while... Fortunate, because flyers revealed that The Melvins will be playing a free show there on Wednesday. The 6:30 in-store kicks off their tour in support of the loud and legendary band's new album.


I remember the first time I saw King Buzzo, Dale Crover, and Joe Preston in concert. It was at Jabberjaw on a night sandwiched between Nirvana shows at the Palace (one was a Rock for Choice show with L7, Sister Double Happiness, and Hole hosted by Alex "Bill S. Preston Esq." Winter). At the first Nirvana show, Kurt suggested that everyone go to see The Melvins the next night because they were the greatest band in the world--even better than his band--or something to that extent. I was going to attend the show anyway, and it was amazingly slow, heavy Sabbath-influnced metal played in the wee hours of a rainy night. The tiny, packed club was dripping with sweat on the walls. I could feel my leg hairs vibrate, and almost passed out a few times because it was so late and I was so fatigued. What a show. I think this was 1991 or 1992. They were way ahead of their time, and are still rocking and relevant.

The Amoeba gig will be a lot different than the Jabberjaw show--besides the changed lineup, it'll be air conditioned, wide open, and during daylight--but I'm going to try to attend it. Best of all, the show is early enough that I can get home in time to read a bedtime story to Eloise!

Lunch with Lisa

It kind of sucks to interview someone for a GR article and never meet him or her. But that's how it goes in this age of phoner and email Q&As. Actually, since many people are more comfortable with email or telephone conversations than actually meeting, those articles usually turn out okay.

What sucks more is to have contributors that you never meet. Lisa Katayama (right) splits time between San Francisco and Tokyo--places I visit infrequently and never, respectively--and has written more than a couple articles to GR. Not only is she good about turning in pieces on time and within our budget (nothing) but her grammar, spelling, and style are impeccable. So it was a pleasure to finally meet her, take her around Sawtelle, and have lunch at gr/eats this afternoon. She brought along her childhood friend from Japan, Yuka, who now lives in Dubai and is probably sick to death of fielding questions about that desert country.

Lisa is cool and so are her articles, her blog, and her friend. Crud, I forgot to take a photo of her dog Ruby--also cool!

The real King Khan

I don't get to attend as many concerts as I'd like to these days, but I couldn't miss last night's L.A. club debut of King Khan and The Shrines. Inspired by Sun Ra and George Clinton but channeling Bo Diddley, James Brown, and Ian Svenonious as well, they turned The Echo into a raging dance party. Imagine your favorite Nuggets albums played live and sweaty with a three-piece horn section and a cheerleader.


Here's a better view of Khan, earlier in the set without the mask and with more clothing. The press bio makes him sound like a wildman, but conversation revealed him to be a thoughtful family guy as well as a longtime GR reader. A real nice, funny, and interesting dude from Canada who loves his adopted country of Germany.


My friend Ben came along and snapped some nice portraits of Khan in one of the group's tour vehicles. Better concert photos, too. Don't miss the group when it stops by your town. You'll only regret it and wind up paying more to see them in a larger venue next time.

Lotus festival

I found myself in Echo Park last evening. You might remember the spot from the movie Mi Vida Loca or that Beastie Boys' video. It's always full of life, with people fishing, jogging, and buying paletas, corn on the cob, and other stuff from carts. Last night, stages, tents, and fixtures were installed for this weekend's Lotus Festival--the City of L.A.'s annual Pan-Asian celebration. It was all there, and eerily empty.


These canopies are for contests, vendors, and community groups. I neglected to take pictures of the stages, which have been home traditional singing, martial arts, people balancing on bikes, etc., as well as some of the most unfunny MCs I've ever heard.


A section set up for food vendors--Thai food, chow mein, teriyaki, and other stuff, no doubt. Everything is glistening, greasy, and not as cheap as you'd hope.


There were even trash bins tucked away behind bamboo, keeping with the Asian theme.


Just one thing missing: the part of the lake that is usually full of lotus blossoms has none... WTF? Global warming? Pollution? At least an earthquake hasn't taken down the Downtown skyline yet.

The shadow

Although I allude to being a vegetarian now and then on my blog, I actually try to refrain from talking about it too much because it's a touchy subject. But yesterday I got a link to an article from the latest issue of E/The Environmental Magazine that summarizes and quantifies a lot of my opinions, and is too good to leave alone.

Here's a quick quote:

According to a little-known 2006 United Nations (UN) report called “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” livestock is a “major player” in climate change, accounting for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

That’s more than our entire transportation system.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the American meat industry produces more than 60 million tons of waste annually -- five tons for every U.S. citizen and 130 times the volume of human waste. Michael Jacobson at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) adds that just one mid-sized feedlot churns out half a million pounds of manure each day. And waste is just one of meat’s many harmful environmental side effects.

You can read the rest at www.emagazine.com.

I'm not suggesting that everyone should immediately go cold turkey on turkey, chickens, cows, and other animals, but I do think that individuals should think about what they eat and how it affects the world around them--and not just consume what they've been eating since they were kids.

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein

"A vegetarian--no goat or ham or chicken or turkey or hamburger--because to me that's suicide, self-murder." - KRS-1