We used to have a section in Giant Robot where we'd just list some random things that crossed our path: stuff that certain people might fiend over. In that spirit--and because of the fact that I'm in the middle of GR65 lockdown at the moment and won't be getting around much for a bit--here's some stuff for hardcore collectors of prime junk. Above, the deluxe, two-CD version of Paul Weller's newest album, Wake Up The Nation. The UK-only (so far) release comes in a nice hardback book with essays, lyrics, and a ton of nice photos. I've only listened to it once, but my first impression is that it's a much more lean and hungry animal than the Modfather's previous, more sprawling opus. The songs tend to be angrier, harder, and more succinct--if songs that fade out count as succinct. Cool. The bonus material includes a scad of remixes with a dance/techno flavor. Not sure how much I'll be listening to it--maybe on the way home after it gets dark.
Another thing I got in the mail was a pair of playoff tickets to a game that won't happen. My home time got eliminated by the Canucks last week, so now these are just a collector's item/reminder of what could have been/something to hang on to until next post-season when the Kings hopefully get a little closer to Lord Stanley's Cup.
PROGear-G5X card reader. Someone at Atech Flash Technology is a big fan of GR, and set us up with these bad boys. Faster, more secure, or extra reliable? I'll find out, but in the meantime it sits sturdy and looks great on top of the "other" G5. Accidentally draining my camera's battery after downloading pictures directly from it and forgetting to turn it off is a thing of the past.
Kangaroo Paws in my front yard. These were cut way back in the fall but have returned in a big way. Colorful and voluminous yet drought resistant and very sturdy. Highly recommended if you live in Southern California or like climates.
My friends at the Preduce Skateboard company and shops in Bangkok have posted their most excellent Sambai video online for streaming and free downloading. It's got some killer footage from Thailand, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and the U.S., too. Even if you don't skate or destroy, the super funky Thai soundtrack should not be missed. Check it out here or watch below.
Last night, author and all-around cool guy Ed Lin dropped by GR2 for a book signing. We've been hosting a lot of interesting events at our shops lately, but how many can bust out GR gear that's older than the hills? Super stoked to not only have him associated with us, but to finally meet him. (More pics from the evening here.)
He's a really friendly guy that is as energetic and shit-talking as his writing suggests. How many novelists can get Wayne freaking Kramer from the MC5 to write a jacket copy? (I also like how his first book, Waylaid, fits in your back pocket.) Meet the man and buy his new book at GRSF on Thursday April 29, 6:30 p.m.
Okay, that's an exaggeration although it is a nice, quiet, coastal town for a quick weekend trip out of L.A. The beach was rocky but perfect for walks, and downtown was cute with a lot of antique malls, thrift shops, and tattoo parlors/head shops. (You can skip the commercial district, though, which is bleak.) And congrats to Mike and Cindy, who got us out there by getting hitched over the weekend!
David Choe - Nothing to Declare preview night at Lazarides
Last night was the opening of David Choe's first huge solo art show in L.A. and it's about time. What's up with Londonites and New Yorkers getting theirs first? But his massive outpouring of art and energy was well worth the wait, and a very cool way to launch the Lazarides Gallery. (Kind of like the opening of GR2, no?)
The stitched-together blankets created a nice barrier between the posh streets of Beverly Hills and the hyper-styled, lady-loving, effortlessly creative world of Choe. He's out of his mind and trying a million things at once, all the while retaining his very distinct look. Strong.
Choe's dad (above in suit, in center) and mom (below) were so proud. When Dave was a suffering artist they suffered as well, so this homecoming show is a special moment for them, too.
Eric got me into the show not 10 minutes after the doors officially opened, and it began filling up right away, helped along by a line of valets and controlled by a tight guest list. By the time we left, it was getting crowded and difficult to see the artwork.
The family got together for some photos before it got too hectic.
Below, one of Dave's huge new works. What if Goya had spray paint?
Joe Hahn is impressed.
Artist James Jean.
Harry Kim's documentary on Choe is finally seeing the light of day! Check out Dirty Hands with its new, legit soundtrack soon.
Longtime Choe supporter, Johnny, all the way from San Ho.
Did I mention there was amazing artwork? HR Giger meets Bill Ward.
Choe bought some pieces from John Pham's current show at GR2. Not sure if Pham can afford to return the compliment.
Arists everywhere, including Joe To. (Sorry, Rob Sato. Your my picture with you came out blurry.)
Award-winning filmmaker Mora Stephens.
GR anime editor and writer James Cheung, all the way from Back East.
The man, the myth, and me.
Did you know there was art on the walls? Below: Dorian Gray vs. Wong Kar Wai.
Even outside, you couldn't spit without hitting an artist or member of the Choe crew.
Meanwhile, GR Surf Team member/part-time intern lurked next door at Victoria's Secret.
I've attended post-season games in the NBA, NFL, and MLB, but there's nothing like playoff hockey where every shift is intense and each possession is a matter of survival. Tonight I went to Staples, where the upstart Kings were playing the top-shelf Canucks, hoping to build on their surprising two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series. Before the game, the intersection of Figueroa and Olympic was flooded with Kings fans in black jerseys, including the statues of the Magic Man and Golden Boy.
The latest addition to the collection of bronze statues outside the arena is Chick Hearn, the late, great, hall-of-fame announcer for the Lakers. It's cool that there's a cast folding chair next to his likeness so fans can sit there and say, "That's right, Chick," and other Stu-isms.
A lesser-known landmark is the GR star in the Courtyard of Champions. I think I paid $150 (which went to charities) for it when the Staples was first built. (I found it pretty easily and gave it a spit shine.)
When Staples was built, I had many years of Kings mini-plans at the Fabulous Forum under my belt, and was excited about the new arena being built so close to home. It's cool that its primary tenants--the Lakers and the hockey club--are both in the playoffs now. (Sorry, Clips.)
To supplement the balloons, bands, and overall festive mood of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, trading cards of various Canucks players were strategically placed in the men's urinals. Above: Gold Medalist Robert Luongo. Below: Art Ross Trophy recipient Henrik Sedin.
And the game? The Kings dominated the first two periods, muscling the puck past Luongo in power plays with the Canucks finding ways to answer until the third period. That's when the Vancouver club, led by the Sedin twins, turned on the afterburners and blew past the young L.A. squad. Yet the goal differential was never more than one until the final minute when the Canucks scored an empty netter. But in hockey, even garbage time is cool; that means fight time.
The 4-6 outcome was disappointing for local hockey fans who hoped the series would return to Canada with the Kings in a commanding lead. But it was an entertaining, tight, and hard-hitting game to watch, and a good evening out--especially since it was a special outing with Wendy's cousin Mike, who's getting married this weekend. (It is also part of the blossoming Kings' maturation process, which will hopefully continue throughout the playoffs rather than be put on ice by the Canucks until next season.)
On Saturday, I drove through the SGV to participate in a panel with right-on filmmaker Tad Nakamura (A Song for Ourselves) and fellow magazine contributor Sylvie Kim (Hyphen, Koream). The occasion was a one-day conference titled "What Can I Do with Asian American Studies?" hosted by the Claremont Graduate University. The funny thing is that none of us are really getting rich and I didn't take a single Asian-American Studies class in my academic career. (I was an English major.)
But I have lived in Asian-American culture every day of my life, and what I do allows me to not only take time to consider and study it but also hopefully contribute to it. That turned out to be more than enough for me to be relevant to the talk, which went by way too fast.
Above, about half of the audience. It was the final panel of the day, so quite a few people had dropped out. Thanks to the guests who not only stuck around but actually stayed awake and asked decent questions. Tad and Syvie are cool, too. We do very different things but definitely have overlapping interests and causes.
One topic that came up was how we feel about being researched by academia. My response was that being studied, dissected, and deconstructed is flattering and awesome, but that whoever writes a thesis on GR should make the effort to ask Eric and me questions. We aren't rock stars and we try to answer all emails and phone calls, and it doesn't matter if the angle is complimentary or critical.
On the way home, I had to drop by Donut Man because it's the season of strawberry donuts. I enjoy participating in talks and getting to meet readers (and hopefully making new ones) but knowing that this legendary stand and seasonal favorite of GR was nearby didn't hurt.
Last night we walked right past the limos lined up outside the Taylor Swift show at Staples and went to L.A. Live to see The Specials at Club Nokia. Never been there before, so it took some poking around. Luckily, there were some signs that we were in the right place.
We got in just in time to find a decent spot while Fitz & the Depressions were playing their final songs. The Specials didn't go until at 9:40, when a recording of "Enjoy Yourself" lead into a raging performance of "Do The Dog." Of course, the band was energetic and tight. They should be since they've played plenty of music following the departure of original lead singer Terry Hall, who went on to play in Fun Boy 3, The Colour Field, and various solo, duo, guest, and Arabic music projects (all great). But Hall has a one-of-a-kind voice and the albums and singles they recorded with him aren't only some of my favorite albums, but spearheaded the multi-ethnic, blue-collar, ska revival and 2-Tone movement. To a certain generation of fans of British music, it's a big, big deal that he's back.
Terry Hall was as somber, dry, and stoic as ever, but he actually seemed to loosen up as the show went on. Tossing out water bottles, inviting everyone to visit the band at the Sunset Marquis, threatening to punch someone's face in if he kept gobbing at co-lead singer Lynval, and asking both band members and the crowd if they were having fun. He added to audience, "You're looking for a good time, I'm looking for partner in life." (I was informed by my friend that Terry Hall's reconnecting with his bandmates was part of a recovery program related to a bad spell triggered by bipolar issues.)
The 30-year-old songs about loneliness, joblessness, racism, nuclear proliferation, and urban decay not only sound great, but are as relevant as ever. The recession might be another reason why the band got together after all these years--that, and to wait out the third and fourth waves of ska...
Transplanted Brits, Latino skinheads, and old punks--all dressed in various combinations of Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, and Merc--made the floorboards bounce for much of the 90-minute-set, which included not only high-energy, crowd-pleasing favorites like "Dawning of a New Era," "Rat Race," and "Little Bitch," but well-played, moodier ones like "Stereotype," "Man at C&A," and "Ghost Town." (Drummer John Bradbury is a freaking machine and guitarist Roddy Radiation totally rips, but still no keyboardist and driving force Jerry Dammers.) I had super high expectations, they were exceeded, and one more entry has been taken off my very short list of musical heroes I need to see.
Last night, my good friend Thy Mai came over for dinner, but also to cut some hair. After 26 months, Eloise finally had enough hair to chop. It was also her first blow dry.
Eloise has known Thy and her husband Tadashi forever--like since a week or two after being born. So maybe that's why she was so good at closing her eyes and being still. (The example set by her cousin Lucia probably didn't hurt, either.)
I believe Thy called the cut a halo. I like how it's a cool, kind of sophisticated cut that reveals Eloise's face, but still lets her look like my baby.
Cate was due for a cut, too. She's been growing out her hair for almost two years now with the goal of having enough to donate. That meant no coloring, perms, etc.--not that she needs anything like that.
Thy gave Cate the option of getting her hair shaped and cutting it later so the remaining haircut wouldn't be so drastic, but Cate decided to go for it.
12-14 inches later. Less length, more natural volume.
The braid below is being donated to Wigs for Kids, a charity that helps children who lose their hair due to medical treatments, health conditions, or burn accidents. Awesome, right?
As if Saturday afternoon's transaction of trading in the GTI for a mini-van wasn't draining enough, the evening was pretty busy, too. First, we went to Zac and Rolanda's baby shower. Zac is instantly recognizable to GR readers as the bearded member of Dengue Fever. Senon, above, isn't hard to miss, either.
But the person of the hour, Rolanda, might be familiar, too. Longtime HK movie fans and zine readers should be familiar with Hong Kong Film Magazine. Yes, that was her doing. Amazing that we'd meet this far down the road.
Speaking of the road, Zac and the band are touring right after his brother Ethan gets hitched. (The betrothed couple are super nice, and also hardcore Scrabble players. We talked for a pretty long time about the game. I wish them all the best--unless we are on opposite sides of the lazy Susan.) If all goes according to plan, the baby will enter the world upon the band's return.
Next up was the opening of John Pham's first solo show at GR. Pretty much breaking out of the indie comic panels that he is best known for, he is out of his mind with geometry, pastels, and literally face melting images. Check out some amazing previews here.
Above, John's other half/zine scholar/karaoke expert Raina Lee with Dan Kitchens of kozyndan fame.
Above, with the Yikes! crew. Below, with Fawn Fruits.
All this added up to overload for Eloise... made better with ice cream at gr/eats.
On Friday night, the Beijing Invasion tour wrapped up its Southern California stint with a stop at the Elk's Lodge in Highland Park. The venue was a good one, tucked between railroad tracks and a residential area with a cheap cover (7 bucks) and a casual vibe with the bands wandering around the premises. Above, AV Okubo bassist Zuo Yi represents the old world with his squatting technique and old-school punk rock with Clash and Misfits logos painted onto his leather.
Carsick Cars' front man and guitar hero Zhang Shouwang chills with ace photog Ben before the show.
Sweden-born, Hong Kong-raised, and China-based P.K. 14 drummer Jonathan Leijonhufvud bought some cameras on eBay while in the U.S. This Polaroid folds flat for easier transport. It has a sonar sensor so it can take pics in the dark!
The first band was AV Okubo, whose heavy use of the keyboards reminded me of pre-hardcore punk when bands like the Screamers, Wall of Voodoo, or even Oingo Boingo could play to a crowd of mohawks.
Next up was P.K. 14. Yang Haisong looks like an Asian version of Milo but plays more like Guy (of the Descendents and Fugazi, respectively, of course). I'm not kidding or exaggerating.
P.K. 14's albums are great, but they don't do justice to the live set. Tons of energy and focus. I was too close to take photos of the members going airborne. Below, bassist Shi Xudong, who I interviewed when he was in Brain Failure!
It sucks to compare the bands to American counterparts, but that's what I'm going to do. There's a Rites of Spring or Embrace feel to the P.K. 14's sound, and the lyrics are similarly political and poetic--and translated into English in the CD booklets.
Super nice dudes, and one of my new favorite bands.
If you've been reading my blog, you already know my take on Carsick Cars: Noisy, VU- and SY-informed guitar-based post punk with Pavement-quality melodies. Standing right by the bass monitor brought out the bottom end's Joy Division qualities.
Monday's set at The Echo was impressive, but Friday's was even better with pieces blending into one another like a long, gorgeous, ear-splitting composition. No violin bow this time, but there was extra knob turning and tweaking.
Bassist Li Weisi, whose basslines are deceptively simple sounding.
Shouwang meets the fans from the front row! On the left taking the picture is the GR crew's own Luis, who heeded my urgings to check out the bands and didn't regret it. (And where were you?)
Carsick Cars, P.K. 14, and AV Okubo's trip to the U.S. was made possible by the Maybe Mars label, which was started by Charles Saliba and Nevin Domer. I think it's cool that the two are are not only fostering Bejing's young scene via the D-22 club and growing the music with the label, but taking the bands out for the world to see. Super dedicated, friendly, and smart guys.
After Highland Park, it was on to San Francisco for one last show before heading back to Beijing. All the bands ended their sets with, "See you next time," so those of you who were too lazy to attend the shows might have a second chance. Don't blow it again!
Last night, the Maybe Mars crew descended on GR2. The members of P.K. 14, Carsick Cars, and AV Okubo hung out to meet fans and sign some stuff, but mostly to relax on a rare night off during the Beijing Invasion tour. Above: AV Okubo meets Otamatone.
Ace photog Ben Clark and P.K. 14. Below, singer Yang with his new Jawbreaker badge (a remnant of Jawbreaker weekend at the GR stores).
I snagged a copy of Sound Kapital that was signed by all the bands (who are featured in it). There was one more signed copy at GR2 as of last night...
The after party? At gr/eats, of course. Gumbei! Nevin was stoked that there were vegan options.
These and more pics from last night have been added to Transmissions. Tonight's show is at the Viper Room, tomorrow night is Brick By Brick in San Diego, and then there's an Elk's Lodge gig. I'm going to at least one of those... See you there!
Carsick Cars have played NYC (their spiritual/musical home away from Beijing) and Austin (for obvious reasons) a bunch, but last night was their first gig in L.A. The closing slot on the Monday night residency isn't an especially splashy way to make an entrance--especially after 12:30 a.m.--but it was free and The Echo is one of the cooler venues in town, so I can't complain.
The night's headliners, Walking Sleep, were agreeable enough with pleasant harmonies and a Cure cover. Their well-scrubbed sound provided a nice contrast to the guitar noise that would follow.
Carsick Cars has a distinct No Wave influence, with a VU- and SY-informed wash providing the backdrop for Zhang Shouwang's Pavement-style melodies. Zhang is classically trained, and might have a dozen pedals at his feet not to mention a violin bow (top) and other devices (above).
The results are loud, intense, and gorgeous, and the set was too short. Definitely worth checking out as they plow through their Chinese Invasion tour of the West Coast with equally interesting label-mates P.K. 14 and AV Okubo at the Viper Room on Wednesday night before they head to San Diego and the Bay Area.
And then there's the in-store at GR2 tonight... Seeing them is cool and so is a rare chance to talk to them and hang out. See you there and the Viper Room, as well.
It's amazing how much better holidays are when you're a parent... Dorky things like egg hunts become amazing--just like an old pillow case can become a rad dress (thanks for passing it along, Ang). Next up: Fourth of July.
From GR64 to GR2: Carsick Cars, P.K. 14, AV Okubo in-store
Super, super stoked about this. We often get to introduce our readers to the artists seen in the magazine via our galleries in L.A., S.F., and NYC, but now have a chance to bring out some musicians. In this case, it's Carsick Cars all the way from Beijing, as well as their Maybe Mars labelmates P.K. 14 and AV Okubo, who are on tour with them. Tuesday, April 6 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. More details at GR2.net.
Carsick Cars are the real deal; they've played with Sonic Youth and hang out with Blixa Bargeld and Elliott Sharp. I can't wait to find out more about the other bands, too. See you there, as well as their shows at The Echo on Monday night and The Viper Room on Wednesday night!
Today, Sooyoung Park dropped by GRHQ. Wow, how long have I known Sooyoung? I first met him at Bogart's in Long Beach where his band Seam was sandwiched on a bill between Poster Children and The Fluid. It was the Chicago group's first time on the West Coast, and they needed a place to stay. I was a fan with a little bit of space and no roommates, so I offered my pad. I recall drummer Bob Wising throwing up on the side of my car on the way to the place I was renting in Los Feliz. This was well before Giant Robot...
My place became the band's crash-pad whenever they'd play L.A. and even though the lineup shifted over the years, Sooyoung was constant and we became pretty good friends. As GR started and got bigger, the band eventually co-headlined a show at our then-working space with my friend Lance's band, J Church (who also stayed with me when they toured L.A.). What a rad weekend that was. I rode down with both bands to catch the Casbah show in San Diego right afterward. Another time, I rode down with Seam to see them play with Three-Mile Pilot at the World Beat Center. Another stellar lineup.
Seems like a lifetime ago. These days Seam is on hiatus and has not played one but two reunion shows, and Sooyoung and his wife now live in Singapore, where he does tech stuff. (Remember his Perfect Day an issue or two ago?) But Sooyoung seems to keep up with his old bandmates and the re-release of music from his first band, Bitch Magnet, is pending. So it was great to catch up with him and find out all that he's been doing.
In observation of Jawbreaker Weekend, I made a mix CD to play at the GR shops. Thanks to the Etc. disc, the singles and compilation cuts are really easy to find, so I tried to sprinkle in some special cuts. The live version of "Chesterfield King" is only on anti-Bush comp from Fat as far as I know, but I'm not sure if the version of "Rich" is different than what's on the New Red Archives compilation (which is labeled a demo). Also, is the version of "You're The One That I Want" on the Jade Tree sampler any different than what's on Jets' CD? Probably not, but I used it anyway. J Church's "November" is one of the hand-burned series that Lance put out via mail order. Too bad the Moons and Horace Pinker songs I have are on vinyl and I don't have a MP3 turntable... As for the Thorns of Life song, I'm sure you can find it online. (I have a Forgetters show, too, but the quality isn't quite good enough.) No, Adam doesn't drum on the first J Church cut, but I thought the after-song banter was a nice touch.
Anyway, just in case you can't make it to the shops this weekend (where Jawbreaker and associated bands will be played all day both days, copies of the remastered Unfun given to a lucky few, and various merch will be on hand) here's how it goes:
J Church - Bomb (live at Gilman St.) / Yellow, Blue and Green EP Jawbreaker - Shield Your Eyes (Demo) / The World's In Shreds Vol. 2 7" Jawbreaker - Better Half / Split 7" with Crimpshrine Jets to Brazil - You're The One That I Want / Location Is Everything Vol. 2 Whysall Lane - The Way Back / S/T Jets to Brazil - Cat Heaven / Four Cornered Night Jawbreaker - Caroline / Brouhaha 7" Compilation J Church - Sound of Mariachi Bands / Mission District 7" Box Set Thorns of Life - I Hate New York (live at Gilman St.) / Bootleg Jawbreaker - Indictment / 24-Hour Revenge Therapy Jawbreaker - Into You Like a Train (Psychedelic Furs) / Dear You (Bonus Track) Jawbreaker - You Don't Know... (Joan Jett) / Chesterfield King EP Jawbreaker - Pack It Up (Pretenders) / Chesterfield King EP J Church - No Jazz / One Mississippi Jets to Brazil - One Summer Last Fall / Four Cornered Night Jets to Brazil - I Typed for Miles / Orange Rhyming Dictionary Whysall Lane - Time Machine / S/T Jets to Brazil - Sea Anenome / Orange Rhyming Dictionary Jawbreaker - Chesterfield King (Live) / Rock Against Bush Vol. 2 J Church - November (Live at Gilman St.) / Culture Is The Opposite of Life Jawbreaker - Rich / Hardcore Breakout U.S.A.
Yup, lots of stuff missing. Gotta save something for next year when Adam releases remastered versions of 24-Hour Revenge Therapy and/or Bivouac on Blackball...
You might recall the Fawn Fruits artwork that accompanied Thao Nguyen's contributions to GR over the last year or two. Not long after, I asked Daniel if he'd paint a portrait of Wendy and Eloise because I thought his style would make an interesting one. To be honest, I thought it wasn't going to happen because he became super busy with work and other projects. But he contacted me last week and said it was almost ready! Today, he gave it to me over lunch at gr/eats. The piece is outstanding, and now Daniel is in the same, ultra-exclusive category as Dehara (who made the cake topper when Wendy and I got married).
Yes, the food was excellent, too. Above is Michelle's favorite: tofu tacos with no cheese, extra spicy. I have actually asked for "Michelle's favorite" when giving an order there. Below is the curry udon, which I devoured. The dish has evolved from a curry-based soup with noodles to a noodle dish with udon gravy. Incredible. In the background, you can see Daniel's shrimp curry, too.
But back to the artwork. Daniel was working with old photos of Eloise, when she wasn't much older than one. This is what she looked like this morning, now two years old. I should have saved some noodles for her!
