ReDISCovery...

Goddamn, I am clever. So do you guys (I know you don't, Mom) remember Wolfmother? They were these Australian fellows who formed a band and could not manage to stay together for more than three years (to be fair, one of the original band members is still trying to make a new incarnation of Wolfmother happen). But more importantly, do you remember their 2005 self-titled debut album?



That was the cover art. Well, I remember Wolfmother. Okay, so you could argue that this band sounds like a total Led Zeppelin rip-off. But honestly, if you're going to steal from a classic rock band, Led Zep is a really fantastic choice. I have to give Pandora credit for reminding me about them, but then I went and listened to the entire album and WOW. There are so few albums out there now that I can listen to all the way through (In fact, my friend berated my iPod for not having enough "complete" albums on it but like, I just can't waste the money). I like every song on Wolfmother and it just flows SO WELL (there is not a less douche-y way to say that, I checked).

Obviously, everyone likes "Woman" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzqTz_i1NXQ). It's big and 70's and really catchy. I personally love "Joker & The Thief" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nigSVYeBYEI&feature=fvst) for its awesome, 80's-stadium guitar and "Vagabond" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObFknA9M0H), which is a song that happens when Led Zep's "Tangerine" makes a baby with The White Stripes' "We're Going to be Friends." Also "Tales From the Forest of Gnomes" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzV1NY_Mib4) is a delightful song and not just because the word "gnome" is so funny. Oh, and there is a MEAN flute solo on "Witchcraft" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYkKi6kKX50). Seriously, each track is completely worth listening to.

This album may be too derivative to be legendary and the band as it originally was may have not lasted long enough to really make an impact, but sometimes it's just fun to remember a simpler time (2005) and re-listen to an album that just made you feel effing GOOD. Okay, time to get on a plane to Boston (NOT similar to Silverlake) to see my friend Siobhan get married (that Roy is VERY lucky)...Happy Friday!

Yeah, I'm Seeing This...

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/07/pearl_jam_twenty_trailer_camer.html

David Lynch interviewing Eddie Vedder? Yes.

Five Songs I Needed Today...

Mondays are hard. So there's nothing better than unwinding with some beautiful melodies after a long day at the office (okay, so I hung out with Anna and watched The Bachelorette first and that put me in a great mood because the season is so terrible that we ignored it and just watched amazing youtube videos like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uUlOAyQsn4&feature=player_embedded). Anyway, this is what I am listening to tonight:


1) "Parade" by Delta Spirit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLsCZwRZeHM). I think this is a great band. I've seen them live like, 5 times and every single performance they just kill it. I think they occasionally live in Silverlake, and I am hoping to see Matt Vasquez at Forage any day now. I fell in love with this band when they performed this exact song at this awesome venue called the Bootleg, which is like a tiny barn with a stage magically located on the East side of Los Angeles (http://www.bootlegtheater.org/).


2) "I Cry Alone" by The Black Keys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNYwB_odaxg). I mean, sure, who doesn't? This is my boys all gritty and stripped down and I DARE YOU not to like this song.


3) "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGEeneO-t0). Not-so-arguably one of the greatest songs of all time, as in, it fucking IS so don't argue with me. This song is romantic, sexy, fun, and when Tommy James does that strobe-light voice thing angels weep.


4) "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKTTlVGIeFk). Sometimes I just need some Stevie. This is one of those songs that just builds to this awesome climax and then quiets back down in the most satisfying way. It also makes you want to ride on a white stallion in a flowy dress through a meadow. 


5) "Hear My Train A Comin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y2_aDVWfJc). I guess this is my obligatory "27 Club" shout-out in the wake of Amy Winehouse's untimely and wasteful death. This song rocks.

Things I Did Last Night...

This isn't really in Silverlake, but the show I went to last night was close enough to blog about it. It was Kalen's birthday (Kalen, you're a special, magical delight of a human!), and so we went to Point Break Live. You read that right:

http://www.pointbreaklive.com/pointbreaklive-/HOME.html

This show is not for kids (I mean ,it's in a BAR). It's basically a bunch of goons re-enacting the movie but the greatest part is that they have an audience member play Johnny Utah, the part made famous by the "gifted" actor Keanu Reeves (I personally love Reeves and don't even get me started on the genius of Bill and Ted). Last night the guy who played Utah was in his 60's, which was pretty amazing. The show is also very "interactive," in that you pay a dollar for a plastic poncho at the door because the actors spray you with all kinds of fun shit throughout the night (water, fake blood, sunscreen). The spraying was not my favorite part however, some very attractive topless gentlemen play the surfers and I found myself highly amused for the majority of the evening.

Then I went to a party at a mansion in Silverlake. Seriously. There is a bidet in this place. Just a typical night, you know, no big deal.

3 Songs I Needed Today...

Guys, today was rough. My work computer basically convulsed and then died in front of me and I was trying to bring my A-game to every task, but felt like it came across as a sad B-. ANYWAY, I wouldn't have made if it weren't for 3 songs I listened to on repeat on the journey back to Silverlake that lifted my spirits and made me whole again. I wanted to share:

1) "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine," by The White Stripes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKTG05rw2iw). I mean, I could talk about the brilliance of Jack White FOREVER and about how I love ALL of his musical endeavors, but The White Stripes really have a special place in my heart. This particular song has a late 60's vibe about it (I think it's that little yelp that plays on a loop that really does it for me) and the guitar throughout is just insane. I have no idea how to play the guitar, but I know Jack is doing it well on this track.

2) "Bonnie and Clyde," by Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIAb9ClVoZc). This song also has a yelp on loop, so I guess I am kind of into that noise and is totally 60's/70's, so I guess I am feeling that time period today. This ditty also plays in a pivotal scene in one of my favorite LA movies Laurel Canyon. If you haven't seen it, just like, go to Blockbuster right now (confession: I don't have Netflix because I resist the future) and rent it; it's super-sexy and makes Cali look fantastic and Christian Bale, Frances McDormand and especially Alessandro Nivola (yum) are all great in it. The movie also has a killer soundtrack (and is a way better Lisa Cholodenko movie than that slightly fake-y The Kids Are All Right).

3) "Soft Shock," by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqyqHZEDbRI). I feel like I might've put this song on a playlist before, but like, it's so damn good, just listen to it. I feel strong feelings for Karen O and like most of what this band does, but I just thought It's Blitz! was a particularly sick album. This song is soft (yeah, I know the title sort of explains that), but you can still move to it.

All I am saying is, listen to these three songs in a row and everything will be better. Goodnight.

Something About Carmaggedon...

Okay, so most of you in America know that they shut down the 405 freeway in LA this weekend. People were freaking out left and right that they wouldn't be able to leave their houses for 48 hours and so last week traffic was actually really horrible, humans were driving like rabid dogs (hence the gross gridlock), and there was a mass exodus out of LAX over the course Thursday and Friday. But guess what? There were no cars on the road this weekend.

Since I moved to Silverlake, I've been more reluctant to visit my friends in the WEST. I actually work on that side of town now, so I've been better in the last few months, but for a while, I wouldn't really go beyond Robertson Boulevard. This weekend I went to the westside both nights. And it was QUICK. Like, Friday night it took me 17 minutes to get to The Mint to see my friend Andrew jam with some cats. I am aware that I just typed "jam with some cats," but don't let that take away from the fact that Andrew DeWitt is an insanely talented musician who also has a gentle nature and a solid collection of plaid tops. You also might not know how far it is from my apartment to The Mint, but it can take up to 45 minutes when the roads are bad.

Saturday, I went all the way to VENICE (I know, I am slightly overly-impressed with myself) to my friend Nora Kletter's house. Nora is just as talented as Andrew, but as a writer (she also makes the most DELICIOUS alcoholic lemonade that I would happily drive a great distance to consume). Again, no traffic. Anyway, there might've been terrible issues coming in the other direction (where, to be fair, the freeway was actually closed and to be really fair, my route to get places never included the 405 in the first place), but I want to rename this weekend CarmaHEAVEN and thank the motor vehicle gods for their kindness. Okay, I thought I should just say SOMETHING about this event.

Someone Else's Playlist...

Guys, I don't want to make a habit of directing you (Mom) to other blogs, because I need to keep every reader I can get, but Anthony has a blog, http://softpipesmusic.com, and he just put up this mix called Modern Music for Making Out. I downloaded the entire thing (for free!) and you should too. I will now spend all day listening to it, throwing in a smattering of R.L. Burnside jams, because I just discovered him and love him. Try "Someday Baby": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gALi97_vqkU.

I might be trapped in my apartment for the next 48 hours because of Carmaggedon (also because I am lazy), but Happy Friday peoples!