LA, land of the car (wish we had one)
LA is an interesting place. We are spoon fed images on TV almost every night depicting LA as a glamorous city. Maybe it helps if you're on the A list or have a limo to move you around because it seems that everything is really spread out without any collection of little communities to amble through. Walking does not seem to be a popular hobby (unless you're a tourist with no car and no chauffeur). A lot of the famous land marks are surrounded by derelict blocks or ugly car parks. If you are getting the vibe that we preferred San Francisco, you would be right.
All that said, we have managed long walks down Melrose, Rodeo, Santa Monica, and of course Sunset. When we decided to check out the music scene on Sunset, we had the choice of three famous venues. The Whiskey-au-go-go (The doors were the house band in the 60s), the Roxy and Johnny Depp's Viper Room. The Viper room got our vote in the end. A little bit of fast talking (and an understanding with the bar maid to actually buy drinks) had us seated at a reserved table right at the front of the stage. We enjoyed the first two bands we saw, and the lead singer of The Committee was channeling Mick Jagger in a major way, right down to the pout. Maddi was upset that none of the bands had middle aged balding stage dancers like the last time she was there but you can't have everything!
We made the long trek down Santa Monica Blvd to the beach yesterday. It was a lovely walk from Santa Monica down to Venice Beach. We loved the Santa Monica pier and had a great time looking through bohemian Venice Beach. It's a curious mix of hippy, artist, and tourist trap. Not forgetting the open air Muscle Beach Gym where you simply must lift weights with your best jeans and dress shows on. You are on display after all.
Last night we headed down to the Red Cat theatre at the stunning Walt Disney Hall to see Redd Kross. The support act were a group of amazing punk brats called "Be your own Pet" who loved screaming and thrashing around the stage. The lead singer had the most amazing mop of platinum blond hair - half of the gig passed before we saw her face! They seemed upset the crowd was not getting into it, but it was a tough gig, when the whole crowd were die hard Redd Kross fans who were there to see the band's reunion show. But, in anyone's book, if you knock the drum kit over at the end, you must be cool.
It was an amazing moment when Redd Kross returned to the stage after a nine year absence; 12 years since their last visit to Australia. With a line-up that hailed back to the late '80s, they put on a show that covered the entire gambit of their nearly 30 year history. It was a great night that ended too soon. Luckily, the bar was open afterwards and the beer still cheap. Adam managed to meet Robert Hecker (guitarist) and Steven McDonald (bass) as they made their way through the bar to the car park. They both seemed like nice blokes.
Off to Seqouia tomorrow and then Vegas. More stories soon!
All that said, we have managed long walks down Melrose, Rodeo, Santa Monica, and of course Sunset. When we decided to check out the music scene on Sunset, we had the choice of three famous venues. The Whiskey-au-go-go (The doors were the house band in the 60s), the Roxy and Johnny Depp's Viper Room. The Viper room got our vote in the end. A little bit of fast talking (and an understanding with the bar maid to actually buy drinks) had us seated at a reserved table right at the front of the stage. We enjoyed the first two bands we saw, and the lead singer of The Committee was channeling Mick Jagger in a major way, right down to the pout. Maddi was upset that none of the bands had middle aged balding stage dancers like the last time she was there but you can't have everything!
We made the long trek down Santa Monica Blvd to the beach yesterday. It was a lovely walk from Santa Monica down to Venice Beach. We loved the Santa Monica pier and had a great time looking through bohemian Venice Beach. It's a curious mix of hippy, artist, and tourist trap. Not forgetting the open air Muscle Beach Gym where you simply must lift weights with your best jeans and dress shows on. You are on display after all.
Last night we headed down to the Red Cat theatre at the stunning Walt Disney Hall to see Redd Kross. The support act were a group of amazing punk brats called "Be your own Pet" who loved screaming and thrashing around the stage. The lead singer had the most amazing mop of platinum blond hair - half of the gig passed before we saw her face! They seemed upset the crowd was not getting into it, but it was a tough gig, when the whole crowd were die hard Redd Kross fans who were there to see the band's reunion show. But, in anyone's book, if you knock the drum kit over at the end, you must be cool.
It was an amazing moment when Redd Kross returned to the stage after a nine year absence; 12 years since their last visit to Australia. With a line-up that hailed back to the late '80s, they put on a show that covered the entire gambit of their nearly 30 year history. It was a great night that ended too soon. Luckily, the bar was open afterwards and the beer still cheap. Adam managed to meet Robert Hecker (guitarist) and Steven McDonald (bass) as they made their way through the bar to the car park. They both seemed like nice blokes.
Off to Seqouia tomorrow and then Vegas. More stories soon!
posted by Adam & Maddi at 3:47 am
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