2007 Coachella Photos

Coachella 2007 Photos: Flickr Slide Show

pretty much what it says. this is the end of the coachella coverage. it's been a blast.

Show Review: The Bushes, The Finches, Kite Flying Society (No Kite Flying Society Review)

Anti Monday League
Kite Flying Society
The Finches
The Bushes
Casbah

Let me just pose a question: When is the next Kite Flying Society record coming out? Seriously- if you could give me a hint, that would be useful. Thank you.

I mainly went to pay homage to Tim Pyles who turned... 29... this previous friday. Tim Pyles is a great guy. I heard him on the radio this past... sunday? and he was talking about lcd soundsytem and then he played north american scum and I was like "aw. that's what radio should sound like." just like tim pyles. Dialed In Rosey managed to convince me to deliver the birthday cake we bought for him. ha ha! didn't hear what she was saying at beauty bar or i never would have agreed to it. CDW managed to muck up the "P" written on the cake - it's CDW's fault! but the man deserves a fucking birthday cake, is all i'm saying. Last year you will recall Grand Ole Party played Tim Pyles B-day night at the San Diego Sports Club....you were there right? catdirt reviewed that show, just look it up in my May 2006 posts.

So anyway we rolled up and said hi to kelly kfs... who introduced herself to cdw for the 22nd time! we both know you kelly, k? Then- special treat- David from the Che was there. He books shows at Che and is in Red Pony Clock (trombone) and Endless Bummer (playing habitat- friday? sunday? Rosey says friday, i say sunday- bet she's right.)

And um... we watched the bushes. i thought they were pretty cool in a silverlake/mickey avalon/novelty rap way. good beauty bar band. they were both wearing green turtlenecks and like, grey sweat pants and i was like (honestly) "well, that's fucking cool." and they had a lap top to play the music over which they rapped. you get the idea.

the finches was a guy n' gal playing acoustic guitar. ACOUSTIC GUITAR MOTHERFUCKER. That shit IS FUCKING HEAVY. I have no beef with that style but I'd rather see it at the Habitat. I was like "sleepy time"- no offense- i'm pretty busy and i wanted to pay homage to tim's birthday more then see the show itself per se.

the bushes are from los angeles and the finches are from san francisco which means kite flying society was the only local band on the bill... which is fine. hey- whatever tim pyles wants to do-- he does. You'll hear no criticism from me!

didn't stay for kite flying society- but hey- when is the record coming out? let me know. send up a flare. "throw me a frickin bone here" oh snap- five year old catch phrase- you know that's how i do, aight.

book review: los angeles and the automobile, the making of the modern city

Los Angeles and the Automobile
The Making of the Modern City
by Scott L. Bottles
1987
University of California Press

I wish I could read more. There is nothing more interesting then a good book, though when I find myself in a Borders or Barnes and Nobles I find myself asking "where the hell do you keep the good books?" The answer is that they are mostly online and they are mostly used. Amazon is my best friend, and it allows me to explore my areas of interest (social/culture history, midevial history) without having to worry about whether Borders carries that partic book or not.

I usually read a give title because I have a question that I hope that invidividual book will answer. For this book I was looking for some insight on Los Angeles's change from a city with the most public transportation in the united states (true!) to its current iteration as the heart as "autopia." Urban historians have created two schools of thought on this question: one is that the automobile was simply techinically superior and that it was a case of "technological darwinism". The second explanation is probably the idea that has the most currency with modern people who have thought about issue- that is that the Auto industry conspired against the public railways to destroy public transportation in Los Angeles.

As Bottles convincingly explains- neither theory is correct. The fact is that the public hated public transportation, and embraced the automobile as a "democratic" "liberating" alternative to the street car. Oh the irony. Bottles demonstrates the myriad of criciticisms that were levelled at the street cars, almost from their inception.

Once the automobile emerged, the question became whether public transporation would be elevated above the streets, or whether a subway would be built. No consensus was ever reached on this issue, while there was a broad, public consensus that gas taxes should be levied on motorists for road building. Eventually, this led to the construction of a "freeway" system, well before the federal government decided to get involved in the builiding process.

Bottle answer is that the public CHOSE automobiles because they LIKED cars and HATED public transportation.

show review: Fifty on Their Heels. The Muslims, New Motherfuckers & The Corvinas @ the Che Cafe

I am SO tired of the down town scene. What's the head count? What's your draw? How's the bar total? Money, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. I don't care whether the downtown venues make money or not- because you know what? they don't pay the bands shit. Why should I be busting my hump promoting shows so the venues can make their bar money selling their alcoholic poison to twenty somethings? I'm glad downtown venues are embracing local music. I'm glad that the tourism bureau is promoting music. I'm glad that local radio pays lip service to local music. I'm glad that newspapers are paying attention. Good for all that.

The Che Cafe is so perfect in every respect as an all-ages venue that it literally defies analysis. It is a paradise, a utopia of D.I.Y. culture. Of course- paradise sounds like a really boring place, and utopia literally means "no place." The problems come with the territory. But I'll take the problems that come with putting on a show at the Che Cafe with the problems that come with the downtown scene EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The Che Cafe is a home for DIY culture, it is a lighthouse, a beacon in the darkness of the war between independent thought and corporate mass media culture. I'd rather draw 25 paid to the Che Cafe then 250 paid at the Beauty Bar San Diego. Simply put, there is more intrinsic cultural value derived from a single Che Cafe then a million, billion shows at SOMA.

These shows are utterly indpendent, without corporate support or sponsorship and, ipso facto, that makes the artistic expression more authentic and original then the products of the culture industry. Also, this institution (the Che Cafe) sustains the light of independent expression inside the fierce enveloping darkness of the mass media and the domination of independent expression by the culture industry.

You parents with young children- you bring them to the Che Cafe to teach them about the culture of independent music. Choose your shows carefully, but do choose, do paricipate. Don't let your children grow up in the thrall of corporate media.

A common tactic of insurgents is to retreat to the hinterlands in times of weakness. Mao did it, Castro did it- Che- the man himself- did it. There is your connection between the man in the venue. Will the uprising ever follow? No. It never will. The forces of corporate power are too strong, the money too powerful. It is futile struggle, but it is, above all- a worthwhile, meaningful struggle. The flickering light of independant culture needs to be carefully tended in this time of cultural darkness. The Che Cafe is like a monastery hugging the coast of Ireland during the dark ages. The monks within carefully inscribing illuminated manuscripts for generations in the future that they will never know.

And about the show last night? It was fucking amazing. The Corvinas are an important new act on the San Diego scene- they have a garage sound that merits attention- a sound that would mesh well with many, many bands- grand ole party, vinyl radio, etc. Book them!

The New Motherfuckers kicked out the jams in a mind bending 45 minute set that practically caused my head to burst into flames.

Fifty on Their Heels- incredibly- will be playing the main stage (6 PM) of the 2007 UCSD Sun God Festival- two weeks from now- but last night they played some new songs and generally brought the thunder that all have come to expect.

And the Muslims- have their drummer sitch lined out (and he is a great fucking drummer, they bought a brand new van and they were AMAZING, showing new material and ending with an epic 10 minute jam session. God it was a great night. I think I'm in love with the Che Cafe. I just want to do shows away from the pressure and expectations of downtown. I don't care about the crowds, or the buzz, forget all that. The power comes from just doing the thing itself, from putting on the shows, from recording the music, from setting up and executing the tours. The rest of it- it comes, or it doesn't come, but the thing is to have a great time, or its not really worth it.

And last night- that- well that- was a great fucking time. And I want to do it again- I want to capture the feeling of last night, put it in a jar and keep it under my pillow. And I never want to go downtown again. And I never want to waste another night at the beauty bar again. The Che Cafe is one of the great DIY venues in all these united states- and you out of town bands- you take heed. The peacefulness, the serenity, the vibe- all of it. This is what I want to do. I don't care about the rest of it. You keep your radio, your newspapers, your magazines, your downtown shows. I don't want to compete with you. This is not a competition. We are fighting for scraps off the masters table and it is a pointless struggle that we will never win.

I had a great time last night- thank you to everyone- it was a spiritually revitalizing experience. I want to do it again and soon. All the bands were great. It was fun. Isn't that the point?