Phoenix @
The Wiltern Los Angeles CA.
June 28th, 2009.
The Book of Manu
translated by Wendy Doniger
Land of the Lost
starring Will Ferrell & Danny McBride
Transformers
director Michael Bay
I. Concert Review: Phoenix @ The Wiltern June 28th, 2009
Driving to the concert venue, I was thinking about an article I had read in the LA Times that day, about how Korea Air was going to demolish the Wilshire Grand hotel in downtown and construct an enormous luxury hotel, brand tbd. The Wiltern is in what is now known as "Korea Town" and if you've been to Los Angeles more then 5 times and haven't at least checked out the area (i.e. driven through) you are missing out. Korea as a culture is one the rise. Have you heard of Pinkberry? That was started by a Korean LA resident. She was 32.
The Wiltern is a Live Nation venue, but it's a top-of-the-line facility to listen to live music, even if the atmosphere made me think of the enormous Wilshire synagogue two blocks down: Live Nation: We're No Fun!(TM)
Awesome Baby opened. They have a connection to MGMT? Playing the Casbah tonight. I heard one song.
Phoenix took the stage promptly at 9:05 PM. Well, that is one thing that Live Nation has going for it: They're not afraid to start a sold-out rock concert at 9 PM. Rock and roll shall live forever on the NYSE.
Phoenix gave the crowd what it wanted- the material from their new album. It was a crisp 75 minute set that had us at the hotel bar by 11 PM. They opened with Liztomania and closed with 1901. And they were, with few exceptions, really good. The crowd was regular-people heavy. I imagine Live Nation has some closed circuit lounge where the VIP's can hang out with schmucks from the San Fernando valley who pay $2000 for the privliege. Or like, they're next to one another. Regardless of my personal animus towards Live Nation, the Wiltern is a good place to hear a rock and roll concert. I even saw someone toke up, which is something I would never do at a Live Nation venue. I guess I'm just a pussy.
II. Book Review: The Laws of Manu translated by Wendy Doniger
This is likely to be the last in my series of Hindu-related book reviews. Many will no doubt sigh with relieve but I wanted to take one last crack at emphasizing how interesting these books (The Rig Veda, Upanishads & The Laws of Manu) and accessible these books really are. Anyone who is comfortable reading Homer or the Bible can relate to the deep wisdom of this triology of Hindu cultural/religious works. Hopefully, that's everybody.
From a modern perspective, the Laws of Manu is probably your best bang for your buck of the three. The edition I read was less then 300 pages, and you basically get a comprehensive look at ancient/midevial hindu and indo european culture. It's more accessible then the Bible, that is for sure. Reading from page to page, the reader has to constantly confront apparent contradictions and reconsiliations that make for energizing mental activity. It's easy to see why the British fell in love with the Laws of Manu, and also easy to see why this book is "most-often-burned" at protests held by members of the indian "Untouchables" caste. The Laws of Manu is probably the best single source on operating and maintaining a "caste system" in all of recorded history. Perhaps a dubious distinction, but an important one. Caste/class issues are common to all of humanity.
III. Movie Reviews: Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, Transformer directed by Michael Bay
These two movies are both the worst pieces of excrement and no one should see them ever.
0 comments:
Post a Comment