Return of F N M

Flashback to around a year ago...One of my favorite and influential(to me) bands had reunited. News that Faith No More had regrouped and would be playing festivals in Europe had me wanting to travel for a specific reason...to please my ears. Sadly travel was not in the budget and with the only dates scheduled far far away, I felt I was missing something grand. FF to two months ago. FNM had added a second date in Los Angeles. I was beside myself, and got tickets as they went on sale for the Hollywood Palladium. Reviews of their shows I'd read were very positive. Last Wednesday I got to hear for myself...I was not disappointed. The band took the stage as if they had never left. An hour and a half of solid sound rang the crowd into a frenzy, allowing me and my amigo to be just 3 deep from center stage and Mike Patton and friends. Not since 311 at the Bren Center had I been squeezed and crushed so much, but it was soo worth it. Mikes vocals were spot on and Bordin's drum beats along with his trademark dreads took me back when rock still rocked. Song after song, I could have fought the crowd for another 3 hours but before I knew it the night was over. Their final North American show of the reunion tour was over. I feel I need to revisit each of their records again to further appreciate what they have given the world. I would love to experience them again. I took a few pics with my crap camera phone (see below). For some quality pics of the action check out LA weekly's photos of our Dec 1st show. http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/faith-no-more-the-palladium-31976265/

Music

After a long blog layoff...here we go.

Music is one of the best parts of life in my opinion. Linked to life even if you don't quite realize it. For example: Last song of H.S. prom: Black by Pearl Jam; and I could go on listing extensivly. So needless to say, I enjoy most types of music and love going to see live shows. The first recent show I checked out was an old high school friend actually. Playing under the name N.Sputnik http://music.nsputnik.com/ this was the second time I'd experienced N.Sputnik's smooth trippy sounds. The bleeps churps and tones blend into a sensation that likely could not be perfectly replicated twice, which makes each time new...different, amazing.



N.Sputnik will likely be playing more shows in the LA/OC area soon. Catch his experimental grooves if ambient is your style.


Part 2 of this post is music/LA lifestyle based.
A few weeks back I was eager to get my dance on, and not just at the local club, I wanted to see Paul Oakenfold! I'd grown up on his stuff, though in recent years my tastes had taken me away from the big DJ sounds. Well, I'm glad to be back. After standing in line over an hour outside the Music box in Hollywood, I was in. Last time I'd gone to a late night/after hours music event was when I was on Mykonos in Greece. I had a blast dancing till dawn, and was eager to see how things would go in Los Angeles. I was treated to the bass heavy beats of DJ Chuckie till about 1:45am. The Chuckster was a crowd favorite and seemed to feed off the crowd, everybody was having a nice time. It was prior to his set ending that I gave up my ride home, so that I could actually stay finish listening to Chuckie and finally see Oakenfold. This ment I would be hitting the streets of H.Wood at bout 4:15am to try and get home to north Orange County. But I had tons more dancing to do before that happened. Oakenfold took to the stage and did not disapoint. His lighter style is more to my liking and as the morning grew later the crowd thinned a bit. Better viewing for me, and more dance space so I was not complaining.



As Oakenfold faded out the last song, I felt great, content with a sweet show. As I walked out the door that slowly changed.

The options I had for getting home at 4:20am in LA are very limited. One of the things I really dislike about this area. Amazingly the Red Line metro's first train started at 4:50am at a nearby station. This was good news, even if it was a half hour wait for the train. The first train was amazingly populated with a few late nighters as well as people going to/from work. Downtown I make the switch to the Blue Line and head toward Long Beach. It was at this point I did not know what my next move would be. From Wardlow station, could I get a cab to get me home for the $20 I had left in my wallet? Because I used to ride the Blue Line when I worked downtown, I seemed to remember a bus that went to Seal Beach, but at 5:45 in the morning? The bus service started at 6 but took me to downtown SB, close but still aways away from my pad. I attempted calling 2 cab companies but niether would service where I was. It was at this point I decided to let public transport control my desteny. It was near 6 now and I did not have change for the bus. Purchasing Skittles at a service station I now had some smaller bills as I waited across the street for a bus, that hopefully would show up soon.



Thankfully it did, around 6:10am. This first bus had one other rider aside from myself. Still under cover of darkness the bus snaked through LB and eventually ended up on Main St. SB. Close but...still far. A short walk over to SB blvd. I was unsure when exactly the next bus would be coming by, so I walked some more. Up the hill to the main base enterance. Another bus! Closer still but still a good ways away. I ride up the blvd to Katella and get off. I again need change since OCTA does not offer transfers. Finding out when the bus I need down Katella will not be by for a half hour. It's 7:25am and I don't feel like waiting around for that long, so I walk on. Not a bad trek but I'm ready for some sleep at this point. A block or so from home I see the bus cruise by, and I'm surprisingly fine with that. A great evening over all, just took a little longer to hit my pillow than I had hoped. Good times!

Flickr Slide Show

This is a brief sample of some of my older photos that I still have up on flickr. Special thanks to Mike B. for instructions on how to embed this in!

It was time

It goes
7/15/10

Back to the shack,
careful not to break a back,
expressions unseen to the naked eye
are not truely expressed now are are they,
just lay back down,
all dressed up,
with no place to go,
wave goodbye to the show,
when you don't really need it,
it's always there,
and so it goes,
on into the night,
far from the sun,
so far gone,
a final easing of the pain.

'Euro Trash' Art Exhibit

Through a random art inquiry this show was mentioned to me. I'm so glad I decided to go ahead and check out the exhibit, and recrute a couple friends along for the ride. It runs through next weekend so get there and check it out if you are into street/mixed media art type stuff. The Gallery is in Bev Hills..90210. http://www.lazinc.com/exhibitions/
I really enjoyed the works by JR, Conor Harrington, as well as Vhils. Vhils stuff was amazing in person, my cell camera does not do it any justice.


Vhils


Vhils


JR


Vhils


Vhils

The Great Motivator

After a bit of a stagnant period I feel reinvigorated, strangely after being burned by a friend/business associate. This is the second time in my life this has happened. I cannot wrap my brain around how someone you help out and dedicate time to can so easily dismiss you. Without so much as a statement or explanation. I'm not looking for a confrontation, but is it that hard to be straight up and honest with someone and just explain the situation and the reasoning? I suppose this is the age of disposable friends, but seriously.

If the years of dedication and support without asking for more than a thank you is to high of a price to pay, then so be it. The burning of the bridge has only fueled my fire, so for that I guess I say...Thank you.

From the Vault

I recently cracked open a binder from back when I was in school. The following is one of the writings I found:

4-14-98

Arms are tight,
the skin aged,
his hair is grayed from the passing of years,
his shirt,
weathered,
missing buttons cause a flapping in the air
as he mossies past the vintage furniture store,
his head droops slightly,
keeping the sun from his darkened, leathery face,
his smoke black dress shoes have little sole left,
the cow hide is cracked,
but obviously comfortable as he shuffles over the
sparkling sidewalk.

Scoot! Magazine Submissions

I submitted several pictures for Scoots' art issue last week. No word if any were accepted so thought I would post'em here.

Hogmany

The real Helter Skelter! If it wasn't raining I totally would have gone to the top and then gone for a ride.


Bloc, a "red" themed bar. Site of beverages before we rang in the new year at George's Square.



Kelvingrove Park's frozen water fountain.

What I would drive if I lived anywhere else.

St. Cyrus area beach.

The above photos are from my recent trip to Scotland over New Years. Despite the heaviest snow fall in the UK in 20 years it was an amazing trip. Cities visited: Aberdeen, Montrose, St. Cyrus, Glasgow. http://www.winterfestglasgow.com/

Q: to the masses that frequent this blog

Thoughts on the layout changes? Good or bad? I like it for the most part, aside from the old school brown wall paper look pattern. To drab perhaps?

UPDATE 1/26: Look has been changed again, no og brown wall paper look. Enjoy!