Boy Least Likely To are an English duo that craft exquiste pop songs that evoke warm, fuzzy childhood memories. Think of them as comfort food, but if your ears were mouths and you ate food through your ears (I mean eating with one ear at a time, obviously, because you will have to tilt your head to get the food in.) Pitchfork gave their LP Best Party Ever an 8.5, if that sort of thing means anything to you.

Courtesy of The Roxy, losanjealous has pairs of tickets for readers to see Boy Least Likely To this Saturday, June 3. E-mail us at contest@losanjealous.com to win.

UPDATE: All tickets, all gone now. Thanks to all who entered. Winners have been notified, so check your e-mail.

If you don’t win this time, some tickets are still available for purchase with currency. They are a neat band and by all accounts a great live act, so check them out.

P.S.: We gave subscribers to our weekly concert picks mail list the first batch of these tickets, so please get on our list if you want to get the jump on giveaways. (Winners who entered through the e-mail have already been selected and notified.)

P.P.S.: We have giveaways lined up for a bunch of hot shows throughout June, so check back in with us early and often.

A day at the stadium with Losanjealous

20-21 May 2006

My weekend consisted of two games at Chavez Ravine. I was there to see a team originally from Brooklyn, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitted against another team, originally called Los Angeles, before they moved to Orange County to become the California, then Anaheim, and again the Los Angeles Angels…of Anaheim. It should be said that I root for the latter, but that’s neither here nor there.

We were late to Dodger Stadium and moved deftly through the roundabout lots, reaching our seats at the top of the second inning. Walked straight past Panda Express (fully stocked at game’s end..what becomes of the excess food?) and the overpriced Carl’s Jr and on to the real food.

Stopped at two stands that stood next to each other. One, the customary Dodger stand that gave me options of standard Dodger Dogs measuring approximately 13″, roughly 1.5″ past the bun on either side, and the second: the all-beef Super Dodger Dog stand. The Super Dodger Dog measures to the end of the bun, but is approximately 2.3 times the diameter of the former. Both of these gentlemen are created by Farmer John. There were also a variety of brats and hot links.

»continue reading Dodger Dogs: Girth vs. Length

Saturday, 27 May, 6pm. Culver City.

Gallery Row. Openings galore. Zombies at sixspace. Portraits at Blum and Poe. In the narrow alleyway behind La Cienega, a small pin-striped truck putters up and promptly parks parallel to a sign advising “NO PARKING AT ANY TIME” . . .

A man with mirrored cop shades, headphones and flowing black coiff held out of eyes via smiley-faced bandana steps out of the truck. Black t-shirt. Cut-offs. Bright green square-toed Italian boots senza socks. He starts hauling speakers out of the miniscule truck and within minutes has a soundsystem blaring wrecked disco beats. Enter: DJ Greenboots.

Luca, a rail-thin man in a striped shirt and centerdent hat, spills out of the truck with two women and begins chattering in Italian to both of them. Yet a third man, Johnny, grins from the window of the truck and congenially offers a wide selection of complimentary premium gelato to anybody brave enough to approach the window. This is Team Bene Bene: Johnny, Luca, Greenboots. You’ve just stumbled upon a Bene Bene Flashmob, you lucky so-and-so. Welcome to Gelato Summer.

I step up to the truck for a complimentary gelato, marvelling to see the truck not only sparkling clean, but parked someplace other than Fairfax Village for a change. Within minutes, I’m wincing at the glorious toothache only frozen mango slices can provide.

“We may have to split soon; I’ve heard talk of the owners being called,” Johnny confides in me. “We’ll be at Angela Hanley by 7:30 for the opening.” I’m off to sixspace to marvel at zombies.

730pm. Angela Hanley Gallery, 2404 Wilshire, MacArthur Park.

I spot the truck adorned with Christmas lights but not before I hear it, laying down beats right onto the sidewalk of Wilshire Boulevard. Sporadic revellers leaving the dual Latino and Indian festivals that have shut down Wilshire for the day walk by, bewildered. More than a few pause for gelato e techno.

Gallery cocktails paired with curbside techno provide the perfect complement to the setting sun at the MacArthur fountain. The party continues well into the evening, but it is time to take our leave of little Bene Bene and take advantage of the proximity to La Fonda [photo], where we will soon marvel at the glory of a Japanese man, selected from the crowd, fronting the full Mariachi band and crooning Coo Coo Roo Coo Coo in perfect Spanish.

Johnny, Luca and Dj Greenboots (real name unknown) are available all summer, should you require fresh gelato and fresher beats for activities both versive and subversive.
More info: http://www.benebene.org

My first assignment for losanjealous sounded easy enough: Review Magee’s Donuts on Santa Monica Blvd, and don’t forget the input of the ever-present trannies out front. Easy enough! …Right?

It was recommended that I set out early, and I’m on my way to the shop at 7:30 am. I’m a little apprehensive about interviewing a tranny sex worker so early in the morning, as generally one who has been out all night is not usually in the best of sorts by the time the sun has come up. Visions of an article laden with descriptions of a hair-pulling fight out in front of Magee’s are spurring me on.

It’s quiet on Santa Monica Blvd, even for a Sunday, and I don’t see my potential interviewee anywhere. Maybe the prostitutes take Sundays off? I enter Magee’s and gaze at the array of frosted and fried goods. In addition to your usual donut-shop fare, Magee’s offers cigarettes, Zig Zags and a wide variety of over-the-counter pain relievers. Kind of funny since they are right next door to a 7-11.

The woman behind the counter has a friendly face and smiles broadly when she asks what I would like to order. The “B” grade in the front window makes more sense when a large chunk of food flies from her mouth and lands on the bright yellow counter top. Embarrassed, she runs her fingers through her untamed hair.

I order the ham and cheese croissant (heated), an old-fashioned glazed donut, a chocolate cake donut with sprinkles and a medium-sized cup of coffee. The croissant is wide, flat and greasy, indistinguishable from the ham and cheese croissants offered at most donut shops. The old-fashioned glazed is pregnant with frying oil and a few bites of it are more than enough. I happily devour my chocolate cake donut with sprinkles, because I find these are good even when they are bad, and these are pretty good. The whole greasy pile is washed down with a medium cup of better-than-expected coffee. All this belly busting sets me back a mere $3.75.

»continue reading Magee’s Donuts: Where Have All the Trannies Gone?

Visit our concert calendar for a full show list, links to buy tickets and our top picks.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Danielson @ Spaceland
Originally an art school project for lead singer Daniel Smith’s senior thesis, Danielson is a 20-man Christian indie rock collective featuring contributions from Sufjan Stevens and members of Deerhoof. Wait–I knew Sufjan was Christian, but Deerhoof? Jesus is just alright with me Saturday night at Spaceland.

HEADS UP

• 6/8 Raconteurs @ Amoeba (free)
• 6/17+ Shitload of free shows at Cal Plaza

Enter to win a pair of tickets by emailing hnia-contest@losanjealous.com. Please include your full name. Winner will be selected by 5:00 pm, Tuesday, May 30th.

myspace.com/hisnameisalive | hisnameisalive.com

TUESDAY
Bedroom Walls @ Troubadour
Bill Frisell Quartet @ Largo
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream @ Spaceland
Pinback @ Avalon

WEDNESDAY
Bill Frisell Quartet @ Largo
His Name Is Alive @ Spaceland
Listing Ship @ Amoeba (free)
Ozma @ UCLA Westwood Plaza
Steven Seagal @ El Rey (!?)

THURSDAY
Craig Wedren @ Hotel Cafe
Phantom Planet @ UCLA Westwood Plaza (free)

FRIDAY
Howlin’ Rain @ Echo
People Under the Stairs @ Troubadour

SATURDAY
Arctic Monkeys @ Wiltern
Boy Least Likely To @ Roxy
Danielson @ Spaceland
Giant Drag, Pretty Girls Make Graves @ El Rey
Ice Cube @ House of Blues
Liars @ Troubadour
Nels Cline @ Largo

SUNDAY
Kool Keith @ Knitting Factory

Ladies and gentlemen of the jazz jury! It is time, at last, to reveal the official Losanjealous SuperFoodFriends lineup. In the days, weeks and months to come this group of interns-cum-superheroes will be personally visiting hand-picked culinary destinations throughout the city of Losanjealous, placing pen to papyrus and documenting their experiences for your entertainment, information and general well-being.

To put it another way: Don’t expect to see reviews of cupcakes. Do expect to find the honest truth about LA’s treasure trove of head tacos, tripe-based soups and blood sausages. Rest easy, denizens: The SuperFoodFriends are watching your back and consuming the foods you dare not.

When highlighted, the “SS” column below represents a proven Strong Stomach at press time. If I were a gambling man, however, and I am, I wouldn’t put my money against any of the eight…

Name	Logo	Special Power	Notes / Last Seen	SS?
Intern Shane		Stunning tie collection	Shane came out of the gate strong in ‘06 by finding a proxy eater to finish his six-chiliburger challenge. Believed to be based in Little Armenia, Shane eats the city one assignment at a time, immaculately dressed. Look for big things to come from Camp Shane in ‘06.
Phil the Intern		Immune to all manner of ethnic foods. Rumored to have an undisclosed Achilles Heel “kryptonite” consumed in a third world country that he will never, ever eat again	Phil was last spotted at the savory-smelling walk-in closet known as Phillip’s BBQ in Leimert Park. It is unclear whether or not Phil walked out with succulent ribs alongside a few pairs of pants. Expect big things. Very big things from Phil in ‘06. Particularly in August. I predict August will be the Month Of The Phil.	?
Capt. “The Receptacle” Tim aka “The Receptacle” aka “The Captain” aka “Cap’n Tim The Receptacle: Tim” aka “Tim”		Can and will eat anything. Including your car. Where is your car?	Ladies and gentlemen don’t get me started on The Receptacle. I have a feeling this man will eat anything you put in front of him, including tire irons. Big hopes for The Receptacle. Cap’n Tim was last spotted in the vicinity of Chavez Ravine scoping out the venerable Dodger Dogs and attempting to score a gross of 45-cent tacos. Let us hope and pray his editor gets his articles up soon, lest The Receptacle grows impatient and eats the website.
Samosa Mel		Able to eat 700 samosas in one day, if absolutely necessary	Little is known about the sultry enigma who goes by the moniker Samosa Mel. What is known is that she is a personal chef who has never been known to shy away from a potential congregation of transvestites. It is rumored she has tried over 3,500 varietals of samosas in the past ten years and that she travels extensively throughout Eurasia, constantly mining the latest trends in mint chutney and coriander. Mel is rumored to front as a Luqmi purveyor in Hyderabad when not in Los Angeles. One of her personal goals for ‘06 is to consume more head tacos than Mar Vista Pete.	?
NoSmell Bob		No sense of smell	Born with a rare case of congenital anosmia that renders his sense of smell obsolete, NoSmell is a fearless food junkie. He is not immune to the powers of the chile pepper, refuses to eat mayonnaise, and was last spotted near the downtown Greyhound station in search of that next meal. The man travels a dusty albeit mayonnaise- and scent-free road few would dare to gaze upon, let alone tread. Will 2006 be the Year of the NoSmell?	?
BBQ Eecue		Macro zoom lenses, steel-reinforced esophagus	Chances are good you already know the ‘cue. What local website doesn’t he write for at this point? From the rolling hills of Elysian to the rumbling warehouses off Alameda, the man lives and breathes online Los Angeles. ‘Cue proved his stomach’s strength by firewalking Orochon Level 2 at bLA earlier this year. When not spending quality time with his fiance, the ‘cue can be found in ethnic restaurants and is virtually guaranteed to be spotted at all things involving drum ‘n bass in the city of Losanjealous.
Spiked Soda, aka Intern Spike		Holds local record for downing an Original Marty’s Combo consisting of a hamburger, hot dog, chili, cheese, pastrami and bacon sandwich with a side of cheese fries and a full third of cherry pie	Spike was last seen charging a Pregnant Burrito…at press time, we’re just hoping Spike didn’t get knocked up in the process. Keep your eyes constantly peeled for Spike, aka #9, at taco stands on the rim of the lovely Pacific Ocean. Chances are you’ll see Spike more often than the dolphins.	?
Invisible Mike		Invisibility	Invisible Mike was last spotted en route to a legendary pizza joint in Eagle Rock. He may well be my favorite intern as he has the power to disappear and thusly requires no editing or uploads. Keep your eyes peeled for dozens – nay, hundreds – of invisible entries in ‘06.	?

The Losanjealous Benevolent Society gathers a weekly list of strange happenings and fun events in LA–the more ridiculous, the better. Visit our events calendar for the full list. And if you’re organizing or know of an event you think belongs on the list, send us info at tips@losanjealous.com.

SATURDAY (everything worthwhile this week is on Saturday)

BENE BENE TRUCK @ Cathy Begien, Jeffrey Hatfield: Beat
Please join us for an opening night performance, Gelati Motel presents Thorn 01: Young entrepreneurial pornographer Luca Martinazolli dispenses nudity, White Russians and hand-pressed albums from a hi-jacked ice cream truck, wired to blow.

Lip-Synch Big Stink 3 @ Little Pedro’s
Another crazy lip-synch contest! Ryan Flynn hosts as Chaz, with great new acts and judges, plus a few lip-synch vets return to defend their titles. Rad prizes from Chimni.

Cinespia: Invasion of the Body Snatchers @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary
Cinespia is a film society created to bring together the community of film enthusiasts in Los Angeles. We are convinced that Angelenos are still enthusiastic about cinema’s great films, including those outside the normal repertory.

Chad Robertson – Rise @ sixspace
An exhibition of new oil-on-canvas paintings inspired by the films of George A. Romero and the zombie genre. For decades these films, in particular the Romero films, have explored current social or political issues and events that are channeled through this idea of a mindless, yet human, animal – a zombie. Reception: Saturday, May 27 from 6-9pm. Through 6/24.

Trailer in Flames, Southern California, 1956

A canned ham trailer goes out in a blaze of glory. It’s quite a show! Unfortunately there aren’t more people around to see it. The whipped cream colored 1954 Ford patrol car, just sits there. The red light on the roof is like a maraschino cherry on top of a delicious hot fudge sundae.

Speaking of trailers last Saturday I had an Americana experience of the highest order. I went to the annual Vintage-Vacations Trailer Show and open house at Newport Dunes. The display was quite simply heaven on earth. Yes, I often wept inwardly (and occasionally outwardly) as I stuck my fat head into what seemed to be an endless display Airstreams, Silver Streaks and Shastas. There were other brands too. They lined up one after another.

My Southern California pride rose to record levels when I discovered that many of the trailers were labeled logos that often had the name of the town were manufactured in, such as Whittier, El Monte, Glendora, Van Nuys, Lynwood, San Fernando, and Upland. I had no idea that so many trailer were made here.

Beyond the charm of the shiny, shapely exteriors, inside the trailers are a study of warm and friendly honey blond wood paneling and oh-so smart space planning. The junior-scale stoves and refrigerators were, well for lack of a better word, adorable. Some trailers even had bathrooms. I thought all trailers had bathrooms!

To call these trailer-people generous would be an understatement. And to call them trailer- trash would not only be socially unacceptable it would be a lie. Passing for trailer to trailer I was generously offered everything from martinis to marshmallows and sushi to shish kabobs. And I said yes, thank you to everything! Well, looking at vintage trailers can make one very hungry and thirsty.

At nightfall it was time for my Vintage Trailer Slide Show. This was the opening slide.

Here’s to vintage trailers, the trailer in flames and you!

Charles Phoenix

P.S. The final “Disneyland” Tour of Downtown Los Angeles this weekend is SOLD OUT.

P.S.S. for more on vintage trailers please visit www.vintage-vacations.com

Visit Charles’ site or join his Slide of the Week Mailing List.

545pm, Monday, 22 May 2006. I’m seriously crashed in front of the tube. Stuck to the couch. Silver Surfer underoos swathed in Burmese fisherman’s pants. Shirtless. Faultless. Flourless. I literally have no flour with which to make the bread. End-of-the-workaday nonsense. Laid out on the couch with the laptop curbside. Outlook makes that noise. You know the one. “Dee-doop,” it rings.

The sound of mail. Hell. Any guesses…

• WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE SEX DURING ALL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT ?
• That asshole with the $9million he needs to wire-transfer to my account?
• Actual work?

Não assim rapidamente, compadres. It’s Lucinda Michele from LA Alt. She’s got a +1 for Architecture in Helsinki at the Troubadour. Zero hour. When have I been known to say no to anything.

New Hollywood Tradition, ladies and gents: Once a week you are to drag Ryan to a show at the Troubadour where beers are a very reasonable $7. He will watch a band he knows nothing about, feel like a “highroller” in the “loft” and eventually “review” the show on a “website” . . .

Our website, compadres. Yours and mine. Ours. We’re in this together.

Troubadour, 9pm. The Clippers are losing game seven. I’m getting loaded. The first band is wrapping up. I meet Lucinda Michele Knapp at the bar and we swap Monday tales. Tussle takes the stage. They have two drummers. “They sound like a Chicago band,” I say. “They remind me of Califone,” says Knapp. “Oh yeah. I saw those guys at the Getty. Didn’t like the singer though. Drums, yes.”
“I was at that show.” “Get right the hell out.”

The place fills up. And now suddenly here we are. Downstairs. Up close for the collective known as Architecture in Helsinki. It is determined we don’t actually know where the band’s from. “That dude on guitar has some serious white guy dreads. Are they from Boulder, do you think?” … “They’re sorta goofy-acting. And there’s eight of ‘em. I’m guessing Canadian” … “Is that a UK accent?” … “Shit that’s right. Aussies. I think I knew that.”

They have horns. They have keyboards. They have tight-assed sheer coach gymshorts. They are Architecture in Helsinki. The lead singer sports one of those painter caps from the early ’80s. Like the one I had in grade school. What was on my hat, again?… Men at Work. Another Aussie outfit. The circle completes.

They play a spirited set of music. I manage to get a not-inconsiderable amount of confetti strewn in my hair.

The show is coming to a close. The non-Canadians wrap up the encore by bringing a fan on stage and having him shout-sing an impromptu song regarding South Korea. The whole band joins in at the chorus. “South Korea!” The place erupts. The place surges. The place empties. It is now time for breakfast.

The waiter at the Silver Spoon gazes into my eyes. “What’s that in your hair, and what have you been doing.” “Is it big and white? It’s either confetti, or dandruff.” He plucks out the biggest piece of confetti I’ve ever seen and lays it on the table. The world’s tiniest flake of dandruff spirals into the space above the table, meanders a bit and eventually comes to rest right next to the confetti.

“I have to get home to pass out on the couch in my underoos with a jar of peanuts,” I manage to wheeze before running out the door.

Epilogue
I didn’t think it would be humanly possible but this review may actually contain less relevance to the subject matter than the Nine Black Alps review. I’d do just as well to give you the story of the Charlie Copies.

The story of the Charlie Copies

When I was growing up, our neighbor Charlie had cable television and two VCRs. Essentially he had all the requisite trappings for VHS piracy. He would dub us movies, usually Steve Guttenburg vessels: Cocoon…Three Men and a Baby…Short Circuit. The tapes would always have some sort of bizarre flaw. Neverfail. “There’s 40 minutes of blank tape before the movies on this one,” Charlie would say. Other tapes would have their contents interrupted by sporadic five-minute static intervals and, occasionally, a brief glimpse of Charlie’s viewing habits as he flipped through the channels, muttered an expletive and flipped the switch back over to continue Short Circuit where it left off. “Another damn Charlie Copy,” my Dad would invariably deliver, deadpan.

[ End ]
Photos by Lucinda Michele Knapp.

AiH cds:

Tokyo 7-7, like most places of magic, eluded me for roughly 8 months. While living in Culver City, I oft passed this bizarrely-located cae, only to find it consistently closed. And I mean, consistently. I attempted to dine there twice; both times, it was closed. (Granted, I never looked at the hours of operation.)

Then in April, magic struck. I visited Tru Value, only to see the neon signage of Tokyo 7-7 glowing a fiery pink and blue: “OPEN”. Unfortunately, I was on the clock and couldn’t stop to eat; but, my dream rekindled, I made May’s Mission #1 to eat at Tokyo 7-7.

A few weeks later my first attempt was made. It was closed. For my records, I snapped a shot of the hours (and this crazy “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service” sign…what’s up with that wonky toe?). I googled my little heart out, learned about their American/Japanese fusion foods (”omelettes on rice!”), read reviews and cross-checked hours. I was prepared to live the dream at Tokyo 7-7: I was going to find the perfect dive diner, complete with free-range elderly patrons.

I actually left work early so I could make the 3 pm last call. Arriving at a generous 1:50 pm, I met a friend and prepared for magic.

First off–the basics: seat yourself, cash only, booze and cigarettes are available for purchase. They sponsor a little league team and have a shelf full of magazines for you to peruse at your leisure. Flute-heavy classical music fills the air. An ample amount of seniors. The decor is absolutely amazing. Along with felt banners for various MLB teams, there are also signed photos of famous people, a la Pink’s… but with a twist. You won’t find any Richard Simmons glossies in Tokyo 7-7, instead, feast your eyes on the likes of several obscure Asian actors, Aladdin and Jasmine from Disneyland, and a shrine to Dale Ishimoto (of Nissan commercial fame, though we were fairly convinced it was Chairman Mao until we realized he had sunglasses on… then we thought it was that guy from Zoolander who played the Prime Minister of Malaysia… boy, were we wrong). The hands down best part was the signed cast photo of Full House, complete with blocky, kindergartener signatures from the Olsens. This alone is worth a trip to Tokyo 7-7.

But the food, oh, the food.

»continue reading Tokyo 7-7: The David Blaine of Fusion Cuisine

Eels are one of our local music treasures. Originally from Virginia, but based in Silverlake for ages now, E, and whoever is working with him at any given moment, has turned out compelling pop/country records for over a decade now. The sixth and most recent of which, 2005’s Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, is a double LP masterpiece. The albums 33 tracks cut across a wide spectrum of song and lyric, lush, uplifting arrangements, as well as spare, raw downers. It will be interesting to see how he works these out live and mixes it in with the rest of his back catalog.

Eels are heading out on the road this summer, hitting the U.S. on the way to the festivals in Europe in the summer. To kick things off, they are playing 2 warm up shows at The Roxy this Thursday 5/25 and Friday, 5/26. Pre-teen (as in 10 & 12 year-old) indie pop sibling darlings Smoosh open the show. (!)

Courtesy of The Roxy, losanjealous has 4 pairs of tickets to give to readers to Thursday’s Eels show.

UPDATE: The contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered. All winners have been notified. If you entered, please check your e-mail. We have a bunch of great giveaways lined up for June, so watch for them. Join our mailing list on our concerts page to get the jump on our contests.

For those of you that didn’t win, there are some tickets still available.

Longtime followers of this site are no doubt familiar with the adventures of the Bene Bene Mini-Truck of Fairfax Village (one, two, three). Rumor has it the truck will be making a triumphant return to form at an opening this Saturday, serving up not only creamy gelato but also bizarre ice creams from Japan, which, technically, neither borders the Mediterranean nor approximates a boot when you think about it.

If the rumors are accurate, expect to see full details on this week’s Losanjealous BeneBeneBeneBenevolent Society activity list:

BEAT
Cathy Begien l Jeffrey Hatfield
May 27 – June 26, 2006

Think Adorno’s “Minima Moralia” meets Britney’s “Oops I Did it Again.”

Please join us for an opening night performance, Saturday May 27th, 7 – 9pm
Gelati Motel presents Thorn 01: Young entrepreneurial pornographer Luca Martinazzoli dispenses nudity and hand-pressed albums from a hi-jacked ice cream truck, wired to blow . . .

Angela Hanley Gallery
2404 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90057

323.356.2666
allyson@angelahanley.com

www.angelahanley.com

Upon hearing the news I tracked down the truck for a brief interview. He had the following to say:

“Realmente non conosco di che cosa nel Christ è voi parla, figlio di capra.
All the best, -Benebene“

In other news, I’ve been up to my neck in new food intern activity. The town is being canvassed as we speak. Stay tuned for the full progress report and a one-pager detailing the Losanjealous SuperFoodFriends Society…

Coming soon…

To a blog near you….

Which is…

As it turns out…

This one.

Visit our concert calendar for a full show list, links to buy tickets and our top picks.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Supernatural, Beat Junkies, Madlib, MF Doom @ Mayan
The $75 ticket price is hard to swallow, I hear ya. But 100% of proceeds from this show will go towards Keith Tamashiro’s medical expenses and rehabilitation. And if you go I guarantee good Radiohead ticket karma–you’ll need it.

HEADS UP

• 5/25 Moving Units @ UCLA Westwood Plaza

TUESDAY
Ditty Bops @ Amoeba (free)
Fall @ Knitting Factory
George Clinton and Parliament @ House of Blues
Gomez @ Avalon
Susana Baca @ Conga Room
Youngblood Brass Band @ Knitting Factory

WEDNESDAY
Ditty Bops @ Derby
Elefant @ Jimmy Kimmel

THURSDAY
Aceyalone @ UCLA (free)
Alias, Tarsier, Healamonster @ Amoeba (free)
Eels, Smoosh @ Roxy
Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, DJ Shadow @ Mayan
Los Lobos @ Conga Room
Moving Units @ UCLA Westwood Plaza
Petra Haden @ Troubadour

FRIDAY
DJ Vadim @ Echo
DJs Jimmy Tamborello and John Tejeda @ Getty (free)
Eels, Smoosh @ Roxy
Elefant, Silversun Pickups, Voxtrot @ Wiltern
Kristin Hersh @ Largo
Slow Music Ensemble (Peter Buck, Robert Fripp) @ Largo
Talib Kweli @ Conga Room

SATURDAY
Tito Puente @ Conga Room

SUNDAY
Aggrolites @ Knitting Factory
Cheech Marin @ Conga Room (two shows)
GoGoGo Airheart @ Echo
Lyrics Born @ Normandie Casino

Sparks are perhaps the most singular act on the pop scene at any given moment they decide to release a record. (They’ve made 20 of them in 30+ years, taking a few breaks here and there.) It is rock, pop, jazz, opera, showtunes, dance, and experimental. Sometimes all at once. To break out the bag o’cliches and say Sparks are “over the top” or an “acquired taste,” is only to demonstrate how useless are these phrases which rely on outside references are when trying to place them in this pop music thing. For example, at some point in the 80’s they might have invented techno when working Giorgio Moroder. The lyrics are always camp and ironic, but still manage deliver genuine emotion and raw sentiment, a tricky feat. Russell’s highflying lead vocal is probably the most divisive element in their sound; it conjures strong feelings, either for or against. His voice carries the tenor and spirit of Marc Bolan and Freddy Mercury, though one forgets Sparks were contemporaries with both T-Rex and Queen, the first Sparks LP having dropped in 1971.

Their brilliant current LP Hello Young Lovers is a readymade Vegas show in and of itself. In fact, presenting it as they did, all ten tracks in order without a break, with a unique animation accompanying each (with Ron comically interacting with the visuals, which included a lifesize projection of himself playing keyboard in a bit of PoMo cheekiness, as well as a cartoon Notre Dame Cathedral organ, to which he pulled up a stool and “played”) and the players clad in all black, the record seems destined to end up as a stage piece somewhere. Hello Young Lovers is every bit as inventively quirky and energetic as anything I’ve heard by them. Perhaps only Neil Young can match them for strength of late career releases.

»continue reading Sparks @ Avalon Hollywood, 5/20/06

The Losanjealous Benevolent Society gathers a weekly list of strange happenings and fun events in LA–the more ridiculous, the better. Visit our events calendar for the full list. And if you’re organizing or know of an event you think belongs on the list, send us info at tips@losanjealous.com.

To relieve the party or see what you missed, click ‘MORE.’

»continue reading Losanjealous Benevolent Society Events: May 19 – 25

CHARLES PHOENIX’S RETRO DISNEYLAND SLIDE SHOW

the ultimate “E” Ticket to the Magic Kingdom in the 50s & 60s

—IN COLOR!

TONIGHT Friday, May 19, at 8:30 pm & Sunday, May 21, at 2 pm

“Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please. For your personal safety keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times…” as we go back in time to the granddaddy of all theme parks when it was new.

At the REDCAT – Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theatre

(in the WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL)

631 West 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012

You’ll experience long-gone attractions like the Phantom Boats, Flying Saucers, Indian Village, the Carousel of Progress, and others. See original attractions on Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Frontierland.

Then explore the original Tomorrowland when it was when it promoted as “The World of 1987” and be there for the all-new Tomorrowland in 1967. You’ll hear the flaming back-story of the monorail, go inside the ultra space-age, all plastic House of the Future; take the TWA Rocket to the Moon and much, much more!

Also see Freedomland USA, the ill-fated wannabe Disneyland theme park that opened in the Bronx 1960.

JUST A FEW TICKETS ARE LEFT
$ 29.00 by phone now (213) 237-2800 ext. #1
or in-person at REDCAT box office now
INFO: (866) 754-3374 (866-SLIDESHOW)
www.charlesphoenix.com

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!
Charles Phoenix

Not to be left out of the movie list-making mania lead by AFI, last year the Writers’ Guild put together one of their own–the 101 Greatest Screenplays.

As with every latest Best Of Greatest Of list, the WGA’s list raises quibbles over inclusions and exclusions. Only 2 foreign-language films out of 101? (Grand Illusion and 8 1/2, nos. 85 & 87, respectively) Groundhogs Day? Adaptation? (perhaps especially meriting a reevaluation in light of last Sunday’s LAT Mag gush piece on Charlie Kaufmann.) Maybe it’s time to see some of these again…

And so, LACMA brings a new film series “Written For The Screen” sponsored by the WGA and comprised of titles plucked from their list. It runs over next three weekends, 5/19 through 6/3. Full program and ticket information here.

The series kicks off tonight with a standout pairing, Casablanca (predictably, #1 on their list) with Manhattan (#54, if you’re scoring at home).

losanjealous has pairs of tickets to giveaway to readers for each night of the next 2 weekends’ programs. E-mail us by the 12:00 pm on the Thursday prior to be entered to win a pair of tickets to one of that weekend’s screenings.

Friday, May 26 - Rear Window / High Noon
Saturday, May 27 - The Godfather

Friday, June 2 – Sunset Boulevard* / Adaptation
Saturday, June 3 – Lawrence of Arabia

*losanjealous Best Los Angeles Films pick (our full list TK)

Name: Stephen Albert Briller
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 190 pounds
Date of Birth: May 7, 1960
Wanted For: Grand Theft

Dear LAPD,
I believe I have information on the whereabouts of Stephen Briller who has been a member of your Most Wanted List since November 2004.

Briller is currently serving two consecutive life sentences in Nevada.

Also, he was sentenced in August 2002.

Regards,
Losanjealous

More info from the LAPD

Blair’s
2903 Rowena Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039-2003
(323) 660-1882

On the menu:
Truffle Macaroni and Cheese Side Dish – $7
Tartar Appetizer – $10
Linguini with clams, chorizo and English Peas – $17

Dark lighting makes eating here feel more like nap time because we were trying very hard to stay awake and it was only 7:30 PM. Seth Green and someone from the Wonder Years was sitting behind us, but no one noticed but my older sister. Slowly, as we were finishing up our Mac, the restaurant got very crowded and noisy that I just wanted to live. (live, damn you! — ed) Small spaces with lots of seats make for lots of voices bouncing against the wall and a high decibel noise level. We found out from reading some reviews to avoid table #7 due to a problem with the air conditioner leaking on that table.

Now on to the good stuff: the food. We ordered one side order of Truffle Mac n Cheese each, which was enough food for a meal for each of us. I wanted the tartare or is it tartar? Because I read it was awesome on Chowhound. And for some reason we were we also added on a Linguini with Clams, Chorizo, and English Peas dish because we were letting our hungry stomachs order for us. I figured out I DO NOT like truffles because they are mushrooms and have a very strong scent and a harsh flavor. I did enjoy the fresh pasta they made for both their macaroni and linguini; especially cool was the square pasta that looked like wide linguini on four sides. It was softer and fresher than any pasta I have had lately; it makes me want to start making my own pasta. The linguini looked more like flat angel hair and I thought it was tasty but did not like the chorizo in the dish.

Overall, I probably won’t return to Blair’s, I heard someone say it was the best restaurant in Silver Lake and that makes me not want to try anywhere new in that part of town.

Give Silverlake another chance, Mair. Eastside boho mac and cheese sightings are a rarity. You have to seek them out. Like truffles.

Note from the editor: We sent Intern Shane to Tommy’s yesterday with explicit instructions: Eat six of the 60-cent Chiliburgers on Tommy’s 60th Anniversary, Shane. Sixty-cent sixpack.

Telling many of my friends of the assignment given by the taskmasters at losanjealous prompted a liberal number of “!” and “?” filling my chat windows. Yes, I am to eat six Tommy’s burgers in celebration of their 60th anniversary.

On my approach to the sacred shack, I find a few ambulances lazily patrolling the perimeter. I find this comforting.

The scene: Organized chaos. Two news vans with satellite dishes at full extension, live mariachi bands, decent crowd control by the LAPD. Oh yeah, and of course, the line.

You’d think they were giving out Nintendo Wii’s. It took me about two minutes to actually get to the very end of the line at which point I nearly gave up hope of completing this assignment. Luckily, my photographer Rick was thinking straight.

Rick: Wait, we’re press! Isn’t there something we can do about this?

Me: Oh yeah. You’re right!

I took the two-minute walk back to the front of the line. Back to the shack. I finally found the guy in charge, Brent Maire, who was as crisp and clean as a 1950’s soda jerk.
»continue reading Tommy’s At 60: The Six Sixty-Cent Chili-Cheese Chiliburger Cheeseburger Challenge