So some notes on Cat Power at McCabe’s then. Figured we’d start the night on this neglected stetch of Pico that goes from about Bundy/10 Fwy to Cloverfield. On this strip you got Arsenal, Liquid Kitty (yeah, they both have issues—to be taken up at a later juncture), Mr. Cecil’s, that great rare (adult) bookstore, Unurban, Trader Joes (yay!), McCabe’s, Rae’s, Joker, Air Conditioned, Viking Motors (my Volvo mechanics, Ove and Rolando) and the Daily Pint. There’s bound to be a find in there, so we hit the mean streets of Santa Monica.

Meet up at Rae’s (2901 Pico Blvd.) after work. Rae’s is a little cozily grimy diner—you got your googie signage out front, your booths and counter and walls that are alternately teal and wood paneled. It’s just dirty enough to feel homey, but not unsanitary. The cook in his paper cylinder hat is right up front behind the counter, so you can get a good look at your order coming together. (Note: you may not want a good look at your order coming together. Especially how they reheat the breakfast pork.) On a typical Sunday morning, the place is jumping with all manner of clientele—hung-over hipsters, Mexi-American families, gay entertainment biz underlings—all shoved in there, real Los Angeles-like, with a line at the door. (Note for newbs: they don’t do a “Johnson, party of 4” list like Denny’s or some shit. If you see a line, just get in it, don’t stroll past it and ask the hostess/waitress for a table.) This Thursday eve around 6:30 pm, the place takes on a bit of a Lynchian vibe, everything moving a just few frames slower, the action is fully under control by a lone waitress and cook.
»continue reading Cat Power; Pico Blvd.

KAN ZAMAN COMMUNITY ENSEMBLE
7.22.06
Barnsdall Arts Center/Hollywood

Not having, perhaps before Kan Zaman, an avenue to hear how Arabs kick it old school — and since every John Williams idol-snatching leitmotif should wither in caricature at the merest hint of authentic creativeness from the Middle East — let me put this into perspective. For July 22nd’s performance at the very plush Barnsdall Arts Center on Hollywood Boulevard, straws of passion broke every camel’s back for leagues in every direction. Egyptians kissed the cheeks of Lebanese and Syrians and Iraqis, and no one wore a goddamn fez. People clapped and wept in a language the enthusiastic expression of which makes most of you nervous. There was a welcome absence of jerks linking Arab tonality to bombs between the minarets. And at one point, when fifty-something Iraqi singer Saadoun al-Bayati took up the doumbek, some crazy Egyptian guy started screaming out “Aazama Aala Aazama!” at the top of his lungs — like, front row Metallic style, being all loud, shameless and into it. A nice man seated next to me translated: “You guys excel! You guys excel at all things! You are really awesome!” (No, it wasn’t “Death to America” or some shit on CNN, which is what I thought at first, not used to hearing Arabs go nuts over a drum solo — like it was even fucking possible. God, I am such an ignoramus.)
»continue reading The Kan Zaman Can

The Basics: Listen up, fool! If you go for a walk in the park in Beverly Hills stay out of the bathroom!

Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

Address: 9650 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA / (310) 285-2536

Why You Should Visit: I’m tryin’ to warn you fools!!! … Go to the bathroom before you go for a walk in the Will Rogers Memorial Park. Mr. T just likes to stretch his legs after dinner and there are suckas in the bathroom tryin’ to watch people pee!

Additional Notes: Guys watchin Mr. T pee makes makes Mr. T VERY MAD….grrr.