Your Attention Please:

The Downtown Film Fest is now wholly into its fourth day of “seven days of musical film screenings” at the GRAMMY Museum. The remaining four films, beginning this evening, feature Johnny Cash, Bill Withers, Poncho Sanchez and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, aka “ODB” (get it? it’s abbreviated)…and I have free tickets for you at this time. Many of the film programs may include artist and filmmaker Q&As, live musical performances and after-screening parties (don’t expect a live performance from Johnny Cash or ODB). First person to e-mail a request for each film wins a pair of tickets (meaning time is not on your side here). Simply shoot me an e-mail with which film you’d like to see this week, and your first and last name. Note: Should you request tickets to more than one screening, your request will be dismissed. Finally, should you choose to purchase your own tickets to these screenings (they run $15 per), you may do so at the GRAMMY Museum box office, day of, or online at www.dffla.com.

Tuesday, August 18, 7:30 pm
JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON (LOS ANGELES FILM PREMIERE!)
2008 USA 87 minutes

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison remains one of the greatest live albums ever made, and the man himself one of America’s greatest troubadours. Cash also was a tireless and passionate advocate for prison reform. Forty years later, the album still resonates today with a rawness and authenticity that few recordings have ever achieved. This film will expose a lesser known “Man in Black” through an exciting, visually compelling examination of this historic concert.

Director, Producer, Cinematographer: Bestor Cram
Co-Producers: Peter Reichenbach, Louise Rosen
Writer: Michael Streissguth
Cinematographer: Miguelangel Aponte-Rios
Cast: Gene Beley, Jim Brown, John Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Merle Haggard, Jimmy Tittle

»continue reading Win Downtown Film Fest GRAMMY Museum Tickets

About a month ago, I wrote up this useless post about a bowl of pho ga which has been around since May. I chose to not divulge this info for “Under $10″ due to the restaurant rescinding the offer in early July. Since then, I’ve been asked numerous times when this special will return.

As of last week, $3.50 got you a large bowl of pho ga (chicken) again. We all already think $6 bowls of beef pho all around LA, SGV & Little Saigon are tremendous values, but then, there also exists a gushing review of a vegan $6.50 banh mi sammy in Reseda. This particular bowl of lighter pho, relatively to that banh mi, is the king of Vietnamese cheap.

»continue reading $3.50 Bowl of Chicken Pho! Pho Ha, Rosemead

Setlist (thanks for the reminders)

Hamster Ball Intro
Race For The Prize
Silver Trembling Hands
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Fight Test
Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Internal Existential Fear
Convinced Of The Hex
Vein Of Stars > Firebird Suite (Finale)
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part 1
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
Taps
The W.A.N.D.
She Don’t Use Jelly
Do You Realize??

Brief Notes
»continue reading Flaming Lips, Del Mar Racetrack, 15 August 2009

From the band’s website:

So here’s a new song, called ‘These Are My Twisted Words’.

We’ve been recording for a while, and this was one of the first we finished.
We’re pretty proud of it.

There’s other stuff in various states of completion, but this is one we’ve been practicing, and which we’ll probably play at this summer’s concerts. Hope you like it.

Download the audio here or torrent here.
Jonny

This one’ll cost you £0.00, and the accompanying package comes replete with cover art and a dissected version of said cover: a 15-page PDF of stark, blown-ink-looking trees titled “twisted woods”…with printing advice: “we suggest you print these images out on tracing paper. use at least 80gsm tracing paper or your printer will eat it as we discovered. you could put them in an order that pleases you.” Nice of them to keep all our printers from clogging, yes? In the accompanying credits file, we also learn that the tracing paper images were created by Donwood and Tchock (aka Dan Rickwood & Thom, natch) and that this song was apparently published way back in 2008.

Note that on the same page you can also still download “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” for the low low price of £1.00, with proceeds going to the British Legion.

» http://radiohead.com/deadairspace/
» Radiohead, Santa Barbara Bowl, August 28, 2008 (End of U.S. Tour) (photo: Sung)

PICK OF THE WEEK

Sunset Junction Arts & Music Street Festival
Sat 8/22 & Sun 8/23 — Conor Oberst & The MVB, Islands, Delta Spirit, Sly & Robbie, Dengue Fever, Rumspringa, Warpaint, Built To Spill, The Sonics, Morris Day, Arrested Development, Mika Miko, Love Grenades, Fool’s Gold, DJ Nobody, Jason Bentley, Destructo, Bostich & Fussible & many, many more.
 

The Flaming Lips
w/ Ghostland Observatory
Two Shows!
Mon 8/17 | Greek Theatre
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
Tues 8/18 | Fox Theater Pomona
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]

Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes
w/ Lucinda Williams
Tues 8/18
Greek Theater
Info
[ENTER TO WIN GREEK]

 
Sylvain Sylvain
of New York Dolls
w/ Angus Khan, United Snakes & Adam Bones
Thurs 8/20
Knitting Factory
Info | [ENTER TO WIN]
 

J. Tillman
of Fleet Foxes
w/ Evan Way & Big Search
Thurs 8/20
The Echo
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]

 
The Sonics
w/ Prima Donna & Japanese Motors
Fri 8/21
Echoplex
Info
[ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
 

Jedi Mind Tricks
w/ MC Esoteric, Reef the Lost Cauze & more
Two Shows!
Thurs 8/20 | El Rey Theater
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
Fri 8/21 | Glass House Pomona
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]

 
Los Campesinos!
w/ Girls
Two Shows!
Fri 8/21 | El Rey Theater
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
Sat 8/22| Glass House Pomona
Info | [ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
 

The Cult
Performing the Love LP
Sat 8/22 | Club Nokia | Info
[ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
Grand Prize winner gets VIP lounge passes, poster and meet & greet with The Cult!

 
Friendly Fires
w/ The Phenomenal Handclap Band
Sun 8/23
Glass House
Info[ENTER TO WIN GREEK]
 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Fox Theater Pomona Tue 9/15
Steve Earle w/ Tom Morello @ Troubadour Sun 10/11
Steve Earle w/ Tom Morello @ Troubadour Sat 10/10
Steve Earle w/ Tom Morello @ Troubadour Fri 10/9
Simian Mobile Disco with JDH & Dave P @ Mayan Theatre Wed 11/25
Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger @ Club Nokia Tue 10/6
The Big Pink with Crystal Antlers, IO Echo @ El Rey Wed 11/18
Skinny Puppy @ Club Nokia Thu 12/10
Gil Scott-Heron @ El Rey Sun 10/4
The Felice Brothers @ Ford Amphitheatre (Old Crow Medicine Show) Tue 9/29
Great Lake Swimmers @ El Rey Mon 10/12
Vietnam w/ Night Horse & Emeralds @ Bootleg Theater Fri 9/18
Princeton & Fol Chen w/ special guest @ pehrspace Sat 8/29
Heartless Bastards @ Troubadour Wed 9/2
Skinny Puppy @ Glass House Fri 10/30
Fever Ray @ Glass House Tue 10/6
Blitzen Trapper @ Glass House Tue 9/29
Outrageous Cherry w/ The Tyde / Asteroid #4, Devon Williams @ Spaceland Thu 9/10
he Most Serene Republic w/ The Grates @ Spaceland Fri 9/18
The 88 @ Spaceland Tue 9/1
The 88 @ Spaceland Tue 9/8
The 88 @ Spaceland Tue 9/15
The 88 @ Spaceland Tue 9/22
The 88 @ Spaceland Tue 9/29
A Hawk and a Hacksaw featuring Damon and Naomi @ Spaceland Thu 10/8
BrakesBrakesBrakes @ Spaceland Thu 10/22
Polvo @ Spaceland Sat 10/10
Land of Talk @ Spaceland Thu 10/29
Fanfarlo @ The Echo Wed 9/16
John Doe & Exene (acoustic) w/ Kid Congo Powers @ Echoplex Fri 10/9
Why? w/ Serengetti & Polyphonic @ Echoplex Tue 10/20
David Cross @ The Wiltern (Of Alvin & The Chipmunks) Mon 9/21
Ladyhawke w/ Ida Maria, Semi-Precious Weapons & Julian Perretta @ Avalon Sat 10/3
The Swell Season @ The Wiltern Wed 11/11
Disney’s Imagination Movers @ Club Nokia Sat 12/5
Disney’s Imagination Movers @ Club Nokia (1:30 pm show) Sat 12/5
 

TUESDAY
Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes w/ Lucinda Williams @ Greek Theatre
Flaming Lips w/ Ghostland Observatory, Star Death & White Dwarf @ Fox Theater, Pomona

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: August 17 – 23

Drama in yon Echo Park! Renown street artist Shep coats own exterior brick studio wall with anti-graffiti material, reports Eastsider LA blog. Shepard takes umbrage to said post and fires off angry email. Eastsider blog reprints said email this AM; comment section goes up in flames accordingly.

While I’m not about to throw my hat into the ring here, as a blog writer, or “blogger” if you will, I respected Shepard for offering the following quote to LAist’s Andy Sternberg back in February, 2008:

Any words of wisdom for aspiring street artists / disruptors / dissenters?
My advice is to stick to what you believe with tenacity. Don’t read snarky blogs and message boards because lazy sideline critics can bum you out, and ultimately have little effect on the outcome of things compared to those who take real action. Just follow your passion.

I should elaborate. Having spent way too much time online over the course of the last two decades, much as I respected Shep for saying that, I firmly believe that many peoples’ passion in life is in fact being snarky-as-a-motherfucker for no apparent reason. »continue reading Shepard Fairey Takes On Eastsider LA Blog: Gloves Off!

HEADS UP
ZZ Top @ House of Blues Anaheim Thu Aug 20
ZZ Top @ House of Blues Sunset Strip Fri Aug 21 (both on sale tomorrow)

The bearded blues-and-legs impresarios that comprise ZZ Top, in light of the now-cancelled-due-to-Steven-Tyler’s-Sturgis-stage-mishap Aerosmith/ZZ Top tour, are officially mounting their own (smaller) headlining tour, post-haste:

“We, like so many fans, are disappointed that we’re not going to be out with Aerosmith and we wish Steven a speedy recovery,” said ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill.

ZZ’s Billy Gibbons chimed in, “As musicians, we sometimes have to improvise and that’s exactly what this tour is about. We’re going to get out there as quickly as possible and to play for people who want to come to a ‘down ‘n’ dirty’ rock and roll show – no frills and no holds bared.”

“When we found out that the tour was going to be cancelled, we got together and decided that since we’re ready, willing and able, we should get out there immediately and get it on and that’s exactly what we intend to do,” said Frank Beard of the decision to move on.

New ZZ Top dates, informally known within the band’s inner circle as the “Necessity-Is-A-Mother Tour,” will be posted on zztop.com as they are confirmed. (Paris image via zztop.com)

Two pressing weekend reminders and one more new announcement after the jump…
»continue reading Friday Concert Updates

HEADS UP
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Up Close and Personal Tour @ Nokia Theater
Wed Sep 2
Daryl Hall & John Oates @ Morongo Casino Resort and Spa
Fri Sep 11

A few weeks back, John Oates played an Agoura Hills nightclub with a pair of local Upright Citizen’s Brigade girls. We gave you an interview tease at that time. Now that Oates is set to return to town with Daryl Hall, the pair of them with a comprehensive boxed set release looming on the horizon (74 tracks, 16 of which are previously unreleased; four discs, more than 40 years of material on seven different labels), we’re pleased to finally publish the full transcript of that conversation. Below, find candid insights regarding Michael Jackson, American roots music, probably-drug-addled 1970s music videos, nude photo shoots, mustaches, beards, emus, alpacas, and the aging process. Ladies and gentlemen, John Oates.

John! Timely question first. I know that you guys were involved with USA for Africa, and I was wondering if you could talk to me about your interaction with Michael Jackson, or if you have any favorite Michael Jackson moments.

USA for Africa and “We Are The World”… that evening was pretty special, you know, and it’s already been documented so many times, and so accurately. What I recall about it is that Michael was pretty retiring; he didn’t assert himself very much during that thing. I think he left it up to Quincy Jones to kind of run things, and he was very quiet, and he did his thing. He really wasn’t making his presence felt in terms of being the frontman, so to speak; it was more Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. But Michael came to a bunch of Hall and Oates shows when we’d play in LA. And I remember one time he came backstage in the dressing room after the show, and he said, in that little squeaky voice, you know, he said (chuckles) “Oh, I like to dance to ‘No Can Do’ in front of my mirror, in my bedroom…”

(Ryan is laughing.)

…which I thought was pretty cool.

No arguments.

Needless to say, I think the groove affected him. He liked the groove of that song.

»continue reading John Oates: The Losanjealous Interview: “The Mustache is Not Me, and I’m Not the Mustache…”

Lester William Polsfuss
“Les Paul”
The Wizard of Waukesha

June 9, 1915, Waukesha, Wisconsin –
August 13, 2009, White Plains, New York

Farewell to a true innovator. I started to compile a comprehensive photo gallery of Gibson Les Paul users (Standard, Epi, Studio, Custom, Artist Sig, the full gamut) from our existing photo library, and quickly realized this would be a task that could take months. Still, see if you can guess who’s who in the collection of Les Paul users captured by our own Sung below. First person to correctly identify eight of the 12 bands and/or performers in the comment section wins a five-CD pack from the Losanjealous music library. (You do still spin CDs someplace, right?) For bonus CD consideration, see if you can correctly identify where the artist is playing…and when. (Sung, you’re not allowed to enter the contest.)

»continue reading Les Paul, 1915 – 2009

»continue reading SUNN O))) Presented by FYF Fest & Eagle Rock Music Festival, Center for The Arts, Eagle Rock, August 11, 2009

A Call-Out To Los Angeles Blogs On This Day

Please pick up this story on your website. Keep the ball rolling. Let us not rest on this day of days until the LA Times ultimately has no choice but to re-post the redesign story itself, thus completing our commentary circle in some crudely beautiful, minuscule-yet-altogether-infinitesimal fashion. The logged-in user at the time of the above already-published LAist screen shot capture, one “Margot.Roosevelt@”, will no doubt be forever indebted as well. Instructions: (1) Capture this browser screen and prep for your blog of choice. (2) Your headline might read something like “Losanjealous Nods @ LAist Nod @ La Times Online Redesign”. (3) Provide instructions if need be, and get some other blog to pick up your story accordingly (you are on your own here). Look, dammit, this should be easy. I’ve even captured the next screenshot for you already – downloadable right here, 576px wide, 72dpi. Size to fit, post before noon. Don’t forget your end-of-article attribution links for our joint end-of-day paper trail! Thank you in advance; see you over at the Times website around 6pm. First round’s on me.

» The L.A. Times Gets a Nice Redesign (LAist)

Pssst! Huell Howser and documentary film fans alike: Harry Pallenberg, doc filmmaker and segment producer for California’s Gold (13 years working with Huell, over 800 shows in various series) is guest blogging this month over KCET way. Thus far he’s delivered two solid entries and for the rest of the month, he will be discussing Los Angeles and serializing his documentary SHOTGUN FREEWAY: Drives Thru Lost L.A. Snippet:

The living-room of our apartment was covered in tapes and archival films that we’d begged, borrowed, and (depending on the statute of limitations) stolen. In classic DIY fashion, we did whatever we needed to do to get it done. At one point we were editing SHOTGUN FREEWAY from 10PM to morning on the Northern Exposure series Avid system, which was fun until I re-calibrated the monitors one night. For another long stretch we found ourselves hand cleaning 100’s of hours of old films that the LAPD Historical Society had discovered in a back jail cell…

Go check it out and do pose your questions and comments directly to Harry in the comment section, should you get the chance.

FROM A LONG TIME AGO (tangentially related)
» Huell Howser: The Drinking Game

Worth $10?

Cheapskate foodies, garlic paste addicts, festival fans and carnivores alike: Saturday has come and gone. Did you make it out to the Summit this weekend for the inaugural Korean BBQ Festival & Cookoff? Did you suffer 90-minute lines for such booths as “Flip’s Beach BBQ” (one of the only vendors with a clear, discernable sign posted) or, as did my party, did you stumble upon one of the unmarked vendors in the corner catering primarily to staff, and purchase a (mostly passable) plate for $10 or $15? Did you wait patiently for Sprinkles to set up shop, just for the chance to wait in a line that appeared at surface to be less than than a 75-minute commitment? Did you get sunburned? Stuffed? Bored? Cooled by a paper-and-wood fan that inexplicably reminded of you “Yelp”? Did you partake of the Coors Light and Blue Moon suds? What were the highs and lows? The ins and outs? The Bar-B’s, and the Q’s? The Kims? The Chis? Please grade the festival. Lay it on us, won’t you now, please. My festival grade after the jump.
»continue reading 2009 Inaugural Los Angeles Korean BBQ Festival & Cookoff: What’d You Think?

PICK OF THE WEEK

Black Francis
w/ Mere Mortals
2 Shows
The Mint
Tues 8/11
Wed 8/12
 

The Dan Band
As seen in Old School & The Hangover
Friday, August 14th
Club Nokia
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]
 

Peanut Butter Wolf @ Glass House Tue 9/1
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros @ El Rey Tue 9/22
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Presents The Nightman Cometh @ The Palladium (Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson & Danny DeVito) Fri 9/25
!!! Chk Chk Chk @ Troubadour Sun 9/27
Cave Singers @ The Echo Thu 10/1
David Bazan @ Troubadour Fri 10/2
Bob Dylan & His Band @ The Palladium Thu 10/15
Bob Dylan & His Band @ The Palladium Wed 10/14
Bob Dylan & His Band @ The Palladium Tue 10/13
Roger Daltrey @ Orpheum Theatre Sat 10/17
Liam Finn & Jason Lytle @ Echoplex Thu 10/22
Shonen Knife w/ Ty Segall @ The Echo Mon 11/2
Sunset Rubdown @ Troubadour Tue 10/27
Lloyd Cole @ Troubadour Thu 10/22
Shattered Records Tour W/ Jay Reatard, Box Elders & Hunx @ El Rey Wed 10/21
The Fab Four @ Club Nokia Sat 10/24
The Mountain Goats & Final Fantasy @ Henry Fonda Sun 11/15
¡Viva Christmas! with El Vez & Los Straitjackets and the Lovely Elvettes @ Troubadour Fri 12/18
 

WEDNESDAY
Black Francis @ The Mint
Jackson Browne @ Greek Theatre
N.A.S.A. @ El Rey
Roadside Graves, Avi Buffalo, Parson Redheads, M. Bison @ Knitting Factory

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: August 10 – 16

PHOTO by Sung. More HARD Summer before/after shutdown shots here.

Hard Summer LA 2009 at The Forum was shut down by Inglewood P.D. last night. Yes, you all know this already– already a hot thread is cooking over at LAWeekly.com here–and Underworld has issued a statement here–but just wanted to make a small mention as it was our POTW. Maybe you want to chime in with your takes on what went down. If we get any word on the refunds that apparently have been promised, we’ll pass it along.

Someone’s pride and joy sits proudly posed curbside before a big rock pile, trio of ‘49 Dodge sedans, ‘39 Ford Coupe and ‘20-something model A Ford. If a Jeep and a Ruffles potato chip had a baby this would be it. Clearly someone poured their heart and soul into this highly original garage craft project. And, yes the results are an inspiration to behold in every way. But – fair WARNING: don’t look at it too long because it will hypnotize you.

First of all that lipstick red and buttercup yellow two-toned paint scheme is stunning! Who needs a chrome bumper when you can have a yellow one? The expression on that mustached face-of-a-front-end couldn’t be more honest. That nearly unnoticeable hand cut grill is priceless. The perky pointed front fenders; streamline side panels and sassy, slanted tail end simply define unpretentious poetry in motion even while standing still. And how about the slight curve of the hood and whatever that chrome knob is sticking up through it. Make sure you don’t miss the rake of the frameless windshield; and eye-catching antenna set on the bias where the door should be but isn’t. But who needs doors when you have a car like this. You just jump in and out of it! And don’t mind the fact that it’s topless. So what if it rains. A few refreshing raindrops never hurt anybody.

»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Homemade Sports Coupe, Irwindale, CA 1951

Also: “Cyxymu” says he was the target of an Online Attack.