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The buzz today is the Gumbo Brothers, who rocked Mandeville Canyon today at the annual UMCA Fall Festival.

The Taylor Ranch is a lovely setting for anything… 65 acres of pristine idyllic ranch property in Brentwood, set among Sycamores and chaparral. Today was the annual UMCA Fall Festival, featuring the Gumbo Brother and their most excellent party groove. These guys have an honest to goodness sound that would make even Sarah Palin understand the best of America isn’t rstricted to small-town USA.

Besides their super-cool rhythm, the Gumbo Brothers are genuinely nice guys. The Gumbo Brothers have firmly rooted themselves in the eclectic artistic tradition of Venice Beach, California with weekly residencies at the Venice Bistro, Rae’s Lounge and now Fridays at The Santa Monica Bar & Grille.

Bayou-steeped, organic funky dance music, it’s good for the soul. See these guys if you get a chance. They play around locally all the time. It’s a guaranteed good time out. Just add a few cold beers, and be sure to get off your ass and shake it.

Fresh Faces in Fashion LA

Last Friday two very brave girls took-on the parking havoc and insanity on Fairfax Ave at the Petersen Automotive Museum caused by the largest event of Fashion week, the Gen Art sponsored Fresh Faces in Fashion gala fashion show. After driving half hour to get there already, it was so insanely backed up that after waiting in the parking line for 15 minutes we were informed that it was full and we could only valet park to the left in another impossible maneuver. I was ready to give up and go home but my companion bolstered my good will and patience and we decided on a new plan. To park at her house, change into flats and walk the several blocks to the location. We arrived at least a half hour late and were almost cut off from being let in, despite being on the guest list. We just made it in the nick of time.

We were ushered past the ghosts of automotive past to a giant hangar where the fashion show was being hosted. There were beautiful people everywhere. Despite being in heels, my five foot frame had a very poor view of the show being about 15 feet back in the standing room only section. I could see enough, however, and even glimpsed the singer/actress host Mandy Moore. The music and lighting was exciting an fitting, changing for each new collection. This show exhibited the designs of nine of the hottest new fashion designers in town. Two shows featured menswear, one female swim wear, the rest were female fashions. Afterwards was an fun soiree on the outdoor deck of the hangar with a wonderful open bar offering up Baily’s Irish Cream, Sake2Me fizzy drinks, red and white wine and champagne. Yummy!! We got some swag and enjoyed the live art installation fashion, spray paint, hats and otherwise. Went home appropriately tipsy.

It was my first official fashion show. Possibly my last, but I enjoyed it just the same. Glad I didn’t give up.

The buzz in LA today was k.d. lang live in malibu tonight for KCRW Sessions. Watch it here.

If I had to make a list of my all-time favorite things, I’m certain that both k.d. lang and KCRW would be on it. SInce the early 1990’s when I first heard k.d.lang’s luxury brand of tuned up country on 89.9 KCRW, my ears perked up at once to the controlled timbre of her voice.

Tonight’s show was amazing. It went like this: k.d.lang sings. My jaw drops. Tears stream from my eyes. I am transfixed, and certainly in the presence of a master craftsman. It’s particularly wonderful when she holds a note, perfectly pitched, at just the right volume. I really love watching her perform.

KCRW Sessions are at the Malibu Performing Arts Center, a small and intimate setting to see a world-class artist. Read More »

The buzz today in LA is the new and improved Knotts Scary Farm.  A classmate of mine works there as one of the scarers and informed me that there are several new mazes that have been added this year.  I am regular at the park each year, but last year I was a bit disappointed by the lack of new material.  

This year, however, was a totally different experience from last year.  This year we decided to to earlier in the month, not so close to Halloween, which was a great idea because the park was empty and we didn’t ever have to wait more than 10 minutes for a ride.  Besides getting to go on every major ride in the park (some twice), we made sure to go to every maze, old and new.  We were pleasantly surprised.  Not only were there more scarers throughout the park and the mazes, but the mazes were longer and more creepy.  There was even a maze dedicated to the upcoming horror movie Quarantine, which I can’t wait to see.

Overall, the park has more to offer this year.  I recommend going on a weeknight, and soon to avoid the crazy crowds.  And make sure before you go that you stop by your local Burger King and grab some coupons, we saved $20 per ticket!

The buzz in LA this week is most obviously the Los Angeles 2008 Decompression Party held in the Los Angeles Historic State Park. Decom is usually held under the bridges of Downtown LA, which does give a post-apocalyptic feel to the whole thing, but having it in the park made it feel more like a little Burning Man. And because we weren’t able to make it to BM this year, that’s exactly what were were looking for. 

Notable for 2008 Decom: 

The inordinate amount of monkeys. Sure, monkeys are cute, fun, sometimes drunk, and mostly hilarious. But people acting like monkeys is…..cheesy? So obviously trying to be funny that it’s just stupid? Uncreative? I don’t know. But the unofficial monkey theme presented itself nearly every hour, and every time, we asked ourselves, “What the hell is with all the monkeys??”

Gooferman. Gooferman is the clown band from San Francisco whose lead singer sounds a little too much like the guy from Soul Coughing. Bands dressing up in costume does sound a little lame, but Gooferman does it well. I haven’t seen them sans makeup, but unlike other brand-name bands from the 70s that we all knew and loved to a point, Gooferman has solid music that withstands a good face-washing. They’re playing at the Derby on Oct. 17. 

Thanks to the Hare Krishnas for all the food, and thanks to the city for doing whatever they did to make Decom happen in the State Park. It looked like a State Fair from the outside, but for this long-time burner, it was reminiscent of regional burns back east, where I first got introduced to Burning Man. Overall, this was the best Decom yet, with more people than ever participating. Thank you, ever-present gods of party!

We always thought it was. The name would imply skeeziness, and, let’s face it….it’s just got that vibe. You can even feel it driving by in your car. It would just so happen that my aspiring bartender friend wanted to go check it out because she heard it was a good place to start. So we go!

It’s a dive bar. It’s exactly what you would expect in terms of the bartenders, the layout, the pool tables in the back, and the karaoke without a stage. Nothing whatsoever differentiates Tattle Tale from any other dive bar across the nation. So why does it live in the infamy of skeezy dive bars?

The patrons are so flippin’ out of their minds, Tattle Tale doesn’t need to do anything, it just needs to open its doors and the party’s begun. Most of the patrons crawl out of their nearby homes and stay all night. Or at least everyone there is a heavy drinker. Regardless, the place was drowning in the sauce by the time we showed up. 

There was karaoke….oh yes, there was karaoke. Not a proper karaoke, not a karaoke where anyone actually thinks they can sing, and not a cheeseball costume karaoke. My friends, you have not seen karaoke until you’ve seen a drunken old sot stripping on top of a pool table to an obscure Queensryche song. And the best thing? He knew all the words, the only time he enunciated all night.

The karaoke king does not care, and doesn’t seem to like the spotlight, as most KJs do. He simply wants his mics back at the end of the night. Nor does he announce your name. He simply starts playing the song and if you’re too drunk to realize, “Hey! That’s my Journey!!”, someone else will jump on the mic for you.

Let’s see….there were at least five hipster Jesuses (Jesi?) all sitting together at the Godly Table, the Queensryche guy, the man who performed a sexy robot dance in front of my friend during his Sting song, and the rest of the circus of anti-anti-anti-Los Angelenos who do their best to keep their dive bars divey. 

The Tattle Tale Room is a wonderful place to go with a friend or two and get wrapped up in the night unfolding around. Talk to people, have a drink with a stranger. It’ll be the best night ever. 

Last night I went to go check out the Thursday night burlesque show at El Cid. It was…..um……I hope they’re getting paid. A few of them looked like they were having fun. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great starter show for those who’d like an introduction to burlesque. Modern burlesque, so think girls who will be at the next audition for a new Pussycat Doll. The show’s a little long for what it is, and the overall effect is similar to a band who’s set you’re not sure is a bunch of different songs, or one 45 min. song. 

The choreography is modern, and looks like the same person choreographed everything. Costume changes are thoughtful touches such as a sailor’s hat or a feather boa to top off sparkly black bras and undies. The coolest thing about the show are the aerial hoop dances, where you can’t help but think, “Damn! That girl is STRONG!”

The stage setting was EXTREME tinsel, which at times felt like an upscale CIA without the camp. The whole thing seemed equivalent to a cheap knock off of Paris’ Moulin Rouge, or the show at the casino modeled vaguely after the Paris-themed casino on the strip, but in North Vegas. 

And unless you need a hit of sugar straight to the vein, stick with the red sangria.

Thessaly Lerner is the Ukulady

This lady is a wild and most interesting ukulele playing comedian, puppet master, voice-over actress, MC and more. She has the most unique voice and is a good friend from the Northern California Circus and Performing Arts Camp called Camp Winnarainbow that I attended as a girl.

She has a scores of fresh and exciting events and performances coming up. Make sure to check out the Ukulady’s myspace and web sites listed at the bottom of this post to get the goods.

She is pleased to be playing some awesome & uncoventional shows in LA this month!

1. LA Burning Man Decompression Party!
WHERE: 1245 N. Spring Street at LA State Historic Park, 90012 (near Chinatown) at the Funky Monkey Stage!
WHEN: This Saturday, October 4th at 4:30pm! $10 in costume, $20 without costume.

2. Hikes Without Mics UkeTober Fest! - This is an awesome acoustic concert event at Millard Falls in Altadena, featuring a variety of awesome Uke Players!
WHERE: Millard Falls in the Angeles National Forest (google directions - it’s beautiful and easy to get to!)
WHEN: This Sunday, October 5th at 2pm!
FREE! Bring a picnic! More show details at www.myspace.com/TheNaturalStageProject

3. Monday October 6th: 8pm at the Celebration Theater’s Salon in WeHo and 11pm at the Talk Show at Hyperion Tavern in Silverlake!
WHERE: Celebration: 7051 S. Monica Blvd, LA 91038
Talk Show: Hyperion Tavern 1941 Hyperion Blvd x from Casita Del Campo
FREE!

4. Downtown ArtWalk’s Hippodrome Bus!
WHEN: Thursday October 9th at 9pm! Various artists playing music! Hop on, Hop off around Spring Street & Main Street - look for the big colorful bus! FREE

5. Amsterdam Cafe’s MilkShoot Comedy, hosted by Faith Choyce & Bobaloo!
WHEN: Friday, October 10th at 8pm!
WHERE: 10905 Magnolia Blvd, NoHo, 91601 FREE! Featuring various hilarious comedians with fancy credits!

Hope to see you at a showsie! To The Downfall of Evil!

www.myspace.com/TheUkulady
www.youtube.com/ThessalyLerner
www.ThessalyLerner.com
www.TheUkulady.com

The buzz in LA today is the awesome comedy shows at the Coronet Theatre.  On Monday night I went to see the ‘Patton Oswalt and Friends’ show and I was instantly hooked.  The tickets are inexpensive, only $25 each, and the venue is small, only 250 person capacity. 

I am a big fan of stand up comedy and I am also a fan of smaller, more personal settings so this was great for me.  The only downside to this theatre is that they do not serve food or drinks, which is a change from the places I normally go to.  But the tickets are less expensive and you don’t have to worry about filling the drink minimums so I guess it is a trade off.

FYI, the tickest are on a will-call basis so the earlier you get there, the better your seats are.  However in a place this small I guess there are no bad seats.  But even though it is a small place they have had some pretty big talent perform there, including Sara Silverman, Joan Rivers, and Russell Brand.  

Bottom line: it’s definitely worth checking out.

I was looking for some German music to listen to to help improve my German. A girl suggested Tokio Hotel quite excitedly. She was 18, and given kids these days and their music, I promptly tuned out her suggestions. Then I got serious about learning German. So I gave them a shot. 

Musically, it’s an overproduced and overfunded German AFI (*ahem!* the old AFI) that was a few generations way too late. They might have shared a stage with the Misfits in the late 1970s had the cosmos took the left into punk as opposed to the right into millennial pop. The energy’s there but…..no. Just no. The German-language music is pretty good if you don’t have to look at them. 

Is that a girl? Are they both girls? Where are their boobs? C’mon, that’s not a guy! ……Is that Bjork?

Tokio Hotel is lead by an cuddly anime goth chipmunk whose artist drew inspiration from Sonic the Hedgehog; and is backed by Korn at age 13 and two random guys somebody out there probably goes to school with. There’s an immense wave of teenage crush directed at the Sonic (Bill)  and Korn (Tom). Really? …No…what?……Really?

Since when did the sex, drugs, and rock n roll get snorted out of sex, drugs & rock n roll? Where’s Iggy Pop and his jar of peanut butter? Ozzy and his beloved pet bat? Robert Plant’s circulation-stopping pants? Grace Slick’s special bag of tricks? Axl Rose’s ill-fated plan to take over the world and Slash’s pacemaker at 30? They were iconic because they were dangerous. You simply could not be as cool as they looked. There was something superhuman, otherworldly, and forbidden about them, which is what we all idolized. 

Bjork and his band are just as safe as the Jonas Bros, Hannah Montana (does this sound like a stripper name to anyone else?), and Jordin Sparks when she said promise rings are for people who don’t want to be sluts at the VMAs. They just look like they could be headed in an unsavory direction in a few years. 

Anyway, there’s two versions of their best song, Rette Mich; one before the balls dropped and one after. The before sound is definitely better. And your German language skills will most definitely improve by listening to these creatures. Moreso than listening to Juan Gabriel will improve my Spanish, but that’s some seriously damn good music.