hollywood @ nite

December 27, 2004

Hey Everyone. I have been keeping myself crazy-busy lately, going back and forth between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I went for a visit to SF in mid November, and had such a great time that I realized I need to be back there. I am so happy when I am in San Francisco! And I’ve been so bored and irritated about LA. I couldn’t afford to go to most of the shows I was interested in, and I hated driving like 30 or 40 minutes across the city just to get to a show and pay 6 bucks for a beer. I gave it a year of my life, and I am over it. So after Christmas, I will be a San Francisco resident once again! I couldn’t be happier about it!

Halloween in Hollywood was a fun weekend for sure though. Friday night I went to an open bar party where my friend’s band, The Deep Eynde played. They sound a lot like early Damned, and I absolutely love them. They are one of my favorite bands in LA. The party had a costume contest, and everyone was dressed up. It was a great crowd with a really fun vibe, and I had a blast. The singer, Fate Fatal told me about the following day’s "Day of the Dead" festivities that would be happening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (where DD Ramone is buried). He made it sound so interesting and beautiful that I decided to check it out.

The cemetery had beautiful altars built on many of the graves that had paper mache people, candles, photos, lights, flowers, and anything else you could think of, which family members of the deceased had built for the "Day of the Dead." There were a lot of people in costumes, there were performances by a dance troupe who wore giant mohikan feather headdresses, and there were all sorts of vendors selling Mexican art, as well as food and drinks. It went well into the night and there were all kinds of people of all ages. It was a very special, fun night and I am so glad I got to experience it.

The Sunday night of Halloween weekend was Halloween Proper. I went to a party where the huge backyard was decorated with crazy nooks and crannies filled with zombie mannequins galore. It was really intricately done, and the rumor was that the homeowner has it that way year round, but "goes all out at Halloween." It was really crazy!

In November, I went to a great show called the British Invasion in San Bernardino at Orange Pavilion (an hour and a half away from LA). The bands were: The Adicts, Exploited, Cockney Rejects, Discharge, Total Chaos, UK Subs, Resilience, and more. I went along with friends who were hired to film the event, so we had all access and it was a blast. The Adicts were so theatrical, with lots of glitter confetti and huge blow-up beach balls they threw out into the crowd, etc. They were really fun to watch. The rest of the bands, I have seen before, but The Adicts were the highlight for me. I do love the UK Subs though, but having seen them numerous times, I didn’t find it all that exciting. This show was all ages, and there were so many little punk kids, it was a trip. I took photos of the huge crowd from the stage, so I got a performers-eye view.

My month of December was spent finding an apartment in SF and packing my house up to move. I then went to SF to see Turbo Negro play the Thrasher "skater of the year awards" at the Great American Music Hall. I got great photos, which I will have to send in after the New Year because I am in Dallas, TX right now for the holidays and I don’t have the cord to download the photos from my camera. That cord is packed away with all my belongings back in LA! It is snowing in Dallas now, which is exciting for me, since I have not seen snow since 1995! I look forward to the New Year in San Francisco! You will all be hearing more from me about SF later. Have a great holiday season and be safe!

XOXO- Alisha Amnesia

The Rockaround was Friday Sept 24 through Sunday Sept 26^th. There were about 20 bands over 3 days, burlesque performers, merchandise, and DJs. I discovered a few new Garage bands that I was really impressed with. I rated Muck and The Mires from Boston as #1 for the whole weekend, but it was an extremely hard call, as there were several bands that I loved. It turns out this band also won a battle of the bands at Little Steven’s Garage Rock festival in New York!

Muck and the Mires are pure-sounding 60s garage rock, with a bit of rhythm and blues thrown in, and are very high energy. They really had the crowd in the palm of their hand. They have a girl drummer who is absolutely amazing. I looked at their website, and it turns out they got their start when their singer recorded a ‘greatest hits’ album that he never planned to release, that was supposed to seem like something someone dug up from the 60s that were lost recordings. It got released and caused a stir, and then… there were Muck and the Mires. A Greatest Hits album was their first release! Okay, that’s just bizarre. To get to the bottom of things, check out their website. www.muckandthemires.com As I said, of all the bands at the Rockaround, they were my favorite.

I went into the weekend knowing very little, if anything, about most of the bands; so I was picking favorite bands based solely on their performance at the Rockaround. Other favorites of mine were The Dragons, The Bobbyteens, Downliners Sect, Fortune and the Maltese, Chesterfield Kings, The Priests, and Deadbolt (for their sheer comedic talent).

The Dragons played their last show ever, as their guitarist is moving to Japan; and they decided not to continue on with out him. They were the last band to play the weekend, at 3am on Sunday night, and only a handful of us were still standing to see them perform. I thought they were incredible! They rock so hard and so seemingly effortlessly, that it was kind of sad to realize this is the last time I’ll see them perform. They ended their stint as the Dragons, being the best rock and roll band that they could possibly be- from a fan’s standpoint. They played this show as if it were for hundreds of people, even though there was hardly anyone there. (It was a bad time slot as far as crowd size, and it would have been, regardless of who had that slot.)

The Downliners Sect were another stand out for me. They actually formed and recorded in the 60s and had a few hits in Europe. According to Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide, on vh1.com, "Of all the British R&B bands to follow the Rolling Stones' footsteps, the Downliners Sect were arguably the rawest." Rawer than the Rolling Stones in the 60s? I believe it. Their live performance kept me interested and entertained, and the amusing British banter between songs didn’t hurt the performance. They were quite good.

There were a lot of other bands that the crowd enjoyed like garage rock legends, The Monks, who formed in 1964 as five American GIs stationed in Germany. I never followed their music, so seeing them was not a standout moment of the weekend for me personally, but I know that it was for some. www.the-monks.com

Fortune and the Maltese (weird name, huh?) were very 60s inspired, even in their choice of dress. (They all wore suits reminiscent of the old Beatles days). They were musically very tight and together and seemed as though they had been playing together very well for a good amount of time. They put on a very good show and I would recommend seeing them. fortuneandmaltese.tripod.com

The Bobbyteens, I have written about a few times before because they are from my former home of the San Francisco Bay Area, and were a band I went to see frequently there. They have got a powerful female lead singer as well as two rockin’ chicks on guitar and bass. Their drummer is the only guy in the band and he’s an amazingly energetic drummer who also plays for The Flakes (and another band too I think). I really enjoy The Boobyteens’ catchy bubblegum pop lyrics and their rocking sound. bobbyteens.com

The Chesterfield Kings had a very androgenous singer whose look reminded me of Tom Keefer, the singer from the metal band Cinderella, (although he probably aspires to be more like Mick Jagger or David Johansen from the NY Dolls.) He was a trip to watch, and I really enjoyed them. You don’t see too many cross dresser types fronting Garage Rock bands! www.chesterfieldkings.com

Deadblot are so funny to watch. I have been seeing them for many years (7 or 8 now) and in all honesty, there was a point several years ago when I got bored of seeing them because they tend to do the same shtick for every show. However, I don’t feel bored of seeing them anymore. I took a break for a few years and then when I re-visited them, they had all new members except for Harley, who is the front man. The schtick has evolved a little and Harley says a lot of funny things to audience members throughout the performance. The band also puts top priority on doing tequila shots, swilling beers, and smoking cigarettes; and the music seems to be secondary! They have 2 bass players, which results in their heavy bass "Voodoobilly" sound. Their drummer does his bit to entertain the crowd between songs by lip-syncing old crooner songs into an old-style microphone with a spotlight shining on him. The band also karate-chops blocks of wood, creates sparks with a skill saw, and dances off the stage. This was their second year to play the Rockaround, and I enjoyed them both times. www.downinthelab.com

I don’t remember much about The Priests, but I really enjoyed them. Other bands at the Rockaround were the all-girl Japanese band, the 5678’s, who were in the movie Kill Bill; Devil Doll, Reigning Sound, Greenhornes, Sky Saxon and the Seeds, The Coffin Lids, Oragutones, Barrence Whitfield, A-Bones, Deke Dickerson Frat Band,

Loons, and Hasil Adkins- a really funny old country guy.

I don’t want to go on too much more about the Rockaround, but there was so much more that happened than you are getting from me. Our NYC Coolgrrrl, Kitty Kowalski was also there, and I bet she’ll tell you about some of bands that I didn’t fill you in on. She and I had a lot of fun together, and we met and hung out with a lot of cool people from all over the US. I really enjoyed the new friends I met, and plan to keep in touch with some. My favorite part of the Rockaround is that the music brings people together who have common interests. I always have a blast meeting new people at these events!

I went to a great warehouse show on Friday Oct 8^th called "Painkillers." I went to see a band I had mentioned seeing earlier this year, called The Sharp Ease. I wanted to see them again because they reminded me of early Go-Gos. This show was at a small space where they sold $2 cans of beer and the bathroom was behind the stage, so if you were in it when a band was playing, you’d have to walk on stage to get out! It was so grass roots, which I totally love. Don Bolles (drummer from the Germs and 45 Grave) was the MC and he was dressed in a Chinese military uniform and Hitler mustache. He’s so funny. Apparently he does a club every Tuesday night at the Parlor (on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood) called Club Screwball. I haven’t been yet, but plan to go one of these days.

The Sharp Ease are a lot of fun. They are all girls who look to be in their early 20s, and they seem uninhibited and raw, with a new wave sound; and that’s why they remind me of early Go-Gos. I will definitely see them again, and I will also go to Painkillers again if I hear there will be another one. People were drinking on the street, no one looked like fashion victims, and it was totally un-Hollywood, which I love. The opening bands were young, crazy and electroclash, yet still rock and roll. They sounded pretty bad, but I thought it was great! www.thesharpease.com

I saw another LA band that I was impressed with on Sat Oct 9^th at Mr T’s Bowl called The Mormons. They are 4 guys who wear white short-sleeved button down shirts with black slacks, bicycle helmets, and backpacks. I guess that is how the door-to-door Mormon missionaries dress? I wouldn’t know. The Mormons had incredible, insane energy. The singer rolled all over the floor more often than he stood upright, and the crowd was going absolutely nuts. It was the best show I have seen up close in a while. One crowd member was doing summer-salts across the floor in front of the band. They really got the crowd going, and I loved it. Their sound is punk, but I don’t remember it well enough to describe it further. I plan to see them again when I have the chance and will be able to say more about them. They definitely put on a great show! www.themormonsband.com

On Thurs Sept 30^th, I went to see Hammerlock at The Viper Room. I have to go on record as saying the Viper Room SUCKS!!!! First, they will not allow you to take photos without permission (which I was able to get for the 1^st 3 songs only, and only of the stage). Second, whoever booked the show and put the night together did a terrible job. The bands were so different from one another, that putting them on the same bill made no sense. I walked in, and a death metal band was playing upstairs (yuck!), or you could go downstairs to a bar where there was a house music DJ! The next band, Blair Bitch Project, is okay I guess, but they don’t play death metal, or the kind of music Hammerlock plays-- which is fast, hard rock and roll, with a southern or country edge, which they call "Outlaw Music." The bill was no good, and there was no promotion apparently cause the room was empty. I was pissed off for the band, as this was the last date of a very successful mini-tour through the southwest. Another thing that sucks about the Viper room is that they play stupid top 40 rock music in between bands. It is so lame, and so stereotypical LA. Despite all this, Hammerlock put on a kick ass show. They are a great band and every time I see them, I am never disappointed.

On Sat Sept 18^th, I went to a Fundraiser Carnival for the LA Roller Derby gals, The Derby Dolls. It was pretty fun. They had a lot of funny things going on: girls on roller skates, a dunking booth, sumo suit wrestling, carnival games and prizes, a bouncy room, you name it! I can’t wait til the Roller Derby begins! I got a funny photo of the sumo suit wrestling, which was hilarious.

So, since it is the month of October, my friend and I decided to hit Octoberfest. I have never been to one before, and all I knew to expect, was to drink some beer. We went to one on a Tuesday when we both had the day off, in Huntington Beach. I figured the fest goes on all month, a bunch of hardcore beer-appreciaters would be there on a Tuesday. Well, we were wrong. We were practically the only people there. The Octoberfest in Huntington Beach looked like it would be a fun place to go on the weekend when there are people there though. It was modeled after a German village, with cobblestone streets and lots of shops, German restaurants, and bars. We took photos in these funny cutout German figures where you can put your face in the hole, but that was the highlight of the day.

Not giving up on the Octoberfest experience, we went to another one in Alpine Village (Torrance, CA) on the following Saturday evening. I didn’t like the place much. The big "Fest" is in a big room with picnic tables and a stage for the band to play. The beer choices were "Alpine Lager," which is brewed there and tasted like feet, or Natural Light. Well, that isn’t very German, is it? We hung around for a while and drank $5 beers and watched old white people do stupid dances, but it got boring. We were kind of bummed! I hope that we end up going back to the one in Huntington on a weekend before the month gets crazy with Halloween and stuff. I will let you all know! Until next time…

Sharp Ease photo taken from their website by Toni Wells. Rockaround photos by Alisha Amnesia and Kitty Kowalski. All others by Alisha Amnesia unless taken from band websites, which are included above.

First, on Friday September 10^th, I got to see Zeke play a free show at the House of Blues. Thereason it was free was because they were touring with Motorhead, who had to cancel. I would not have been able to afford to go to that, but when Zeke played for free without Motorhead, It was TOTALLY AMAZING, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to witness it. www.zekeyou.com

Zeke are hard rockin’ balls-out, kick ass Rock N Roll! (Think Motorhead… there is a reason they tour together). I didn’t even care when an entire beer ended up all over my shirt! (Well, it was a bit sticky so I cared a little, but not that much!) I’m also glad I got to see the House of Blues, since I have been too broke to attend any shows there. I finally got to at least see what I’ve been missing. I also ran into a couple of guys from an LA band that I used to love to go see when they would come through San Francisco, called Hollywood Hate. They are a great punk band that unfortunately broke up shortly before I moved here. They were so good; I wish they were still together. Damn them!

When Zeke left the stage, I decided to rush over to the Troubadour where The Briefs (from Seattle) were headlining. I did miss the show, but I found out they were playing a secret free show the

following night at Zen Sushi. I was so excited, and really glad that I went to say hi even though I had missed their show. Had I not stopped by, I wouldn’t have known about the free show the next night.

So Sat Sept 11^th, I went to Zen Sushi to see The Briefs. (This is the first Setember 11^th that I have had a rad time since you-know-when.) The Briefs just continue to get better and better, with more new songs, and they never seem to lose any originality. Many bands that I get excited about record a couple of albums that are great, and then I get bored with their follow up. This isn’t true of The Briefs. Their new album, ‘Sex Objects’ is even better than the first two. I highly recommend that people into punk rock and new wave, BUY THEIR MUSIC! The band seems to have tireless energy, constantly touring, and putting on high-energy shows night after night, as well as continuing to record new material. They also have great graphics and great merchandise! I can’t say enough good things about them. I am a huge fan and supporter of theirs. If by chance, you haven’t heard this band, they remind me a lot of the Buzzcocks. Check out their website, which unlike a lot of bands, they seem to keep updated! www.thebriefs.com

A few weeks ago, I saw another great Seattle band, The Girls, (also at Zen Sushi). Contrary to their name, the band is made up of guys. I saw them in San Francisco back

in 2000, the first time they came to play California. They have gotten a lot better since then, but I knew even back then that I liked them. I could just tell that they had that certain something that got me excited about them, even though they played at a shitty dive that hardly anyone was at. Because of that first impression several years ago, I was excited to go see them when they came through town. They did not dissapoint me. They are very 80s- New wave, which I really love. They have some similarities with the Briefs as well, and I believe they have toured together. (Where the hell was I at the time?!) Check out their website, and go see them if they come through your town! www.thegirlsseattle.com

The Girls had really great energy, and played on a good bill with The Checkers (an LA band I wrote about a few mos. ago) and The Chopsticks. The Checkers have a girl singer who sounds better than last time I saw them. They seem to be getting tighter too. I already thought they were good in the first place, and I know I will go see them again. They are also New Wave, and they made me almost feel like I didn’t miss out on the 80s music scene. Seeing them is like being in the movie Valley Girl if you close your eyes. (Okay, maybe that’s going a bit far, but if you like that sort of thing, check them out!)

The Chopsticks were all right too, but I didn’t get as excited about them. I think that they have potential to get better though. I loved it when they threw chopsticks at the audience, and their musical style is good- new wave with some Ramones thrown in.

Coming up: On Satuday Sept. 18^th, there is a fundraiser for the All-Girl Roller Derby here in town, "L.A. Derby Dolls." The event is called "Hellraiser II- a Night at the Carnival!" The event is to raise money for them to get their act together. It sounds like a blast. There will be a Pie-Eating Contest, Sumo Suit Wresting, Dunk-a-Doll, a Velcro Wall, Djs, Performers, Prizes and more! It starts at 8pm. More info: www.derbydolls.com

The following weekend, Sep 24- 26 in Tom Ingram’s Las Vegas Rockaround! I can’t wait! There are tons of bands, and I plan on having fun in the sun! Our NYC Coolgrrrl, Kitty Kowalski will be there too! Check out the website- it is not too late to book! www.rockaround.net

Also coming up: Hammerlock comes to Hollywood! SF Bay Area "Outlaw Musicians" Hammerlock play the Viper Room on Sept 30^th! This show is not to be missed!

If you are a band playing the LA area that is my cup of tea (punk, garage, new wave, psychobilly, or rockabilly) please send me an email and invite me to come see your show. Please do not add me to your band’s email list unless you are a local band who is in one of the genres I listed though. Due to spam, I recently had to change my coolgrrrls email address.

Dalty, who is well known in the Bay Area Punk Scene as the bass player (and amputee) in the Angry Amputees, is in the hospital. The Angry Amputees are a great band with a female singer and drummer who are absolutely loved by all who have seen them. Dalty, (their bassist) is an amazing guy who survived Airborne Meningitis (flesh eating bacteria), which caused him to lose his fingers and his legs from the knees down so he uses a wheelchair. He still manages to rock out on the bass, drive all over San Francisco; and do just about all the things that people might think he can’t do. Now he has an infection that spread to his heart, and he also found out he has a heart murmur, which makes it even harder to fight off the infection. He does not have health insurance, and now he needs open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. He has to stay in the hospital for one month on IV antibiodics to try to fight the infection, after which he needs the surgery.

Bookers and bands in the SF local scene are putting together benefits for him, and the band has also set up a Pay Pal account through their website which is accepting donations to help with his hospital bills. Check their website for updates or to make a donation. www.theamputees.com If you or anyone you know would like to help, please do whatever you can. (You can also join their friends list on myspace.com, under their user name, Angry Amputees, and check there for updates.)

When I got the news about Dalty, I decided to drive up to San Francisco to see him in the hospital and to attend the first benefit at "Camputee," where some of the band lives and they also practice. I heard they raised around 500 bucks, and obviously there is a long way to go from there.

While back in San Francisco, I had such a wonderful time seeing old friends and great bands. I saw The Radio Reelers (who have great Ramones-like energy) play a free show at Molotov’s, and I saw The Silencers and The Lustkillers at Lost and Found Saloon. All the bands put on great shows, and the weekend made me realize how much I miss SF and how at home I feel there. I wish I still lived there, but I moved to LA because there are a lot of jobs in Music and Entertainment Publicity, and San Francisco doesn’t have that. It is tough to leave the city you love and adore to move somewhere else that you don’t like as much just to work; but in today’s awful US job market, you had better do whatever you can to find work. I will always love San Francisco, and if I can find a way to live there again, I will do it. In the meantime, I will visit often.

As far as good shows in LA, I went to 3 since my last update. I saw The Partisans at the El Rey Theatre on Thurs. July 22, and they put on a great show. They sounded just like their records, and had the energy of young guys, even though they aren’t anymore. They were selling shirts that said, "The Partisans… 17 years of Hell," which I thought was pretty funny. I didn’t dig the crowd there though. It was 90% underage punk rock kids, and maybe only 10% people over 21. The door staff wouldn’t let me come in with my bullet belt, or let my friend wear his wallet chain… all the typical bullshit that is annoying at punk shows.

The next night, Fri. July 23, I went to see Bow Wow Wow at the Key Club. I actually really enjoyed the show. Adrian from No Doubt played the drums. Anabella sounded and looked very good. Her voice was perfect, just as it was when she began at 14; and she jumped around a lot and put on a very high energy set. I never owned a full album of theirs. I only have a few songs on compilations, but I discovered I like them more than I thought I did. They have sort of a Hindi- influenced New Wave sound, which is quite unique.

(Aug.) Friday the 13^th, I went to see a band I really like called The Deep Eynde at The Derby. I have been seeing this band for about 4 years. They are based in LA, and just got signed to Duane Peters’ record label, Disaster Records. They are heavily Goth influenced, with a punk rock edge. The singer, Fate’s, voice sounds a lot like Dave Vanian’s (of the Damned). The turnout at the show was excellent, completely filling up the Derby; and the crowd was at full attention for their set. I have always been a fan of theirs, and they seem to get better and better. I think this band will gain further popularity after they release the new record. www.deepeynde.com

I wanted to see Stiff Little Fingers recently, and the following week, The Damned, both at the House of Blues. Unfortunately, there is no way for a penny-pinching punk rocker to be able to afford a show there, so I have re-named it the "House of Expensive." A show is $15.50+ a $2.00 Building Fee + a $6.25 Convenience Charge, + it costs anywhere from $7.00 - $15.00 to park on the Sunset Strip where the club is located. (This BS is my least favorite thing to get accustomed to in LA.)

I will probably be going to the Las Vegas Rockaround Sept 24-26, so be looking out for that. www.rockaround.net

I had an unexpectedly hilariously fun fourth of July! I went to a "white trash" party at a friend’s house where we shot off a bunch of fireworks, BBQ’ed, and shotgunned a lot of beer. Well, it was me and 6 guys shotgunning beers. No other girls were up for it, but the girls told me I was representing! It was so funny and I really enjoyed blowing off steam with a bunch of crazy people. Afterwards, a lot of us went over to my favorite Silverlake neighborhood gay bar, the Akbar, where they have a great dance room that just opened a few months ago. I always have fun there. (I even met Ross the intern from the Jay Leno show there one night. He’s a doll.) My friends and I danced like fools and had watergun fights. It was the perfect end to our Fourth of July celebration.

Saturday July 3^rd, I went to see one of my favorite bands, FEAR at the Key Club. I was so happy that I got a spot in the front row, and some adorable 23-year-old punk boy stood behind me and didn’t let anyone knock into me. He took it upon himself to be my bodygaurd and that was totally cool. I had a big huge dumb smile on my face for the entire show, because Fear just makes me really happy. I got really excited after the show that I was able to get backstage wristbands for me and my friends, but then Fear’s manager told us that no one could go backstage cause Lee didn’t want anyone back there. That sucked becase I love Lee Ving and wanted to hang out with him again, like I got to in SF the last time they played there. Oh well.

I was planning to attend the MacbreFest in San Bernardino the weekend of June 18. I had a few friends fly in from Dallas, only to discover that the promoters are total losers who never sent plane tickets to the international bands. Apparently this whole sham of a weekender got really screwed up by young promoters who couldn’t deliver on their promises. The bands who were supposed to play that I wanted to see were Demented Are Go, Batmobile, The Hellbillys, The Phenomenauts, Lobo Negro, Guana Bats, plus about 20 more. There are rumors flying around about lawsuits and bankruptcy for the promoters, Los Pistoleros Productions. It sounds like those guys were in way over their heads.

A friend of mine who was visiting from Dallas and I made our own fun and had a kick ass weekend anyway. Friday June 18, there was a show in LA called "Wild in the Streets" LA Punk, held at The Gene Autry Museum (which was quite strange). The bands were TSOL, The Dickies, DI and Channel 3- a great line-up. We found out about the show in the LA Weekly and we called and found out it began at 7pm and was sold out. I decided we should take our chances and show up and we could find a way to get in. When we got there, there were no ticket scalpers, and there were at least 30 people hanging around with the same idea we had. My friend and I waited patiently near the entrance. I figured I had nowhere better to be, and I knew it would work out. I was right! A guy named Chicken from DI came up to us and asked if we were having trouble getting in. We said yes and he handed us backstage passes! Right on!

The show was pretty fun except, because it was held in an outdoor courtyard at a place that has probably never had live music, the sound left something to be desired. It was an all ages show, so there was a roped off area where you could drink alcohol, but you had to stay in the roped off area if you were drinking. Needless to stay, I spent most of the night in the roped off area drinking beer and watching the show from about 50 feet from the stage. When I did go up front to check out the Dickies, I realized the sound was no better in front, so I went back to the drinking area. At one point, they ran out of beer and that was not my favorite news, but it didn’t last too long. The Dickies were great as usual, and they are my favorite of all the bands that played. Since the sound was so bad, and you could barely hear the vocals, I don’t really have anything to report on this show, but it was a lot of fun anyway.

Later that night, we went over to the Echo to see a SF Goth band called The Vanishing. They were really good, and at one point the female singer took off her top and played the saxophone. It doesn’t get much better than topless saxophone if you ask me! She had a really great voice and they were very entertaining. I thouroughly enjoyed them and would definitely see them again.

Now that I live in LA, I have a house where I can actually entertain after hours. In SF, I always had neighbors living below and next to me who hated me for my late night afterparties. I have no neighbors close enough to bother at 3 am here, and I love that! I had people over after the Vanishing, and the next night I had a crazy afterparty where we played with all sorts of loud airhorns (I have a collection)!

Saturday the 19^th, The East Bay Chasers were in town from Oakland. I ran into them and had a few drinks, but didn’t get to see their show because I had tickets to see The Avengers. For anyone who doesn’t know, the Avengers were one of the most well known punk bands in San Francisco back when the punk scene was new (late 70s, early 80s). They came up with bands like the Nuns, The Nubs, and the Dead Kennedys. I had never had the opportunity to see The Avengers, so it was a show I couldn’t miss. Singer Penelope Houston used to have short hair that looked like a cross between Annie Lenox and Billy Idol. She doesn’t still don the short hair, but she looked and sounded really good. I was totally bombed at that show though, and although I had a great time, I couldn’t tell you much about it! I did get some decent photos though. I took off immediately after to catch up with the East Bay Chasers, who played at Zen Sushi. I hoped to catch the tail end of their show, but they were done when I got there.

Sunday I had breakfast with the Chasers and friends, and then I packed a bag and headed off to Sunny Ensanada, Mexico! Since it was kind of spur of the moment, my friend and I didn’t arrive til evening. We got there in time to enjoy the hot tub and watch the sunset. I hoped to get some good beach time the following day, but unfortunately it was overcast. It was still fun though, since we shopped for trinkets, drank lots of margaritas, and got to see a new place. I hope to return again soon.

Since I haven’t written since April, I want to mention some bands I have seen and liked since then. On Thurs. May 27^th, I saw a local new wave band called The Checkers at the Bigfoot Lodge. They have a female singer and did a great cover of "Fanatic," a song from the Valleygirl soundtrack, which I enjoyed. They were really fun and I’d definitely see them again.

Monday May 24^th, I went to see The Black Halos (from Canada) at The Knitting Factory. I didn’t like the venue because I felt like I was at a mall, but this band was great. The singer reminded me of a cross between Dwayne Peters (Dwayne Peters & the Hunns, US Bombs) and Lux Interior (The Cramps), only very gay! He was funny and nutty and ended up pulling his pants down to reveal a cheetah print thong, and rolling around on the stage, which I thought was hilarious. I love kooky performers.

Thursday May 20^th, I went to see Oakland’s own Phenomenauts! I love these guys, and it is apparent that they keep getting better and better. (They are on this years Van’s Warped Tour for those of you who are going.) They have a new release coming out, and they gave me an unmastered 4 song CD to check out that was phenomenal! I can’t wait to hear the finished mastered version.

Saturday May 15^th, I went to see Big Sandy at El Guapo Cantina on Melrose. This was a very weird venue that the Rockabilly crowd has been less than complimentary of since this show. This particular night was weird because there was a big crowd of rap fans watching the end of a Laker game as the well-groomed Rockabilly crowd began filing in. These two groups didn’t mix easily. I was talking to Robert (Big Sandy) at the beginning of the night and some guy who looked like a short Ludacris nearly knocked me down by walking into me while he was talking on the phone. Robert said something and the guy just walked on and didn’t acknowledge us or apoligize. When the Laker fans finally filed out, the show was pretty good. The venue isn’t that bad, since there is a patio, and Tom Ingram (Viva Las Vegas and LV Rockaround promoter) DJed. I had a good time and danced a few songs, and when it was over, I rushed over to Mario Diaz’s Hot Dog at the Parlor for last call. This is a packed gay dance club held every Sat night that is a lot of fun… if a packed and sweaty gay club doesn’t faze you!

Friday May 14^th, I went to see Oakland’s Fracas at Zen Sushi. Unfortunately, there was hardly anyone there, but the band still put on the same high-energy show they would play to a packed house. It was great to see them, and I rolled around on the floor with Joe the singer to show support.

The last weekend of April, I was in Dallas for a friend’s wedding and I happened to catch The Briefs and The Real McKenzies at the Gypsy Tea Room on Sunday April 25th. There wasn’t a big turnout, but both bands were a total blast as usual. I had a great time and got to see an awesome show that I had missed when it came through Southern California.

I will end this update with plans to write once a month and keep things more current! Upcoming shows I plan to attend: The Stitches at Zen Sushi on Thurs July 8, The Partisans at the El Rey Theatre on July 22, and I am considering going to the Hollywood Park horse races to see Berlin on July 16. More later…

I saw a favorite punk band of mine, The Stitches, last weekend again, and it bums me out that people in LA don’t seem to go as crazy for them as they do in San Francisco. I said it last time I saw them in January or February, that their hometown doesn’t seem to appreciate them as much as other towns do. Granted, I am new here, and maybe LA is tired of them. I’m not though! I think they are great in an old school 77 1^st wave English Punk kind of way, and I doubt I will ever tire of seeing them.

So both Kastle (LA @ Nite), and Franki (OC @ Nite) have mentioned how much they love the new indie radio station in our neck of the woods, Indie 103.1. I love it too, but hadn’t really planned to mention it and make everyone outside the LA area annoyed at what they are missing… the best radio station ever. On Tuesday through Friday from noon to 1pm is ‘Jonesy’s Jukebox,’ a lunchtime show that Steve Jones (from the Sex Pistols) hosts. I love it becaude he tells stories about the bands he plays and invites guests like Johnny Ramone, Billy Idol, Keith Morris (Circle Jerks), and Ian Astbury (The Cult) to cohost and chat with. It’s amazing. One day on Jonesy’s jukebox, Paul Cook, the drummer from the Sex Pistols called in from England and he was listening online, so maybe you can too. indie1031.fm

Anyway, Indie 103.1 recently put on 2 events I had to see. On Tue Apr 13 at a venue called Avalon Hollywood, to celebrate 103 days on the air, they had a free concert that was unbelievably star studded! The band is called ‘Camp Freddy’ and is fronted by the actor, Donovan Leitch with Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum (from Guns and Roses and Neurotic Outsiders) on drums, and Chris Chaney. Their special guests who got up to perform kept surprising the crowd, as we didn’t know who might come out next. It was very exciting. The first guest who came out to sing was Juliette Lewis, the actress, who also has a band called Julliette and the Licks. Juliette rocked out like a true cock rocker- no inhibitions, just balls out. She was great. Then came Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes, as well as writer/ producer for Pink and Christina Aguilera among others), with Chad Smith, the drummer from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Chad and Matt did a drum challenge kind of thing, outdoing one another, which was really great. Billy Duffy, guitarist from the Cult, joined in as well, with some long-haired fellow named Jerry Cantrell (who I don’t know about). Then came Lisa Marie Presley. I was thrilled! I would never pay to go see her, but I’ve always been rooting for her, as I know it’s probably hard to live in the shadow of Elvis, and she actually has a great voice and is quite pretty. She is very shy it seemed, and didn’t wait for cheers, just left the stage as quickly as she could. My camera battery died, and then came Billy Joe from Green Day and Steve Jones on guitar. That was a lot of fun. Next came Lemmy from Motorhead! He said "This is the best fucking show you’ll ever see!" Well, as far as having that many surprises and talented musicicians together on one stage for free, he was right! It was awesome and I am so glad I went.

Indie 103.1 also put on a "Liquid Lunch" show on St.Patricks day with Flogging Molly. Since noon is a bit early for a show, I didn’t get there til about 12:45, and I missed the bulk of the show. I entered the Key Club on the Sunset Strip, to a dark packed show, and all of a sudden it felt like it was midnight! Flogging Molly were amazing and I cursed myself for being so slow that I only saw 5 songs. (photos of the show: www.indie1031.fm/liquidlunch_floggingmolly.html)

So, now on to Viva Las Vegas! This is an annual Rockabilly weekend event thrown by Tom Ingram, held the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino on Easter weekend. It was 4 nights of music and more. Tom also does the Rockaround, and this years will be held September 24-26. rockaround.net, vivalasvagas.net. I have said it before, that Tom Ingram’s music weekenders are the most well organized of any weekenders I attend, and I go to about 3 or 4 every year. I absolutely loved the Rockaround last September, and plan to go again this year. I had been to the first 2 Viva Las Vegas weekends in 1999 and 2000, and it has really grown since the

beginning. 2004 marked the 7^th Viva Las Vegas, with 3800 paying guests, plus several thousand more who showed up in Vegas and hung around the casino and its bars but didn’t go in to see the bands. The all day car show on Saturday had 500 cars this year. There were also a bunch of tattoo artists set up at the Palms, who did that on their own, but attracted a lot of business as well. The reason VLV was so well organized is: first, the check in goes very smoothly. There are several lines set up and a person directs you to the correct one. You show your ID and registration number, and you get your wristband, which takes about 10 minutes at the most. (Some of you may remember the LA Shakedown, which Kastle and I both wrote about 2 summers ago. The (pre-paid) check in was 4 hours, and people had to wait in the hot LA sun and miss a bunch of bands. That one was organized by a promoter who will remain nameless, but it definitely was NOT one of Tom Ingram’s painlessly smooth events!) Second, there is a schedule you can pick up when you get there that you can put in your purse or pocket and know what is going on at all times. Third, the hotel gives a discount to people who mention Viva Las Vegas, and we all get a special discount. Nice, eh?

The whole weekend was so packed with people that I only ran into my friends every once in a while. I spent the entire weekend meeting new people. I met a lot of guys from San Diego, Huntington Beach, and London. I also met people from Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and New York. A guy I met from Finland looked like the Rockabilly Steve Buschemi. It was weird!

My favorite part of the weekend, besides hanging out with a bunch of heavily tattoed people by the pool, was the car show. There were so many gorgeous cars and motorcycles. I photographed my favorites for all of you to see. My favorite band of the weekend was The Extraordinaires from England. They were a traditional do-wop 50’s style group reminiesent of the old Motown groups. They were really fun to watch and their positive energy was infectious. I also really enjoyed Ray Sharpe, from Dallas. He’s an old black guy who was dressed in a head-to-toe 70s getup. He was amusing as well as extremely talented. Johnny Dilks from the San Francisco Bay Area was really good and had the most sparkling suits of the weekend. I also enjoyed Gene Summers, Lloyd Tripp, and Marti Brom. But for me, this weekend was all about meeting new people, drinking, dancing, lounging poolside, and just enjoying myself. I wasn’t there for the music this time. I was there to soak up Vegas! I must have met about 200 guys (and 2 girls)! The Rockaround is really more my taste, since it is more Garage Rock. I look forward to going to that this fall.

I saw a band called "I’m a Robot" at the El Rey Theatre a while back and that was a ton of fun. The singer reminds me of a geeky Adam Ant wanna-be. (I’m sure he is not, but I couldn’t help thinking it.) They are an indie band that has keyboards and a heavy electronica influence. They are quirky and a lot of fun.

I also went to a Psychobilly weekend event in LA called the Road to Macabre. This was a preview for a summer weekender that will happen in June called the Macabre Fest. The previewer was pretty good, with The Meteors and The Hellbillys being the absolute high points of the weekend. The Hellbillys where about the best I have every seen them. They have a new drummer who is awesome, their Bass player Rick is great, their guitarist, Dan is amazing, and singer Barry is fun to watch as always. I was very impressed at how good they sounded that night. There were also a lot of talented up-and-coming psycho bands. One I enjoyed was Speedcrazy from New Jersey, who has a female stand up Bass player who is adorable and also sings. I also liked a band from the SF Bay Area who are very young called Tabaltix. Calavera, The Slanderin, and Lobo Negro were also pretty cool. I am really looking forward to Macabre Fest because Batmobile from Rotterdam are supposed to play and they are my favorite Psychobilly band. They quit playing a few years ago, but hopefully they will be reuniting for this show, like I heard they are.

The Coolgrrrls CD release party in Hollywood happened on Thurs Apr 22, so look for that in my next update.

I have to start out by mentioning the famous people I have spotted thus far! I've seen Andy Dick, Keifer Sutherland, Angela Bassset, the actor who plays 'Stanford Blatch' on 'Sex and the City,' and the actress who played 'Janet' on Beverly Hills 90210. I was also behind Uma Thurman in a line at Whole Foods last week and missed her while unloading my stuff and talking on the phone! The checkers were gossiping about her. It's funny here in La-la land.

The first big show I attended as a LA resident was the Stitches and Throwrag at the Troubadour. I was bummed with the security because the made me take off my bullet belt, and they took away my keyring because it has spikes on it. (I got my stuff back on the way out.) The show was pretty good, but I hate getting my belongings confiscated. I am not the type to start a fight, so it makes me mad to have my stuff taken away because I could hurt someone with it. It's such a joke. I guess I will have to plan my outfits better when going to certain venues. Both bands were energetic and crowd-pleasing, but I prefer seeing the Stitches away from their home turf, where I think they are more appreciated.

I went back to the Troubadour on Fri Jan 30^th to see the Dirtbombs. This is a favorite band of mine. They have a 60's garage rock sound, but it is different from other great garage rock bands because of the added Hendrix-style soul. The singer, Mick Collins, is a black rock and roller, and as I have said the other times I wrote about the Dirtbombs, you just don't usually see black guys front rock bands these days. Some of my all time favorite bands are Jimmy Hendrix Experience, Prince and the Revolution (& NPG), and Bad Brains, all of whom are fronted by black male rockers, who are completely unique and dangerously talented. I would definitely add the Dirtbombs to that list. The Dirtbombs also stand out because they have 2 drummers and 2 bass players. One of the bass players is a new addition; a girl named Ko, who fronts another Detroit band, Ko and the Knockouts.

In February, there were a bunch of shows that I was excited about. Wed Feb 18^th, I saw Junior Brown at the Key Club. Anyone who's seen him knows that he is just so amazingly talented, that he makes it all look easy. Junior Brown is the only country artist that I love. The first time I saw him perform was probably 1997 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. His wife was part of the band then, but she doesn't perform with him anymore. He did his most famous tune, 'Highway Patrol,' as well as some really crazy long instrumentals that made the crowd go nuts. He went into Hendrix, and some surf tunes, and finished the show off with an old recording called 'I have to wake up in the morning just to say goodnight to you.' That song was brilliant. It was a great show and I'm so glad I got to see him again.

Thursday Feb 19^th, I went to see the Hangmen and the Supersuckers rock show at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip. The Roxy is located next to an infamous bar called the Rainbow, where all the hair metal bands and their fans used to hang during the height of that scene. I had never been in there before, so my friend and I went over for a drink to check it out.

I had never seen the Hangmen before, and they were pretty good, but I didn't get too excited by them. The Supersuckers were as good as ever, and they are just total balls-out crowd pleasers. Toward the end of the show, they did a cover of Outcast's 'Hey Ya!' which was really fun. Their new material was all really good too. They were out of new CDs, so I didn't get one, or I could be a little more specific about which new songs I really liked. Eddie Spaghetti has a solo album out now as well, called 'the Sauce,' but I haven't heard that either. Oh well, at least the show was great. Their talent hasn't slipped a bit.

After the Supersuckers, Courtney Love was supposed to perform, but we were told everyone at the show had to leave, so I guess you would have to pay to get back in to see her, or it was a private event. I was disappointed about that because the Supersuckers manager had told me she was performing later, but didn't mention that I wouldn't be there to see it! I've never seen her, but would have liked to.

Friday Feb 20^th, I went to see The Boss Martians, who are a favorite of mine, with an Adam Ant tribute band called Ants Invasion at Spaceland. The Boss Martians are a 60s style garage rock band that has keyboards, and their singer Evan has incredible energy. The first time I saw them I was so impressed, that I make an effort to see them anytime they come through my town. I wrote about them here on coolgrrrls a few years ago. They are from Seattle, WA and if they come through your town and you like high-energy rock and roll, you should check them out! Some new tunes that I liked were 'Opportunistic Girl' and 'Oh, Angela,' which reminded me a little of early Elvis Costello. Their new song, 'I Wanna Be Your Addiction,' was very catchy too. Their new CD, "The Set-Up' is very good. They tell me they play LA again in March and I'll probably check them out again.

Ants Invasion was great too. I never really expect much out of a tribute band, but they played all the music perfectly, the costumes were right on, and the singer's voice was 98% like Adam Ant's. (I conducted a scientific experiment, so I know!) They were a lot of fun for an Adam Ant fan like myself. I hear they are from Seattle as well. I will probably see them again if the opportunity presents itself.

Sat. Feb 21^st, I went to see the Briefs and Youth Brigade at the Troubadour. The Briefs are always great fun and they never disappoint a crowd. I think this was like the 7^th time I've seen them, and I always have a blast at their shows. The Briefs have a spastic 80s new wave style, with a little English punk sound similar to the Buzzcocks' style thrown in for good measure. I like their style, both musically and fashion-wise. I am a very big fan of theirs and hope they continue to put out great records! The first 2 are great. I'm ready for another!

Youth Brigade has never really been my thing, but I did enjoy watching kids enjoying the show. I saw so many little punk girls stage diving and practically break their necks, but the crowd looked out for each other and I don't think anyone got hurt. I have to admit I used to be one of those dumb ass crazy girls when I was 15-23. Now I like to watch from a safe distance, and when I see them dive into the crowd, I cringe! I just love the energy of punk show though. I felt right at home, probably for the first time since I've been in LA.

I have been to a few local band gigs as well and recently discovered a female-fronted band I liked called The Sharp Ease. They play a free show, Tuesdays at the El Cid on Sunset, which is usually a Flamenco club. The décor of the place is Spanish style, and a bit mysterious and castle-like, and I thought it was really cool. The Sharp Ease are a bit new wave and spastic, and the singer girl reminded me of early Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle, with a little bit of Kelly Osbourne thrown in.

Sunday Feb 29^th, I saw Naked Aggression with the Subhumans at the Roxy. This was my 3^rd time seeing the Subhumans, and they sound just like their records. Their singer, Dick's voice, is so distinctly English, it is almost like an exaggeration, and I like that (about him anyway. Not when Americans like Billy Joe from Green Day attempt something of the sort). Dick also fronts a band called Citizen Fish.

The pit at this show was constantly moving, and the crowd was primarily of the 14-20 age range, except for a few older punk fans. I went into the ladies room at one point and some teenage girl was very woozy and puking in the sink… YUCK! She touched my arm with her wet hand! I enjoyed the show, especially old favorites like 'Subvert City', 'The Day The Country Died', and 'No'. I got the silliest, lamest line laid on me that I have to share it. This guy goes, "Is your dad a terrorist?" and already not wanting to hear the rest, I said, "No, Why?" And he said, "Cause you're the Bomb!" Oh god, thanks I guess. I told him to never repeat that to anyone again, but thanked him (for a laugh).

I had never seen Naked Aggression before. They are a female-fronted LA punk band who really got the crowd going. I couldn't hear the vocals clearly over the music (as is often the norm with punk bands), so I listened to their CD to get a better idea of the overall sound and lyrics. I thought it was pretty damn good. I am pretty picky, but I would totally go see them again. I especially like the songs 'Wound Up,' and 'Prose and Cons of Dying.'

So that's it for my first Hollywood show update. I am still tenaciously looking for a job here doing PR or Publicity in Music or just general entertainment. I spend a few hours a day researching jobs, writing cover letters, and emailing or faxing resumes. Hopefully I will find something good very soon. I hope you'll all wish me all luck!

Bands in LA: please send me invites to your shows with a description of your sound, and I will try to come check you out! For those of you in the SF Bay area, my friend, Heavy Kev, is booking a monthly event called "Shtick" at the Red Devil Lounge. Look for listings at reddevillounge.com.