Sunday, March 27, 2016

Morning Dew (covered by The National)

(pastiche of sonic youth/velvet underground with leonard cohen. i dig it. no i don't. it's flacid.)


New Speedway Boogie (covered by Courtney Barnett)


Touch of Grey (covered by War On Drugs)


Horace & Pete: Episode 9

Ann:
Well, how am I supposed to make that happen?

Tom:
You can't. Not by looking for it. That's why they call it 'falling in love.' See, you can't fall on purpose. See I, I used to be an actor and I, uh, took a class on falling...trying to make it look like I fell...and [uh] still trying... I must've fallen over about a thousand times. Tryin' to make it look like an accident. And I couldn't do it. So...um...I quit being an actor.

Ann:
Well, that's not any help. I mean...I mean what is a person supposed to do?

Tom:
Well,  you just accept. Just accept the fact that, that love is rare, and it probably won't happen to you. Ever.

Ann:
Is that what you do? You just accept it?

Tom:
No. (laughs to himself) No I, uh, walk around brokenhearted. (Pause) and I, I get drunk. I mean I hate being alone. (Beat) Some day it'll kill me.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Garry Shandling

"The world is too noisy and distracted to probably ultimately survive. Everyone needs to shut the fuck up. The answers are in the silence. Monks set themselves on fire to protest and to make this point. Just consider it."

A Note From Louis C.K. On A Saturday Morning (on the media)

A lot of shitty things happened in the world this week. Or, I suppose, to be more accurate, the news is full of shitty things. (That sentence had too many commas in it. In fact it still does.)

Shitty things happen all over the world every day. But which ones I'm aware of is a combination of what web sites make I seek out, based on a combination of who I choose to trust and where I get the most potent "hit" of satisfaction or whatever the part of me that I'm feeding craves.

Whenever a terrible thing happens in the world and you go to a news site to read about it, and they have a video of the terrible thing, there's this strange experience when (if) you click on the video, which is that before you watch the awful thing, they show you a little advertisement. Just for that little awful video. Sometimes it's very cheerful.

When the news used to be a single broadcast that you would watch on television, with commercial breaks. There was a sense that these companies bought advertising to pay for the news to be brought to you.

But now with sponsorship of individual moments of suffering, presented to comfortable gawking consumers, it feels like someone died in a far away place (so you don't have to!) and now you get to watch. And it's brought to you by Geico! 
The thing that's hard to avoid is that where there is money to be made, money will be made there. When the news is juicy, we buy more Snapple.

The truth is that the news, if you're really paying attention, is complex and boring. I often set a goal for myself that I'm only going to read the news in the news paper and to stay away from Internet news. Because the stuff that goes up on the sites is immediate, brash and badly reported. They just scoop it and slop it and chuck it. The news paper has limited space. And they have until morning to get it to you. So there's more thought put into it. Internet news is heroin. Newspaper news is nutrition. That's MY view. Don't get all mad. I'm just sharing.  I'm sure there are other avenues to the truth that are web based. When I walk into the coffee places where they are literally using lab equipment and glass beakers to make the perfect coffee, I get the sense that the young people sitting at the tables are reading blogs and sites that are quiet and thoughtful. My daughter reads a cocktail of blogs on her favorite subjects, knowing they each have a bias, and averages them out to find her truth.

But I'm 48. I actually remember Walter Cronkite reporting that Apollo Soyuz was orbiting and if you live in the north east you could look up and see white and red blinking lights together and that was them. And I ran out into my front yard in Newton Massachusetts and I saw. Wow. Now of course that was probably an airplane and maybe it was Dan Rather. And also I'm a liar.

Anyway I guess the more and more we share the day's news, the more we still have each our own personal way to see it. And to decide what's important. And what you think and feel about it.

I really hope that I didn't irritate anyone with this email.

Please watch episode 9 of Horace and Pete.
Louis

Songs from Georgia, KCRW (12.27.95)

Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Doe, & Smokey Hormel on KCRW and special guest Barbara Turner.

Setlist:
Buckets of Rain
There She Goes Again
I'll Be Your Mirror
Almost Blue
Yosel, Yosel

Georgia - Take Me Back (Ulu Grosbard, 1995)

Jennifer Jason Leigh & Mare Winningham.
(note: this full version will be taken down at some point)


L.A. Dive Bars (3.26.16.)

Am I a ghostwriter on this?

SMOG CUTTER
If you're willing to risk getting jabbed by a pool stick while singing karaoke and drinking cheap bottles of Miller High Life, then this dive's for you. From the sassy/surly staff and seasoned regulars to the dim lighting and well-worn decor, Smog Cutter has all the charm of a neighborhood local that doesn't really care if you like it or not. The place can get packed as the weekend nights wear on, so come early if you want to sing or snag a stool. And don't forget to bring cash.
Smog Cutter is located at 864 N Virgil Ave, East Hollywood.

CHEZ JAY
Once a favorite haunt for the Rat Pack and Hollywood's Golden Era stars, this reliable Santa Monica dive still maintains plenty of class. If you're in the mood for cold beer, quiet conversation, and throwing peanut shells over your shoulder, Chez Jay is the place. You might not beat the longtime regulars to a stool at the bar, but there's still plenty of tables in the cozy, dark bar or you can head out to the recently revamped patio to enjoy some sun. As an added bonus, their menu is pretty solid with great steaks that have kept locals coming back for years.
Chez Jay is located at 1657 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica

LOST & FOUND
While some early risers may be grabbing bagels next door, the dedicated regulars at this classic strip mall dive are already lined up at the bar. With a 6 a.m. opening, Lost & Found is a reliable, cash-only watering hole for strong, cheap drinks and a laid-back, friendly vibe. There's pool table and a solid, classic rock-heavy jukebox for entertainment, or you can just mind your own at the bar and test out your trivia knowledge on the cocktail napkins.
Lost & Found is located at 11700 National Blvd, Mar Vista

HINANO CAFE
Just down the street from the beach, this Venice stalwart is the perfect place to escape the sunshine and throw back a few cheap cold ones. Inside you'll find plenty of salty locals, a few pool tables, sawdust on the floor, a good beer selection and a really solid cheeseburger that's not to be missed. Pints are around $5 to $6 and you can get a pitcher for $15 or $17, depending on the beer. Plus they often have live music on the weekends—though it can get pretty crowded. Bring cash.
Hinano Cafe is located at 15 W. Washington Blvd, Venice

CLUB TEE GEE
This Atwater Village haunt is about as no-frills as a dive bar gets. And while you won't find karaoke or free popcorn, there is a dart board, jukebox, a few TVs, and inexpensive, potent drinks. Club Tee Gee has served as a refuge since 1946 and hasn't had much in the way of a revamp since sometime in the 70s it seems—including the gold-glittered green ceiling—and we're just fine with that.
Club Tee Gee is located at 3210 Glendale Blvd

THE DRAWING ROOM
Another bastion of cheap and strong pours that opens at 6 a.m., The Drawing Room remains a solidly divey destination despite efforts to the contrary around the neighborhood. Order up a drink, put in your requests at the jukebox and settle in to a worn, plush booth. You can also try your hand at the "fancy" electronic dart board in the back. Definitely bring hard currency and prepare to lose a few hours in this dark and red-hued cavern of a bar.
The Drawing Room is located at 1800 Hillhurst Ave, Los Feliz

TATTLE TALE ROOM
Another great dive bar for karaoke, this Culver City classic is perfect for cutting loose without breaking the bank. It's also another spot that opens at 6 a.m., so if you're looking to avoid the crowds, you can always come early. You'll encounter stiff pours and tallboy cans of beer, and while there's no food, you can always bring something in to balance out the booze. The crowd tends to be pretty diverse, ranging from older locals to newcomers, and things usually get pretty lively. The bar is, after all, officially known as Roger's Exciting Tattle Tale Room.
The Tattle Tale Room is located at 5401 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City.

THE SCARLET LADY SALOON
One can hardly mention the Tattle Tale Room without also raising a glass to the equally-divey—if not slightly more cheery—neighbor, The Scarlett Lady. You'll also find karaoke most nights, pool tables, dart boards and games, and oh yes, cheap cocktails and pitchers of beer. If you're lucky, the staff may even bring in some free food to feed the boozy crowd of regulars.
The Scarlet Lady Saloon is located at 5411 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City

THE FROLIC ROOM
This classic Hollywood haunt is still a refuge for the neighborhood's drinkers—both young and old. You'll find plenty of cheap, cold beer and strong, non-craft cocktails served up by vested bartenders decades older than most in the area. Rumor has it that the bar used to be a speakeasy for the adjoining Pantages Theatre during Prohibition. The bar hasn't changed much since the last remodel in 1963—including that amazing mural of caricatured stars—and we're hoping it stays that way.
The Frolic Room is located at 6245 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood

THE COLORADO BAR
This Pasadena favorite keeps things simple and the drinks inexpensive. They've got a great jukebox and plenty of tables perfect for catching up with friend over strong drinks. They've also got a couple of pool tables and feature the occasional live band. In classic dive fashion, there are no windows, so you can easily—and happily—lose track of time.
The Colorado Bar is located at 2640 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

ERCOLÉS
This Manhattan Beach institution since opening in 1927, and still maintains plenty of its original charms. Order up a cheap bottle of beer or a stiff drink and settle in to a booth to catch a game on the TVs or just wile away the day. There's also a pool table in back if you want to try your luck against the regulars. Should you get hungry, they serve up a delicious griddle-cooked burger that is really worth a try and you can get a $1 Dodger Dog when a game is on. And on Wednesdays, you can get two burgers for the price of one when you buy two drinks—just be sure to bring your cash.
Ercolés is located at 1101 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach

MONTE CARLO
We'd consider the Monte Carlo to be a true dive, operating out of a single small room right on 3rd St., near Vermont. If you're looking for frills, hit up the nearby Lock & Key for its extensive craft cocktail selection. If you're looking for a place to chill without fanfare and watch the condensation form on a glass of cold poison, go to Monte Carlo. It's very much just a bar, and it's not too clean. It's got a diverse jukebox, cheap drinks, an old pool table and worn-in stools for contemplating life's questions. Bring cash. —Juliet Bennett Rylah
Monte Carlo is located at 3514 W 3rd Street in Koreatown.

The Speak Easy cocktail bar (via Facebook)
THE SPEAK EASY
It's rare to find a Santa Monica bar so uncomplicated and low-key, but The Speak Easy is the one. Don't let the name fool you: there's no password here or hidden door, and you're better off with a whiskey-ginger than an old-timey drink that requires a muddler. A couple of pool tables, a jukebox, and a long wooden bar will greet you as you walk into the dark bar. No-nonsense bartenders offer up stiff drinks for a cheap price here, and the crowd varies between twenty-somethings and retirees. It also opens every day at 10 a.m. —Juliet Bennett Rylah
The Speak Easy is located at 1326 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica

CHIMNEYSWEEP
This Sherman Oaks dive can be a lot of fun. The drinks are strong and cheap, and they have a decent selection of bottled and draft beers. You can grab a seat at the bar or one of the many plush booths, including one near the fireplace. It's not a bad place to camp out during the day if you need to get some work done. It's usually quiet, and has Wi-Fi. At night, the crowd picks up and there's usually a good sample of confident, if not talented, singers for karaoke. —Juliet Bennett Rylah
Chimneysweep is located at 4354 Woodman Ave. in Sherman Oaks

FRANK 'N HANK
The perfect spot for a nightcap after stuffing yourself silly with Beer Belly's duck fat fries or seeing a concert at the Wiltern, this classic Koreatown dive has retained its classic, grimy charm despite being in the nouveau-glitz and glamour of its surroundings. Beer Belly's Jimmy Han took over the spot in October and beefed up the liquor selection and added a little polish to some of the furnishings (they even take credit card now!), but the carpet is still fairly dingy and the pool table' felt still has the same scuffs. The drinks might cost a dollar extra, but whatever it takes to keep Frank 'N Hank around. —Carman Tse
Frank 'N Hank is located at 518 S Western Avenue, Koreatown

Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band (with special guest Eddie Vedder) -- Bobby Jean

Key Arena. Seattle, WA. March 24, 2016.

now you hung with me when all the others turned away turned up their nose
we liked the same music we liked the same bands we liked the same clothes
we told each other that we were the wildest, the wildest things we'd ever seen
now i wished you would have told me i wished i could have talked to you
just to say goodbye Bobby Jean

now we went walking in the rain talking about the pain from the world we hid
now there ain't nobody nowhere no how gonna ever understand me the way you did
maybe you'll be out there on that road somewhere
in some bus or train traveling along
in some motel room there'll be a radio playing
and you'll hear me sing this song
well if you do you'll know I'm thinking of you and all the miles in between
and I'm just calling one last time not to change your mind
but just to say I miss you baby, good luck goodbye, Bobby Jean