musings from the studio…

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by Henry Ruiz

all photos by Henry Ruiz

The show Wednesday night was so incredible! 21 song set list, including one song that was played for the very first time. My cousin kat and I arrived at the Troubadour around 4:30 to beat the much dreaded L.A traffic. We stood in line for a bit and saw everyone pull up in separate cars, each band member waving and smiling at us as they drove by. Mikel came out during sound check and we talked for a bit before he had to go back in to finish up. The new record is hopefully going to come out this August/Sept followed by some possible touring… maybe. He said that as soon as he got back into town last month that everyone has been doing their own thing and that he tried but 48hrs later locked himself in his room and started writing song after song. That is so amazing, I think. (more…)

by Tammy Asaki – Huntington Beach, CA

I had the pleasure of attending the Artists in Aid Benefit on Friday. It was held at Edgar Varela Fine Arts Junglerush gallery in Los Angeles, which was a very cool venue for this event. There was a cozy outdoor patio where people could hang out on couches and chat and smoke under red paper lanterns and moonlight. Upstairs was the loft where the bands played surrounded by pieces of art from artist, Tommy Mose Abbot. An open bar and free wine tasting provided for a lively atmosphere. (more…)

Why do I torment myself? Because it’s fun. I can’t go to these, but if you’re anywhere – and I mean anywhere – in the area, I highly recommend that you do.

Artists In Aid Benefit For the Homeless – ***TONIGHT*** Fri Dec. 18 @ Edgar Varela Fine Arts (EVFA) / Junglerush

*** Wonderful news for people not in L.A.! You can watch the whole show streaming online starting at 8:00 pm P.S.T. (that’s 11:00 pm on the East Coast), and you can donate to this great cause via PayPal – send funds to Edgar@EdgarVarelaFineArts.com and in the note section write “Benefit Donation”. ***

(note: online donations only accepted during the duration of the show – to end by 2am PST. More info here.)

A very, very special event to help bring health care and basic needs to the homeless. Featuring Red Cortez, Rademacher, The VLA, The Growlers, and “Special Guest Headliner” a.k.a. Mikel Jollett of The Airborne Toxic Event. Line-ups don’t get any better than this. They really don’t.

$10+ suggested donation with limited sponsored bar, but please give what you can. They will also be collecting donations, canned foods, blankets, clothing and diapers.

Edgar Varela Fine Arts (EVFA) / Junglerush, 542 S. Alameda St., 2nd Fl., Los Angeles

Aquarium Drunkard Presents: The 3rd Annual Christmas Sweater Festival – Sat Dec. 19 @ the El Rey Theater, Los Angeles

I almost went to this last year, when they had it at the Echo. Were it not for our damn plane being delayed… But enough about my problems, the show is at the El Rey this year, and features: The Deadly Syndrome, The Pity Party, Eskimohunter, Castledoor, Signals, 400 Blows, and “Special Guests”. And special guests?? Good lord. Presented by Aquarium Drunkard. Tickets available at thedeadlysyndrome.com

Hell Ya! Presents: The 1st Annual Hoity Toity Holiday Soiree – Sun Dec. 20 @ Spaceland

Live performances from: Cobalt Cranes, 60 Watt Kid, Moses Campbell and The Arms. Free admission w/formal wear. Exclusive photo booth; holiday gift for first 50 people. Presented by Hell Ya!.

Aquarium Drunkard and Web In Front Present: New Years’ Eve @ Spaceland

The Henry Clay People with Balloon Bass, The Monolators, Le Switch, Ashua, Tom Bowie and the Heartbreakers from Mars, and between sets music by DJ Solid Todd. This sure to be spectacular evening is presented by Aquarium Drunkard and Web In Front. And as for Spaceland, where the hell else would you want to be on New Year’s Eve?

by Henry Ruiz, guest blogger

The Show opened up with the Calder Quartet walking the stage with loads of applause. They were followed 2 minutes later by Anna (she had a beautiful dress on, she looked absolutely amazing), Steven, Daren and Noah. The play some beautiful instrumental before the spotlight shines upon on Mikel at the organ and the move into Wishing Well. Omg I swear I was getting choked up because the venue was so beautiful and to see them get to this point and do SO SO SO SO well was amazing. (more…)

Wicked cool evening tonight for The Airborne Toxic Event and their L.A. (and L.A.-bound) fans, as excitment mounted these past few weeks for their epic performance at Disney Hall with The Calder Quartet and other special guests. It’s part of Los Angeles Philharmonic’s West Coast, Left Coast festival. For Airborne, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the music and culture of their East L.A. neighborhood – and an opportunity to play with their friends, the magnificent Calder Quartet, in a really classy setting. You can probably tell that I’m just a tad envious of all those who will be in attendance tonight. However, all is not lost – the performance is being filmed for a DVD release.

In other news, huge congratulations to Silverlake forebears Silversun Pickups for picking up a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist”, which maybe shows the Grammys have come at least a short way from when Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance”… Also spotted: People Magazine’s Grammy nomination predictions, where Airborne Tox got a mention in the Best New Artist category as a band to “keep an eye on”. Next time, guys… next time.

Winner, Best Venue - Northern Lights, in a strip mall in Clifton Park, between a dollar store and a church (yes, that's right, a church in a strip mall).

I liked everything about this place, including their no-frills, kitschy sign.

I had a feeling this would be a very special show, since 1) it’s the first time they played in upstate New York; 2) Northern Lights is a very low-key venue up past Albany; and 3) The Parson Red Heads happened to be playing some NYC shows and were added to the bill. I knew this was one not to be missed. (more…)

by Andrew Koskie, guest blogger

It’s October 16. I wake up for work and notice it is snowing. Not knowing how to react, I can only think of one possible thing… I am going to see The Airborne Toxic Event for the second time in a week tonight! I go to work, which couldn’t have gone any slower. Noon finally hits and I leave work.

(more…)

“Talking ’bout Monroe and walkin’ on snow white, New York’s a go-go and everything tastes right…” – The Jean Genie, David Bowie

There’s just something about New York City. Maybe it’s because I was born there; something genetic in the blood. I feel a calmness that seems out of place in this crazy, bustling city. A synching of biorhythms. Who the hell knows? There’s a coolness, a vibrancy, and a level of convenience – anything, anytime (such as this Japanese grocery store that happened to sell some awesome and cheap vegetable soba noodle soup on the opposite corner from a cold, windy and wet wait outside Webster Hall) – that soothes the soul. At the same time, it’s a high stakes city, the largest media market in the U.S., uber-important shows, loads of press and industry people. And, though they’re a friendlier lot than their reputation would suggest, I have to believe a pretty jaded audience. I mean, every band comes through here, right? I imagine that as a band, you just have to say “fuck it” and enjoy yourself, because thinking about it will screw you up. (more…)