The Time Between

I spend a lot of time in LA these days. And I love it. One thing that’s really fun about it is the history of the place (the Mac Sennett studios are round the corner from me, the original Disney studios down the road (the real old ones are a Gelson’s now), the house that Love lived in (The Castle is close by – and still amazing), the LoBianca house (infamous from the Manson slayings) is also nearby. You drive around LA and the names of the street or the areas are magical – Laurel Canyon, Toganga, Hollywood itself. It’s all very Raymond Chandler. What’s cool is that it’s not all been ruined by terrible 70’s architecture. The old buildings remain. I lived in NYC for 20 years and it’s all changed – they even pulled down CBGB’s! LA remains. I’m sure the real locals don’t see it that way but to me there’s a romance about the place that makes it special. One thing that does surprise me about the place is its reputation – especially amongst East Coasters. They think it’s superficial (it is), that you have to drive to go anywhere (you do and you don’t). They think it’s full of botox and plastic surgery (in certain areas it totally is). But….it’s a city of 12 million with lots of different areas – it’s a little like London that way. Little towns that blend into each other, It’s also a total melting pot – we’re close to Thai Town, and Armenia town. Artesia is like landing in Mumbai. Monterey Park has the best Chinese food outside of Hong Kong. It’s also a really creative city. There are so many jobs for people with creative skills (unlike most places in the country) - -and obviously this feeds off the movie business – but there’s great artists of all kinds here which is really refreshing I have to say. It’s also a great music city. Not just the best bands ever (Byrds, Beach Boys, Love) came out of here, there’s great music happening now. And there are tons of small clubs. It’s also weird (from my pov) that American vintage is so popular here (like it never went away). Cute Mexican girls with skin tight jeans and converse all stars. Quiffs (on Mexicans also..who knew) everywhere. So when you go see a Rockabilly band the audience looks like the band (unlike NY where everyone just came from work). I love the vibrant country scene – and bands like I See Hawks In LA. Great band – and they make me feel young too. Great songs – classic California barroom country. Great playing. And they translate to vinyl (mp3) too. They have some good albums out that are worth checking out – one even has Chris Hillman on it (there he is again).



A fun LA story was going to see Morrissey at the Hollywood Bowl last year. We were lucky enough that my friend Glenn decided to drive us there in his 65, bright red with white leather upholstery, Cadillac El Dorado. What a car. You turn the wheel and ten minutes later the rest of the cur turns. Every cop on the way stopped us to ask what year it was. One African American cop stopped us to tell us “we were driving in a Black Man’s car and we should give it back”. We finally got to the Bowl to be presented with a sight that I may never forget. 1000’s of Mexicans with quiffs, Morrisey t-shirts and flowers (to later throw at their hero). And these weren’t soft guys (if you get my meaning). They were with their girlfriends. Some of them were pretty scary looking too. Evidently they relate to Morrissey’s pathos. They find something Latin (and I’m sure Catholic – he is Irish after all) in it all. It really does take all sorts.