My Looking Glass

Still in Hollywood

I hope everyone had a good weekend. After showering my sister-in-law Saturday afternoon (and weeping at the mere sight of her belly, yes, I have baby fever), my sister and I saw a band called Mudcrutch at the Troubador. Mudcrutch was the band that eventually evolved into Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and they are doing a short tour of California. Basically, it's Tom, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench playing with two "Pete Best" types, that is, guys who missed out on the fame and fortune. You can read about the reunion here. Some of the songs were a little Southern fried for my taste, but the quality of the musicianship opened my mind and heart. And it was a trip to see Petty on bass instead of guitar. Even though it was 100 degrees outside and maybe 120 on the floor in front of the stage, seriously, how great is it to see R&R Hall of Famers (Petty, Campbell, Tench) in a legendary venue of 450 people? The other great thing is that everyone in the audience was really cool. We met a couple young guys who flew out from Indiana after having won the tickets and trip from a radio contest. It was their first time West of the Mississippi and they were getting an eyeful on the streets of West Hollywood. (Being a jaded Angeleno, I didn't even notice the trannies walking past.) We met a set of brothers who traveled from Minnesota to see the gig. We stood with a woman who turned out to live about three blocks from me. The whole audience was super-friendly, and that's important when you're packed in like sardines. One of the encores was Dylan's "Everybody Must Get Stoned" which maybe half of the audience took as a cue to light up. Good times. The CD comes out today (Tuesday the 29th), and you can preview songs on the website.

In Netflix viewing news, I finally watched the entire first season of Flight of the Conchords (I love Jemaine!). I'd seen single episodes here and there, but not in order, and there's a certain beauty in the continuity of watching all twelve shows in a matter of a few days. Coming up next... The Wire.

posted by LA @ 10:18 PM 9 comments

I Heart Daddy

How effing cute is my niece going to look in this? Ten more weeks 'til Baby A.

Finally saw Juno last night (thanks, Netflix), and I'm getting ready to settle in with Lars and the Real Girl as soon as I post this. Finished reading Running With Scissors last night, digging into Girls Like Us next, and then on to the 800-page Halberstam book I mentioned in my last entry. Girls Like Us is a bio of Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

I think I'm burying myself in books and movies because real life is so horrifying. Between the hideous teen beating in Florida (not to mention news that the dreaded Dr. Phil posted bail for one of the accused assailants) and the polygamist Mormons in Texas, not to mention the ongoing nightmare in Iraq, it's small wonder that we're a society of escapists. And while we're at it, it's okay with me if Texas and Florida go ahead and secede from the Union. Yeah, I said it.

posted by LA @ 8:43 PM 7 comments