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 SWOON & Tod Seelie |
Cultural Stimuli in LA
Issue 127: gregarious flavor
August is not the month for all work and no play. If you're not already
skipping town for vacation, these days are, at the very least, for getting
out and getting together. If your vision of the American Dream involves
half-pipes and hazard courses, head to the X-Games. If you've been saving
your kinky side for solo performances, check out the folk-art erotica show
and meet some fellow adventurers. Or, if all you want to do is dance, join your
brethren at Cal Plaza, or feel the pulse of words with a new generation of
Beats at Tuesday Night Poets. All you have to do is show up, love your
fellow (wo)man, and spread it.
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flavorpill is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art, and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.
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In 1884, a German brewer named Wilhelm Hasse emigrated from his homeland and established the Modezuma brewery in Veracruz, Mexico. In 1897, Hasse blended his brewing heritage with the spirit of Mexican tradition to create Dos Equis. Carrying the distinctive "XX", Dos Equis symbolizes a celebration of the last century and its revolutionary vision, while honoring the new millennium. |
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| FILM |
RES Screening Series
| when: |
Tue 8.2 (8pm) |
| where: |
Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd, 323.466.3456) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info | RES |
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RES is required reading for anyone intrigued by contemporary film and design trends. The magazine presents insider info for techies, sure, but it remains accessible for those simply searching for cool-looking stuff. But it's the RES screenings that truly bring their mission to life, and this survey of 2005's best animation is sure to draw together eager enthusiasts and curious scenesters. The event coincides with the 32nd annual SIGGRAPH International Conference on Computer Graphics, so expect guest speakers and a reception as the proverbial icing on this animated cake. (DRC)
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| ALSO ON TUE |
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SPOKEN WORD
Tuesday Night Poets feat. Jeffrey McDaniel and Scott Struman
Tue 8.2 (7:30pm) The Artists Union Gallery (330 S California St, Ventura, 805.320.3524) map FREE
Event Info |
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Instead of spending another night snoozing through re-runs, try something intellectually stimulating for a change: catch the Tuesday Night Poets in their new Ventura home. This week features Jeffrey McDaniel and Scott Struman, writers whose work has appeared in Ploughshares and Artlife respectively. (MV)
 
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| MUSIC: Anti-Rock Brakes |
Turin Brakes w/ West Indian Girl
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Where Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian differ most from other contemporary acoustic-rock duos is in the intensity of their sound. Far from the soothing quietude of, say, Kings of Convenience, the duo conjures majestic sonic peaks through a combination of deft musicianship and intricate harmonies. Paridjanian's enviable fretwork is a perfect match for his band mate's singular, falsetto-drenched melodies, while Knights' strumming likewise complements his cohort's spot-on vocal counterpoint; their third and latest album, JackInABox, finds them springing some sunny surprises from their typically melancholy midst. West Coast psych purveyors and Astralwerks labelmates West Indian Girl open tonight's show. (DL)
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| ALSO ON WED |
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FILM
The Terminator (1984)
Wed 8.3 (8pm) ArcLight Hollywood (6360 W Sunset Blvd, 323.464.4226) map $11
Event Info |
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Watching James Cameron's sci-fi action classic today, at the mid-point between the flick's original 1984 release and its imagined machine-run Los Angeles of 2029, offers the surprising revelation that it still retains its freshness — even through the sight of our governor huddled in a wet, naked ball. (JCF)
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FILM
Junebug
Opens Wed 8.3 Laemmle's Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Blvd, W Hollywood, 323.848.3500) map $10
Event Info |
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A money man's exodus back to his modest Southern family home offers a lush, hushed, and darkly comic examination of the improbabilities of shedding one's class, background, and religious faith. (LR)
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| ART: Opening |
The Folk Show: By the People, for the People
| when: |
Thur 8.4 (6-11pm) |
| where: |
The Erotic Museum (6741 Hollywood Blvd, 323.463.7684) map |
| price: |
$10 / Free preview from 6-7pm |
| links: |
Event Info |
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The works selected for this survey of erotic folk art range from embroidered textiles to collage and stained glass — a beguiling array of old-fashioned art forms put not in the service of conceptual concerns, but rather that of the simple joy of their own creation. Like Marilyn Chambers teaching Home Ec, The Folk Show livens up the old handmade aesthetic, and reminds viewers that art-school kids don't have all the fun. (SND)
Note: The exhibition continues through Sat 11.12 (Sun-Thur: 11am-9pm /
Fri-Sat: 11am-midnight).
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| FILM |
The Shining (1980)
| when: |
Thur 8.4 (8pm) |
| where: |
Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd, 323.466.3456) map |
| price: |
$9 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Hack directors have a way of leaching the chills from Stephen King's refined pulp (see: Cujo, Pet Sematary, Children of the Corn, et al.). But Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, like adaptations of Misery and Carrie, proves that mainstream horror can become gold in the hands of a master. Even if you've seen it before, watching this masterpiece of modern horror in a packed theater is an unforgettable experience. Kubrick's adept use of silence and subtle camera movement in the Overlook's deserted halls gets everyone grabbing their neighbor's hand and screaming in unison. (DRC)
Note: The Shining also plays Fri 8.5 at the Aero Theatre.
 According to Stephen King, where did he find inspiration for the title of The Shining? The 13th correct response wins a pair of tickets to this screening.
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| MUSIC: Psych-Folk |
Mary Timony w/ Timonium and Holloy
| when: |
Thur 8.4 (8:30pm) |
| where: |
The Echo (1822 Sunset Blvd, Echo Park, 213.413.8200) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Following years spent confined to the Eastern seaboard, former Helium guitarist Mary Timony has finally brought her fuzzed-out guitars and ethereal vocals to the West Coast. After spending a whirlwind month opening for Sleater-Kinney on their recent tour, Timony has returned to tout her latest solo album, Ex Hex, a blissfully noisy departure from her earlier gypsy-folk efforts. Timonium and Holloy open for what is sure to be an evening spent examining every single sound that a guitar can create. (CH)
Give us your best attempt at an "ex hex" in 50 words or less. The four most bewitching responses each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| FESTIVAL |
X Games / X Fest
| when: |
Thur 8.4 - Mon 8.8 (schedule) |
| where: |
Staples Center (111 S Figueroa St, 213.742.7340) map |
| price: |
$5-35 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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With everything from corn chips to deodorant claiming "extreme" status these days, a reality check comes in the form of this year's X Games — where extreme is more than just a label. Over 150 of the world's top action-sports players battle it out in Moto X, freestyle BMX, skate, and surf competitions in the 11th installment of the ESPN event geared towards the grittier side of the sports world. Too many bloody noses and concussions for one day? Check out the Games' music lineup, including punk gods the Dead Kennedys, culture hound turned DJ Shepard Fairey, and socially conscious rocker Michael Franti with Spearhead. (MG)
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| MUSIC: Trip-Hop |
George Sarah
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When Moby went from lathering beats over synth and strings to singing rock tunes, it left a hole in our hearts. Good thing George Sarah was there to fill it. A staple in the LA electronic community, Sarah disproves the accusation that electronic artists are just hunched knob twiddlers by incorporating live keys and a string trio. The resulting compositions drift toward the scattery tone of IDM, but maintain their trip-hop consistency by letting the strings do the talking. Always evocative and cinematic, several of his pieces have made their way to television and film including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and CSI. (JCF)
Note: Sarah performs with David J (Bauhaus), Joey Santiago (Pixies), Robert Williams (the Magic Band), and Jason O'Bryan (Dub Pistols).
What type of operations are performed with a stereotaxic device (which is also the name of Sarah's last band)? Correct responses four through eight each receive a copy of Sarah's latest CD.
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| MUSIC: Showstopping Showtunes |
The Roaring Twenties feat. Joel Grey and Ute Lemper
| when: |
Fri 8.5 & Sat 8.6 (8:30pm) |
| where: |
Hollywood Bowl (2301 N Highland Ave, 323.850.2000) map |
| price: |
$14-37 |
| links: |
Event Info | Joel Grey |
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Those who lament the bygone glamour of LA's art deco stylings should head to the Bowl tonight to relive all that golden-era glory. Sultry vocalist Ute Lemper and Broadway legend Joel Grey take on classics from Chicago and Cabaret, along with favorites by Kurt Weill — all accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Among other highlights, look out for the evening's sure-to-be-showstopper — a sizzling tribute to the era's most famous dance, the Charleston. (JH)
What popular dance of the 1930s was a direct by-product of the Charleston? The first five correct responses each win a pair of tickets to Saturday's show.
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| ALSO ON FRI |
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CITY GEM
Tai Chi in the Park
Fri 8.5 (7:30-8:30am) Ernest E. Debs Park (4700 N Griffin Ave, 323.221.2255) map FREE
Event Info |
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The 300 acres of Ernest E. Debs Park are an often-overlooked expanse of mountainous green, just east of the 110 freeway in Northeast Los Angeles. Get in the right frame of mind to explore these quiet trails with free Tai Chi classes every Friday at the park's Audubon Center. (DRC)
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WORKSHOP
Susan Merson
Fri 8.5 (6-8pm) The Writers Store (2040 Westwood Blvd, 866.229.7483) map FREE
Event Info |
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A founding member of LA's Writers Bloc, Susan Merson is an accomplished teacher, performer, actress, and writer. To help promote her recent book, YOUR NAME HERE, she gives a free workshop on the creative nexus between writing and performance, and shares some insight on how to get heard in Hollywood. (SND)
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| MUSIC: Blues Pop |
Neva Dinova w/ Richard Swift and Mayday
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While they share similar zip codes, a split EP, and a mega tour, Neva Dinova have less in common with Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst than the press would have you believe. Singer Jake Bellows maintains a swarthy Jeff Buckley-inspired drawl and manages to show slightly less self-loathing. Also playing tonight is Cursive guitarist Ted Stevens — another bluesy Nebraskan — whose band Mayday plays '50s-influenced indie rock that falls somewhere between Roy Orbison and Morricone. But the act to look out for is opener Richard Swift. Recently signed to Secretly Canadian, his chamber pop has the honest resonance of Elliott Smith and Nick Drake, but gives those troubled troubadours' studied brooding a miss. (JCF)
The traditional celebration of May Day traces its heritage to which Druid holiday? Correct responses two, seven, eight, and nine each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| PHOTOGRAPHY: Opening |
Found: Mid-century Vernacular Nudes
| when: |
Sat 8.6 (7-10pm) |
| where: |
Drkrm. Gallery (2121 N San Fernando Rd, Ste 3, 323.223.6867) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Some would have us believe that society's obsession with sex started with Elvis' first hip gyration and not a moment before. But, as this treasure trove of found mid-20th-century erotic photographs proves, he didn't start the fire. These intimate, antique images make it plain: the only difference between our grandparents' porn and ours is their superior sense of style. (SND)
Note: The exhibit continues through Fri 9.9 (Mon-Fri: 7-10pm).
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| MUSIC: Power Pop |
Teenage Fanclub w/ the Rosebuds
| when: |
Sat 8.6 (8:30pm) & Sun 8.7 (8pm) |
| where: |
Knitting Factory (7021 Hollywood Blvd, 323.463.0204) map |
| price: |
$25 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Once upon a time, there was a band whose major-label debut was Spin magazine's Album of the Year — beating out Nirvana's Nevermind, R.E.M.'s Out of Time, and My Bloody Valentine's Loveless. The year was 1991, the album was Bandwagonesque, and the band was Teenage Fanclub. Now, well over a decade later, having spent most of their critical and popular capital, the Scottish rockers remain incredibly consistent and surprisingly relevant on their new, John McEntire (Tortoise)-produced album, Man-Made. Tonight, TFC bring their guitar-driven, '70s-influenced power pop to the Knit, co-headlining with Merge records newbies Rosebuds. (SB)
For whom or what would you found a fanclub? The two most enthusiastic responses (in 50 words or less) each win a pair of tickets to tonight's show.
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| ALSO ON SAT |
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ART: Opening
Summer Group Show
Sat 8.6 (5-8pm) George Billis Gallery (2716 S La Cienega Blvd, Culver City, 310.838.3685) map FREE
Event Info |
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George Billis' gallery only opened in Culver City nine months ago, but it's already hard to imagine it without him. Here he showcases new paintings and photographs by an eclectic group of artists whose styles range from the hyperreal to the abstract. Think of it as summer school for your eyeballs. (SND)
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MUSIC: Lit Rock
Gatsby's American Dream w/ Allister and Plain White T's
Sat 8.6 (7pm) El Rey (5515 Wilshire Blvd, 323.936.6400) map $12
Event Info |
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As their name suggests, Gatsby's American Dream pride themselves on embedding literary and pop-culture references in their songs. But this is no dry literature lesson; with dark, honest lyrics and volatile, melodic riffs, these clever punks never lose sight of their audience's need to rock out. (KH)
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| FILM |
A Night At The Opera (1935) and A Day At The Races (1937)
| when: |
Sun 8.7 (3:30 & 7:30pm) |
| where: |
New Beverly Cinema (7165 W Beverly Blvd, 323.938.4038) map |
| price: |
$7 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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"Classic" Hollywood humor is not for everyone. The Three Stooges and Abbott & Costello seem painfully naïve to the cynical consumer of modern laffs. But not the Marx Brothers; they were the forebears of Monty Python, the Kids In The Hall, and even South Park. Groucho, Harpo, and Chico were responsible for a subversive mix of class-conscious satire and cretinous anarchism unlike anything else from their era. A Night At The Opera (1935) and A Day At The Races (1937) are their last truly brilliant films — and an essential antidote to the barrage of sub-par contemporary comedy features. (DRC)
Note: This double feature also plays Mon 8.8 and Tue 8.9 (7:30 pm).
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| LECTURE: Art |
Art in the Making: Degas
| when: |
Sun 8.7 (4pm) |
| where: |
The Getty Center (1200 Getty Center Dr, 310.440.7300) map |
| price: |
FREE (reservation required) |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Unlike other impressionists, Degas preferred to work in studio instead of outside. Trained under the neo-classicist J.A.D. Ingres, he was influenced by both exotic Japanese prints and the changing landscape of modern life. When his eyesight began to fail late in life, Degas produced some of his most evocative works by using mixed media and bold colors. David Bomford — a senior painting restorer at London's National Gallery — examines Edgar Degas' singular technique in a discussion that ranges far beyond the ubiquitous ballerinas. After the talk, visitors can stroll through the museum's collection to test their knowledge. (MV)
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| READING |
Kim Addonizio
| when: |
Sun 8.7 (6pm) |
| where: |
UCLA Hammer Museum (10899 Wilshire Blvd, 310.443.7000) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Former poet laureate Billy Collins said that Kim Addonizio's poems were "stark mirrors of self-examination," but when we look in those mirrors ourselves — especially the Oakland writer's dynamic 2004 collection, What Is This Thing Called Love — her playfulness and vitality seems anything but spare. This same vivacity inhabits every page of her first novel, Little Beauties, a quick-witted story that begins when a pregnant teen, Jamie Ramirez, walks into the SoCal baby store and meets 34-year-old former child pageanteer Diana McBride. Much like the voice of the narrative itself, the two women are sharp, surprising, and heartbreakingly real. (NC)
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| MUSIC: World Classical |
Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
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If you've got a bad case of wanderlust but you're strapped for cash, a musical journey might be the ticket. Yo-Yo Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble are bringing their unique exploration of global classical music to the Hollywood Bowl. Taking the ancient trans-Asian trading route of the Silk Road as their inspiration, Ma and his flock of musicians make musical stops in Turkey, India, Iran, and China in a truly original program that explores a shared culture forged by millennia of exchange. Accompanied by enchanting vocals and traditional instruments, Ma's brilliant cello transports audiences to an elusive, trans-cultural space. (EJ)
According to Chinese legend, who was the "Goddess of Silk," and with what invention is she credited? Correct responses 11 through 15 each win a pair of tickets to tonight's concert.
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| MUSIC: Indie-Rock Potluck |
Band Night feat. This Song Is A Mess, Get Him Eat Him, and Bobby Birdman
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Playing host to a night of indie rock, the folks at avant-leaning gallery Ghetto Gloss prove themselves very capable musical curators. The castiotone confessionoise of This Song Is a Mess, But So Am I is strongly reminiscent of the band's touring partner Xiu Xiu; Emma Zunz backs their torchy vocals with electric guitar and accordion; and jazz-noir trio the Dead Science lay down post-rock cabaret. Not content to let us languish in moodiness, however, indie agitators Get Him Eat Him supply hook-heavy and earnest spazz pop, and to round out the evening, synth-folk crooner Bobby Birdman gets you swaying. (SND)
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| ART |
The Newtonian Moment: Science and the Making of Modern Culture
| when: |
Now through Sun 11.26 (Tue-Sun: 10:30am-4:30pm) |
| where: |
Huntington Library, Art Collections, & Botanical Gardens (1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, 626.405.2100) map |
| price: |
$15 / Free first Thursday of the month |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Few historical figures loom as large as Sir Isaac Newton. Both philosopher and scientist, he developed tools — differential calculus and basic laws of motion, for a start — that have had a profound effect on the evolution of European identities. Mordechai Feingold's The Newtonian Moment: Science and the Making of Modern Culture exhibition examines Newton's impact on the whole of modernity, from broad trends in politics and religion to his effect on specific works by Blake and Goethe. (DRC)
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| ALSO ONGOING |
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MULTIMEDIA
Broken Eggs: Abstract Art, the Language of Freedom
Now through Mon 10.31 (8:30am-5:30pm) USC Institute for Genetic Medecine Art Gallery (2250 Alcazar St, 2nd Fl) map FREE
Event Info |
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Originally an Armenian collective of experimental artists, the Bunker group curates this show of mainly abstract works that takes on the tangled web of art and science. Your IQ is guaranteed to jump 20 points just by walking in. (SND)
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FEEL THE PAIN: Music Hurts |
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It takes guts to venture into the increasingly saturated media marketplace, let alone into the world of music journalism. But if its inaugural issue is any indication, Music Hurts is one to watch. The web-based publication stands as a labor of love — and a visually stunning one at that. Rather than jumping on any group with angular haircuts and a hot demo, Music Hurts offers in-depth think pieces on the rise of the female drummer, Iggy Pop's influence, and the dynamics of a band logo, along with hometown-reflections from Manchester's Autokat. In addition, the site partners with iTunes, so you can click through and easily support the featured musicians. If Music Hurts, then we're gluttons for punishment. (CJN)
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DVD REVIEW: The Nomi Song |
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Palm Pictures
Released June 2005
$15.98 (Amazon)
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Of the many talented artists to flood downtown NYC in the '70s, there was no more unique or transcendent figure than Berlin émigré Klaus Nomi. Equally inspired by Maria Callas and Elvis Presley, Nomi's flawless, crystalline falsetto could pierce even the most jaded poseur's heart. By out-spacing Bowie in his creation of an authentic alien persona, Nomi burst out as a new-wave legend and passed on as one of the first recognizable artists to die of AIDS. Director Andrew Horn's film smartly balances insider interviews with live performance footage, revealing the truly operatic tale of a strange, sweet, and lonely man whose confluent pop-opera passions and sophisticated stage intensity placed him in a category all his own. A soundtrack, photo gallery, director commentary, and uncut Nomi performances are among the DVD extras. (JCJ)
 Andrew Horn traveled to Berlin in 1989 to study with what fellowship? The second correct response wins a Nomi Song DVD.
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STREAMS: DIRTY |
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Mining the web for the dirty diamonds of digital culture, the Paris-based Dirty collective once again serves up some of the best content around, ranging from videos and interviews to oddball links (home videos from Slayer on tour, anyone?). This week, check a photo montage of All Tomorrow's Parties in Camber Sands, England (curated by Vincent Gallo) as well as an, um, shall we say "out-there" video from Ariel Pink. Finally, for the headphones, check Ammon Contact with the experimental breaks, a videotaped Out Hud performance at NYC's Pianos, and Trevor Jackson's cut-and-paste megamix — a perfect soundtrack for Last Night's Party. (CJN)
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Ammon Contact: Dirty mix (Beats 'n breaks)
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Out Hud (video): "Dear Mr. Bush..." (Disco-punk)
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Trevor Jackson: Dirty mix (Electro/hip-hop)
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| Header Design: |
| Working late | SWOON & Tod Seelie |
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| Editors: |
| Watch stopped | Daniel R. Chamberlin | | Acid flashback | Shana Nys Dambrot | | Canary died | Josh C. Forbes | | Hangover | Jocelyn K. Glei | | Traffic | Doug Levy | | Narcolepsy | Jake Lancaster | | Dog ate tires | Sascha Lewis | | Snooze button | Mark Mangan | | Scenic route | Colin J. Nagy | | Meeting expectations | Andrew Phillips | | DMV | Lauren Ragland | | No watch | Toby Warner |
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| ABOUT US |
| flavorpill LA is a free weekly mailer covering music, arts, and cultural events in LA. All listings are pure editorial, never paid advertisements. No money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us, and spread it... |
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| FEEDBACK |
| Please let us know what's on your mind, any and all feedback — comments, questions, ideas, or rants. |
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| EVENT SUBMISSIONS |
| To let us know about an upcoming event that you think belongs here, please
email us at events at least two weeks prior to the date. |
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| Contributors: |
| Divine inspiration | Sean Biehle | | Found religion | Nate Cavalieri | | Rooster overslept | Menaka Gopinath | | Wardrobe anxiety | Kate Hewitt | | Too fashionable | Julian Hooper | | Earlier date | Elisa Jacobs | | Needy pet | Lisa Rosman |
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Production: |
| Rock 'n roll | Anjuli Ayer | | Lost bag | Jessica Bauer-Greene | | Locked out | Sander-Martijn Milks | | Illness | David Morrow | | Watching TV | Dayo Olopade | | No coffee | Melissa Phruksachart | | Lost cell phone | Leah Taylor | | You're early | Marcella Veneziale | | Emergency surgery | Judah Wiedre |
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MORE FILTERED CULTURE |
Hi-fidelity updates
A twice-monthly email magazine high- lighting the latest in electronic music — including news, reviews, and original features
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Books worth reading
A monthly review focusing on smart, readable works of fiction and nonfiction, from current titles to past gems
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Global fashion trends
A twice-monthly, insider view on fashion trends breaking in Paris, London, New York, and around the world
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A twice-monthly email magazine covering art, design, and architecture with profiles, news, and reviews of inter- national shows
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