A bunch of pals have just released records that you should know about. Pics at recent shows by me...
When my wife and I came up with the idea of organizing all-ages DIY punk matinees to raise money for the music program at Castelar Elementary, we had no idea what we were doing. We just went for it and--with help from so many friends in bands, with venues, on radio shows, and with cool...
One of the best things about being in L.A. is that you don't have to travel to see your friends from all over the place. Eventually they come to you, like Nikki McClure coming to the LAT Festival of Books. She was on a panel called Children's Books: Pictures on the Page with fine artist...
Since Eloise started attending kindergarten, Wendy and I have joked about her school taking over our lives. These days, we volunteer with valet duties practically every morning, help in the classroom all morning once a week, and make the school yearbook. I also serve on the school site council and, for the last few months,...
In the months approaching the seventh Save Music in Chinatown fund-raising concert, I decided to make a zine about the first two years. Committing something to print really makes one put things in perspective. What's the story? What is the beginning and what is the end? The beginning is easy: When my wife and I found...
Sunday's Save Music in Chinatown benefit faced the hottest weather (coming off the 100s during the week) and the most competition (Zero Boys matinee at the Redwood, BBQ with The Last in San Pedro). But it was possibly the deepest in terms of punk pedigree with links to heavyweights like Black Flag, Jawbreaker, and Green...
On Sunday, my wife and I will be putting on our third Save Music in Chinatown benefit. You'd think we'd be experts at this by now. Or that we had some experience with concerts before attempting to raise money for music education at our daughter's elementary school. Sadly, neither is true. But we don't pretend...