Cooking, I read a lot, don't watch TV but I rent movies and watch them pretty avidly, was a film major at USC. Love downtown LA. It's really amazing here if you can take the grittiness of it all. Catch me on the road and say hi if you can in 2007!
Music I Like:
Bjork, Radiohead, Tony Bennett, Squarepusher, U2, Bowie, lots more of course...
Films I Like:
hate trying to name films.. I like a lot of the classics...
Literature I Like:
Walt Whitman, John Steinbeck, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Allen Ginsberg... these are my obsessions.
TV Shows I Like:
I don't have cable... try to watch as little TV as possible.
my
Groups
my
Affiliations
Companies
Golden Sphinx Records
PO BOX 8148
Calabasas, CA 91372
First off! UN-MUTE so you can hear my music playing in the background. I promise it won't make your ears bleed... but it COULD make you very happy... If it does... let me know :)
I am quite an intense person by nature but I also have quite a sense of humor when put to the test. I believe in following one's heart, even when it doesn't make sense. When I say music is my life, it's more than just something I want to do or spend most of my time doing - I believe people that know my songs intimately, know me better than many of my closest friends. I tend to write material that I am scared to put out. I try and challenge myself with everything I do. I always strive to be the best I can be. It is the only way I have come this far.
I love movies. I don't own a TV because I have addictive tendencies. The same goes for video games and cigarettes. If I do certain things, I will do them till it makes me sick. It's part of why I am so obsessive with music as well.
I am a flirt by nature. I am both a hermit and a people person. I love going out and chatting it up, but I also thrive in situations where I am completely alone and in my own head. I love attention - it's why I perform on stage.
I spend more time on my songs than most people do building a house. No joke. :)
I love to get to know people so email or aim me at sachasacket
And for anyone interested you should buy my 2nd CD, Shadowed, here (support the arts...) or buy a hard copy...
Okay - a little on me.
I write and perform my music and have a new album coming out called Lovers and Leaders... I spend a lot of my time working on art. Most people never hear most of the songs I write... I live in an old chemical warehouse turned loft in downtown los angeles and it's really sick. I love it here... I say I am the worst dancer ever - but I really just feel awkward, most people say I can dance... I love artists and creative, passionate people in general, I love clothes but hate shopping for them, I love a LOT of music and tend to open myself to most genres, I have a weakness for Oreo cookies - they are my Kryptonite. I avoid them like the plague. If I could marry Bjork, Walt Whitman, Meryl Streep, or Sean Penn, I probably would.
Check out my site for more info if you are curious...
I love nothing more than a comment if you are enjoying what you are hearing/seeing - so please leave one if you got the time. :)
I am on this site usually when i am working - but that means I am not paying attention to my page. It's not personal - I really try and respond to everyone but can be SUPER forgetful. It's the artist thing... If I don't answer IM - I am just away for now, it's not personal. Send me an email and I will hit you up later.
I am touring around at times - playing venues, colleges, etc. Definitely drop by when I hit your area... It's a lot of fun when I am on the road and I usually can be found at a local bar after the show... I have a blog on my site btw too which documents some of that.
And if I haven't pimped myself out enough already - buy my album!!! I promise you'll like it :) Please? :)
My eyes ARE real. There are more pictures on my website - please check it out.
Thanks for all the sweet messages btw!!
You have to buy it - just for your very own jet black Sacha condom...
We have some nifty interviews and reviews out and about (cool quotes below), so if you are interested in more details on why I played a certain place called the Zone, check some of these out (1, 2, 3, 4). More will be floating around soon. MTV's Logo has also been featuring the music video, "Judy (for shame)" for the last few weeks in conjunction with the live CD release and I know a lot of you have seen it too. All very exciting stuff! Woohoo!
Also, so you are aware - a portion of profits on every CD will benefit ANSA, a very lovely organization. See below for details. If you are looking to do them some extra holiday kindness, visit their site and donate! We all will love you for it and you'll be helping out some kids that really need it.
And for those of you who have been wondering... There will be new live shows in early 2009! Will keep you in the loop.Very excited to reveal what these busy hands have been up to (naughtiness aside ;)
Wishing you all kind and gentle holiday and new year!
XO
Sacha
Details on Sacha Sacket and the LadyKillers: Live at the Zone
"These songs are the result of an artist with a lot to say and an engaging way of saying it. Live at the Zone will stick with you long after you’ve taken the disc out of your CD player." - Edge
"Sacket makes music that's gorgeously grandiose... The songs on Live at the Zone are drawn from Sacket's previous self-released artist albums, but they take on a harder edge here. And this is a perfect introduction to Sacket, if you haven't encountered him and his rich baritone before. Sacket recorded Live at the Zone with his all-female band the LadyKillers. They offer as much heat and tension as anyone else at the Zone on any night." (4 Stars) - MetroWeekly
Sacha Sacket recently brought his all-girl band to a Los Angeles sex club to record his new live record “Sacha Sacket and the LadyKillers: Live at the Zone.” The full-length album marks the culmination of a year touring together and showcases a gritty reinvention of his previously introspective work. “For me, the location of a live record is paramount to the energy you aim to capture. There was this immediate intimacy going on with the live show and a strong amount of sexual tension with the audiences. It made sense to capture that in a venue with few to zero boundaries.”
There is more to this than just a focus on the inherent sexuality of Sacket’s lyrics and performances. Because the HIV/AIDS epidemic started in places like The Zone (note: the club permits safe practice only and offers free testing), he decided to go full circle. A portion of profits from every CD are earmarked for ANSA’s “It Takes A Village” program that specifically targets children in South Africa affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS and, with a bit of tongue and cheek, will be packaged with it’s very own Sacha Sacket condom. For more information on ANSA please visit their website at http://www.ansafrica.org
Track list:
1. Brandon Boyd 2. Cockatoo 3. Stay 4. What You Are 5. Desire 6. Judy (for shame) 7. Maybe You Can Save Me (from you) 8. Prod. 9. I Just Can't 10. Chinese Fingercuffs
* condoms available while supplies last.
Prop 8, Obama, and this bittersweet election (11/6/08) [View | Hide]
More on the new record and WHERE the Zone is... (10/26/08) [View | Hide]
1. Brandon Boyd 2. Cockatoo 3. Stay 4. What You Are 5. Desire 6. Judy (for shame) 7. Maybe You Can Save Me (from you) 8. Prod. 9. I Just Can't 10. Chinese Fingercuffs
Sacha Sacket recently brought his all-girl band to a Los Angeles sex club to record a new live record, “Sacha Sacket and the LadyKillers: Live at the Zone.” The full-length album marks the culmination of a year touring together and showcases a gritty reinvention of his previously introspective work. “For me, the location of a live record is paramount to the energy you aim to capture. There was this immediate intimacy with the live show and a strong amount of sexual tension. The songs became entirely different entities and it made sense to capture them in a place with few to zero boundaries.”
There is more to this than just a focus on the inherent sexuality of Sacket’s lyrics and performances. Because the HIV/AIDS epidemic started in places like The Zone (note: the club only permits safe practice and offers free testing), he decided to go full circle. A portion of profits from every CD are earmarked for ANSA’s “It Takes A Village” program that targets children in South Africa affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS and with a bit of tongue and cheek, is packaged with one’s very own Sacha Sacket condom.
Sacha + the Jonas Brothers = ? (10/16/08) [View | Hide]
I love when life unfolds so randomly. I went to the City of Hope - Spirit of Life award ceremony for the CEO of Universal Music tonight. It was star studded and very very cool. Had a front row view of Mariah Carey, Rhianna (who was AMAZING), Stevie Nicks, Maroon 5, Robin Thicke... and the list goes on and on... it suddenly hit a surreal state when I was hanging next to Guy Ritche, Randy Jackson, and actually had a moment to chill with the Jonas Brothers...
Had dinner with more power players than I could count... Just nuts to be part of such an exclusive event (that ended up raising $10 million in one night... sheesh!)
Life is unpredictable. You can only seize every moment. Be yourself and believe in that... Take risks... jump into the fold.
Sacha + Jonas = ?
Birthday with benefits.... (9/24/08) [View | Hide]
My birthday bash/Sweet Release benefit show was a few days ago and thought I would share the shenanigans. The night was amazing.
We ended up raising over $10,000 in one night!!!!
Mind blowing to say the least... So many kids are going to be fed, clothed, educated, cared for... I felt so damn lucky to be part of something like that. I was also so honored to listen to and showcase some amazing music. It was just a magical night and the best BEST birthday.
Big thanks to Roma Maffia from Nip/Tuck for hosting the night. She was absolutely spectacular. So wonderfully funny, kind, and gracious... Also thanks to ANSA's own Sharon Gelman, Lindsay Crook, Blaire Molitor, Jurnee Smollett, as well as all of the volunteers that made the night run smoothly and kept everything together!
Katrina Parker (above) delivered such an amazing set, and looked quite stunning I might add. Love love love her voice and her songs are so powerful. I honestly could listen to her for hours.
Was really blown away by Jussie Smollett. Such an amazing voice and so much fun to watch. All of them really put on such an energetic show. So beautifully talented and he's a really really great guy. Was very impressed.
An Christopher Dallman began the night with a really intense and inspiring set of songs. We played together ages ago and it was fun to do it again, years later. He related a story I completely forgot about - where we had no mic stand at this coffeehouse gig we did about 4 years ago. We had to tape the mic to a chair of all things. Craziness.
My set was a ton of fun. Always wanted to do a show with a cello and a harp... I played completely new material as well - except for a "harped" up version of Brandon Boyd. It all felt really fresh and exciting to be unveiling new work. Making big tweaks with the live act right now before the upcoming tours - really excited to see what comes out of it and to share it with you all :)
My bday cake!!!! Really tasty btw. Chocolate raspberry. I still never found out who got the slice with my crotch on it...
And here are some various pics I got from the night. Thanks for all of you that made the night so special! It really was so packed and we raised so much money. Yipeeeeee!!!!
Sean! I love you for making it all the way from Philadelphia!!!
And these lovely beautiful kids (Mike, Jason, and Shaunna) drove up from SD (As well as Yazdi and friends - thanks guys!!!) Also, Alex who made it from Mexico! And those of you from the east coast as well! VERY COOL.
The silent auction... which did awesomely well! Thanks for all of you that bought art, etc!
Jordy, Jenn, and David!!!!!!
Philip and Craig!
Marcus and Ilse!!!
Getting my drink on after the show of course...
Rudy, Damon, and Kira! Dez and Mark! Rita, Damon, Guy, Amar, and Abby THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!! Will post some video soon!!!!
New Album! Sacha and the LadyKillers: Live at the Zone (9/2/08) [View | Hide]
New Album Out This November!
Sacha Sacket and the LadyKillers: Live at the Zone Get your advanced copy - September 20th...
I am extremely excited to let you know we are releasing a new album!!!
To celebrate, I've decided to organize a benefit show and a silent auction for a very good cause, headed by a wonderful group called ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa). And while the record will be available for purchase this November, I've decided to giveaway advance copies to anyone that attends and donates money. We have some wonderful music acts playing that night and it just so happens to be the day of my birthday(!), so please reserve your tickets online ASAP (link below) and bring all your friends. We would really love to raise some great money for ANSA and The "It Takes a Village" Program.
More details to come on the record itself, so stay tuned!
Sacha Sacket and Special Guests perform live in Los Angeles at Tangier $30+ ticket donation INCLUDES ADVANCE COPY OF CD (Must attend event for CD. 1 per guest). 21+ Saturday, September 20th at 8:00 pm 2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
ANSA will be also be holding an intimate silent auction, which will include select items such as vacation getaways, dinners at exciting restaurants, spa visits, gift baskets, and stylish clothing. All proceeds will benefit ANSA.
The damned Batmobile is following me (8/13/08) [View | Hide]
Saw Batman a bit ago at the Los Angeles Arclight (which I would rate a 7.5/10 - LOVED the first one) and they were showcasing the Batmobile - motorcycle too.
I think I've seen like 3 or 4 different Batmobiles during my lifetime. It's not like I have been trying to or anything. They just keep appearing in places I frequent for some reason. Could be some weird kind of omen - like I really should buy those rubber pants. Or it has more to do with going to too many amusement parks. Or maybe they pimp that thing out like hell. Keep the Batmobiles on the road for years... Whatever the reason, it was still pretty cool - I'll admit it. I lazed about it for a full 3 minutes.
Was never a Batman fanatic but will probably be Robin for Halloween (I AM obsessed with Halloween. Plan my whole family and some friend's attires months in advance. Try to coordinate a theme. Yeah, it's a little scary).
If I could have a super car - this is more what it would look like.... Car was parked outside my place :) Not sure what it would do. Something with Pez... Will leave it to your imagination.
I'm all about dinky cars. If I could afford the BMW, etc - I wouldn't buy one until I knew I could bashed it guilt-free. I would have to be that rich. Otherwise I'd get too psycho about little scratches and my friends would probably disown me.
Sacha's Last Show for Lovers and Leaders (7/22/08) [View | Hide]
I hope the summer has been treating you to all sorts of wonderful debauchery while I've been away. There has been a world of change on my front and I'm genuinely excited to show what's been up my sleeve this fall and winter.
In the meantime... I felt it important to inform you the LAST SHOW for Lovers and Leaders will be in Santa Monica, CA on July 31st! The songs will not be performed this way again...
We would genuinely love to see you all there and share in the send off.
Ukuleles, Sea Turtles, and Too Much Dessert. (6/4/08) [View | Hide]
A lot of you have been bugging me for Hawaii photos. So here you are dammit.
I know I have been MIA and it's all for proper reason. Working away like a good little boy.
The trip was the cliche in many regards. Absolutely gorgeous, beaches upon beaches, great food, etc. But I loved it for all of that. I needed some time to do nothing (or as one local band put it: Chill-ax - best song title EVER).
This is Kee Beach in Kauai. It's the western most part of the US, and feels like the end of the world. Pure heaven. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
I ate way too much :) Desserts, steaks, 1st courses, 3rd courses... even by MY standards (I am usually always eating something).
I was fortunate enough to attend Ruby and Nick's wedding on the big island... Partied a bit harder than I thought I would. The best part of that week was that Ruby had one of her close friends, Boy, hand make me a ukulele. The business/art/craft is passed through his family. The instrument is rather incredible and to say I am honored is putting it lightly. Quite an emotional moment for me. It's not often you get a genuine piece of Hawaii passed on like that. I know the amount of work they put into it was ridiculous. I learned a bit and played it for their 1st dance together which was good fun.
Cool picture from the outskirts of an active volcano on the big island. It was pretty awesome to watch the lava burst out of the ground. Much more extreme than I expected.
Family and I at the beach. My swim trunks were RELENTLESSLY made fun of the entire time. I am SO done with board shorts dammit!!!!
Went to a beach overlook where there were TONS of giant sea turtles.
Me swimming around with the locals (and sea turtles). Cliff jumping, kayaking, and rope swinging also took place. :)
And 2 landscape pics for you to enjoy - both taken in Kauaii.
So there is much change happening under the surface on this end. We are taking a break for the summer. I won't be nosing about quite as often - but expect much naughtiness in the fall! :)
Skanky downtown Vegas is my love whore (5/23/08) [View | Hide]
I love downtown Vegas. We are staying in the nastiest hotel right now. It's perfect. Downtown is the original Vegas no one ever goes to. Far from the strip. It's skanky, it's dirty, it's poor - but more than makes up for it with character, history, and cheap drinks :) If I lived in Vegas - I would probably find all the crappy bars and spend most my time people watching. The crowd here really is all over the board. Very little bullshit and it ALL hangs out...
Why is it EVERYtime I see "Loose Slots" - my mind immediately THINKS the sign says "Loose Sluts?" I can't be the only one...
They had airbrush tattoos outside - so I got this one for kicks. It lasts for a few days. How Zexy am I?
Love the sign-age...
There is a diRRty strip joint next door to us. I think it's time the band got indoctrinated. Making the girls go before din din. The ladies are probably not top shelf - but that makes it more interesting. Show tonight - wish us luck!
I'm off to Hawaii for a greatly anticipated couple of weeks of debauchery!!! Will update with the obligatory waterfall pics and whatnot when I can tear myself away from the poolside.
Much too much has been going down. In all the craziness, I thought I would share some pics I had stored up :) some are way old school :)
Ray, Anna, and Travis drinking it up in Vegas. The lovely Diana who takes care of us so wonderfully every time we roll into town :)Anna is deathly allergic to cats, so I think this picture is sort of hardcore. One of the craziest things about Tucson is the fact that there are these drive through liquor stores. It just seems like it's begging for trouble to me. Imagine picking up your "supersized" jack and diet on the road... We stayed with Anna's good friend Amy and she had this intense dummy rattlesnake. I couldn't even get close to it without getting the heebeegeebees. Scared the crap out of me - even though I knew it wasn't real.
Got to see the Space Needle. It is indeed very very cool. Stayed in Oregon with some family friends. They have this amazing farm near a small town called Coravalis. The whole time I couldn't stop thinking like I was in "The Wizard of Oz" or something. The house dates back to the 1800s I believe. It was seriously beautiful. Sort of felt like the Wizard of Oz.
Just chillin' at the airport. Michael and I in San Diego. Show in Virginia. Marquis turned 21 the day of my show, and I got to witness his first beer run. It was rather fun. Sure it won't be his last :) Charlie, who basically chauffeured me around during a university show. The amazing beaches along the Pacific Coast Highway. Just like heaven... Jennifer looking like a pro.
Hayden, me, and the girls.
Jennifer left Harry for Hermione... The one and only Jeff made 3 of these for me. One for each record, all beautifully put together. Pretty much the coolest thing I have received... Anna after a hard night :) Angie and I in Seattle. And some various photos Arnold took in San Diego!
Check out our new live TV appearance on Musical Cafe a few days ago. Includes an entire concert taping and interview!!!
New song available for Free! (3/3/08) [View | Hide]
Click on the picture to get it!
Glam Santa Barbara bums, Flagstaff kicks ass in both senses of the word, and Hwy 40 (3/2/08) [View | Hide]
On the way back from San Luis Obispo, I stopped by Santa Barbara for lunch. It's a chichi place really - very much a college town - although insanely rich people live/"summer" there too. The funny-strange-not-haha thing I find when I am there (other than random statues they sell there - refer to a previous blog on that) - are the bums . They aren't quite homeless (or at least seem that way) and have this sitcom-entertainment/hippie quality to them. Because I live right along skid row - my viewpoint might be pretty skewed, but I do think it also informs... Seems you have to do a TON to get through to the A.D.D. collegiate population. Santa Barbara bums are a TALENTED lot. It's hard to see - because I snapped while driving by - but this guy had a RAT balancing on a CAT balancing on a DOG. It was completely awesome. Very circus. Something I haven't seen before - especially from someone collecting money on the street.
This Indian guy above (who looked really happy but more homeless than anyone else too), was playing a homemade wood keyboard (but sounded like a banjo/sitar) whilst shaking a tambourine with his foot for the back beat. It was really really cool and melodic. Sort of bluesy/hillbilly like. I was impressed with the ingenuity and seeming originality. One of those guys you want to record in studio for a song or something.
And this guy had a whole fishing display out, with a cup hanging from his fishing rod. The sign said something about needing money for bait, but was way more witty than that...
There were more people doing various tricks, etc. Also a whole bunch of hair dyed/pierced/grunged out/tattooed kids (15-18) panhandling. They looked more like runaways-for-the-coolness-factor rather than homeless-without-option.
I never know how to feel about their situation - especially because I see people with SERIOUS mental disorders, horribly physically disabled, prostitutes, crack addicts tooting crack babies, very old and lost senile folk roaming around every day at home. Santa Barbara bums are so glam/fashionable in comparison and just a little offensive.
The other side of me sees a bunch of people that live on the beach, hitchhike all over the country, living hand to mouth for the adventure/excitement of it all. Sort of a paean to Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." I love that book, love the "beat" idea of wanderlust... so at the same time, I know it's a cool and liberated way to live. They are definitely NOT the same as the truly homeless in LA however...
And then of course, it took me 2 hours to get home once I got to LA. This is what I see way too much in life - its notorious traffic situation... Slept a few hours when I got back and then made the 8-9 hour trek to Flagstaff for a solo show. The drive itself was fine. I thought I was all responsible waking up at 8am, so I could get there early and "freshen up." Didn't account for the time zone change and my need for repeated pee/food breaks - so I arrived 10 minutes(!) before my load-in time. Got to immediately cart equipment, "freshen up" in the venue's bathroom, and perform quickly after that. A really great guy - Cory and his roommate Steven - threw a little shindig after the show, so I partied till about 3-4am too. After getting almost kicked out of the hotel at 11a the next day (the maids just keep knocking and calling you on the hotel phone), I had a rushed breakfast and drove back to LA (9 hours) on VERY little sleep over the course of 3 crazy days. BUT - and a huge BUT at that (without the extra t) - the show was AWESOME. Over a 100 kids came to see the show and were so so so respectful and invested in the moment, I couldn't have asked for a better night. Did not expect a turn out like that from Flagstaff. So all in all - it was intense, but EXTREMELY fun and gratifying. Shout out to Luminaria, who were wonderful enough to open for me.
Donald, above, who along with Irene and Dereck (owners of Applesauce), Jessicka, and other delicious and wonderful friends - helped promote the crap out of the show and drummed up a great crowd. Cannot say how much I appreciate their effort. Extra hearts go to Victor, Cory, Jose, Rachele, and all who came. Here is to the next one in April!
The drive back to La WAS beautiful. Took hwy 40 home, and you sort of graze the Grand Canyon, cross the Colorado River, cruise through the Mohave Desert.... it's just one of those amazing drives you only find in America. Very "home on the range," spiritual experience.
The pictures obviously will never do the landscape justice...
Now I am really rested - thank god - and ready for the new week. Hitting Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson in a few days. Hope to see some of you there! XO
Well things are warm in Los Angeles. Feels just like summer. Jealous? We had a great run in Sacramento recently - a lot of fun after the show. The venue - Marilyn's on K - is always amazing to us, and the place was packed. Can't ask for better than that.
I was up in the mountains again for a tiny bit. Here is what it's literally like at night. I had to hike up the hill to the cabin again in pitch black (whilst snowing). A car came up as I was walking along the path and it freaked me. Total horror film moment... Then off to Sacramento! Phew! During the sound check we had extra time for shenanigans. Thought to do expressive photos for your enjoyment.
Jennifer hates to let me play guitar... only acts like it's okay...
I never hit all the right notes it seems....
If you screw with Alexa's drum kit, she will END you!!!!
Probably the cutest picture ever in the world.
All of us trying to look happy/frightened. That equals COOL. Yeah.............
JR, one of the coolest people in Sacramento if you ask me. Incredibly supportive top notch guy.
We got taped/interviewed after the show which was a bit wild. After the show you usually have too much energy and if there is alcohol involved... :)
Jennifer at some point somehow coaxed the camera out of their hands and starting to drink Zima. All HELL broke loose.
Alexa and Jenn with Eric (from Marilyn's). Very very cool guy and uber supportive.
They pasted a signed poster of us on the wall. We all decided to write raunchy lascivious stuff on it. Let our minds run wild. You have to go there to read WHAT. :)
And now the wall-o-fame IS Sacha approved...
On the way back, at one of our numerous Subway sandwich stops (I eat the roasted chicken with no jalapenos thank you), we saw a random ad that said Band-Ana and thought Anna needed to somehow be part of the cheesy aggrandized commercial "rocknroll" give-away moment.
Here is a Live Video for you to enjoy!!! woohoo!!!
And now here I am back in LA trying to make sense of all that nonsense. Going to San Luis Obispo and Flagstaff this week which will definitely be fun (and even crazier - especially Flagstaff I think). We played the Doors cover - "People are Strange" at Marilyn's and it was the show stopper of the night - so definitely look out for it at the future band shows. Yeehaw!
Buddhism and Harry Potter Pillowcases (2/22/08) [View | Hide]
Made the drive up to Sacramento today. I got home from last night's show at about 2-3am-ish and had to wake up at 7. We had a fun show and debuted "Hail" and a Doors cover - "People Are Strange." I am definitely sleepy. zzzzzz
My fantastically talented guitarist, Jennifer, has been quite a character study with what she brought into the van today. One of my favorite things being - this book. You gotta love that right? :)
Anna bought her a Harry Potter pillow case to take on the road with us, so she debuted it today. To much fanfare. When we first started touring together, she spent most of her time reading the last book of the series. Which then led to my song - "Jennifer + Harry Potter = Love."
Now we finally have the picture to bring all this full circle.I think everyone sort of needs one of these bad boys. Completely Sacha approved and entirely awesome. You have to have balls to sleep on that thing dammit (or just be awesome on electric guitar).
The girls take to jump roping outside the car (to get the blood flowing or whatevs). Here is Alexa just before tripping Jenn up.
I love watching people's faces at various gas stations around the country when we all start jumping rope out of nowhere.
Anna in super-Buddhist-concentration-mode. Check it out... Chapter 6.
Here they are having a jump rope threesome....
So now I am heading off to shower before sound check in Sacramento tonight. Hope to see some of you there! XOXO
A little randomness never hurt anyone... (2/20/08) [View | Hide]
Had a fun rehearsal today. Have a new cover song to premier tomorrow and I have to say, it's one of my favorites lately. Love playing that thing... hope to see some of you at the Upland show tomorrow or in Sacramento on Friday.
My lovely bassist, Anna, brought her dogs by to take over the loft. They are really cute, happy, and just a little wild. Even left a nice gift before they ran home with mom. :)
Getting a new haircut tomorrow (it's totally out of control now) and have no clue what to do yet! Any ideas?
Want to get new piercings as well - totally know what I want to do and everything. The pain is giving me a little pause though - it's nice wearing headphones without a sharp stabbing shooting sensation :) Especially when I am recording and all...
I had a very frustrating day today. Came back to Los Angeles to do a bit of bizness, work in studio, and rehearse the live show with the girls. The drive itself was blah but when I got to the city, it was just one of those days where your schedule isn't going to happen, people aren't necessarily looking out for your best interests, and you end up feeling a little like used toilet paper... Basically, too much drama.
So I decided to take off and go to Olvera street. I've lived in downtown LA for 2 years now and haven't been. It's somewhat of a tourist trap, but I think it's quite quaint and worth the visit. Much better than Hollywood Blvd and all that nonsense. They had some dancers with dramatic headdresses on (Aztec?) as I entered the area.
My new favorite thing were these cow hoof canteens they had on sale. How incredibly awesome/gross are these puppies! I kinda want to carry one around with me and offend/bewilder people whenever I get thirsty.
Found a restaurant that looked the most authentic and decided to have a meal. Got seated RIGHT next to a fireplace of all things. It was very very cool. After fajitas and a margarita - I almost felt human again. Now I need sleep. When I work on music I rarely get it.
But..... I am still too riled and wild, so I am going out to Edison Bar with friends tonight. Need society after my sojourn.... then some rest before rehearsals tomorrow!
How I Almost Froze on Valentine's Day (2/17/08) [View | Hide]
Well it snowed like crazy on Valentine's Day. Out of nowhere, we got hit with over 6 inches of snow. No weather forecasted, I was in a t-shirt the day before. Almost got my car snowed in too. A very close call :) I had to buy chains because of the last blizzard - it's no fun having to put chains on in the middle of a snow storm. Especially when you are a gimpy Los Angelene like myself. So I count myself lucky for that.
The next day everything melted into this giant slush pot. You have to take a dirt path to find me these days. It's very cool - being tucked away. I can blast new songs at 2am - no problem. The only thing to keep me company are the coyotes: declaring a fresh kill; a careful moon gliding through constellation and pine; and the invisible night owls. I park at the bottom of the hill and traverse the path up to this new little abode. Between that and the soot from the iron stove - I am one dirty boy.
New horizons again. Never know where these things lead and that is as it should be of course. I know, I know.
It snowed 6 inches overnight. I have one stove to keep me warm. There is little room to kid. Very little room up here in my little bitty hole.
Amazing how one thing can keep me alive, can keep me going. One little stove can heat a whole house...
I am reading a lot of Sherlock Holmes of late. Playing with a bit of detective work lately.
Sweating to uncover truth on the tiniest clues ever.
Sometimes that is how life comes... not always, but sometimes. How much we all play the fool sometimes. Too many times. Two times more than not. And that is okay and then sometimes it is not...
So here I go with only a stove
down my tiny rabbit hole.
Rocks tied in Trees and other such Devilry. (1/19/08) [View | Hide]
The cool part of my neighborhood (or one of many), is all the art/imagery/posters that get pasted all over the place. Completely illegally of course. Obey stuff is all over the place as one would expect - but that only scratches the surface. There are tons of kids putting random statements all over the place. And they bring the city to life for me.
Once, about a year ago, someone decided to put 1000s of pinwheels up and down my street. On all the street signs, cars, trees, etc... It was insane. Flashes of color and movement everywhere you went. Suddenly everything was so different. Obviously because now there are pinwheels everywhere... :) ... but there was something more than that to me. It made you look at your day differently, see yourself in some strange perspective. Life had more hope that day.
Another kid would tie up random rocks (some quite large) with these elaborate and beautiful knots and then tie them up in trees. So when you are walking down the street and happen to look up, you see this strange rock suspended in a complex lattice looking thing... there was something marvelous about it. All for free, all completely anonymous... Sort of a signal of life in the industrial-futuristic nightmare that is downtown LA.
The human condition can't be bought and sold dammit. It can't be hedged in by our manic desire for logical progress.
Here are some of my new favs. They change every 2 weeks or so... And viola - new hair. well not really new - I've had it for a while, but I finally took a picture for the world to see...
Hope you are all being good boys and girls...
Why I am MIA and my nasty fall in the snow (12/26/07) [View | Hide]
Things have been quite nice this holiday season. Went to Big Bear and decided to try snowboarding after a 7+ year hiatus. Shockingly enough, I picked it right up the second I locked my boots into the board. Just like riding a bike - who knew :) The slopes are pretty much empty on Xmas eve - which was entirely shocking to me. I expected the opposite. So if you are thinking of traveling here for holiday skiing - I highly recommend it. Very few people on the 24th-26th. At Big Bear, CA at least :)
Had one nasty fall though. I landed flat on my face at the top of a steep hill and LITERALLY ate snow for the entire length of the mountain. It was so steep - there was no stopping myself. I did a few 360s too. Completely ridiculous. By the time I got to the bottom, I was a living snowman. Snow covering my person, in every pocket, entirely up my nose, down my pants... It hurt, but was more funny than anything. My dad got a good kick out of it. :)
Have more family to see tomorrow for a few days in Idyllwild, California and then I drive to the Bay Area to help friends prepare a New Year's party. This whole holiday season has been very jet set-ish for me. Rare for me. I tend to be a homebody near the holidays. Been hard to get to internet and email.
Hope you all got good gifts this year and families are all in line :)
I'll be back soon enough! Can't wait to catch up!
PS - Playing lots of board games and am kicking booty at Clue!
Cormac McCarthy is pissing me off (11/28/07) [View | Hide]
I am almost finished with this thing called a book - The Road - by Cormac McCarthy. It has been making rounds among friends and I was gifted it twice over. It is a quick read.
The thing is just PISSING me off. I have rarely reacted so negatively to a book before. I honestly can't remember the last art piece that got such an angry reaction out of me.
Every time I open it I get so depressed, I start mumbling under my breath, pondering the gray lackluster experience we call Life.
I have no idea why people adore this thing. I have no idea why it grates me so much. I love it for making me so itchy and hateful, I abhor it for pushing me to such lows. There is no coming up for air. No chapters. Just a string of words that keep getting worse and worse. No hope from beginning to end. And yet with all of this .... I am still reading.
I have to finish it, just so I can have a cohesive argument for or against it. His writing style is wonderful and original. He has a way with phrasing things... yes. But the story itself is haunting me to the point of direness.
Those of you that have read it already... what do you think of it?
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