Editorial

Oct 10, 2017 Hunted, Gathered, and Senon Williams

by Martin Wong

It must be great to be in a band that releases albums regularly, tours to support them, and gets invited to play festivals, contribute songs to soundtracks, and even write scores for movies. But what does one do between gigs? Literally, Senon Williams takes watercolors along with him when touring with his band to fill downtime....

Editorial

Oct 04, 2017 Saving the arts in LA public schools with Artists’ Political Action Network at The Smell

by Martin Wong

I can talk until the end of the day about enjoying the process, being content with doing one's best, and stuff like that. But it's also pretty cool when something you work on and care about is recognized, and even cooler to be asked to talk about it in front of a crowd that is...

Editorial

Sep 26, 2017 Surf riffs and tide pools in San Pedro

by Martin Wong

If you even just skim my posts, you know that I have traveled far up the coast to visit tide pools and even further to see my favorite bands. This weekend, we did both just 30 minutes away from Downtown L.A. in San Pedro! How great was it to see our friends in Bombón play a...

Editorial

Sep 19, 2017 Animal Style Revisited in Chicago

by Martin Wong

This weekend I got to spend some time in Chicago with my friend Tim Hugh. In my past life as a magazine editor, Tim would get Eric and me speaking gigs that went along with the Asian American Showcase film festival that he oversaw. How did we meet? I don't exactly recall but it was...

Editorial

Sep 13, 2017 Save Music in Chinatown 13 recap with CH3, Neptunas, and 16 Again

by Martin Wong

On Sunday, Wendy and I embarked on our fifth year of putting on all-ages matinees to raise money for the public elementary school in Chinatown where our daughter attends fourth grade. Even after thirteen shows, it still hasn't gotten old--maybe because I see so many friends and family and only ask bands that I love...

Editorial

Sep 05, 2017 Save Music in Chinatown 13 with Channel Three, The Neptunas, and 16 Again

by Martin Wong

This may sound like a broken record, but it's a really good one--a scratchy slab of vinyl that you scored at a thrift shop with that killer song that was on a lost mix tape or perhaps last heard on Rodney on the Roq decades ago when you were a kid. Anyway, for the thirteenth...

Editorial

Aug 29, 2017 Channel 3 with dozens of bands at a hundred degrees at It’s Not Dead 2

by Martin Wong

It's been at least three or four years since I've been to a big music festival. Too hot. Too dusty. Bad food and even worse bathrooms. Don't get to see all the bands I want. All that was true for Saturday's It's Not Dead Fest 2, but how could I not see my pals Channel...

Editorial

Aug 22, 2017 Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles at LAPL Central

by Martin Wong

Libraries are quiet places where introverts hide out to read crusty books in dusty corners. They are safe spots for kids to hang out after school until their parents pick them up. They are a refuges for homeless people. I go there regularly to borrow books and DVDs (I'm a Luddite, I know) and our...

Editorial

Aug 15, 2017 Hergé in Quebec City

by Martin Wong

Quebec City is about as close as you can get to France without leaving North America. Maybe that's why the Hergé Museum in Brussels sent a selection of its choicest materials to the Museum of Civilization. Some of the first pieces on display are tributes to the creator of Tintin, not one but two busts and...

Editorial

Aug 08, 2017 New books roundup from Comic-Con 2017

by Martin Wong

The San Diego Comic-Con is so three weeks ago, but for me it hasn't stopped because I've been reading comics every night ever since! I won't bore you with my entire stash of purchases, but will share some of the new releases. Besides having John Holmstrom sign some Ramones albums and the Best of Punk book,...