california - Imprint Lab

Nov 15, 2017 Greetings from Crystal Cove!

by Martin Wong

Sometimes it takes out-of-town visitors to get you to notice stuff in your own backyard. My cousin and his girlfriend came down from Sacramento because they scored beachside cabins at Crystal Cove. Who knew there was a State Park in tony Newport Beach? At the turn of the century, farmers and then campers stayed in the...

Editorial

May 17, 2016 New noise, old friends: Spokenest, California, Bleached, LPIII & The Tragedy, John Doe

by Martin Wong

A bunch of pals have just released records that you should know about. Pics at recent shows by me...

Editorial

May 10, 2016 Save Music in Chinatown 9 with California, Saccharine Trust, Zander Schloss, Spokenest, and Mike Watt & The Secondmen

by Martin Wong

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...

Editorial

Apr 12, 2016 Friends in and across town: Nikki McClure at the LAT Festival of Books, Adam Pfahler at Jawbreaker Day, Eric Nakamura at GR2

by Martin Wong

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...

Editorial

Apr 05, 2016 Announcing Save Music in Chinatown 9: California, Zander Schloss, Spokenest, Mike Watt & The Secondmen

by Martin Wong

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,...

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Sep 29, 2015 Save Music in Chinatown 7 recap with Rachel Haden, California, Upset, Steve Soto, and Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss

by Martin Wong

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...

Editorial

Sep 01, 2015 Announcing Save Music in Chinatown 7 with Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss, Upset, California, Rachel Haden, Steve Soto, and Atomic Nancy

by Martin Wong

If you've been following this blog for a while, you've probably been wondering when the next Save Music in Chinatown event would be coming up. Yes, the music program at Castelar Elementary is still defunded. And as our daughter enters second grade, my wife and I are ushering in a third year of benefit concerts....

Editorial

May 20, 2014 Save Music in Chinatown 3 recap with Chuck Dukowski Sextet and California

by Martin Wong

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...

Editorial

May 13, 2014 Save Music in Chinatown 3: Chuck Dukowski Sextet, California, Bitter Party, The Bear and Little Nun

by Martin Wong

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...

california Tag

Nov 15, 2017 Greetings from Crystal Cove!

May 17, 2016 New noise, old friends: Spokenest, California, Bleached, LPIII & The Tragedy, John Doe

May 10, 2016 Save Music in Chinatown 9 with California, Saccharine Trust, Zander Schloss, Spokenest, and Mike Watt & The Secondmen

Apr 12, 2016 Friends in and across town: Nikki McClure at the LAT Festival of Books, Adam Pfahler at Jawbreaker Day, Eric Nakamura at GR2

Apr 05, 2016 Announcing Save Music in Chinatown 9: California, Zander Schloss, Spokenest, Mike Watt & The Secondmen

Sep 29, 2015 Save Music in Chinatown 7 recap with Rachel Haden, California, Upset, Steve Soto, and Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss

Sep 01, 2015 Announcing Save Music in Chinatown 7 with Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss, Upset, California, Rachel Haden, Steve Soto, and Atomic Nancy

May 20, 2014 Save Music in Chinatown 3 recap with Chuck Dukowski Sextet and California

May 13, 2014 Save Music in Chinatown 3: Chuck Dukowski Sextet, California, Bitter Party, The Bear and Little Nun