I recall one of my English professors at UCLA saying in a lecture that you can't read every book in the world but you can skim the book reviews in the Sunday paper to at least know what's going on. In that spirit--and in contrast to actual criticism--here are some thoughts on key books that...
Disclaimer: Ben Clark is one of my best friends, who actually played music at my wedding as part of the Ray Barbee Band. And he also shot many of my favorite articles that I wrote for Giant Robot mag. Coming from a punk rock background, we carried the barest of gear and never had makeup...
I thought 2013 was pretty rad. But why? I thought about it and boiled it down...
Taxidermy could use a PR makeover. Unless you're a card-carrying member of the NRA, the ancient craft is kitsch at best. At worst, cruelty on parade. But when I visited the Natural History Museum last weekend, the horned specimens could almost pass as noble until I reached to the soulful, sad-eyed ape. What a buzzkill. Yet...
You might recall Chad Tim Tim from April's Long Beach: Work in Progress event, where he and some of his friends discussed the heritage and future of skateboarding in his hometown. I met up with the pro skater last week to find out about his latest project, which he has started in conjunction with his...
Last weekend after dinner at my brother's house in San Diego, our families went for a walk so our little girls could see Christmas lights. There are five or six blocks in the Clairemont neighborhood where every single resident goes all-out with holiday decorating, and we check it out every year. Who says that California...
As Sunday's benefit gig to raise money for music education at my daughter's elementary school was wrapping up, a couple of guests struck up a conversation with me. It turned out they are starting up a foundation to help the Chinese community in L.A. as well, and were checking out our event to see if...
[caption id="attachment_9047" align="alignnone" width="790"] Imprint Presents: David Choe at the Center for the Preservation of Democracy (October 17, 2013)[/caption] Over the holiday weekend I didn't do anything worth exploring or sharing, so I'm going to take this opportunity to answer the 8 Questions questionnaire. After all, how can I ask my peers to participate unless I...
[caption id="attachment_9034" align="alignnone" width="790"] Jesse von Doom and Maggie Vail at the CASH Music Summit LA at The Echoplex (November 16, 2013)[/caption] I was introduced to Maggie Vail by our mutual friend Lance Hahn when he was staying at my house and her band The Bangs was playing down the street at Spaceland. It was probably...
When a friend asked me if I wanted to see Moebius at AFI Fest, I thought it was going to be a documentary about the French cartoonist. That would have been great, but even better it was Kim Ki-duk's latest flick. I'm a big fan of the South Korean director, and have even had the...