While Buck Owens was performing for the last time, I was down in LA seeing Guster play two sold out nights at the Roxy. The Mallick's, who along with their "extended family" have played host to me during my several visits to the East Coast for shows so it was only fitting to return the favor. Having switched my coveted Friday off, I headed down to LAX on Friday morning to provide curbside service. Attempts to arrange for an early check-in at the hotel were in the end vain, but we spent the first few hours in LA browsing at some stores - REI, IKEA (finger puppets!), Barnes and Noble, and Best Buy. We finally gave up and sat in the hotel lobby waiting for a non-smoking double room to become available. Finally they asked if we would be okay with a handicap accessible room, which we didn't realize at the time meant there would be no bathtub, only a large bathroom with a shower curtain which was reminicent of a hostel in New Zealand.
After dinner at PF Chang's, we headed up to Hollywood for the show. The initial plan was to stop by Amoeba, but there wasn't near enough time for a good quality experience so I drove us down Sunset allowing Viv and Dave to take in the sights. After parking 1/2 a block from the venue we ventured up the line and found my other friends who had came down from Bakersfield to see the show. Small talk was made while we waited in line. Once inside, we managed to score a position mid-crowd which was probably good seeing that 2/5 of the group was of the not short persuasion that people always complain about at shows.
Pilotdrift - 3.24.06
Pilotdrift from Texarkana, Texas was the opening band and I knew nothing of them going into the night. They put forth this wall of sound is expansive melodic rock. I wasn't so sure at first what to think but after warming up to them by the end of the set, by the second night I was sold.
Ryan, Brian, Adam and Joe.
Friday was Industry Night at the Roxy, with people from the label cordoned off like zoo animals in the VIP section. The set was filled with songs that were more comfortable for the band to play, plus they were saving a little something for the second night. Viv already posted the setlist (and her rendition of these events) here. After the show we lingered long enough for my Bako friends to pick up some swag from the merch booth before making the way back to the hotel down in Manhattan Beach.
Day 2 started off with continental breakfast with the entire hotel which included a bunch of British soccer kids that used a little too much batter in the waffle maker. Wanting to ensure there was ample time spent in Amoeba, that was the first destination of the day. While the Mallick's were able to unload some cash in exchange for some good stuff, but I was able to do a lot of damage on my own with the following:
All the music shopping worked up an appetite and someone had a craving for pizza, so we headed down Sunset to this hole in the wall place that is across from the legendary Viper Room. Just $5 for two giant slices of pie - good stuff. After lunch, I felt I would be remiss if I didn't take my guests to see the ocean. With traffic thickening and time slipping away I tired to get over to the beach just south of LAX near the El Segundo refinery. Instead I managed to give a tour of the residential area nearby until I finally snaked our way back to Imperial which did lead to the Pacific Coast Highway. We pulled off into a beach access parking lot and wandered the sand while the wind salted our faces. The gusts were strong enough that there were some people learning to hang glide off of the sand ledge.
An Afternoon at the Beach.
The time came to head back to the hotel once again to change for the evening. We made our way back to the Hollywood area for dinner at Luna Park. Jamie had found this restaurant when he came out to see James Blunt/Jason Mraz with me and I'd been looking for another reason to go. It didn't disappoint and potentially provided a star sighting for my friends. It isn't a trip to LA without one, and at the time we didn't know it, but we would get another sighting later in the evening.
Once completely stuffed, it was time to head to the show. Again we parked 1/2 a block from the venue and stood in line waiting for doors to open. The game plan for the night was different in that we wanted to try and get up to the front of the stage. I typically prefer to be back a little bit, but it was fun to be that close. Having finally figured out the secret to taking concert photos without flash, I was able to take shots throughout the sets.
Big Blue Tube (for making far away train sounds?)
Pilotdrift again put on a great set and kicked it up a notch with a cover of "Stayin' Alive" in the musical styling of Pink Floyd with some Barry White vocals. Maybe you had to be there...
Adam, Joe, and Brian. Wires.
While I first started listening to them nearly 10 years ago, the first time I ever saw Guster play was back in 1998 when they were on a side stage at the Horde Festival. It wasn't until a year later when I moved to California that I saw them headline at the House of Blues on Sunset. Being zealous for this first show I was at the venue early and stood front and center during the show. So it was fitting that nearly 7 years later and just a short distance down Sunset I would be standing against the stage with two friends who share the same appreciation for the band in what was potentially my last time to see Guster as a Californian resident. Compared to the first night, the band seemed much looser and really hit their stride on this their third show of the tour. Highlights were Joe's beatnik spoken word opening to Two Points and the debut of "The New Underground" which is available on iTunes as the B-side to "One Man Wrecking Machine." With the new album coming out in June, it just adds to the anticipation that I already had for the month. Maybe a little trip out to Boston will be in order...
Having dropped The Mallick's off at LAX this morning, I eventually made my back to Bakersfield and thus ends my mini rok-n-roll weekend. If you care to see more photos - they are up on my flickr site:
