Monday, April 28, 2014
ZupaNova at the Atwater Beer, Wine, Food Festival
My piece on the Zupa Fab group ZupaNova will be posted soon here in RG Los Angeles Stories!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
The L.A.Band: Lost in Los Angeles
Lost in Los Angeles
Danny Klein (Vocals, Piano, Synth, Beats)
Eddie Deering (Guitar, Synth, Beats)
Clark Souter (Bass, Vocals, Beats)
LINKS:
BECAUSE OF YOU (RADIO EDIT & B-SIDES) NOW EVERYWHERE
BECAUSE OF YOU / NYLON GUYS:
ALL ROADS LEAD TO YOU / MTV:
MILLION STARS / MTV:
MILLION STARS / MTV:
On their website, The band LOST
IN LOS ANGELES was described as “true sonic storytellers, wandering through
hope, love and humanity while wearing their hearts on their sleeves”. During my
phone interview, our conversations turned deep and thought provoking. I could
not help but imagine them as poets and philosophers who tackled what life threw
at them through music.
“The name ‘Lost in Los Angeles’
came from an unreleased EP…the concept of lost is a metaphor of losing
yourself” Danny Klein explained. “To truly find yourself, you have to lose
yourself first” Eddie Deering added. Most of their songs also appeared to have
messages of transformation “...in ‘Burnin’, in the ‘The Hovering’ EP’, one
would think it’s about the literal destruction, but it was more of the passion
burning within and inspiring you” Danny said.
In their own search of their
identity, they were not afraid to transform and to try new things. From their
early dream like song “Million Stars” which was reminiscent of the musical
styles of Owl City, to what Nylon Guys Magazine described as “…compressed drums
and Boys Don’t Cry-era guitars…” of “Because of You” (www.nylonguysmag.com),
one could tell that these guys were bold musical explorers.
When describing their creative
process, Danny Klein explained that their diversified style “comes with the
bass or piano line...It then sparks one of us to build on it…and then the
collaboration begins”. One could sense the trust and the closeness of the band
on how they tackle a project. “Eddie came up with an amazing guitar line and
then Clark and I worked on it while he was on vacation” Danny Klein further
explained. “Learning to play music is hard on its own...creating music for the
industry is extra harder...but the reward is the satisfaction when it’s
completed” Clark Souter added.
One of the milestones that the
band recently reached was going on a tour in twenty cities in 35 days, but this
local band is aiming straight for the top “…the real turning point is when we
get to the Grammy’s” Danny Klein said. “An LP is on its way so expect more from
us in 2014…The fans inspire us and we’re gonna keep on creating” Clark Souter
added. “It’s all about the love for the music and the fans” Clark Souter said
to cap it off “So, watch out for LOVE IS FATE (LP) OUT SUMMER 2014”.
I really don’t
know what to expect on the up and coming LP LOVE IS FATE. I didn’t ask what
genre or style was it influenced on, because to me it didn’t really matter. I
knew that their music will be uniquely theirs. LOST IN LOS ANGELES might stay
perpetually “lost”, constantly looking for new inspiration or musical identity,
but it would be one great treat because they will take us with them on their search
and journey.
Edited by: Paul Remy, CEO of Nxup Magazine http://instagram.com/nxupmagazine/
Also check out
www.3RPhotography.blogspot.com
All photos and article are copyrighted
Copyright 2014 RG Los Angeles Stories
Thursday, April 17, 2014
RAW Artists Hollywood at the OHM Night Club
Nxup Magazine and www.RGLosAngelesStories.blogspot.com covering RAW Artists Hollywood. Visit www.RAWartists.org/hollywood
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The Elizabeth Kill at RAW Hollywood www.theelizabethkill.com
As always, RAW Hollywood put together a fantastic showcase of live performance and art. Visit RAW Artists Hollywood at www.RAWartists.org/hollywood.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
A Night in LA ROCK and Roll Mecca Video (long version)
A Night in a L.A. Rock & Roll Mecca (long version)
Dan Castle, Alison, Nico and Chicago Red
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Alison and Dan in the Kibitz room
Dan Castle and Alison performing an unrehearsed song in the Kibitz Room.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
A Night in a L.A. Rock & Roll Mecca
Marshall
Nico
Mark and Chicago Red
Dan Castle
Dan Castle and Alison
A Night in a L.A. Rock & Roll
Mecca
Tucked next to the landmark
Canter’s Deli in Fairfax Avenue, was a tiny, dark and nondescript bar. It’s not
that great if you consider the atmosphere or the drink selection or the layout
of the bar. Right beside the bar was what looked like a raised surface that
stood for the stage, a couple of speakers and a couple of hard lights to
illuminate it and maybe six tables for patrons—that’s it. But some serious
musicians had passed through this hidden gem called the “Kibitz Room”. The
Doors, The Wallflowers, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers had come and hang
out here and maybe played a song or two. On Sundays local musicians would
religiously come here to play on open mic. My friend, Independent Film
Director, songwriter and musician, Dan Castle said: “This is one place where
you don’t have to be what you don’t wanna be”.
I must be the dumbest person to
converse with about Rock & Roll, I wouldn’t know the band, the name of a
song, the lead singer, what year which member left, but I know beautiful Music
when I hear it. All musicians who performed on open mic wrote their own songs
and boy do they have talent. Blues, Country, Folk, Bluegrass—they played it
unrehearsed, unpolished but with heart and soul. I was very, very fortunate to
have heard the music of Mark and Chicago Red. Blues was something I would skip
while scanning radio stations but when I heard those two played I became a
convert. Nothing like hearing Blues played live in a jam session—like how it’s
intended—It made me imagined hanging out in a porch in Mississippi on a lazy
Saturday afternoon. Dan Castle and Alison played an unrehearsed Country/Blues
song raw. Alison’s voice was dripping-wet-sexy and it was hot with passion like
a sticky, steamy, South Carolina summer.
“I come here every Sunday. This
is church for me and most others. Most of these musicians probably didn’t
matter much to the outside world” Dan Castle said somberly while we were
walking back to our cars. I thought to myself that maybe…maybe these musicians
probably didn’t amount much to anything…but in the Kibitz Room they were
demigods. Dan Castle was right, people go to perform in that bar not to be what
they don’t wanna be.
Written by RG in the spirit of
spontaneity.
“I couldn’t jam with a guitar but
I could at least try to jam with them with words”.
For the Musicians who come to Canter’s
Deli, Kibitz Room, on open mic.
4/15/14. Correction on my post on A Night in a L.A. ROCK AND ROLL Mecca. Alison and Dan Castle performed "Take Me Home" by Concrete Blonde. It was not written by Alison.
All photos and Article are copyrighted
Copyright 2014 RG Los Angeles Stories
Also see:
www.SurvivorsBook.blogspot.com
www.3RPhotography.blogspot.com
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