Hello pretty people! On Monday, December 5, 2011 I was able to repay, at least in my mind, my Dad for takin' me to see good ol' Mr. Waylon Jennings when I was a kid by truckin' some 680 miles round trip to hear the sweet sounds of a four music acts: Lady Day, Ladies Gun Club, The Deep Dark Woods, and Brian Wright and his band. This wasn't any ordinary trip, this was a quick trip to the sunny locale of Hollywood, California. When we arrived one thing came to mind, "I've made the BIG TIME!"
Grownin' up in relatively two small cities, the hustle and bustle of Hollywood is definitely eye opening. Although, I have seen quite a bit in my fair fine days. In other words, I know a thing or two about a thing or two. Street raised, no, common sense and aware, yes. The first fuckin' weirdo that tries to fuck with me, will get a leather soled boot in their ass! Comprende?
The Concert we adventured to see was located at Cahungena Boulevard at The Hotel Cafe and it's cross street, the famous Hollywood Boulevard. Hollywood Boulevard, where "Stars" names are given a star and each of their respective names are stamped in gold letters on the sidewalk. "The Hollywood Walk Of Fame" as these stars are known as. Such recognition and achievement as this surely must define that an entertainer has made a name for themselves! What diminishes these stars are the "Stars" are duplicated multiple times with stars. Are you followin' me? I believe one star per "Star" is sufficient, more than one is overkill. You can not tell me there are not enough "Stars" to fill the stars! Enough about the stars or "Stars!"
Time to kill...
We arrived in Hollywood in early afternoon, so we had a ton of time to kill before The Hotel Cafe was open. So we decided to park, and walk the famed Hollywood Boulevard. If you're lookin' for a wig, a sequined g-string, fake eyelashes, or any other sexually provocative clothing for yourself and/or for your significant other(s), this street is the place for all your shoppin' needs. There is at least 20 of these shops sellin' virtually the same items. What are these shops sellin' behind closed doors and/or out their back doors? The answer is left up to your imagination...
A place with character or characters?
The people scene on Hollywood Boulevard are significant in number and of all shapes, style, and sizes, not unlike many places in this world. Sadly, there are many homeless and/or people livin' on streets of Hollywood. Each of these people I'm sure have an interesting story to tell and many of them appear to have a sad one. As my Dad and I sat on a bench along Hollywood Boulevard takin' in the scene, a gentleman was sitting behind us up against a building on a black leather rolling office chair, next to him lay a garbage bag surely containing all his worldly possessions. The gentleman paced back and forth behind us and out of the blue appeared to yell at an innocent person standing close by. After a minute or two, the gentleman stopped yelling and resumed his pacing. Then randomly, he started yelling at no one as he stood directly behind us. My Dad jumped about three feet off the bench as it damned near scared the shit right out of him! My guess is this gentleman is mentally unstable and may be suffering from schizophrenia or some disease along those lines.
Hollywood is not all glitter and gold, as it is filled with empty dreams and restless souls. People seekin' fame and fortune, at what price are they willin' to pay, for their name to be set in lights to shine across the way.
Hollywood marketing at its finest...
What they're sellin', I ain't buyin'. If you're buyin', go for the " Three Ugly Ones."
Interesting to say the least...
This appears to be what's left of a computer monitor randomly laying on a corner of a side street of Hollywood. Is this the work of a disgruntled employee who said, "Fuck it, I quit!"
I'm not sure?
Beautifully painted mural of The Man In Black on a corner shop along Hollywood Boulevard.
Sweet music to your ears...
Sweet music to your ears...
Enough with the land of broken dreams shit. It's fuckin' depressin'! On the good side of Hollywood is this quaint and quiet place called The Hotel Cafe, where blue collar minded musicians aim to please, and please they certainly do! This bar is dark and full of mystical intimate character. However, it is the music of artists such as Lady Day, Ladies Gun Club, The Deep Dark Woods, and Brian Wright and his band that makes this place one of magic. All the fore mentioned artists electrified the mellow crowd at The Hotel Cafe on the night of December 5, 2011. The music on this night as a whole, created sort of patchwork made quilt, one only a Grandma could make, with the remnants of many of clothing(genres of music) from years gone by uniquely thread and woven together to create a cherished piece of history. On this night the music was full of indie folk, americana, bluegrassy, Texas Southern rock N roll, rhythm and blues, and Canadian folk rock N roll too. Call it what you will, I call it good!
Self -explanatory picture.
The long night of music started with the youthful and refreshingly vibrant indie folk music by a trio of young ladies known as Lady Day. This trio were like utility baseball players, they could play all the positions, in this case they could play multiple instruments and did, swapping guitars, bass, and keyboards for different songs. Their music was calming and peaceful. Unfortunately, I do not have any links or further information about Lady Day.
The follow up was the sweet sounds and beautiful vocal harmonies of the women of Ladies Gun Club. Lead by the vocals of Sally Jaye and Sarah Roberts, these women together, create a unique blend of harmonies lacking in many of today's modern music. The combination of their harmonies, backed with a great band of talented musicians on the Brian Wright penned tune, "Loaded Gun" are forever ingrained in my memory. Their music is a breathe of fresh air. Let's just say, I will be listenin' to Ladies Gun Club from now until the end of my time.
How does anyone follow the Ladies Gun Club? Well, the answer lies in the sweet electric, yet subtle Canadian folk rock N roll tunes of The Deep Dark Woods. It is no secret that Canada breeds some of the best hockey players in the world, but I am hear to tell you as a witness, Canada has a music revival goin' on and The Deep Dark Woods are on the front lines of this music revolution! These gentlemen brought their mellow, subtle, story-telling tunes to life! Their music and lyrics flow like the Red River of the North, smooth, subdue, and straight north into their homeland of Canada. If I died listenin' their song, "The Banks of the Leopold Canal," I'd die a peaceful man.
The Deep Dark Woods Promo Poster, Album Release Tour 2011.
Brian Wright and his band of brothers definitely had their work cut out in following three amazin' groups! Brian Wright and his band of brothers brought his rowdy, energetic, Texas roots rock N roll to the stage and like a Texas tornado, blew through the place like no body's business! Wright knows how to engage a crowd with his witty banter however, it is Wright's infectious honest and trusting music that shines like a pretty little penny. I do not know what it is about Texas born musicians, but they strike a nerve me or in this case strike a match with me, like no other musicians. Texas born, Brian Wright is no different than his predecessors, with his honest to goodness, hard workin', hell raisin', fun lovin' rock N roll and then some. Wright's latest 2011 album, "House On Fire"...
The sticker on this packaged Brian Wright "House On Fire" cd reads,
"The Best Album You Don't Own" - No Depression.
The sticker says it all!!!
Special "Thank yous" to Sugar Hill Records, Mr. Baker @ Sugar Hill Records, Ms. Sheftell @ Entropy Collective, and Mr. Brian Wright for makin' December 5, 2011 shine.
All photographs taken by Black Crowe Low-fi Low Down Half-Ass Photography except the Hollywood sign image is via:
