New CD Tuesday (The Lost Entry)*

Note: The reason why this is "the lost entry" is because it was supposed to be posted two Tuesday's ago. I normally write my entries first on paper - old-school style - and then post it. This one was written on the back of a Denny's place mat and I kind of misplaced it. Only to be found this morning underneath an envelope and the CD that inspired the musing.


There was a time when I looked forward to Tuesdays. Because Tuesdays were the day when all new CDs would drop (as the kids now say) at your local record shop. My shop of choice was Tower Records. So on selected Tuesdays, I would go to the nearest shop, pick up the new CD - which was always on sale at a good price - then peruse the aisles to see what other CDs I could pick up. That is no longer the case.

Don't get me wrong, I still look forward to New CD Tuesday, but since the "local" record shop is on the verge of extinction like they were dinosaurs, it makes it a bit hard to pick up the new tunes. Let me explain...

I could go to the other retail stores (Target / Wal-Mart / Best Buy etc.) and yes, they have lower prices, but if it isn't the current pop darling or on heavy rotation on any of the "popular" stations, good luck finding it. If I'm looking for the newest ditty Avril Lavigne has to offer then they got it. But looking for Los Lobos - not so much.

And if you even try to ask for help, the never to be found employees look at you with a deer in the headlights expression and say "huh?" And if for some reason they have the CD I'm looking for, there is no perusing afterwards unless you are looking for something other than music. Because their music sections are so small, they have to be selective on what they offer. So where as Tower Records would carry every Beatles album plus some imports, The Beatles section at Target will normally only carry "1" (the best of CD) and maybe "Love" (the Cirque de Soleil soundtrack which technically is not a Beatles album.)

I could just download the album from iTunes but it is not same thing. The thing about store-bought albums is not only is it something tangible but it is the complete package. Once you get past the cellophane wrapping (which I know could be a problem) you get to see the album and it's package design. That alone can be considered art.There is also the pictures and lyrics and other items that can entertain.

I could purchase it through amazon.com but then I would have to wait about 5 days later after the release date to finally hear the album. Plus, I would have to pay extra for shipping unless I purchased more than $25 of merchandise but this type of perusing is not the same and usually ends up with me being annoyed.

I could drive to Amoeba (located in Hollywood) but that's a grand ol' production. First I have to drive in LA traffic. Then park in a 6-level parking structure that is a block away from the actual store. Then I pick up the CD which if I'm lucky maybe a dollar off regular price. And then since I'm there, I will definitely peruse only to find an hour later that I'm standing in line with way too much stuff. So then I get out of line to figure out what CDs I really want and what I'll be putting back. And since I just can't leave it anywhere (because it annoys me when I'm looking for an album and it is not where it should be) I put everything back from which I found it.

Yup. It is a dilemma.

Just Another Band from East L.A.

To many people, Los Lobos is that band that sang "La Bamba" for that movie many summers ago. Although that is true, they are so much more than that. For one thing, they are one of my favorite bands ever. At this point, I've seen them in concert more than once and I'm always looking out for a new chance to see them. Here is one of those times.

My latest outing was this past Saturday at an out of the way club called "The Canyon Club" in beautiful Augura Hills, CA. Once you get past the very bad directions that were provided by Google, the location is not bad. It is a supper club-type location, with plenty of room for music lovers and large, well staffed watering holes. When we arrived, a teenage Grateful Dead-like band was warming up the crowd.

Los Lobos took the stage as they always do - they just strolled up like a bunch of friends rolling up to a carne asada, waved to the crowd, picked up their instruments of choice and off they went. Even though the band was minus David Hildago - he had the night off because he became a Grandpa (congratulations) - the band was in great form. It was a free wheeling show filled with guitar heroics, groove heavy songs that played perfect at the road side bar and helped the crowd move and sing. They even took a few minutes to visit the old barrio by ways of Chicano oldies that would make Art Laboe smile. Los Lobos never disappoint and a very good time was had by all.

Thanks to my brother for coordinating the outing and our willing companions, his girlfriend and our brother in law, for the good time Saturday night.

Mr. Duck

I came across a very interesting piece of trivia today and truth be told, it has been an exercise in self-restraint because I've been dieing to tell someone - anyone - about this. I'm amazed that I haven't just blurted it out by now. Any way, here is the trivia and as you can tell, it involves a one Mr. Donald Duck.

Q: What is Donald Duck's middle name?

A: Fauntleroy. His full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck!?!?!

I don't know about you, but when I read this, it blew my mind. This easily angered, ready for fisticuffs, conversationally-impaired, sailor shirt wearing cartoon character has a middle name... and it is Fauntleroy? Fauntleroy! Wow. I have nothing more to say on this.

A Night at The Opera

Even though my mom strongly suggested the event, I decided to take her to see an opera this past Sunday. What I envisioned of the evening was to leave our house at 4 PM in order to have a nice dinner and drive into down town Los Angeles with time to spare to take in the view, take a few pictures, possibly have a drink before entering the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion to see a performance of "Luisa Fernanda". This is how the evening actually went.

At 4:01 PM, I rushed out of my room, camera in hand, shouting to my mom that we were leaving.

At 4:11 PM, I'm fighting with a PC because it will not print out my confirmation e-mail for the tickets.

At 4:17 PM, I'm fighting with a Mac because it will not print out my confirmation e-mail for the tickets.

At 4:19 PM, I give up and write down my confirmation number on the back of one of my business cards.

At 4:23 PM, I'm tearing apart my room and every other room I was in while trying to print my confirmation e-mail because I can not find my camera.

At 4:27 PM, I leave my house with my mom and without my camera and realize that I have no idea where we are going for dinner.

At 5:03 PM, we are entering Las Golondrinas Restaurant at Olvera Street because that is where I thought we should have dinner.

At 5:18 PM, after eating stale chips, my mom orders a bowl of Menudo for dinner but they were out. She ordered Birria de Chivo but that is only served on Saturdays. She ordered Barbacoa de Borrego but they were also out. She ordered Baby Ribs with Chipotle Sauce but the waitress did not recommend it. She ordered Cerdo con Noplaes, a good choice the waitress commented.

At 6:21 PM, we walked out to the plaza where we see a man dressed as a Mariachi serenading the gathered crowd. He is accompanied by his friend on a synthesizer who is providing the music.

At 6:28 PM, a young Asian couple, recently married, join the festivities at the plaza. The bride is in a simple cream-colored dress and the groom is in a grey suit with white sneakers. They requested a song in honor of the nuptials and the singer favored them with a little ditty. Not knowing Spanish or the song, they attempted to dance. The gatherd crowd slowly joined in on the dancing to help show the couple how it is done. They were not such bad dancers, but the smiles on their faces were big and that's what mattered.

At 6:49 PM, I'm driving past the Music Center to the nearest CVS to buy a disposable digital camera.

At 7:05 PM, we pick up the tickets from will call and take some quick pictures in the plaza of the Music Center.

At 7:30 PM, we make our way to our seats. On the way there, one of the fringes of my mom's very lovely shawl got tangled with a woman's hair clip. I try to get her loose for a few minutes with out yanking the woman's head around. I gave up and ripped the fringe out. This would happen once again with the same woman, coming down the same aisle returning from intermission.

At 7:35 PM, the lights drop and the opera begins. Even though it is in Spanish, I still read the subtitles located on monitors at either end of the stage in order to follow along.

In the end though, my mom really enjoyed herself. She dressed up lovely for a night at the opera, she laughed and smiled through out the night and she posed happily for every picture. And as always, we spent time together. Would I do this again - yes, in a heart beat. Maybe with less bumps, but yes.

It was 40 years ago today...

Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play... I know the line is incorrect but you will see my master plan soon enough.

40 years ago today (now do you get the title?) The Beatles released their groundbreaking album. This is the album that every music aficionado swears by. They say things like, "It is one of the most influential albums of all time" or "It is an undeniable work of art " or "It the milestone of Psychedelia" and so on and so forth. Basically, this is the album that changed the rock music scene forever. And to think that only four years earlier, John, Paul, George and Ringo were dressed in smart matching suits and shimmied their mop-tops to their happy pop music.

I must admit that this is not my favorite album ever but I do acknowledge its importance. Just imagine how this album must have stood out in 1967 - a big ol' colorful sore thumb amongst a sea of corporate compliant acts (no where near as bad as today but corporate compliant none the less). While everyone was still being formulaic even when they were trying to stand out and be different - The Beatles said, "Nuts to you guys, we are going this way."

OK, maybe they didn't say it exactly like that but you get the idea. Tired with touring and playing the game, they decided to create an album unlike anything they have or anyone else has done before. They tried anything and everything that popped into their heads. Basically assuming there were no rules in making a pop record. They were not concern about singles or touring in support of the album or much less what the label wanted or fans. They just said let's try this. And by trying this, they created an amazing record that holds up even today. And 40 years later, people are still trying to create their very own Sgt. Pepper.

So happy birthday Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. May you play for another 40 years. Play it if you have it.