Our city has accommodated many cultures over a long period of time. Eight thousand years ago, indigenous tribes populated the basin. In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to discover the benefits of life in LA. In 1769, a Spanish expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá unearthed a hospitable place to … Read more
On its surface, the Netflix documentary Norman’s Rare Guitars looks like a study of a successful store in the San Fernando Valley. But over the course of a brisk hour and a half, we discover the true rarity is Norman Harris himself, not his inventory. The film is also an homage to SoCal as the … Read more
In March 1981, the Who released the first album of their post–Keith Moon era, Face Dances. The melodies mirrored the band’s precarious state, with members caught under rip tides of alcohol and cocaine, but the songs also portrayed the general unease and despair of the early 1980s. The whole disc relayed the sense of dread … Read more
My wife likes to listen to sleep stories on the Calm app, which serve only to keep me awake. They’re circuitous nonsensical blatherings, but she drops right off the cliff into dreamland. They work for her, as she reminds me every time I complain, precisely because they’re nonsensical. I prefer the Coast to Coast app, … Read more
Under perfect circumstances, in a pricey box seat, the preshow hang at the Hollywood Bowl confers a magical vibe. Optimism abounds under a canyon breeze, the sun drops to the sound of wine glass clinks, and the crowd revels in a rare SoCal sense of community. On a normal night, it may prove more memorable … Read more
The first album by the Stephen Stills–led band, Manassas, stands as one of the most underrated records of all time. There’s one great track after another for the full four sides. One of those classics is called “It Doesn’t Matter.” It established a blueprint for the Stevie Nicks–Lindsay Buckingham edition of Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, … Read more
I can’t definitively explain why the masses besmirch LA. Personally, I think it’s based on jealousy. I envision cold-climate easterners, huddled in heavy blankets in front of their TVs watching a Sofi Stadium football game, wishing they, too, could bask in the warmth of the winter sun’s rays. Let’s face it, not every city boasts … Read more
Time, a complicated concept, defies explanation. We can define it, categorize it, and break it down into miniscule pieces. We can amuse and confuse ourselves with mental gymnastics, employ scientific analysis, and pretend our ability to measure it is synonymous with understanding it. But our limited minds can’t expand enough to fully grasp its meaning. … Read more
Music lovers owe a debt of gratitude to Ronnie Wood. His sense of humor, sincerity, and warmth singlehandedly saved the Rolling Stones. His technical abilities don’t approach those of former Stones lead guitarist Mick Taylor, but Ronnie transcended those limitations with soulful, perfectly timed licks. Casual fans may not notice Wood locking down a Rolling … Read more
Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Virtually every review of the Rolling Stones’ 2024 Hackney Diamonds tour focused on the band’s age. Yes, it’s a newsworthy point but one that’s already been made—a thousand times. Critics brought … Read more