Last night's flamenco show at the Echoplex (that's underneath The Echo, for those people who ask me all the time) was awesome. I'm a new fan of flamenco, having the privilege to work with some acts at my current job, and last night's performers Son de la Frontera from Seville are not the stereotypical/cheesy idea you may have of flamenco, with the men each yelling louder than the next and the female dancers in their over-the-top dresses. Given that traditional Spanish flamenco began in small villages, with families and friends gathered around, taking turns dancing and singing, it is only natural that the roles are taken by both males and females, and elaborate costumes are not necessary. Immersed in the style that originated in a town called Morón de la Frontera, which is the home of a renowned gypsy guitarist Diego del Gastor, Son de la Frontera's performance last night exhibited very little melodrama and ego, and a whole lot of heartfelt passion for the music, which was really cool to see. The five gentlemen in their suits are technically excellent, intertwining Spanish guitar and a Cuban tres, the instrument for which the group is considered unique, and they paced their set so well that the dynamics of the songs kept me fascinated, and my feet tapping, the entire time. more ›

The rain came and delivered traffic, crashes, power outages and no snow in the mountains. Boo! A developer keeps on pushing to build a 1500-home project right next to Disney. Obviously, Mickey wants the area reserved for tourism. He's so greedy. It's probably not a good idea to hang a noose at your workplace, even if it is Halloween at the Port of LA. Just the same, it's not a good idea to take... more ›