Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Don't Talk to Strangers
()
Last night, we were in the Silverlake Lounge trapped in a conversation with a guy named Mikey who, seemingly has more stories and more freestyle rhymes than we have words. Innaway is setting up the stage while this guy Mikey keeps going on stage and standing behind the turned off mic trying to get all eyes on him. It occurred to us that the stranger probably shouldn't have had that last shot, that we probably shouldn't have given a pound when he introduced himself by complaining that some girl thought of him as "gangsta" because now we're stuck with this drunk former mariner who claimed he was from Wichita, Kansas and had gotten in a car accident and lost his brother's dog just hours befre he ended up in this dark night club. Now he thinks he's our friend.
Thankfully, though, the small lounge began to fill with an interested crowd and started to buzz a bit as Innaway got closer to performing. The lounge is not at capacity by any means but the friends and fans in attendance were excited for the band. As they should be. Their debut album fits within the moody guitar rock sound of other young ambient So. Cal bands like Pinback but is also genre defying. This isn't the whiny punk pop of more popular independent bands...at least not all the time.
During a brief quiet interlude while Jim switched guitars, Mikey started singing his own brand of country twang at the bar and was finally asked to leave. There was a collective sigh, a break in the tension in the audience and then the defining moment of the set happened.
Support for LAist comes from
"Evan, could you put a lot of stuff on the vocals for this one?", Jim asked.
The organ played. The "stuff" was there and we were transported. The crowd nodded along and swayed. Crazed strangers were forgotten and the mood was finally right.
Innaway plays the Silverlake Lounge again on Monday, June 27th. The shows are free.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist