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 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.
Hotel Cafe Tour 2008 w/ Greg Laswell, Priscilla Ahn, William Fitzsimmons & Joshua Radin @ Henry Fonda Theater, 4/12/08

Part one of three.
Today: Greg Laswell, Priscilla Ahn, William Fitzsimmons, and Joshua Radin.
Tomorrow: Meiko, Jim Bianco, and Jessie Baylin.
Thursday: Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, and Jesca Hoop.
This past weekend, the 2008 installment of the Hotel Cafe Tour (MySpace) rolled back into town (last month it opened with stops in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Anaheim, and the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood) for the last of two sold-out shows during its domestic run -- Saturday was at the Henry Fonda Theater and Sunday was at the El Rey Theatre.
Saturday's lineup included Greg Laswell (MySpace), Priscilla Ahn (MySpace), William Fitzsimmons (MySpace), Joshua Radin (MySpace), Meiko (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), Jessie Baylin (MySpace), Ingrid Michaelson (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), and Jesca Hoop (MySpace). And while Sunday's lineup did not include Bianco or Hoop, it included Holly Conlan (MySpace) and Marié Digby (MySpace).
As described by the tour's website, "The concept... was to share the same community vibe with music fans all over the country. Artists performed solo and would then share the stage with fellow tour mates. No cookie cutter corporate American Idols, just real music, written by real artists, surrounded by real friends, who actually have a story to tell." Saturday's show was certainly a great way for fans to get a sampling of several (mostly local) rising stars in the singer-songwriter scene, but its duration (three and a half hours long) unfortunately left some artists such as Laswell and Ahn with a mere ten minutes to perform about three or four songs at best. Nevertheless, the feeling of warmth, friendship, and comraderie amongst the artists was really evident onstage, particularly during the final song of the night: "The Rainbow Connection".
The Hotel Cafe Tour resumes its tour in less than a week, with stops in Europe and (eventually) Japan.
Special thanks to Greg Laswell, Priscilla Ahn, William Fitzsimmons, Joshua Radin, Meiko, Jim Bianco, Jessie Baylin, Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Jesca Hoop, the Hotel Cafe Tour, and the Henry Fonda Theater.
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.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?