The Vine-yl Blog

WE'RE STILL HERE! WE'RE JUST HAVING MAJOR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!

2010-04-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

So, I'm sure the few people out there that used to check out our website are wondering what the heck is going on. Steady posts every week for over a year and then nothing. We've unfortunately lost the use of our trusty computer and have yet to replace it. We are working on it though. Once we get the thing we'll try our best to make up for our extended absence. We'll post a bunch, we promise. In the meantime, I hope you all are drinking some good wine and listening to some good music.

See you soon............

LED ZEPPELIN III & GRAFF FAMILY MOURVEDRE

2010-02-21T20:15:00.001-08:00

WE'LL BE BACK SOON!

2010-01-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

We've been on hiatus. The good news is we've both been busy with new projects and new jobs. The bad news is we have been so busy weve been neglecting our lovely website. Don't worry we've still been drinking. And, Derek has a lot of new albums to pair up in 2010. We'll be back in February with an amazing post to make up for lost time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

An extra slice of pie...

The Mountain Opry, Walden Ridge, Signal Mountain; Chattanooga Tennessee, every Friday night, 8pm, rain or shine.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-11-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

NEW VINE-YL POST! BETTY WRIGHT AND ZWEIGELT!

2009-11-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-11-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

NEW (ish) VINE-YL POST! THE PIXIES AND TABLAS CREEK TANNAT!

2009-11-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Derek finally finished his review (yay!) he's very, very sorry it took so long...

BEST CONCERT EVER?

2009-11-11T21:27:00.000-08:00

... Best. Concert. Ever.

NEW HALLOWEEN POST!

2009-11-04T07:42:00.001-08:00

Yes, we know Halloween was last weekend but we were so busy celebrating, we got a bit behind...

WINE BAR REVIEW: CORK BAR -- WORSHIPPING AT THE ALTAR OF CALIFORNIA

2009-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, Derek and I had the pleasure of visiting downtown L.A.'s newest wine bar, Cork Bar. We loved the laid back, rock n' roll vibe of this hip new eatery (and drinkery.)
The place specializes in the bounty that is the great state of California. The wine, beer and food is all sourced from local artisans. The menu is fantastic, with everything from small plates to hearty entrees. We loved the savory cheddar gougieres as well as the duck and pork dishes we tried. I have a feeling that anything you get there is going to be amazing as we tried several dishes and they were all delicious. I love the fact that they only serve California wine (I know you didn't see that coming), because it forces you to try things you might never have tasted. They have a wonderful selection of wines at surprisingly affordable prices. The bartenders are enthusiastic and know their stuff, which always make a visit to a wine bar way more enjoyable. They also have special events like winemaker dinners and live music on Sundays so we'll be sure to visit again. It may just be our new favorite spot downtown!

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 10/23/09

2009-10-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a tip: If you're renting out a restaurant for a wedding party, rent the whole space.

Last night the patrons of Palihouse's lounge got the shaft (not to mention yours truly, who spent a good portion of the day pulling records) when the mother of the bride kept insisting we turn down the music for their courtyard wedding speeches.

Major bummer. For a large portion of the early evening there was no sound save for the monitors--the equivalent of rocking to an old school jambox.

Here's another tip: No bride and groom require 28 @#($* speeches!!

We endured the best we could, but it was frustrating. By the time the reception cleared out things got back to normal and Gustavo ably rocked a late-night crowd.

We expect much better luck next Friday for our Halloween pre-party. Walter has authorized $5 Stellas at the bar for the occasion, so come out and rock with us! We'll be spinning special scary/groovy Halloween-themed jams all night long!

Derek's (maligned) set list:

Quincy Jones - Blues For Trumpet & Koto

Rodriguez - Sugar Man

Dinah Washington - Me & My Gin

Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity - Isola Natale

Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire

Buffy Sainte-Marie - He's a Keeper of the Fire

Carrie Nations - Look On Up At The Bottom

Edwin Starr - Twenty-five Miles

Rotary Connection - The Weight

Dorothy Ashby - The Moving Finger

Quincy Jones - Hummin'

Argent - Schoolgirl

Sandy Coast - Sorry

The Road Home - Keep It In the Family

H.P. Lovecraft - Country Boy & Bleeker Street

Crow - Something In Your Blood

Soul Survivors - Please, Please, Please

Chuck Jackson - Can You Feel It

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh Air

The Ventures - Sea of Grass

Sylvie Vartan - Le Train Sans Retour

Judy Cheeks - Livin' Easy in the City

Ambrosia - Life Beyond L.A.

Supertramp - Dreamer

Berlin - Sex (I'm A...)

Rudy Love and the Love Family - Disco Queen

Halloween - Come See What It's All About

GQ - Make My Dream A Reality

Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess

Donna Summer - Breakdown

Eddie Harris - The Loneliest Monk

Brick - Happy

Deniece Williams - Free

Gabor Szabo - Keep Smilin'

REASON #7 THAT L.A. IS AWESOME: MUSSO AND FRANK'S

2009-10-22T13:11:00.001-07:00

There are some places in L.A. that act like time machines; the moment you step inside you feel as if you've been transported to another place and time. Musso and Frank's is one of the best of these spots. From the old steakhouse decor to the old bartendars in red jackets, you feel as if nothing has changed there in 80 years. You half expect to see the ghosts of Hollywood past hunkering down in the darkened confines of the red vinyl booths. To top it all off, they not only make THE BEST MARTINI IN TOWN, they make one of the most affordable. $10 gets you an ice-cold martini with a sidecar good for two refills. Three martinis for the price of one; it's almost as if this place hasn't felt the recession that the rest of us have. It's protected from the horrors of the rest of the modern world, and when you step off of the crazy turmoil that is Hollywood Blvd into Musso and Frank's you'll feel protected too.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-10-22T13:06:00.001-07:00

MATTHEW SANTOS LIVE @ HOTEL CAFE THIS WED. 10/21!

2009-10-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

Contemporary folk-soul singer-songwriter Matthew Santos plays a solo show at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood this Wednesday, October 21, in support of a new, soon-to-be-released album.

Santos arrives fresh off a 2008 Grammy nomination with hip-hop star Lupe Fiasco for the smash single "Superstar." Santos continues his successful collaboration with Fiasco in the widely viewed Youtube video, "Shining Down" from Lupe Fiasco's third album LASER.

I had a chance to speak with Matthew Santos last week. He's no stranger to L.A., having performed several times last year at Club Nokia and the Staples Center with Kanye West's "Glow in the Dark" tour, on Jimmy Kimmel, and of course the 2008 Grammy Awards.

As a music buff more inclined to old school out-of-print vinyl and idiosyncratic small-label acts, I wasn't sure what to expect from a Grammy nominee with a smash hit under his belt.

"Where are you now?" I asked Santos.
"Chilling at home, eating some potato chips."
"Is this a bad time?"
"Not at all," he replied, "just let me wipe the grease off my fingers."

I knew right away I was talking to someone who hadn't let the bling or bright lights of his recent successes go to his head. A young, but seasoned performer in mid-stride looking to expand his audience, while sticking firmly to his folk-soul roots.

Santos found a sizeable new following in the hip-hop world, but his true musical voice comes from rock and roll. He cites Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Bjork and The Frames as major influences, as well as jazz icons Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald (catch his scat singing on "Shadows in a Shoebox").

When asked if his dual interests in rap and rock creates any professional schizophrenia, Santos responds, "I view it as a test of versatility. I love to be challenged by different approaches." For Santos, music, whatever the genre, is all about three things: soul, heart and passion. "It's the sweat you put into it that really shines through."

I asked him if hip-hop fans were surprised by his mellow soul-infused folk-rock solo material. "The sound catches people off guard," he replied without hesitation. But Santos has built up a dedicated following of acoustic fans from his work on Candy-Rat records and his Youtube live performances.

With his upcoming album, Santos starts over from scratch. He acknowledges the opportunity to share the big stage with Lupe Fiasco, Kanye and others has enhanced and expanded his musical vision. "Lupe knows what makes a pop song hit, in general. He understands the energy of live performance."

It is this energy that Santos looks to bring on his newest tracks, while maintaining his signature sound. The formula is a balance between tempo and speed. "It's a question of song dynamics and the element of surprise," he notes, citing Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky as examples of fellow artists with similar approaches: starting songs slow and simple, gradually building up the tempo until they become "apocalyptic anthems."

"It's about adding weight, not speed," Santos asserts. With a philosophy like that, it's no surprise Santos prefers whiskey to wine. He's a big fan of the smoky Islay Scotches, Aardbeg and Laphroaig, but calls Jameson his poison "because it goes down so smooth."

We can't disagree, but if you want to go vino at the show, VINE-YL recommends a red like a Joven Tempranillo from Spain: young, but lacking nothing in spice and character.

Here's a sample track from the upcoming album. And another, just for good measure. Check out his myspace page for more info and videos.

Matthew Santos plays the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, Wednesday, October 21. Show starts at 8pm. Here's links for ticket info and directions. We'll see you at the show!

--posted by Derek, 10/17/09

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 10/16/09

2009-10-17T02:01:00.000-07:00

Wow! Another stellar Friday evening. Glad to see old friends Katherine and Sabrina. Hope the birthday party was a good one!

Corin and Leigh made another welcome appearance and stayed all night long with friends visiting from Denmark. We're spreading the word about Vinyl Lovers Lounge all the way to the continent!

And Mara, appreciate the visit. No fee for the cell phone charge-up.

Special thanks to Gustavo who held down the wheels late and first timer Johanna who shared select special nuggets from her sick record collection.

So it was 95 degrees today? We're looking forward to heating things up as the temperature cools down.

Derek's set list:

The Ray Conniff Singers - Autumn Leaves
Ray Charles - The Sun Died
The Les Williams Orchestra - Mellow Yellow
John Barry - Blues and Out
Jose Feliciano - California Dreamin'
The Road Home - Birds
Soul Survivors - Respect
The Art Gallery - The Hard Road Back
Dinah Washington - Soulville
Shirley Bassey - The Easy Thing to Do
George Benson - Come Together
Eddie Harris - Theme for the Foxy Ladies
Betty Wright - You're Just What I Need
T-Connection - Do What Ya Wanna Do
Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess
Quincy Jones - Soul Saga (Song of the Buffalo Soldier)
Love Unlimited - Say It Again
Bobbie Houston - Make It With You
Bill Withers - Everybody's Talkin'
The Undisputed Truth - I'm A Fool For You
Sylvia Smith - I Don't Need No Man
Brand Nubian - One For All (radio version)
The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By
The Ritchie Family - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Paolo Vasile - Hey Man
Shriekback - Lined Up
Pete Townshend - Let My Love Open the Door
Pete Townshend - Jools and Jim
The Rolling Stones - Hot Stuff
Millie Jackson - Once You've Had It
GQ - Boogie Oogie Oogie
Willie "Beaver" Hale - Groove-On
Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
Midnight Star - Wet My Whistle
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

See you all next week!

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 10/2/09

2009-10-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Back at Palihouse last night after a two-week hiatus. What a welcome return: a full (or practically full) moon, a great, upbeat, eager crowd, my dear friend Jackson celebrating his birthday and a room full of friends to celebrate with!

All in all a magical night.

Daisy was out of town so Derek took over the controls and set them for the heart of the sun. A long winding set through Sixties pop and psych, power soul, disco, punk, funk, rap and California seventies classics, including a Neil Young shout out to the b-day boy.

Special thanks to Gustavo, who took over late-nite and steered us admirably through the end of the (long) evening.

And thanks to Jackson, Jasmine and all our friends who came out for the party, and to Palihouse managers Walter and Christian for showing everyone a good time.

Here's D's set-list for the raucous affair:

Chet Atkins - It Ain't Necessarily So

Johnny Cash - Drums

Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue

The Cheers - Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots

Francoise Hardy - Ca a Rate (It Failed)

Millie Jackson - Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Codine

Soul Survivors - Please, Please, Please

The Brothers and Sisters - All Along the Watchtower

Bill Withers - You

Eddie Harris - The Loneliest Monk

Valerie Simpson - Sinner Man (Don't Let Him Catch You)

The Road Home - Keep It in the Family

Sharon Jones and the Dap-King - This Land is Your Land

The Undisputed Truth - Big John Is My Name

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - Easily Persuaded

Minnie Riperton - Les Fleur

Sarah Vaughan - I Want You (She's So Heavy)

Judy Cheeks - Mellow Lovin'

The Stranglers - Nice 'N' Sleazy

Iggy and the Stooges - The Scene of the Crime

Mick Jagger - Turn the Girl Loose

Starz - Violation

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Kill Your Television

The Clash - The Guns of Brixton

Marquis de Sade - Boys-Boys

Blondie - A Shark in Jets Clothing

Whodini - We Are Whodini

West Street Mob - Gotta Give It Up

T-Connection - Do What Ya Wanna Do

Midnight Star - Wet My Whistle

Shalamar - Friends

Ambrosia - Dancin' By Myself

Neil Young - Walk On

Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money

George Kranz - Din Daa Daa

The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats

Grace Jones - I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)

Shawnie G - No Mission's Impossible

Donna Summer - State of Independence

Good to be back! Fridays are stylin' and profilin' this Fall at Palihouse! See you all next time.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-10-01T08:23:00.001-07:00

NEW POST! AMON DUUL AND LECHTHALER PINOT NERO!

2009-09-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST! CAT POWER AND CUILLERON SYRAH!

2009-09-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOD @ THE VIPER ROOM THIS THURSDAY 9/16/09

2009-09-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

Chicago's Oh My God has a sound that's virtually indescribable. That doesn't mean many haven't tried:

Dallas Observer: "Comparisons to such legendary oddballs as Frank Zappa, Pere Ubu and Devo are pretty spot on..."

Cincinnati City Beat: "Deep Purple meets Weezer..."

Chicago Time Out: "...the unlikely juxtaposition of Krautrock/prog architecture and Midwestern pop sensibilities..."

Santa Cruz Times: "Jimmy Smith and J.S. Bach..."

We'll put it more simply. Expect a shifting bass/guitar attack augmented by mercurial Hammond organ flights of fancy, insistent drums, and note-perfect baritone vocals, humorously engaging yet affectingly deep. It's a compelling mix from a talented, criminally underexposed American rock band.

This current tour is in support of their new long-player, The Night Undoes the Work of the Day, which drops September 29th. Word is preview copies will be unleashed at the show.

Here's a sample to whet your appetite. And here's another, in a totally different vein.

Come on out and the join the crew at VINE-YL. You can find us at the bar, perusing the cocktail menu for a decent wine by the glass.

Here's the links for advance tickets and directions.

Hope to see you at the show. We recommend pairing Oh My God with something wild, full of attitude and earnest playfulness, like a Sonoma Malbec. If the bar isn't pouring one, go for the Argentinian variety instead.

See you at the show!

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 9/11/09

2009-09-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to all who came out for a swinging evening of Friday frolic. Palihouse was off the chain last night with a willing, sexy crowd jazzed for a sublime night of disco and soul.

Daisy got the disco party started and Derek added in some 70's R&B, acid jazz and funk to the mix for a groove-worthy night. First time DJ Oscar cleaned up late-nite. Welcome to the club, Oscar, and thanks!

Derek's set list:

The Undisputed Truth - Brother Louie
Valerie Simpson - Sinner Man (Don't Let Him Catch You)
Mick Jagger - Turn the Girl Loose
Brother 2 Brother - Monster Jam (Love Fly Away)
Eddie Harris - Get On Up and Dance
Bill Withers - Everybody's Talkin
Rotary Connection - The Weight
Odyssey - Native New Yorker
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - The Message
Kraftwerk - Computer Love
Peter, Bjorn and John - Amsterdam
Quincy Jones - Body Heat
Ron Carter - Big Fro
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame
Sylvie Vartan - Le Train Sans Retour
Sarah Vaughan - Come Together
Sweet Sensation - Snow Fire
Patrick Juvet - Lady Night
Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free
Soul Survivors - Hey Gyp
The Bar-Kays - Son of Shaft
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Your Thing Is A Drag

See you all next time! Help us keep this great thing going!!

NEW VINE-YL POST IN HONOR OF THE BEATLES!

2009-09-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! THE BEATLES AND IPSUM RUEDA!

2009-09-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 9/4/09

2009-09-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

A strangely cool night at Palihouse on this kickoff to a long party weekend, as we bid adieu to a strange, brutal, furious summer.

A mellow, open crowd came and went all night as Daisy and Derek split the night in half for an eclectic, improvised set of tunes. Feeling you, Miss O'Dell!

Thanks to all who stopped by. A sultry, intriguing, very enjoyable time.

Here's to fun Labor Day shenanigans by all. We'll see you safe and sound and ready to rock next week!

Derek played from 11-1. Here's the setlist:

The Clash - Revolution Rock

King Prince and the Islanders - Tomorrow Man

Ray Charles - You're Just About to Lose Your Clown

Quincy Jones - Hummin'

Eddie Harris - Get On Up and Dance

Stevie Wonder - Love Having You Around

Paul Zaza - Le Payback

Instant Funk - No Stoppin' That Rockin'

Argent - Schoolgirl

The Charlatans - Dead Man's Eye

Iggy and the Stooges - The Scene of the Crime

Tapes 'N Tapes - Conquest

Roxy Music - Over You

Marquis de Sade - Boys-Boys

The Brothers and Sisters - Lay Lady Lay

Sarah Vaughan - A Little Tear

Leo Addeo and his Orchestra - Hindustan

The Flamingos - Where or When

Gabor Szabo and the California Dreamers - A Day in the Life

Johnny Rivers - Summer Rain

Bob James - Touchdown

Ron Carter - Big Fro

The Ventures - Born To Be Wild

Neil Young - Down By The River

Sylvie Vartan - Je Te Cherche (Rocket Man)

See you next week (no hassles if you wear white!)

PDP'S FRANK ORRALL LIVE IN LOS ANGELES THIS THURSDAY!

2009-08-31T13:42:00.001-07:00

Talk about synchronicity!

Last week at VINE-YL we paired a great French Sauvignon Blanc with Poi Dog Pondering's 1989 self-titled classic--just in time for the most fire-crazed, scorching week we've had in L.A. all summer.

Today we find out Poi Dog maestro and lead singer Frank Orrall will be performing THIS THURSDAY (9/3/09) at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood.

It's a solo show and doors open at 7. We expect a masterful fusion of musical styles from all over the globe set to fresh, thoughtful lyrics from a seasoned, captivating performer. It will be a pleasure discovering what this enduring outfit is up to.

Here are the links for tickets and location.

See you all at the show and don't forget to order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from the bartender. We expect a hot night in Hollywood.

--photo by SANDRO

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 8/28/09

2009-08-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

A real good one last night as all our friends came out to support us and get their groove on! The crew at Lodger Films represented and we all made a swell, festive time of it.

Special thanks to Sam and Monika, the provocateurs behind the new smash sandwich-delivery service, The Lunch Daily. They came with a crew and rocked it old-school before departing for late-night In'N'Out.

Daisy, Derek and Jun took turns on the wheels and the party jams rocked long, hard and smooth as cashew butter.

PS-- the album cover pic Daisy posted on her facebook wall. I thought it deserved to be reposted here, as it is every party boy's fantasy:

Here's Derek's setlist:

Francis Lai - I Need A Man

Lalo Schifrin - Quiet Village

Patrick Juvet - Lady Night

Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart

The Smiths - Death of a Disco Dancer

Portishead - All Mine

Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers

Ratatat - Wildcat

Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life

Carl Douglas - Dance the Kung Fu

Rudy Love & the Love Family - Does Your Mama Know

Brick - Dusic

Syl Johnson - Gimme Little Sign

The Undisputed Truth - Brother Louie

Millie Jackson - Feel Like Making Love

Dolly Parton with Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream

See you next week!

POI DOG PONDERING AND TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC!

2009-08-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 8/21/09

2009-08-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

Business as usual at Palihouse--Friday night's rapidly growing party before the party. And when I say business, I mean a decadent, stylish, casually glamorous good time. The word is definitely getting out about this night, and we're more than happy to see new faces. Come party with us next week!

Daisy was in the house, as was DJ Jun and yours truly. Really fun night behind the turntables sharing great music. The sound is really getting figured out and tailored to the space. Loving how the room is sounding lately!

Derek kicked things off as the party got rocking. Here's the setlist:

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - In a Sentimental Mood
Eartha Kitt - Oh John (Please Don't Kiss Me)
Paco DeLucia, John McLaughlin & Al Di Meola - Guardian Angel
Sylvie Vartan - Je Te Cherce (Rocket Man)
Shirley Bassey - The Look of Love
John Barry - Highway 101
Lesley Gore - No Matter What You Do
The Folkswingers ft. Harihar Rao - Along Comes Mary
Crow - Something in Your Blood
Pye Chartbusters Vol. 4 - Back Off Boogaloo
Chuck Jackson - Can You Feel It, Babe
The Association - Wantin' Ain't Gettin'
Spirit - Animal Zoo
The Ventures - Light My Fire
Argent - Liar
Amon Duul 2 - Manana
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Battlefield
Supertramp - Aries
Caravan - Welcome the Day
Gang of Four - Damaged Goods
New Order - Touched By the Hand of God (Dub Version)
Wang Chung - To Live and Die in L.A.
The Flips - Although
Missing Persons - Destination Unknown
Thom Yorke - Black Swan
The Clash - Guns of Brixton
Eddie Harris - He's Island Man
Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks
The Fiery Furnaces - Lost at Sea
A.C. Newman - On the Table
Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move

See everyone next week! I made a promise to play some Smiths. Come out and join the party!

K-TOWN SHUFFLE...

2009-08-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

We live on the border of Koreatown, a neighborhood in
Los Angeles the size of a small city. Derek was already a big fan when I moved in and now I have grown to love everything Korean. The kitschy bars, the baths, the beer (Hite), the amazing food and the cinema. I've only seen a few Korean films but I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. Last night, to celebrate some good news, Derek and I embarked on a Korean-themed evening in our hood. We started at Ham-ji Park, a recommendation of famed L.A. Times food critic, Jonathan Gold. This neighborhood Korean BBQ joint is known for it's pork ribs, and yes they are amazing, but we also enjoyed the pork bacon and the copious panch'an. It was all together a fabulous meal and a pork lover's dream. We then headed to the MPark 4 Theatre located in the old Wilshire Galleria, a department store built in the 1920's to compete with the Bullocks Wilshire Building down the street. We knew about this theatre since we frequent Natura, the korean baths on the bottom floor, but we had never seen a film there. The theatre lobby is adorned with many remnants of a lost, art deco time- beautiful moldings, crazy chandeliers and one fascinating mural of two black panthers drinking from a mirrored stream. The theater itself was nice and cozy with great sound/picture quality and incredibly comfortable chairs. We watched THIRST, Chan-wook Park's newest film. I'd not seen any of his other films (OLD BOY, being the most famous) and I was completely blown away. Not only was the film beautifully shot, it was endlessly creative to the point of being impossible to categorize. It was hilariously funny, gory and grotesque, sensual, sad, frightening and heart-warming all at once. A truly original spin on the ever boringly-regurgitated vampire story. We loved it. We finished off our night with a martini at The Prince, one of our favorite Korean bars. With an interior that looks like a Mad Men set, loud R & B tracks blaring on the stereo and a Korean staff that brings you chips and salsa as you sit down, it's really like no other bar in town. It was a great night in one of the coolest parts of L.A. You stay classy Koreatown!

NEW POST IN HONOR OF MAD MEN!

2009-08-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! ELLINGTON & COLTRANE & BORDEAUX!

2009-08-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

MAI TAIS AND MAD MEN... WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY

2009-08-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Because we can't resist the opportunity to throw a little shindig, we had a great, yet intimate Mad Men premiere party last night. We started off with martinis, of course, with hand stuffed blue cheese olives. We listened to The Fleetwoods, The Flamingos, The Platters and The Ink Spots, creating the perfect laid-back 1960's vibe. Then we moved on to the real theme of our party; Retro 1960's Polynesian Luau. The martinis were replaced with Mai Tais, and out came the pineapple upside down cake and the amazing pupu platter. We spent the afternoon making asian/polynesian inspired chicken wings, bbq ribs, egg rolls and bacon-wrapped pineapple. We listened to Hawaii HiFi and The Girl From Ipanema. It was pretty awesome. Pretty, pretty, pretty awesome. Granted I was seeing double by the time the actual episode aired, but seeing two Don Drapers at a time never hurt anybody. We all loved the episode and felt they (literally) started off with a bang, giving us a whole lot to look forward to this season. We may have to throw a crazy 60's themed cocktail party every Sunday. A show this good deserves to be watched with good food, good drinks and good company.

DJ DAISY O DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 8/14/09

2009-08-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Wow! Great crowd last night from beginning to end. The party was rocking with a birthday, cake and great cocktails.

After a three week hiatus, it was great to be back in action with such a packed house. Special thanks to friends Corin and Leigh for rousing troops and coming out to support us.

Thanks, Daisy, for a another fun Friday night!

Derek kicked things off and played a long set through a gamut of styles. Here's the setlist:

Henry Mancini - Charade (Main Title)
Dory Previn - With My Daddy in the Attic
Oven - Sail A Boat
King Prince and the Islanders - Tomorrow Man
Tommy James and the Shondells - I'm Alive
Sunshine Company - A Stitch in Time Saves None
Ritchie Havens - Baby Blue
Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger Trinity - Season of the Witch
The Soul Children - Can't Let You Go
Jimmie & Vella - Nights in White Satin
Sweet Sensation - Mr. Cool
Quincy Jones - Hikky-Burr
Rudy Love & the Love Family - Does Your Mama Know
Pye Chartbusters Vol 4 - Hold Your Head Up
Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
Guadalcanal Diary - Watusi Rodeo
Godfathers - Birth, School, Work, Death
Shriekback - Lined Up
Simple Minds - Sanctify Yourself
Happy Mondays - Lazyitis
Candi Staton - Summer Time With You
Millie Jackson - Slow Tongue (@ 45 speed, per recommendation)
The Rolling Stones - Hot Stuff
The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By
Latyrx - Burning Hot in Cali on a Saturday Night
Blackalicious - Alphabet Aerobics
Blind Melon - Change

Whew! See you next time!

NEW POST IN HONOR OF JOHN HUGHES!

2009-08-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

REDWOOD CITY...

2009-08-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

Fernwood Campgrounds in Big Sur...image via me

INFINITE CHOICES...

2009-08-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

The futuristic tasting bar at The Paso Wine Center, Paso Robles, CA...image via me

NEW POST! DEEP SIX AND VILLA CREEK WHITE!

2009-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

WINE TASTING IN PASO ROBLES

2009-07-25T12:42:00.001-07:00

Last week, Derek and I decided to head off on a little

road trip to celebrate his birthday. Our final

destination was San Francisco, but to break up the 8 hour drive (we refuse to take the 5) we took a pit stop in Paso Robles. Derek loves Paso Robles and always talks about it fondly but I had never been. I had drunk some of the wines and was slowly coming around with Derek's gentle urging. It has taken me a while to adapt my palate to California wines, but after 2 yeats of trying, I am starting to really like them. Our first stop was Linne Calodo, Derek's very favorite of all the wineries. He's been to their annual "Harvest Fest," party and quickly became a loyal follower. The picture on the right is of their brand new tasting room, still not quite open for business, but you can taste in the warehouse around the back. The wines were fantastic, big reds made with Zinfandel and Rhone varietals. We tasted the Sticks and Stones, Nemesis, Problem Child and The Outsider. The lovely young lady at the tasting room was nice enough to give us her suggestions for a few other wineries to visit. We got back in the car and headed off.

Our next stop was Villa Creek, at this point it was around noon and a balmy 110 degrees in Paso Robles. Certainly not optimal temperature for wine tasting, but at least we were spending most of our time in refrigerated warehouses. This picture from outside Villa Creek's winery makes Paso look like a harsh, barren desert. Combined with the heat, it really didn't seem like the kind of place that could make beautiful and balanced wines. But, luckily for us, the nights are cool and they get a bit of the ocean breeze to keep the grapes from succumbing to the blazing inferno that is summer in Paso.

The folks at Villa Creek (pictured right) were incredibly friendly as well and tasted us through 10 or 12 of their wines. Villa Creek specializes in Rhone varietals, and some of their wines were truly amazing, including a lovely white and a rich rose. We were also informed that the owners of the winery had a restaurant in town that focused on local, organic foods. Derek and I had a wonderful meal there later in the evening, though at that point we could hardly finish the one glass a piece of wine we ordered!

From Villa Creek we headed to Tablas Creek

another Paso winery that is well known for its Rhone varietal wines. Here we found another tasting room full of smiling faces. We tasted just about everything they were pouring and loved it all. Tablas Creek has some great affordable red blends as well as really nice whites. By the time we finished there we were ready to check into the hotel and have a little swim.

We refreshed ourselves and cooled off a bit, then headed to our 4th and final winery, Barrel 27. Barrel 27's tasting room is right on the edge of Paso Robles proper. It was the perfect ending for our tired and parched palates. Besides making a wonderful and extremely affordable Syrah, Barrel 27 makes some interesting blends, like their "Bull By The Horns," a blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Mourvedre. They also make a sparkling Moscato which was delightful.

We finished off our tasting day at The Paso Wine Center, an awesome tasting bar that features dozens of local wines. The proceeds from this hip, modern space go to Wine For Water, a charity that builds wells in Africa. We highly recommend taking a trip to Paso Robles. Besides great wines and friendly folks, the quaint little town is like a miniature Sonoma. You just may want to go when the weather cools down a bit.

REASON #19 THAT CALIFORNIA IS AWESOME: SAN FRANCISCO

2009-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Sunset on Potrero Hill, San Francisco, July 19th, image via me

DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 7/23/09

2009-07-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

After a one week break Vinyl Lovers Lounge returned triumphantly to Palihouse last night in a blaze of sonic glory. More DJ's showed up with stacks of records than ever before. Word is really getting out about what a unique showcase this party can be.

The hubbub behind the decks was matched by the great crowd that flowed in all night. VINE-YL had a lot of friends stop by last night and got to relax and enjoy the music and ambience after Derek's early set.

DJ Daisy O'Dell, in fishnets and a smoking red dress, was the ultimate party purveyor presiding over the musical madness with style. The more the merrier. Thanks to all the new DJs who stopped by to spin. Keep spreading the word!

And a hearty welcome to new Palihouse manager, Walter!

We are on hiatus again for the next three weeks but we will see you all again on August 14!

Derek started things off with an hour long set of water-themed Sixties sounds. Here's the playlist:

Robert Maxwell Orchestra - The Breeze and I
Jimmy Davis and Norma Lee - Jasmine
Quincy Jones - The "In" Crowd
Lulu- Stealing My Love From Me
Elvis - Bossa Nova, Baby
The Piltdown Men - Brontosaurus Stomp
Willow - Weekly Lies
Dionne Warwick - Anyone Who Had A Heart
Sapphire Thinkers - From Within
The Deep Six - What Would You Wish From the Golden Fish?
CCS - Living In The Past
Lalo Schifrin - Quiet Village
Brother Jack McDuff - Let My People Go
Arlo Guthrie - Coming in to Los Angeles
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh Air
Lena Horne & Gabor Szabo - Something
Bob Marley - Sun Is Shining

Enjoy the dog days of summer with cold drinks and cool tunes. See you all in three weeks!

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-07-22T23:35:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST! THE ROLLING STONES AND GOUGUENHEIM MALBEC!

2009-07-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

NEW POST! THE SEA AND CAKE AND ROSE DE FAYEL!

2009-07-15T22:23:00.001-07:00

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 7/10/09

2009-07-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

Good seeing everyone at Palihouse last night! Another great crowd in the lounge, and it was a kick getting to spin for the legend herself, Cyndi Lauper. Memories of rocking out to "She's So Unusual" in sixth grade came flooding back with a vengeance.

Derek and Ian got things rolling and Daisy kept the party cranked with a mix of 80s synth and hot dance tunes. The crowd was really into it and the vibe was salubrious and ennervated.

Thanks to all the folks who love some good lounge and have made Palihouse a vibrant place to meet and relax on Fridays. We're taking a hiatus for a week or two, but we'll be back with more grooves soon after (with more cool records!). Check here for return details.

Here's Derek's playlist, a mix of blues, soul and Sixties pop:

Mississippi Fred McDowell - Baby Please Don't Go
Elvis Presley - That's All Right (Mama)
Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry - Wailin' and Whoopin'
Chuck Jackson - Are You Lonely For Me
The Soul Children - Can't Let You Go
Millie Jackson - A Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)
Marion Williams - Hare Krishna
Dorothy Ashby - The Moving Finger
Jimmy Cliff - That's the Way Life Goes
Johnny Rivers - Hey Joe
Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes
The Bob Crewe Generation - Will You Love Me Tomorrow
The Mindbenders - Off and Running
Donovan - Sunny South Kensington
Francis Lai - Today It's You (Orch.)
American Breed - Solitary Sanctuary
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - It Takes Two
Lalo Schifrin - The Sniper
John Barry - Blues and Out
Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity - Season of the Witch

*Late-night close out set:

INXS - What You Need
The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man
Animal Collective - Brothersport
Minnie Riperton - Les Fleur
Quincy Jones - Oh, Happy Day
Magma - Dondai
Gabor Szabo - Keep Smiling

Thanks to all for a great time so far... Enjoy the summer. See you in a few weeks!

RIP Mac9

NEW VINE-YL POST! a TRIBUTE TO STEVE MCNAIR, BOB JAMES TOUCHDOWN AND TRAVERSA BRACHETTO!

2009-07-09T00:17:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST: A TRIBUTE TO STEVE MCNAIR

2009-07-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 7/3/09

2009-07-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

A crazy night at Palihouse Friday to kick off the long holiday weekend!

At first, it looked like an early night--everyone out of town or staying home. There were plans to shut the bar down a little early.

Then all of a sudden a good crowd settled in and the next thing we knew, the PARTY WAS ON!

Rounds of Corzo Tequila were flowing and Jun was mixing up the late night dance recipes. A really fun, unexpected night that just erupted of its own free will. A perfect kick-start and mood reliever for a weekend of fun holiday bbqs.

Derek played a long set of holiday-inspired American music from 10-12. Here's the set list:

Johnny Cash - From Sea to Shining Sea
The Grateful Dead - Here Comes Sunshine
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Inspektah Deck - Movas and Shakas
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock and Roll
Lesley Gore - No Matter What You Do
The Carrie Nations - Look On Up at the Bottom
The Folkswingers ft. Harihar Rao - Eight Miles High
Willow - Taking Life Easy
The Mamas and the Papas - Spanish Harlem
Rotary Connection - Turn Me On
Ray Charles - Eleanor Rigby
Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe
The Osborne Brothers - Ruby, Are You Mad
Jerry Reed - Ko-Ko Joe
Pot Liquor - Lady Madonna
Drivin' n' Cryin' - Honeysuckle Blue
R.E.M. - Laughing
Space Opera - Prelude #4
Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good
Brick - Happy
Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes - Feels Like the First Time
Instant Funk V - No Stoppin' That Rockin'
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame
The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again
Deniece Williams - Free
Otis Redding - Thousand Miles Away
Chuck Jackson - Can You Feel It, Babe
Brothers and Sisters - The Times They Are A'Changing
Rudy Love & the Love Family - She's My Sister
Melba Moore - The Long and Winding Road

*Late night dance floor wrap up:
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Quincy Jones - Summer in the City
Quincy Jones - Mellow Madness
Willie "Beaver" Hale - Groove On

Special thanks to DJ Jun for a truly fun, mellow good time! See you all next week. Enjoy the fireworks and make some of your own.

NEW VINE-YL POST! THE MOST AMERICAN POST EVER!

2009-07-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

ON A CLEAR DAY IN L.A....

2009-06-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Traditional Aztec Dance at Debs Park, June 27th, image via me

DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 6/26

2009-06-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

Another groovy Friday night at Palihouse--quickly becoming the chillest pre-party lounge in Hollywood. Another great turnout.

There were a few sound glitches with loudness, bass and distortion, but we will get those ironed out quickly--a sure sign that the ambience is right and the conversation is flowing.

A special thanks to first-time Palihouse guest DJs Sohrab and Ian!

Derek played from 10:45-12. Here's the setlist:

Clear White Light, pt. 2 - Lindisfarne
Move Over - Bread
Paint it Black - The Deep Six
California Dreamin' - Wes Montgomery
Aries- Supertramp
With My Daddy in the Attic - Dory Previn
Yaylalar - Selda
Kill Your Television - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Henry - Marquis de Sade
It's a Small World - The Stranglers
It's Over - Badfinger
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
Arnold Layne - Pink Floyd
Way Behind Me - The Primitives
Steppin' Into Tomorrow - Donald Byrd
Do It Again - Deodato
Body Heat - Quincy Jones
Nights in White Satin - Jimmie and Vella (request)
All Along the Watchtower - The Brothers and Sisters
Walk Tall - The Cannonball Adderley Quintet

See you all next time!

NEW VINE-YL POST! CAMERA OBSCURA AND VOUVRAY!

2009-06-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

SHOVE YOUR HOPE WHERE IT DON'T SHINE

2009-06-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Santigold killing it at the Hollywood Bowl, Sunday June 21st, ivage via me

DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE @ PALIHOUSE 6/19

2009-06-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

Another great night at Palihouse Friday! The party was ON, with a full house, great friends turning up, beautiful girls and (ahem) kicking jams. Happy birthday, Phil Levie!

Thanks again to DJ Daisy O'dell. To quote Audrey Hepburn in Two For the Road, "Quelle gala!" Hope to see you all there next week!

Derek spun from 9:45 to 11. Here's the playlist for his set:

Black Widow - Lalo Schifrin
Snow Fire - Sweet Sensation
Satisfaction - C.C.S.
Cherry Oh Baby - The Rolling Stones
Make It With You - Bobbie Houston
Soon Forward - Gregory Isaacs
Memory Lain, Hugh Headloss - Caravan
A Morning Excuse - Amon Duul 2
Dance in the Smoke - Argent
Lord, Let Us Shine - Pink Mountaintops
Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
Silver Rainbow - Genesis
Nights in White Satin - Jimmie and Vella
Simpatico - Gabor Szabo
Altamont - Aphrodite's Child
Litany (Life Goes On) - Guadalcanal Diary
Daniel - Tortoise and Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Love to Love You (And Pigs Will Fly) - Caravan
Birth, School, Work, Death - The Godfathers

Special thanks to DJ Jun for his technical know-how all night.

IT'S MY WINE IN A BOX! (GIRL)

2009-06-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

A trip to my local wine store today turned incredibly exciting when I saw this little puppy up on the shelf. I don't know that I've discussed my love for boxed wine on this site before because frankly it's hard to find good boxed wine. It's all over the place in Europe and has been for years. But, the same stuff they drink out of boxes there, they put into bottles to send to the U.S. They wont send it to us in boxes because they don't think Americans will drink it. The Franzias and Sutter Homes have given boxed wine an undeserved bad name. The truth is the technology out there today, known as "bag in box," keeps the wine fresh and yummy without really altering the taste of the wine. The box has a bag inside and a little plastic spigot that comes out so you can keep it in your fridge or in your bar. It's the closest that us mere mortals can get to having your very own barrel of wine in your house. The size shown here is 5 liters, that's over 6 bottles of wine for the awesome price of around $30! And it's good wine, I reviewed it a few months back on the site (click here for the review.) So if you see a boxed wine at one of your trusted wine stores, try it. The more people buy the more they'll bring in and the happier we all will be.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-06-17T18:54:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! SLACK KEY AND GERMAN GILABERT!

2009-06-17T18:53:00.001-07:00

VINE-YL @ DJ DAISY O'DELL'S VINYL LOVERS LOUNGE

2009-06-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at DJ Daisy O'dell's Vinyl Lounge at Palihouse last Friday night. Derek was spinning some of his favorite tunes--many of which have been or will be featured on VINE-YL. Sara perused the wine list while enjoying first-rate martinis and the company of our friends Sam, Monika and Charles.

A great night for vinyl lovers in a truly sublime venue reminiscent of French noir films by Melville or Dassin. Any of you who live in L.A. should come see us in the coming weeks. This party has all the makings of a great night out. Those who love the medium of vinyl will find a new Friday night home at Palihouse.

Special thanks to the illustrious organizer, Daisy O'dell (who got the night started with a fresh set of her own); DJ's Scott, Jun and Alex and gracious Palihouse manager, Bruno.

The playlist from the VINE-YL set:

Six Days on the Road - Swanee Caldwell
Chocolate Whale - Kaleidoscope
Respect - Rotary Connection
Lightning (Creepy One) - Willow
My Crystal Spider - Sweetwater
From Within - Sapphire Thinkers
I'm Alive - Tommy James and the Shondells
Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers
Motorcycle Mama - Sailcat
Apache Tears - Johnny Cash
Patches - Clarence Carter
Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
Gabriel - Joe South
Fresh Air - Quicksilver Delivery Service
Feel Like Making Love - Millie Jackson
Summer - Millie Jackson
Groove On - Wille "Beaver" Hale

See you next Friday night!

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-06-10T19:18:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! GRIZZLY BEAR AND ESBOCO DUORO RED

2009-06-10T19:17:00.001-07:00

GOODBYE AWESOME FRIED FOODS OF THE SOUTH, WE SHALL MISS YOU...

2009-06-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

We are back from almost two weeks in Chattanooga, Tennessee and are now getting ready for this week's VINE-YL post. I thought we would blog a bit from our trip but we were way too busy eating. Highlights included Bojangles biscuits every morning and our final day when we had fried chicken for lunch and fried catfish for dinner. It was awesome. If you are ever in the greater Chattanooga area try and find the Riverside Catfish House. It's a bit of a trek, but it is well worth it. Their specialty is of course fried catfish which is amazing, but they also have some of the best hush puppies this side of my uncle Alvin's house. They also have a pretty amazing view.

SHOTGUN WILLIE FLYING (A)WAY ABOVE THE TENNESSEE RIVER

2009-06-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

June 5, Willie Nelson at The Riverbend Festival, in Chattanooga, TN, image via me

PIXAR SHAMES ALL OTHER MOVIE MAKING PEOPLES, AGAIN.

2009-06-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

We're in Chattanooga, Tennessee right now, visiting with family so we haven't had a lot of time to blog. We also haven't really been drinking (shocking, I know) except for the occasional Fat Tire in a can (awesome.) But, last week we had the extreme pleasure of taking all of the nieces and nephew to see the new Pixar film "Up." It was ofcourse, amazing. I won't say much about the storyline because I think everyone should go and see it. I will say that it was funny, entertaining and extremely moving. Extremely. I would have been inconsolable throughout the entire film but I had to remain strong for Derek's 7 year-old niece who seemed a bit concerned by her uncle's hysterical crying. It was that good. We saw it in 3D which was fantastic, having only experienced the new 3D one time before for the also amazing "Coraline." The newest triumph for Pixar leaves me with a few questions though- Why is Pixar one of the only studios that manages to come up with compelling ORIGINAL storylines time and time again? Why are they able to make computer animated cartoons into more sympathetic and fascinating characters than most of the actual human characters in other studio films? Why are they so awesome? I do not know the answers to any of these questions, and frankly I do not care. I just hope that they keep them coming.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-06-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! THE GRATEFUL DEAD & LA GRAVETTE ROSE

2009-06-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

*important note: In this video I say that you should be drinking rose from 2009. I meant to say 2008. You should not be drinking rose from 2009 right now unless it is from the Southern Hemisphere or you are from the future.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-05-27T20:10:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO: THE THOMPSON TWINS AND COORALOOK SHIRAZ

2009-05-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

CHEAP-O WINE REVIEW: 2007 PONT DU RHONE PRESTIGE

2009-05-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this bottle at good old Trader Joe's I couldn't help but be curious. Wine in a PLASTIC BOTTLE? I'd heard about this new trend, but had yet to sample the goods. Worst case scenario I figured I could get some mileage out of throwing the bottle at my friends and watching them flinch. Boy was I surprised, this wine is one of the best 5 dollar bottles I've had in a long time. Round and full, fruity, but not too fruity. Nothing complicated, but somehow incredibly satisfying. This may be my go to party red for a while to come. You may feel conflicted about the packaging, after all glass is better for the environment than plastic. It's easier to recycle, and causes less pollution during its creation. Consider this-these bottles weigh significantly less than their glass counterparts, so when you factor in the fact that cases of these lighter bottles also weigh significantly less, you are talking about a smaller carbon footprint during the importation and distribution process. I'm just saying, being green isn't always so black and white. You can feel good about drinking this wine.

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-05-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO! DRIVE BY TRUCKERS AND LE PARADOU VIOGNIER

2009-05-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

THE LOST SEASON 5 FINALE: TYPICAL

2009-05-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

So much happened in last nights episode it's difficult to know where to start. We watched Jacob, a.k.a Rita's abusive ex from Dexter, visit all of our beloved Losties in various stages of their lives. We watched what seemed like the final showdown between Jack and Sawyer, who for some reason still love Kate even though she's turned into a huge bitch-I'm guessing because she doesn't want to end up in prison for the rest of her life (though she ended up having a change of heart.) We saw how Dr. Chang lost his arm. And then Juliette was attacked by an unfortunate bundle of chains and sucked into the 'almost' hatch, only to sacrifice herself for everyone (no doubt so that she can move on to her new role on V.) And, as usual, it ended without answering most of our questions and while bringing up a whole boatload of new ones.

Black Shirt The Evil Guy (or maybe he's good, we don't know) can apparently possess the dead spirits of people, if their body is present on the island. This explains Christian walking around from the very beginning and hanging out in Jacob's cabin. It also explains why Locke had to die, and why Locke told Richard to tell other Locke that he had to die. It also could seemingly explain any dead apparitions on the island, though I'm still confused about Bradley Cooper (Locke's Dad and the guy who conned Sawyer's parents) though I suppose Jacob could have just 'brought' him there, as Black Shirt says he does in the opening scene with The Black Rock.

Derek, who is a Lost newby, only really getting into it this season, has solved the 4 toed, crazy island statue mystery. Knowing a bit more about Egyptian mythology than your average guy he was able to deduce that the statue is of the crocodile faced Egyptian God, Sobek. He was known to carry an Ankh in his hand, which Wikipedia says:

"represented his ability to undo evil and so cure ills."

Wikipedia goes on to say:

"Sobek's ambiguous nature led some Egyptians to believe that he was a repairer of evil that had been done, rather than a force for good itself...He was also said to call on suitable gods and goddesses required for protecting people in situation, effectively having a more distant role, nudging things along, rather than taking an active part."

So, yeah, this seems to shed a bit of light on whatever the hell was going on in that episode last night. This also ties in with the answer to the annoying "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" question which Richard answered in Latin and then the folks at Lostpedia translated to: he who will protect/save us.

Jacob is some sort of godlike figure, meddling in people's lives, perhaps trying to undo the evil that they have done, or that has been done to them. Black Shirt, seems to be the bad guy, but maybe he's not. Who knows? Don't think too much about it because you have to wait until 2010 for an answer. The nerve.

NEW VINE-YL POST! DOROTHY ASHBY AND BOURGOGNE ROUGE

2009-05-14T08:12:00.001-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-05-13T21:54:00.000-07:00

DESTROYER SLAYED US

2009-05-11T01:01:00.000-07:00

Caught Dan Bejar, aka Destroyer, in a show tonight at Echo Park's Echoplex, where he performed solo: just himself, his red acoustic guitar and some of his best-loved songs, going all the way back to 2000's Thief.

We missed the Devon Williams band, but caught the second act, indie-jazz chanteuse Azita. Accompanying herself on electric piano with dusky, wailed/moaned incomprehensible lyrics, she reminded us of many acts past and present: Nina Simone, Carole King, Buffy Saint Marie, Rickie Lee Jones, Marianne Faithfull, Cat Power, Joanna Newsom, and Faun Fables, achieving none of their singular appeal. Having said this, we thought she had a rich, intriguing voice, a fluent piano style, and a charismatic stage presence. She's one to keep an eye on, though we recommend a few coherent covers of other people's songs.

But we came to see Destroyer, and we were not disappointed. His guitar playing was crisp, energetic and flawless. The solo performance format brought the lyrical mastery of his songs to the forefront, showcasing them in an intimate, uniquely resonant way. The audience sat spellbound for most of the fourteen song set, breaking its rapture only to cheer wildly between numbers. He offered up generous, spirited renditions of songs his fans love, playing extensively from the aforementioned Thief, as well as Streethawk: A Seduction, This Night, and Rubies.

Nearly fifteen years and 8 albums into his career, it was clear we were witnessing a special show by a major voice of our generation. His songs, with their mix of wit, clever rhymes and earnest melodies, unfold the way our minds do: joke after joke, until what emerges from the riddle at last is a chorus heartfelt, insistent, passionate, and suddenly profound.

Here's a setlist, for those who care about such things:

Destroyer solo, Echoplex, Los Angeles, May 10, 2009

Helena

Painter in Your Pocket

Downtown (new song)

Goddess of Drought

Watercolors into the Ocean

The Temple

Virgin With a Memory

The Chosen Few

Your Blood

Beggars Might Ride

To the Heart of the Sun on the Back of the Vulture, I'll Go

European Oils

Freedom (Swan Lake cover from Beast Moans)

Encore- Self Portrait With Thing (Tonight Is Not Your Night)

LAST WEEK ON LOST: AWKWARD.

2009-05-10T18:13:00.001-07:00

It seems like only yesterday this season
of Lost began and now I am anxiously awaiting the finale. What will happen? Who knows! My brain hurt just trying to figure out some of last week's doozies. If it had been three years since Locke had been there then why was Locke able to watch himself walking through the jungle shot in the leg? Wasn't that 3 years ago? It seems that all logic is out the window now and the only solution is the final solution; blow up a hydrogen bomb to set things straight. Things are just getting too awkward and weird on the island for everyone and total annihilation is the only option. Obviously the whole Sawyer, Kate and Juliette together on the sub thing was horribly awkward. I couldn't find a picture so I had to make my own little "Fan Art," (I know, I'm a dork, I've already covered that.) But what about Eloise killing her own son? Jack telling Kate that he'd rather go back to never knowing her at all? Miles having to admit to Dr. Chang that he is, in fact his son from the future? Locke telling Ben he's going to kill Jacob? Everything is certainly at a boiling point and I can't wait to see how they rap it all up. But, I can't help but feeling like this season has been horribly short. Yes, they didn't subject us to the several week hiatuses of last season, but since when does 3 months constitute a season? Will we have to wait another 8 months for the 6th and final season?

REASON #78 THAT L.A. IS AWESOME: THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET

2009-05-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday May 10th, Pasadena, CA... image via me

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-05-06T22:17:00.003-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST: THE GIFT OF GAB AND GRUNER VELTLINER!

2009-05-06T22:17:00.001-07:00

THIS WEEK ON LOST: "I AM FROM THE FUTURE, AND I CRY........ A LOT."

2009-04-29T21:55:00.001-07:00

That's right, I skipped a week of doing Lost reviews. Just like the creators of the show, sometimes I just up and skip a week without any reason or apologies. That's how I keep you hooked. I enjoyed the episode from two weeks ago, the "Miles Chronicles." He's a compelling character and it was interesting to learn his back story. And I love Hurley bragging that he "hears dead people too." Awesome. This weeks episode was equally interesting, touching on a lot of different things, but focusing on nutty old Faraday. Things started heating up back in the 70's. Jack finally got off his ass and moved around a bit. It was so nice to see Kate and Jack both in the jungle again, but sadly still in the non-flattering Dharma jumpsuits. All the Losties were just floundering around on the Island being all "Initiativey" and then kooky-old Faraday comes back and whips everyone into action. "Dr. Chang, Miles is your son." Awesome. Anyways, things seem to be getting more and more exciting leading up to the finale. More and more exciting and more and more confusing. Derek, a relative newcomer to the show was asking me questions after the episode and I thought my brain might explode. If Daniel's mother new that she was going to shoot him and had shot him before then why is he there to be shot in the first place? Um, I don't know. All this time travel, changing the past to effect the future stuff really makes my head swim. Plus, apparently it makes you cry, A LOT. Like constantly during all conversations, especially with adorable, little Charlotte. Anyhew, I am behind excited for the next couple episodes, I think we are finally going to get some answers and no doubt a few new questions.

NEW VINE-YL POST! WARREN ZEVON AND CORRALEJO TEQUILA!

2009-04-29T21:54:00.001-07:00

CHEAP-O WINE REVIEW: 2006 DURIGUTTI BONARDA

2009-04-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Ah, Bonarda, one of my favorites. It's originally an Italian grape, but they also make some nice ones in Argentina. The Durigutti is a stunning example that comes in at under $10 a bottle. Bonarda is fantastic for many reasons, but to me its most stunning attribute is that it manages to be dark and juicy and manly but light at the same time. This is because the tannins are rather mild on a Bonarda, making it great with everything from grilled meat to roast chicken to pizza. It doesn't dry you out and the way a heavier wine might. It's a red for those of us that love red but might need a bit of a change every now and again. That being said I went through a period of time when I drank this wine every night, it's that good. It's purpley and (as I said before) juicy, with dark berry fruit and a nice earthy, coffee finish. A great buy.

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-04-22T20:45:00.002-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-04-22T20:45:00.001-07:00

RECORD SURPLUS: THE BEST RECORD STORE?

2009-04-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was National Record Store Day, a holiday of supreme importance but unfortunately just below Arbor Day on the average American's radar. I celebrated by heading out at the crack of dawn (10am on a Saturday) to Record Surplus a three decades old music store in West L.A./Santa Monica that specializes in vinyl, CDs, and DVDs for every taste.

The store is famed for its "Attic," a cavernous upstairs room where every record is .99 cents (and there is a lot of good stuff to be found), but I go for their voluminous collection of hard-to-find and super collectible vinyl LPs downstairs. On special days like this one and during their twice-yearly sales events, they comb their inventories to a farthing, putting out records from deep in the vaults, and it is a first-come, first-served treasure hunt. The kind of place where vinyl junkies wait in a long line outside for the doors to open. Where the most common sight is a dude shuffling fast through records with one hand while calling his buddy with his other, telling him to get his butt down there.

There is a spirit of fun, of celebration to the way the whole staff treats their customers and their business. On this day, a sales clerk was dressed in a ridiculous super-hero costume with mask, as Captain Vinyl. Another guy had brought out a special collection of long-aged original John Lennon "Instant Karma" singles, in honor of Phil Spector's just conviction.

I walked away with over $100 of sick albums, some of which you will see paired on VINE-YL in the coming months. All in all, a great day at a truly classic L.A. enterprise. Long may Captain Vinyl live!

REASON #103 THAT L.A. IS AWESOME: S.K. DONUTS

2009-04-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, April 15th 10:30pm (just in time for the hot kruellers), image via me

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-04-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-04-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEK ON LOST: I'M SORRY, WHAT?

2009-04-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

I think we need to start looking at Lost objectively. Let's say we're just outsiders tuning in by chance last Wednesday. So we begin watching and we see this guy, Ben, a little beat up, a little odd. He's heading into the jungle to go to a temple to be judged... by a smoke monster. He alerts the smoke monster of his presence by pulling the plug on a seriously stopped up and dirty bath tub. He then enters the temple and the smoke monster emerges from an ancient hand drier, covered in hieroglyphics. The smoke monster engulfs him in a Wizard Of Oz-esque smoke tornado in which he sees his life with his daughter pass before his eyes. And then somehow, the smoke monster deems him worthy of living. Oh yeah, and then his dead daughter comes back to life and smacks him around a bit. Okay. Strange yes, I mean I can accept it because I'm a Lost fan. I don't know why Ben is more worthy than say, Ecko, but I'm not the Island so what do I know? And please Lost writer's, did you learn nothing from Paolo and whats-her-face? We don't want any new Losties! We'll deal with a few new Dharma guys or a couple of Others. But we've had enough of plane-wrecked people on the beach. Let them find a weapons cache and have their little Lord Of The Flies moment. We don't care. "What lies in the shadow of the statue," who knows? I guess we'll find out one of these days. So, anyhew I appreciate the Ben-centric storyline, but I gotta say, it got a little weird last Wednesday. A little weird.

NEW SPECIAL EASTER DOUBLE VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-04-08T22:18:00.002-07:00

NEW VINE-YL DOUBLE POST!

2009-04-08T22:18:00.001-07:00

UNC TARHEELS 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

2009-04-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Tarheels and the Carolina faithful. This tournament run was truly epic. It's not often a team sets out with a determined goal in mind and sees it through to the very end in such blisteringly convincing fashion. Just look at the 18-1 Patriots. This championship was inspiring and phenomenal, and a boon to the integrity of the college game.

I had planned to blog all through the tourney, but fate derailed me in the desert after the Sweet Sixteen. Oh well. Guess my sports blogging career is off to a bumpy start. Now I'll have to go back to writing about 12" vinyl records (as we do every week at VINE-YL.com).

100 or more of us L.A. Heels watched in awe last night at Hollywood Billiards. Joining the thousands of other enraptured clusters all over the country and around the globe. As soon as the rush died down and the alcohol started to metabolize the phone calls started coming in from all over. As I've tried to tell many friends, the tourney for Carolina fans isn't just about basketball; it's a family reunion. Last night was our lovefest.

Thank you Tyler, Ty, Wayne, Danny, Deon, Bobby Frasor, Ed Davis, Coach Williams and all the rest. It was an unforgettable night. May its traces brighten my veins like stardust for many days to come...

CHEAP-O WINE REVIEW: THE 2008 ROSES ARE IN (YAY!)

2009-04-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's finally Spring time and nothing says spring like a nice bottle of rosé. Last week we went to Joshua Tree for my birthday and took a few bottles of rosé with us, this guy to the right, the Chateau Saint Pierre 2008 Cotes-de-Provence Rose, was particularly pleasant. In general, the rosés from Provence tend to be a bit lighter in both flavor and color. They are crisp and refreshing and great with grilled seafood and garlicy sauces. We drank the Chateau Saint Pierre with oysters on the half shell filled with butter and garlic. It was perfect! And, at around $14 it tastes as elegant as some rosés twice the price. It is light with a softly perfumey nose and crisp tart fruit. A great way to celebrate spring!

LAST WEEK ON LOST: SOME STUFF HAPPENED, WHICH APPARENTLY ALREADY HAPPENED, I THINK...

2009-04-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

So here it is, Tuesday and a new episode of Lost is happening tomorrow and I haven't even written about last week. I know, I know, it's horrible. But, unfortunately last week's episode didn't really inspire me to write anything. Sure, there were a few nice reveals. I had wondered what had happened to Aaron, and why Kate seemed so non-chalant about the whole thing. We learned some crazy mind-boggling stuff that alluded to the fact that Kate, Sawyer, Jack et al were actually in the 70's before (somehow) and made Ben the man he is today. It still makes my brain hurt trying to figure out how that's all possible. I guess the episode was just a little too soap-opera-y for me. Kate and her crying and her buddying up to Sawyer's ex, and telling her everything, which can't be good. I don't like the new Jack either, all that pill popping and drinking has left him a little dim. I don't know, maybe it was just me, I was a little tired last week after an epic trip to the desert. I hadn't quite re hydrated and needed a bit more craziness in the episode to get me going, you know, more Richard and Ben. The highlight was of course Miles and Hurley's conversation in which Hurley referenced Back to The Future which I totally referenced last week in my review. Further proof that the writer's of Lost are the only people who read this blog? Maybe.

REASONS WHY CALIFORNIA IS AWESOME #29: JOSHUA TREE

2009-04-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree, March 31, 2009, image via me

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO!

2009-04-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-04-01T20:39:00.001-07:00

TONIGHT ON LOST: THANK YOU FOR THE CHICKEN SALAD, BEN... NOW I KEEL YOU!

2009-03-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

So many questions. Is Dharma Initiative LSD as good as the rest of their myriad products? Why are Juliette and Kate being so nice to each other? Where is Oldham's brother Darryl? And his other brother Darryl? And of course the big question, did Sayid just kill 12 year old Ben? What the f*&k? Sure Sayid used to torture people, and he's killed a bunch of dudes, but shooting a kid? Really? It seems a bit much. I mean, sure now we have all the super cool ramifications of Sayid going into the past and killing young Ben which will obviously affect the Losties in the future. But, is it worth turning Sayid and his ridiculously sexy accent into a child murderer? We shall see. My brain hurts just trying to think about what will happen now. Shouldn't there have been some weird Back To The Future-esque photo image dissolving immediate consequences to young Ben dying? Wouldn't they all just disappear? At least Jack, Kate, Sayid and Hurley since they wouldn't be back on the island if it weren't for Ben? Or maybe they would have never left the island if it weren't for Ben? Or maybe they all would have been rescued by the Dharma folks? Or killed by the hostiles? Or vice versa? In true Lost fashion this episode managed to answer one little question (why was Sayid in handcuffs with the lady on the plane?) while introducing a new, big crazy question (WTF is going to happen now?) Good stuff, can't wait 'till next week.

NEW VINE-YL VIDEO: GABOR AND GARNACHA

2009-03-25T20:37:00.002-07:00

NEW VINE-YL POST!

2009-03-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

CHEAP-O WINE REVIEW: 2007 MAJUS NERO D'AVOLA

2009-03-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Nero D'Avola is one of the many awesome Italian wines that you may have never heard of but you should definitely try. Hailing from Sicily, these wines tend to be bargains, coming in around the $10 to $20 range. The Ajello Majus Nero D'Avola comes in at around $12. It is a pretty classic example of the wine, with sun-baked red berry fruit and a bit of lava rock-esque minerality. It is of course a great wine to pair with Italian foods, red sauces, pizza, etc. But, my friends and I drank it on its own while playing World of Warcraft and listening to 60's English Folk Music. (Yes, we are dorks, see previous post for a more in depth discussion.) Anyways, a good buy if you can find it, if not give another Nero D'Avola a try. It's a cool recession budget wine that deserves and audience.

-Sara