Well it was a beautiful sunny day in Los Angeles – isn’t it always? – I arrived to LAX airport after spending what seemed like a lifetime on the airplanes. As I was putting on Sid’s padlock, adjusting my studded belt, putting on the wristbands, putting the skull hankie on my back pocket, getting more tattoos – wait a second that didn’t happen outside the airport arrivals?
I got picked up by our beloved directrix Devi and one of the stars of Trippin’ Kenny. I’d never been to States and little did I ever realise I would under these circumstances. After a brief catch up Kenny decided to join me for a gig at Redwood Bar & Grill in downtown LA. What would an up to no good punk rocker like me wanna do on his first night in the city of angels? See US Bombs’ vocalists Duane Peter’s Gunfight! For those who don’t know him probably have not have been fully acquainted with punk rock or skating…
There was no doubt whether Duane Peter is Mister American Punk Rock himself and I’d like to thank their drummer for letting me buy an over-sized t-shirt for $4! The supports were also more than excellent street punks White Flag Down fronted by droog Coop complete with his clockwork orange eyeliner tattoo. What set the tone (or should I say tune?) for the holiday – sorry vacation – was A Pretty Mess. This is the new Distillers and even better as it is an all girl band. Not only were they great to look at they sounded the dogs bollocks as well!
Not long after I found myself having a drink with Dora from A Pretty Mess at their gig in Torrance, California. Glad I had no sense of geography of California as I otherwise wouldn’t have bothered with the excruciating bus journey. Not only did I witness another blinding gig from them but also from another melodic street punk talent the Outskirts fronted by the wild cat Charlie DeKay. Before ending up somewhere in Hollywood playing cards with Charlie and the bassist of the band Will I encountered the singer of Tonya’s Disorder. Along the line I had a fair few pints and even with the low price tag of £3.5 the bill came to over $60!
Well there I woke up in the nicest apart I’ve seen a punk rocker to live in. Spent the afternoon jamming with Will and Charlie before visiting the Hellcat/Epitaph records house and crashing out again…
Next thing I knew I was on a bus towards Disneyland. Well I was heading to Anaheim to check out the new tunes that Tonya had been working on. I was blown away by the heartfelt gretal (as she calls her type of grunge metal) the new Courtney Love had to offer. Little did I realise that she had been a well known folk singer just ten years down the line. You couldn’t recognise her from the old album cover anymore. You live the blues and then you play the blues. Cups of tea later we found ourselves tapping along to the Clash tunes in Pike Bar, Long Beach, CA run by former Social Distortion drummer…
And then my time was running up. I had to head back towards Hollywood pick up my stuff, get a lift from Dora to the tube station. As I was having my last drink in LA I knew I was coming back…
On my return to London it rained, the train was running late. Got back to my tiny flat where the mould keeps me company only to find out that the bathroom ceiling had leaked and the credit card bills were waiting. I mean what the fuck am I doing here?
Ha! Hey bro…I remember that night (surprisingly!)…awesome!!