COOL-ASS LOCAL CULTURAL LANDMARK: SOUND CITY, PART 2

So I'm shooting a commercial down the street from this dingy, unassuming CULTURAL LANDMARK in the middle of an industrial neighborhood. I found this nice video tour of the place online - so no, the bearded gentleman in the video is not yours truly. Maybe I'll get up the courage to knock on the door and check it out for myself. Dang. I'd be starstruck just looking at an empty studio.

COOL-ASS LOCAL CULTURAL LANDMARK: SOUND CITY

I was shooting a commercial in Van Nuys and I recognized the neighborhood so I had to walk a block over and check this place out. I love locations like this. Growing up and living in this city I’m constantly learning about amazing, innocuous places like this that are all around us. Places where artistic and cultural brilliance occurred.

This is Sound City Studios. It’s tucked back on a dirty, industrial street deep in The Valley surrounded by metal shops and auto garages which only adds to the allure, in my mind. It doesn’t have the obvious, “look at me” glamorous façade of other temples of music like Abbey Road, but a mind-scrambling list of artistic geniuses practically lived here while they spawned some of the greatest masterpieces in music history. It happened right here. A lot. As dingy and unassuming as this building is, in my mind it should be a national landmark and should be preserved.

Who recorded here, you ask? A short list:

Fleetwood Mac recorded Rumours here, for God’s sake. Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers recorded “Damn The Torpedoes” and “Wildflowers”, Neil Young, Nirvana (“Nevermind” was recorded here! Holy Crap!), Johnny Cash, Metallica, Dylan, The Breeders, The Cult, Guns & Roses, George Harrison, Donovan, Garbage, Cheap Trick, Rage Against The Machine, Dio, Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails and many others came in, opened up their hearts and became immortal. All within these dirty, stucco walls.

My New Tagline

All the brands I do ads for have taglines, why not me? May be a tad over-the-top, however.

A Day In The Life Of Eliza Miller (in under a minute)

This is very incomplete. It's the bare minimum. But it's still fun.

Music & Style Icon Of The Month: Mitch Easter

An underappreciated master of sound. Proof that musical inspiration is always brewing in the most unexpected corners of the country – North Carolina, for example.

Produced REM’s early work and helped create their sound. Therefore he helped create and foster that whole early ‘80’s “jangly,” Rickenbacker-driven sound that harkened back to the British Invasion and Mod.

Let’s Active, his band, also made some great, solid, driving pop right up through “Every Dog Has It’s Day.”

There are great moments in his entire catalogue, but I must say admit that I preferred the early version of his band – the power trio of him and two girls. Cool and clean.

Thank you Mitch.

Be strong, but flex.

Stay rooted to who your really are on the inside, but embrace growth. And change.

Be in the moment. Be informed by your past but not attached to it.

When something rigid is tested and pushed, it can shatter.

Sometimes flexibility can be a great strength.

I Tried Not To Talk About My Bike, But...

This is the new bicycle.

It's called a Handsome Devil.

It can be a road bike.

It can climb up dirt fire roads.

It's sturdy enough to haul loads and handle the rough stuff.

It means I have no excuses for not cyclo-commuting more.

I can't wait to attach lights to ride home from work on the trails after dark.

I can't wait to attach more racks so I can do quick bike-camping trips.

Adventure awaits. Handsome indeed.