$26 grand slams, legal weed shops, and no free parking available… LA gave me a proper homecoming. Now I never lived there, but like an OF model I’ve been paying the city of angels with my love and credit card all of this century.
Many times I end up in Hollywood, usually out of convenience for a show in the area or just killing time before a show or game. The scenes on the starry streets leap straight out of Shaun of the Dead. Daywalkers with selfie sticks chronicling their experience to the world while those who truly live on the street pass through by like a fart.
Glad to see Karen Bass’s signature homelessness program working so well while every police cruiser passed by dudes pissing on the street or just laying stone cold over The Rugrats star.
While in LA the guys helped me discover my new alter-ego… Sebastian, The Influence Hunter!!! Like Steve Irwin and Sir David Attenborough before me, I was put on this earth to track down some gorgeous influencing mate! And Hollyhood didn’t disappoint.
All’s I need is a Crocodile Hunter outfit and a… Selfie stick… To make my videos. I imagine myself running around in short shorts opining about influencers in the wilds in a butchered Australian accent.
My time was too short in La La Land. The boys and I could only workshop the idea for so long. We had to go waste our paychecks at Amoeba. I should consider myself lucky I can aimlessly spend $100+ each time. I have to say I always pull a gem or two. My first time there I got Fang Island’s Major for $5 and Joey Bada$$’s 1999, which I didn’t immediately realize was an unofficial pressing.
Only thing Amoeba needs to work on is a public toilet… I know, I know… Asking for a shitter in the city that shits all through the night on the stars’ walk of fame… I know, but still. I must have farted like twenties in that bitch before we finally left. Thankfully my guys were also farting all over the movie aisles.
I highly recommend The History of Farting by Benjamin Bart and its companion The Future of Farting. The perfect leaflet for any guest lavatory.
Speaking of shitters, that was the only perk we got at Slideaway Fest. We were under the impression paying for the balcony seating… Since no individual seats were for sale at the time, meant we’d be sitting, since we’re in our 30’s. We’ve been through the wars. We’re tired. Lazy.
Anyways, Slideaway Fest. I would’ve bet the shirt on my back after seeing the merch line for Whirr and Nothing we’d have no shot at anything being left over. Still, like idiots, we waited in line through Swirlies and Swervedriver (didn’t miss any of there set though) just to maybe get a shirt or a sticker. Give’em and give us credit, they had enough of everything to go around.
Long night, but fun to see these bands with my friends. Last time I saw a show with them must have been Swanfest in 2019 or maybe Aftershock sometime before that. Lucky to have seen Swirles and Swervedriver who don’t tour often.
Saw Nothing at the Soda Bar back in 2018. Weird show. My roommate and half the crowd left when Nothing was about to go on. Seemed like there was something personal against Nothing that day. Culture Abuse broke-up in 2020 after lead singer David Kelling admitted to sexual misconduct allegations. Idk you be the judge I guess. All I know is Nothing kicked ass that night in 2018 and at Slideaway. Blue Line Baby blow the dome off the Palladium that night.
Whirr, the headliner, a band many at the show had never seen live before, myself included, gave their fans all the merch, vinyl, tik tok hits, and songs from their days in Modesto they wanted.
Can’t bitch much about their setlist. Starting with Leave, their first song/demo/single, into Collect Sadness from the latest record, followed by an Eyes Wide Shut backtrack into Mumble. Collect Sadness has barely been out for 6 months and it’s definitely a top 3 Whirr song for me. Strong first 15 minutes followed by mostly Feels Like You and Raw Blue tracks.
I’ll post their setlist below, but damn I have very few notes for these guys. A few notes though. Switch out Crush Tones for Days I Wanna Fade Away. Crush Tones is a fine song but reminds me of [Insert Movie Here] pee break scene.
Wavelength, while popular, only makes sense between Mellow and Younger Than You on the album. Switch that one up with Rental. No idea how the whole Whirr discord feels about Rental but the demo and studio versions gaze the fuck out. Listen to that one after a few drinks or a gummy.
Last but not least, they finished up with Younger Than You followed by Mellow. Switch that up. Mellow bleeds into Younger Than You beautifully. Also it’s their best song in my opinion. Best way to close out a set.
Disaesthetic 