Charlie Greene

Charlie Greene at Burrito King

 

CHARLIE GREENE

At Burrito King – 2109 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

and

The New California Barbershop – 2203 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

"Like my father and his father before him, I'm a carbon copy wrecking ball." —Charlie Greene, "Everything Gets Me Down"

As the son of a touring singer-songwriter and recording artist, grandson of a 1940s-'50s big band leader and great-grandson of a front-porch banjo player, becoming a musician was always in the cards for Charlie Greene. While his mother's family in South Carolina was made up of contractors and builders ("People with practical jobs."), his father's Northern Georgia roots were firmly planted in music.

When Charlie's family relocated to Los Angeles right before he started high school, he began to cultivate a strong love for all types of music, as evidenced on his new self-titled album that released last week. Songs like "Man on Fire," "Lost & Found" and "Two Sides" reflect influences that range from rock to country and jazz, while lyrics peppered with references to the beach, desert, mountains and "the city of dreams" demonstrate a love for his adopted hometown.

"I was lucky that my dad was in the business because I got tons of free music and discovered a lot of stuff from siphoning off whatever was sent to him," Charlie confesses. "He played with Frank Zappa a lot; he is on Weasels Ripped My Flesh and a couple of those records. Zappa actually brought him out to L.A. for the first time when he was 20 or 21, but he also had a band, the Mike Greene Band, who were on Mercury, put out a few albums and toured all over. You can find them online. It's pretty groovy  stuff: a lot of songs with no vocals and multiple flutes, '70s jazz rock."

A spot associated with a couple of other legendary L.A. artists serves as the location that Charlie has chosen for our interview. There's a black-and-white photo from 1971 of Gram Parsons sitting atop the hood of a Cadillac parked on Sunset Boulevard in front of the Burrito King at the corner of Alvarado Street. It was the first (and now the last) of the 20 taco stands that Julian E. Montoya opened in the 1960s throughout Southern California, Texas and his native Colombia.

"There's a great video from the late 1970s of Warren Zevon being interviewed by a Dutch film crew who are doing a documentary [Wonderland, about the L.A. music scene]. He comes here, and the place looks exactly the same. This street corner has hardly changed in the last 40 years," Charlie offers. "He talks to people about the neighborhood and about writing the song 'Carmelita,' which is set Echo Park."

You can see Angelenos huddled around Burrito King's counters with an overflowing carnitas torta or plate of crispy tacos in hand at all hours of the day and night. It's a popular late-night stop, especially for the huge California Burrito with carne asada, cheese, sour cream and French fries. Charlie's favorite menu items are the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito and the Machaca (stewed meat with refried beans, green peppers and onions) Burrito.

"I do love spicy food, and the machaca and chorizo here are super spicy. I think I've got a gut of steel," Charlie chuckles.

Today he orders some fish tacos, and then we both sip on cups of horchata as we take a stroll next door to Brazil Tobacco to look at all the hookahs, pipes and bongs until his food is ready. After getting his plate of tacos, we sit down on some stools and talk about the first show he went to in Los Angeles.

"I remember being 11 or 12 and going to Oingo Boingo's Halloween concert at Universal Amphitheater in the mid-'90s. That was a big first for me, then I was really into jazz all through high school. John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman were big influences on me, and I ended up studying tenor saxophone at Berklee College of Music for a year," he says. "As far as singer-songwriter stuff, I've been really into Harry Nilsson, early Beck and tons of different kinds of music like Black Sabbath. There's an ad for Blonde Redhead behind you, and I've been to 20 Blonde Redhead shows over the years. I lived up in Olympia, Wash., and I used to see them up there. I used to go to a lot of Unwound shows, too."

After starting classes at Berklee, Charlie quickly realized that he didn't want to be a jazz saxophonist and actually stopped playing music altogether for about five years.

"But then I started driving myself crazy once I got to about 24 or 25 and decided that I had to do it. I would have days where I couldn't get out of bed, and I would be hearing music in my head. I was in a weird relationship, had a little breakdown and decided that music is what I needed to do," he remembers. "I feel like I was bottlenecked for five years; all this stuff I needed to do was stuck at the neck of this bottle."

Charlie began to write songs and eventually released his 2012 debut album, Wildfire Music. Fire is an element that is crucial to another passion that he shares with his father, ceramics. Charlie creates beautiful tile art and jewelry pieces that feature images of the body, skulls in particular.

"I had a book that showed different animals and their skeletons. Giraffe skulls are really bizarre looking, a bit demonic, so I started tracing those, and that turned into skulls. I began working with clay, thinking about its similarity to bone, and doing a lot of skeleton tiles," he recalls. "I had two straight winters where I broke my right heel and then my left ankle, so I was laid up for a month or two each time and set up an assembly line for making skulls. I've got a ton of them that I'm using to work with a jewelry maker from New York."

Across the street from Burrito King is one of Charlie's other frequent haunts, a building that houses Wells Tile & Antiques and Eric's Architectural Salvage, who pull antique furniture and fixtures from homes and businesses.

"I go over there once a month. Doing tile work, it's nice to have a place to go for inspiration for different ways to think of it. I sometimes feel like this with music, that I'm constricted thinking about what is possible, but working with clay you can do anything because it's three dimensional, you can go in any direction," he admits. "That places is great, though. My little brother bought me a little metal doorstop in the shape of a poodle from there as a penance for allowing him to be the best man at our middle brother's wedding last year. They've got these wooden pillars painted in primary colors – these huge wooden things that could hold up the middle of your house – that they pulled out of an old Mexican restaurant, and I've been thinking about buying those."

After Charlie finishes his tacos, we start heading west on Sunset Boulevard towards his favorite barbershop, the New California Barbershop, so he can get a haircut. While we're walking, we bemoan the lack of quality southern food in Los Angeles, and I ask him to name some other places he likes to eat. He lists Lares, El Compadre and Mohawk Bend. When people come to visit, he usually orders a deep-dish pizza from Masa just to show them how thick it is.

Charlie Greene at The New California Barbershop

As far as places to go for musical and lyrical inspiration, Charlie mentions that ideas can strike him anywhere.

"Inspiration comes from everywhere, I just need to be in the mindset of it being all I'm thinking about continually, seeing if anything that happens is something that I can use in a song or in a piece of art. I've been carrying around these little notebooks for years," he says and pulls out a small spiral notepad. "I've got 40 of these, filled up with random ideas. When I get to the point of finishing songs with lyrics, I pull out the notebooks and try to get inspired by a word or phrase. It's like a fragmented journal. I'll look and there will be a girl's name and phone number that she wrote when I was in a bar in Barcelona from 10 years ago. I can tell what I was thinking by looking at the phrases on either page before or after. Being able to trace where a song lyric came from is cool."

Aside from music and art, Charlie is also an avid reader. Lately he's read a lot of W. G. Sebald, Nick Tosches' Me and the Devil and short stories by Breece D'J Pancake. There is one writer, however, who has made the biggest impact on him.

"Reading Charles Bukowski for the first time when I was 14 was a big deal. I read everything by him that I could get my hands on within a school year. I think that happens to a lot of kids, where they think, 'oh man, I want to be a cigarette-smoking alcoholic who chases girls,'" he smiles. "I still read a lot of his poems, and I think about him every time I drive past De Longpre Avenue in Hollywood. It's pretty interesting, imagining him during all those years before anyone knew who he was, working, drinking and struggling."

Although he grew up in Atlanta, lived in places like Boston and Washington, and recorded his latest album in Nashville, Charlie has fallen in love with Los Angeles and doesn't think he would want to live anywhere else.

"I like the familiarity I have with Los Angeles. I feel like I have connection with it in a solitary way. I've spent a lot of time walking around the city by myself, driving around the city by myself. Whenever I'm on an airplane coming back to Los Angeles, just seeing the sprawl it relaxes me, the idea of being lost down in there and not running into people I know everywhere," he confesses. "I like the car culture, the point-to-point culture, how much takes place in people's houses here. There's also a mystery to lots of parts of Los Angeles."

We come to a stop at musician-turned-barber Brian Girgus' year-old the New California Barbershop, and being a frequent customer, Charlie is greeted with familiar smiles as soon as we walk through the door. He brings my attention to a massive wall mural of white wind turbines set against the mountains and clear blue sky of Girgus' native Coachella Valley. I notice several potted cacti sitting in the front window, Jimi Hendrix on the speakers and an area set up as a general store with beauty products and vintage clothing and housewares for sale in the back of the shop.

New California offers hair cuts for men, women and children or a hot towel and straight razor shave for $35, as well as beard trims for just $10. Since Girgus is finishing up with a client, Charlie sits on a bench to wait and visits with the shop's mascot, a miniature poodle named Shelley Long. He tells me that he's enjoyed playing a three-week, Tuesday residency (with March 11 being the final evening) at Hollywood's Piano Bar in support of his new album's release, and his excitement and hope for the future is palpable when he informs me that more L.A. shows are in the works for May.

"All the insecurity, confusion and bullshit around the music industry and trying to be a musician – it's worth it because I love music, and I know it's what I'm supposed to be doing," he says. "I'm not really sure what the second choice would be at this point."

Like I said before, music has always been in the cards for Charlie Greene.

Charlie Greene's self-titled album is currently available. He performs March 11 at Piano Bar Hollywood. For more information, visit charliegreenemusic.com.

STREET SIGNS - Tribal Mask

Boo! Sometimes it's hard not to get startled whenever I pass this tribal mask at the intersection of Echo Park Avenue and Morton Avenue in Echo Park.

STREET SIGNS - Lotus and Heart Tree

I used to pass these two murals that are painted on a set of garage doors that sit side by side at 1444 Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park every morning and get lost in their imagery. The lotus piece sits on the left and depicts a set of hands holding the L.A. skyline above the flowers that have special meaning to Echo Park residents (see: Echo Park Lake). The other door is covered in pink and purple hues, with a tree – having surgery performed on its damaged heart – dominating a barren landscape.

STREET SIGNS - Dance Stencil

Thought I would share this one in honor of the upcoming National Dance Day on Saturday, July 27. It's hard to resist the temptation to follow the directions for the dance moves in this sidewalk stencil whenever I walk by it at the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Reservoir Street in Echo Park. If you're so inclined, feel free to follow the directions and do the steps to turn yourself around at home. It's guaranteed to bring a little smile to start off your Monday morning.

STREET SIGNS - Quinceañera

Theresa Powers' 1996 mural dedicated to the rite of passage for 15-year-old Latinas was threatened last year when Señor Fish moved into the former Pescado Mojado location at 1701 West Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. When the new owners began renovating the Logan Street side of the building where the Quinceañera mural sits, Powers had OK'd its removal, so the bottom-left portion was sandblasted away. Upon further thought Powers changed her mind, and artist Kiki Giet began restoring the piece.

L.A. LANDMARKS - Echo Park Lake

 

ECHO PARK LAKE

751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

My first introduction to Echo Park Lake was during a tour of Los Angeles as a child. I loved to watch reruns of "Gilligan's Island," so my ears immediately perked up when the tour guide informed us that the television show filmed scenes at the lake. The neighborhood of Echo Park was even said to have been named from when workers were constructing the lake – originally a drinking water reservoir – in the 1860s, and their voices would 'echo' off the canyon walls.

Flash forward 20 years, and passing the lake, which now acts as a detention basic for City's storm drain system, has become an everyday occurrence in my life as an Echo Park/Silver Lake resident. Since 2011, however, I haven't actually been able to see the lake. For the past two years, the area has been surrounded by fencing, blocking any view of Echo Park Lake as it underwent a $45-million rehabilitation to remedy its storm water pollution problem and bring it up to the state's water-quality standards.

But as of June 15, the district's former councilman and current mayor-elect, Eric Garcetti, celebrated the lake's reopening with over 300 fellow Angelenos. The chain-link fence and green screen came down on June 17, the Lady of the Lake statue once again stands with the geyser fountain spraying water into the air behind her and some of the 70 known species of birds have begun to nestle back into the lakeside. I even saw a tiny egg in a nest in one of the surrounding trees during my first walk around the reopened lake.

Four acres of wetlands have been added to the lake's edge, along with two boardwalk observation decks (one each at the north and west ends) and small docks along the eastern edge where visitors can dangle their feet over the turquoise blue water. The lake will only stay this brilliant hue for a few more days, until the dye that was added to control algae and provide nutrients to the aquatic plants has faded.

Speaking plant life, its signature pink and white lotus plants – which had all but disappeared from the lake by 2008 – are once again thriving in the water thanks to the sticky fingers of horticulturalist Randy McDonald. The Reseda resident had absconded a cutting of the Asian Sacred Lotus when he attended the annual Lotus Festival at the lake in 2005. His illegally obtained clipping flourished, and he was able to provide 376 new plants for the lake that will sit under netting for the next year to protect them from birds.

By next year, celebrations like the Lotus Festival and Cuban Music Festival will once again gather citizens around the lake. Meanwhile, city officials are working to bring paddle boat rentals and a café to the restored boathouse as well.

L.A. HAVENS - Sage Bistro

 

SAGE ORGANIC VEGAN BISTRO

1700 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

When most people think of Echo Park cuisine, taco trucks like Tacos Arizas, Taco Zone or El Flamin' Taco are the first to spring to mind, but none of them offer potato tacos, which I often crave. I've sampled the potato tacos from neighborhood joints such as Señor Fish, and I've even tried to satiate the craving with the various vegetarian options at Guisados. But, hands down, the best hard shell potato tacos I've had so far have been at Sage Organic Vegan Bistro. Sage's mashed potatoes are the perfect consistency, with just the right amount of chunks left in, and they mix a flavorful adobo into the potatoes giving them a little zing. Topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and creme, the tacos are served with rice and beans, making for the perfect mid-day meal.

Spinach Avocado Walnut Sausage Florentine at Sage

In fact, if it's a weekend afternoon, you can usually find me at Sage with a plate of the Potato Hard Shell Tacos. While there is no shortage of brunch spots in the area, Sage stands out for it's cruelty-free, plant-based menu boasting farm-to-table dishes that vegans, vegetarians and even carnivores will love. The ingredients are so fresh that you will often see vendors cart in boxes full of produce as you're sitting in the restaurant. There are plenty of gluten-free items for those with food allergies as well.

Aside from the potato tacos, I often get the scrumptious Spinach, Avocado and Walnut Sausage Florentine or the BLTA (tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado on a croissant) with a side of roasted potatoes. Portions are always generous at Sage, but if you're super hungry you should order the gigantic Burrito Mole filled with seitan, black beans, no pales, red pepper, jalapeño, potatoes and guacamole, and smothered in housemade mole and red enchilada sauce.

Sage's BLTA

Sage is a great place to go for a light lunch during the week, too. I always see lots of people diving into a mound of salad comprised of of heart of palm spears, roasted beets, rosemary cashew cheese, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumber, artichoke hearts, pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and shaved fennel on baby greens with a garlic vegetable vinaigrette.

Other popular lunchtime choices are the bowls like the Mole Bowl with brown rice, quinoa, kale, avocado, pickled cabbage, black beans, edamame, corn, carrots and peas sautéed in mole sauce and topped with fried jalapeño and crispy tortilla strips or the Brazilian Bowl (black beans, plantain, guacamole, jalapeño, pico de gallo, leeks and crimini mushrooms with rice or quinoa).

I've heard diners swear that the homemade black bean chili on the Bacon Chili Cheese Burger is the best chili they've ever had, but my lunch favorite is the Eggplant Parmesan sandwich. Grilled olive bread gives the sandwich of lightly breaded eggplant with a smear of cashew Alfredo and marinara sauce the perfect crunch.

The restaurant is frequently packed during brunch and lunch, but dinnertime isn't quite as hectic on most nights. Start with Baked Artichoke Spinach Dip served in a bread bowl with organic corn chips or some Crispy Samosa Rolls with tamarind sauce and lemon mint chutney. Potato Broccoli Pierogies, the Mushroom Steak Dinner or the Spinach Basil Ravioli Pomodoro are great entree choices.

KindKreme at Sage

No matter what, make sure to save room for dessert because there is a KindKreme located within Sage.

The raw, vegan, gourmet icekreme vendor serves up amazing coconut-based flavors such as coconut milk gelato, caramel apple and tart blueberry, as well as almond milk- and cashew-based flavors like espresso bean and maple pecan.

You can get individual scoops, a shake, a smoothie, a banana split, a brownie sundae or even a decadent waffle sundae. Ice cream is my absolute favorite food, and even I love icekreme from KindKreme.

If you would rather get some sweetness from fresh juice, there are a ton of flavor combinations to be had. The Go Green contains cucumber, kale, celery and lemon, while the Sunburn has carrot, apple and ginger. You can even make your own flavor by selecting four fruits or vegetables. A glass of frothy fresh juice is the perfect compliment to any meal at Sage.

For more information, call (213) 989-1718 or visit sageveganbistro.com.

STREET SIGNS - Echo Park/The World

When exterior renovations began on the building at 1325 Echo Park Avenue, which used to house a Chinese bakery, in Echo Park for the opening of Jason Michaud's latest venture, Red Hill Restaurant, members of the community were relieved to see that Theresa Powers' Echo Park/The World mural at the rear of the establishment would be preserved. The piece was painted in 1995 with the help of several painters: Carolina Flores, Patty Perez, Jackie Palacios, Catalina Perez, Rodger Trinidad, Ruben C. Sierra, Michael Jacob Rochlin, Karen Reitzel and Steve Trangsrud.

STREET SIGNS - Skullphone Redux

A few weeks ago these Skullphone pieces started popping up all over town. This specific one adorns an electrical box at the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Berkeley Avenue in Echo Park. Primarily known for this iconic black-and-white skull gabbing on a cell phone, you've probably also seen Skullphone's pointillism work on mirror polished aluminum panels. Regardless of the medium, the L.A. artist consistently challenges the pervasiveness of mobile phones and targeted advertising in today's culture.

STREET SIGNS - HeartsChallenger

Pretty much every intersection of Echo Park Avenue, from Sunset Boulevard to Morton Avenue, in Echo Park is watched over by a stuffed animal – a rabbit, bear or frog – painted with a pink mask across its eyes. The fluorescent pink mask is the trademark of Leyla "Lo" Safai, who established HeartsChallenger as a visual art outlet in 2005.

She eventually started up an ice cream truck bearing the same moniker, and when it came time to create music for the truck to blare as it traveled through the streets, she turned to friend Ben Pollock. The duo became a music group, HeartsRevolution, in late 2005. Since then, they've toured the world over, leaving a trail of pink-masked paraphernalia in their wake.

The rabbit above can be found at Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, and it not only wears the pink mask, it dons a T-shirt with 'Hang On!' emblazoned on its chest. More photos of stuffed animals hanging around the city are at Heart Street He(art).

STREET SIGNS - Magic is Real

I was born in the Year of the Snake, and ever since I learned about the ancient symbol of ouroboros (a serpent eating its own tail) in school I've been intrigued by it. It was the image on a birthday invitation a friend designed for my 29th bash, and I've always wanted to get a snake tangled in a figure 8 and biting its tail tattooed on my leg. The artist team known as CYRCLE entwined the creature into the Magic is Real mural adorning two sides of Bedrock LA (1623 Allesandro St.) in Echo Park. A lot of great music has been created within those walls, and CYRCLE's piece – which transformed a plain, brick edifice into a vibrant work of art – reminds us that magic is indeed real.

The World Record

Brian James, Andy Creighton, Matthias Wagner and Aaron Ballard of the World Record at Ballard's Artwork Framing

 

THE WORLD RECORD

At Ballard's Artwork Framing

1568 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

Like many L.A. bands, the members of the World Record boast an eclectic pedigree of former groups they've played with – from Apex Manor to the Parson Red Heads and Foreign Born. But few musical acts possess the passion and dedication to stay together for nine-plus years, spending the last six of which on their latest release, a double album called Freeway Special. Vocalist/guitarist Andy Creighton, bassist Aaron Ballard, guitarist Brian James and drummer Matthias Wagner took some time out from preparing for a cross-country tour to sit down with me at Aaron's framing shop in Echo Park.

When you walk into Ballard's Artwork Framing to have something framed, you're in for an experience. Aaron walks you through the process personally, offering his advice on the best type of frame, glass and matting from his wide selection of sustainable materials. Aaron is also a staunch supporter of the fair trade movement, evidenced in the mini Raven + Lily store that is housed in his shop.

"Raven + Lily are old friends of mine. They've been going out and meeting with women's groups in Ethiopia, Kenya and India for years. They're super brave women and they don't have a store, so I thought it would be cool to have their stuff in here," he says. "It's also a way to further the fair trade movement, to encourage people that there is something to buy other than things that you're not sure what those people's working environments are like."

You can tell that Aaron takes pride in his work. Each mat is cut by hand, and you feel like your art piece is even more special because of the time he has put into it. Through the shop, he's created a valuable asset to the neighborhood, as well as a central hub of sorts for the World Record.

"We did the Kickstarter promotional video here [for Freeway Special]," says Andy. "We also did an acoustic show for the opening night of an art show here."

Ballard's Artwork Framing is also a gallery space, displaying original pieces by several artists on its walls. Bolstering the local art scene is just one of the ways Aaron demonstrates his love for his community.

"I love Echo Park. I love the diversity here in Los Angeles period, but Echo Park especially," he admits. "You can never complain about the weather, even though people do. People complain because it's not perfect."

"I like the food," shares Andy. "I live in Highland Park, and there's a great place near where I live called Good Girl Dinette. It serves Vietnamese food that's awesome. My birthday's on Sunday, and I love hot wings. Sometimes I play the Children's Hospital with Songs For Kids, and we all have to get flu shots. I went to get mine and I overheard two of the nurses talking about hot wings, and I had to butt in because I had been thinking about hot wings a lot. They were talking about a place somewhere near Highland Park, so we're going for my birthday, and I am excited. It will no doubt become a place that I return to often."

"Anywhere aside from major cities, it's so hard to find things that you love when it comes to food. I didn't even know that there were so many different cultures in the world, like different kinds of Asian foods, before I moved here, and it's amazing. There are so many Korean, Vietnamese, Armenian, Ethiopian places to eat," adds Aaron. "Of course there's Stories Books & Café, which is always a wonderful place to have coffee."

"You're definitely a neighborhood guy," interjects Andy. "Wherever we go around here – down to Origami or Two Boots – everyone's like, 'Hey, man, what's up' to Aaron."

"I had Two Boots for the first time when we played at the Echoplex [on Oct. 4]. Echo Park is very cool, you run into so many people," offers Brian, who resides in Santa Monica. "I play a lot of beach volleyball. We played for a long time in this hidden volleyball court area down by the airport where the planes are taking off over your head so you have to halt the game in the middle while you're waiting for them to pass. Lately we've been playing right next to the Santa Monica Pier. It's a little intimidating to just jump right on those courts because there are some pro players. I enjoy the beach a lot, but I'm torn a little because I would like to live out here. All of the musicians in Echo Park – it's very appealing, but so is the beach."

 "The music scene, especially here on the East Side, is very compelling," agrees Matthias, who immigrated to the states from Germany. "I'm starting my seventh year in L.A. and liking it quite a bit. I just moved to the border of Echo Park and Downtown. We found a house that was built in 1891. It's beautiful, but because it's so old and it's been through a lot, the walls are not parallel anymore. It looks a little cartoony because of that, but I like the vibe that I get from it. It feels really homey. I used to live in Highland Park, so now I've been exploring this area. I've been enjoying the food and the bars. 1642 Beer and Wine is a favorite of mine that I can walk to. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of the states on this tour – the heartland."

"We have some real middle-America shows lined up, I'm pretty excited," says Andy. "A lot of these places, we haven't played. We've only done one other semi-national tour, and that was a long time ago."

To warm up for the tour, the band played a few shows in Andy's home state of Arizona. One of the dates was the reward for a donor to the Kickstarter campaign.

"That's actually what prompted the Arizona trip," says Andy. "It was in a small town, Oracle, Ariz. Another donor just emailed about doing a show in Encino. I haven't heard from the third, and the fourth one just pledged the money out of the goodness of his heart, a gesture of kindness. You don't really realize how much it costs to make a record, and you try to estimate. I didn't want to overcharge people, so we lowballed a lot of things and ended up paying quite a bit out of pocket. It's an expensive business, making records, so we're going on the road to see if we can re-liquidate some of our investment."

However, the band does have the help of boutique indie label Squid vs. Whale when it comes to distribution and promotion of Freeway Special, which hit stores Oct. 9. Their first effort, 2006's Guitars Forever, was released on TallBoy Records to much critical acclaim. The album's track "We're #1" appeared on shows like "How I Met Your Mother," "Gossip Girl" and more recently on "New Girl," introducing the world to their feel-good brand of rock and sense of humor of being a group named the World Record singing, "Check the score, see how we're number one." While Freeway Special displays some of the same cheekiness on tracks such as "I Met the Girl (I'm Gonna Leave You For)," many of the songs touch on themes of hope ("Say Sayonara"), stormy relationships ("Queen of Side I") and nature ("Wind & Wuthering"). The evolution of Andy's poetic prowess when writing lyrics has been a developing process.

"I was in what I think was a great band called the Flatworms in high school, and it was pretty far from poetic. It was a punk rock meets ZZ Top kind of band with really scatological lyrics, sort of stupid songs, but that time of your life you think back on how fun it was, and it had that purity about it where you weren't thinking too much about stuff, just doing what you want," he says. "My parents published a small newspaper in Phoenix called the Arizona Capitol Times, so they were very much language people. I grew up appreciating words, there was a lot of wordplay in the house. I didn't really think about it too much until I started writing 'real' songs, and then I realized that it bothered me if things weren't right in lyrics, so I take a long time to tweak them to where I can stand them. It was maybe college when I started to feel that way about it. I remember I came home proudly from college and said I wrote this song, I think I still have the words, and they're just terrible. The song is terrible, but I was so proud of it at the time. I read it, and I just cringe. I guess that's how you develop though."

"That happens to me, I look back at old songs in journals and am like ohh," laughs Aaron. "Some of these songs, I played them in coffee shops where people came and listened, and I'm like, 'wow, that was the good song that I had?'"

"I used to sit around with the guitar and play around until something happened that I liked, and then I'd go with that" says Andy. "Lately it's normally when I'm lying in bed in the morning or doing dishes, I'll be singing something that has words and a little melody. I usually don't think about it for a while, then I'll realize I might have something good. I'll get the guitar and see if I can do something to not forget it because sometimes they go away pretty quick."

"Once I was driving and was hit with an idea. I went to pull onto the side of the road and found a Best Buy. I asked if they had a keyboard, so they took me to the computer area, and I said, 'No, a piano keyboard!" Aaron says, as everyone laughs. "I sat down and figured out the melody that was forming in my head. It really helped."

Piano was the first instrument Aaron learned before teaching himself to play the guitar and drums.

"I was born in Los Angeles and then I lived all over the United States, ending up in Texas where my grandparents are from for 10 years. I played drums in a band for many years and did my own music," he shares.

Andy took up the guitar in his early teens, around the time Matthias started on the drums.

"I actually studied jazz drums here in Southern California, but I'm a little bit of a rock 'n' roll player at heart," he says.

Brian's childhood in Minnesota and Wisconsin was filled with music.

"Both of my parents taught music, so we all had instruments. My father really encouraged me to learn the piano so I started out on that, but then I realized there was a guitar in the basement that wasn't being used so I picked that up around 11 years old. Nirvana was on the radio soon after that, along with other great guitar bands, and I was inspired."

Both Aaron and Brian get to visit their old home states on the Freeway Special tour, and there's a special tradition that Brian and Matthias are going to be introduced to.

Aaron says, "We always end up going to get one of those fake Blizzards—"

"We always go to Fosters Freeze," interrupts Andy.

"We always get a large [Twister] and then share it because it's a better price and because we're really sentimental," Aaron says with a laugh.

Overall, the World Record hopes that audiences have some fun at their shows.

"I think rock 'n' roll is supposed to be fun," says Andy. "Not everyone feels that way. There are a lot of serious bands, and a lot of people get a lot out of that, big emotional feelings and they're transported, but I like the fun of it. We have some serious songs and we do real stuff, it's not just all whimsical or anything. But for me, I'm trying to get to the point where it's always fun and we translate that, give it to the audience and then we have songs that I hope they remember."

As a final thought, I wonder if any of the band members were to set an actual world record, who would it be, and what would the record be for?

"Maybe Aaron would set some sort of record, but I don't know what it would be," offers Andy.

Aaron says, "It would be for the most annoying sound ever. I can beat the one on Dumb and Dumber!"

Freeway Special is currently available. For more information, visit theworldrecord.net.

L.A. HAVENS - Two Boots

A slice of the Earth Mother pizza delivered from Two Boots

 

TWO BOOTS

826 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown)

1818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

Figuring out where to order pizza delivery from in a new neighborhood is usually a matter of trial and error. We tried every place that would deliver in the first eight months of living in this neighborhood before Two Boots opened and became our go-to spot. Since 2009, the New York chain, which fuses cajun and creole with classic Italian (The pizzeria's name comes from Louisiana and Italy both being geographically shaped like boots.), has been serving up its cornmeal-dusted pies to Echo Park. They just opened a second L.A. location near the Orpheum in Downtown last May.

All of Two Boots' specialty pizzas are named after different film, TV or music personalities, such as the Dude, Mr. Pink, Cleopatra Jones, the Bird and the Newman. They even have one named for Dodger great Fernando Valenzuela. The El Toro comes with al pastor pork, nopalitos (prickly pear cactus), salsa verde, fresh cilantro and onions on a white pie. My favorites are the Larry Tate (spinach, plum tomatoes and fresh garlic on a white pie), the Tony Clifton (wild mushrooms, sweet red pepper pesto, Vidalia onions and mozzarella), the Bayou Beast (barbecue shrimp, crawfish, andouille sausage, jalapeños and mozzarella) and the Earth Mother (any five vegetable toppings. I usually get artichokes, garlic, jalapeños, sliced tomatoes and mushrooms).

I like it when a crust has a little bite to it; you can hear the crunch as you bite into it. Two Boots' crust is crispy on the outside and pillow-soft on the inside. Although we usually order delivery, actually going into the shop is fun as well. I like to grab a slice, a bottle of Boylan's black cherry soda and sit on their patio to people watch. Sandwiched between Origami Vinyl and the Echo, there's always plenty of activity going on out front. Both the Echo and Echoplex serve Two Boots if you didn't get to grab dinner before a show, too.

For more information, call (213) 413-2668 or visit la.twoboots.com.

STREET SIGNS - Vampire Cat

I'm not a cat person, but even I get a kick out of the pieces by Cat Cult. I especially like Vampire Cat – maybe it's because of the howling wolf in the background. This particular portrait is on an electrical box at the corner of Alvarado Street and Montana Street in Echo Park.

L.A. Havens - Red Hill

 

RED HILL

1325 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

I am a big fan of restaurateur Jason Michaud's Local; I even had my birthday party there last year. So when I heard that he was opening a new restaurant within walking distance of my house, I was excited. For years I had stared at the vacant Chinese bakery sitting on Echo Park Avenue, hoping that a good restaurant would move in. My wish was fulfilled when Red Hill took up residence in the space and began serving New American fare at the beginning of this year.

Chef Trevor Rocco artfully oversees an ever-changing menu, since Red Hill is committed to using seasonal local produce. The venison meatballs drizzled with a hearty sauce in the winter evolve into lamb meatballs in a white bean puree in the summer. Broccoli topped with a sunny-side up egg and anchovies is replaced by cauliflower with pine nuts and a chile aioli. Salad elements and flatbread toppings come and go, but the one constant is that the simple yet high-quality ingredients are prepared in a deliciously unpretentious way.

Red Hill's beets with farro and hazelnuts

There are several standards on the menu that have become favorites. The crisp on the outside/soft as a feather pillow on the inside beignets glisten with slices of melting lardo and pickled mustard seeds. I love the jewels of roasted beets served on a bed of farro, avocado, hazelnuts and honey-mint yogurt. The spit-roasted chicken is incredibly juicy with addicting crunchy skin. And the pasta! The papardelle in a pulled pork sauce is so good, you won't want to share a forkful from the enormous bowl. It's one of those dishes that just makes people blissfully happy.

The best thing about Red Hill is that it has turned a neighborhood eyesore into a comfortable place to gather with friends. Whether I'm there for a quick breakfast of an everything bagel with vegan cream cheese, tomato and avocado or a leisurely glass of rosé and hearty bowl of mussels with fries, I usually always leave with a smile on my face.

For more information, visit redhillrestaurant.com.

STREET SIGNS - Lizzy Tox

This lovely lady is stenciled on the pavement near Lot 1 Café on Laveta Terrace at Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. With her classic pin-up girl hairstyle, arched eyebrows and bright red lips, Lizzy Tox catches plenty of eyes.

Youngblood Hawke

Simon Katz, Sam Martin, Nik Hughes, Tasso Smith and Alice Katz of Youngblood Hawke at El Chavo

 

YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE

At El Chavo Restaurant

4441 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Silver Lake)

El Chavo is one of the most colorful establishments in Silver Lake. Brightly hued streamers, sombreros, piñatas and Christmas lights adorn the Mexican restaurant, yet the decor pales in comparison to the vibrant patrons who frequent the dining room for tacos and green corn tamales or perch on barstools for a shot of tequila. El Chavo attracts everyone from blue-collar workers downing an after-work beer to platinum blonde Dolly Parton (whose portrait hangs in the bar) and a red-hot band of local musicians known as Youngblood Hawke.

"We meet here with our manager and a bunch of our other musician friends on Thursdays," shares group co-founder, multi-instrumentalist Simon Katz. "They're all super creative, involved in all facets of the music industry around here. It's really interesting to have everyone gather together each week."

"We've probably come here every Thursday for the last year," continues vocalist Sam Martin. "We come to discuss the week: what's going on, what we need to do. That's the main reason we come together, and to have some margaritas."

We take a seat in the small cantina area of the restaurant known as El Chavito with the rest of their bandmates – drummer Nik Hughes, vocalist/percussionist Alice Katz and guitarist Tasso Smith – during Happy Hour. Tasso gets a Michelada, while the other guys settle for some cervezas. Alice and I decide on margaritas: a Chavo Margarita for me and a Tropical Margarita for her.

"It's a mango margarita," she says. "I've never had it before with this chili salt around the rim."

"They have a Natural Margarita [with organic agave nectar], which I think is a little less sweet," says Sam. "On Cinco de Mayo they have $3-$4 margaritas, which is so dangerous. It's the one day when you can just embarrass yourself, when everybody's like, 'At least I'm not as bad as that guy over there!'"

El Chavo's name translates to 'the kid' in Spanish, which perfectly encapsulates the jovial atmosphere of the restaurant, as well as the relaxed vibe that surrounds this group of five longtime friends who just released a self-titled EP, their debut on Universal Republic. Youngblood Hawke's youthful spirit shines in the EP's anthemic lead single, "We Come Running," which has been charting on radio nationwide and features the West Los Angeles Children's Choir.

"We were always trying to figure out a way to incorporate a children's choir into one of our songs. Every time you hear one sing, it evokes a feeling of happiness. It's unavoidable," shares Simon. "We were at the studio watching them sing, and we just had smiles plastered on our faces like a bunch of idiots. We felt that it was really appropriate for this song because of its message, which is essentially, to follow your dreams and even when things are bad, know that they will get better."

"Kids are filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity. It was cool to have them on the track because that's kind of the point of the song too: Don't ever lose that part of you," adds Sam.

The band is rehearsing for upcoming shows in support of the EP, kicking off at this Saturday's Echo Park Rising, a festival celebrating the dynamic scene in the community that Simon and Alice call home.

"I love the area around where I live in Echo Park. I've been in Los Angeles for almost 10 years, and I've lived in Echo Park for about two years. Just being in this area inspires me and makes me feel like I've found my nook," says Alice. "I love taking walks in the neighborhood, sitting at Fix Coffee and going to restaurants like Sage. I'm a vegetarian, and there are so many great restaurants to choose from here."

While Alice stays healthy by eating good food, the guys counterbalance days of working in the studio with pick-up games of basketball.

"We play at Bellevue Park. It's close to our rehearsal space, so we'll practice then go play some hoops and get our asses kicked by ninth graders. They're just a bunch of little kids, and they literally run circles around us," Sam laughs.

Tasso also likes to unwind with a surf session.

"I usually go surf Zuma Beach, anywhere in that area north of Malibu," he says. "Sometimes I go to El Porto, which is south of the airport."

"Is it at the port?" asks Simon.

El Chavo's Toltec warrior mural

Tasso replies, "No, the beach is just called El Porto."

"You better look it up, because it could be like a 'Do not swim here!' area," laughs Simon.

"It is right next to a surf break commonly known as Shitpipe," smiles Tasso, evoking a collective "eww" from everyone at the table.

This kind of joking banter is a frequent occurrence between the two childhood friends, who knew that music would be their common path from a young age growing up in San Antonio, Texas.

"Music was part of our whole childhood growing up. We met when we were 13 years old, and what do you do when you're 13 but play electric guitar or some instrument and skateboard around the neighborhood? That's all we did for 10 years: play music," recalls Simon.

"His family had a basement that they basically gave us. It was a storage room," says Tasso. "I think that room was it for me. We would hang out there all day, we would go in with nothing and come out with three great songs. It made us feel like we could definitely do this."

"We played in four different bands together, evolving with all of our friends. It became a part of our life. In college, it was still a part of our life. We just knew what made us happy. I tried other things. I went to college for filmmaking initially, but music was still the biggest thing in my life," continues Simon. "People always say, 'Follow your dreams,' but it's hard with music because you don't know what's going to happen, even if you really push it."

Nik also began his love affair with music in his youth.

"My dad played in bands – he's a guitarist/piano player. When my parents had me, they moved into a house, and my dad had to sell a lot of his equipment. For some reason, he decided not to sell the drums, so I had a drum kit when I was really little," he shares. "My grandmother was a professional singer in New York. She sang with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Nat King Cole in the '30s. She was great; I have some records of her singing. My mom sings as well. There's a lot of music in my family. I'm the only child, or else we would have a band of brothers or something like that."

Instead, Nic is content to be in a group with great friends whom he sees as siblings who have weathered a lot together. It seems fitting that the restaurant they hang out at the most has one exterior wall that boasts a huge mural of a strong Toltec warrior. While Youngblood Hawke and their music are definitely about fun, there is a passionate determination that simmers at the band's core. Their name, taken from the title of a Herman Wouk novel, relates to events surrounding their formation.

"The story is about a guy who moves from the mountains of Kentucky to New York, and I feel like we could relate to that because we got in the car and moved from Boulder to L.A. – Simon and I moved out here together in 2006. We were going to school in Boulder, and we wanted to make the move to try and do music out here," explains Sam. "In the novel, when the character moves to New York, he is immersed in a totally different world. It's almost an entirely different world that we've been exposed to, just like the character in the book."

"The whole story is very reflective of things that we've all been through. Us in particular [indicates Sam and himself] having success with our last band [Iglu & Hartly] – doing all this crazy stuff, coming from nowhere, not knowing anybody in L.A., craziness in the U.K. – and coming right back down again the next year," says Simon. "I think people will take away the metaphor that it was just the beginning of where we're going with this new project."

After the members of Iglu & Hartly parted ways, the duo poured its emotions into new material, with Simon's wife, Alice, contributing to songwriting sessions. The addition of Nik and Tasso rounded out the lineup, and Youngblood Hawke took flight last year playing the Sunset Strip Music Festival, a residency at the Satellite and South by Southwest. And the band shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.

"When we were writing those [first] songs, we were at the lowest we've ever felt. We were trying to inspire ourselves," says Simon. "It was like writing a letter to ourselves, to pick ourselves up even though we were starting over completely at ground zero after years of work with the last band. It was about the possibility. You just have to really believe in it; you just have to really want it. I was like, 'I don't care what happens, this has to work. There's no other option. It's do or die.'"

Youngblood Hawke performs May 22 at the Avalon. For more information, visit youngbloodhawke.com.

STREET SIGNS - Outsiders Rock!

The OSD Crew has several pieces in my neighborhood, and this is one of my favorites. Located on Aaron Street at Glendale Boulevard behind V.M. Auto Repair in Echo Park, the Outsiders Rock! mural never fails to make me smile whenever I pass it.

L.A. HAVENS - The Park Restaurant

 

THE PARK

1400 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Echo Park)

Chef Joshua Siegel wanted to create a true neighborhood restaurant when he opened the Park in 2008. Because of its strong word of mouth, excellent special offers and, of course, amazing food, the Park was just named one of the 15 Neighborhood Gems In and Around L.A. by Zagat.

When we initially moved to the area, the Park was one of the first restaurants we visited, and it remains one of our favorites; we eat there at least once a month. After a long day, being welcomed by manager David, seeing the familiar black-and-white checkerboard floor, the collection of well-worn cookbooks available for perusal in the foyer and original paintings on the walls are all such welcome sights. I have been to the Park for brunches, lunches and dinners and tried all of the staples that remain on the menu throughout the year. The majority of the menu changes with the seasons, but some of the stand-out seasonal dishes tend to return every year (like the amazing New England clam chowder with bits of smoky bacon and the refreshing watermelon salad with feta).

Chef Josh prepares a special appetizer and entree every weekend. Specials that we most recently tried were a delicious and unique Smoked Brisket Salad with organic plums, aged gouda, watercress, picked onions and barbecue sauce vinaigrette and a Grilled Wild Salmon with salmon tartare in a sesame miso cup, a crispy green onion pancake, soy sesame dipping sauce and sautéed pea shoots. Every Sunday the special is Beer Battered Fish & Chips, which is outstanding. The fish is battered just right – not too heavily. The hand-cut fries are always the first to disappear from my plate because everyone at the table can't stop eating them, and the homemade cole slaw and tartar sauce are perfect compliments to the meal.

The Park Burger

Earlier this summer, the Park hosted Monday sushi nights with $5 rolls, but the main draws are always Speakeasy Tuesdays (3-course prix fixe meals for $15), Wednesday Burger Nights ($5 for a 7-ounce sirloin burger or homemade veggie burger and a side. Yes, $5!) and Friday Supper Clubs ($25 for any appetizer, entree and dessert on the regular menu).

One of the can't-miss Tuesday meals is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with biscuit, gravy, collard greens and mashed potatoes. There is always a vegetarian option offered as well (usually mac and cheese on fried chicken night). Without fail, my son always orders the Park Burger. The homemade pickles on it are addicting. The veggie burger is good too. I usually always order it with a side of potato salad if I'm at the Park for lunch. Other favorites include the Roast Jidori Half Chicken with delectably crispy skin coated with demi-glace and served with French fries and arugula, the heavenly Caesar Salad (with anchovies, of course!) and the Szechuan Fried Calamari with spicy sesame-soy glaze.

Whether the dishes are Asian-infused, Mediterranean or down-home American, Chef Josh concocts an array of flavors that dance harmoniously on one's palate. I've never had a bad experience at the Park, and it continues to be a true L.A. Haven for me.

For reservations and more information, call 213-482-9209 or visit thepark1400sunset.com.

L.A. HAVENS - Rewind Audio

(Courtesy of Rewind Audio)

Rewind Audio

1041 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles (Echo Park) 213-273-8904

I was on the hunt for a new record player, and the moment I walked through the door of Rewind Audio I knew I was in the right place. The new M. Ward album was being spun on one of the many vintage turntables for sale, and I took it as a sign of their good taste.

Twelve years ago, married couple Jennifer and Oscar Carpinteyro began scouring estate sales for audio equipment. They opened Rewind Audio in 2010 with the intent of keeping e-waste out of landfills by refurbishing and selling pre-owned turntables, amps, receivers, cassette players and instruments at an affordable price.

My vintage turntable purchased from Rewind Audio

A true mom-and-pop store, you're sure to find at least one of the Carpinteyros on hand at all times to answer questions and make suggestions. Oscar walks me through their inventory, explains the pros and cons of every turntable and lets me listen for the difference as each one plays a record. I finally settle on a 47-year-old United Audio Dual 1019 turntable (at a very competitive price with what I've seen on e-Bay), which I am totally in love with now.

Besides offering a wide selection of equipment to purchase, Oscar also does repairs. As he shows me some pieces that people have brought in for him to fix, he shares a story of how the owner of one particular item accidentally dropped her turntable as soon she got home and had to turn right back around and have him fix it again. Remembering details like this about his customers and equipment is a true sign of someone who takes joy in his craft. Both Carpinteyros are passionate about what they do, and it's evident by their five stars on Yelp that the community has noticed.

Hours are Tues, Thurs-Sat: noon-7 p.m.; Wed: noon-3 p.m.