mind vomit

What do I do with this thing?

2009-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

Google Wave demo was inspiring but am I an interesting person?

Sickmas

2008-01-04T15:42:00.001-08:00

Once again my wonderful and lengthy Christams break has been poisoned by the flu bug. Over the past two weeks, I've watch countless movies and tons of World Series of Poker reruns. Even my Christams beard has only been visable to those who have braved to enter Apt. 189.

I'm going to nap.

My train ride

2007-07-30T22:40:00.001-07:00

I flew up to Seattle a couple months ago to ride this steam train charity special. It was an amzing time. It was also the same weekend as the Seattle Cheese Festival. I discovered cheese butter. Not sure for my better or worse in the long run. It was great seeing Ed too.

This is a picture some guy took of our train as it steamed along the Puget Sound. If you look close enough, you can see my head out of the window.

This is where I live.

2007-07-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

These signs popped up in my hood lately. Makes you wonder why I chose to live here, but I love it. I guess that's just life, right? Sometimes you have to live in a tsunami zone if you really want to live. Or maybe it's a reminder not to take things for granted. Beats me, but I keep my records in water proof tubs any way.

I'm the Phil Jackson of Fantasy Basketball

2007-04-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Despite a season where the scoring was totally screwed up in one league and I lost many of my draft picks to injury, I still went off the hook like Latrell Sprewell.

Despite many accusations over the years of “You win cause you’re the commish.” This year I refused to create and commish any leagues. I told all you fools, to set it up and I’ll dominate. They did their job and I did mine.

I might be as ugly as Anthony Mason, but I won son.

I think I’ll take next season off. Get a good draft pick in ’08.

SXSW Day 4 - WTF?

2007-03-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I can't explain it, I can only report it.

This plus a stirring discussion with Chuck D of Public Enemy (EXCLUSIVE!) and The Walkmen, once I find my M.I.A. Firewire video cable and get some rest. Stay Tuned.

SXSW 07 Day 4

2007-03-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

The Good, The Bad & SXSW Day 3

2007-03-17T00:58:00.000-07:00

It turned out to be a very british day...

The day started with a laugh at a panel dicussion on stand-up on the indie music show scene. David Cross led a discussion about how how all indie rockers look the same, yet think they stand out and don't look like they're enjoying themsleves no matter how funny he is.

Then I ran off to see New Rave Hipsters get their dance on @ Emo's JR with Fujiya + Miyagi and Simian Mobile Disco (This was not their live show, it was only a DJ set)

Simian Mobile Disco
New Rave Hipster Kids (Very Nice)
This guy's Nike Dunks weren't limited edition enough to get into Simian Mobile Disco.
Next year pal.

Sara and I went off to see The Fratellis @ The Spin / Yaris party and were in for a bit of Rock N' Roll history as Pete Townshend shocked the crowd when he burst onto the stage to join The Fratellis for a couple songs. I was one of the few (if only) one who got it on film.

Check it out ---->

Then it was of to the Little Radio day show to check out the MUCH HYPED El-P performace. I was very unimpressed and left early. I blow the doors off an El-P perforance around 7:30 AM every weekday mornign in my shower. Come by anytime, free drinks and apps.

Paul and I think of an excuse to tell El-P why we have to bail.

After a quick dinner, we went back to Stubbs to see Badly Drawn Boy and The Good, The Bad & The Queen, who I was excited to see perform above anyone else at SXSW... here's a look at their first song.

SXSW 07 Day 3

2007-03-17T00:53:00.000-07:00

Simian Mobile Disco
New Rave Hipster Kids (Very Nice)
This guy's Nike Dunks weren't limited edition enough to get into Simian Mobile Disco.
Next year pal.

Sara and I went off to see The Fratellis @ The Spin / Yaris party and were in for a bit of Rock N' Roll history as Pete Townshend shocked the crowd when he burst onto the stage to join The Fratellis for a couple songs. I was one of the few (if only) one who got it on film.

Check it out ---->

Then it was of to the Little Radio day show to check out the MUCH HYPED El-P performace. I was very unimpressed and left early. I blow the doors off an El-P perforance around 7:30 AM every weekday mornign in my shower. Come by anytime, free drinks and apps.

Paul and I think of an excuse to tell El-P why we have to bail.

After a quick dinner, we went back to Stubbs to see Badly Drawn Boy and The Good, The Bad & The Queen, who I was excited to see perform above anyone else at SXSW... here's a look at their first song.

SXSW 07 Day 2

2007-03-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

One thing I forgot before I came here, and I should have known better, was my beard. Luckily for me, every one else brought theirs (ladies excluded of course). Beardos have taken over the city in force.

Day two was difficult due mostly to the fact that many performances didn’t start on time, meaning I was walking all around the city all day missing artists left and right.

One of the day shows I did see was The Fratellis, who are shaping up to be one of the biggest British bands of the summer.The Fratellis @ The Fader party

I also had time to pop into a panel discussion with “Tom” from MySpace, who insightfully declared “running MySpace is hard.” I have since removed Tom from my friends list.

Everyone's friend Tom

After seeing great performances by X-Wife, The Cold War Kids, The High Street Robbers, the night came to an end with a 2 AM to 3 AM performance from Albert Hammond Jr. Enjoy some video below.

SXSW 07 Day 2

2007-03-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

One of the day shows I did see was The Fratellis, who are shaping up to be one of the biggest British bands of the summer.The Fratellis @ The Fader party

I also had time to pop into a panel discussion with “Tom” from MySpace, who insightfully declared “running MySpace is hard.” I have since removed Tom from my friends list.

Everyone's friend Tom

After seeing great performances by X-Wife, The Cold War Kids, The High Street Robbers, the night came to an end with a 2 AM to 3 AM performance from Albert Hammond Jr. Enjoy some video below.

SXSW Day 1

2007-03-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Despite the soggy weather, SXSW continues to amaze me and this year is shaping up to be even better than the last. The whole point of the festival is to expose people to undiscovered bands you wouldn’t normally get a chance to experience. You may think that would lead to a lot of disappointing shows, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The very first artist I watched was Joshua James, a young songwriter from Nebraska. Being that it was 11 AM on the first day of the music festival, to a crowd of about 15 people, I expected James to be predictable. He was anything but. James reminded that SXSW showcases the truly talented, undiscovered artists and in a small way inspired me for what the rest of the week has to offer, despite the lack of big name artists.

Joshua James @ Emos

Canada @ Emo's Annex

I spent the afternoon at the Ioda day party and was really impressed by the artists they showcased - especially The Twilight Sad. They’re from Scotland and have a loud, amazing sound that falls somewhere between Joy Division and Ride.

The Twilight Sad @ Emos Annex

A close second to The Twilight Sad was the tamales made by an old Mexican woman that Ioda brought in. You can hand out all the free schwag you want, but if you want to see people happy, make them tamales.

Little Radio and Good magazine also had a day party with Peter Bjorn & John. Thank you Good magazine for letting little old me into a “list full” party.

Peter Bjorn & John @ Little Radio

Rock icon Peter Townshend from The Who gave an interesting keynote interview where he described the current state of the record industry as “Rome is burning” and stomped on the idea of watching music concerts “on demand.” Townshend feels that people need to connect “live” over the web to experience the magic of artistic performance.

Pete Townshend Keynote Interview

Later, Toyota and Yaris hosted a special event featuring The Rapture, who were amazing live. While no video cameras were allowed, I snuck one in and captured this....

I ended a long day by attended an Afro-Punk showcase at exodus featuring Saul Williams and Game Rebellion. Good stuff, more tomorrow.

Game Rebellion @ Exodus

SXSW 07 Day 1

2007-03-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

Joshua James @ Emos

Canada @ Emo's Annex

The Twilight Sad @ Emos Annex

Peter Bjorn & John @ Little Radio

Pete Townshend Keynote Interview

Later, Toyota and Yaris hosted a special event featuring The Rapture, who were amazing live. While no video camera were allowed, I snuck one in and captured this....

I ended a long day by attended an Afro-Punk showcase at exodus featuring Saul Williams and Game Rebellion. Good stuff, more tomorrow.

Game Rebellion @ Exodus

Initial list for SXSW

2007-02-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Below is a short list of artists I'd love to see at SXSW (schedule permitting). Naturally, the fun parts come from bands you've never heard of before. Hopefully there will be tons of them again this year.

If you have any suggestions on who else I should (or shouldn't) see, the full list of bands can be seen here.

Here's my list so far...

A Band of Bees (AKA The Bees)
The Apples in Stereo
Architecture in Helsinki
Asobi Seksu
Blonde Redhead
BORIS
Cold War Kids
The Dears
dios
The Enemy
The Fratellis
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House
Junior Senior
Willy Mason
Mexican Institute of Sound (MIS)
Money Mark
Alexi Murdoch
Panda
Peaches
Simian Mobile Disco
The Stitches
The Stooges
The Sunshine Underground
Tokyo Police Club
The Walkmen

It's the most wonderful time of the year... blogging from SXSW

2007-02-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

Since I told work I would blog from SXSW, I needed to start my own blog, separate from this one, to avoid imagry like the one seen above from last year. Work is, after all, paying for the whole trip. ( I love you guys! )

Starting March 13 you can see all the beer I'm drinking at SXSWing.

Hopefully I can get some video uploaded while I am there too, all starting in just about 3 weeks.

Maybe I can mirror my blogs on here too, we'll see.

SXSW 2007 - Here we go again.

2007-02-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

I get into Austin March 13th, check back for my daily reporting on the festival!

Wise cows

2007-02-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of cows I ran into on my road trip over the holidays. They live a wonderful life eating grass on the hills somewhere off PCH, around 100 miles north of San Francisco, along side the most beautiful coastline in the entire world.

With no McDonalds in site and bunch of Prius driving hippies for local residents, these ladies have little to fear.

As I got out of the car to snap this photo off them, they stopped munching their fresh green grass to give me a piercing, brown-eyed look which roughly translated meant, “What the fuck are you doing?”

These cows post an interesting question for me. What the fuck am I doing?

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

No one says Merry Christmas anymore, so I'm bringing it back.

Growing up and living in LA my whole life, I never understood how people who have moved here from the Mid-West or East Coast could honestly say they "miss the seasons." For me, 50 degrees is freezing.

After spending some time in New York City during the holiday season, I can see how one could miss that. It was beautiful. Freezing, but beautiful.

I also now have much love for the people of New Jersey. Those are good people.

So with all of the holiday shopping, eating (you see how well the diet is going) and drinking I have to do I will leave my 4 or 5 readers with these pictures I took in NYC.

I actually feel in the mood this year.

Merry Christmas people. Evan out.

Top of "The Rock"... it's freezing up there.

Battery Park

Been in NYC / NJ, will blog soon...

2006-12-08T22:59:00.000-08:00

I was on the East Coast for the better part of a week and just got back Wednesday. +12 hour days of working and flying with no day off have left me brain dead, but I have tons to blog about. So gimmie a couple days and I'll get back to it. Plus work is hella nuts right now.

In the meantime I'm hitting up Beck @ The Echo in Silverlake tomorrow. Pictures to come....

Enjoy the picture I took from Battery Park until then.

I've decided to start my diet... NOW

2006-12-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

My work homies and I stumbled across Harold's New York Deli in Edison, New Jersey last night. Needless to say, this will be a meal that will never be forgotten by all that were present. I finished barely half of the the 13 oz. pastrami sandwhich... Kevin and Mike pretty much polished off the whole thing. Meanwhile Don drank a half-gallon chocolate milkshake while sampling pickles from the "World's Largest Pickle Bar." Still burping up pastrami today. Mmmmm yum.

Here's Don and his MONSTER shake.

Cubs sign Soriano, Jesus prepares for return.

2006-11-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

How’s it goin’? So I noticed that you finally got around to answering all the baseball prayers you’ve been neglecting for about a hundred years… Red Sox, White Sox, and you even gave Detroit a little love this year. I know, I know you’re busy with the Middle East and helping people win elections.

Getting back to baseball, you may have been distracted for just a second there when it came to the Cubbies. Everything was looking good in 2003, in the playoffs, five outs away from the World Series, and then… what happened? Was that our chance? I’m not blaming that little dude with the radio headphones but come on…

Anyway, Soriano. I’m excited. But I’ve been excited before. You know I get all worked up in April and by July / August, I feel like it’s never going to happen in my lifetime.

So Big G, if you can give it to one side of Chi-Town, give it to the other side too.

Thanks,

Evan

Midnight Taco Trucking

2006-11-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

Mark, Rizzo and I hit up the secret taco truck somewhere east of LA last night. Usually late-night taco truck eating is for post-alcohol munchies, but last night we had even more reason to eat more, the Lakers got their asses waxed by Detriot.
I can't disclose the location of the truck, but what I can tell you is if you find it, get the green sauce and ask for light onions.

Here's proof Mark ordered at least five.

Raise your hand if you're in Modest Mouse

2006-11-11T15:12:00.000-08:00

Remember when Modest Mouse had four guys in the band? Now there’s seven, sometimes eight, including Johnny Marr and some guy that looks like Matt Jones wearing a coal-mining helmet. Regardless, I went to see them play Thursday mostly because, being a life-long Smiths fan, I have never seen Johnny Marr in person.
It was a decent Modest show, but it was really trippy seeing Johnny play with them, basically replacing Dan on guitar. He brought his sound to a couple old songs and you can really him on the new stuff they played. Should be an interesting album when it comes out. If you should ever find yourself at The Grove, the security guys are Nazis.

"Johnny Maaa pray guitaaa." - Cornelius

The Game is back - Doctor's Advocate best album of 2006

2006-11-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

I got a copy of the new album... WOW! Homeboy is bringing it all back to the West Coast. This album is going to be huge, it's the best hip-hop album I've heard in FOREVER.

Compton in the house. 50 ain't got shit.

Laura's birthday in Palm Springs

2006-11-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

I had an amazing weekend in Palm Springs. It's been a long time since I really chilled the fuck out and focused on fun for two solid days. Drining, golfing, drinking, eating, poker, drinking, eating, poker, drinking... you know the drill.

Seeing everyone was so great, but mad love to Iain, Laura and Lisa for being the coolest ever. Happy 29th girl!

PS I can't golf for shit.

Beasties @ The Henry Fonda. Don't act like you didn't want to go.

2006-10-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

I hit up the “secret” Beastie Boys show tonight. This is my second secret Beasties show this year, but we’re tight like that so you know.

I HAD planned on taking a shit ton of video but the Nazi bouncers in the front were kicking out anyone with a camera. I did manage to get Sabotage though, although I had to hide my camera most of the show. I grabbed a couple shots seen above.

I did see Sayid from Lost there… didn’t get to ask him what the fuck with the numbers and the million other questions that never get answered.

Here’s how it went down at the Henry Fonda:

Root Down
Alright Here This
Pass The Mic
Sure Shot
Posse In Effect
Triple Trouble
No Sleep Til Brooklyn
Shake Your Rump
Groove Holmes
Sabrosa
Body Movin’
Super Disco Breakin’
High Plains Drifter
Egg Man
Skillz To Pay The Billz
Brass Monkey
3 MCs + 1 DJ
So What Cha Want?
Intergalactic
Gratitude
Sabotage

I don't have that good of a memory... I grabbed a set list after the show. Yup.

DirtyDirtyDancing

2006-10-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

I don’t dance. Especially if the DJ is playing soul and funk. I will however get down to It Takes Two by Ron Base & DJ EZ Rock. If someone drops that then watch out cuz it’s gonna get crazy!

This past Friday I had to wing it cause the DJ at Goodfoot kinda blows. I imagine I looked like Peter Brady falling down some stairs, but everyone else looked good out there. Mmk...

New high score; Espee kicks ass!

2006-10-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

I named my car Espee (figure out why and I’ll buy you Lakers tickets). I set an all-time new high score for a tank of gas on the Prius consumption screen in my car.

48.2 MPGizzles mofuckaz!

Between passing millions of people stuck in traffic with my carpool sticker and saving mad cash on gas, saving the planet has never made me this stoked.

Don’t let the 428 miles fool you, I had two gas squares left in my tank but, I had to drive to Long Beach and gas is cheaper by my house.

Don’t act like you don’t want one now.

WTF? - RIP Tower Records :(

2006-10-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

I might as well go dance on the freeway and let the cars run over me, my life is over. Tower Records is going out of business forever. As a teenager, I spent as many hours as a could in Tower, sifting through CDs for something that looked interesting or rare Smiths Japanese import singles or other stuff i really didn't need to buy. Usually the thing that drove me out of Tower was the need to pee.

This just means there's one less place to murder time, get caught up on culture (they had THE BEST magazine rack), and spend my retirement fund.

I miss you already.

The Dodgers are out; soul food before Mr. Brightside

2006-10-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday was an interesting day. The Dodgers got eliminated from the playoffs, which bummed me out because they haven’t won a post-season game since 1988. Ramzey asked me why I care so much. I can’t really give her a straight answer, but I do care an awful lot about baseball. I also had tickets to Game 4, which never got played.

So to make myself feel better, we had dinner at Flossie’s on Sat. night and then went off to see The Killers at The Wiltern. They put on such a great live show. Once I figure out how to upload all my videos to YouTube, it’s on. For now the three of you that read my blog will have to settle for still photos.

Basketball starts in two weeks. I have a feeling this season will require a lot more soul food to get through.

JAWS

2006-10-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Damien Hirst is one of my favorite artists and the New York Times has written a brilliant article on how he is re-vamping his work at The Saatchi Gallery in London.

This has given me a great idea for our lobby at work.

Don't bomb when you're the bomb

2006-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

"It was this big, seriously. I swear, I had to go so bad it was stabbing my heart." - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Will war ever take a vacation? Don't these dudes get stressed out and want to lay on a beach in Bali for a few weeks knocking back Coronas? North Korea, Iran, George W., Blair... it's time we all started to chill the fuck out and act like Fonzi on the whole blowing the world up thing.

$240 worth of pudding.... aww yeah

2006-09-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

NWICE! The State has finally be re-released since it originally aired on MTV, oh like 12 years ago, back when MTV didn't lick taint like it does now. You can download "Season 1" on iTunes as of yesterday.
Lots of people never watched this show, but it remains one of my all time favorite TV shows.
I would assume that a DVD collection will be coming shorty.
You hear that? That's free form. I love free form.

Go on with your bad self Billy

2006-09-26T22:32:00.001-07:00

If you haven't seen Bill Clinton rip Chris Wallace a new asshole on Fox News, I highly recommend it. Some conservatives have claimed that Wallace is some kind of hero for asking him this question - whatever. Billy answered the hell out of Wallace's question and probably made him crap his pants because he got reamed by a President on national TV. Funny all this 9/11 being Clinton's fault bullshit is coming up around mid-term elections. Someone getting nervous? I won't get on my political soap box too much on here, but the interview makes me laugh and the reasons behind it piss me off. I wish he could run again. Term limits: damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Surfing with Surfrider - bra.

2006-09-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

Last week Paul G., Felipe and I went down to San Clemente to meet with our new client, Surfrider Foundation. We spent the day at their offices listening to what they’re all about and asking them tons of questions about their goals for the future. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share some of the work we do for them real soon.

They are a great group of people that dedicate their lives to making sure we have beaches to swim or relax at and that we don’t swim in poop while we’re there. After our meeting we went surfing at Trestles, a good example of a place that Surfrider is trying to save.

If you enjoy going to the beach, even if it’s just once or year or you live by the beach, you should join Surfrider. It’s only $25 a year and you’ll be part of over 50,000 people who volunteer their time to protecting what we often take for granted.

Paul gettin some. Not bad for a Long Islander

Paul Frank feud in Vanity Fair - WTF??

2006-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

Just when you think life couldn’t possibly get any weirder, the people you grew up with turn up in Vanity Fair.

I can take a few things away from this article. First, the pretentiousness and pointless shit talking that plagued my social circles in high school is not only alive and well, but is seen as pretentious and immature by Vanity Fair! Second, Shag is a smart guy. Lastly, Ryan and John will do ANYTHING for free Lakers tickets.

All kidding aside, I have to say that you could see this coming from day one outside Amy’s Bakery. While his career has taken him amazing places and we haven’t had a real chat in years, I still like Paul. Worry Bear is proof that he’s still the Paul I remember and an emotional basket case like me.

I hope everyone gets a shit load of money out of this whole thing and calls it a day. I’m not taking sides, but good luck yall.

I will take sides on one issue however. Flying to Japan and flying from Portland to Seattle or Phoenix to Austin, two totally different experiences. Flying to Japan or London on a big ass plane is much easier on your constitution. The RV was a good idea.

New music this month.

2006-09-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am SHOCKED that The Teddybear’s album has been released six years after I discovered it while traveling through Sweden. WTF? I’ve been into stuff before it got popular, but six years?

I also bought DJ Shadow’s new album, which I have been waiting months to hear. Overall, iz ahite. I mean, worth the wait? Not really. OK, I’ll be honest kinda bummed on it.

Luckily I bought Lupe Fiasco’s new album they same day and that joint is off the chain son.

Also of note Peter Bjorn and John’s new album Writer’s Block is genius.

After years of religiously collecting their limited edition and rare seven-inch singles, Tortoise has released everything they’ve ever made scarce in a 3 disc and 1 DVD box set. Years of indie cred I had been establishing for no one but myself, flushed down the toilet once again. To make things worse, the DVD in my Box Set doesn’t work. Thanks dicks.

Also I have tickets to see The Killers and Jose Gonzales in the next 2 weeks… stoked. More on this when it happens.

Lucky Dad

2006-09-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

My Dad called me from his "office" last Sunday, he was conductor on a special train carrying the president of his railroad and "Governor" Arnold Schwarzenegger. Luckily Dad didn’t do anything that would have meant his dismissal from the railroad, which is rare from what I gather from his buddies at work.

Someone snapped this shot of the train climbing up Cajon Pass and posted it to the web. If you look hard enough you can see my Dad’s head in the cab.

Cute baby alert.

2006-09-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Jane just had her second child. A boy, who’s name is TBD. Her first child's name is Wren and is the cutest baby in the Southern Hemisphere for sure. Jane and I worked together at Y&R for what seems like half a lifetime. We sat at the same desk the entire time she was carrying Wren so needless to say, I feel like that kid is half mine.

The bummer in this story is that just after having Wren, Jane and family moved to Australia. Lucky for them, unlucky for me. Hopefully I'll visit someday, but I doubt the kiddo can stay that cute, that long.

Beyaw! More NASCAR for Evan in Richmond, VA… shoot.

2006-09-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

So I had to fly to Richmond, VA a couple weekends ago to interview NASCAR fans in their element. It sounded cool at first, but when I got to the track and realized that all these people had been there for 3 days already, drinking their asses off, I realized it was going to be a tough day of interviewing belligerent NASCAR fans in the south. Being half Mexican, I was worried.

Luckily, they were some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Well, most of them anyway. I don’t have a favorite driver, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. or “Junior” as they call him at the race, seems to be the guy to root for if you don’t want to get your ass kicked at one of these things. I think I’ll stick with him until I find out better.

One thing about NASCAR - they pray before every race. Now, I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but I thought you could like get sued for doing that stuff in a public venue. Maybe I’m wrong. I guess it’ll be fine until someone complains. But if they can do this at NASCAR, maybe the Cubs should have a prayer before each game?

I really liked Richmond, it seems like a sweet place to go to college. Also, they have Waffle Houses on like every other corner. That’s some good eatin’. Beyaw!

Who says we don't know how to use our tax dollars?

This guy was cool. I forgot his name.

I'm so tired

2006-09-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel.

After seven straight days of working 12+ hours a day and flying across the country twice, I feel like Luke at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Beat up, bloody and crying.

I am always complaining about being tired. I hate that. I don't want to be a complainer, but I am really fucking tired.

If only there was a spaceship with Billy Dee Williams and a princess to fly me away to get a robotic hand...

Less blogging, more sleep.

Happiness is an empty airplane seat next to you.

2006-09-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

I spent a solid 24 hours in airplanes or in an airport this weekend. What’s that you say? Was I off at some exotic location for a break from my everyday hectic life? Maybe somewhere tropical? Hawaii perhaps? Well no, I wasn’t. I was traveling for work and working.

Am I becoming the weary business traveler guy? You know, those guys you see wearing brown loafers, grey slacks, and a WSJ under their arm when you fly somewhere. I would have to say no, I'm not, based on the simple fact that I look like a total slob most of the time and people probably think I’m traveling cause someone, somewhere died and I have to go to a funeral. Otherwise I'd never be on a plane. Well nothing could be farther than the truth. I've been on more plane trips than China has people.

Needless to say I’m freaking tired right now, so I’m off to bed. More on my trip after I catch up on even more work and some sleep in a real bed.

Is is bad to not want to be like this someday? If I ever grow up?

The Waffle House in Richmond, Virgina changed my life for the better this weekend. Thank you Pam, Karen, and Florance. More on this later...

Shakin' n' bakin' at NASCAR

2006-09-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday I went to my first NASCAR event ever, the Sony HD 500 sponsored by POWERADE, it was hot, loud and far away! 105 degrees at the California Speedway made for a long day of sitting in gum, broken shoes, drunk guys barfing nachos and lotss of walking - but it was a pretty cool experience. Although after the first 50 laps, I kinda got the idea. Not that I wanted anyone to get hurt, but a crash would have been sweet.

This was something I had to do for work, which was kinda fun at the same time. If you ever go to a NASCAR race, bring earplugs, wet naps, and a gun if you're going to one outside of California.

Before the race we had to listen to a short speech by The Governator, Jason Lee, Kelly Clarkson, and some other random celebrities. Here are some highlights…

If you're ever in Fontana and you have the means, S.S. Burgers off Cherry is SO choice.

"Uh - hey Skeeter, you find a chilli dog stand yet?" "Nope but I think I see nachos."

Watching at home on TV is even better!

"He got a little loose over there in turn four... shoot!"

I don't like #41, but I do like shopping at Target.

I was hoping they would bomb Fontana after the race, but they got started earlier in the day.

Oh lord please be 18.

Zis iz cooool, non?

2006-09-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

For the entire month of August we had two planners “switch” offices with each other and we got one from our Paris office.

I looked at this as an opportunity to either try and get French people to think Americans are not so bad or be disappointed about France once again and remind them what exactly The Marshall Plan entailed before our "switcher" went back to Paris.

Luckily I think I succeeded in helping to ensure our new friend from France, Clarisse, had a good time state side. I hope she will have good things to say about the US, or at least California, to all of the protesting-marching-cigarette-smoking-black-and-white-stripe-shirt-wearing Parisians. I kid cause I love.

We were worried that she may not have ideas for things to do or see while she was in LA. As you can tell from her blog, homegirl had a butt load of crap to do and had a killer time. If you can read French, let me know if she talked any trash about me.

Siphanette and I took her to a Dodgers vs. Giants game at Chavez. Dodgers won in the 10th on a walk-off home run, 1-0. She thought it was retarded we sat around for three hours eating for one hit and the game was over. I said at least we don’t have ties and penatly kicks decide if we win the World Cup. Touché Frenchie!

Here is "Frenchie" and her very first Dodger Dog. "Zis iz cooool, non?"

Clarisse is now on her way back to France, we would have her back anytime. Aurevoir.

Pomona is the new Austin. Could Fontana be the next Portland?

2006-08-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

I grew up Pomona. There I said it. I guess it’s a hard thing for me to say because I had a love/hate relationship with P Town. In the 1980s growing up, it turned into a semi-ghost town after General Dynamics lost a Defense Department missile contract. Half the city was unemployed. It was not a fun place to grown up. Zero culture. Zero community. Tons of crime. All my friends at school lived in “posh” Diamond Bar or Phillips Ranch, which were places I would have needed a car to get to.

In 7th grade I had decided that I would basically give up on going to Catholic school as boredom and depression took over. I spent most of my 7th grade years ditching school and hanging out at the train station trainspotting and riding my bike around the old abandoned shops of downtown Pomona.

What I consider now to be a life-saving move, Mom moved us from Pomona to Orange County in 1990. I often wonder what I would have turned out like had we stayed in Pomona and I would have been “demoted” to the Pomona public school system.

Last weekend I was in downtown Pomona to watch my brother’s band play (more on this later) and I was shocked. Here, in the very place where I had spent years of my life ditching school and hanging out alone was an indie sort of Mecca.

I had previously known that the old Thrifty drug store had been turned into The Glass House concert venue and that there were some old buildings that had turned into bars or clubs. But what it has turned into is amazing. Indie record shops selling indie records – on vinyl. Arty cafes, a Starbucks (of course), a “bistro,” vintage clothing stores and get this – a store that specializes in Moog synthesizers! It reminded me of Austin a bit.

Where the hell was all this when I was growing up? It’s really amazing to me how the exact place where I escaped as a child; a place that was as polar opposite from cool and trendy has turned into “indie” hot spot. Over the years I have seen great shows at the Glass House, Pavement, Weezer, Modest Mouse, Promise Ring… and I still trip out on the whole thing. I guess life comes full circle sometimes.

Pomona Punks hang out across from the old Southern Pacfic depot.

Are kids buying records and CDs again? What happened to downloading?

The Emily Strange Store. Even stranger, it's in Pomona.

No need to fly to Soho in London, get your Fred Perry and Ben Sherman gear right here.

Where was the Moog store when I was in a band? WHERE?

French food - WTF?

Just a little off the sides

2006-08-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

My cousin Pablo AKA Pops (Center of the photo, my cousin Erica to the left and some random guy to the right.) was awarded his barber’s license last week from the state of California after what was an intense examination of his hair cutting skillz, which were deemed to be “mad” by the examiner.

Someday soon Pops will be helping me “get my fade on” somewhere in El Monte, California. I can’t wait because my hair is starting to fro out right about now.

He also has a license for something completely different, which I can’t discuss on here. Besides his license to ill, of course.

Pops wants to open up a barber shop of his own soon, which knowing Pops, will be off the chain.

On a side note, Pop’s little brother Marcel is going to be a proud papa soon. No doubt his child will be better than at driving the lane or pretty much anything else you can do on a b-ball court than him.

Comic-Con 2006: They're just as nerdy as you.

2006-08-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

This was my second time visiting Comic-Con International in San Diego. My first was when I was working on Mattel in 2004. I didn't feel as overwhelmed as I did the first year I went, but its an exhausting day. I walked through one of the most amazing displays of pop culture you can imagine.

I was really stoked to see (and buy) a ton of new urban vinyl stuff and some Star Wars Kubricks I really didn't need at all, but they were too cool not to take home. There also seemed to be a lot more independent comic book makers and toy dessigners there than in previouss years.

It's really not about comics and nerds, quite the opposite. It should be re-named to Pop Obsession Fest because it's full of everything anyone can become obsessed with. From artwork, to clothes, gadgets, TV shows (From Dallas to Battlestar Galactica), every movie ever made... you name it, you can find a ring of people with some obsession for the same thng you have.

Yeah there are some nerds there, including myself. But the cool or normal people and their passions far outweigh the freaks and nerds.

There's just no escaping Baby Milo. The whole designer toy world has grown to be about four times the size is had previously been at Comic-Con. That pretty much means its dead now.

I did some celeb-stalking! Rosario Dawon talks about her involvement with Occult Crimes Taskforce.

A company from Korea had a display of some very sweet looking phones that had the ability to download comic books from anywhere in Korea. They were there looking for a US partner. I later discovered you can get the same thing with Verizon Wireless. Sorry dudes.

I did some shopping at the UNKL booth. Cool stuff.

Debbie Huey, author of Bumperboy personalizes issues of her indie comic

Why don't they make real cars like this?

A Storm Trooper offers to shoot someone's child in the head for a photo op.

Sonic Youth, Shannon Moore and King Taco

2006-08-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

Last month I took my cousin Mark to see Sonic Youth at Little Radio in Downtown LA. We had a great time - Filter magazine throws the best secret parties I've even been to. Standing next to Thurston Moore while he plays was an amazing experience. Gotta love the ad agency perks (Thanks Weezey!).

I also met Shannon Moore, we had a few drinks and a good conversation. She's a great singer, mom and real sweetheart. She told me a great story about when Radiohead opened up for her! Check her out on iTunes.

Afterwards we hit up King Taco in East LA - those are some tacos that must be tried once before you die. Saturday night at King Taco is kinda of like going to a Morrissey show.

Here a picture of Mark in his element.

You've got issues: My obsession with trains

2006-08-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone's got something wrong with them, right? Maybe they're a little crazy, ugly, smelly, stupid or they have a third nipple. I'm not saying that I'm immuned to being any of those descriptions (except for the nips, I only have two - sorry), but I do have what I've been told is an unhealthy obsession with trains.

Now before you hit the back button on your browser, allow me to explain. Trains have played a very important part in my life and actually shaped my career in advertising and my ability to be an account planner.

My obsession with trains can be entirely blamed on my Dad, who's a conductor for the Union Pacific railroad. As a kid I grew up around, on, inside and even modeling trains. A hobby that has transferred into my... err "adult" life.

The thing is, when I was a kids I experienced the end of most of the last great railroads, especially in the west. Southern Pacific. Denver and Rio Grande Western. Chicago North Western. The list goes on forever.

When I was a kid Dad took me on rail fanning adventures, especially to Utah and Colorado to visit the daily operations of the D&RGW. If you've seen the movie The Station Agent, you'll know that visiting railroads means chasing trains through mountain passes and into cities and frieght yards. While that was fun and all, what really got me was the branding of the railroads and how each one of them truely lived up to their brand slogans.

The Rio Grande for instance: "Mainline Through the Rockies". Later they changed it to "The Action Road." Which is what it truely was. Their line traversed the toughest part of the Rockie Mountians. Their locomovites and freight cars and passenger literature was beautifully branded, just like the rest of Amerca's railroads at the time.
First rule of branding: Tell the truth.

Following trains with Dad taught me the the way brands could come alive. Our trips were brand expereinces where I saw, touched, smelled and fell in love with these brands.

I'd like a place to share my train crap, I think I'll be doing some of that here.

Evan's Blog Take Two

2006-08-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

I've tried this before (cheers Mario) and it didn't work because I was swamped at work.

I'm even more swamped now than ever... but it's Saturday night and my girlfriend is away in San Francisco for the weekend - so I thought I'd try this whole blogging thing again.

I don't expect anyone to understand any kind of flow of thought or organization to it, which is why I've called it WTF?

Here we go...