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Highly Linked Adventure in Music
Thursday Apr 14, 2005
Its been a busy but hardly blog worthy time here in Los Angeles. With the start of baseball season approximately 3 hours of potential productivity has gone by the wayside on a daily basis. Beyond my time spent viewing the White Sox, reading the White Sox box score, talking White Sox, and bragging about the White Sox, I’ve been doing the same for the upstart Chicago Bulls who just this weekend clinched their first playoff berth since 1998. I also joined 24 Hour Fitness for the next 3 years minimum.
Sports and fitness aside I have recently begun really working hard at editing and music. I am not certain what fueled this surge of creative work but for now it is going strong. I do know that one influence and motivating factor was the amazing show I laid witness to just an evening ago.
After over a year of wanting to go to Largo, last night finally brought me there. Located in West Hollywood, CA near CBS, The Grove, and Canter's famous deli, Largo is a small music venue where people gather for dinner, drinks, and high quality performance. Though I've been wanting to go primarily to see Jon Brion(famed for his Soundtrack work on I Heart Huckabees, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Magnolia) several other greats frequent the joint. Taking center stage for my maiden Largo run was none other than the great Michael Penn, husband of Aimee Mann, and brother of Sean Penn.
I had circled the date on the calendar over 2 months ago. Jerry Becker, producer and friend, had recommended Michael's music to me when we had discussed Aimee Mann and Jon Brion. Though I had zero familiarity with Mr. Penn's repertoire I could already assume that it would be the acoustic jazz pop rock sound that I had grown to love in several of his colleagues songs.
With Nichole and Brian, a friend from work, we headed out after a long day looking forward to a nice relaxing and delicious meal followed by a dessert of truly nourishing live music. If you weren't looking for Largo you were certainly drive right by. It has a very unassuming little sign and a completely black facade making it look more like a illicit massage parlor than an extravagant underground music venue.
Inside was a romantically lit room with tables for dinner, a fully stocked bar, and a small corner stage equipped with medieval looking piano. For a pricey but still reasonable cover the three of us were escorted to the bar. For table seats you must make a reservation ahead of time.
At the bar we all enjoyed drinks, the atmosphere and the great background music as we awaited the show. Brian, having no cash, offered to exchange his cover costs for food and drink. I obliged and enjoyed Atlanta’s finest beverage (Coke) with a side of Kentucky’s finest offerings (Chicken Fingers). Though my appetite for cuisine was clearly southern, the music we were about to enjoy belonged to no time or place.
Opening the show was Michael Penn’s background vocalist, Buddy Judge. Playing a jazzy guitar he told stories with catchy lyrics and wonderful progressions. I wished that I had more cash to pick up his CD on the spot but instead promised that I would find it post Largo. Unfortunately the cheapest one I can find is $15, which is a bit pricey!!
During the break between Buddy and Michael I caught out of the corner of my eye one of my music fav’s, Aimee Mann. She was in attendance to support her hubby as he made his way through their home in LA before going to the Midwest for the tail end of his tour. Though I was too shy to say anything it was neat to be in an audience with her!
Michael Penn played with a four-piece band. He was on acoustic guitar, Buddy sang back up vox and occasionally also played guitar, and two gentlemen were on the keys, one on synth the other on the piano. Penn’s haunting music, coupled with his passion for performance, pierced right through me. I instantly fell for his sound, a sound not too different than Aimee Mann’s or Jon Brion’s, yet unique and so very honest. The guitar playing was incredibly deft and beautiful, the chord choices were Beatle-esque, and the melodies were original yet still as catchy as pop tunes.
The topics of the songs ranged from the politically charged, as it was quickly made clear that Michael has similar views to his outspoken kin, to love, to feeling inadequate. Between songs Michael showed that he suffers from a bit of OCD by repeatedly retuning his guitar. Buddy would make humorous small talk to pass the time and the ritual became an enjoyable one.
All and all this was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen and I've seen some great shows. Usually to really enjoy a performance I will need some familiarity with the music but he carried his songs so well and the venue was so conducive to listening to completely new sounds that I felt engaged and delighted throughout.
For those of you traveling to or living in Los Angeles I cannot recommend Largo enough. For those of you interested in learning more about this genre of music or really anything on earth check out any one of the number of links posted in this entry.
Out.
