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INSIDE: Brandon Boyd, Bleached, Kleur, Ashton Michael, Shawn Harris, The Coachella Guide, LA's Best Street Artists, Event Calendars AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!!

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Page 1: LA CANVAS V2 3

LACANVAS.COM

STYLE

MUSIC

FOOD

EVENTS

ART

COVER BY:

MARCH// APRIL

MARCH// APRIL

Page 2: LA CANVAS V2 3

photos:Mike Piscitelli

INSIGHT LOS ANGELES1501 MAIN ST.VENICE, CA. 90291WWW.INSIGHT51.COM

insight51.com/art/steve-gorrow insight51.com/womens

Page 3: LA CANVAS V2 3

photos:Mike Piscitelli

INSIGHT LOS ANGELES1501 MAIN ST.VENICE, CA. 90291WWW.INSIGHT51.COM

insight51.com/art/steve-gorrow insight51.com/womens

Page 4: LA CANVAS V2 3

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[email protected]&GRAPE

Page 5: LA CANVAS V2 3

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Page 6: LA CANVAS V2 3

Vol 2, no 3MARCH // APRIL 2012

Shana Nys Dambrot

ERIN DENNISON

Kat odell

Matt Olson

Mike QuitiQuit

jimmy MNOIAN

Luis Fierros

David salazar

Emily Bradley

CHRISTOPHER CAPTAIN

Nicolas Corradi

Art EditorSTYLE EDITORFood Editor

Senior Account Managers

Copyright 2012, by LA CANVAS. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission in writing from LA CANVAS. LA CANVAS makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but is not responsible for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. LA CANVAS is not held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions.

+CREWSHIREEN ALIHAJI, Stephanie Chen, Marilyn Chiu,

Justin Fitzwater, DJ Raylus, Stampz

WHERE1778 N, Main St.

Los Angeles, CA 90031P:(323) 352-3250E:[email protected]

LACANVAS.COM

friends with Benefits

Creative Director/ PublisherDante Colombatti

Editor-in-chiefRebeca Arango

photography

PR/MArketing DIRECTOR

design

DINA PROVatas

NO TIME FOR LACES

photography christopherdibble.com

Page 7: LA CANVAS V2 3

Vol 2, no 3MARCH // APRIL 2012

Shana Nys Dambrot

ERIN DENNISON

Kat odell

Matt Olson

Mike QuitiQuit

jimmy MNOIAN

Luis Fierros

David salazar

Emily Bradley

CHRISTOPHER CAPTAIN

Nicolas Corradi

NO TIME FOR LACES

photography christopherdibble.com

Page 8: LA CANVAS V2 3

CONTENTS

ART MUSIC

STYLE

LA CULTURE

CHECK OUT

THE EXTENDED

VERSION OF THIS

ISSUE AT

LA CANVAS.COM

FOOD

64

54

19

10

49 RESTAURANT // MOO DAE PO II

52 CHEF // SCOTT QUINN

46 FOOD SCOOPS // FOODY TUNES

50 DRINK // SILVER SCREEN QUOTATIONS

51 BAR // FREDDY SMALLS

17 VENUE // EL PRADO

20 BAND // BLEACHED

14 PLAYLIST // THE BOTTOM LINE

NOTED

ROAD TRIP // PALM DESERT

TECH IT OUT // MUSIC GADGETS

58

60

MARCH EVENTS

APRIL EVENTS

LAST LOOK // SHAWN HARRIS

42DESIGNER // ASHTON MICHAEL

40STORE // KLEUR

35EDITORIAL // AND THE BEAT GOES ON

39ACCESORIES // YOUTH IN REVOLT

32ARTIST // BRANDON BOYD

24LA STREET ART

31BOOK // UNPAINTED FACES by Henry Diltz

26ART EVENTS

28GALLERY // YOUNG PROJECTS GALLERY

RADAR // ISLANDS15

Page 9: LA CANVAS V2 3

CONTENTS

ART MUSIC

STYLE

LA CULTURE

CHECK OUT

THE EXTENDED

VERSION OF THIS

ISSUE AT

LA CANVAS.COM

FOOD

64

54

19

10

49 RESTAURANT // MOO DAE PO II

52 CHEF // SCOTT QUINN

46 FOOD SCOOPS // FOODY TUNES

50 DRINK // SILVER SCREEN QUOTATIONS

51 BAR // FREDDY SMALLS

17 VENUE // EL PRADO

20 BAND // BLEACHED

14 PLAYLIST // THE BOTTOM LINE

NOTED

ROAD TRIP // PALM DESERT

TECH IT OUT // MUSIC GADGETS

58

60

MARCH EVENTS

APRIL EVENTS

LAST LOOK // SHAWN HARRIS

42DESIGNER // ASHTON MICHAEL

40STORE // KLEUR

35EDITORIAL // AND THE BEAT GOES ON

39ACCESORIES // YOUTH IN REVOLT

32ARTIST // BRANDON BOYD

24LA STREET ART

31BOOK // UNPAINTED FACES by Henry Diltz

26ART EVENTS

28GALLERY // YOUNG PROJECTS GALLERY

RADAR // ISLANDS15

Page 10: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 11: LA CANVAS V2 3

NOTE

The f irst issue of LA CANVAS magazine said

ARTS, FASHION and TECH on the cover. MUSIC

wasn’t even a section yet. But now we have

an entire issue dedicated to it, (this one) and

I’m probably happier about that than anyone.

Before I arrived in Los Angeles, I was in New York

City, and as far as the music scene goes I can

offer a few points of comparison. Being a musician

in NYC often means ‘schlepping gear to gigs in

taxis and then unloading it dangerously across

an ice-covered sidewalk while your fingertips are

stricken with sleet. It means paying way too much

for a rehearsal space with mics that feed back like

crazy. It means making sense of a million crappy

clubs with crappier sound systems and crowds

spread too thin. And there are no free Monday

night residencies. We have it so good here in

LA—I can’t imagine a better place to make music.

You might be giddy to learn that artist, author,

surfer and rock-star Brandon Boyd is the featured

visual art ist in this issue; the Incubus front

man and Venice resident was photographed by

Nick Corradi in Manhattan Beach. Rather than

printing images of his artwork, we asked Boyd to

illustrate right on top of the spread—which turned

out amazing. But of course there’s more music

where that came from. Inside, we chat with up-

and-coming rock band Bleached; go inside soulful

singer Nikko Gray’s new nail-art salon Kleur; party

to pop-videos at our favorite Korean BBQ joint; and

listen to records at El Prado in Echo Park. In the

fashion section, we have my favorite LAC editorial

to date, shot by Mark Oberlin in Downtown LA

with illustrations by our very own Erin Dennison.

For the cover of our inaugural Music Issue,

local artist and musician Shawn Harris (of alt-

pop duo Maniac) hand-drew us an image on his

iPad and then silk-screened it. I think it sets

a pretty spot-on, quintessential ly Cal i fornian

scene—especially with Coachella on the horizon

and everyone dreaming about the Desert. For

those of you who’ve managed to scour tickets

to the most hyped music festival in the universe,

we’ve put together a Palm Desert guide and

a playlist for the drive out. But even if those

coveted passes sold out faster than you could

type 9-0-0-whatever, has a little road-trip ever hurt

anyone? Possibly—but a good playlist never did.

// REBECA ARANGO Editor-in-Chief

PH

OTO

// TE

GA

N G

AA

N

Page 12: LA CANVAS V2 3

According to some people we know, the def init ion of a

cocktail is vodka on the rocks, hold the rocks. But really,

there are other ways to work up a buzz without having to

work of f the calories. Refine cocktail mixers are all natural,

sugar free, zero-calorie and come in margarita, mojito and

cosmopolitan flavors. And the best par t is they’re a quick,

hassle-free way to pull together a bar at your next house party.

http://www.refinemixers.com/

NOTED.

SO REFINED

If you think it rains in Southern California, you obviously haven’t ever lived anywhere else. And constant

sunshine requires constant shades—so most of us have developed quite the collection of sunglasses.

Currently, our favorite pairs are handmade in Encinitas by Raen Optics. Classic yet fashion-forward, Raen

glasses are crafted from premium acetate and fitted with Carl Zeiss Vision lenses. We’ll take one of every style.

http://raenoptics.com/

RAEN OR SHINE

It ’s not of ten that we go out clubbing in Beverly Hills, but Thursday Nights at Conf idential are def initely changing that. Conf idential ’s new bi-monthly Electric White par ty brings in the hot test electro DJs from around the world, like Danish Superstar Mar tin Bruem, who kicked things of f there las t month. Here’s a t ip: don’ t t r y and go waltzing in the front door—you’ll need a password to get in through the back alley of this slick modern speakeasy. http://www.CONFIDENTIALBeverlyHills.com/

ON THE DL

10

Page 13: LA CANVAS V2 3

Rumor has it Australians wear Volley sneakers

like we wear Chuck Taylors. That is—everyone

wears them, all the t ime. This year, you can

get Volleys at a number of LA retai lers and

online. We would rock these classic 50s canvas-

and-gum low- tops ever y where f rom tennis

cour ts to DTLA to the beach. They ’re ul t ra-

sof t, very comfor table, and like Chucks, you

can throw ‘em right in the washing machine.

http://www.volley.com.au/

What happens when three world-class professional cof fee

fanatics join forces, roasting in a DTLA warehouse? Simple,

accessible, and amazing cof fee. You can find Handsome

Coffee Roasters’ brew at cafés all over Los Angeles, or order

beans online from a concise, sophisticated menu. But if

you’re Downtown, make sure you stop by the brand-new

sleek and simple Handsome Cof fee bar on Mateo street.

http://www.handsomecoffee.com/

HANDSOME BOYS

AN AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC

Local rock band Last American Buffalo caught our at tention earlier this year during their Tuesday night

residency at Harvard & Stone. To celebrate the series of gigs, LAB released three free mp3s of beautiful,

heartbroken cowboy indie-rock, all impeccably performed and produced. Lead singer Kevin Compton’s wary,

soulful voice trembles over steady rolling toms and rat tling tambourines that evoke old Western melodramas.

Break out the bourbon—this is the kind of music you drink straight whiskey to—no cranberry vodkas allowed.

http://lastamericanbuffalo.com/

LAST AMERICAN BUFFALO

Last year, we listened to LA rapper Def Sound’s “(A)gain”

again and again and again…and, well, again. The catchy

sample aside, Def ’s definitely got sick style, swagger, and

a mellowed-out, clever f low. His most recent single “A

Song Called Any thing” featur ing Alex Isley wil l most

definitely find it ’s way onto our poolside playlist this Spring.

http://defsound.bandcamp.com/

DEF SOUND

11

Page 14: LA CANVAS V2 3

DOTCOM

TALK BACKCome on, don’t be shy. Submit your

music to the LAC Soundcloud, leave

a comment on the LAC blog, or take

a picture of your dog and tweet it at

us. Seriously, anything goes.

TAG ITBeen to one of our parties recently?

Vis i t facebook.com/lacanvasmag—

there are probably some seriously hot

pictures of you and your friends up

there, and everyone should see them.

BLOG IT UPFor sneak prev iews of ar t shows,

i n t e r v i e w s w i t h u p - a n d - c o m i n g

musicians, round-ups of where to eat

and photos from your favorite designers,

visit LACANVAS.COM/BLOG.

GET INVITEDThinking about ordering pizza and

watching Family Guy tonight? You’ve

got better things to do. Find an up-

to-date, comprehensive but carefully

selected list of concerts, art shows,

parties, restaurant openings and more

on our online calendar.

READ UPIf you’re left wanting more at the end

of this issue, don’t worry—the digital

issue of LA CANVAS is even bigger and

better; it’s packed with juicy extended

interviews, killer photo-shoot outtakes,

and much more.

WIN BIGIf you aren’t following us on twitter, it’s

either because you don’t have a twitter

account or you hate free stuff. @LACANVAS

is constantly giving away concert tickets,

and swag—so pay attention!

@LACANVAS: “We have tix 2 see WU TANG

CLAN this Saturday at Club Nokia! Get

5 of your friends to fol low us and tweet

#wutangclan to win!”

LISA PEARL X DIRTEE HOLLYWOOD

“...of course we’re super excited to announce

the latest collab with renowned photographer/

designer Lisa Pearl. You may have seen

Pearl’s high-impact line of home decor in

Fred Segal, Barney’s, celebrity homes, or

even at the movies...”

PHOTO ALBUM: HANDSOME COFFEE

ROASTERS GRAND OPENING PARTY

Check it out at facebook.com/lacanvasmag

ARTIST // CANT STOP GOODBOY

“...of course we’re super excited to announce

TOP TALK

LA’s BEST ART, MUSIC, FOOD, STYLE AND

EVENT SOURCE.

GOT A MINUTE?

WIN

SIGN UP ONLINE TO GET YOUR WEEKLY

DOSE OF LA’S BEST EVENTS SENT STRAIGHT

TO YOUR INBOX EVERY THURSDAY.

FREE HEADPHONES!BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY,

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME IN SO MANY

COLORS. LA CANVAS WILL BE GIVING AWAY

ONE PAIR OF URBANEARS EVERY DAY

FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH—

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK

TO FIND OUT HOW TO WIN!

(LACANVAS.COM)

12

Page 15: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 16: LA CANVAS V2 3

THE BOTTOM LINEOF COURSE WE ALL LOVE RADIOHEAD AND SNOOP DOGG, BUT THIS YEAR’S COACHELLA POSTER IS FULL OF GREAT BANDS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. HERE’S OUR GUIDE TO ALL THE SMALL-FONT ACTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS; THE FULL SPOTIFY PLAYLIST CLOCKS IN AT ABOUT TWO HOURS—SO THERE’S YOUR DRIVE OUT, SOUNDTRACKED.

“Heartbeat” Childish Gambino

“Money Grabber” Fitz and the Tantrums

“Peso” ASAP Rocky

“212” Azealia Banks

“Easy” Dragonette

“Ronald Regan Era” Kendrick Lamar

“Gay Thoughts” The Growlers

“Up Up Up” GIVERS

“Everything Goes My Way” Metronomy

“Get it Daddy” Sleeper Agent

“I Know What I Am” Band of Skulls

“New York” Le Butcherettes

TO STREAM THE EXTENDED VERSION OF OUR PLAYLIST. CHECK OUT LA CANVAS’S

PROFILE ON SPOTIFY

POWERED BY //

14

PLAYLIST

Page 17: LA CANVAS V2 3

It was a minor epiphany, a perceptive jump from disgust to acceptance that

allowed Nick Thorburn to revise his stance on olives. Potently acidic and

quite salty, he never enjoyed the taste, “until I just accepted the fact that

they were olives, and that ’s what olives taste like. Then I f igured it out—Los

Angeles, it ’s kind of similar; kind of sour and kind of briny but, once you just

deal with it, you kind of like it.” Nick has been floating around LA for over

a year now, never really commit ting to his move but inadvertently set tling

in. Originally from a small town in British Columbia, he began his career

in Montréal fronting the Unicorns, who disbanded af ter just one album of

ef for tlessly magical, lo-f i pop. 2003’s Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re

Gone was and is an indie cult favorite: bizarre, punk, and spastic; heavy with

death and twisted with myth but buoyed by synth squeaks, spunk, and humor.

Since the Unicorns’ demise, Nick has taken part in more musical projects

than we can list here (including Mister Heavenly, the indie-rock supergroup

he star ted with Man Man’s Honus Honus), but his main thing has always

been Islands, a band that with each successive record has shif ted style

and shape to both critical acclaim and confusion, their four th presenting

the greatest shif t yet. Released this past Valentine’s Day, A Sleep and

A Forgetting is Nick Thorburn at his most vulnerable, str ipped of face

paint, enigma, or fantasy. It was writ ten following a break-up that drove

him to wind up here in LA. “It was a good reason to focus on get ting to

the hear t of what I was trying to say in ways that I never would before.

I would always shroud feelings and emotions, cloak them in a kind of

metaphor. [This time] I was really trying to get to it. I don’t even know if I

succeeded, but I was just trying to approach songwriting in a dif ferent way.”

Lyrically confessional, honest and clear, A Sleep and A Forgetting is sonically

just as straight forward. Ambit ious instrumentat ion, elaborate rhy thms,

and eccentric synthesizers are stripped away, replaced by a surprisingly

classic arrangement of piano, bass, guitar, and drums and mostly recorded

live at Kingsize Soundlabs in Glassell Park. “We had very limited t ime

and resources, so we went in really prepared and just played. It was an

awesome experience; we just had to commit to sound. People get hung up

I think—producers especially—on making things sound as good as they

can. They lose their way and forget what makes the song good in the first

place, which is the song itself and the way it ’s per formed. Everything else is

secondary.” Nick has reigned in Islands’ live sound as well, pairing down his

once extensive line-up to just four musicians, including Canadian brothers

Evan and Geordie Gordon and local drummer Luc Laurent. You can catch

them at the Bootleg Theater on March 14th; it ’s the last stop on their tour

of intimate, seated piano venues, which they most likely won’t be repeating.

ISLANDS’ FRONTMAN NICK THORBURN WRITES HIS MOST

PERSONAL ALBUM YET

// Rebeca Arango

PHOTO // Captain

CHECK OUT THE FULL Q&A AT LACANVAS.COM

A FREE FLOATING ISLAND

15

RADAR

Page 18: LA CANVAS V2 3

OFF The RECORD EL PRADO SPINS ECHO PARK’S

COMMUNAL VINYL COLLECTION ONE LP AT A TIME

You could walk along Sunset between Glendale and Echo Park hundreds of times

before noticing El Prado—which is just how owner Jeff Ellemeyer wants it. It ’s

not about exclusivity or secrecy, but subtlety. Ellemeyer doesn’t need a neon sign

to invite you into his bar. From the street, Prado is identifiable only by the bold

1805 printed in white across the blackened windows. Inside, the lack of signage

continues; printed writing or imagery can be found only on the LPs leaning

against the back wall. Understated, casual and refined, the Prado experience

was thoughtfully executed from the wine, beer and snack program to the design

and music. Drawing inspiration from European small-town bars, beer halls, and

elemental Nor-Cal style, Ellemeyer spent over six months turning what was an old

rough-and-tumble beer joint into the homey yet elegant watering hole it is today.

While few would classify El Prado as a “venue”—live music is not performed

here—there is something quite venue-like about a public space set on preserving

a dying musical form: the full-length album, and more specifically, the vinyl LP.

“There’s no iPod in here, no playlist, none of that shit,” says Ellemeyer. “I’m not

going to geek out about the quality. Digital music is probably more consistent

than vinyl—vinyl can sound really amazing—but I do like the form. I like the

pregnant pauses when the record’s done and the bartender looks for another one,

and I’m okay with playing it in its entirety, good and bad songs alike. There was

a lot of effort put into albums in the day, and I think it really shows when you’re

allowed to play the whole record side by side, the way it was meant to be played.”

The bar’s vinyl collection started with Ellemeyer’s and expanded over time with

contributions from bartenders, customers, and Origami Vinyl’s Neil Schield (who

selects new releases for Prado). Anyone can bring one in any time and have

it played, and on Tuesday nights, Schield hosts Record Club, a gathering that

began in a private living room and is now open to the public, playing half-albums

from the first eight people to sign up in advance. “Lots of unique and rare

records come through,” explains Schield. “There’s always something that we’ve

never seen or heard.” Attendees discuss the selections on Twit ter using the

#recordclub hash tag, but the interactive aspect goes beyond the digital. “We’ve

had a couple of relationships blossom from Record Club. It ’s cool to see girls and

boys get their nerd on and then start dating. Maybe we’ll start the Record Club

Matchmakers or something.” Now there’s a dating service we could get behind.

“There’s no iPod in here, no playlist, none of that shit,”

//Rebeca Arango

“The

re’s

no iP

od in here, no playlist, none of that shit,”..

.

1805 W Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

LOCATION:

MORNINGBECOMESECLECTIC

Watch highlights from recent performances online at:www.KCRW.com/instudio

Hosted ByJASON BENTLEY

GOTYERYAN ADAMSHONEYHONEYSHELBY LYNNEADELE

Hear intimate live performances withyour favorite bands.

RECENT SHOWS

Page 19: LA CANVAS V2 3

OFF The RECORD EL PRADO SPINS ECHO PARK’S

COMMUNAL VINYL COLLECTION ONE LP AT A TIME

You could walk along Sunset between Glendale and Echo Park hundreds of times

before noticing El Prado—which is just how owner Jeff Ellemeyer wants it. It ’s

not about exclusivity or secrecy, but subtlety. Ellemeyer doesn’t need a neon sign

to invite you into his bar. From the street, Prado is identifiable only by the bold

1805 printed in white across the blackened windows. Inside, the lack of signage

continues; printed writing or imagery can be found only on the LPs leaning

against the back wall. Understated, casual and refined, the Prado experience

was thoughtfully executed from the wine, beer and snack program to the design

and music. Drawing inspiration from European small-town bars, beer halls, and

elemental Nor-Cal style, Ellemeyer spent over six months turning what was an old

rough-and-tumble beer joint into the homey yet elegant watering hole it is today.

While few would classify El Prado as a “venue”—live music is not performed

here—there is something quite venue-like about a public space set on preserving

a dying musical form: the full-length album, and more specifically, the vinyl LP.

“There’s no iPod in here, no playlist, none of that shit,” says Ellemeyer. “I’m not

going to geek out about the quality. Digital music is probably more consistent

than vinyl—vinyl can sound really amazing—but I do like the form. I like the

pregnant pauses when the record’s done and the bartender looks for another one,

and I’m okay with playing it in its entirety, good and bad songs alike. There was

a lot of effort put into albums in the day, and I think it really shows when you’re

allowed to play the whole record side by side, the way it was meant to be played.”

The bar’s vinyl collection started with Ellemeyer’s and expanded over time with

contributions from bartenders, customers, and Origami Vinyl’s Neil Schield (who

selects new releases for Prado). Anyone can bring one in any time and have

it played, and on Tuesday nights, Schield hosts Record Club, a gathering that

began in a private living room and is now open to the public, playing half-albums

from the first eight people to sign up in advance. “Lots of unique and rare

records come through,” explains Schield. “There’s always something that we’ve

never seen or heard.” Attendees discuss the selections on Twit ter using the

#recordclub hash tag, but the interactive aspect goes beyond the digital. “We’ve

had a couple of relationships blossom from Record Club. It ’s cool to see girls and

boys get their nerd on and then start dating. Maybe we’ll start the Record Club

Matchmakers or something.” Now there’s a dating service we could get behind.

“There’s no iPod in here, no playlist, none of that shit,”

//Rebeca Arango

“The

re’s

no iP

od in here, no playlist, none of that shit,”..

.

1805 W Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

LOCATION:

17

VENUE

Page 20: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 21: LA CANVAS V2 3

SUNSET JUNCTION SWAG

SUNSET JUNCTION

SWAG

A W EL L- D R ES S ED H A N D SO M E BOY B A N D

A L A SILVERL AK E? LE S IGH. L A CANVAS

CAUGHT UP WITH DREAMY LESANDS FRONT

MAN AUSTIN TAYLOR TIRADO TO ASK HIM A

FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS SOUND, ST YLE

A ND W HI C H OL S EN S IS T ER H E P R EF ERS .

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND. WHAT SCENE IS THE LESANDS TRACK PLAYING TO?

Think a romantic pop you can listen to

when you break up with someone or while

you’re making out with someone.

DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR STYLE? Yes completely. I feel cer tain songs make

me want to shop.

GIVE US A MENTAL SCREEN-SHOT OF

YOUR SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS?

Bowie to New Radicals to Mariah Carey to

Rufus Wainwright to Tribe Called Quest to

Ace of Base

Favorite designers right now?

Helmut Lang for girls, Thamanyah for guys.

DO YOU WASH YOUR JEANS? Not everyday—two or three times a week.

MARY-KATE OR ASHLEY?

I lean MK for sure.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LESANDS? Finishing up our f i r s t record, which

should be out in the nex t 3 months,

Making music videos, and then trying to

be the most romantic/chic band possible.

Story// Erin Dennison

LISTEN TO LESANDS HERE!

Page 22: LA CANVAS V2 3

ROAD TRIP We realize you won’t have time to do all of this stuff on Coachella weekend, but the music festival is really only one little (okay, massive) reason to drive out to the desert. Whether you’ve got tickets or not, here are our favorite things to do and places to see in the Coachella Valley. PALM DESERT

The bad news is, there’s nearly

always a wait to have brunch at

Cheeky’s, but the good news is

there’s an adjacent outdoor bar.

Drink a beer or two, and you’ll

be chowing down on some locally

sourced comfort food in no time.

www.cheekysps.com

The Nest is the kind of place that ’s

bustling before 10pm, the piano bar full

of happy people dancing to a cover band

playing nothing but the classics. Plus, the

food is consistently great and the service

is top notch. www.gotothenest.com

The desert is known for its great thrift stores,

but if you’re in the market for some high-end,

gently loved leftovers, look no further than

Deja Vu Vintage Finery. They’ve recently

moved their premiere collection of vintage

Dior, YSL, Chanel and more to a brand

new space in the Uptown Design District.

Whether your looking for a 70s caftan or a

mod mini dress, you’ll probably find it here.

www.dejavuvintagefinery.blogspot.com

CHEEKY’S

THE NEST

DEJA-VU VINTAGE

Of all the pools in Palm Springs, the one at the Ace

Hotel & Swim Club is undoubtedly the most exciting.

A re-vamped vestige of the old HoJo’s, this jagged

saltwater watering hole is kept at an ultra-comfortable

87 degrees and stays open ‘till 2 am. The Ace always

throws down for Coachella, and this year they’ve teemed

up with footwear brand Generic Surplus and artist Steven

Harrington to bring you Roadside At traction, a 9-day

multimedia installation and kickback party. Make sure

you stop by to relax, re-charge and check out all the

awesome shoes. www.acehotel.com/palmsprings

If you stay at the Ace, chances are you’ll run into

a stylish, bespectacled lady named Linda Gerard.

Actress, singer, and fashion icon, Gerard hosts

Sissy Bingo on Monday Nights, enter taining

guests with scandalous songs and fabulous

prizes. But if you can’t make it Monday, try and

grab dinner at King’s Highway—you might get

lucky halfway through a plate of fish tacos as

Gerard is known to spontaneously burst into song.

Ditch the car and the fixed gear—as long

as you’ve got an out-of-state or motorcycle

license, the nice people at Scoot Palm Springs

will show you how to see the desert in style for

just $60. www.scootpalmsprings.com

Pappy & Harriet’s is probably one of the most

magical places in the desert. Once a saloon

set for 1950s Westerns, this old-timey BBQ

joint and bar now hosts bands every night

on the patio under the stars. Grab a mason

jar full of booze and cuddle up by the fire to

catch some great indie-rock, jazz, or folk any

night of the week. www.pappyandharriets.com

THE ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB

SISSY BINGO

SCOOT PALM SPRINGS

PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN PALACE

// Rebeca Arango Illustrations // Erin Dennison

www.acehotel.com/palmsprings/calendar

BEST COFFEE KOFFIwww.kofficoffee.com

BEST MEXICAN LAS CASUELAS www.lascasuelas.com

Page 23: LA CANVAS V2 3

ROAD TRIP We realize you won’t have time to do all of this stuff on Coachella weekend, but the music festival is really only one little (okay, massive) reason to drive out to the desert. Whether you’ve got tickets or not, here are our favorite things to do and places to see in the Coachella Valley. PALM DESERT

The bad news is, there’s nearly

always a wait to have brunch at

Cheeky’s, but the good news is

there’s an adjacent outdoor bar.

Drink a beer or two, and you’ll

be chowing down on some locally

sourced comfort food in no time.

www.cheekysps.com

The Nest is the kind of place that ’s

bustling before 10pm, the piano bar full

of happy people dancing to a cover band

playing nothing but the classics. Plus, the

food is consistently great and the service

is top notch. www.gotothenest.com

The desert is known for its great thrift stores,

but if you’re in the market for some high-end,

gently loved leftovers, look no further than

Deja Vu Vintage Finery. They’ve recently

moved their premiere collection of vintage

Dior, YSL, Chanel and more to a brand

new space in the Uptown Design District.

Whether your looking for a 70s caftan or a

mod mini dress, you’ll probably find it here.

www.dejavuvintagefinery.blogspot.com

CHEEKY’S

THE NEST

DEJA-VU VINTAGE

Of all the pools in Palm Springs, the one at the Ace

Hotel & Swim Club is undoubtedly the most exciting.

A re-vamped vestige of the old HoJo’s, this jagged

saltwater watering hole is kept at an ultra-comfortable

87 degrees and stays open ‘till 2 am. The Ace always

throws down for Coachella, and this year they’ve teemed

up with footwear brand Generic Surplus and artist Steven

Harrington to bring you Roadside At traction, a 9-day

multimedia installation and kickback party. Make sure

you stop by to relax, re-charge and check out all the

awesome shoes. www.acehotel.com/palmsprings

If you stay at the Ace, chances are you’ll run into

a stylish, bespectacled lady named Linda Gerard.

Actress, singer, and fashion icon, Gerard hosts

Sissy Bingo on Monday Nights, enter taining

guests with scandalous songs and fabulous

prizes. But if you can’t make it Monday, try and

grab dinner at King’s Highway—you might get

lucky halfway through a plate of fish tacos as

Gerard is known to spontaneously burst into song.

Ditch the car and the fixed gear—as long

as you’ve got an out-of-state or motorcycle

license, the nice people at Scoot Palm Springs

will show you how to see the desert in style for

just $60. www.scootpalmsprings.com

Pappy & Harriet’s is probably one of the most

magical places in the desert. Once a saloon

set for 1950s Westerns, this old-timey BBQ

joint and bar now hosts bands every night

on the patio under the stars. Grab a mason

jar full of booze and cuddle up by the fire to

catch some great indie-rock, jazz, or folk any

night of the week. www.pappyandharriets.com

THE ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB

SISSY BINGO

SCOOT PALM SPRINGS

PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN PALACE

// Rebeca Arango Illustrations // Erin Dennison

www.acehotel.com/palmsprings/calendar

BEST COFFEE KOFFIwww.kofficoffee.com

BEST MEXICAN LAS CASUELAS www.lascasuelas.com

19

ROAD TRIP

Page 24: LA CANVAS V2 3

SISTERACT

LAC: HOW DID YOU GUYS BECOME MUSICIANS?

JEN: Our dad plays guitar and bass, and our mom sings, so we grew up around that—but we never

thought it was cool, because we were into punk. I remember one day we were at some show at the

Glasshouse and we were like, “Wait—why can’t WE be in a band?” So Jessie star ted playing bass, I

star ted playing guitar—I didn’t even know how to play guitar, just how to strum.

JESSIE: We were like a thrash-punk band. It was called D.B.L.

JEN: Recently I found this envelope that had all our potential names writ ten on it—we went with Dead

Banana Ladies. That was in high school…then we ended up dropping out and star ting Mika Miko.

LAC: WHAT HAPPENED TO MIKA MIKO?

JESSIE: I feel like we were all so young, so when we got older, everyone star ted branching out, doing

their own thing. We were even talking about Bleached during the last Mika Miko tour. I can remember

thinking, “I’m really excited to just go home and practice country.”

JEN: Yeah, we wanted to star t a band where we could write the songs—just us—and make them more

involved, less punk. We were excited to try writ ing in other genres.

THE CLAVINS HIT THE ROAD AND THE RADIO WITH THEIR NEW BAND BLEACHED

JEN AND JESSIE CLAVIN are the L A ladies

behind lo -f i punk-pop out f i t Bleached, a band

that in the year since i ts inception has already

released three 7-Inches, been featured on major

blogs l ike Pitchfork and Stereogum, racked up

spins on KCRW and Sirius XMU, and completed

two national tours opening for buzz bands like the

Smith Westerns. All that success sounds sudden,

but i t ’s not as i f dues went unpaid—before

Bleached, the Clavin sisters were t ireless road-

dogs, touring California and the country for years

with their 5-piece punk band Mika Miko. We sat

down with Jen and Jessie on the Santa Monica Pier

to talk hear tbreak, sur f-wave, and star ting over.

STORY // Rebeca Arango PHOTOS // Nicolas Corradi MUA // Mariah Nicole

SISTERSISTERSISTERACTACTACTSISTERSISTER

RADAR

20

Page 25: LA CANVAS V2 3

LAC: WHAT ARE YOUR SONGS ABOUT?

JEN: They’re mostly about breaking up and still being in love.

LAC: WHAT ABOUT “ELECTRIC CHAIR”?

JEN: That one’s about…I’d been touring with my boy friend’s band, Cold Cave, and we were broken up.

It just got to this point where I was like, I can’t do this anymore. So I came back to LA, really depressed

and still in love, but also really wanting to do Bleached, so I star ted writ ing the song. Now it ’s all good

though because we’re dating again. And I’m doing Bleached, so it all worked out. But it was a hard time.

JESSIE: Is there writer ’s block now that you guys are back together? I feel like I’ve noticed it because

it seemed like—

JEN: —all of a sudden the songs stopped? I know. That ’s what I’m scared about; I have to put myself

back in that mindset.

LAC: SO YOU DON’T THINK YOU’LL EVER WRITE A HAPPY LOVE SONG?

JEN: I probably will. I haven’t yet though. I’m into Bleached having this dark side…I’m really into music

like that—Siouxsie is one of my favorite bands. I’m drawn to writing depressing songs, but making them

sound kind of poppy. So maybe if I write a happy love song, then it has to sound dark.

JESSIE: Really dark. Like, the darkest-sounding song.

GO TO LACANVAS.COM FOR THE EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS INTERVIEW.

LAC: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE BANDS? WHO INFLUENCED YOU GUYS?

JEN: I’m really obsessed with Siousxie, Blondie, Johnny Thunders, Ramones, Misfits—those are like my top.

JESS: I ’m really into Gun Club, Depeche Mode, Real Haggard…a lot of music that ’s really dark, kind

of twangy, kind of country…single-note stuf f on guitar.

JEN: I ’m also really into Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones.

LAC: WHAT ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA-SURF-ROCK WAVE—LIKE BEST COAST AND WAVVES—

DO YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU’RE A PART OF THAT?

JEN: We’ve all grown up together in the music scene, at the Smell, and with No Age too, you know. I

can see similarit ies, but a lot of people are like “Oh, Bleached sounds like Best Coast,” and I feel like

that ’s just because we’re both girls.

JESSIE: Gir ls play ing gui tar and l iv ing in L A under the sun! But they are just real ly close f r iends, and we’re al l go ing through the same thing r ight now, want ing to play music and l ive of f of that . But we’re inf luenced by di f ferent bands.

RADAR

Page 26: LA CANVAS V2 3

LAC: JESSIE, DO YOU PLAY BASS ON THE RECORDINGS?

JESSIE: Yeah. And any synth part, usually Jen will add. That’s another thing, do we want somebody to play synth live?

JEN: I ’d be totally into a synth player live. One day we were practicing with our friend, and he was

playing all the bass lines on synth and it sounded SO GOOD.

JESSIE: It did sound really good. What if we had a synth player who played the synth parts and the bass parts?

JEN: That ’s like the Doors!

LAC: ARE YOUR PARENTS SUPPORTIVE? BLEACHED IS YOUR FULL-TIME GIG NOW, RIGHT?

JESSIE: We pick-up some lit t le side jobs to make money, but Bleached is our main priorit y. And our

parents are totally suppor tive. Our mom is a huge fan. And whenever we go visit them—they live in

the deser t now—our dad is like, “So, I f igured out how to play one of your songs—

JEN: —this is how you play it in the Jazz notes.” I told my Dad he needs to make a Jazz Bleached cover album.

JESSIE: Yeah: John Clavin covers Bleached.

LAC: DO YOU PLAY WITH DIFFERENT DRUMMERS AND BASSISTS AT EVERY SHOW?

JESSIE: Yeah, it ’s hard to f ind somebody who’s really dedicated to the band, but not as fully in the

band as Jen and me. I think we just found our drummer though.

JEN: Yeah our friend who’s playing drums for us now is so good and he’s so excited, I don’t think he’s

going anywhere any time soon.

LAC: WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO INTEGRATE SOMEBODY ELSE AS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER?

JEN: If anything, the only person we would do that with would be a drummer. Any other instrument we can do.

Page 27: LA CANVAS V2 3

LAC: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY IN LA?

JEN: The Smell—it ’s just SO crazy. Kids just go so crazy and star t crowd sur f ing.

JESSIE: And sometimes, especially during the summer, it gets so hot there, and you look out, and

everyone is just DRENCHED, but they seem like they don’t care—they’re just so excited.

LAC: NO VENTILATION?

JEN: No, and it ’s funny because they keep having benefit shows to get an air condition system, but

still we haven’t seen this air conditioning!

LAC: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO ON YOUR DAYS OFF?

JESSIE: This kind of feels like a weird day of f to me. Going to the beach—we used to do that when we

were kids all the time—it ’s such a familiar thing. So this is really fun.

JEN: My friend from England was just in town—I was so excited—I took him to Venice, and then I took

him to where Nicole Simpson was murdered, and then I took him to the Menendez brothers’ house,

and then we drove through Laurel Canyon, and got in-and-out. I was like, you’re going to have the

most LA-day. I’m trying to convince him to move here and marry my sister.

JESSIE: Oh yeah, I think i t ’s gonna happen. I ’m thinking maybe l ike, summer t ime. But no, he had

to go back to his mum.

Page 28: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 29: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 30: LA CANVAS V2 3

// Erin Dennison

HM SOUNDSYSTEM’S AMY PHAMOUS

ON STYLE, MUSIC, & SLEEPOkay, model-slash-DJs—you win. Worst still, this

one’s sweet, engaging, talented and a quick-wit.

Perhaps you’ve seen Amy Phamous co Dj-ing with

her brother for HM Soundsystem, modeling for Nasty

Gal or stumbled across her re-worked vintage line,

Ca Voi—regardless I think you’ll agree that we can’t

blame our boyfriends for crushing on our favorite

neighborhood DJ. Did we also mention she helps

run her family’s accounting business during the day?

H EY MS.D E E JAY

YOU MODEL, YOU DJ, YOU DESIGN. WHAT'S YOUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW? WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?

I try to sleep when I can, which ultimately doesn't end up being very much. Which sucks because I really like

sleeping! As of right now I'm trying to focus on some special projects—a fashion show I'm the host of, "The Fashion

Statement" on The Platform channel, hunkering down and fi nishing some original music, and really working on

my craft. I want to narrow my work down to one area but I can't—I'm really indecisive and I want to do it all!

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD?

I'm currently obsessed with my Songza app actually, which is like a Pandora for your mood. It literally has a

playlist for any occasion. Late night studying? Check. Getting ready to go out? Check. Sexy time? Check. As of late,

the "Sunday Morning" playlist is pretty much on constant rotation in my room. It has the perfect compilation of

jams you'd want to hear on a Sunday morning (or any morning)—Nina Simone, some Iron & Wine, a bit of Neil

Young, some Mumford and Sons, a Portishead track or two thrown in...it's way easier than actually making my

own playlist, which can be such a hassle sometimes. Ironic, since I'm a DJ.

HOW DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR STYLE?

It's actually the predominant infl uence; when I look for fashion inspiration I tend to gravitate towards different

music cultures/subcultures and their general aesthetics. I'm always referencing past decades, from 60's mod to

90's grunge to 80's punk. I like looking to music icons for style points, because they really wore whatever they

felt like; they didn't let trends, magazines, or anyone else tell them otherwise. After all, the fashion world tends to

touch on that at one point or another for their trends anyway, so why not beat them to the punch?

FAVORITE DESIGNERS RIGHT NOW?

Not gonna lie, I don't have an expansive knowledge of fashion designers... I'm not a huge designer brand type

of gal. I pay more attention to the colors and proportions of an outfi t. I'm also a cheapskate and can't justify

spending $200 on a skirt. But that's not to say I don't appreciate the fashion houses out there. I do admire the

craftsmanship and quality of their work.

FAVORITE NIGHT OF THE WEEK TO DJ?

Any! Although if I had my choice it'd be during the weekend. A girl can only DJ late nights so many times before

it hits her in the wee morning hours.

WHAT DESIGN PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I'm still working on Ca Voi, my reworked vintage clothing and jewelry line. It's a bit on the back burner right now

though, because I'm overwhelmed with everything else on my plate and I'M ONLY HUMAN. But I still try to always

have some merchandise at Sixhundred (where my pieces are sold currently).

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION?

I really wish I could have collaborated on a line of jewelry with my mom. She was the most fashionable woman

in my eyes, and my number one icon. She loved her jewelry too, so I know she would have enjoyed that. If I was

able to share something like that with her... it would have been an experience beyond words.

@nawtphamous

www.hmsoundsystem.com

youtube.com/theplatform

RADAR

26

Page 31: LA CANVAS V2 3

// Erin Dennison

HM SOUNDSYSTEM’S AMY PHAMOUS

ON STYLE, MUSIC, & SLEEPOkay, model-slash-DJs—you win. Worst still, this

one’s sweet, engaging, talented and a quick-wit.

Perhaps you’ve seen Amy Phamous co Dj-ing with

her brother for HM Soundsystem, modeling for Nasty

Gal or stumbled across her re-worked vintage line,

Ca Voi—regardless I think you’ll agree that we can’t

blame our boyfriends for crushing on our favorite

neighborhood DJ. Did we also mention she helps

run her family’s accounting business during the day?

H EY MS.D E E JAY

YOU MODEL, YOU DJ, YOU DESIGN. WHAT'S YOUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW? WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?

I try to sleep when I can, which ultimately doesn't end up being very much. Which sucks because I really like

sleeping! As of right now I'm trying to focus on some special projects—a fashion show I'm the host of, "The Fashion

Statement" on The Platform channel, hunkering down and fi nishing some original music, and really working on

my craft. I want to narrow my work down to one area but I can't—I'm really indecisive and I want to do it all!

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD?

I'm currently obsessed with my Songza app actually, which is like a Pandora for your mood. It literally has a

playlist for any occasion. Late night studying? Check. Getting ready to go out? Check. Sexy time? Check. As of late,

the "Sunday Morning" playlist is pretty much on constant rotation in my room. It has the perfect compilation of

jams you'd want to hear on a Sunday morning (or any morning)—Nina Simone, some Iron & Wine, a bit of Neil

Young, some Mumford and Sons, a Portishead track or two thrown in...it's way easier than actually making my

own playlist, which can be such a hassle sometimes. Ironic, since I'm a DJ.

HOW DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR STYLE?

It's actually the predominant infl uence; when I look for fashion inspiration I tend to gravitate towards different

music cultures/subcultures and their general aesthetics. I'm always referencing past decades, from 60's mod to

90's grunge to 80's punk. I like looking to music icons for style points, because they really wore whatever they

felt like; they didn't let trends, magazines, or anyone else tell them otherwise. After all, the fashion world tends to

touch on that at one point or another for their trends anyway, so why not beat them to the punch?

FAVORITE DESIGNERS RIGHT NOW?

Not gonna lie, I don't have an expansive knowledge of fashion designers... I'm not a huge designer brand type

of gal. I pay more attention to the colors and proportions of an outfi t. I'm also a cheapskate and can't justify

spending $200 on a skirt. But that's not to say I don't appreciate the fashion houses out there. I do admire the

craftsmanship and quality of their work.

FAVORITE NIGHT OF THE WEEK TO DJ?

Any! Although if I had my choice it'd be during the weekend. A girl can only DJ late nights so many times before

it hits her in the wee morning hours.

WHAT DESIGN PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I'm still working on Ca Voi, my reworked vintage clothing and jewelry line. It's a bit on the back burner right now

though, because I'm overwhelmed with everything else on my plate and I'M ONLY HUMAN. But I still try to always

have some merchandise at Sixhundred (where my pieces are sold currently).

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION?

I really wish I could have collaborated on a line of jewelry with my mom. She was the most fashionable woman

in my eyes, and my number one icon. She loved her jewelry too, so I know she would have enjoyed that. If I was

able to share something like that with her... it would have been an experience beyond words.

@nawtphamous

www.hmsoundsystem.com

youtube.com/theplatform

RADAR

Page 32: LA CANVAS V2 3

ART

STRE

ET

PH

OT

OS

//

Em

ily B

rad

ley

Pastey whyte

BECCA

FELIX

Destroy all design

Page 33: LA CANVAS V2 3

AFTERHOURS

you killed me first

NO MATTER WHATNESS

The Typography Terrorist

CANT STOP GOODBOY

DD$

Mr. Brainwash

25

Page 34: LA CANVAS V2 3

LACANVAS.COM TAKES YOU TO MORE OF L.A.’S BEST OPENINGS

TAD BECK & JENNIFER LOCKE: CapsizeNATALIE BOOKCHIN: Now he’s out in public and everyone can seeLACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions)March 8 - April 15Opening: March 8, 8-10pmCapsize is a collaborative installation in which an unorthodox use of materials and performance upends the normal order of symbolic relations. Now he’s out in public... is an 18-channel video installation in which v-loggers recount scandals involving African American men. welcometolace.org

AMY SOL: NuminaCorey Helford GalleryMarch 10 - 30Opening: March 10, 7-10pmWithin these delicate works, you may often fi nd whimsical landscapes populated with exotic plants, animals and females. Amongst the expressions of each character are notions of peaceful refl ection and a sense of companionship. coreyhelfordgallery.com

TODD SCHORRMerry Karnowsky GalleryMarch 17 - April 14Opening: March 17, 8-11pmA founder of “Low-brow” art, Schorr’s cartoon-styled Pop Art of people, animals, and fantasy worlds remains some of the most detailed, kaleidoscopic Surrealism being made today; and his new show is among the most anticipated of the season. mkgallery.com

CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA: Snow White The Complete Works on PaperMichael Kohn GalleryMarch 15 - April 14Opening and book-signing: March 15, 6-8pmAn exhibition of original watercolor paintings by Camille Rose Garcia. These beautifully intricate paintings and works on paper were created for the illustrated book of the Grimm Brothers’ classic fairy tale, Snow White (Harper Design, 2012). kohngallery.com

QUAYOLAYoung Projects GalleryMarch 20 - May 5Opening: March 20, 5-8:30pmQuayola investigates dialogues and the unpredictable collisions, tensions and equilibriums between the real and artifi cial, fi gurative and abstract, old and new, using photography, geometry, time-based digital sculptures and immersive audiovisual installations and performances. youngprojectsgallery.com

RONI FELDMANGarboushian GalleryMarch 23 - April 28Opening: March 23, 7-9pmWhirls of fi gures celebrate, mourn, protest, consume, dance, and embrace alongside other fi gures that drown, burn, and dissolve, as Feldman’s crowds evoke the power and ecstasy of unifi ed intention alongside a potential descent into mob mentality. garboushian.com

TIMOTHY NOLAN: RestackCB1 GalleryMarch 31 – April 29Opening: March 31, 5-8pmA freestanding, large-scale, sculpture with latticed and stacked trapezoidal shapes that shift, meld and reconfi gure as the viewer moves around the work and the gallery. Sloping, angled exterior walls, with no tops or bottoms, allow for views into and through the sculpture. cb1gallery.com

JASON SALAVONMark Moore GalleryApril 14 - May 19Opening: April 14, 6-8pmUsing software processes of his own design, Salavon generates and reconfi gures masses of communal material to present new perspectives on the familiar, by manipulating the roles of individual elements arranged in diverse visual populations. markmooregallery.com

CRAOLA (Greg Simkins)KMNDZ (Johnny Rodriguez)Merry Karnowsky GalleryApril 21 - May 19Opening: April 21, 8-11pmWeaving of pop culture, the old masters, nature, carnival kitsch, and (most importantly) his warped imagination, Greg Simkins is a beloved surrealist painter, and his alter-ego CRAOLA, is a wanted street artist. KMNDZ is a renowned graphic artist, who when drawing from his own life, makes paintings fi lled with memories, religious undertones, and iconic elements. mkgallery.com

GALLERY OPENINGS

30

ART EVENTS

Page 35: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 36: LA CANVAS V2 3

MOVING

VIDEO ART TAKES CENTER STAGE AT YOUNG PROJECTS GALLERY

Young Projects Gallery is a rarity in the art world, being dedicated exclusively to

the moving image, aka video and film-based art. Among a slew of curatorial and

authorial accomplishments, owner Paul Young authored the TASCHEN tome Art

Cinema—a stunning book delving into the encyclopedic realm of video art as

individuated from avant-garde film. “Challenging the traditional model of movies

and television, and encouraging viewers to see video as a concrete art form like

painting, fine-art photography, and sculpture,” Young Projects also functions as a

platform for artists interested in exploring what new media has to offer, and diligently

sources the best examples from around the world for the benefit of LA audiences.

In honor of our Music Issue, we talked to Young about the unique role

of music and sound in video-based ar t. Af ter all, painters rarely create

soundtracks for their canvases—whereas the moving image demands the

choice, including when not to use it. “There is a current in experimental

f ilm against using sound. It has been seen as too tied to cinema, plus it

telegraphs emotional cues, preventing the visuals from conveying story on

their own. Sound, especially music, fundamentally changes the trajectory of

any work, creating a beginning, middle, and end, and complicating meanings.”

And while using music in video-art is not at all the same as making music videos for

commercial songs—any more than video-art with dialog is the same as short film—

with the best of them (thanks to readily available technology) Young acknowledges

it can be a blurry aesthetic boundary. Just whatever you do, don’t talk too much

about MTV. “Taking preexisting material and reworking it to music is so common

that Apple includes software on its computers to do just that. The post-MTV

generation is especially adept at mixing, sampling, and blending. By the way, people

don’t realize artists like Oskar Fischinger were making movies to popular music as

early as the 1920s. Harry Smith did the same in the 1950s and ‘60s; in fact, he

made an abstract film to the Beatles’ entire first album. So this idea of the ‘rock

video’ is very old. And yet, it’s also very new.” Kind of like MTV. Oops! I did it again.

Visit Young Projects Gallery in two spaces at the Pacific Design Center, Blue

Building, Second Floor, and visit youngprojectsgallery.com for more information.

// Shana Nys DambrotPacific Design Center #B230

8687 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

LOCATION:

PHOTOS // CAPTAIN

PICTURES

28

GALLERY

Page 37: LA CANVAS V2 3

MOVING

VIDEO ART TAKES CENTER STAGE AT YOUNG PROJECTS GALLERY

Young Projects Gallery is a rarity in the art world, being dedicated exclusively to

the moving image, aka video and film-based art. Among a slew of curatorial and

authorial accomplishments, owner Paul Young authored the TASCHEN tome Art

Cinema—a stunning book delving into the encyclopedic realm of video art as

individuated from avant-garde film. “Challenging the traditional model of movies

and television, and encouraging viewers to see video as a concrete art form like

painting, fine-art photography, and sculpture,” Young Projects also functions as a

platform for artists interested in exploring what new media has to offer, and diligently

sources the best examples from around the world for the benefit of LA audiences.

In honor of our Music Issue, we talked to Young about the unique role

of music and sound in video-based ar t. Af ter all, painters rarely create

soundtracks for their canvases—whereas the moving image demands the

choice, including when not to use it. “There is a current in experimental

f ilm against using sound. It has been seen as too tied to cinema, plus it

telegraphs emotional cues, preventing the visuals from conveying story on

their own. Sound, especially music, fundamentally changes the trajectory of

any work, creating a beginning, middle, and end, and complicating meanings.”

And while using music in video-art is not at all the same as making music videos for

commercial songs—any more than video-art with dialog is the same as short film—

with the best of them (thanks to readily available technology) Young acknowledges

it can be a blurry aesthetic boundary. Just whatever you do, don’t talk too much

about MTV. “Taking preexisting material and reworking it to music is so common

that Apple includes software on its computers to do just that. The post-MTV

generation is especially adept at mixing, sampling, and blending. By the way, people

don’t realize artists like Oskar Fischinger were making movies to popular music as

early as the 1920s. Harry Smith did the same in the 1950s and ‘60s; in fact, he

made an abstract film to the Beatles’ entire first album. So this idea of the ‘rock

video’ is very old. And yet, it’s also very new.” Kind of like MTV. Oops! I did it again.

Visit Young Projects Gallery in two spaces at the Pacific Design Center, Blue

Building, Second Floor, and visit youngprojectsgallery.com for more information.

// Shana Nys DambrotPacific Design Center #B230

8687 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

LOCATION:

PHOTOS // CAPTAIN

PICTURES

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BOOK

MUSIC HISTORYONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST-

LOVED ROCK PHOTOGRAPHERS GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Henry Diltz is one of those names that everyone knows without even realizing

it. He’s one of the greatest photographers in rock n’ roll history, but it ’s his

pictures we recognize—we’ve seen them all our lives—whether we remember

his name or not. That started to change in 2001, when Diltz and cohorts from

the indie music world founded the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City,

an exhibition venue and publishing house dedicated to promoting what they

call “fine art music photography,” an expansive genre that includes work

both portraying and made by the biggest legends in music (Who knew Julian

Lennon was such a genius photographer?), starting with Diltz himself. The

Morrison Hotel operation, in fact, was named in honor of the iconic Doors

album cover shot by Diltz in 1969 at a Skid Row SRO right here in Downtown

LA—which Jim Morrison called, “a good place to start a religion or plan a murder.”

Now, a deluxe edition of Diltz’s seminal book Unpainted Faces solidifies his

unique place in rock history, with 140 pictures from the early decades of his

career photographing bands, all lovingly printed from the original negatives.

He has a gift for snapping sweetheart candid shots, like Paul McCartney and

his family splashing in a Malibu backyard pool in 1971, David Cassidy and

Elton John sharing intimate cocktails in New Zealand in 1974, Glenn Frey

smoking a joint on a Lear jet also in 1974, a party at Schwarzenegger’s house

in 1977, and Jack Nicholson inexplicably hanging out with the Monkees in

1968. Although these intimate, evocative, funny and poignant images were

made all over the world, a great many were made in Los Angeles, giving the

city a starring role in the story of an era that emerges from this must-have

volume. Speaking of which, there are perpetual rumors of a Morrison Hotel

Gallery opening here in town, so get on the mailing list at morrisonhotelgallery.

com—that opening night party will be one for the books.

// Shana Nys Dambrot

Ph

otos

(c)

Hen

ry D

iltz/

Th

e M

orri

son

Hot

el G

alle

ry

Unpainted Faces published by Morrison Hotel Publishing and available only at

www.morrisonhotelgallery.com

31

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I N C U B U S F R O N T M A N B R A N D O N B O Y D T R A D E S T H E M I C F O R A R T & A C T I V I S M

‘Ectoplasm’

Page 41: LA CANVAS V2 3

For more information on Brandon’s art shows or to get some art and book action for yourself, visit brandonboydbooks.com

Page 42: LA CANVAS V2 3

From Boyd’s sketchbook, ink blotting and pen.

From Boyd’s sketchbook, ink blotting and pen.

Page 43: LA CANVAS V2 3

No, Incubus is not breaking up. But as of the end of 2011, they

are free agents—no longer tied to a major label as they had

been since 1996. For lead singer Brandon Boyd, this is an

exciting time of freedom and creativity that includes but also

goes beyond his music. An artist all his life, Brandon remembers

“expressing myself visually long before singing. In my earliest

memories—and my parents can confirm this—I carried tiny

little pads of paper and tiny pencils everywhere with me. (He

still does that.) I was a compulsive doodlebug. (He still is.)

When I wasn’t feeling well, had a stomachache, say, I’d draw

a circle and map the hurt. The pains were like characters, bad

germs, and I externalized what I was feeling. That’s still what I

do! But now it takes many forms—lyrics, sounds, and shapes.”

And about those shapes—Boyd’s style favors obsessive,

undulating lines recalling the sensual illustrations of Aubrey

Beardsley. Charmingly retro but ultimately ageless, like a blend of

hippie chic and Art Nouveau, they are deftly drawn and capital-R

Romantic, all sweet smoke, vine-y tendrils, and dangerous

beauty. He loves to play expressive abstractions, patterned

and gestural, against fields of thick but diffuse color. In a way,

these are a lot of the same words you could use to describe his

songwriting—darkly poetic, epic and mysterious, colorful, and so

on. And that makes sense, since Boyd sees all of these creative

outlets as a whole. “One medium informs the other. When I feel

an idea coming, it ’s a while before I know if it will take the form

of a song or a painting. I write down my music ideas in my messy

sketchbooks, and they often turn into images. When people

still bought records and CDs with liner notes, it was perfect!”

But making hit songs and publishing gorgeous prints and books

is not enough for Boyd. “Activism is so important. It’s easy to get

lost in your comfort zone, but I hope by raising my voice, taking

advantage of my soapbox, I can at least inspire awareness. Rock

‘n Roll has been very good to me, and there are people out there

doing important and wonderful things. So if I can help them, there’s

really no downside.” This winter Boyd was part of the Museum

of Monterey’s “Flows to Bay” group show, a powerful visual

narrative about plastic pollution awareness. Boyd’s involvement

with the show stemmed from the Hurley campaign a year ago

with Seathos and HOPE, where they did shirts and a mural that

eventually ended up at Monterey. Boyd grew up surfing, so their

cause is especially dear to him. He’s also done a lot with TOM’s

shoes, painting huge swaths of canvas that were then turned into

limited edition sneakers to benefit the global children’s charity.

These days, in between Incubus records, he’s feverishly

drawing for his new book (his third). “The first two (White

Fluffy Clouds, and From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss) were

self-published, which was cool, but I’d like to work with an

art publisher this time around. It ’s a real leap forward, both

with the work itself and how it ’s organized—it’s a story, a real

narrative, and, let’s just say, things will be revealed!” As someone

in a rock band once said, “Be prepared for what you see.”

STORY // Shana Nys Dambrot

ILLUSTRATION // Brandon Boyd

PHOTOS // Nicolas Corradi

Spilling/Spinning

Page 44: LA CANVAS V2 3

PHOTO // MARK OBERLIN

STYLING // SHANE TAMOSHUMAS

HAIR & MAKEUP // BARBARA YNIGUEZ

ILLUSTRATION // ERIN DENNISON

W YLIE HAYES AND JORDAN CULPEPPER NEXT MODEL MANAGEMENT

AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

Page 45: LA CANVAS V2 3

PHOTO // MARK OBERLIN

STYLING // SHANE TAMOSHUMAS

HAIR & MAKEUP // BARBARA YNIGUEZ

ILLUSTRATION // ERIN DENNISON

W YLIE HAYES AND JORDAN CULPEPPER NEXT MODEL MANAGEMENT

AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

PHOTO // MARK OBERLIN

STY LING // SHANE TAMOSHUMAS

HAIR & MAKEUP // BARBARA Y NIGUEZ

ILLUSTRATION // ERIN DENNISON

W Y LIE HAY ES AND JORDAN CULPEPPER NEXT MODEL MANAGEMENT

AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

Page 46: LA CANVAS V2 3
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YOUTH IN REVOLT

1. HOUSE OF HARLOW Chelsea Glasses, $158

2. LA MER Silver Bali Wrap Watch, $114

3. HAUTE BETTS Neo Chain Bracelet in Green, $49

4. REBECCA MINKOFF Wallet on a Chain in Black, $225

5. JOYRICH Leopard Fur Laptop Case in Black, $88

6. ACNE Low Rider Boots in Pale Blue, $569

7. ASICS Fabre Deluxe in Silver/Black Leather, $300

8. REPLAY Joplin Sunnies, $90

9. DIESEL 1371 Watch in Black, $160

10. LUV AJ Pyramid Stud ID Bracelet, $154

11. BRIXTON Chord Wallet in Black Leather, $50

12. NIXON Precept Laptop Backback in Black Nylon, $905

4

3

76

9

1 0

8

1 1

1 2

2

1

Page 49: LA CANVAS V2 3

YOUTH IN REVOLT

1. HOUSE OF HARLOW Chelsea Glasses, $158

2. LA MER Silver Bali Wrap Watch, $114

3. HAUTE BETTS Neo Chain Bracelet in Green, $49

4. REBECCA MINKOFF Wallet on a Chain in Black, $225

5. JOYRICH Leopard Fur Laptop Case in Black, $88

6. ACNE Low Rider Boots in Pale Blue, $569

7. ASICS Fabre Deluxe in Silver/Black Leather, $300

8. REPLAY Joplin Sunnies, $90

9. DIESEL 1371 Watch in Black, $160

10. LUV AJ Pyramid Stud ID Bracelet, $154

11. BRIXTON Chord Wallet in Black Leather, $50

12. NIXON Precept Laptop Backback in Black Nylon, $905

4

3

76

9

1 0

8

1 1

1 2

2

1

39

ACCESORIES

Page 50: LA CANVAS V2 3

PHOTOS // Captain

!STORY // Erin Dennison

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DORKS—HOW DID YOU GUYS COME TOGETHER?

The mission for the Dorks is to open people's minds and inspire them to be themselves. We all have a

common trend in our history in that we were all dif ferent from others in our surroundings growing up.

Either we looked dif ferent, or acted dif ferently—we were okay with being ourselves in spite of what

other people were doing. The whole Crew started with Dork, Cookie Man and Jango back when they

were in high school. I have always been a Dork in the traditional sense, wasn't the greatest at sports,

definitely into books and art, but we want to redefine the term to mean someone who is okay with who

they are, a non conformist.

HOW DO YOU FUSE MUSIC, FASHION AND DANCE?

Music and fashion are about expression, clothes announce who you are before you get to speak, music

can be your therapy, and dance is how your body reacts to the world. Color is a big part of the Dorks

style collectively and for me as an individual, we are not afraid to mix color and pattern. Just like we

are not afraid to mix dif ferent sounds or movements. Experimentation and exploration are central

themes to creativity.

YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER DESIGNING PACKAGING FOR AMERICAN APPAREL—HOW HAS YOUR TECHNICAL

DESIGN BACKGROUND HELPED YOUR PERSONAL CREATIVE PROJECTS?

American Apparel was instrumental in my developing an approach that was broader than the boutique

projects I had worked on before. I learned how to make things modular for dif ferent size stores. It was a

place where I took a lot bumps to learn but it is a unique environment, with a bunch of talented people

and a passionate leader directing the show.

Who the hell are the Dorks? We wondered the

same thing. For one, they’re Will.i.am’s back up

dancers—but there’s much more to it than that.

Maceo III, Square Stone, Dork Dozier, Justin Barco,

Dame Fif ty-Five, Cookie and Jango make up this

alliance specializing in everything from hip-hop to

fashion to package design. Maybe you've osmosed

their aes thet ic whi le walk ing pas t Amer ican

Apparel, heard Dame's mix tape, caught a glimpse

of their designs on Swizz-Beatz or peeped Dork's

col laborat ion wi th the Adidas x Jeremy Scot t

Collection. This collective of tastemakers has been

stirring the underground pot for a minute, and now

it 's time they introduce themselves.

We caught up with photographer, designer, poet,

dancer, wordsmith, social commentator, and

origami enthusiast, Maceo had previously been a

rogue ar tist until he found his co-conspirators in

The Dorks. We caught up with the ingenue to get

the scoop on the new class.

DORKINGOUT

Page 51: LA CANVAS V2 3

�...

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I am in the process of designing my own sock line, Paisley Sockwear, and that is going to be a huge deal

for me. I spend so much time packaging other people's products; it would be great to work on my own.

We are reworking the packaging for the TABB bow tie line, and there is a friend of mine has a brownie line

that I’m working with, I've never packaged a perishable food before. And I’m always doing product shots

and album covers here and there, photography will always be a part of my vocabulary.

YOUR BLOG, CITIZENS OF CULTURE, HAS A VARIETY OF CONTENT, RANGING FROM INDUSTRIAL DESIGN TO SOCIAL

COMMENTARY—WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST?

Stories of how people attain success—those valiant people who have to overcome tremendous odds, or

even just their own self-doubt. I love hearing about how people achieve great things. It reminds me that

we are all just people and everyone is capable of being amazing. That's mostly what the blog is about,

giving people a chance to share their dreams.

DESCRIBE YOUR VOICE/PERSONAL STYLE. HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR DESIGN CAREER?

Some people are about minimalism, others are about embellishment. I am about appropriateness—there

is a place and a time and a place for almost every thing. For me, the key in design, and really every thing

I do, is f inding the right conditions to make the materials you’re using shine, whether it ’s highlighting

a product feature, or pairing the right socks with an out f it, or get ting the right tone to deliver a line of

poetry. When every thing f its naturally, as though it came together ef for tlessly on its own, it 's beautiful.

WHAT'S THE BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU'VE RECEIVED?

Maybe i t 's tr i te, but my father has always given me the best advice. One thing that comes to mind

now is, "Chance favors the prepared mind, luck is labor under correct knowledge. Simply put, "If

you stay ready, you ain' t got to get ready.”

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM PROJECT OR COLLABORATION?

I am living my dream collaborations all the time, there isn't anyone terribly specific at the moment but I do

have some people I have on my to do list to work with. One project that is out there is to host a big event

for Citizens of Culture where everyone can meet and speak, like my own TEDx conference, heck I would

really love to speak at a TEDx Conference. Yea, that's a big one.

MOST PLAYED IN YOUR IPOD?

I have to say my favori te ar t ist r ight now is Rob Roy, he is put t ing out some very interest ing stuf f. I

am also really digging A$AP Rocky, Lana Del Rey and Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life album.”

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AND THE DORKS?

By the t ime I f inish answering the question, we probably will have already moved on to the next thing.

We are moving at l ightning speed to make things happen, we’re in the middle of award season in

Hollywood so that is big for us here in LA, having to go out and meet people and so for th. People think

we’re out par t ying but i t ’s actually work, pitching our ideas over and over and building relat ionships.

This year we’re planning on making i t out to Japan, and i f we can get to London that would be great

too. Dork’s f irst project is dropping with his group T.O.Y. (The Oh Yeah), I am working on my spoken

word CD, Dame released a mix tape a few months ago and is st i l l pushing that and wri t ing. Just in is

always st yling for music videos and TV; he is also working on the brand development of Mookee by

Yuske, a pret t y sick line coming out of Long Beach.

DORKINGOUT

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NAILED IT

If you’ve ever stumbled into Space 15 Twenty on a Sunday, you’ve probably

experienced the delight ful sensor y overload that is their weekly Yard

Sale. Ar ts and craf ts, accessories, vintage clothing and local designer

threads are all piled into the courtyard, showcasing the best in community

talent. Amongst this culmination of all things creative, nestled in between

Umami burger and Urban Outfit ters, you’ll find Kleur—a personalized

nail -ar t salon run by three beautiful, interesting and musical ladies.

Kleur founder Nikko Gray wear s more hats than your Inte rnet s ta r t-

up neighbor and apparel - designer/gir l crush combined. Yet, fo r the

sake of both word- count and breath, she refer s to herself s imply as

an “artist.” Perhaps best known for her soulful, haunting voice—which

can be hea rd regula r l y on KCRW, NPR, and o the r indie favo r i te s —

Gray has g raced us wi th numerous musical co llabo ra t ions , as well

as three solo EPs. And while this songbird has recently expanded her

reper toire to include producer as well as singer/songwriter, she has no

intention of slowing down when it comes to her original creative purge;

painting, which she now practices on not only canvases, but nail beds. // Erin Dennison

Photos // Trisha Angeles

Don’t let the multicolored hair fool you—this chick is serious. Gray is a

Capricorn after all, and possesses a type-A efficiency and business sense

that rivals any Burberry scarf-wearing MBA graduate. After trolling the city

trying to find a nail salon that could replicate the patterns in her head,

she realized there was a gap in the beauty market, and her entrepreneurial

spirit kicked in. Af ter just a few pop-up appearances at ar t and trunk

shows, Space 15Twenty asked her and her fellow ar tis ts to s tay put.

Nikko and co-founders Nita Darling (of Poobah Records) and Jaeme Estera

(DJ J-Hear t) moved into the space last October, and while business is

increas ing exponentia ll y, they ’ve each been able to mainta in thei r

individual musical pursuits while still operating the shop 7 days a week.

The girls hand-paint each individual nail, ever y finger is treated as a

blank canvas—no airbrushing here. So the next time you’re in the mood

for a unique set of claws, make a trip to Kleur; the girls are as interesting

as the ar t they create, and you can get a tarot reading right next door.

1520 N Cahuenga Blvd

Hollywood, CA 90028

LOCATION:

G E T YOU R SE L F A K I L L E R SE TOF C L AW S AT NA I L -A RT S A LON K LEU R

40

STORE

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A space fi lled with memories, designer collectibles and a variety of items

that fi t any style of budget.

Live. Create. Inspire.

1410 Abbot Kinney Ste. 101, Venice, CA 90291 310.399.3988 - gossamershop.com - facebook.com/gossamershop

Hudson | Rory Beca | One Teaspoon | Joie | Patterson J. Kincaid

Page 54: LA CANVAS V2 3

STORY // Erin Dennison

PHOTO // Nick Trikonis

S t y l i s t / D e s i g n e r A s h t o n M i c h a e l L e t s U s P e a k I n s i d e H i s H e a d

Over the last ten years, Ashton Hirota has been designing and styling some of the biggest names in

entertainment. He started his first label, Glaza, as a teenager, rebranding it “Ashton Michael” post design-

school. Hand-cut and sewn men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and custom costume pieces were the

staples of Ashton Michael, whose quality was quickly embraced by the LA fashion scene. But Ashton soon

became frustrated with the way stylists would use his clothes for editorial and music videos, so the designer

decided to venture into wardrobe styling himself in order to ensure the accurate execution of his vision.

The Ashton Michael aesthetic is a hybrid of uptown glamour and downtown edge, married by the cohesion

of strong silhouettes. His designs can be found at his flagship co-op store, The House of Infinite Radness,

80spurple.com, Petro Zillia, Apartment-3, and Lolita—just to name a few. As if that weren’t enough,

Ashton’s long list of styling credits include Britney Spears, Kreayshawn, No Doubt, The Black Eyed Peas,

Usher, Nicki Minaj, and The Sounds, as well as editorials in publications ranging from Angeleno to Paper. .

LA CANVAS caught up with the designer/stylist powerhouse to get some insight into the industry as he sees it.

PHOTO // Andrea Labarge Mills

MOST PLAYED ON YOUR IPOD?

MANY OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE PART OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, HOW DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?

WHAT’S THE BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

DESCRIBE YOUR VOICE. HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER?

WHY STYLING?

I am first and foremost a fashion designer. Anything

that I visualize—or any ideas that are brought to

me—can be made exactly as they ’re desired. I

think that can be a problem for some stylists who

can’t translate exactly what they want because they

have to source it out or set tle for what ’s available.

Being a designer who makes custom clothes,

styling comes second nature to me; combining what

is available with the endless possibilities of what we

can make is key. Clothing is an incredibly powerful

tool for the person who wears it; it shapes how others

view them. I love being a key factor in that process.

There’s no right or wrong with style, just expression.

My voice is black and white—quite li terally. In

a metaphorical way, I look at the cracks in the

pavement, not the whole street. My voice is the

lit tle details that are of ten overlooked but should

be most appreciated—that ’s the Ashton Michael

aesthetic. I star ted my first company when I was

19, so my voice has changed a lot over the past 10

years, with maturity. It may sound silly, but I found

my voice when I star ted listening to my inner self.

“Stop and smell the roses” (from my father). It ’s very

easy to get caught up in the stress and pressure of

my job. Sometimes I need to be reminded to step

back and realize how blessed I am to be working

wi th some of the biggest names in the wor ld.

I’ve made a living out of my craf t, and that ’s the

greatest gif t of all. Being humble and appreciative

is always a good rule of thumb.

In general, music is a huge influence in my life. I

don’t think music is reflected in my work directly,

but it provides a mental escape for my creative

process. For example, I’m not going to be listening

to sports talk radio if I’m making a varsity jacket...

If I’m working on a darker, moodier piece I won’t

be listening to top 40 pop. Instead, I ’l l put on

something sor t of wicked and appropriate. The

same goes for a specific client. If it ’s a music video,

or putting together looks for a specific song, I WILL

play the shit out of it ‘ til I pret ty much hate it.

I’ll let my iTunes count

do the t a lk ing. Over

the past year the most

p l aye d a r t i s t s we re

Ade le , The Weeknd,

Quadron, Lit tle Dragon,

and Fleetwood Mac.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

Can’t say too much but it

will be large, “XL” in fact

(wink wink) ... stay tuned.

Page 55: LA CANVAS V2 3

STORY // Erin Dennison

PHOTO // Nick Trikonis

S t y l i s t / D e s i g n e r A s h t o n M i c h a e l L e t s U s P e a k I n s i d e H i s H e a d

Over the last ten years, Ashton Hirota has been designing and styling some of the biggest names in

entertainment. He started his first label, Glaza, as a teenager, rebranding it “Ashton Michael” post design-

school. Hand-cut and sewn men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and custom costume pieces were the

staples of Ashton Michael, whose quality was quickly embraced by the LA fashion scene. But Ashton soon

became frustrated with the way stylists would use his clothes for editorial and music videos, so the designer

decided to venture into wardrobe styling himself in order to ensure the accurate execution of his vision.

The Ashton Michael aesthetic is a hybrid of uptown glamour and downtown edge, married by the cohesion

of strong silhouettes. His designs can be found at his flagship co-op store, The House of Infinite Radness,

80spurple.com, Petro Zillia, Apartment-3, and Lolita—just to name a few. As if that weren’t enough,

Ashton’s long list of styling credits include Britney Spears, Kreayshawn, No Doubt, The Black Eyed Peas,

Usher, Nicki Minaj, and The Sounds, as well as editorials in publications ranging from Angeleno to Paper. .

LA CANVAS caught up with the designer/stylist powerhouse to get some insight into the industry as he sees it.

PHOTO // Andrea Labarge Mills

MOST PLAYED ON YOUR IPOD?

MANY OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE PART OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, HOW DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?

WHAT’S THE BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

DESCRIBE YOUR VOICE. HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER?

WHY STYLING?

I am first and foremost a fashion designer. Anything

that I visualize—or any ideas that are brought to

me—can be made exactly as they ’re desired. I

think that can be a problem for some stylists who

can’t translate exactly what they want because they

have to source it out or set tle for what ’s available.

Being a designer who makes custom clothes,

styling comes second nature to me; combining what

is available with the endless possibilities of what we

can make is key. Clothing is an incredibly powerful

tool for the person who wears it; it shapes how others

view them. I love being a key factor in that process.

There’s no right or wrong with style, just expression.

My voice is black and white—quite li terally. In

a metaphorical way, I look at the cracks in the

pavement, not the whole street. My voice is the

lit tle details that are of ten overlooked but should

be most appreciated—that ’s the Ashton Michael

aesthetic. I star ted my first company when I was

19, so my voice has changed a lot over the past 10

years, with maturity. It may sound silly, but I found

my voice when I star ted listening to my inner self.

“Stop and smell the roses” (from my father). It ’s very

easy to get caught up in the stress and pressure of

my job. Sometimes I need to be reminded to step

back and realize how blessed I am to be working

wi th some of the biggest names in the wor ld.

I’ve made a living out of my craf t, and that ’s the

greatest gif t of all. Being humble and appreciative

is always a good rule of thumb.

In general, music is a huge influence in my life. I

don’t think music is reflected in my work directly,

but it provides a mental escape for my creative

process. For example, I’m not going to be listening

to sports talk radio if I’m making a varsity jacket...

If I’m working on a darker, moodier piece I won’t

be listening to top 40 pop. Instead, I ’l l put on

something sor t of wicked and appropriate. The

same goes for a specific client. If it ’s a music video,

or putting together looks for a specific song, I WILL

play the shit out of it ‘ til I pret ty much hate it.

I’ll let my iTunes count

do the t a lk ing. Over

the past year the most

p l aye d a r t i s t s we re

Ade le , The Weeknd,

Quadron, Lit tle Dragon,

and Fleetwood Mac.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

Can’t say too much but it

will be large, “XL” in fact

(wink wink) ... stay tuned.

Page 56: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 57: LA CANVAS V2 3

on hollywood blvd. in hollywood and highland center

+1-323-464-7625 • hardrock.com

hollywood®

every sunday brunch 9-12:30 • live music at 10:30-12:30pm

Special Southern Brunch MenuBloody Mary Bar

Fresh Mimosas & Bellinis

join us for a southern rock brunch!music by ft. worth texas’s own glitter rose

UNT258LA12_Hlywd_LACanvas_ad_4.187x10.75.indd 1 2/8/12 2:35 PM

936 S VERMONT AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90006

Page 58: LA CANVAS V2 3

Story // Marilyn Chiu Photos // Captain

FOODY TUNES WHERE TO GRAB SOME GRUB AND GET YOUR GROOVE ON

ROCK N’ REILLY’S

Whiskey, live rock n’ roll, and Irish cheddar. What more can a pub in West Hollywood

provide? Select a shot of quality whiskey out of the for ty available, grab a whiskey

cocktail, or order a flight of four at a time. Not a whiskey person? The beer is top notch

and as Irish as it gets; this is the only place in LA that has Kilkenny nitrogenated Irish

ale and Magner’s hard cider. And you haven’t had nachos until you’ve tried their Irish

Nachos, made with hot fresh potato chips, bacon, Irish cheddar, scallions, and corn

salsa. Wings tossed in tangy whiskey sauce, five types of grilled cheese sandwiches,

and house-made corned beef sliders are a few other seriously amazing options.

8911 W. Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA

LOCATION:

NOLA’S

Nola’s is a bar, music venue, and restaurant in the Arts District that could

be easily bypassed if you weren’t looking for it. With an unassuming

entrance, you don’t realize until you’ve opened the door and hear soulful,

live jazz and blues singers that you’ve just stumbled upon a lit tle corner of

New Orleans. Serving authentic Creole food, the fried cat fish, jambalaya,

and seafood gumbo is matched all too well by the loud jazz music. Some

go straight for the bar, which serves up old-fashioned cocktails. During

happy hour, everything on the menu is half of f, and the show is always free.

LOCATION:

734 E. 3rd St.

Los Angeles, CA 90013

TOI

Thai food rocks, but you haven’t truly experienced “Rockin’ Thai

Food” until you’ve tried Toi on Sunset. Toi on Sunset is somewhat

of a hideout for local musicians and a late-night grub stop for

Hollywood Bowl concert-goers. It ’s definitely a fascinating place

to eat, with framed posters lining every wall, huge paper maché

dragons hanging from the dark ceiling, and 90’s rock music blasting

from dinnertime to dawn. On the menu, there’s more than just

curry and noodles, but also Thai Spaghetti and other inventive Thai

fusion dishes. Oh, and Elvis is there, wearing a rice paddy hat.

LOCATION:

7505 1/2 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

46

FOOD SCOOPS

Page 59: LA CANVAS V2 3

Story // Marilyn Chiu Photos // Captain

FOODY TUNES WHERE TO GRAB SOME GRUB AND GET YOUR GROOVE ON

ROCK N’ REILLY’S

Whiskey, live rock n’ roll, and Irish cheddar. What more can a pub in West Hollywood

provide? Select a shot of quality whiskey out of the for ty available, grab a whiskey

cocktail, or order a flight of four at a time. Not a whiskey person? The beer is top notch

and as Irish as it gets; this is the only place in LA that has Kilkenny nitrogenated Irish

ale and Magner’s hard cider. And you haven’t had nachos until you’ve tried their Irish

Nachos, made with hot fresh potato chips, bacon, Irish cheddar, scallions, and corn

salsa. Wings tossed in tangy whiskey sauce, five types of grilled cheese sandwiches,

and house-made corned beef sliders are a few other seriously amazing options.

8911 W. Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA

LOCATION:

NOLA’S

Nola’s is a bar, music venue, and restaurant in the Arts District that could

be easily bypassed if you weren’t looking for it. With an unassuming

entrance, you don’t realize until you’ve opened the door and hear soulful,

live jazz and blues singers that you’ve just stumbled upon a lit tle corner of

New Orleans. Serving authentic Creole food, the fried cat fish, jambalaya,

and seafood gumbo is matched all too well by the loud jazz music. Some

go straight for the bar, which serves up old-fashioned cocktails. During

happy hour, everything on the menu is half of f, and the show is always free.

LOCATION:

734 E. 3rd St.

Los Angeles, CA 90013

TOI

Thai food rocks, but you haven’t truly experienced “Rockin’ Thai

Food” until you’ve tried Toi on Sunset. Toi on Sunset is somewhat

of a hideout for local musicians and a late-night grub stop for

Hollywood Bowl concert-goers. It ’s definitely a fascinating place

to eat, with framed posters lining every wall, huge paper maché

dragons hanging from the dark ceiling, and 90’s rock music blasting

from dinnertime to dawn. On the menu, there’s more than just

curry and noodles, but also Thai Spaghetti and other inventive Thai

fusion dishes. Oh, and Elvis is there, wearing a rice paddy hat.

LOCATION:

7505 1/2 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

FREE PARKING

Free WINE TASTING AND TOURS

FAMILY OWNED AND OPeRATED SINCE 1917

ITALIAN DINING

Live Music

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S MOST AWARDED WINERY

737 LAMAR ST. Los AngeleS, CA 90031

1-888-223-1401

SANANTONIOWINERY.COM

A LOS ANGELES HISTORIC LANDMARK

Page 60: LA CANVAS V2 3
Page 61: LA CANVAS V2 3

POP IN MY GRILL K-TOW N’S MOO DAE PO II PROV IDE S

THE POP FOR E A RS, E Y E S A ND PA LETTE

“Moo Dae Po” means “ fea r less” in Korean . In Los Ange les , i t

means bo t t om less ma r ina t ed ba rbecue and pop mus i c v i deos .

Combined, Moo Dae Po I I o f fers a bo ld menu and a loud, qui rky

a tmosphere—both o f which requi re qui te the courageous appet i te .

Established in Korea, this restaurant is a part of an authentic Korean barbecue

chain with three locations in LA. Though K-town teems with all-you-can-eat Korean

BBQ joints, many of them are small, smoky, and rather indistinguishable from one

to the next. Tabletop grills, snobby waitresses, monotone banchan—you know

the drill. Moo Dae Po II is slightly more expensive, but offers a wider selection

of meats, from the usual sweet marinated bulgogi beef to more adventurous

cuts like beef tongue and intestine, as well as seafood and vegetarian options.

The high quality of the meat can surely be tasted in Moo Dae Po’s special

LA Marinated Thin Beef. Served bone-in, these luscious pieces of raw beef

are laid atop a hot grill directly on your tabletop. It’s hard not to salivate

as the meat cooks and begins to ooze with juices and marinade. The

waitstaff will then debone the beef with a pair of scissors and cut it into

succulent little pieces that everyone around the grill will simply fight over.

For $16.99, there are seventeen different types of meat available. No matter what

you get, it’s guaranteed to taste amazing wrapped in a thin sheet of rice paper or

daikon radish with a bit of lettuce and hot sauce. The complimentary side dishes

are also bottomless, and extremely fun to pick at while batches of meat grill away.

During al l of this f l ipping, wrapping, and dipping, pop music v ideos

play on f lat screens around the restaurant as f lashy neon l ights add a

sort of nightclub-y air to the experience. On Friday and Saturday nights,

you can expect a l ine as crowds swarm in ready to pound beers and

sake as the lights dim and the music blares. But it’s worth the wait, and

you’l l leave ready for a serious karaoke session right across the street.

936 S Vermont Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90006

LOCATION:

// Marilyn Chiu

49

RESTAURANT

Page 62: LA CANVAS V2 3

RED HOTCINNAMON, SAFFRON & CHILI

HEAT UP THIS EXPLOSIVETEQUILA COCKTAIL

Remember Red Hots? The small, round, shiny

red candies that came in a compact paper

box? Those spicy cinnamon suckers were the

inspiration behind Drago Centro bar tendress

Jaymee Mandeville’s Silver Screen Quotations—a

savory elixir made from muddled red bell peppers,

mint, fresh lime juice, organic Blanco tequila

and a Thai chili-cinnamon-infused simple syrup.

Named after a lyric from classic Red Hot Chili

Peppers song “Californication,” this fancified

take on a margarita presents vegetal notes of

red bell pepper balanced with acid from the

lime and just the slightest hint of spice from

the Thai chili and cinnamon. It’s one of those

drinks that could classify as a refreshing spa

cocktail, but with more pizzazz thanks to the heat

that asserts itself on its way down your throat.

If you like your cocktails salty, make sure to take

a sip from the rim, which comes coated in flakes

of salt spiced with saffron essence—a surprising

flavor combination that sings.

INGREDIENTS:

-2 oz 123 Blanco Tequila

-¾ oz Thai Chili /Cinnamon Syrup*

-½ oz Lime, juiced

-¼ cup Red Bell Pepper

-Mint

Muddle red bell pepper and three mint sprigs in a

cocktail shaker. Add ingredients, shake, and fine strain.

Serve on the rocks in a double old fashioned with

a saffron salt rim, lime wheel, and fresh mint sprig.

PH

OT

O /

/ C

AP

TAIN

// KAT ODELL

SYRUP: Bring 2 cups of simple syrup (1:1, sugar

h2o) to a boil, then steep a dozen Thai chili peppers

(sliced open) and 4 cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes.

Strain and let cool.

50

DRINK

Page 63: LA CANVAS V2 3

SMA L L STUFF

KICK BACK WITH CLASSIC COCKTAILS AT WEST LA’S

FREDDY SMALLS

As the Los Angeles restaurant and bar scene continues to blossom, noteworthy

food and drink establishments are springing up in less-traf ficked regions of

the city. One prime example of this proliferation is the inception of Freddy

Smalls Bar + Kitchen, which recently opened on Pico in a grit ty stretch of

West LA. Taking over the former El Serape Restaurant space—as exterior

signage still proclaims—this cozy, hip, cocktail-centric hang comes to us

thanks to Jef f Weinstein, founder of ubiquitous burger chain The Counter.

A far cry from the cookie-cut ter Counter chainlet, Freddy Smalls is a one-

of-a-kind neighborhood watering hole with a classic Americana feel and a

mix of Kanye and the Cure humming in the background. Enter the venue,

travel down a narrow hallway and meet a hostess who will open a second

door and lead you inside. Pick either a seat at the long central bar, one of

the flanking high tables, or bet ter yet, a booth—if any remain unclaimed.

While a shor t list of eats conceived by consult ing chef Jeremy Fox and

executed by chef Charlie Parker sounds like mushroom and farro porridge

($16) and flash-grilled steak tartare ($12), what we’re really here to talk about

are the cocktails. Bar manager David Fleisher of Seven Grand glory serves

a list of libations, priced at $10 or $12, and mostly rooted in the classics

with fresh fruit embellishments, house-made tonics and syrups. Don’t miss

the Mayberry Smash, which calls for Death’s Door gin, muddled berries,

honey, and lemon served up in a coupe glass with a mint leaf garnish; or

the Whiskey Stones, a boozy number that involves Maker’s Mark, stone pine

liqueur, bit ters, and dry vermouth. Or, if you’re looking to catch an easier, less

alcohol-fueled evening, Freddy’s can serve you one of nine craft beers on tap.

Just remember, good things come in small packages.

// Kat Odell

11520 W Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90064

LOCATION:

51

BAR

Page 64: LA CANVAS V2 3

L I S T E N I N G T O A S O N G C A N P U T Y O U I N A D I F F E R E N T S T A T EO F M I N D — I T A W A K E N S N E W I D E A S A N D R E L I E V E S S T R E S S

TO

BAGATELLE is a New York-based French restaurant that’s gained

quite the reputation for its rowdy, Champagne-soaked brunch

parties—think Friday night mayhem on a Sunday afternoon.

After expanding to St. Barths, partners Remi Laba and Aymeric

Clemente plus Jonathan Segal of the One Group set their sights

on Los Angeles, and now, this here city has its very own branch

helmed by chef Scott Quinn, who lands in LA by way of Bouchon

in Las Vegas. Here a few words from Scott on food, fun, and focus.

1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CUISINE AT BAGATELLE?

The cuisine at Bagatelle LA will be progressive French with global

influences. There will be items from the original [New York] menu

to stay true to the Bagatelle name and concept.

2. WHICH DISHES IS BAGATELLE BEST KNOWN FOR? WILL THEY

APPEAR ON THE LA MENU?

Two of Bagatelle’s signature dishes are the beef tartare and the

tuna tartare. They will be on the menu along with a few other staple

dishes that represent Bagatelle and its style of food.

3. IN THE PAST YOU COOKED FOR THOMAS KELLER AT

BOUCHON IN LAS VEGAS. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE

BAGATELLE TEAM IN LA?

When approached with the opportunity to join the team, I was

intrigued by the partnership with the One Group. After researching

both companies I found that each showed an opportunity for

growth and future success.

4. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

A range of different things – whether it be the reaction someone has

to a dish, or just grocery shopping. It seems that if I see something

at a certain time or place, my creativity starts working overtime and

from that I draw ideas for dishes.

5. DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR COOKING?

Music definitely influences my way of creating food. Listening to a

song can put you in a different state of mind—it awakens new ideas

and relieves stress, paving the way to more creative ways of thinking.

6. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC IN THE KITCHEN WHILE YOU COOK?

I do when I cook at home, especially when I’m testing out recipes,

but I never listen to it at work. At work it ’s time to focus and music

can sometimes be a distraction.

7. IF YOU COULD COOK FOR ANY MUSICIANS DEAD OR ALIVE,

WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

Ray Charles, because of what an amazing and inspirational musician

he was, and Jim Morrison—just because it ’s Jim Morrison.

// Kat Odell

SCOTT QUINNJOINS THE PARTY AT

BAGATELLE LA

LV

PHOTO // Captain

LA

Page 65: LA CANVAS V2 3

TO

BAGATELLE is a New York-based French restaurant that’s gained

quite the reputation for its rowdy, Champagne-soaked brunch

parties—think Friday night mayhem on a Sunday afternoon.

After expanding to St. Barths, partners Remi Laba and Aymeric

Clemente plus Jonathan Segal of the One Group set their sights

on Los Angeles, and now, this here city has its very own branch

helmed by chef Scott Quinn, who lands in LA by way of Bouchon

in Las Vegas. Here a few words from Scott on food, fun, and focus.

1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CUISINE AT BAGATELLE?

The cuisine at Bagatelle LA will be progressive French with global

influences. There will be items from the original [New York] menu

to stay true to the Bagatelle name and concept.

2. WHICH DISHES IS BAGATELLE BEST KNOWN FOR? WILL THEY

APPEAR ON THE LA MENU?

Two of Bagatelle’s signature dishes are the beef tartare and the

tuna tartare. They will be on the menu along with a few other staple

dishes that represent Bagatelle and its style of food.

3. IN THE PAST YOU COOKED FOR THOMAS KELLER AT

BOUCHON IN LAS VEGAS. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE

BAGATELLE TEAM IN LA?

When approached with the opportunity to join the team, I was

intrigued by the partnership with the One Group. After researching

both companies I found that each showed an opportunity for

growth and future success.

4. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

A range of different things – whether it be the reaction someone has

to a dish, or just grocery shopping. It seems that if I see something

at a certain time or place, my creativity starts working overtime and

from that I draw ideas for dishes.

5. DOES MUSIC INFLUENCE YOUR COOKING?

Music definitely influences my way of creating food. Listening to a

song can put you in a different state of mind—it awakens new ideas

and relieves stress, paving the way to more creative ways of thinking.

6. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC IN THE KITCHEN WHILE YOU COOK?

I do when I cook at home, especially when I’m testing out recipes,

but I never listen to it at work. At work it ’s time to focus and music

can sometimes be a distraction.

7. IF YOU COULD COOK FOR ANY MUSICIANS DEAD OR ALIVE,

WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

Ray Charles, because of what an amazing and inspirational musician

he was, and Jim Morrison—just because it ’s Jim Morrison.

// Kat Odell

SCOTT QUINNJOINS THE PARTY AT

BAGATELLE LA

LV

PHOTO // Captain

LA

Page 66: LA CANVAS V2 3

IK MULTIMEDIA iRIG MIC $59.99

You love music. You can sing. It stands to reason you may

want to combine these two passions and share your talent

with the world. The iOS store is lit tered with innumerable

recording apps perfect for any budding musical ar tist, and

the iRig Mic works with them all, allowing you to record

yourself anywhere once you’ve at tached it to your iPhone,

iPod or iPad. Also works great for interviews—you know,

so you can practice what you’re going to say once you’re

famous. www.ikmultimedia.com

IK MULTIMEDIA iRIG MIC $59.99

You love music. You can sing. It stands to reason you may

want to combine these two passions and share your talent

with the world. The iOS store is lit tered with innumerable

TECH iT OUTCANON POWERSHOT ELPH 510 HS, $349.99

Pre-recorded audio rarely ever compares to the live

experience. As you head off to Coachella, you may want

to grab a better camera than that one built into your

phone. The Powershot Elph 510 HS captures amazing

12.1 megapixel images and 1080P HD video, all while

being their thinnest (and possibly sexiest) camera to date.

With its 12x wide-angle optical zoom you’ll capture every

great performance without having to elbow your way to

the front of the stage. www.usa.canon.com

VIZIO VSB200 HD SOUND BAR, $149.99

Sure, concerts and live shows are a great way to experience your

favorite music, but wouldn’t you rather stay home and crank it up

while you dance in your undies? No? It ’s just me? Well, the Vizio HD

Sound Bar is a great way to add home theater “simulated” surround

sound to your television without all of the wires and extra speakers.

This thing really sounds great, is compact (perfect even for tiny

LA studio apartments) and won’t break the bank. www.vizio.com

THANKS TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY, ALMOST EVERYONE WE KNOW IS NOW

AN AUDIOPHILE, RECORD PRODUCER, OR MUSIC DOCUMENTARIAN OF SOME

SORT—AND WE KIND OF LIKE IT THAT WAY. SO WHETHER YOU’RE TRYING TO

LAUNCH A MUSIC EMPIRE FROM YOUR BEDROOM OR JUST WANT TO ENJOY YOUR

FAVORITES ANYWHERE, HERE’S A LIST OF GREAT TECH TO HELP YOU DO IT.

// JUSTIN FITZWATER.

ARCHOS 35 HOME CONNECT, $129.99

Many of us live, eat and breathe music every waking moment

of the day, and the Archos 35 Home Connect will literally wake

you to the sound of your favorite tunes. But playing music is

only one of the tricks up its sleeve—this Android-based device

also provides weather, real-time traffic, video playback, Internet

radio, games and much more through downloadable apps. With

a built-in battery, it ’s likely the Home Connect won’t stay on your

nightstand long. www.archos.com

APPLE IPOD CLASSIC (160GB) $249

It ’s impossible to discuss the best in music tech without including

Apple’s line of MP3 players. They’ve become synonymous with

portable audio and considered by most to be the best. Though

their “touch” line is all the rage these days, it ’s the iPod Classic we

recommend. With 160GB of storage, it ’s hard to imagine anyone

running out of room for their favorite music, videos or photos. You

don’t get all those cool apps, but that’s what your cellphone’s for!

www.apple.com/ipodclassic

54

TECH

Page 67: LA CANVAS V2 3

IK MULTIMEDIA iRIG MIC $59.99

You love music. You can sing. It stands to reason you may

want to combine these two passions and share your talent

with the world. The iOS store is lit tered with innumerable

recording apps perfect for any budding musical ar tist, and

the iRig Mic works with them all, allowing you to record

yourself anywhere once you’ve at tached it to your iPhone,

iPod or iPad. Also works great for interviews—you know,

so you can practice what you’re going to say once you’re

famous. www.ikmultimedia.com

TECH iT OUTCANON POWERSHOT ELPH 510 HS, $349.99

Pre-recorded audio rarely ever compares to the live

experience. As you head off to Coachella, you may want

to grab a better camera than that one built into your

phone. The Powershot Elph 510 HS captures amazing

12.1 megapixel images and 1080P HD video, all while

being their thinnest (and possibly sexiest) camera to date.

With its 12x wide-angle optical zoom you’ll capture every

great performance without having to elbow your way to

the front of the stage. www.usa.canon.com

VIZIO VSB200 HD SOUND BAR, $149.99

Sure, concerts and live shows are a great way to experience your

favorite music, but wouldn’t you rather stay home and crank it up

while you dance in your undies? No? It ’s just me? Well, the Vizio HD

Sound Bar is a great way to add home theater “simulated” surround

sound to your television without all of the wires and extra speakers.

This thing really sounds great, is compact (perfect even for tiny

LA studio apartments) and won’t break the bank. www.vizio.com

THANKS TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY, ALMOST EVERYONE WE KNOW IS NOW

AN AUDIOPHILE, RECORD PRODUCER, OR MUSIC DOCUMENTARIAN OF SOME

SORT—AND WE KIND OF LIKE IT THAT WAY. SO WHETHER YOU’RE TRYING TO

LAUNCH A MUSIC EMPIRE FROM YOUR BEDROOM OR JUST WANT TO ENJOY YOUR

FAVORITES ANYWHERE, HERE’S A LIST OF GREAT TECH TO HELP YOU DO IT.

// JUSTIN FITZWATER.

ARCHOS 35 HOME CONNECT, $129.99

Many of us live, eat and breathe music every waking moment

of the day, and the Archos 35 Home Connect will literally wake

you to the sound of your favorite tunes. But playing music is

only one of the tricks up its sleeve—this Android-based device

also provides weather, real-time traffic, video playback, Internet

radio, games and much more through downloadable apps. With

a built-in battery, it ’s likely the Home Connect won’t stay on your

nightstand long. www.archos.com

APPLE IPOD CLASSIC (160GB) $249

It ’s impossible to discuss the best in music tech without including

Apple’s line of MP3 players. They’ve become synonymous with

portable audio and considered by most to be the best. Though

their “touch” line is all the rage these days, it ’s the iPod Classic we

recommend. With 160GB of storage, it ’s hard to imagine anyone

running out of room for their favorite music, videos or photos. You

don’t get all those cool apps, but that’s what your cellphone’s for!

www.apple.com/ipodclassic

10

Page 68: LA CANVAS V2 3

The Los Angeles Film School helps you succeed in the entertainment industry by providing a comprehensive education with the knowledge and technical experience to enter a career you will love.

Earn your A.S. degree in about a year* in Film, Game Production, Computer Animation or Recording Arts! Learn from our experienced industry professionals.

• VA-Approved, Accredited College, ACCSC• Financial Aid & Military Education Benefits(including BAH) available to those who qualify

• Located in the heart of Hollywood• On-site housing coordinator• The Los Angeles Film School is a member of theServicemembers Opportunity College Consortium(SOC School)

• More than 250,000 square feet of sound stages,live sets, recording studios, labs and pro gear!

The Los Angeles Film School is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program

*Length of program and start dates are dependent on course of study and degree option. For more information on our programs and their outcomes visit www.la�lm.edu/disclosures. ©2011 �e Los Angeles Film School. All rights reserved. �e term “�e Los Angeles Film School” and �e Los Angeles Film School logo are either service marks or registered service marks of �e Los Angeles Film School. Accredited by ACCSC

866.573.0656www.explorelafilm.com

Dream!Dream!Dream!Start Living

The

Scan for more Information

Create Your Future Today. Call:

OPTOMA PK201 PICO PROJECTOR, $299.99

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a group of people huddled

around a fancy little smart phone watching music videos on YouTube.

With Optoma’s PK201, you can project a 16x9 screen up to 66”

anywhere you can find a flat, white surface. With its rechargeable

battery, compact size, built-in speaker and assortment of input

options – you can throw together your own pop-up concert virtually

anywhere. www.optomausa.com

SATECHI AUDIO MOVE SD PORTABLE SPEAKER, $29.99

Headphones are great and all, but sometimes you just HAVE to

share that awesome new song you’re obsessing over with everyone

around you. The Audio Move SD pumps out big stereo sound at

a really small price. Its rechargeable bat tery lasts up to 17 hours

via its internal microSD slot, or 24 hours via line-in when hooked

up to vir tually any device that uses a 3.5mm connector. You know

you have bet ter taste in music than everyone else—time to show

‘em. www.satechi.net

TOOKS CLASSIC BEANIE, $24.99

Much like fashion, the tech industry is always looking toward the future in an

ef fort to combine style with substance. Tooks beanies, named after the French

“tuque,” combine a classic look with a thin pair of headphones (about the size

of a half dollar) hidden within. The headphones are removable, for washing,

but I doubt you’ll ever want to take this baby of f—even if it is in need of a

good wash. www.tookshats.com

PICKMASTER PLECTRUM PUNCH, $35.00

A gadget is nothing if not a tool to make your life easier. The Pickmaster

Plectrum Punch may not be much of a gadget, but it IS a handy tool for any

of you budding musicians who just can’t seem to keep track of their picks!

Punch as many as you want from almost anything; bank cards, gif t cards, etc.;

and never worry about misplacing your picks again. As an added bonus, you’ll

have a great reason to get rid of those maxed our credit cards you can’t stop

LG TONE HBS-700 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES, $69.99

I HATE having my head tethered to my phone by a cord when I’m listening to

Pandora on the road. The LG Tone provides a pret ty awesome wireless headset

experience that ’s great whether you’re on a call or listening to your favorite music.

It has one-touch dialing (works great with Siri), 10 hours of bat tery life, vibrating

call aler t, noise reduction, and volume and music controls that even let you skip

songs on Pandora without taking your phone out of your pocket. www.lg.com/us

Page 69: LA CANVAS V2 3

OPTOMA PK201 PICO PROJECTOR, $299.99

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a group of people huddled

around a fancy little smart phone watching music videos on YouTube.

With Optoma’s PK201, you can project a 16x9 screen up to 66”

anywhere you can find a flat, white surface. With its rechargeable

battery, compact size, built-in speaker and assortment of input

options – you can throw together your own pop-up concert virtually

anywhere. www.optomausa.com

SATECHI AUDIO MOVE SD PORTABLE SPEAKER, $29.99

Headphones are great and all, but sometimes you just HAVE to

share that awesome new song you’re obsessing over with everyone

around you. The Audio Move SD pumps out big stereo sound at

a really small price. Its rechargeable bat tery lasts up to 17 hours

via its internal microSD slot, or 24 hours via line-in when hooked

up to vir tually any device that uses a 3.5mm connector. You know

you have bet ter taste in music than everyone else—time to show

‘em. www.satechi.net

TOOKS CLASSIC BEANIE, $24.99

Much like fashion, the tech industry is always looking toward the future in an

ef fort to combine style with substance. Tooks beanies, named after the French

“tuque,” combine a classic look with a thin pair of headphones (about the size

of a half dollar) hidden within. The headphones are removable, for washing,

but I doubt you’ll ever want to take this baby of f—even if it is in need of a

good wash. www.tookshats.com

PICKMASTER PLECTRUM PUNCH, $35.00

A gadget is nothing if not a tool to make your life easier. The Pickmaster

Plectrum Punch may not be much of a gadget, but it IS a handy tool for any

of you budding musicians who just can’t seem to keep track of their picks!

Punch as many as you want from almost anything; bank cards, gif t cards, etc.;

and never worry about misplacing your picks again. As an added bonus, you’ll

have a great reason to get rid of those maxed our credit cards you can’t stop

LG TONE HBS-700 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES, $69.99

I HATE having my head tethered to my phone by a cord when I’m listening to

Pandora on the road. The LG Tone provides a pret ty awesome wireless headset

experience that ’s great whether you’re on a call or listening to your favorite music.

It has one-touch dialing (works great with Siri), 10 hours of bat tery life, vibrating

call aler t, noise reduction, and volume and music controls that even let you skip

songs on Pandora without taking your phone out of your pocket. www.lg.com/us

57

Page 70: LA CANVAS V2 3

march1

2

3

4

9 10 1511 12 13 14

5

6

7

8

ART EVENTThere & Back w/ Gregory Siff @ Siren Studios (Rooftop Sessions)

PARTYPlasmapool w/ Mord Fustang

@ Avalon Hollywood

CONCERTSaul Williams @ the El Rey

CONCERTBela Fleck

@ the Orpheum Theatre

PARTYHollywood Club Crawl@ Beauty Bar

CONCERTVoxhaul broadcast

@ the Satellite

FILM EVENTZero Film Festival

@ Space 15 Twenty

CONCERTPunch Brothers

@ the El Rey

COMEDYNatasha Leggero @ Largo

CONCERTManiac

@ Harvard & Stone

Seussland Red Carpet After Party

@ Grauman Chinese Theatre

CONCERTZola Jesus

@ the Natural History Museum

STYLE EVENTSimply Stylist Seminar @ W Hotel Hollywood

CONCERTTokyo String Quartet @ The Broad Stage

CONCERTTy Segall @ the Troubadour

CONCERTCloud Nothings

@ the Echo

STYLE EVENTHandbag Designer L.A.B

@ California Market Center

CONCERTThe Kooks @ The Fox Theatre

ART EXIBIT“The Bamboo Curtain”

by Lydia Emily @ Lab Art

THEATREAmerican Idiot

@ Ahmanson Theatre

CONCERTIslands@ the Bootleg

ART EVENTEtsy Craft Night @ Craft and Folk Art Museum

THEATRE“Why We Have A Body”

@ Edgemar Center For The Arts

ART EVENT Miracle Mile Artwalk @ Beverly Blvd (LA Brea/Miracle Mile Area)

ART EVENTIlluminated LA presents

“A Secret Society” @ NOLA’s

CONCERTTribes @ the Bootleg

WINE EVENTThe World’s Best Wine Values

@ San Antonio Winery

STYLE EVENTLA Fashion Market

@ California Market Building

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march1

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ART EVENTThere & Back w/ Gregory Siff @ Siren Studios (Rooftop Sessions)

PARTYPlasmapool w/ Mord Fustang

@ Avalon Hollywood

CONCERTSaul Williams @ the El Rey

CONCERTBela Fleck

@ the Orpheum Theatre

PARTYHollywood Club Crawl@ Beauty Bar

CONCERTVoxhaul broadcast

@ the Satellite

FILM EVENTZero Film Festival

@ Space 15 Twenty

CONCERTPunch Brothers

@ the El Rey

COMEDYNatasha Leggero @ Largo

CONCERTManiac

@ Harvard & Stone

Seussland Red Carpet After Party

@ Grauman Chinese Theatre

CONCERTZola Jesus

@ the Natural History Museum

STYLE EVENTSimply Stylist Seminar @ W Hotel Hollywood

CONCERTTokyo String Quartet @ The Broad Stage

CONCERTTy Segall @ the Troubadour

CONCERTCloud Nothings

@ the Echo

STYLE EVENTHandbag Designer L.A.B

@ California Market Center

CONCERTThe Kooks @ The Fox Theatre

ART EXIBIT“The Bamboo Curtain”

by Lydia Emily @ Lab Art

THEATREAmerican Idiot

@ Ahmanson Theatre

CONCERTIslands@ the Bootleg

ART EVENTEtsy Craft Night @ Craft and Folk Art Museum

THEATRE“Why We Have A Body”

@ Edgemar Center For The Arts

ART EVENT Miracle Mile Artwalk @ Beverly Blvd (LA Brea/Miracle Mile Area)

ART EVENTIlluminated LA presents

“A Secret Society” @ NOLA’s

CONCERTTribes @ the Bootleg

WINE EVENTThe World’s Best Wine Values

@ San Antonio Winery

STYLE EVENTLA Fashion Market

@ California Market Building

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COMEDYJerry Seinfeld @ Pantages Theatre

CONCERTOf Montreal + Deerhoof

@ the Wiltern

CONCERTNicolas Jaar @ the Echoplex

CONCERTWhite Rabbits @ the Echo

CONCERTThe Ting Tings + MNDR @ the El Rey

CONCERTCults + Spectrals @ the Music Box

FESTIVALLA Film & Music Weekend @ the Downtown Independent

DANCEBallet Preljocaj: Snow White@ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

THEATRERock of Ages @ Pantages Theatre

CONCERTFor The Kings

@ The Basement Tavern at the Victorian

ART EVENTMaria Rutherford: Lay-Text

@ Robert Berman B7 Gallery

CONCERTThe Naked and Famous

@ the Wiltern

BEER/FOOD FESTIVAL

FESTIVALBeyond Wonderland 2012 @ NOS Event Center

STYLE EVENTLA Fashion Weekend @ Sunset Gower Studios

ART EVENTIncognito Show & Sale @ Santa Monica Museum of Art

STYLE EVENTA Current Affair Pop-Up Vintage Marketplace @ Cooper Design Center

THEATREGhosts@ Edgemar Center of the Arts

ART EVENT“Ground Control” Group Show Opening Reception

@ Pacifi c Design Center

TH

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ART EVENTMaria Rutherford: Lay-Text

@ Robert Berman B7 Gallery

LACANVAS.COM-YOUR EVERYDAY SOURCE FOR THE LATEST EVENTS.

Spring Beer and Sausage Festival @ San Antonio Winery

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Jonni Hipp and Lady Tigra@ Three ClubsEvery Saturday in Hollywood

April

9 10 11 12 131 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ART EXHIBITIONPortraits of Renown: Photography and the Cult of Celebrity @ the Getty Center

ART EXHIBITIONYoung Photographer’s Alliance Show @ EVFA

ART EXHIBITIONChildren of the Plumed Serpent @ LACMA

STYLE EVENTUrban Air Market @ Abbot Kinney Blvd.

COMEDYThe Thrilling Adventure Hour

@ Largo

CONCERTThe Pierces @ the Troubadour

CONCERT

CONCERTTyga @ Club Nokia

CONCERTBear in Heaven @ the Echo

PARTYRoadside Attraction

@ the Ace Hotel and Swim Club

FESTIVALCoachella Weekend 1

ART EXHIBITION Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974 @ MOCA

CONCERTBen Kweller @ The El Rey

CONCERTChairlift + Nite Jewel @ the Troubadour

THEATRE Billy Elliot @ Pantages Theatre

ART EVENTJordan Vineyard presents 4 on 4 Art Competition

@ LACE

CONCERTGarbage @ the El Rey

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Heartless Bastards @ the Echo

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Jonni Hipp and Lady Tigra@ Three ClubsEvery Saturday in Hollywood

April

9 10 11 12 131 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ART EXHIBITIONPortraits of Renown: Photography and the Cult of Celebrity @ the Getty Center

ART EXHIBITIONYoung Photographer’s Alliance Show @ EVFA

ART EXHIBITIONChildren of the Plumed Serpent @ LACMA

STYLE EVENTUrban Air Market @ Abbot Kinney Blvd.

COMEDYThe Thrilling Adventure Hour

@ Largo

CONCERTThe Pierces @ the Troubadour

CONCERT

CONCERTTyga @ Club Nokia

CONCERTBear in Heaven @ the Echo

PARTYRoadside Attraction

@ the Ace Hotel and Swim Club

FESTIVALCoachella Weekend 1

ART EXHIBITION Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974 @ MOCA

CONCERTBen Kweller @ The El Rey

CONCERTChairlift + Nite Jewel @ the Troubadour

THEATRE Billy Elliot @ Pantages Theatre

ART EVENTJordan Vineyard presents 4 on 4 Art Competition

@ LACE

CONCERTGarbage @ the El Rey

TH

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T M

SUN SUNW

W

MUSIC EVENT

Heartless Bastards @ the Echo

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FILM FESTIVALCity of Lights—City of Angels

French Film Festival @ Director’s Guild of America

FESTIVALCoachella Weekend 2

CONCERTSchool of Seven Bells @ the Echoplex

STYLE EVENT2012 Fashion Symposium @ California Market Building

FESTIVALStagecoach

CONCERTIngrid Michaelson @ The Wiltern

ART EVENTCreate:Fixate All Photography Show @ Premiere Events Center

CONCERTBen Kweller @ The El Rey

CONCERTCaveman @ the Echo

FESTIVALFestival of Books @ USC

CONCERTLemonade @ the Echo

FILM FESTIVALFestival of Film Noir @ the Egyptian Theatre

FILM FESTIVALGoing Green Film Fest

@ Regal Theaters (LA LIVE DOWNTOWN)

DRINK EVENTWinemaker’s Barrel Tasting

@ San Antonio Winery

CONCERTElvis Costello @ The Wiltern

WINE EVENTSkinny Wine Luncheon @ San Antonio Winery

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Create:Fixate All Photography Show @ Premiere Events Center

LACANVAS.COM-YOUR EVERYDAY SOURCE FOR THE LATEST EVENTS.

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Shawn Harris moved to Silverlake by accident, from San Francisco, about three

years ago, by way of Australia. There he’d met Jake Grigg, who since became his

cohort and muse in art-friendly punk-pop band Maniac. They cohabitate with two

ladies (a girlfriend and a sister, the latter singing with Maniac for live shows) in a

clubhouse compound overlooking a bustling stretch of Sunset Blvd where, from

9pm to sunrise, there’s no one around to tell them to keep it down. Inside, it ’s

an all-in-one art, design, film, and music studio—colorful, layered, happy, and a

bit chaotic, just like Maniac’s fashion-forward sound. The role of visual art is as

integral to their operation as a microphone, with audio and optic inspirations being

pursued simultaneously with an expressive, retro-folk, cheeky, slightly decadent,

urban-naive Romanticism that covers their look, their sound, and their way of life.

They release very sweet limited edition records through their site, where

they also post music videos that are, as you might imagine, an art form

unto themselves. The casings for the new Sons of Summer EP are being

made the day I visit Shawn, so hand-pulled and numbered slipcases are

piled up everywhere. “It ’s an object, like books and vinyl, much more than a

download.” The cover art on both the EP and their full-length album Mania

are portraits Shawn made of the two of them. “Big-ass paintings of our own

faces—that’s a bit of an inside joke. Our EP release was at a gallery in Sydney.

There was no music, just an exhibition. People didn’t know what to do!”

As the resident artist, Shawn is more or less in charge of the band’s

visuals across the board, which makes sense considering the excellent

work he’s done for other bands’ album covers and music videos (Biffy

Clyro, She & Him, Blush featuring Snoop Dogg); as well as his intriguing

gig at the SF Chronicle. He illustrates for the kids’ newspaper section,

which is curated through McSweeney’s. “I fill in blank spots and weird

empty shapes on the pages, every other week. It ’s for the odd kids, it ’s not

condescending like so many of those ‘fun & games’ sections can be. I just

ask myself, ‘Am I entertained?’ because I was—and am—an odd kid myself.”

Keep up with Maniac at home and on tour and watch out for new art and

music drops through: Maniacmania.com and Facebook.com/ManiacMania.

SHAWN HARRISDOES EVERYTHING,

RIGHT NOW, ALL AT ONCE

HE'S A MANIAC

// Shana Nys Dambrot

COVER // Shawn Harris

64

LAST LOOK

Page 77: LA CANVAS V2 3

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