Festival of Books (or Music)

The scene is not my usual gem box theatre, crowded club, or palatial performance space, but a campus teeming with tents filled with books, publishers, and writers’ organizations. While I’m a dedicated bibliophile and a dabbling writer, the significant part of my focus at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Saturday, April 13, 2019 was on music. My favorite thing about the Festival of Books is the readings, conversations, and interviews that are held inside the USC campus buildings, and the free events held on the outdoor stages. I arrived early enough in the morning that some exhibitors

Bless the Souls that Shook Up Mine – The Milk Carton Kids

Recap of The Milk Carton Kids show, Sad Songs Comedy Hour, at Largo in Los Angeles, in March 2019. The Milk Carton Kids is the dynamic due of Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale who play mainly folk music. Special guests were John C. Reilly, Mike Birbiglia, Jen Hope Stein, and Nick Thune.

Saying What I’m Seeing – Rhett Miller

Stepping into the Pico Union Project space in Los Angeles, CA is like walking into a church, where pews for seats are flanked by stained-glass windows, and the long, large metal pipes of the organ in the gallery loom over the small stage. Originally built as a synagogue in 1909, the space was maintained by the Welsh Presbyterian Church until 2011, when it was passed on to the Jewish Historical Society. In 2013, it was founded by Craig Taubman as a multicultural center and house of faith.  On the night of Thursday,  March 14, 2019, the faithful fans of Rhett

Saturday Night’s Alright – Elton John

One living legend. A bucket list experience. A space bursting with love. A visual feast. What more can I say about the experience of seeing Elton John perform at the Forum in Los Angeles, California? The reality surpassed my imagination. Elton John is traveling around the world on his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, supposedly his last tour, though I imagine he’ll still play some live events here and there. He’s brought with him some of his faithful backing-band members, his catalog of hits, a wardrobe of sparkling outfits, and a giant screen which smoothly switches between pre-recorded videos and