I am cured of Hiatus-itis.

If you haven't already heard from me or OC Weekly, check out Costa Mesa's newly opened, independent record store The Sound Trolley. The place is small but worth the trip. It's located obscurely behind a Parisian tailor and the Little Knight bar on 17th Street.

They carry plenty of music from the 60s and 70s, as well as some new stuff, to refresh your musical palette. I know the first time I came in, I told Josh (co-owner of Sound Trolley) that I was tired of the music I was listening to at the time. I came out with an awesome Agamenon CD and a profile subject for LJ! Now I consider myself a walking advertisement. Anyway, if you don't know what you're looking for, like me, try the vintage approach: ask!

I've also uploaded two three of my favorite Agamenon tracks off their one and only album Todos Rien de Mi. Luckily, with the help of Josh, I cured my musical hiatus--and blogging hiatus?--with some good, old hippie-haired musicians.

Agamenon - Todos Rien de Mi
Agamenon - Please Little Man
Agamenon - Cuco Go Fly

I'd upload the entire album, but I believe it's worth driving to Sound Trolley (you won't find it at Best Buy nor Amoeba) and buying the album.



The Sound Trolley Records
440 E. 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949) 642-4846

Jesus, Doraemon and Geishas

"Redemption." Oil on canvas.

There is a very excellent retrospective exhibition for L.A. artist Alex Gross at the CS Fullerton Grand Central Art Center. Gross's influences include 1800s daguerreotypes, religious imagery, Japanese pop art and macabre master Edward Gorey. Darkly irreverent, he paints moths, butterflies, geishas, WWII airplanes, gentlemen from the 1800s, etc. in finely detailed oil paints. The gallery is open free to the public.

And while you're there, be sure to check out the OCCCA for local artist Gary Simpson's "Commonground191" exhibit, a collection of collages made with soil gathered from all 192 member countries of the United Nations. Also in display are containers of soil from nations ranging from Cape Verde to Myanmar.

For more information, go to http://www.grandcentralartcenter.com and http://www.occca.org.