Releases like this are why Teenage Teardrops is one of my favorite labels of all time.

STATION FIRE, a full color 8 1/2 X 11 collage zine by Jenna and Cali. 40 pages, limited to 150 copies. Comes with an audio companion cassette compilation which was mostly recorded in one day on the hottest day of the year while the fire raged at its peak. Features exclusive songs from John Clavin, Michael Thornhill, Nick deWitt, David Scott Stone, Lucky Dragons, Infinite Body, Jenna and Cali and more. It is dedicated to the couple from Tujunga, who, though told to evacuate, decided to ride the fire out in their hot tub.

Hot dog! (And please note I’m utilizing the 1940’s interjection, not namedropping the gross-out meat by-product.)

Station Fire is available via the Teardrops Store.

From the Slumberland Records site- Hold onto your hats: Henry’s Dress (first show in 13 years, full original line-up), Go Sailor (first show in 14 years!), The How (third show ever) and Boyracer (last shows ever? only Stew knows for sure!). That’s quite a line-up, no?…These shows are absolutely guaranteed to sell-out well in advance, and I reckon you won’t get another chance to see some of these bands play, so don’t sleep!

Tix are available now! Godspeed!

Flyer via PTP

Filmmaker Lance Bangs profiles Family and other super awesome LA people and places in his short documentary Family Portrait. Watching this makes me so fucking grateful (and proud!) to live in Los Angeles and be a part of such an amazing community. And yes, everyone really is this nice!

In one of the coolest collaborations of recent memory, No Age provides the soundtrack to Aanteni, a bizarre-o, high-fashion, sci-fi, short film directed by Todd Cole for superstar design sisters Rodarte. Damn! Watch the weirdness (and I mean that in the best way!) over at Nowness.

Film still via GvsB

I’ve been downloading old Part Time Punks radio show podcasts as of late. Let’s just say I am totally obsessed. Like I want to start taking notes and making diagrams, which is kinda what I did with the Kill Rock Stars roster back in the day. Yes, I am a TOTAL dork. But seriously, Michael Stock has impeccable taste and an enviable musical acumen and every time I listen to a show I feel like I’m attending a really awesome lecture. And I can’t believe I have gone all these years without listening to Black Tambourine!

Part Time Punks radio show is every Thursday 3-6 on KXLU 88.9 FM, Los Angeles. Or you can listen on the interweb.

I’ve been reading A LOT of Raymond Chandler recently- as of tonight I’m on novel number six. And while Dashiell Hammett is the more celebrated author of hard-boiled detective stories, Chandler deftly captures the character of 1930s and 1940s Los Angeles, which is what keeps bringing me back for more.

At his best, he reminds me of Didion:

“There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.”

And that’s pretty much the highest praise I can give.

1940 photo of Raymond Chandler via The Guardian.

Not to get all Dear Diary, but we (the Sweetheart Society ladyz) actually went out this weekend. Like out out. Three times! And no bars were involved! (Cuz getting drunk and watching bros and trust fund hipsters ogle each other is LAME. And depressing.)

Friday we saw Tom Ford’s stunning and meticulous film A Single Man. Every little detail from camera angles to lighting, to killer mid-century furniture and that gorgeous angora sweater was sheer perfection. And the plot was not too shabby either. Go see this, please.

Then on Saturday we headed over to Family to see No Age play with Mike Watt and Tim Kerr. That’s right, No Age jamn with MIKE WATT. Epic.

And finally, (drumroll please…) we saw Weekend play last night at the Echo. Oh. My. God(dess). Now, I like a lot of bands. There are bands I respect, bands that are fun to see, bands that are endearing, etc. But bands that make me feel fucking ALIVE are far and few between. It has been years since I’ve been at a show and experienced that rare transcendent and ephemeral feeling of my heart about to burst, the I-cannot-believe-I-am-experiencing-something-this-amazing feeling, the everything-is-actually-okay-and-there-is-nowhere-else-on-earth-I-would-rather-be-at-this-moment feeling. Weekend were that fucking good.

And their 10″ rules too.

Weekend images via MyFace.

This flyer was made by an 8 yr. old named Nico, who is also DJing the show on Saturday. How cool is that?!

I wonder if she would be in a band with me.

Awesome benefit show this Sunday!

with…
NO AGE
VIVIAN GIRLS (NYC)
DARKER MY LOVE
ABE VIGODA
BEST COAST
NODZZZ (SF)
COWABUNGA BABES (TX)
WOUNDED LION
GRAHAM FOREST
ALE MANIA (SD)
ANIMAL STYLE

and DJs…
Keith Morris (Circle Jerks)
Jim Smith (The Smell)
Sean Carlson (FYF Fest)
Jimmy Jamz (Brother Reade)
Jennifer and Jessie Clavin (Mika Miko)
Sam Bosson (Trash Talk)
Jesspeleta (Neverever)
Heather Gram (Pearl Harbor)
Blaque Chris

and Special Guest MCs…
Josh Fadem and Preston Olson

*Not sure if the RSVP thing is still needed cuz tix are for sale here.

More on the L.A. premiere of the Depeche Mode fan doc, The Posters Came from the Walls, cuz it looks insanely awesome.

Screenings will be held at Cinefamily on Friday, Jan. 29th at 7:30pm and 10:30pm, and Saturday, Jan. 30th at 8pm. Q&A w/ filmmakers moderated by Part Time Punks DJ Michael Stock after the 7:30pm screening on Friday. Tickets are $12. (First showing is almost sold out, so get on it!)

And if you want to make it a full-on Depeche Mode weekend, hit up Part Time Punks on Sunday at the Echo.

I’m the first to admit that the art world confounds and intimidates me. Nonetheless, Art Los Angeles Contemporary, being held this Thursday 28th – Sunday 31st at Pacific Design Center in WeHo, looks pretty friggin’ awesome. Namely…

- Playing Fair: Women in the Contemporary Art Market. Moderated by Kimberly Light, Owner, Kim Light/LightBox, Los Angeles. 3pm, Friday.

- The Los Angeles Premiere of “The Posters Came From the Walls” (Depeche Mode fans from around the world) by Jeremy Deller & Nick Abrahams. 7:30pm and 10pm, Friday. AND Q&A with directors by Michael Stock (Part Time Punks): 9PM.

- A presentation by artists Ari Marcopoulos and Dave Muller. 1pm, Saturday. (Ari Marcopoulos is one of my favorite contemporary photographers, and not just because he’s shot Alan Vega. Although that totally helps!)

Ticket info, visitor info, and full schedule can be found here.

Alan Vega photo by Ari Marcopoulos via High Power Moment.

I’ve been meaning to get to Ooga Booga for several reasons. This is one of them…

Losing Feeling zine from No Age and design hero Brian Roettinger, co-released by Post Present Medium and Hand Held Heart.

Print-run of 200, so you best leave one for me!

Image via Ooga Booga

I love vegan confections. Seriously. I LOVE them. So I could not be more stoked that Babycakes NYC has finally come to Los Angeles.

Located in downtown LA at 130 East 6th Street (between S. Main Street and S. Los Angeles Street).

I will totally be there this weekend. And probably next.

Images via Style Section LA and Quarry Girl

Holy art happening! I haven’t seen some of these names in near on a decade now.

Check out This, Los Angeles for more info plus some really cool videos.

Like everyone else in the world, I’m totally obsessing over Best Coast right now. Bethany’s voice gives me shivers.

They’ve been playing around LA fairly often, but I have yet to get my butt to a show. We should all get on that before they start headlining at the Henry Fonda!

Split 7″ with Jeans Wilder out January 18 on Atelier Ciseaux.