heidicuda's Blog

L.A. Girl/L.A. World

It’s been a spell since we’ve done an edition of L.A. Girl/L.A. World, but we’re back in the saddle tonight and dedicating this one to Iris Berry, who co-founded the Ringling Sisters—an all-female, rock ‘n’ roll, spoken-word group—and whose latest publication, “Sirens: Five Femme Fatale Poets,” is helping cement her status as a literary icon in heels.

Berry, who also authored the short story collection, "Two Blocks East of Vine," and the spoken-word CD, "Life on the Edge in Stilettos," is scheduled to read from "Sirens" this coming Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. at Skylight Books (1818 N. Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz). She'll be joined by a posse of other Hollywood bad girls at a post-lit party (7 p.m.ish) at the nearby Edendale Grill & Mixville Bar (2838 Rowena Ave.). 

"'Sirens' is a full spectrum of 25 years of my writing," says Berry, who credits Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy, Damon Runyon and Charles Bukowski for inspiration. "My work tends to lean on the 'noir' side of life."

Below is a sneak peak from “Sirens” (Sisyphus Press):

 

"56 REASONS TO GO DOWNTOWN"

by Iris Berry

 

Johnny Thunders did it,
because Lenny Bruce did it.
Honey did it too.
Because Art Pepper did it,
he did it cause Charlie Parker did it.
Look at Keith Richards.
I'm a sensitive artist too.
Yeah, I'm a rebel
and the scenes really dead.
And I can't afford to go to
Europe this summer.
And I wanna buck the fitness kick.
And private property is really an out moded concept.
Because I like hanging out in pawn shops.
Because I like losing friends and meeting scum.
Anyway it's all society's fault
you know Darby Crash,
Sid and Nancy.
Look, your boyfriend does it
your girlfriend does it.
If I wanna sleep on the bathroom floor,
If I wanna sleep in my breakfast,
If I wanna sleep in my dinner,
If I wanna die watching TV,
it's my business,
and besides I've got it all under control.
I do it only twice a week at the most,
so quite hasseling me.
It's rock and roll,
it's the Rolling Stones
and didn't Edie Sedgwick look so cool in
Ciao Manhattan?
She was out on the edge
and I like being out on the edge
just like Burroughs
just like Thunders,
yeah, Johnny Thunders did it
Look, I know I'm propping up
3rd World dictatorships,
but I'm not hurting anyone else
and besides, I've been clean for a whole week
so quite hasseling me
I've got it under all control.

(photo credit Keirda Baruth)

Tony Valdez is a gentleman and a scholar. His "Midday Sunday" show is a fab forum for community affairs, and the veteran Fox News reporter has hosted the program for nearly two decades. I was lucky to be a guest on a recent Sunday, and Valdez graciously gave me the opportunity to talk about the work and the music. (click on the highlighted word links above and check it out, por favor). You rock Tony .... xo hsc 

 (Hot shot of Tony doing his thing, courtesy of my pops, Paul K. Siegmund)

Best part about making my way around the UK is everywhere I went, they were playing Amy Winehouse. Boutiques, cafes, restaurants, pubs, all celebrating the music of the damaged muse. She sounded even better in her own country and despite the tabloid crapola, you could tell how much the citizens of Londontown cherish her talents. Got that diva on my nightly prayer list for sure.... In any case, below are some snaps of the fun I had directing a film on kids who couldn't give two shites about celebrity tabloids, but rather, immersed themselves in learning about the lives and works of English literature greats--authors who did hard time and/or burned at the stake while fighting for the freedoms of the pen.... Below, Bobbie got Gat (or Heidi Does Parliament).... 

The kids are alright.....

The River Cam in Cambridge

Cambridge Professor Malcolm Guite, who gave us an earshot on John Milton, my hero

C.S. Lewis'  backyard

 The crew, before....

 The crew, after....

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're suffering from the bittersweet symphony that always accompanies the pending doom of Labor Day, head to San Diego on September 6 and revel in the knowledge, that in SoCal, we can claim on endless summer.

As Slightly Stoopid brings its succulent brew of smooth Cali reggae stylings to San Diego's Open Air Theatre, all you'll be pondering is just how right the Beach Boys were when they declared no end in sight of warm nights, hot girls and cool ocean breezes.

Slightly Stoopid, with its part-ee vibe and Dead-like jams, formed as teens in Ocean Beach and were quickly scooped up by Skunk Records, an indie label founded by Sublime's Bradley Nowell and producer Miguel Happoldt.

Childhood chums Kyle McDonald and Miles Doughty, who share vocals, bass and guitar duties, headbanged their way into the music biz as huge fans of Motley Crue, Guns 'N Roses and Metallica, and in 1995, just out of their tween years, founded Slightly Stoopid and never looked back.

"We've been sentenced to life on the road," says McDonald, who says the band averages about 200 shows a year. Stoopid also includes musicians C-Money (trumpet/sax), RyMo (drummer), DeLa (sax) and Oguer "OG" Ocon (congas/harp/percussion).

Despite thumbing its nose at major labels, the band's attracted a mondo fanbase (known as Stoopidheads) and put out its new and crazily titled album, "Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid" on its own label, Stoopid Records.

The September 6 show marks the final date and a homecoming for the band's "Tailgate 2008 Summer Tour," which also features Pepper and legendary reggae greats Sly & Robbie.

Doughty says the main reason Stoopid's opted to do things DIY is because they wanted to maintain 100 percent creative control over their career.

Listening to the new album, it's clear that freedom reigns. Just as Sublime never fit any industry mold, Slightly Stoopid is in a class by itself, as comfortable covering a Grateful Dead song (check out the smashing version of  "Know Your Rider") as creating fab new jams like "On and On" and reminding kids to just say no on "No Cocaine."

"We keep it real and our fans appreciate that," says Doughty. "And we're in it for the long run. There are so many bands who take the major label route, get a hit song and are able to milk it for a year or two. Then they scratch their heads and try to figure out, just what they're gonna do for the rest of their lives. We have longevity and we've worked hard for it."

If Stoopid is as Stoopid does, then these boys ain't so dumb.

xoxo hsc

Back from the UK and it was definite anarchy... As soon as I can find my digicam cable (which i put in a very special place thus, the fact it's MIA) i will be uploading/downloading some killer pix from the journey.... And please be on the lookout for a cool as 'ell interview with the band Slightly Stoopid... Nothing dumb about those boys, who were discovered at the age of 15 by Bradley Nowell of sublime.... Not a bad pedigree... xoxo hsc

Am directing a film documentary in Londontown and will have an earful and an eyeshot for you next week.... The weather and people are brilliant and have fallen madly in love with Cambridge....  Went "punting" today on the Cam (i.e., a lazy river ride) and can no longer live without Costa Americanos.... Am writing from Niche, a ruby red bar with the only non-alcoholic beer in the entire UK.... It's poised on Regent Street in the heart of Cambridge and the DJ-owner Marcus spins a fab blend of vintage soul on Wednesdays.... Me and my ragtag film crew are "Bowfingering" about Britain and have managed to piss off every security guard in this great land... They take their no-filming policy quite serious but being a crafty Loose Angle-eez news producer I've managed to have my way regardless.... Am filming  a dozen young writers who are exploring good and evil in Western Literature (from Tyndale to Tolkien) and so far we've learned, freedom rocks.... Before I sign off, please take a moment to watch my latest Fox News half-hour special, "A League of Our Own with Tony McEwing".... Long live South Central.... xoxo hsc

While kicking it with Rick Thorne at the Vans Warped Tour's opening day on Friday, my son's friend Karim pulled me aside and said: "I've never been on a tour bus." So we bid adieu to the BMX-legend, who was living his dream by debuting his first-ever band, Good Guys In Black,

on the Skate-Punk stage that day (and by the by, GGIB is straight up, no chaser, positive old school hardcore, just like Thorne himself), and off we went in search of a big blue bus rumored to be stashing those punk rock pirates, Pennywise, from Hermosa Beach, California. Sho' nuff, we bobiddled our way onto the motorhome and while not quite a den of inequity, it was enuf to tickle the fancy of a tween. In a few short minutes, Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg taught 11-year-old Karim how to pick up hot chicks on a bus with a proper "What up?" nod, and guitarist Fletcher offered us what limited alcohol-free libations he had on deck. When it was time to hit the main stage--tour founder Kevin Lyman saved the best band for last--the pied pipers of punk made their way through the crowd, and when we landed backstage, there was a massive sea of South Bay locals ready to yodle the chorus to Brohymn. I took my usual place, to the right of Jimmy, and entered nirvana.... xoxo hsc

(below left, Karim and my kid on stage with PDub, Warped 08)

  

If life comes with only one guarentee, it is this: When a cop chooses the restaurant, it's gonna be hellu good. I've had the pleasure of hanging out with the boys in blue for the past few weeks, and Southwest Division officer Erwin Rocha (below, left/his partner, Sunny Sasajima, right) hipped me to the Creole Chef in South L.A. Let's just put it this way: Each day I'm down that way, a magnetic force comes over me and I can't stay away from chef Norman Theard's mega-tasty Jumbalya, Gumbo, smoked salmon salad (that's not on the menu, you gotta know somebody!), bread puddin' and perfectly seasoned Shrimp Yvonne (named after Theard's New Orleans-raised mom). And word to the wizza, the last Tuesday of every month is crabcake night. Oo la la.... more Warped World musings coming up next.... xoxo hsc

Been kicking it with McEwing in South L.A. all week so almost forgot to give you the skinny on tonght's innaugral Sunset Strip Music Festival. The festivus continues through Saturday at such venues as my pal Slim Jim Phantom's Cat Club, House of Blues, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room and the Whisky A-Go-Go. Each juke joint is uniting to promote, preserve and perpetuate the Sunset Strip Music experience and amazingly rich rock 'n' roll history. Among the acts: Hot Hot Heat, B-Real featuring Slash, Juliette & The Licks, LA Guns and mucho mucho more (below, Hot Hot Heat)....

 

 

 

 

And while you're there please take a moment to kiss the ring of the Don of the Strip, Mario Maglieri. Born in 1924, the owner of the Whisky and the Rainbow got his start in the biz by driving a liquor truck for Al Capone in Chi-Town, and he can usually be found sitting on the patio of the Rainbow holding court (Maglieri, below).... Next up: How to corrupt 11-year-old boys on Pennwyise's tour bus, as I continue with more Warped Tour musings.... xoxo, hsc

 

Kevin Lyman is a punk rock hippy. The founder of the Vans Warped Tour, who started the festival 14 years ago, made it acceptable for punks to wear Birkenstocks. Consider the fax: Over the years, he's loaded up his tour buses with bio-diesel, uses cornstarch cutlery to feed his crew, encourages the traveling carnies he rolls with to use a singular coffee mug in the ayem rather than create new trash. He even fuels some of his sound stages with solar-powered energy and mandates his crew clean up beaches and build homes in New Orleans and their days off.

This year, he's beating off a recession and ginormous fuel costs by urging bands to double and triple up on buses. And rather than raise ticket prices ($30 bucks gets you 90 bands), he simply told his wife Fran, "We're not gonna make as much money this year."

I got to know the legendary promoter by writing a book with him about the tour ("Warped Book: Tales of Freedom and Psychotic Ambition") and if you're looking to take a crash course in Punk Rock Business 101, that's the tome.

Against all odds, the little tour that could is still America's longest-running music and alternative sports festival, and it's the most you'll have in 120 degree heat in Pomona ever... More from the Warped files momentarily... xoxo hsc

 (Below, Kevin Lyman on tour, photo credit: Lisa Johnson)

 

 

 

 

 

Dateline: Friday, June 20, 2008.

Warped Tour, Pomona. Temperature: Fahrenheit 911. First Stop: Backstage parking.

Flashed my Fox press card and parked with the tour buses. First 15 minutes: Ran into Bill Armstrong, co-owner of SideOneDummy, the bad-arse record label that's home to Flogging Molly, et al.

Bill and I have always loved the same music (Red 5 rulez!) so he slipped me a hot disc by the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, which is technically three people but large on spirit nevertheless (photo credit Todd Fox). 

 

The family-based act is made up of fingerstyle guitarist Reverend Peyton, his wife and washboard player Breezy Peyton, and drummer/brother Jayme Peyton. For three years, the country-blues aficionados from rural Indiana have played more than 250 shows annually and logged more miles on their van than most acts who have been around for a decade. They're so DIY they play with punk bands, roots acts, bluegrass, alt-country, rockabilly and managed to sell 30,000 records out of their dang van.  

Word to the wiz-ize. Reverend Peyton's performing Thursday at Safari Sam's in Hollyweird so check it out. More Warped Tour Diaries TK.... luv, hsc

Been blazing on a hot new half-hour special with Tony McEwing (our last two are finalists for two national journalist awards)... Still managed to hit Pomona running for some Warped Tour mayhem.... will be slamming these figurative pages with my tour diary asap so please be on the lookout... xoxo hsc

L.A. Girl/L.A. World Am so freakin’ excited about the upcoming Scars on Broadway album (July 29/Interscope), I tracked down Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan to bring you the skinny. The power players have been rocking you hard for the past decade as the guitarist and drummer (respectively) for System of a Down, and all I can tell you about Scars is to expect the unexpected.

 

 

HSC: Dudes, am so super super in love with the Scars single, “They Say” can’t hear it enough. Is that an isolated incident or is the album all punked out?

John: That’s the only straightforward song like that on the album. We’re all over the place.

Daron: That’s just kind of how we flow. Diversity is something that just comes naturally, even with System, it was always hard to explain what we did. I have so many different things that happen to me every day and I just try to relay it in my music. (Below, Daron, photos Greg Watermann)

 

 

 

  

 

HSC: John says by the time you come into the studio, you’ve already done 95 percent of the work. How’s that?

Daron: Everything is singing in my head. It all flies out of me at the same time. Playing it, listening to it, it’s all second nature. So by the time I hit the studio, there are very few surprises.

John: One thing’s for sure, we’ve worked very hard on this album. It’s more rock oriented than our last two albums, less metal, but still aggressive.

 

 

HSC: Let’s talk about the title, Scars on Broadway. I heard it comes from lampposts in Glendale on Broadway Ave. from the 1920s that have a base in the shape of a swastika. That’s a hell of a visual.

Daron: That’s where it originated but it means a lot of different things. I like to look at it like all the world’s a stage, and we are just the scars.

 

 

HSC: Most bands are like bad marriages. Members can’t stand each other after a few years. How have you guys been able to sidestep that?

John: The funny thing is, me and Daron probably got along least of all. But the bottom line is, we always had respect for each other. It hasn’t been hard to put aside differences for the sake of good music.

 

 

HSC: You think about the Ramones, Johnny and Joey not talking to each other for two decades while still riding in a van.

John: I just figure, why spend the best years of your career wrapped up in petty bull**it? And then when you’re too old to play, you get back together. I wanna kick ass in my prime. I mean, I saw the Rolling Stones in the ‘80s and I saw them last year. Big difference. They still rock but I mean, c’mon…. It’s like watching a 55-year-old quarterback. (Below, John)

 

 

 

 

 

HSC: You both started pretty young. How did you find music?

Daron: Music found me. I’ve got pictures of myself at five or six, wearing band pins. When other kids were making their parents take them to Toys R Us, I was dragging my mom to record stores. It was what I lived for. Still is.

John: My dad was a musician, so it was no surprise. I grew up listening to jazz, I especially love jazz fusion. I love the aggressiveness of it. I probably have another good 15 years to play drums. It’s such a demanding instrument. Unless you play like a p*ssy.

 

 

HSC: You’ve played a few shows now. How are you feeling?

Daron: Good, the response has been amazing. People are responding to songs like, ‘World Long Gone,’ and ‘3005.’ Also getting a good vibe on ‘Whoring Streets.’ It’s a song about Hollywood and it’s probably the saddest song I’ve ever written.

 

 

 

HSC: Dang, can’t wait to hear more. How far you guys think you’re gonna take this?

 

Daron: All I know is it feels good to be working this hard.

John: I’m thinking, we’re gonna take it as far as we can.

Sweet.... Now here's something we hope you'll really like.... check out the latest hunkfest I wrote and produced, MySpace Hunks.... it's the cheese.... xoxo heidi siegmund cuda

L.A. Girl/L.A. World

It’s dark and hell is hot…. Coacheller’s hot hot heat left thousands panting until the sun went down and the stars came out…. L.A. Girl/L.A. World contributor Jared Milgrim, a 22-year-old photog phenom, shot this photo essay for you, dear reader…. I’ve been MIA working on investigations for Fox 11 (see “Texting While Driving”), but we wouldn’t miss bringing you Coachella’s highlights. See below, Jared’s handiwork of Prince, Roger Waters, M.I.A., Jack Johnson, Flogging Molly (yes, that Ireland’s pasty finest Dave King in direct sunlight mate) and Gogol Bordello, in that order….

Of his Coachella experience, Flogging Molly guitarist Dennis Casey says, “It was hot, sweet, and intoxicating with a touch of purple.” Purple rain, perhaps?…. And the gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello’s been touring the world non-stop since the release of its latest album, “Super Taranta!” And even more super is the fact that lead singer Eugene Hutz recently starred in Madonna’s directorial debut, "Filth and Wisdom," and joined the uber-vixen onstage at Live Earth…. L.A. promoter Steven Harlow is inviting y’all to “Wet Republic,” a poolside fete Memorial Weekend at the MGM Grand…. Calling all motorheads: Speed race it out to “Carnivora: The Dark Art of Automobiles” at the L’Imagerie Gallery in NoHo. The badass exhibit of cars gone wild is up through June 14…. Dunno about you but I can’t get enough of Scars on Broadway’s “They Say” single. It may just be Dead Kennedys redux but hell, soundz good to me (hear it for yo’self at this year’s KROQ Weenie Roast on May 17). The fact that it’s brought to you by members of System of A Down (below) splains why it’s so hardcoreilicious…. xoxo hsc

 

 

L.A. Girl/L.A. World

He’s got the babe, the bling, the bucks, looks like Jay-Z’s on top of the world. Those who made the trek to Irvine's Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Friday caught the uber-mogul at his peak, with R & B vixen Mary J. Blige also on deck. With a clip from “Reservoir Dogs” playing in the background, the King o’ Rap proclaimed, “Everybody say hello to the bad guy. I’ve come from the bottom now I’m mad fly.” Who's gonna argue?…. (Photo Jay-Z & Mary J. Blige by Jared Milgrim).... If you luv to laugh, you’re in luck. “The Men’s Club” comedy tour hits the Improv in Hollywood on April 27. I checked these dudes out at Ye Olde King’s Head in SaMo on a recent Monday night, and they’re funny **!kers. Think, the opposite of the Blue Collar comedy blokes, more like, Valley guys in suits with a modern-day Rat Pack feel to ‘em (below).… Famed inkslinger Mark Mahoney, whose tattoo parlor the Shamrock Social Club is the gossip hub of the Sunset Strip, is now making kids look cool. The new kid clothing line, Baby Eggi, features some of Mahoney’s hot drawings of dragons and such. And unlike all the Ed Hardy BLEEP by Christian-What’s-His-Name (can you say, overbling?), Mahoney’s work is pure art…. Save the Date: Crue Fest is coming our way on August 2 to the Hyundai Pavilion in San Berdoo. The loud and proud concert includes Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach and more (Crue Fest revelers, below, photo Kevin Estrada)…. Party to crash: La Velvet Margarita’s celeb-studded “Cinco De May” bash on May 5 in Hollywood. The dishy Mexican bar and restaurant is hosting a poker tourney and we hear Vince Vaughn’s on the list…. In more party crashing news, Blanca opens in Newport Beach on Friday with a private soiree. The new Spanish-Italian themed venue is located on the waterfront in Newport Harbor…. And this week's ultimate party to crash: Fab photog David LaChapelle's Smashbox Studio gala in Culver City on Thursday, August 24, where the celebutante unveils the first-ever limited edition Remy Martin V.S.O.P. bottle he designed. Music muses Clinton Sparks and DJ Gomez Warren IV will be in the house, along with oodles of A-listers.... And speaking of Culver City shindiggery, your best bet for rockin' out on a Wednesday night is "The Devil's Whorehouse" at Saints & Sinners. The weekly affair has DJ Mike spinning what your evil heart desires, and that's usually loads of wicked '50s rockabilly, vicious '70s punk, and naughty New Wave from the '80s. Best part? Whisky shooters for three bucks....  Last time I got to kick it with Jakob Dylan (below) was when Pennywise played a Tony Hawk house party in Beverly Hills. Couldn’t be more stoked about my advance copy of Dylan’s solo album, “Seeing Things,” which comes out June 10 and was produced by the brilliant Rick Rubin (Chili Peps/Johnny Cash). Don’t let MTV's “Rock the Cradle” fool you. Talent does run in the family…. xoxo hsc