The Amoeba People at Gatsby Books - Saturday, September 25th

I'm so happy we have a great new/used bookstore on the Eastside of Long Beach, Gatsby Books, at the corner of Spring and Bellflower.

Sean has already found me a book that is harder to find in print, at a great price! I have gone in a few times since the soft opening on August 1st and always find something to love...

The store is very welcoming and has a cool vibe without being pretentious or exclusionary - the stoneway entrance is midcentury modern and there are bookish gewgaws and little charming touches everywhere, along with comfortable chairs to relax in. Sean plans on hosting story-time for kids beginning in the fall and some upcoming family-friendly events, including an acoustic show of science-related songs, stories and poems with The Amoeba People on Saturday, September 25th at 1pm, for free!

(photo credit: the amoeba people / www.facebook.com/TheAmoebaPeople)

Gatsby Books
5535 E. Spring Street (Spring St. and Bellflower Blvd.)
Long Beach, CA

Busker Fest! on Saturday, August 28th

Come say so long to Summer and enjoy the best of local Long Beach music at Busker Fest, in the East Village.



Pick up wooden nickels to drop at the feet of your favorite band , with a chance to win a 5-day recording session at Compound Studio with Anthony Arvizu.

Buskers compete from 5-7:15 PM
Jay Buchanan opens the main Stage opens at 7:15 PM
Crystal Antlers hit the stage at 8:00 PM
Delta Spirit close the show starting at 9:00 PM

A little map to guide the way:

Summer And Music 2010 : Future Legends Show, 6/12

Future Legends: Now Sounds of the Long Beach Bloodline June 12, 2010, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., East Village Arts District Come to the free, all-ages show in the East Village Arts District, at First Street and Elm Avenue, on an outdoor, solar-powered stage. Music By: DJ Lithuanian Prince, Korey Dane, So Many Wizards, Boris Smile, Jay Buchanan, Deep Sea Diver and Special Performance by UK band Phantom Limb .

Everybody ♥'s Jonathan Richman!

From the amazing Modern Lovers in the mid-70's, to his current solo sets with Tommy Larkins on drums, Jonathan Richman is absolutely a national institution. And we are blessed that he has made Long Beach one of his favorite places to play over the last several years. With a three-night residency of early shows this week at DiPiazzas, there is no excuse to miss this charming and multilingual musician with the tenderest heart, purest brilliance, and killing-est dance moves.

Jonathan Richman at diPiazza's Restaurant & Lava Lounge, 5205 E. PCH, Long Beach, May 20th-22nd, @7pm, $12.

You can catch-up on all the latest Jonathan Richman news at the Jo-Jo Files.

Ice Cream Man Benefit - Friday, April 16, Alex's Bar

The super-great Ice Cream Man, whose mission it is to bring free icy treats to the masses at all your favorite shows and get- togethers, is hoping now for some love and generosity. After his ice cream truck was totaled, good friends decided to put on a show to raise money for the repairs. Do your part to give back (you know you love those strawberry shortcake ice cream bars!) and go to Alex's Bar tomorrow night.

Featuring: Repeater, Telomere Repair, Greater California, Bella Novela, the Soft Hands and DJ Phil, at Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 434-8292; www.alexsbar.com.April 16. Call for time.$5, plus optional donation.

Weekend Update! Saturday and Sunday, December 19-20

Here is a great free family-friendly holiday event in Long Beach, from 4pm-7pm this afternoon!


Mike Watt and the Secondmen at Harold's Place, 1908 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro - tonight @ 10pm. FREE!!


And on Sunday, December 20th:

Free Cold War Kids Show in Long Beach, this Friday, 8/21- Busker Fest!

Hallloooooooooo! I've missed you all - vacationing on the East Coast and processing some new big news at Casa de Mod has kept me from posting lately. However, I didn't want you to miss the fun this Friday, August 21 at 7pm. Summer and Music Long Beach (SAM) is featuring a FREE Cold War Kids show for Busker Fest - and it's interactive! -

From Yelp, "Local bands will be playing 25 minute sets beginning at 6pm, and it's up to the audience to vote for who gets to open for Cold War Kids later in the night. Featuring Free Moral Agents, Deep Sea Diver, So Many Wizards, Chris Paul Overall, Pawn Shop Kings, Brook Lee Catastrophe, Forcefield ON and 60 Watt Kid, and more...

At 6 p.m., Busker Fest information booths will open, giving attendees a chance to collect wooden nickels, maps, and schedules for the different performances. The first round of busking will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a second at 7:30 p.m. and a final round at 8 p.m. As the audience makes their way to the main stage, judges will tally the wooden nickel counts and declare a winner.

The group with the most wooden nickels by the night's end wins $1,000 cash prize and gets to open up for Cold War Kids at 9 p.m., on the main stage at the corner of First Street and Elm Avenue."

Friday, August 21
East Village Arts District
Broadway and Linden Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802

Matt Maust from the Cold War Kids recommended The Good, The Bad and The Queen to us and we've been listening nonstop lately.

Great Day with We Love Long Beach.

The weather was perfect, the people were lovely, the cupcakes delicious. All in all, a wonderful time to be together, getting to know our neighbors. Heartfelt performances by Sam Outlaw, Two Guns, with assist by the enchanting Beth Balmer, and Jessica Dobson's Deep Sea Diver. The Bro Futurists provided some great art, and kids got interactive with gumdrop sculptures and tie-dye yurts. Graham St. Press silkscreened your choice of shirts on site - hello Ryan and Randy! Scott Jones and Robin Jones have cultivated an amazing community in We Love Long Beach - if you haven't had a chance to come out to a WLLB event, check out their website for the calendar of events here.

Oh, Hallloooo new friends!!

O, ye Tijuana Panthers!

Tijuana Panthers were featured in a interview on LAist recently. Check it out here! They were supposed to play the We Love Long Beach barbecue tomorrow, but I think they had to back out at the last minute. However, they are playing a show tonight at Spaceland with the Obits! 1717 Silverlake Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90027, $10/Advance, $12 at door.

(from their myspace page)

Rick Froberg+Pitchfork+Drive Like Jehu+Hot Snakes+ Obits=SWOON! In the olden days of San Diego, we used to call him Rick Fork - I am awed at how many amazing bands he has been in since.

well, maybe I'll see you tonight...

Celebrate Record Store Day Today at Fingerprints!

Check out Fingerprints, Long Beach's beloved record store, today for amazing limited edition vinyl, listening parties (new Bob Dylan at 2pm) and live music all day. Record stores everywhere are celebrating Record Store Day - check out all the special releases here!

Fingerprints
4612 E. 2nd Street
Long Beach CA 90803
Phone Number: (562) 433-4996
finprintsinfo@aol.com

Will Crum=LOVE!

This made me super-happy - wish I could have seen it in person! An escapade of "Man on Wire" proportions. Enjoy!!!

Fingerprints: Animal Collective Listening Party

I just got on the Fingerprints mailing list, and received an email for the new Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion listening party and raffle to buy the limited edition vinyl at Fingerprints tonight and since we never go out, I thought it might be a fun, free night for Mr. Mod and I. Ice Cream Man was there, handing out delicious icy treats and Fingerprints was passing out pizza, while we listened to the album, which I enjoyed, but Mr. Mod said was too Pet Sounds. (Mr. Mod doesn't really listen to music made after 1978.) I tried to get tickets for the Thorns of Life show on 1/23, but Fingerprints is sold out. Rats!! I've loved Blake (or is that Dr. Schwarzenbach?) and Jawbreaker since 1990 (wow, am I that old?!?) and a longtime reader of Aaron Elliot's Cometbus, so I was really looking forward to seeing this new project. I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with this:

(video: latenightwallflower)

Shucks, this makes me feel like a kid again.

Fingerprints, I had a really nice time tonight. oh, hi Eric.

Deep Sea Diver at Alex's! Sunday, 12/14

The lovely Jessica Dobson has returned home from touring with Beck (we missed you!) and is celebrating with a Deep Sea Diver show at Alex's. Hooray!