When you’re dancing your ass off in the desert come mid April the smaller side stages can be the most fun. But, I mean c’mon, the main stages are ridiculous this year: Jay-Z, LCD, De La, Sly, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Hot Chip, Major Lazer, Thom Yorke…need I go on? Just a ridiculous 2010 Coachella lineup.
A couple of weeks ago NYC lower east sider and Ito came to Los Angeles as a man on a mission: catch Thom Yorke performing new material on Friday, Sunday and Monday; and open his own solo photo show on the Saturday night in between. Missions accomplished. On display at Fullerton’s PÄS Gallery was a sampling of photos Ito snapped while traveling the world as Damon Dash’s personal photographer as well as a personal collection of images shot during the summer of 2009. From Jay-Z to Joe Pesci, twins to transvestites, the visuals captured by Ito’s eye are more than worthy of a trip to Fullerton. EVERYBODY SOMEDAY runs through November 8, 2009 at the PÄS Gallery.
Ito and his niece Bea posing amongst his photos at the PÄS Gallery
The music Gods smiled down upon me on Friday as I was somehow able to get tickets to Thom Yorke’s super secret, super sold out surprise show at the Echoplex in Echo Park. Playing brand new music for the first time with his brand new band with no name which featured Flea, Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco, the show was supposed to be a “warm-up” for Sunday and Monday’s Orpheum shows but instead the capacity crowd of 325 (including Spike Jonze, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt among others) was treated to a full 90 minute set! As intimate as small venue shows usually are, this one was special and will be playing over and over in my head for quite some time.
Extra special thanks to Steven Murashige for using my camera properly!