Soundelux of Hollywood

Been musing lately about the changes on Hollywood Blvd. these past 23 years, which is how long I've been working at (what's now known as) Todd-Soundelux.

When I originally needed a sound editing gig, I really hesitated asking my pal Dan Rich to get me in here, because they were on Hollywood Blvd and I knew how sleazy and dangerous it was.

My fears turned out to be well-placed. I began working during a particularly cold February, and I was driving an extremely temperamental '70 Mustang at the time.  Most nights I had to sit while the car was warming up, which was a good 5 minute timespan for bums and homeless guys to come up and bang on the window, begging for money.  I got so freaked out that I started paying for parking below the building, which was anything but cheap.

We had a company man, Charlie Meister, who kept saying: "Hollywood's coming back! You'll see!"

It took many years and false starts, but Charlie was proven right. Eventually the store owners banded together and hired a private security force to walk the streets, and suddenly, all the homeless and the scary bums were gone! I don't know if that's good or bad, but it definitely felt safer. Instead of getting hit up for change 6 or 7 times a day, it happened almost never.

Meanwhile, they finally tore down the eyesore at Hollywood and Highland and created the new shopping complex and subway station.  Again, it has its good and bad aspects, but overall it was brand new and shiny and made for a much better tourist experience.  You could actually invite people to visit, knowing there was somewhere nice to go.

However, the street patrols seemed to disappear after just a few short years.

Now we've almost come full-circle: the bums, the homeless, and the scary drifters are back, and I'm getting hit up for change multiple times a day.  They are not literally pissing out in the open as they used to, but that doesn't seem far off. The only difference is that the surrounding buildings are better and more varied.

But I am mostly alone out there now, because almost all my friends left Soundelux for the Formosa Group. This morning I found out that the company's co-founder, Lon Bender, has also boxed up his room and is now an independent agent.

Not many of us left!

Ghosties

So, last night in the bedroom, Sharon and I were just about to go to sleep. I was looking at the TV, and Sharon was on her side facing Dad's desk.

Suddenly I heard a plastic movement kind of sound, which I thought was the dog, since his little "house" is over on that side. But Sharon opened her eyes and saw our stand-up fan (about 5' high) rocking back and forth!

When I looked over, the dog was peeking out, like: "What the fuck was THAT?"

We were afraid it might be rats, but I looked around with the flashlight and everything was secure. The window wasn't open, so it wasn't wind. There was a power cord but it would have been too weak to cause the movement.

Took this photo in the morning:

Just before we moved in here, two years ago, Sharon was in the backyard with the owners and a worker, when suddenly a box slid across the back porch a short distance.  They all saw it. 

Cynthia said: "Oh yeah, we have a ghost here. I see it sometimes near the jacuzzi."

Her husband David said: "We have a... GHOST?"

Performing THE MAGGOT on the Dr. Phil stage!

Having attending one taping with Sharon, I knew they'd start the Dr. Phil show with an audience warmup that included a dance contest. 3 dancers, and they all get a Dr. Phil coffee mug!

I'd almost done it last time, but was just a little late on the draw.

This time, two months later, I had plenty of time to figure out my moves and prepare myself emotionally.  Almost as soon as the contest was announced, I waved my arm and became the first contestant. I modeled my opening on Napoleon Dynamite, and then went into my "maggot" moves, which looks kind of like miming a fish swimming backwards. The host loved the dance and asked me to show him how to do it. Great applause and cheers, many nice comments afterward, and I walked home with a Dr. Phil cup at last!

Great show too, especially the second episode.  There was a kid deep into drink and drugs, and at one point he blurted out that it was good to have broken up with his girlfriend, because "...at least there weren't any more abortions!" The girlfriend completely dissolved in tears, but Dr. Phil leaned over and said: "I'm the editor, and that part won't be going into the show."

Stedmuro Reviews

Reviews are starting to come in.  These are friends, but where else are we gonna get 'em?

From Don Campau, multi-talented musician and radio DJ:

Hello Dino and Russ,

I am delighted to receive the collab CD and report that is it awesome!

The production is top notch (of course), the songs excellent and more than 
anything the balance between you two is just right. I assumed that it might lean 
towards one direction or another but I found it rich in both of your styles and 
voices. I could tell the leads apart generally ( good stuff all) and hearing  
both of your vocals really adds to the balance. 

Really fine release and I look forward to some radio play tomorrow on my KKUP 
show.

More details later...Congrats!


Don 

From Peter Gullerud, same kinda guy at pinekoneradio.com:

ITS EXCELLENT!   AIRPLAY RIGHT  NOW!

THANKS DINO!   A++++++++!!!!!

The Black Orchestra

So far, "just" an ear infection and an occasional cough & headache.

Even so, I'm starting to gather songs for my next solo CD, tentatively titled THE BLACK ORCHESTRA (which was the code name for the attempts on Hitler's life by his own men.)

Hoping to create these songs with more dense & heavier drums, samples, bass, and keyboards - guitar will be used more sparingly, as I think I've done enough upfront playing for a while.

Brian Wilson, Jeff Beck, and Micky Saunders

Despite my looming cold, Sharon and I had a great weekend seeing our friend Micky Saunders playing with PANDORA at the Continental Club in Glendora (our dinner bill was only $44 with 4 rum & diets!) and then using our free, KLOS BLOOD DRIVE tickets to see Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck at the Greek.

The seats were almost back there with the Tree People, but we were in direct alignment with the stage, and unlike the Bowl it's really tough to get a bad seat at the Greek. We even lucked out on parking, after circling the venue for 15 minutes waiting for the lots to open. Out of there in a killer 15 minutes!

Great show. Brian wasn't always on key (even more than usual) and it'd be nice if he threw a couple more lead vocals to Al Jardine... but the band was amazing (always love seeing Darian Sahanaja on stage!) and Jeff Beck dazzled with some classic Jazz-prog guitar.

Below, my mandatory shitty cell phone pic.

UPDATE: forgot to mention running into my friend Chris and his wife Connee. Chris had said he couldn't afford the tickets, but I guess he decided he could! They were close enough to "borrow" the Jeff Beck setlist from the nerdy kid who grabbed it!

Really? AGAIN?!!!

Because I like to make note of these things, I must sadly disclose that I just caught MY THIRD COLD OF THE YEAR.... totally blowing my recent average of once a year.

And though I hate to blame people with thankless jobs, I know this came from Elizabeth's Parent-Teacher night at Hollywood High, because I found myself in very close proximity with one coughing teacher and another who complained about having a headache and feeling sick.  In both cases I had no hand sanitizer and was sitting very close just to hear them speak above the din.

Reminds me of when the kids used to bring home colds and the flu from elementary school!

No work today so I'm safe there, at least.