Category Archives: TVD Los Angeles

Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

The dancing days of late summer are here!

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WORDS AND IMAGES: SEAN McCRACKEN | On Friday, August 15, Slightly Stoopid turned Great Park Irvine into a sun-soaked celebration of music, community, and good vibes. Supported by Iration and Little Stranger, the evening felt more like a laid-back festival than a traditional concert. With the scent of ganja in the air and a crowd ready to dance, the night was a perfect blend of reggae, alternative, and hip-hop, showcasing the unique sounds of each band while creating a collective experience that left everyone smiling. From the playful energy of Little Stranger to the smooth grooves of Iration and the genre-defying jams of Slightly Stoopid, this was a night to remember for fans of feel-good music.

The evening began with Little Stranger, an alternative/hip-hop duo originally from Philadelphia, PA, now based in Charleston, SC. Known for their playful lyrics and infectious energy, the duo wasted no time getting the crowd moving. Their set included fan favorites like “Simply Business,” “Coffee and a Joint,” and “Sunburn.” The audience was fully engaged, dancing and singing along to the duo’s creative and upbeat tracks.

A standout moment came during “Coffee and a Joint,” when the air filled with smoke, perfectly complementing the song’s laid-back vibe. The duo’s chemistry and charisma were undeniable, and their ability to connect with the audience set the tone for the rest of the night. They were even joined by Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid for a collaborative performance of “Way of the Ghost,” which was a highlight of their set. Little Stranger’s unique blend of alternative and hip-hop, combined with their playful stage presence, made them the perfect opening act for the evening.

Next up was Iration, the Santa Barbara-based band known for their smooth fusion of reggae and alternative rock. Their laid-back sound was the perfect follow-up to Little Stranger’s high-energy set, and the crowd swayed along to hits like “Automatic,” “Summer Nights,” “Turn Around,” and “Reelin.”

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

We’re bound to wait all night / She’s bound to run amok / Invested enough in it, anyhow / To each his own / The garden needs sorting out / She curls her lips on the bow / I don’t know if I’m dead or not / To anyone

Come on and get the minimum / Before you open up your eyes / This army has so many heads / To analyze / Come on and get your overdose / Collect it at the borderline / And they want to get up in your head

‘Cause they know and so do I / The high road is hard to find / A detour in your new life

I guess we never really know where we “land.” On any day, really, anything. For today, I’m gonna try to enjoy a summer’s day. I’ll keep drinking specialty coffee, eating cucumbers and melon.

Uncle Barry is in town and he’s taking us to a Dodgers game.

This bunch of songs is a bit all over the place. Bunch of new jams, a few from 2010, an ’80s or two, and a couple of oldies in dedication to love birds hearing wedding bells.

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Sunday night, Ghost transformed San Diego’s Viejas Arena into a cathedral of rock, delivering a performance that was equal parts theatrical spectacle and musical triumph. As part of their Skeletour World Tour 2025, the band showcased their latest album, Skeletá, alongside fan-favorite classics, creating a killer setlist that was both fresh and nostalgic.

From the moment Papa V Perpetua and the Nameless Ghouls took the stage, the energy in the room was sheer fire. Fans, many dressed in face paint, robes, and even full papal regalia, celebrated the band’s unique blend of heavy metal and dark, satirical pageantry. Ghost didn’t just play a concert; they orchestrated a Sunday night ritual that left the capacity crowd in complete and total awe.

Sunday’s ritual opened with the haunting strains of “Peacefield,” the first track from Skeletá, immediately immersing the audience in Ghost’s dark and atmospheric world. The band followed with “Lachryma,” another new track that showcased their ability to blend haunting melodies with heavy riffs. The crowd erupted as the band transitioned into “Spirit,” a fan-favorite from Meliora, with Papa V Perpetua commanding the stage like a true rock-and-roll messiah.

As a long-time fan, two songs stood out as personal highlights of the evening: “Cirice” and “He Is.” “Cirice” was a masterclass in musical storytelling, with its haunting guitar intro giving way to a powerful, almost operatic performance. The way Papa V Perpetua delivered the song’s emotional weight was nothing short of mesmerizing, and the crowd’s energy during the chorus was electric.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

I’m a sailor on this dark and dreadful sea / And I need courage just the same as you need me / And I’ve been fishing for a cup of sympathy / But I keep getting waves that just won’t let me be

And I’m gonna be late getting home tonight / If the tide won’t come in / And I’ll be tired from the journey / But I’ll be seeing you again / Thank God for you and me and the deep, deep blue sea

It’s a hot August day. I’m back from my trip, jet lagged, happily working away, eating cucumbers and watermelon.

Here’s a bunch of new songs I’ve been peeping and a few oldies. Hi to all who have shown me their warmth and affection.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Now that you’ve found your paradise / This is your kingdom to command / You can go outside and polish your car / Or sit by the fire in your Shangri-la / Here is your reward for working so hard / Gone are the lavatories in the back yard / Gone are the days when you dreamed of that car / You just want to sit in your Shangri-la

Put on your slippers and sit by the fire / You’ve reached your top and you just can’t get any higher / You’re in your place and you know where you are / In your Shangri-la / Sit back in your old rocking chair / You need not worry, you need not care / You can’t go anywhere / Shangri-la, Shangri-la, Shangri-la

Nothing is ever truly perfect than a sunny, clear Friday morning in July. Well, let’s call it pretty fucking good. The weather in LA these past few weeks has actually been pretty ideal. Today we’re as lucky as we’ll let ourselves feel. Jonah went surfing with friends. Kid is turning 16 next weekend. I tired to take his photo but he said no and shushed me into the house for fear his buddies would see old rocker dad.

Meanwhile I’m absolutely over the moon to share my daughter’s new music project L’ESPIRAL. Over the past couple of years I’ve watched and listened to my lil “wild flower” turn her poems into songs and become quite the singer. Today’s debut release is a cover celebrating the one year anniversary of Sinéad O’Connor’s passing. Maybe it’s the Sidel way of ushering in a new “season of the witch.” Our country, our planet, needs you (females) to take charge!

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Sous aucun prétexte / Je ne veux / Avoir de réflexes / Malheureux / Il faut que tu m’expliques / Un peu mieux / Comment te dire adieu

Mon cœur de silex / Vite prend feu / Ton cœur de pyrex / Résiste au feu / Je suis bien perplexe / Je ne veux / Me résoudre aux adieux

Je sais bien qu’un ex-amour n’a pas de chance, ou si peu / Mais pour moi un explication vaudrait mieux

Can you guess where I am?

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Kelly watch the stars / Kelly watch the stars / Kelly watch the stars / Kelly watch the stars / The stars the stars the stars

Feeling pretty swell today. Why not keep it simple on a summer’s day? As I get older, I’ve found that often less is really more. With song lyrics too, well, with Bobby Zimmerman and a stack of others being the exception.

Flipping through crates, I happened to stumble on a copy of Air’s Moon Safari. I hear the French duo is touring this fall. Well, in any case, “watching the stars,” fishing, or in my case, driving my kid to the ball park—those simple things of summer seem to be working for me, at least for today.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Everybody’s looking at me / Feeling paranoid inside / When I step outside I’ll feel free / Think I’ll find a place to hide

Tell me people, am I going insane, insane? / Tell me people, am I going insane, insane?

Today I’m in a pretty good summer mood, hanging in my canyon garage office listening to cool new bands and old favorites. I was cool to see my Instagram feed fill up with old friends on stage at Ozzy’s farewell show in Birmingham.

I’ve lived a lifetime listening to Sabbath. Last Saturday, I paid my respects by listening to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage back to back.

It brought me back to staying up late as a kid to watch Cal Jam on ABC’s In Concert. Even at the age of 13, I realized this group was for me. And so were rainbows and California!

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The Summer of Loud Tour roared into Irvine’s Great Park on July 5, delivering a seismic showcase of metal’s finest with a rotating roster of powerhouse headliners. Killswitch Engage set a fierce standard with their razor-sharp precision and anthems that demanded every fist in the air, while Parkway Drive’s cinematic intensity turned the stage into a coliseum of metalcore grandeur. I Prevail’s blend of crushing riffs and melodic hooks brought a dynamic energy that had the crowd roaring back every lyric, and Beartooth’s unrelenting charisma provided the perfect, high-octane finale.

Each band brought its unique brand of chaos and catharsis, creating an unforgettable experience that pushed fans to the limit. With its relentless energy and unparalleled diversity, the Summer of Loud Tour was a masterclass in the sheer power and passion of live music, leaving every attendee at Great Park Irving screaming for more.

Kicking off Summer of Loud beneath a golden Californian sun, Kingdom of Giants seized the stage with a six-song set that instantly electrified Irvine. Every thunderous riff and razor-sharp vocal from Dana Willax radiated both precision and anguish, captivating the ever-growing crowd.

Tracks like “Bleach” and “Wayfinder” balanced hard-hitting aggression with surprising emotional depth, while Willax’s unstoppable energy surged through growing mosh pits on the left and right of the stage. As the set ended, the audience wasn’t merely warmed up; they were awakened, fully primed for a day of metal madness that promised to reverberate long after the lights dimmed.

When Alphawolf exploded onto the stage, the day’s intensity reached new, dizzying heights. With an unrelenting ferocity, the Tasmanian wrecking crew tore into anthems like “Akudama” and “Creep”, transforming Great Park into a swirling cauldron of chaos. Lochie Keogh prowled the stage with a magnetic presence, his guttural roars sparking a tidal wave of movement in the pit, where bodies collided in perfect, anarchic harmony.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Time for livin’, time for givin’ / No time for makin’ up a monster to share / Time for livin’, time for givin’ / No time for breakin’ our own fairytale

Ain’t, ain’t, ain’t nobody’s got to spell it for me / Ooh, ain’t nobody got to yell, I can see / Ain’t nobody got to think, I can hear / But if I have to, I will yell in your ear / Aah, ooh

Where did June go? Did summer jump the gun?

Most of you know I became hooked on rock ‘n’ roll at a young age. Along the way, I’ve experienced several “magical moments.”

To be “astonished” has kept me on my journey. Like this moment, I reposted on Facebook.

I remember as a kid in NYC when twenty thousand people and I simultaneously realized we were in a room with The Rolling Stones on stage playing “Honky Tonk Woman.” Reflecting on that moment, that feeling of shared group adulation, brought tears to my eyes.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Kiss me hard before you go / Summertime sadness / I just wanted you to know / That, baby, you the best

I got my red dress on tonight / Dancin’ in the dark, in the pale moonlight / Done my hair up real big, beauty queen style / High heels off, I’m feelin’ alive

Oh my God, I feel it in the air / Telephone wires above are sizzlin’ like a snare / Honey, I’m on fire, I feel it everywhere / Nothin’ scares me anymore (one, two, three, four)

As a New Yorker, I first came to California for college. I showed up with a green duffle bag and a banged-up surfboard I bought in East Hampton. I grew up spending my summers on the beaches of eastern Long Island and returned there for summer break my first few years of college. At the end of my senior year, I stayed in LA. That was 40 years ago. My first California summer was “endless.”

Like a midsummer’s night dream, I guess? All said, there’s no doubt that we change our listening habits with the change of the seasons. There are songs about summertime and summertime hits. On the eve of the solstice, I felt like listening to artists and songs that reek of summer.

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Amid the sprawling energy of Cali Vibes 2025, the Boomyard carved out its own soulful and electrifying sanctuary within Marina Green Park. While the festival’s main stages boomed with headliners and massive crowds, Boomyard offered something entirely different. Its essence lay in its vibrance and intimacy, creating a haven where reggae, dancehall, and Caribbean rhythms were celebrated in their purest form. Pulsing beats, swirling colors, and a tight-knit community of music lovers left attendees not just dancing but feeling wholly connected to the culture.

The Boomyard’s lineup was nothing short of stellar, starting with standout performances on the Vibes stage on both Saturday and Sunday. Mystic Marley delivered a set steeped in tranquility yet filled with power, her soulful voice weaving threads of her family’s legendary lineage into the present. Her performance was a beautiful reflection of what modern reggae can be, blending thought-provoking lyricism with melodies that spoke to the heart.

BLVK H3RO, meanwhile, charged onto the stage with a bold and uplifting energy that was impossible to resist. With a captivating presence, he seamlessly mixed modern dancehall with traditional reggae roots, offering songs that were as infectious as they were inspiring. His performance felt deeply rooted in positivity, and fans left his set as if walking on air.

Beyond the headliners, Boomyard ensured its authenticity with an eclectic range of artists and DJs who brought their own flavor to this haven. Blakkamore & Yungg Trip had the crowd entranced early on, blending smooth rhythms with rhythmic storytelling, creating a set that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Chi Ching Ching brought a high-energy party vibe, with his crowd-pumping anthems sparking endless waves of dancing and sing-alongs.

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Sunny skies kissed by ocean breezes, reggae beats floating through the air, and an electrifying vibe set the scene for an epic weekend as Cali Vibes took over Marina Green Park in Long Beach, CA, on June 6th and 7th. Nearly 50,000 fans gathered by the shore to witness show-stopping performances from headliners like Kid Cudi, Stick Figure, Rebelution, and Dirty Heads, while legends like Cypress Hill, Pepper, and Fortunate Youth ignited the crowd with their unmatched energy. The grooves didn’t stop there—with the soulful rhythms of Boomyard courtesy of BLVK H3RO and Mystic Marley, Cali Vibes delivered magic at every turn, cementing its place as the West Coast’s unrivaled reggae-rock festival.

The opening day of Cali Vibes ignited Long Beach with an unstoppable energy, thanks to powerhouse performances by Stick Figure and Dirty Heads. Dirty Heads paid homage to their Huntington Beach roots with a high-octane set that had the crowd jumping, swaying, and belting out every word to hits like “Medusa” and “Vacation.” The air buzzed with unity as fans danced under the stars, turning the night into a joyous celebration of music and connection.

Stick Figure kept the momentum soaring, delivering a soul-stirring performance that blended reggae grooves with a modern edge. Scott Woodruff’s magnetic stage presence mirrored the crowd’s chilled-out vibe, creating an effortless bond between artist and audience. Highlights of the set included the unforgettable “Choice is Yours” and “World on Fire,” but the true show-stealer was Cocoa the Tour Dog, whose cameos sent waves of delight rippling through the audience. It was a night that epitomized the spirit of Cali Vibes—music, movement, and moments to remember.

Day two of Cali Vibes brought the heat with Kid Cudi and Rebelution delivering performances that were nothing short of spectacular. Rebelution kicked things off by guiding the crowd through a vibrant mix of beloved classics and fresh new tunes, their polished yet playful energy setting the perfect tone for the weekend vibes.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

I once had a life, or rather / Life had me / I was one among many / Or at least I seemed to be / Well, I read an old quotation in a book just yesterday / Said, “gonna reap just what you sow / The debts you make you have to pay” / Can you get to that? / Can you get (I want to know)

Friday the 13th or Father’s Day—call it what you will, but it’s a weekend, and a wild one at that. The vibe in our canyon is like many June weekends: a bit of gloom in the morning and roasting by 3PM.

This weekend, however, has a dark, dark cloud hanging over us Angelenos. The feds are fucking with our Chicano community and therefore us all. I’m on top of the hill and I even feel infringed. This week has made me realize how ethnically special our city is.

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