Philo Hagen

Chilly: Come To L.A.

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:02:31 -0800

"Come To LA" (1979) performed by the disco disciples that were Chilly, who were actually from Germany - but who really cares, right? The band members are Ute Weber, Sofia Ejango, Oscar Pearson and Werner Sudhoff (the blonde guy who left the group or was nixed later on - I'm guessing he was nixed). Chilly put out a string of records on Polydor between 1978 and 1982 produced by Bernt Möhrle, recorded at Europasound Studios Frankfurt.

Focus

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:48:36 -0800

Looking through the lens I focused my camera for the shot, but looking at the picture on the back afterwards it was all out of focus. It kept happening again and again. What was going on? When I uploaded the photos to my computer, however, they were all in focus. That's when I got really confused - until it finally dawned on me that the focus problem wasn't the camera, it was my eyes. It seems relatively recently that my near vision has taken a bit of a nosedive. I'd started tromboning my reading materials, adjusting the distance of my hold on them until I found a place where I could actually see it. Putting these facts together there was no denying it was time. I bought my first pair of reading glasses. I feel officially old now.

Ivan: Fotonovela

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:04:12 -0800

I love this song and although it is classic italo-disco, it's actually from Spain. Ivan (aka Juan Carlos Ramos Vaquero) found his greatest hit with this track thanks to producer Pedro Vidal. In 1984 "Fotonovela" not only hit number one in Spain, the album sold 6 million copies throughout Europe.

Adobe

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:13:36 -0800

During my lunch with Maria, where we focused more on our chips and salsa and guacamole than our mediocre entrees, she listened as I caught her up on recent events. After I explained in detail what has been going on with me surrounding recent adjustments to my new life in the City of Angels, she said, "Wow. So you're finding yourself rebuilding at a much lower level than you would have even imagined." And that about sums it up perfectly.

I'm a Professional Salad Eater

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:29:23 -0800

Rich Fields is the announcer for The Price Is Right and when I arrived at CBS to take part in the second episode of "Rich Fields Gone Wild" all I really knew was that my friend Jon would be there and that Adam West was somehow involved. Entering the parking lot, however, I soon found myself up close and personal with not only the original Batman himself, but the Batmobile. It was pretty cool. On the set I was seated alone at a table eating a salad. It was a chicken ceasar salad. It wasn't bad, which was good, because I spent the next four hours eating it incredibly slowly as take after take was shot. It was, however, actually a lot of fun and the episode should be pretty great when it's all finished. Adam West was incredibly gracious and hilarious, as was Rich as well. If you want to see something funny, check out Adam's Facebook post about it. I'll let you know when the second episode is online, but in the meantime, here's episode one with Lou Ferrigno of "The Incredible Hulk."

Happy Anniversary

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:04:34 -0800

Brien O'Brien Salon in Palm Springs celebrates it's 2nd Anniversary. Congratulations!

Dorkismo

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:59:47 -0800

Maria Bustillos writes in her book Dorkismo: The Macho of the Dork: "Like its etymological prototype, 'machismo,' dorkismo connotes a kind of inner pride and self-confidence. It is the Macho of the Dork, or dork cojones, if you like: the courage to be yourself, despite the risk or even certainty of being thought a total idiot." Whoever our dancer is, I believe she is displaying dorkismo of the highest caliber. Her song selections, Bobby O's "She Has a Way" and Pamala Stanley's "Coming Out of Hiding" are deep crate disco dorkaliciousness, but does she care? No. She loves these songs. She loves to dance to them. In fact she's gone and videotaped herself doing just that and posted it on YouTube so everyone can know just how much she freakin' loves it! And there's plenty more for your perusal where this one came from. While there are web sites and web "masters" that have developed entire careers based on the posting of such videos and subsequently tearing them apart for audience amusement, my goal for 2010 is to be a lot more like our tiny dancer, to care what others think a whole lot less and to strive to live in the highest joy of what truly delights me a whole lot more, no matter how stupid it might be, no matter how gay it looks, no matter what a dork it makes me. But you say, "Wait a minute, you're like this hula hooping guy in your 40's, among other things. We're already well aware of just how big a dork you are." True, and there are times I genuinely don't care and can let it all go, and then there are others where I find myself making apologies for who I am, what I like, playing smoke and mirror games to foggily reflect only the things I think are worthy of being shown. And as if it isn't bad enough that "they" don't even get to know or see the real me in the process, what's worse is that I'm the one who preemptively censored myself. I'm the asshole critic reviewing my life script with a head full of self-talk resembling a yappy little dog, one that needs to be politely told to shut the fuck up, so I can get on with the business of enjoying life, to its fullest!

2001: A Time and Space Odyssey

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:55:51 -0800

In case you've been wondering why I'm not blogging, I actually am, I'm just doing it in 2001. It's the kind of thing that can happen following a lunch with Maria Bustillos. One moment you're enjoying your mole and frothing with delight over your mutual love for Dynasty, and the next you're left surrounded by a veritable plethora of your old online ramblings. I wasn't sure what to do with them all until they revealed themselves to be intricate pieces of a higher Universally directed puzzle. It seems only by not dismissing and forgetting the past will I be able to unlock the future. The writings I am currently unearthing, with all the care of Louis Leakey and some hand sanitizer, are from the summer and fall of 2001, taken from the wreckage of the East Coast/West Coast award-winning blog I'd shared with long time best pal Choire Sicha - who also seems to be in the midst of a time warp of his own. I will say this, the archaeological discovery, these long lost fossils and arrowheads of verbiage are already revealing that I used to write, I used to write without being guarded, I used to write without being guarded as if nothing mattered but self expression - and while a modicum of self-restraint is indeed one of today's more valued virtues, beyond the dust and pebbles I believe I just might have found my voice, immaculately preserved on a HAL 9000.

Disco Fever

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:35:42 -0800

It's no big secret that I like my disco, but in the last two weeks I've caught the fever all over again. Running into Jon Bily, one of my best friends from the disco years, has resulted in lengthy conversations surrounding the general theme of "Do you remember when?" And of course we talked about the music. There was a significant playlist at that underage gay nightclub in Seattle that wasn't remotely within earshot of the general public, songs you just never heard anywhere else, and I found myself wanting to hear them all again. That's when Jon told me he could do me one better. Oil Can Harry's in Studio City celebrates disco every Saturday night, with the occasional earbomb from our previously forgotten soundtrack hitting the speakers as well. And after working it on their dance floor to Cut Glass, Antonia Rodriguez and Lime, I have to admit I needed my temperature taken. I was burning up! There was this inferno and I wanted to not only hear all the old tunes again, I wanted to procure a mountain of previously undiscovered disco treasures as well. And with a little guidance, the aid of a decent mp3 search engine and an mp3 extractor that can turn an easily hijacked YouTube flv file into an iPod favorite, my disco collection has been growing daily. Have you heard of the Addrisi Brothers? I had not, but listen to Ghost Dancer, a new disco favorite. They just don't make truly incredible crap like this anymore.

Asha Puthli

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:24:45 -0800

How we haven't heard more about Asha Puthli is a crime. The disco-soul-jazz Indian goddess pumped out ten albums in the 1970's - and it wasn't until a number of hip-hop artists started sampling her 30 years later that people started paying attention. Perhaps best known for her stirring vocals on free jazz legend Ornette Coleman's "Science Fiction" album, Asha was and still is a pioneer of jazz, funk, soul and electronic dance music. Trained in Indian classical singing with a four octave soprano range, Puthli created her own unique sound before we'd even thought about acid jazz and ambient dance music.

Performing "The Devil is Loose" in 1978 above, Asha reprises it as opening track on her first new album in years entitled "Lost," a record that is mind bogglingly brilliant. I had to listen to it a second time immediately, I just couldn't take it all in. I must admit I expected her to simply cash in with an album of dreamy east Indian vocals layered on smooth jazz beats, but after my first listen I realized - when has Asha ever taken the easy road? The title track "Lost" about losing everything including your faith is amazing. The journey we take with Asha on "Salty Dog" conjures lighters waving in the air to a most unexpected rock anthem. She drives things a little harder on "Love Unconditional" sharing with us her secret of life. On "War, What For" her vocals turn an otherwise simple anti-war song into something powerful. "Tell Me Why" delivers the flavor I expected when I bought her new album - only delicious jazz that's light years better than I'd even hoped for. "Shine In The Sky" teaches us what sensuality is really all about and I admit I shed a few tears first time I heard it. "Dum Maro Dum" is worldbeat all the way and I can't wait to hoop to it. "Merey Dil May" continues on that route only chilled - and the production is so freakin good. Chills. "My Prayer" is a very sweet cover of The Platters classic she's made entirely her own, doing the same with the closing track "L'Hymne À L'Amour" from Edith Piaf. "Lost" proves Asha isn't lost at all, she knows exactly where she is and maybe now, finally, the world can catch up to her. It's on iTunes.

The Merritt Building

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:09:49 -0800

Hulett C. Merritt was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on August 17, 1872. He started out in business there helping his family as an employee of the Duluth Missabe & Northern Railroad. It was the Merritt's who had expanded DM&N by laying railroad track to Duluth in 1893, connecting the world's greatest iron ore deposit with Lake Superior. At the age of 21, which was as early as he was legally eligible, Hulett became a director of the railway, a line which had a greater record for profit than any other in the world. Representing the family firm, who owned two-thirds of the capital stock of the Missabe Mountain Iron Co, he conducted successful negotiations with steel magnet Henry W. Oliver, leasing the Missabe with a 65 cents a ton royalty payment, with a guarantee to mine not less than 400,000 tons annually. It was the highest royalty ever obtained for the lease of an iron mine in the history of the iron trade and Hulett's work on this deal won him a national reputation. His next step helped form the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, also known as the Merritt-Rockefeller Syndicate, and in this enterprise Hulett became the largest stockholder outside of John D. Rockefeller himself. The Merritt family's shaky financial position, brought about in part by the Duluth rail expansion, allowed for Rockefeller to gain control of the DM&N railway. The Merritts filed a civil suit in 1895, but Hulett sided with Rockefeller - and Rockefeller won. It would prove to be a win for Hulett as well. In April, 1901, the Merritt-Rockefeller Syndicate made a major deal turning over all the ore and railway holdings to the U.S. Steel Corporation for $81,000,000, one of the largest single financial transactions recorded in America. As part of the deal Merritt also became one of the ten principal members of U.S. Steel - which would become the greatest single corporation on earth. Relocating to Southern California in 1898, his estate Villa Merritt Ollivier in Pasadena was built on four acres for $1,100,000 in 1905 - 1908. The area on Pasadena's South Orange Grove Avenue was referred to locally as "Millionaires' Row." Merritt was successful with various real estate and business ventures. He became president and treasurer of the United Electric, Gas & Power Co., controlling the electric light and gas plants of seventeen cities in Southern California and the street railway system of Santa Barbara. The company would eventually consolidate with Southern California Edison. Following the financial panic of 1907, Merritt set his sights on two of the best downtown business corners of Los Angeles. In May of 1908 he purchased the northwest corner of Broadway and 8th Street for $234,000 from the Hamburger Realty and Trust Co. Merritt hired the now legendary Reid + Reid Architects to design what he would call "a monument" to his family. The Reids are best known for their design of San Diego's Hotel del Coronado, as well as several San Francisco landmarks including the City's legendary first skyscraper The Call Building (aka The Claus Spreckles Building), the Fairmont Hotel and the Cliff House. Merritt wanted to construct a 23-story tower on that corner in downtown Los Angeles, but his plans were thwarted by the Los Angeles City Council.
Out West writes at that time, "Out West has not noticed any triumphant flourish of iterary trumpets in any of the daily newspapers of Los Angeles announcing the erection of a building at Eighth and Broadway by Hulett C. Merritt of Pasadena. Lest these inspired organs of the public conscience neglect or refuse to give all details to the waiting public, not only of Los Angeles, but of the World, Out West will assume the task. The 'Builder and Contractor' says: 'Paul Haupt [Hulett's grandson] has the contract to erect a one story brick store building, 60 by 110 feet, at the northwest corner of Eighth and Broadway for Hulett C. Merritt. It will have a cement floor, cream pressed brick front, copper sash, prism glass entrances, mahogancy interior trim, plumbing and electric wiring.' Lest we forget, it is wise to recall a few things about that particular corner of Eighth street and Broadway. Only a few months ago, Hulett C. Merritt wanted to erect a skyscraper at that particular corner and on that particular piece of ground. He desired to build higher than the existing ordinances permitted and had every reason to think that he would be given the right, because other ambitious builders had been given the same right. Instantly there was a great outcry from the faddists and theorists who talk about the 'City Beautiful.' They could not countenance the erection of the proposed building to such a height - something over 200 feet. Mr. Merritt wanted the building to serve as a monument for the Merritt family, or something to that effect. Now while Out West saw no special reason for a monument to the Merritt pile of dollars, which were accumulated, we believe in the Michigan iron deposits, we did think that Los Angeles wanted that improvement. A miscellaneous aggregation of busybodies besieged the city council and implored that body to refuse the Merritt request; all of the theoretical beautifiers from women's clubdom inveighed against an 'architectural horror' at that corner. There was, in every way, a terrible to-do about the enterprise of Hulett C. Merritt. He lost -- the theorists won. Well they have their addition to the 'city beautiful' -- and isn't it a credit! It is full one story high. It is to have a cement floor and will have a cream pressed brick front. The sash will be of copper and the roof of composition. There wil be an interior 'mahogany trim' which, interpreted, means that mahogany stain will be used. It will help Hulett C. Merritt to pay the taxes on the corner and will in every way to an artistic addition to the city's architecture - according to the City Beautifullers." Merritt and the Reids didn't stick with the one-story filing, but went with a ten-story design which was legally within the ordinance guidelines that would feature a rendition of Assisi's Temple of Minerva on top of a three-story base. While Merritt's real estate developments were routinely sold upon completion, The Merritt Building was his and he claimed the top floor entirely for himself when it made its debut in 1915. Merritt would go on to become president and treasurer of the Spring Street Company and the Pacific States Corporation, on top of owning several million dollars' worth of business and residential property in Los Angeles and Pasadena. He would also eventually control the Tagus Ranch Co, California Farmland Co., and the Superior Beet Sugar Corporation. Throughout his career he maintained his role as president and treasurer of Merritt Banking & Mercantile with offices in Los Angeles, Duluth and New York City. Over the years the Merritt Building would eventually evolve, housing an array of offices with various retail stores on the ground floor. Pan America Bank of California was a noteworthy early tenant. When the Merritt Building became home to Siltons Jewelers, many began to refer to it as the Siltons Jewelry Building and some still do today. Silton's would not last nearly as long as their name though. The company, owned by Irving Diamond, would eventually find themselves without a home. The Pasadena Star News reported on January 15, 1956, that Hulett C. Merritt had suffered a broken hip in December 1954 in a fall while getting out of his vehicle in front of the Green Hotel. After recovering at the Huntington Memorial Hospital, he was moved to "Far Afield" - his Santa Barbara residence - where he died on January 13, 1956. The New York Times printed his obituary with the headline: "HULETT MERRITT, FINANCIER, DEAD; Multi-Millionaire at 21 Was Largest Stockholder in U.S. Steel, Art Connoisseur." At the time of his death, Hulett Sr. had outlived his wife Rosaline Calistine Haben, both his children - Hulett C. Jr and Rosaline Eunice Merritt - and his only grandson, Edward Paul Haupt, who was killed during WW II while serving in the US Navy. Following his death the architectural wonder known as The Merritt Building would be delivered a very difficult blow as well. The stunning structure and monument to the Merritt family would be acquired by Home Savings & Loan and the financial institution, looking at the property they had purchased, would bring in their primary architect for an unnecessary redesign. Millard Sheets cast his eye upon the white marble structure and would have most of the windows from the lower floors removed in favor of adding a grand entrance on Broadway. The Savings and Loan would remain owners of The Merritt Building until HF Ahmanson, their parent company, was purchased by Washington Mutual in early 1998.
Shortly thereafter, The Merritt Building, like many structures on Broadway, began to sit empty - with the exception of ground floor low-end retail. While some have cast an appreciative eye on seeing The Merritt converted to lofts, it doesn't appear that the once grand structure will be getting any sort of just reward anytime soon.

The Pee Wee Herman Show

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:14:21 -0800

Went to see The Pee Wee Herman Show tonight at Club Nokia here in Los Angeles and it was so great seeing Pee Wee, Miss Yvonne, Chairy, Globey, Pterri, the Flowers, Conky 2000, Magic Screen, Jambi... What a treat!

Glass House

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:17:56 -0800

Ed Roppo, a fellow urban explorer, shot this amazing video at an abandoned glass factory in Northern California.

Efterklang: Modern Drift

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:25:10 -0800

The video for "Modern Drift" by one of my favorite bands in the entire world, Denmark's Efterklang. It's the first single from the new album "Magic Chairs" that is set to be released February 22nd.

Time Goes By

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:29:23 -0800

I had not heard this incredibly chilled mix of one of my favorite trance songs from a few years ago, and now that I have I've fallen in love with it and Carrie Skipper all over again.