For two weeks before the “secret” Sonic Youth show at Little Radio, I tried everything in my power to get on the list, as it was the only way you could get in. Several record stores in the LB/LA area were giving away tickets with the purchase of their latest release Rather Ripped, which is a great record by the way. If you haven’t picked it up yet you’re missing out, its one of my favorites releases of 2006. To my dismay, I found out that my local record store Fingerprints in Long Beach was one of the retailers giving away tickets for the show, but I was a day late. I couldn’t believe that I did not get a call from anyone at Fingerprints about this give away, but apparently most of the employees at Fingerprints didn’t even know themselves. Later on I learned that Little Radio, my favorite venue in Los Angeles, would be hosting the show. Within this time I ran into Dave at LR several times and I hounded him about getting on the list. I mean, he’s the owner, he could jot me down on the list, but I wasn’t the only one bugging him about getting in that night. Dave did give some advice and ideas about how to maybe get in but every avenue I pursued proved to be fruitless. I even looked into Ebay where single tickets were selling for over $200.00, a bit too pricey for my sensibilities and wallet.
Even without a spot on the list I went down to Little Radio to see what would happen. I already knew that I could at least hear the show from outside and there is a pretty clear view of half of the stage from the street. Furthermore, I had to pass out some of the fliers that I designed for the Lilys show at the Prospector that Matt had booked for the following week, so I had nothing to loose by going down. By the time I found a parking spot and started walking up, I could hear Sonic playing “Incinerate” and just as I expected, I could see Thurston from the street and hear them just fine. Since Matt was trying to pull some strings for me I decided to check to see if I was on the list, I wasn’t. The only thing I could do now was to hang out on the sidewalk and listen and pass out fliers and let me tell you, it wasn’t too bad. I would much rather hang out on the sidewalk for nothing than pay over $200.00 on Ebay to be 50 to 100 feet closer to the stage.
While I was handing out fliers to people out on the street, this guy asks me what was I doing handing these fliers outside and not inside. I told him my story, and he said he had an extra spot on the list and could get me in! With this stroke of good fortune I was now that 100 feet closer. I seem to luck out from time to time and this was one of my lucky nights! By this time Sonic was well into their fifth song, “Sleeping Around”. After I got my wristband slung on me I made a beeline to the bar, got myself a drink and checked out the merch table, where I picked up a red sonic nurse shirt and some buttons. From there I tried to work my way up closer to the stage, but the main room was packed and sweltering, so I decided to retreat back to the bar where it was much cooler. There I handed some more fliers and talked to various people I knew. After I had cooled off a bit I decided to work my way up to the stage again. I noticed Shepard Fairey on an elevated DJ platform, (key word here, ELEVATED) and said to myself that’s where I need to be, since it would give me an unobstructed view of the band and some elbow room. I knew that Shepard Fairey’s gallery in LA who represents him, the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, was having an opening that night so I had something to talk about with him. After our conversation about the MK Gallery and his upcoming solo show , I asked him if I could stay on the DJ platform with him and he said yes! I couldn’t believe how lucky I was that night. I wasn’t on the guest list and managed to get in. Now, I’m on an elevated DJ platform with Shepard and Amanda Fairey with a perfect view of Sonic Youth. Outside of grabbing a couple more drinks, this is where I got to watch the rest of the show. I wish I could be this lucky all the time.
