If music is a form of art, then are all musicians artists? They’re often discussed as two separate forms of creative expression, yet they go together so naturally that we don’t really think about it. Artists are typically called upon if a band needs album artwork created, a music video directed or a promotional flier designed. More often than not, creative expression is a communal effort. There is a continuous gust of imagination blowing throughout our shared empty space. Whether we are the creators, volunteers, or supporters – our contributions, however small/large/vague, help the processes of creativity flowing steadily in our dry corner of Los Angeles County.
Visual art, punk rock and Skateboarding
In the 1980’s,downtown Palmdale had everythingin one spot. Aside from Rick’s Record Store, the best spot was Bicycle Radness. My first brush with punk rock happened during a Powell-Peralta skate demo there. I got to see a few of my skate heroes along with the dude who played Harry from Harry and the Hendersons. Beyond skateboarding, I looked deeper into shirt, deck and sticker designs and found inspiration from artists like C.R. Stecyk III and VCJ . Similarly with art in music, I dug deeper and discovered artists like Raymond Pettibon, Parched Art and even paintings from Captain Beefheart.
Art by GONGCO
D.I.Y.
With all of these forms of expression going around, it was punk rock that fueled the inspiration. I quickly shelved my Dr. Demento and Monkees records (though, not for too long) in favor of this “new” stuff. Not only was it easy to play, but you didn’t need the Steely Dan-level production value either. If you had the idea, it was up to you to make it happen and creatively share it with your friends. https://www.facebook.com/TheNarcTwins/info?tab=page_info
I associated these philosophies with the heroes I invested so much time learning about, but what had more of an impact on me was seeing it with my own eyes in my own community. Below are a few examples of local bands or shows that inspired me to continue to create art in the Antelope Valley.
I can’t remember if the Pink Rebellion was an ongoing event or a one-off, but it was the first time I saw people displaying art at a show-setting. It took place at the Cedar Hall in the very-late 90’s/early-aughts and was my first introduction to the Cedar Center . This show was the second time I saw Funcondump, Inc.— the first time was at a small bar in Palmdale called Louisiana Hots. I saw local bands Airplanes, Dead Rats and bands from beyond the A.V. like Cinema Strange. One particular show was also a premiere of an animated music video by a local video artist. It was like the chicken or egg thing, but with artistic expressionisms.
Throughout the above video, you can spot a sign for “Blvd Music Showcase.” I wish I knew more about what this place was and who has played there — especially if there were more performances like the one above by Leia:SLUT. This show in particular contains costumes, set design, story lines as well as the music itself. The crème de la crème of quality entertainment in my book.
Dumpsterpiece Theatre was broadcasted on live television every week out of KPAL studios in Lancaster. Each episode contained a feature film with facts, live music and improvisational skits, and a bunch of zany stuff. After each episode ended, I’d have to channel surf or spend more time training my brain to unscramble late-night HBO. That is, of course, until one of the number of late-night music TV shows came on, not unlike something off the Dope Guns and Fucking Up Your Video Deck series . The show times were sporadic, but it was here where I’d discover all the music videos that MTV was hiding from me.
Today though we have local news on Channel 3 as well as Palmdale Channel 27 and Lancaster Channel 28, you still need to pay Time Warner some pretty mega moola to access it. Unlike in Los Angeles where a lot of channels are offered for free over-the-air. Time Warner’s Channel 3 is also barely 40% local news and is repeated all day with very little (if any) attention paid to local arts and music. There are people working on creating a local studio space (http://coastalgold.tv ) for local television again and I wish them the best of luck.
Radio Freed Your Hope
For a moment, there was High Desert Modern Rock 97.7 in the Antelope Valley. One time, their sticker was featured on Beverly Hills 90210 and I think it was the episode with The Cramps in it. I remember listening to the broadcast as the station faded out; really sad stuff. Shortly after, there was Mono FM. Very much like the P@#&@#@ and $P@#!#& of its day, except songs were listed on the Mono FM website and you could request them. It was an indie radio station where the community was the DJ.
I just checked whatever was on 97.7 now and it’s a lot of twangy boringness. Today we have so many options: lots of great Podcasts, Youtube, iTunes and one of the thousands of streaming audio sites with a business model of sharing data-driven algorithmically-sorted inferior-fidelity files. With the announcement of Apple Music and its focus on live “DJ-curation” you can see the digital media backpedaling. Our local radio should give equal representation to our own artists than the ones who have the money to pay (or are willing to sacrifice more) for “exposure.” As for now, Chris Compton of KXFM 96.7FM does an excellent job on his own local morning show (and usually on the weekends, too).
Right where the Ralphs used to be on 20th Street West and Avenue L, there was a tiny record store in the corner called Rave Up Records. If they didn’t have it used at the Wherehouse, Blockbuster Music, Barnes & Noble or Best Buy, you could at least order it at Rave Up and not feel the guilt associated with purchasing indie music at mega-corporate chains. Plus, it was a place where I could pick up local vinyl. It was where I bought the Fed Up 45 (which I unfortunately traded a couple weeks later for a Voodoo Glow Skulls CD)
After all the mega-chains put Rave Up out of business, they too went out of business and abandoned even more high-priced real estate. Thankfully, a few years later, Crosstown Records opened up on K and Challenger next to the Tokyo Steak House. This shop was comparable to most shops in L.A. in selection, plus they frequently had live performances. I would spend a lot of time talking to Terry (who owned Crosstown with his wife) about all genres of music, though we mostly talked about late-70’s British Power Pop bands like The Boys and Eddie and the Hotrods . It was where I was introduced to locals The Resistors and Sex Conscious Young Moderns (featuring a member of one of my favorite local bands at the time, Hoomdorm).
Though Crosstown is no longer around (Terry still buy/trade/sells at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market), Wayne Tarasoft opened up Full Score Music on Avenue L and 45th Street West. Wayne has one of the best collections of Beefheart/Zappa available, plus he offers lessons and sells new and used instruments which comes in handy if you need money to purchase music like a good human being. With a Wienerschnitzel in the same parking lot, it’d be cool to have parking lot shows there.
Growing up in the Antelope Valley, I was lucky to have older friends and relatives introduce me to outside culture, but amongst all my long-distant punk heroes were the local ones doing it in our hometown. I could see them at a show, around town or on television and radio. Creating and sharing art and music seemed like an attainable and worthwhile goal. It has been an honor to work alongside many of the people who inspired me back then and not only to hear how their artistries have evolved, but to also help carry out a harmonious visual aid to such a wide range of beautifully-crafted auditory experimentations.
Today our technology is far more advanced, while simultaneously user-friendly and accessible at low cost. We can film, edit, record and share ourselves from our phones in a single sitting (and on most days, I attempt just that). We have all the music, films and information at our fingertips always. There’s no reason not to make something yourself (or with your friends) and share it with all of us, in your hometown— for those of us who are paying attention.
