Weekend roundup: Xu Xu Fang, Domestic Disturbances, Vice party

By the way, I somehow managed to have way too much fun over the weekend. In fact, I had so much fun that on Sunday I was all fun-ed out (Hungover) and could do little more than sit in bed watching episodes of Spaced while sippin' on a Gatorade.

There was a lot of reconnection. At the Bixel House the trees in the backyard had become overgrown, and I realized it had been way too long since I'd been there last.

But let's start at Thursday night, were I walked to a nearby showcase for Xu Xu Fang. I'd listened to their MySpace page and befriended their Facebook fan page, but never seen them live, and it was a real treat though I did not get many photos.

At one point the backup singers passed out tambourines to the audience as a man in a hat leaped out of nowhere on a cowbell to accompany one of their songs. It was a pretty inclusive moment and very fun.



There were even woodland creatures in attendance!



On Friday night I attended a party at the Bixel House and was received warmly by Not The Government and friends. SayCheeseAndDie came by to celebrate his birthday and snap some photos.

I tried to take my own band photos, but the closed quarters afforded me very little space to do so, and I snapped away hoping to get some good shots. I succeeded!



All the compressed breathing and perspiration fogged up my lens, and that's how the following happened.



It was quite a loud raw chaotic situation. This photo is a prime example of that and my favorite from the set.



Then on Saturday, thanks to our rejection of the automobile, we indulged ourselves, using Los Angeles' sparse public transportation to party responsibly.

Upon first arriving at the infamous Vice party downtown, the line wrapped around the block moved us into the welcoming arms of Bar 107 across the street, where we danced to whatever the hell they played - at that point our ears were so full of booze we could have found a beat in anything. Once the Vice line disintegrated we hopped on over, where Ben Oprstu gave me the best hug ever (As usual).



Unfortunately, the free tequila bar's arms were likewise open and I'll say it once and I'll say it again...never trust an open tequila bar!

It's really too bad that in this fabulous city the public transit is so underutilized, stigmatized, and underdeveloped. What you get is a city devoted to the single passenger car, gridlocked traffic, pollution, and dangerous drunk drivers.

I'm sort of hoping that this recession will revolutionize how we live in Los Angeles. Already I've seen an increase in practical bicycles and a shift in the Metro's passengers. Of course people are still drag racing their BMWs west down Santa Monica Boulevard through Beverly Hills, but the gas prices will catch up with them too. An empire build on limited resources can only stand so long.

For the rest of use twenty-somethings dumped out of college into a bleak job market and saddled with student loans, we'll come out on top when things get better.

After all, we've learned how to party for free.

In other news, guys, it's good to be back. You better watch yourselves cause you ain't seen nothin' yet!