Los Angeles: Echoes of Asphalt and a Whole Lotta Humidity
okay, so. los angeles. right? everyone’s got an opinion. i’m here to add mine, which is probably just going to be a rambling mess about damp sidewalks and the faint smell of jasmine. i’ve been bouncing around, trying to find a rhythm, and honestly, it’s been… something.
I’m a touring session drummer, which means my life is basically a series of airports and questionable hotel breakfasts. This gig landed me in LA for a few weeks, and I figured, why not? I’ve always wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Turns out, the fuss is mostly about traffic and the price of avocados. But there’s also… something else. A weird energy. Like the city’s vibrating on a frequency only dogs and pigeons can hear.
The weather? I just checked and it’s… clinging to you like a damp towel. Seriously. The forecast says 14.89 degrees Celsius, feels like 14.78, and the humidity is a solid 90%. It’s not exactly the sunshine and palm trees fantasy everyone pictures. It’s more like… a slightly sweaty dream. I’m pretty sure my hair has permanently adopted a wavy texture.
I spent a day wandering around *Silver Lake, which was cool. Lots of vintage shops and cafes with names I couldn’t pronounce. I stumbled into a little record store - gotta do that, right? - and the guy behind the counter gave me some seriously drunk advice about checking out the Echo Park Lake. Apparently, the swans are surprisingly aggressive. He also said something about a hidden speakeasy, but I think he was just messing with me.
“Don’t make eye contact with the pigeons. They know things.” - overheard from a guy sketching in Grand Central Market
Speaking of Grand Central Market, that place is a sensory overload. So many smells, so many people, so much food. I had a taco that was probably life-changing. Seriously. You need to go. Check out the reviews on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-central-market-los-angeles. Someone told me that the pupusas are the real star of the show, though. I’ll have to investigate next time.
I’ve been trying to find some decent drumming gigs around here, but it’s tough. The competition is fierce. I saw a post on a local musician’s board - https://www.lmusicians.com/ - about an open mic night at a bar in Hollywood. Might check that out. Could be a disaster, could be amazing. Either way, it’ll be a story.
My neighbors? If you get bored, San Diego and Santa Barbara are just a short drive away. I’m thinking of taking a day trip to Santa Barbara - need some ocean air, stat. I heard that the beaches there are way less crowded than the ones closer to the city. TripAdvisor has some good recommendations: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g32833-Santa_Barbara_California-Vacations.html.
Honestly, LA is… complicated. It’s beautiful and chaotic and overwhelming all at the same time. It’s not what I expected, but then again, when is anywhere? I’m still trying to figure it out, one damp sidewalk and questionable taco at a time. I’m also looking for a decent coffee shop. Apparently, LA takes its coffee very* seriously. I need to do some research. Maybe check out this guide: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/restaurants/best-coffee-shops-in-la. Wish me luck.
And if you see a slightly sleep-deprived drummer wandering around looking lost, say hi. I’ll probably be clutching a lukewarm latte and trying to avoid eye contact with the pigeons.
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