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Various writings and art by Charles Bukowski are on display until February 11th at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA.

I’m definitely going to this. Read more about it here:

http://www.pw.org/content/the_written_image_poet_on_the_edge

December is one of my favorite month’s of the year, minus the cold winter season.

Here are just some of the Christmas and New Year’s Eve adventures of 2010!

This December there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky and gorgeous leaves that covered my front porch. Now that I have officially started my career as a full-time teacher, I had to leave my eight-year job at Backside Records in Burbank. Even so, I still party with them on a regular. Here are some pictures from the annual Backside Christmas Party!

This year’s party was at Eric and Tony’s bachelor pad. The above ornament with its price tag still attached is proof of their bachelorhood.

Thank goodness I didn’t get a Snuggie, like Christian. Instead, I got this much cooler gift from Alana…After a relaxing, food-filled Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with mine and my fiance’s families, New Year’s Eve was cause for a celebration overdose…Disneyland!

Splash Mountain was a bad idea. Getting wet in below 50 degrees cold weather was not comfortable.

But, we dried up while waiting in line for 45 minutes to get on the Nightmare Before Christmas-themed Haunted Mansion ride. It was much better than the original.

This chocolate brownie funnel cake was about the best thing we ate all day. Space Mountian is still the best ride at Disneyland!

I am really happy that Disneyland brought back Captian EO. They should never take it away again.

Disneyland was extra beautiful for the Holiday’s!

There was a huge dance party to ring in the New Year, and Disney’s, Chipmunk, was getting down all night!

After the countdown, there was an amazing fireworks display…one like I never seen before.

Disneyland truly makes you feel like a kid again!

Last Thursday evening I went to a fascinating book talk with talented photographer, Kim Gottlieb-Walker, at the Eso Won Bookstore in Los Angeles.

Gottlieb-Walker’s new book, Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae, is a collection of her private photographs taken from 1975-1976.

Shooting with an old Pentax camera using Triax film, Gottlieb-Walker captured some of the most intimate portraits of reggae legends. She shared many of her favorite memories and experiences of photographing these reggae giants—Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer—to the small community crowd in attendance.

Gottlieb-Walker mentioned that “there were only three things Bob would talk about—music, Rastafari, and herb.” She also admitted that Marley was “not a guy who liked to pose” for pictures, but added that because she had earned his trust, she was able to comfortably follow him around for a couple years!

Her book is an open account of those special moments where she got the artist to pose. Each page turns to a timeless new photo—ones that are raw and rare.

Gottlieb-Walker also worked as a still photographer for television shows such as, Cheers and Family Ties, and films such as, Escape from New York, Halloween, and many more.

Reggae historian and amazing writer, Roger Steffens, contributed to her book by writing an introduction entitled, “Kim Gottlieb-Walker and the Golden Age of Reggae.”

Here he is introducing Gottlieb-Walker to the crowd.

And here is Gottlieb-Walker talking about how she captures her images.

Upcoming author readings at the Eso Won Bookstore include Nikki Giovanni and Spike Lee.

Very funny “Merry Christmas, even if you don’t buy this book” Someecards postcards.

Chris McRitchie, Sony Music’s most dedicated employee, hosted last night’s “unofficial, official” Michael Jackson record release celebration event at The Bar Room in Beverly Hills.

Photo by Annette Ovanessian

The backside crew traveled to the 90210 just in time to enjoy Michael Jackson’s amazing new album, the company of friends, the open bar, delicious food, an awesome raffle, and the Lakers beating the Clippers by one point in the last second of the game.

Chris McRitchie, Tony, Annette, Eric, and Alana

Jackson’s new album, Michael, drops this Tuesday, December 14, 2010. And from listening to the album playing on rotation the entire night, I can assure you that it is another classic MJ record.

Go get your copy at Backside Records in Burbank!

Here’s to MJ, the King of music!

I highly anticipate reading Common’s memoir, due out in June. Read about it here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20101117/us-books-common/

Rare Basquiat photographs are being sold at LeadApron on Melrose. I plan on heading down there this week and viewing them…hopefully I can afford one or two…?

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/11/basquiat-slide-show-201011#intro

View some of the collection here:

http://www.leadapron.net/shows/basquiat_catalogue_feb2010sm.pdf

All the eventful holidays and festivities start in October and don’t let up until the end of the year.

This October was filled with all things Halloween!

It all started on October 1 @ Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights!

Some of the best mazes were Saw and House of 1000 Corpses!

This year we carved two pumpkins…

Ate a lot of monster cereal…

Watched so many scary movies…and so many cheesy scary movies…

And the full moon night was especially eerie.

Today we lost a true Reggae legend—Gregory Isaacs.

At the young age of only 59, Isaacs lost his battle with lung cancer.

Isaacs leaves behind a huge discography of music…and his songs will always reflect as some of the most significant of the reggae and lovers rock eras.

I was lucky enough to catch him perform at the Long Beach Ragga Muffins Festival in 2006. I remember during his performance I was fully gripped by his soulful voice and original dance moves. Here are a couple pictures I took from that show.

Gregory Isaacs @ Ragga Muffins Festival 2006 Photo By Annette Ovanessian

Gregory Isaacs @ Ragga Muffins Festival 2006 Photo By Annette Ovanessian

It was hard to find live footage on YouTube of my favorite Gregory Isaacs songs…but I was able to find them as a spinning 45 and a still picture. Enjoy the music!

Gregory Isaacs – Mr Cop

Gregory Isaacs – Don’t Let Me Suffer

So far, 2010 has been a pretty good year for great music.

Briefly put…

One of the best albums of the year goes to the long-anticipated collaborative album, Distant Relatives from Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. This album came out at time when music was in need of something unique and different.  The mixture of rap and reggae is not something new, but is something that needs to be done right…and what Nas and Marley concocted with Distant Relatives is the perfect brew of the two genres. Every track on the album is refreshing…I can’t single out one track and say it is my favorite. Don’t sleep on this one…

Nas and Marley showcased an immaculate performance at the intimate Wiltern Theater on the start of the Memorial Day weekend. They performed almost every track from their album, Distant Relatives, as well as some of their solo recordings, and closed the show with an audience sing-along of “Could You Be Loved,” by Sr. Bob Marley.

Photo By Annette Ovanessian

I tried to record some songs/snippets on my digital camera from a crowded distance, so they are a little shaky; nevertheless, I am sure you will enjoy these clips.

This first clip is the track “Dispear” on the “Distant Relatives” album.

This next clip is the track “Patience” on the “Distant Relatives” album.

Earlier this year, the beautiful, Sade, and her amazing band, released their first album in ten years, Soldier of Love.

There is such uniqueness about the way Sade knows when it is time to release a new record. A couple years ago, I briefly spoke with bassist, Paul Denman, in which he mentioned that when Sade writes her lyrics, they have to connect to something meaningful, and therefore, she takes her time with every song she writes.

I think with Sade, the time she spends writing her lyrics and reconnecting with her musicians, makes the long hiatus well worth the wait.

Soldier of Love is a gorgeous collection of the traditional Sade-type love songs that we all know and love her by.

Sarah Jones and The Dap-Kings’ fourth studio album, I Learned the Hard Way is a collection of soul-infused power anthems that speak on the everyday trials of life.

While The Dap-Kings stay true to the original funk & soul sounds by using analogue recording equipment and traditional instruments, the last element of originality comes from Jones herself—the voice. She adds a special wholesomeness to each song that truly takes you back to the 60s’ and 70s’ funk era, which, no doubt, makes you want to dance!

I would definitely say that Jack Johnson’s newest release, In the Sea, is not his strongest album, but, I’d definitely have to admit that I love everything he does!

He has always been your sweet & sexy-sounding, simple-melody, simple-lyrics, simple kind of guy that makes simple work! And In the Sea is just that—sexy, sweet, simple songs that make you melt with its guitar and vocal melodies!

I LOVE his music video for the song “You and Your Heart”

I am the biggest John Frusciante fan. He is a guitar and melody genius and has a beautiful singing voice as well. I love all his solo recordings and, of course, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was really bummed out that he recently decided to quit RHCP for reasons unknown. Since he never plays solo gigs, it wouldn’t surprise you that I went to a show where Frusciante played one song and then bounced…

Frusciante is a contributing musician for the multi-instrumental band, Swahili Blonde, whose music is a clash of every sound imaginable. Fronting the band is Nicole Turley, who is a true, all-around musician.

Photo By Annette Ovanessian

The new album titled, Man Meat, is a tribal and experimental experience for sure. I’d definitely need to be in a particular type of mood to play this album all the way through…but since I am biased, the songs that feature Frusciante are the best ones on the album!

This show was at Swahili Blonde’s record release party at the Echoplex on July 10, 2010.

Photo By Annette Ovanessian

Although John Frusciante is in the dark background, barely visible, his amazing guitar playing is at the forefront of this clip. Here is the one song with Frusciante on guitar…Enjoy!

Some other albums to check out are:

Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune

Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour (Watch the DVD!!)

Gogol Bordello: Trans-Continental Hustle

The Black Keys: Brothers

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Mojo

The Roots: How I Got Over

So…any other suggestions???