Tag: Echo Park

LISTEN: Rod Gator, “Out Here in Echo Park”

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Artist: Rod Gator (aka Rod Melancon)
Hometown: Wright, Louisiana
Song: “Out Here in Echo Park”
Album: For Louisiana
Release Date: September 17, 2021
Label: Blue Élan Records

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Out Here in Echo Park’ during my last year living in Echo Park. Every evening I’d walk five miles down to the L.A. River and sit along the bank. It was one of the most peaceful times of my life. During the walk I’d hear Spanish music playing from windows and watch the sun slowly set. East L.A. means a lot to me. It’s where I go in my mind when I feel overwhelmed. I picture myself sitting along the L.A. River. I miss Echo Park everyday. It’s the place where I finally began to feel comfortable in my own skin.” — Rod Gator

Photo credit: David McClister

MIXTAPE: Ben Reddell’s Stars of the Grand Ole Echo

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Heya! I’m Ben Reddell, GM of Bedrock LA, and curator of the Grand Ole Echo. What a year, am I right? 2020 had the music world completely shut down, which saddened me to no end. Through the power of computers I was able to remotely finish my EP, LA Baby! And live music is possible soon? Don’t tempt me with a good time! With that being a possibility, this month has found me taking out the ole Rolodex and seeing what all my LA pals have been making in this trying time, this new normal, on this road to recovery. (Don’t hit me!)

If you’re new to Grand Ole Echo, it’s the swinging Los Angeles country and roots show here in beautiful Echo Park on Sunday afternoons. As you will see proven by this playlist, I curate the GOE with a very eclectic mix of roots music. We love our traditional country here in Echo Park, but we also like to let our freak flag fly with the hippie-dippie, pot-smoking types as well. Hopefully all of these folks will be playing live on my stages again, and when they do, I hope to cut a rug with you. Here’s a playlist of some of those folks. — Ben Reddell

Tony Hannah – “My Old Car”

Tony is kinda new to my attention. She was booked for 2020 GOE, but you know. Anyway she is super fun, and this track is pure LA bliss, Beach Boys, ’80s country punk. A little bit of everything.

Mara Connor – “Blues Runs the Game”

My pal Mara Connor made an awesome EP this year of some beautiful tunes. My favorite on this one is her cover of Jackson C. Franks’ “Blues Runs The Game.” The whole EP is like you’re floating on a cloud, it’s simply divine.

Sam Morrow – “Getting by on Getting Down”

I can’t wait to see all of these bands live again. But boy howdy am I ready to have my face melted with some loud, guitar-driven music. And boy does Sam Morrow deliver that here with this tune. The whole record really cooks.

Joe Bourdet – “Unwritten Story”

My pal Joe Bourdet really delivered a beautiful country-rocker opus with his EP Meadow Rock. This is the perfect summer song to sit on the porch and feel the wind caress your face. And that’s not hyperbole!

Sie Sie Benhoff – “Night Train”

My pal Sie Sie released this country cooker, “Night Train.” The song is so sweet and so tough at the same time — emblematic of what I love about Sie Sie. She the nicest gal you’re ever gonna meet, but she could also probably chew on nails.

Victoria Bailey – “Skid Row”

My buddy Victoria made an amazing record last year despite it all. The whole thing has awesome honky-tonk energy and she sings it with some great power. “Skid Row” is like an Asleep at the Wheel-style number that really makes you wanna dance.

Eric Roebuck – “Need a Change”

My buddy Eric put out the single “Need a Change” this year and it’s a mean, heady, ’70s rock jam. Really great guitar playing by Eric on this one. Eric’s previous band, Professor Colombo, was one of my favorites. But I just know this kid is on to something and I expect some sick stuff coming from him in the future.

Katie Jo – “I Don’t Know Where Your Heart’s Been”

My pal Katie Jo is a real sensation. She put out this single this year and I simply love the Patsy Cline vibes. Katie’s got an amazing voice and live she’s a showstopper.

Trevor Beld Jimenez – “Get Ready to Fly”

My pal Trevor put out his solo record, I Like It Here, last year and it’s simply divine. My favorite tune is “Get Ready to Fly.” It’s just so sweet and happy, much like Trevor.

Pacific Range – “Studio Walk”

My friends Pacific Range put out their amazing album High up the Mountain. These dudes were one of my favorite bands to book on the porch at GOE when they were first starting out. They just would electrify the air when they were out there.

Mail Order Cowgirls – “Brand New Start”

I’ve was made aware of this band through my co-worker Meg at Bedrock. I’ve seen them show up to the studio in western regalia a few times, but I’ve never met them. Anyway I think they are cool as shit. They had a self-titled EP come out this year which is great. Hoping to get them on a GOE soon.

Los Bolos – “Why Get Sober”

This year Los Bolos put out The Best of the Greatest Hits and it was really hard not to crack open an afternoon beer when I put it on for the first time. Sure I was in lockdown, but there was a real good party going on in my head.

Photo credit: Chris Phelps

BGS 5+5: Mapache

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Artist: Mapache (Sam Blasucci and Clay Finch)
Hometown: Glendale, California
Latest Album: From Liberty Street
Rejected band names: La Cabañita, Sam & Clay, Clam. Not sure why we thought Mapache was any better than the rest.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc — inform your music?

All of the above really. Everything going in and out of the psyche is what we tend to be writing in our songs. The books we read play a big role in what we write, things like Sy Montgomery’s The Soul of an Octopus, Kon-Tiki, Charlotte’s Web, Christian Wiman’s Joy anthology. Lots of films, too, like young Kiefer Sutherland in The Lost Boys, Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas, Frozen II, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Seems Like Old Times, and lots of others.

Other art forms like gardening and painting as well. I’ve only recently started painting and I know that it looks dreadful to anyone else who sees my finished products, but they look nice to me and allow me to open up in other ways that eventually come back around in their turn to our music as well. — Sam

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

Not until after our second record was recorded and we had been traveling and playing music for about four years. It’s a lot of questioning constantly of whether or not this is really what I want to do and I’m happy about that. I think it has taken time for me to realize that it is actually something I can do. I feel like now I’m committed to it and that I really do want to do it because it feels right. But I won’t ever really stop wondering. I think the wondering is what gives you the reason to do it anyway.

Many musical moments in the past have lead me to love music the way I do now. Raffi in my crib, hearing my dad’s guitar solos, our first battle of the bands in high school, our first time recording anything or trying to learn how to sing harmonies — those are all growing pains for me musically. Painful in some ways looking at the level of our talent back then but definitely key in figuring out our taste and what we want to do with music. — Sam

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

I think my favorite moment on stage happens fairly often: It’s when Sam and I look at each other and start laughing, usually mid-song, and I think it’s because in the same weird moment we sort of realize how strange and funny and awesome playing music on a stage is. Some other favorite moments were playing in Spain and having the crowd sing along to our songs in Spanish, having Jonathan Richman watch us play a set, sharing the stage with Beachwood Sparks, and anytime we get to play in Big Sur. — Clay

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I spend a lot of time in the ocean. This leaves me pretty sunburned and sleepy a lot of the time, and when it’s really good I see waves rolling when I close my eyes. Feeling like this and playing music is the best. — Clay

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

The best pairing of food and music is at El Compadre in Echo Park where you can watch Trio Los Principes and eat beans and chips and drink flaming margaritas. The trio is truly one of the most badass bands in LA. Sam and I like to go like to meet up with our buddy Tim Hill there and plot world domination and watch Dodgers games. — Clay

Photo courtesy of Mapache