The Magic Gas Station

A night in L.A. started with a question. What should I wear? I was heading out to a gig by a band that I had never heard of. I didn't know the scene. Black tank, jeans and leopard print heels were the verdict. Black always seems to work. Saturday night, Echo Park was the destination. I didn't know what to expect. The freeways were pleasant enough as my bestie Ace and I filled up the drive with our stories from the year past. We arrived in a neighborhood reminiscent of the burbs of San Fran and the steep streets of Valparaiso, Chile. Chango cafe, the Magic Gas station and lack of parking were the highlights of our search for food. We settled for a pizza place that named their pizza styles after famous comedians and singers. The restaurant was packed with couples, families and old time friends chatting away in various languages. After we enjoyed our delish slices we headed to a nearby vinyl record store and browsed the selection before heading into the venue. Upon entering I noticed the intimate setting and strong air conditioning. I assumed it would be getting pretty crazy in there, still not sure what the crowd would be like, but I was open-minded and anxious to hear the opening band. Static was a unexpected combination. A very impressive female drummer with great beats, fast, driving, clean. The male and female vocal talents had interesting voices. Passionate but far from harmonious. I enjoyed the beats but soon headed outside to a grouping of slanted tables that made it awkward to sit. I couldn't imagine how someone even a little bit buzzed would be able to survive them. The next act was up soon enough and we wandered back in. Sounds reminiscent of the Doors, Hendrix and Led were being made. The bassist looked like Hyde from "That 70's Show". The lead singer was amusing with his off-color side comments and lyrics. But the real show started when King Khan took the stage. The stage was filled with an unlikely pairing of band mates. The lead singer resembled James Brown, who he was striving to emulate.