While fires raged in the distance, I was rocking at Hotel Chelsea. Photo by Kat.
Southern California Fires
We're no strangers to fire in Southern California. At least a couple times per year in various areas, there are large-scale devastating fire events. But the one we're in the midst of right now, as I write this post, is worse than nearly any I've ever experienced.
First, to be very clear: my home in Redondo Beach is in no danger. The major fires currently burning are the Palisades Fire (about 20 miles up the coast from here), the Eaton Fire (in Altadena, over 30 miles away), and the Hurst Fire (up near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles away).
I personally know some folks whose house was reduced to ashes in the Palisades fire.
And the Eaton Fire is every bit as horrifying.
But that Palisades fire is generating a ton of very toxic smoke and ash and various particulates, and the wind is pushing that shit straight down to me. At last check this morning -- January 8, 2025 -- our air quality here is at an unhealthy 183. Perhaps because we're usually so spoiled by excellent air quality here in the Beach Cities, I'm particularly sensitive to it.
In any case, it sucks. My skies are a sickly brown-orange, and heavy ash is raining down, coating my patio and driveway. The constant smell of smoke -- even indoors with my air purifiers on full blast -- is gross. When I first awoke and left my bedroom this morning, I was greeted with the scent that I would expect if someone was enjoying a campfire in my living room.
An arial view of the Palisades fire area this morning. That smoke billowed due south to me and it was pretty gross, really.
A look at DTLA through the haze. We're all breathing that shit, ya know.
But it doesn't suck nearly as badly as it does for my many friends who live in the areas directly impacted. I've had numerous friends and coworkers who've been forced to evacuate their homes, and several whose houses have burned down.
The fires are the result of two factors combining: high winds and extremely dry conditions. It's been many months since the LA area had any significant rainfall. The natural environment of the area, with lots of scrublands and chaparral, is perfect kindling for even the smallest spark.
So again, as of Wednesday morning, these fires are completely out of control and still spreading, despite the valiant efforts of our first responders. Here's hoping for big improvements as the wind dies down and these fires can be more effectively fought.
I promise, this was not at all the way I wanted to start my day, but better to be here with shitty air than to be in a pile of burnt rubble as many are this morning.
I Got a New Keyboard
No, not the exciting piano-like kind used to make music. I have enough of those.
I'm referring to a new computer keyboard that I purchased out of necessity. For both work and other reasons, I write a lot. Thousands upon thousands of words each day. Therefore, my keyboards have to take some sustained punishment, and in recent weeks, the one I bought a couple of years ago showed obvious signs of dying. For one thing, the space bar only worked every few tries, so I'd be writing and find myself stringing together an entire sentence of unbroken words with no spaces.
It was fucking annoying, and started affecting my productivity for my business. That was the end of that. I really like the new one; it's a Macally wired keyboard that has two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. The keyboard itself is in Apple's Space Gray, and has black backlit keys. And the keys themselves feel far more tactile than my previous keyboard; they seem to rebound against the touch with every keystroke.
The new one. Something I touch daily that brings me income and pleasure.
Busy Season
As anyone who's known me at any point over the last 30 years, they're aware that due to new year product rollouts and certain trade shows, the entire period from mid-November through mid-January is when my workload goes through the roof.
I'm an independent marketing communications resource for my clients, and a huge amount of the work for which they rely on me most happens around now. So, that explains why I've been very immersed in that stuff. I am fortunate to be successful in my business, but with multiple clients all having important deadlines at the same time, well... there's been not much room in my life for fun things while still managing this multitude of responsibilities.
But, as I tell myself every year, this work marathon is temporary, and things will eventually settle down some in the next month or so. Usually by the time Super Bowl Sunday rolls around, it's no longer at a point where jumping off bridges.seems to be a preferable option. It's getting there.
So... How About That Show?
Ah yes. I knew there was a reason I was writing all this shit. That's what it is... I had a terrific show last night at Hotel Chelsea. One thing I did to make it a little more exciting for everyone involved: I played almost no songs that I'd done in the past year or more.
Me, onstage doing my thing at Hotel Chelsea while already smelling smoke as I jammed. Photo by Kat.
Looking out over my audience while singing and playing and whatever else I do during my SL shows. Photo by Kat.
Keeping it fresh is a super important part of a performing musician. And yes, of course there are people who are super focused on one style, or are promoting their own new music, or are in a tribute act, or do the same songs over and over because they are the favorite requests of their audience. There's nothing wrong with that at all.
But for me, a guy who tends to perform at the same places to the same people, I think it's super important that I don't burn out on the songs I do... and more importantly,. that my crowd doesn't get sick of the same set done over and over.
My only other note was that we already had a terrific crowd for nearly the entire set, and it only swelled as we got closer to my popular friend Max Kleene, who had the stage following me. I think we had 40 or more people by the time I wrapped up my set, and frankly, for a random Tuesday night, most performing musicians in the world would be absolutely stoked to have that type of crowd no matter where they were playing.
Hotel Chelsea set list...
Loading Zones (Kurt Vile)
Lost Cause (Beck)
On the Way Home (Buffalo Springfield)
Snakes And Ladders (They Stole My Crayon)
Desire Lines (Deerhunter)
It's Choade My Dear (Connan Mockasin)
Questions (Buffalo Springfield)
Don’t Ask Me Why (Billy Joel)
Is She Really Going Out with Him? (Joe Jackson)
Wild World (Cat Stevens)
Vasoline (Stone Temple Pilots)
Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden)
Learning to Fly (Pink Floyd)
Huge thanks to everyone who came out to the show, with special superpower appreciation to the following who helped support my show!
Richy Nervous, Solanghe Sarlo, Maximillion Kleene, KiralineKiraline Resident, cristoofarr Resident, Kaciee Resident, noowun Wind, bundy Xue, Trouble Streeter, Kade1st Resident, Kat Claxton, AnnaMeer Resident, my terrific manager Maali Beck, Hotel Chelsea manager Shyla the Super Gecko, and Chelsea's great staff!
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