My pal, Armen Ra and I had decided to go see Blondie, who were performing at the Greek Theatre, on Sunday night.  We walked into the venue, with our friends Bryan Rabin (Producer, Giorgio’s), publishing legend Stephen Saban (Details and Glue), the incredibly-talented and sublimely-sweet designer Michael Schmidt (more on dear Michael, in an upcoming profile), and the divine Dita Von Teese.  Armen and Dita had never met, which we all found rather surprising; and the two were thick as thieves within minutes.  As we handed our tickets to the usher, I looked at Dita and said “I love a fascinator with a veil for day!”  Dita looked at me, without a lick of irony and said, “Well, it is after 7,” to which I replied “Actually, it’s barely 6:30; but I’m guessing it’s always after 7, in your world.”

We proceeded to the Redwood Treehouse (aka the VIP Hospitality Lounge), had a drink, and then continued to the show.  Our seats were fabulous (Section A, Row E), and the band was en fuego!  There’s something simultaneously intimate and grand about the Greek Theatre, and I just love it.  Chris, Clem, Matt, and Tommy were fantastic; and Debbie?  Talk about it being greater, later!  I should have half the energy she’s got at 70, by the time I’m 45!  She had the audience wrapped around her little finger, from the time the first chords of “One Way or Another” were strummed, until the last echoes of “Dreaming” concluded the encore.  In between, in addition to classics that have stood the test of time (the band just celebrated their 40th anniversary) – such as “Call Me,” “Rapture,” and my jam, “Hanging on the Telephone” – and some new songs from their recent album, Ghosts of the Download; there were covers of songs by the Beastie Boys (“Fight for Your Right to Party”) and Deee-Lite (“Groove Is in the Heart”), as well as a swanky, blues-y take on Barry White’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” that I found mesmerizing.

After the concert, we headed back to the Redwood Treehouse, and that’s where the party really got started.  Members of various tribes were gathered, including film/television (the legendary Harry Dean Stanton, and the charming John Roberts – Emmy-nominated for hilariously voicing ‘Linda Belcher’ on the animated FOX sitcom Bob’s Burgers), rock n’ roll (Donita Sparks and Dee Plakas of L7, and Patty Schemel of Hole), and art (Liz Vap and photographer Mick Rock, street artist Shepard Fairey, painter Kenny Scharf, and stylist/photographer Maripol).

From here, we crossed the breezeway, and went backstage to see the band, in their dressing rooms.  Chris Stein is one of my favorite musicians, so that was pretty awesome; and Matt Katz-Bohan is lovely.  But Debbie’s been a fan of Armen’s for years, and he was psyched to invite her to the New York opening of his documentary, When My Sorrow Died: The Legend of Armen Ra and the Theremin.  I did manage to crack a smile on Debbie’s famously stoic visage, when I told her that the band’s joyous energy on-stage was positively infectious.  Then, fearing that it had come-out wrong, I quickly stammered “Not the bad kind of infectious, that requires getting a shot of penicillin, at the free-clinic; but the good kind!”

At some point, Bryan decided that – since it was only a few blocks away – longtime Los Feliz hang, Mexico City, would be an ideal place for our groovy, little assemblage to gather, for dinner.  So, off we went, to Mexico City – where we were joined by Dita’s boyfriend, Adam Rajcevich; followed shortly thereafter, by John Roberts and his pals Katherine Kendall and Sherri Solinger.  If you like really good, really fresh Mexican food; I highly recommend Mexico City.  Not only is the food delicious; but the servers are attentive and friendly, they make a mean margarita, and proprietor Albert Solis is beyond amiable (as well as being one particularly tall glass of agua).  

The group began to thin-out, as the evening drew to a close; and it was nearly 1am when Michael, John, Armen and I found ourselves on the sidewalk, waiting for our Ubers to come and take us where they would.  It was a truly memorable night, full of fascinating people, lip-smackingly good food, and perhaps the greatest rock/reggae/rap band of all time.

MEXICO CITY in Los Feliz
Los Angeles, CA
Click HERE for info

Get into it!