Wet-N-Wild!
It’s been another hazy, crazy and particularly rainy week in music here in “sunny” California. “Lil’” Wayne got busted in Arizona with enough pot, blow and E to start his own Hollywood nightclub. After a couple of false starts, Amy Winehouse finally said “yes, yes, yes” to putting her skinny butt into rehab. Here’s hoping she gets it together in time to still perform at the Grammys next month with MMX good buddy Mark Ronson, who’s among the artists we’re most excited about seeing at Coachella this year. I know, most of y’all are still crying in your soy lattes over the line-up, but it’s actually pretty damn good. I mean, they had me at Portishead and the Verve. But dig even deeper, and the bill is loaded with hotness. I’ll even spot you one: UK DJ Erol Alkan.
Forget about the tired turntable antics of the usual superclub suspects. Alkan is the real deal on the decks. I would go on about him, but I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll be getting a lot more attention between now and that fateful weekend in the desert.
And while I’m didn’t have the good fortune of partying in Park City for Sundance, I did get to catch an advance screening of Michel Gondry’s “Be Kind Rewind” at the Arclight this week. Despite the pouring rain outside and a stress level somewhere in the range of nuclear meltdown (don't ask), this sweet little film made me laugh out loud. Mos Def, Jack Black and this year's "queen of Sundance," Melonie Diaz (pictured) are hilarious as accidental filmmakers in Passaic, New Jersey. Gondry fills the screen with his customary feel-good fuzziness, and Danny Glover and Mia Farrow(!) round out the stellar cast. You'll never look at "Ghostbusters" or "Driving Miss Daisy" the same way again.
Hardcore music nerds will recognize August Darnell (of Kid Creole and the Coconuts fame) in a supporting role.
Interesting note: leaving the screening, I spied Le Tigre member JD Samson arm in arm with a petite blonde, who turned out to be none other than Zero 7 vocalist and budding solo star Sia. Hmmm….
—Scott T. Sterling