What a trip: Johnny Pump me up, Out of This World, Where's the Hacksaw?, and Five Burrito Surprise.

I recently had a chance to catch the Basquiat show at the MOCA in LA, and it was incredible! I am a huge fan but really had only seen about 8 of Basquiat paintings in person. I have admired his work for years through books of his, but seeing the paintings live really floored me. I was star struck... I have read and even heard people say that Basquait was kind of all hype, but after seeing the painting, "Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump" in person I don't know how anyone in their right mind could argue that.

"Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump" 1982 94.5 x 165.5 inches

The show just ended in LA but is now set to open at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, so if you are in the area, I highly recommend checking it out.

While I was in LA I was able to catch up with some good friends of mine from when I lived out there. My friend Tim and his wonderful wife Ildy put me up for a couple of nights. I had a blast hanging out in Tim's garage/office drinking beers and listening to cool music. On Friday, Tim took me to The Largo which is this nightclub in LA. (If your speakers are on you should be hearing my poorly recorded conversation with Tim regarding our trip to the Largo.) We stood in a line out front in the hopes of getting in to see Jon Brion who Tim said would blow my mind... Well, me being more used to the Brick in Kansas City, I started to get a little pissy after standing in line for over an hour to see a guy I hadn't really heard of... I am so glad Tim put up with me and made us stay and check it out. It was perhaps the best live show I have ever seen. Jon Brion is absolutely amazing. Here is a review of his show by Chris Barton that sums it up nicely.

Thanks Tim and Ildy for the great time!!

Oh, and a big thanks to Vic and his dad for letting me crash at their house also. It was great seeing them both. And a special thanks to Vic for his delicate touch cutting off my wedding ring after it had gotten stuck on my middle finger. I had put it there while trying to surf with Vic at San Onofre to keep it from slipping off my skinny ring finger. But as luck and a few beers would have it, I forgot about it until later that night. By then it had swollen up and I started to panic.. After the soap trick and cold ice water didn't get it off, Vic saved the day with his trusty hacksaw. Thanks Vic!

Venus couldn't make the trip to LA. but I had orders to bring her back a burrito from our favorite Mexican restaurant, Taxcos. I brought her back five to help smooth over the whole wedding ring thing...

The best $3.25 burrito on the planet!

Thanks for stopping by,
Billy