On Saturday, I attended the Ragga Muffins Festival in Long Beach. Michael Zampelli took some photos for The District Weekly and I snagged a few for this blog.
My favorite musical act of the day was Big Youth (pictured above). This man exudes more verve and childlike enthusiasm than most people a fraction of his age. He's got a groovin' rap style and smooth moves to go with it. Go to Big Youth's MySpace page if you want to get in the groove.
I also felt childlike and care-free wearing my Gal Vanized get-up and eating funnel cake. I decided that I was going to surrender myself to the IRIE vibes and absorb as much of the experience as possible.
The crowd was very diverse and fun. Everyone was relaxed and having a good time. It was like sitting in a big huge living room. No problems whatsoever. I wasn't the only one there with pink hair, click on the photo below to see a larger version of the audience.
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Get your free download:
Songs to Galvanize Your Mind
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Here is Michael Zampelli's photo gallery of the event:
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've no doubt seen the song of the week by Michael Zampelli.
What you probably don't know is that Zampelli has been supplying unique songs for alternative music enthusiasts for about 40 years.
This week, I found a clipping from Billboard magazine on Google Books written by John Sippel in 1986 that mentions Michael Zampelli and his legendary punk rock record store, Zed Records.
Zed Records opened in 1979 and remained a thriving Long Beach business and punk rock icon for 27 years.
The store was especially known for bringing unique releases directly from the UK to Long Beach. During the surge of the punk movement, Michael Zampelli would travel to the UK with suitcases full of local punk rock releases. He would come back with suitcases full of punk rock from the UK. Zampelli was particularly skilled at servicing the needs of voracious music collectors. He carried limited edition releases such as a Devo single with 4 separate and unique picture sleeves and UK-only releases by The Cure on colored vinyl.
The 1986 article about his store has two parts. Part two of the article is on page 43, not page 41 as Google has indexed it.
The article mentions how DJ's from KROQ and KNAC discovered new finds at Zed and how the Zampelli's (especially Micheal and Marlene) formed family-like ties with punk and new wave bands such as the B52's, Dead Kennedys and The Misfits before anyone else even knew who they were.
Michael Zampelli continues to search for and share new music by contributing a song of the week to the Get Galvanized blog. He also photographs live music and has recently captured images of acts such as Lil Wayne, Skinny Puppy, The Prodigy and various punk rock shows. Visit Michael Zampelli.com to see more.
Buy Nothing to Hide by Yo La Tengo on iTunes.
Watch the video on YouTube.
Nothing to Hide Lyrics by Yo La Tengo
We all decide how to draw the line
We've all got something to hide
Stairs of light, crazy pen recite
We've all got something to hide
Well we're gonna wait wait, see what comes after
Wait wait, harder not faster
We fight the tide, set astray by pride
We've all got something to hide
Clean and dried goes off morning side
We've all got something to hide
Well we're gonna wait wait, see what comes after
Wait wait, harder not faster
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
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Michael Zampelli takes photos of the Los Angeles Kings when they play at Staples Center. He also takes photos of the L.A. Derby Dolls from time to time. Today he called into The Sheri and Erin show to help them iron out any kinks in their first test episode.
During the show we talked about Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It and how it sends a positive message for women and girls. Zampelli talked about how he enjoys the fast action and intense energy of a roller derby bout. Listen here or find out more about the show at Blog Talk Radio.
Let your creativity soar and explode. Turn up the music and do what you do best. Saturate your mind with words and music that make you feel galvanized. That's the wisdom of the Chemical Brothers. It's recommended to listen with headphones to get the full impact.
Buy the entire We Are the Night album which includes Galvanize (feat. Q-tip), Saturate and more. Available on iTunes.
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
Who knew you could have a sense of humor about Satan? Well, Rosemary's Billygoat doesn't seem to take the devil too seriously at all. Watch the video and read the lyrics and just see if 665 1/2 won't make you laugh. I dare you.
Here's a little sample of the lyrics:
Well ever since I was born,
I've been growing horns
I eat Christians for breakfast
Pentacostals for lunch
and then you come along
and I got me a hunch
you think you're evil
don't make me laugh
At best, you're a 665 1/2
You can listen to the studio version of the song here:
This band was the halftime entertainment at the Saturday Roller Derby bout at the Doll Factory in Los Angeles. Michael Zampelli was there to document the evening on behalf of LAist.com.
To see the entire photo gallery, go to michaelzampelli.com.
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
Since I was in the room when this photo was taken and I'm closely related to the photographer, I can't help but get excited that its in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Rivers Cuomo (Weezer front man) did a special hootenanny at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach back in November. It was the day Alone II - Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo was released in stores. By some last minute change of plans, me and my husband Michael went to the event as journalists on behalf of the LAist.com. Michael Zampelli shot photos and I captured the evenings events in writing.
Alone II is available on iTunesThere were some cool little milestones along the way such as getting on the week around the ists list, having the photo published on The Rolling Stone and District Weekly's websites and seeing that the event itself was front page local news in the Press Telegram. Plus, I was in a photo that was published on PressTelegram.com (I'm in the red sweater, standing beside Rivers Cuomo).
Today's milestone is the biggest and best of all so far; a photo published in Rolling Stone magazine. I've been looking at music magazines most of my life. Cool photos of my favorite musicians was probably one of things I most looked forward to seeing. It's fun to be a part of the story in the making. Major props to Michael Zampelli AKA Rinkrat for this noteable accomplishment.
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Buy Reasons Not To Be An Idiot by Frank Turner on iTunes.
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Lyrics for Reasons Not To Be An Idiot by Frank Turner
You're not as messed up as you think you are
Your self-absorption makes you messier
Just settle down and you would feel a whole lot better
Deep down you're just like everybody else
She's not as pretty as she thinks she is
Just picture her after she's had kids
I bet she sits at home and listens to The Smiths
Deep down she's just like everybody else
So why are you sad at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
'cause it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
He's not as clever as he likes to think
He's just ambitious with his arguing
He's crap at dancing, yeah and he can't hold his drink
Deep down he's just like everybody else
I'm not as awesome as this song makes out
I'm angry, underweight and sketching out
I'm building bonfires on my vanities and doubts
To get warm just like everybody else
So why are you sad at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
'cause it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
Amy thinks that life is lacking in drama
So she fell for horoscopes, faith-healing and karma
She's so wrapped up in her invisible armour
She'll never grow into herself
And it's OK thinking me and all my friends are just wasters
But saying that I can still see through her heirs and graces
I bet she's scared her life won't leave any traces
Caught up like everyone else
That's not the point anyway
Oh darling, I felt compelled to call you up to say...
So why are you sad at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
'cause it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
On Saturday, I attended the Ragga Muffins Festival in Long Beach. Michael Zampelli took some photos for The District Weekly and I snagged a few for this blog.
My favorite musical act of the day was Big Youth (pictured above). This man exudes more verve and childlike enthusiasm than most people a fraction of his age. He's got a groovin' rap style and smooth moves to go with it. Go to Big Youth's MySpace page if you want to get in the groove.
*********************************************
Get your free download:
Songs to Galvanize Your Mind
*********************************************
Here is Michael Zampelli's photo gallery of the event:
To see the entire photo gallery, go to 
