Ah yes, Los Angeles. If you’ve only seen it on the news or in movies you probably think it’s a city of greedy, superficial heathens who kill each other for being in the wrong neighborhood but most of us who live here know better.
Los Angeles County is home to Koreatown, Historic Filipino Town and Little Tokyo. There is a Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Ceasar Chavez Blvd. in more than one city. The ethnic diversity is staggering and yet the majority of time we mix, we mingle and we get along.
We eat each other’s food, we learn a few words of each other’s languages and we sit side by side on public transportation. We travel to and from work through each other’s neighborhoods, attend each others weddings and funerals and more. If L.A. can do it, anyone can.
The photo and video in this blog are both from this weekend’s Warped Tour concert in Carson, CA. I was one of 20,000+ in attendance and I can tell you this. Despite the heat, the dust, the differences in age, ethnicity and musical tastes, this was an event that was enjoyable for all involved. To my knowledge, no one was shanked or shot or killed and even though there were some pretty crazy looking people the overall behavior was pretty tame. Sometimes the news makes us forget. Don’t forget. This is L.A. and if we can do it, anyone can do it.
Listen to This is L.A. at The Briggs’ myspace page
…or, watch the video shot at the Warped Tour this weekend in Carson, CA
Rinkrat is the 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, Rinkrat 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.
