Albert Ortega

This proved more difficult than I imagined, getting Albert Ortega to come and play.  He actually cancelled yesterday but after talking a bit on the phone he decided to "get on board".  I told him I wasn't trying to guilt-trip him into doing it but I had sent out some notifications but they could all be nullified with a couple of simple postings.  Albert stated that he just wasn't feeling right about doing any shows without a vehicle of transport at his disposal.  I can somewhat relate.  Recently I had some issues with my Sprinter; first the transmission which I had some guy from my kids' school attempt to fix.  Hundreds of dollars later and it was still leaking.  Took it to a local station and they were able to get it done but that was another $400.  Then the normal check-up at the dealership and although I called ahead of time they seemed unprepared when I got there.  I went to pick it up and the brakes hadn't been done, nor the AM on my radio.  Took it back to the place that did the transmission but the person running the station was different and although he said he could get the part he didn't seem capable of doing it.  This after I'd left my van twice overnight, riding my bike to and fro.  Finally got it done in SoPas at Larry's Union but again, the bicycle rides were numerous.  I do like riding, though.  Some of my best ideas come from doing so.

But, to see a little of Albert before you come to hear him tonight live at The Battery Books & Music at 1005B Mission St in South Pasadena, check out:

Albert Ortega at Tonalism pt. 2/5

 starts at 8pm.  

 

In the meantime I'll be preparing and then acting as chauffer for the evening.

 

Tracy McMullen Trio this Saturday

There were two shoots in the vicinity today so there was a lack of parking but who wold have thought that that would lead to more sales? I think this was due to the workers on site coming in on break. Fun bunch. I'm still getting over the So Pas 1981 high school reunion that occurred on Saturday. Speaking of Saturday, this coming one (the 6th of August) we're hosting the Tracy McMullen Trio. I've enjoyed watching this on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs-lQ90zE6g&feature=related

It's Part 2 of 4.

Heirloom has expanded their weekend hours but Great Harvest has reduced theirs. My feeling is that Heirloom will benefit from this. The neighborhood residents want more opportunities for late-night shopping and hanging. At least during the summer.

Sunday the 14th Albert Ortega will be here. I'll post again before then.

soon, fireworks

I love quotes of people as they walk by such as "It's just a bookstore."  Too bad more businesses aren't open.  Radhika, sure, and they look pretty busy because PEOPLE WANT TO GO PLACES ON THEIR DAYS OFF.  Wish SoPas would figure that out.  And wouldn't it be great if The Rialto were open?  Here's something from Patch in regards to this: http://southpasadena.patch.com/questions/what-is-the-present-status-of-the-rialto-theater

So, this Thursday we have The Brad Dutz Quartet at 7 or so until about 9 or so, pm.  Some of his music can be heard here: http://www.myspace.com/braddutz.  I really like his music and I've seen and played a lot of it. This is a quartet of Jim Sullivan on bass clarinet, Paul Sherman on oboe and English horn, Chris Votek on cello, and Brad Dutz on marimba and percussion. 

Anyway, Wendy Carlos on the turntable, The Well-Tempered Synthesizer, when she used to be Walter, someone looking at a Roman Coins book, our neighbors from Alhambra just left with a stack, someone just scored from the free box, and a breeze is finally blowing through....

classical breakdancing

Some guy named Alvaro is in our foyer with lots of children showing breakdancing moves while his iPod plays Beethoven, the 5th, first mvt., at the moment.

Just put out a bunch of Japanese records from the 1960s.

A kid shows one of mine the lotus position.  Lots, obviously, going on.

But, sadly, I can't see the neighbors appreciating this.  It's just too loud.  Probably just the way Ludwig van liked it.  It has also cleared the store of customers which is never a good thing.  

Ben Rosenbloom's Group tomorrow night (that's Sunday the 26th)

Someone actually paid me back in full for a loan I made in December.  I guess I should feel good but maybe I celebrated too much last night. 

Ben Rosenbloom is the next musical guest.  I think he's got a quartet and it's kind of jazzy, kind of free jazzy.  Let's see what happens.  Starts at 8.

Reading Sideways by Rex Pickett and so far I've got a few favorite lines:

"'The Internet is a dark road to infinity potholed with links,' I opined.  'For a writer, it's like shitting where you eat.'"

"All around us, open fields of resplendent heather pastured daydreaming livestock chewing their cuds in the lazy mid-afternoon sun."

Why does that remind me of Fitzgerald?  It probably shouldn't.

Funny how the internet is capitalized.

Riner Scivally this Thursday

It's the first week of summer vacation and boy am I exhausted!  But I've taught the kids how to use Netflix streaming on the Wii.  That should come in handy as the season progresses.  Back at the store, we have a duo of musical talent on Thursday the 16th starting at around 5:30.  They start a little earlier than most on the day of the farmers' market.  Riner Scivally with Lorenzo Grassi, both on guitars. 

As far as books go I've been a little concerned about the future.  I mean, sales have been okay; our average is up but I'm concerned about what happens when our lease ends in another three years.  Sure wish we had more understanding landlords.  Like, why is it that they have to raise the monthly 3% every year no matter what?

A recent incident has prompted me to remind people that our hold policy is for one week only.  There's just not enough space on the shelf.  Isn't a week ample enough time to bum money from someone?

Alright, time to bring in the carts.

Oh, one more thing: Guy Bennett and Linda Lay will be doing a poetry reading on Sunday the 19th at 4pm, each reading for about 20 minutes.  Find out more about each of them at http://www.guybennett.com/# and/or http://www.lindalay.com/ .

 

been slow so long it looks like fast to me

A little semi-quote to start and we're off.  It really has been slow for days on end now.  I guess it's back to expecting nothing.  Mr Tyler has forgotten to pay us and it's been three weeks so the inner debate begins as to whether to just leave $900 worth of books in a box that could easily be sold or wait possibly three more months, a calculation derived from his last visit.  His studio is closed with no reply to the message I left on an answering service.  Speaking of studio that's the book that's missing, something by Kaluta and Wrightson and Windsor-Smith and Jones.  Frustrating.  "I sort of remember that one," L says as I give a proverbial pull to my hair. 


But what I really wanted to mention was the appearance of Guy Bennett and Linda Lay coming in June.  I'll be announcing more as we approach the date.  Poets both and good ones too.  It'll be our first poetry presentation.  I'll have to work on my announcing skills.

music of the past

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anomalous_a/

Flyers from long ago.  Great art regardless.  What a lost art.

Did I mention Scott Fraser?

Here's his first set at The Battery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-TzsZ3qa3k 
I just love this stuff with all sorts of pictures going through my head; we could hide him in the walls and he could be playing all the time.

Functions

Strange that the first book sold yesterday was Time To Pee and the first book sold today was Mommy I Have To Go Potty. I haven't been here for either event but it makes me want to speculate about tomorrow. 

The last books?  Yesterday: Mary Engelbreit's Wrap It Up.  Tonight: Kate Chopin's The Awakening.

Anyway, listening to Return to Forever.  My back is completely out and I'm in pain but whatever.  For once it felt good just lying in bed.  Usually it goes away as I go through the day.  Not this time.  I think it would have been content with reading Zafon's Shadow of the Wind.

poxy boggards on video

Here's a bit of what I recorded that night at the store.  More to come.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5w7RztpU8M

Scott redeemed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4qbleo4bc

And in honor of Scott Fraser finding the lost tapes of three years ago I have put up his first set that he did here at the store. 

Some of the background conversation is amusing and some is quite annoying but it is a live environment nevertheless.

Poxy Boggards

Well, it's time.  The Poxy Boggards are here on Thursday, starting late, around 7:30.  Parental advisory on this one as the tunes, although humorous, can be nasty.  I'll try to get some good ale for it..

Ew.  I just moved the keyboard and found a ton of dust underneath, and Amina's phone number.  Hmmm.

Big Black on the turntable.

Had our first porn buy today.  Well, I didn't buy the stuff yet, but I made a decision as to where I can put it and what I couldn't take.  Super Sex to Sexty, no.  Group Sex, yes.  Falling apart late 60s Playboy, no.  Sun Tours Issue No. 5 from 1967 (approved by the National Nudist Council), yes.  I'll bring the scanner in eventually and try to display some of the recent buys.  This one would be fun.

Had to let M. Davis go last week.  I feel bad but biz has been super slow.  We cut everyone's hours except Elise.  It just worked out that way.  The rain, I suppose, hasn't helped.  The Rick Potts gig was amazing but there were really only about eight people here to enjoy it.  I'll get some of the footage up in the not-so-distant future.  That is, if I can figure out how to do that here.  Maybe a link to You Tube?

Rick Potts

Presenting...Rick Potts at The Battery at 7pm on Sunday the 20th.  He's an ultra-guitarist. 

DNG here

David Ng is putting in the third computer.  Actually, it's an old one, no big bucks spent here.  I knocked the fire extinguisher on my foot as I was moving stuff around.  Note to self: it is easily jarred loose.  Funny, as it's the second thing I've nearly destroyed today.  I slipped on my chair at home, nearly toppling over, hitting the printer feeder tray in the process.  It was dislodged and looks like I'll need some epoxy and a Lego piece to put it back together properly.

At least I'm not a rebel in Libya.

Or maybe I am somehow.  Not that one should be trite about these things called revolutions.

Just sold a Beta Band record...didn't get a chance to listen to it...bummer...informed they were featured in a scene in High Fidelity, the movie, or at least the record was.

How nerve-racking it is when I'm helping a customer at the checkout desk and the record skips.  What is more polite, continuing with the checkout process or fixing the skip?

strange, expensive books on ebay

I've started putting our strange, expensive books on ebay and with the kindness of Mayo Grout.  You can see them as they get listed here: facebook.com/mayogrout

Tonight at around six pm Irene plays with a couple of friends.  It should be a scene so check it out if you have time.  Hopefully I'll have energy.  I'm pretty fried right now.  Still need to shop for food and I should probably eat something.

hours and hours

Although I love spending time alone I am wondering when that pub next door will finally open. 

Have I mentioned our hours of operation lately?  Well, here they are:

Sunday through Wednesday, 10 to 9
Thursday, 10 to 10
and Friday and Saturday, 10 to 11.

How fun!

what a scene

Hard to believe how grooving Theo Saunders and Putter Smith were last night.  An hour's worth of Pure Monk.  Truly tasty.  I just watched their hands through the plate glass front window.  Great opportunity to do so.  Where else could I? 

So, this Thursday is Irene Naomi Diaz with Seung Park and Mike Ellison.  Starts around six. 

I just listened to Roxy Music's For Your Pleasure, again.  Just can't get enough.  Now I've got a New World Records release of New Music for Virtuosos/2.  It's a Robert Morris piece, Motet on Doo-dah, and I'm getting complaints from Laurie regarding it.  I guess I'll have to put on something less dissonant, grrr.  Too bad as I wanted to check out the Imbrie piece with Stuart Dempster on it.  Sneaking in the Robert Hall Lewis: Inflections I with Bertram Turetzky on bass.

The girl scout cookies are steadily selling, so much so that the leader asked us to stock more. 

Asher and I played ball tonight at the gym; I got him a guest pass which was NOT for two weeks but three days sadly.  That's just silly.

By the way, Victoria cancelled for Sunday so you can come in and just hear my turntable picks instead.  Fine, I'll try to be upbeat and conducive to book purchasing/pricing/browsing.

Soon, better, revised

Yowza.  Good place to nap if you need to because there is absolutely nothing happening here.  I know life still exists because I was just on with tech support regarding an email password issue and I can hear vehicles scampering across the train tracks, and bells are still ringing every ten or fifteen minutes.   Oh, and there's a woman looking into the Mix 'N Munch store window next door.  Ah, existence.  I'll turn the record over.

Upcoming shows in March and April so far:

 

March 10^th: Theo Saunders, piano, and Putter Smith, bass

March 17^th: Irene Naomi Diaz

March 20^th (a Sunday!): Rick Potts at around 7pm.

March 31st: Javier Vergara

April 14th: Victoria June Corbisiero, piano

Just thought you'd like to know.

Coming Thursday

Just thought I'd mention that this Thursday brings Theo Saunders and Putter Smith, piano and bass, in to play from about six until 7pm.  Should I mention it's of the jazz persuasion? 

There are Mondays when we get so few customers that it seems silly to stay open but the few who do come in do make it worth it.

I also get to play the music a little louder since there's no one here to complain!

vaguely successful

It's such a social endeavor, having a bookstore.  People actually need to be interacted with.  They remember you; one must be aware of that. 

Coming this Thursday one must also be aware that Theo Saunders and Putter Smith are coming in to play, piano\drums.  Around six pm. 

Spaten Optimator...not sure if I like it. 

Our first sunny winter day and sales reflect this. 

The Zapper: March 2, 2011

The Zapper: March 2, 2011: "Raining, Art Tatum. Sewing across the street, might be knitting but fancy seeing a mix of people, m and f I guess now that we have this I d..."

March 2, 2011

Raining, Art Tatum.
Sewing across the street, might be knitting
but fancy seeing a mix of people, m and f

I guess now that we have this I don't need to keep a physical copy of a diary at the store.  It will just become a log of numbers.  Although I took a nap I was not on top of my out-in-the-public game.  It seems that I actually need to carry change at all times when traveling/shopping in Pasadena and parking.  I went 47 years without a parking ticket and in the past six months I've gotten two.  Both times I am running towards my car yelling, "I'm right here!" as the officer(?) is holding the ticket aloft and ceremoniously yet nonchalantly placing it under the windshield wiper.  Since today it is raining I now know that there are special ziplock bags made for this purpose.

Most expensive book sold today: Clinical Nursing Skills for $20.  

Ending with Charles Tolliver, Live in Japan.

Missionary

Since this is the first entry I thought I'd introduce us.  The Battery Books & Music is a used bookshop and is located at 1005B Mission St in South Pasadena.  There are LP records, some 78s, comics, cds, and live music.  We're open ten until nine Sunday through Wednesday, Thursday from ten till ten, and Friday and Saturday from 10 until 11.  We opened in November, maybe the first or second week.  Nights haven't been too busy but we try to do most of our pricing at that time.  The workers, in my opinion, are still in training but they're all coming along.  Two have come and gone, and all but one are going to school as well.  Hopefully they'll be contributing to the blog or at least telling me what they're reading.  I like knowing. 

Outside of the store, in front of the vestibule, is a cart with books priced either one or two dollars.  As you step into the vestibule with Mix 'N Munch on your right and Hodgson's Antiques on your left, there are more bargain books.  We buy as well.  The usual policy is to leave your items with a name and phone number and we'll get back to you.  Sometimes we can do the purchase within minutes but other times it might take a while, possibly a couple of days but that is rare.  Having worked in other bookstores I think our policy is fair but I guess I would think so.  Someone sent me this and I think it should explain a little about what we take:

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2010/06/why_your_book_buyer_hates_you.php

Laurie is the main force behind the bookstore.  I'm Richard and I just handle organizational stuff, money, that sort of thing. 

I suppose I made this blog so that I could announce our events.  Tomorrow, Thursday, we have Victoria June Corbisiero on piano.  I am hoping for some classical but I have a feeling she may venture into other territory.