Frank & Jonny's Campfire Christmas Party

At designers Frank Helmer and Jonny Cota's "Campfire Christmas Party," the East Side crowd gathered to toast marshmallows and sip on cider. I met Joshua Grannell (aka Peaches Christ) who was in town casting a his next film with my old pal (from high school) Darren Stein, pictured here with Darrin Noble.

Albums on Facebook and Flickr.

Bootie LA - Independence Day!

It's a grand old time at Bootie LA's Independence Day party. It's Joanne's first time, and she is having a blast! Dahni's short red shorts are very popular especially with the ladies. The guys bring their friend Justin. (See all my pix here.)

Meanwhile I catch up to the truly mysterious, Mysterious D! Olivier, Chandler and Dahni show off their patriotic spirit. For the rest of my pix from the Bootie Independence Day Party go here.

Crowd Goes GaGa as Smash-Up Derby RAIDs Bootie LA

The Bootie LA "Pirate Ball" has me wondering how these guys can possibly top themselves? When Lady GaGa makes a surprise appearance voguing to a mash-up of her hit, "Just Dance," I imagine that might be the highlight of the evening.

But following her, Smash-Up Derby, the world's only live mash-up band takes us to new heights of musical genius including Rihanna vs. The Cure - "Fascination Umbrella" and Bootie LA favorite "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey mashed up with Smashing Pumpkins' "1979."

Please click here for all the photographs from the Pirate Ball!

The completely unexpected surprise: Ramie Becker and Random Acts of Irreverent Dance (RAID) give a performance that has to be seen to be believed. Friends of mine Keoki, Sam, and Andy who have never been to Bootie LA are there for the first time and love it to pieces. And I run into the ultra-fabulous Clint Catalyst.

I can't forget to mention the... wait for it... Pirate Blow-up Doll Mosh Pit. The few photographs here can't do the night justice so please click here to check them all out.

Sea Slug Sex & Fol Chen Draw a Crowd at Machine Project

I am standing in a crowd outside Machine Project in Echo Park wondering if they are all really there for Patrick Krug's lecture on Sea Slugs. It could be!

But after Fol Chen comes on, I can also declare that if you're not into hearing about the mating habits of Alderia willowi (named for Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as I learn in the lecture) it is well worth sitting through said lecture to see this band. Amazing stage presence, great vocal, songs with catchy hooks could make them the next big thing, and they even throw a trumpet and some maracas in there.

I also run into my old pal Josh Kamensky, former Director of Communications for our very own City of Angels, and now writer and front man for another awesome East Side band, Captain Automatic, with his fiancée, Heather. Click here to see all my photographs from this event!

Bootie LA Video Peek plus Kay Sedia & Party Ben!

On a packed dance floor, I manage to capture some clips of Bootie LA now at The Echoplex. DJ Paul V is holding down the fort with San Francisco's Party Ben and guest DJ Axel.

The crowd, enthusiastic as ever, sport less pirate costumes, but perhaps everyone is gearing up for next month's 3rd Anniversay Pirate Ball! Click here to see all my pix from the party!

The hilarious Kay Sedia performs a midnight show. Kay is one of my all-time favorite local dragsters, and I was there when she made her debut at Dragstrip 66 back in the day.

You can tell from the picture why the boys and girls all drool over Party Ben. (It's his godlike halo.) And there's me with Tripp Roberts aka DJ Rawburt of the other fantastic mash-up club, BLENDER, at The Faultline.

Click here to see all my pix from the party!

Previous Bootie on AAT:

Mar '08 - Party Ben Visits Bootie LA!
Jan '08 - Bootie LA: Hot Mashed-Up Fun!