The Ditty Bops, Wednesday, August 3rd.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

El Cid Silverlake, CA

4212 Sunset Blvd. at the intersection of Sunset and Myra. We're playing with some very talented friends' bands. Come early. Show times are as follows: Jesca Hoop at 8:30pm, Skeetertruck at 9:15, The Ditty Bops at 10pm, The Moon at 11:30 pm.

Skeetertruck is also tres fun.

I believe Heidi, Tom, and I are planning to attend. As is - hopefully - a friend of mine from work. The 3rd is my last day working at Optimist before starting my new job on the 8th, so it's sort of celebratory Ditty Bops experience.

Anyone interested or able to attend, it would be lovely to see you there.

Cheers!

[Not Afraid]

Didn't we see Skeetertruck?

I'm so into going. Let's see what the Man who Works says.

[blueerica]

OOOOhooohhhh!! Wednesday???

Hmmm

OK, I'm gonna try for this one... I had so much fun seeing them before!

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Didn't we see Skeetertruck?

I'm so into going. Let's see what the Man who Works says.

I believe they are one and the same. I hope so, anyway.

Please, please, please convince the working man to attend.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

OOOOhooohhhh!! Wednesday???

Hmmm

OK, I'm gonna try for this one... I had so much fun seeing them before!

Please do, E. It would be great fun.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'd love to hear some new music but a Wednesday is just impossible for me. It's my late work night. :(

Have fun!

[Tref]

I could walk it. And I just might at that.

[€uroMeinke]

The Man says yes! Shall we have dinner there? or are there better options?

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Built in 1890 as Hollywood's first soundstage, El Cid went on to host flamenco shows for a crowd sauced on homemade sangria. Since then, it's housed live DJs, alternative bands and fashion shows.

With multiple patios and a kitschy-cool interior, El Cid is a sprawling restaurant and club-cum-playground situated on a hipster-clogged stretch of Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. On weekends, the flamenco floor show often sells out; rock bands occasionally take the stage as well. Sunday brunchers are treated to the jazz stylings of Jerri & Friends, a band fronted by one of the oldest female drummers on earth. It's a trip.

Sounds like it would be cool and tasty to have dinner there, but I'm open to alternatives. Tons of yummy eats in Silverlake.

Cost: There's a $27.50 cover for the flamenco show, which includes a three-course meal.

Atmosphere: Hip

Celebrity Factor: Jack Black has been spotted in a booth.

Parking: Street parking; free lot in back

The Flamenco night sounds nifty, too.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I could walk it. And I just might at that.

Yay!!!!!!

[Not Afraid]

I went to one of these Flamenco nights sometime in the early 80's. I think it was the same place. Great show. Very odd to an 19 year old punk rocker. ;)

BTW, The Diity Bops web site (http://www.thedittybops.com/).

[lindyhop]

I wish a Wednesday night wasn't so impossible, I'd love to see them. Please entertain us social recluses with a report after!

[€uroMeinke]

I'm curious how "club-cum-playground" became a discriptor - some how on it's own I envison a totally different kind of place.

[Not Afraid]

I'm curious how "club-cum-playground" became a discriptor - some how on it's own I envison a totally different kind of place.

Well, personally, I've ALWAYS seen the phrase "club-cum-playground" partnered with "kitschy-cool interior" and "hipster-clogged". And, then, isn't it obvious?:p

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

For those interested in attending, what time should we meet up for dinner?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Is 7:30 the ticket? I'll be there sans boy, who is working night shifts at HGTV these days.

[Not Afraid]

7:30 is the ticket for us. We should have no problem getting there by then.

[deirdre]

I forgot - I enrolled one of my dogs in a training class that starts today! How geeky is that? Oh well - I'll find some other opportunity to play.

[blueerica]

Who is deidre?

I like the name Deidre. So pretty...

[Tref]

I don't even get off of work until close to eight, so I am not yet sure how I will pull it off ... but I will try and see you all there.

[€uroMeinke]

I bleieve they play at 10:00 - so you have plenty of time

[Not Afraid]

I forgot - I enrolled one of my dogs in a training class that starts today! How geeky is that? Oh well - I'll find some other opportunity to play.


I'm, sad. :( But, I *think* we may be going to the cemetery on Saturday. We'll play soon.

[libraryvixen]

Have a great time everyone! Wish I could be there.

Shimmy like my (imaginary) sister, Kate, for me!

[€uroMeinke]

Great show, completely different set from the last one. I tried to take some pics but it was way to dark to get a good photo. El Cid was a fun and funky venue steeped in Hollywood tradition. We'll have to find more reason's to play in Silver Lake again.

[Not Afraid]

Have a great time everyone! Wish I could be there.

Shimmy like my (imaginary) sister, Kate, for me!

They didn't do "My Sister Kate" this time!!! But, they did a LOT of cool new tune I had not heard before, so it was cool.....VERY cool! I just love the Ditty Bops.

Oh, and they had a brand new shirt for sale and I bought one. It was proclaimed by Amanda that I was the "first person to buy the cool new shirt". This after it was proclaimed by our waitress who reserved us a table for the show because we were "the first to arrive t a rock show" and that made us cool.

Forget Swank, it's COOL we're after! ;)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

We'll have to find more reason's to play in Silver Lake again.

What reason more do you need than "Tref and Tom live nearby"? Hmm?

Sadly, I was the first to LEAVE the rock show-- they switched the order of the bands, and I since I have to be at work across town at seven am, I could only stay until 11:45. On the upside, the girls played my favorite song (Ooh La La) just as I was leaving, so I was happy indeed.

[Not Afraid]

The Ditty Bops on NPR!!!!!! (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4770916)



Nice interview and some songs (some not on the record).

For Audra: They don't have keyboards here, but they have snare. We're not crazy, girl.

[Tref]

What reason more do you need than "Tref and Tom live nearby"? Hmm?

Indeed!

I had a very good time. I liked the middle act quite a bit. Some nice slide guitar playing. Who were they?

[Not Afraid]

Skeeter Truck was their name, I believe.

[€uroMeinke]

Here's my Ranking of the Swank for the evening

The Digs: The El Cid in Silverlake

The Gig: The Ditty Bops Wednesday August 3, 2005

The Scene: Old school Hollywood, the El Cid occupies one of D.W. Griffiths’ soundstages used in the filming of the notorious Birth of a Nation. The place itself has been converted into a Spanish style villa complete with a patio bar and dinning area. The restaurant itself rests below Sunset, so your entrance requires a slow amble down sagging paths and skewed staircases that afford a teaser view of the patio below. Come early, and you’ll find performances of Flamenco or Belly Dancing on the small dining room stage. There’ a small balcony with three booths upstairs, but this seating is usually reserved for special guests and early dinners.

http://photos.xenarchy.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_El%20Cid%20Patio.jpg
The Patio
You can wait out for the late evening performances with a full meal, some tapas, or a cocktail on the two tiered patio. The musical selection is eclectic ranging from Arabic belly dancing beats to French pop a la Gainsbourg. The crowd comes late for the music, a collection of LA hipsters, Silverlake creatives, and even a celeb or two though this writer is clueless to both show and star.

The Ditty Bops were the reason for this adventure. They went on at 11:30, perhaps later than expected and pushed through a couple sound problems with their opening number. Despite the dodgy start, the Ditty Bops humor and enthusiasm carried through the set of mostly new material and exceptional performances. Amanda Barrett’s vaudeville background was obvious with her switching from mandolin, to washboard, to slide whistle, to helium filled balloon. All in all enjoyable show, perfect for the intimate stage of this venue

http://photos.xenarchy.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Dity%20Bops.jpg
The Ditty Bops - from the darkness of the balcony
The Cocktail: Sangria, of course, is the specialty for this Spanish lounge, though I opted for a New World Margarita instead

The Low Down: Hip Hollywood Eclectic

The Rank:
(out of a possible 5 umbrella drinks)

El Cid - :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Ditty Bops - :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: