When you need a distraction, RAVE! (video)

Caitlyn Trudnich (kroq.cbslocal.com); Dev, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

(Tove Lo) "Habits (Stay High)" She's Not on Drugs, just in love. See Sunset Strip Music Festival

Summer concerts, Los Angeles (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/kroq.cbslocal.com)

Sigh. Coachella, Outside Lands, and HARD Summer have officially come and gone.  We’ve hung up our flower headbands and put away our wellies.  But don’t worry, there are still plenty of awesome music festivals coming up in a nearby location. From indie rock, to hip hop, to EDM, these upcoming events have something for every type of music-lover.

DIY Fest, Pomona

What's so "spiritual" about a concert? It's a communal experience with matching physical moves to a single cue, dancing to the beat. That's a way of peacefully nonverbally communicating, NVC, it's fun, it's a distraction, it can even be a celebration. We get out of our left brains and into our bodies. Then there are the lights, the stars, the other people coming together for a single purpose. It doesn't have to be a spiritual experience, but it can be!

• Dead Kennedys' singer Jello Biafra
• Unlocking The Truth to play Hollywood! (Coachella)
• Sweden's Lykke Li in L.A. ("Get Some")

Together Pangea

Echo Park Rising – August 15th-17th

Now in its fourth year, Echo Park Rising is a FREE festival, combining live music, art, food, and activities celebrating the eclectic neighborhood that is Echo Park.  Live performances from over 200 of LA’s best up-and-coming acts, including Local’s Only band Together Pangea. Enjoy strolling the local businesses and restaurants, including Blue Bag Records, Origami Vinyl, and Mohawk Bend. And it wouldn’t be a festival without yummy food!  Food trucks in attendance include Coolhaus and The Grilled Cheese Truck – mmm!

Located on main routes of Sunset Blvd., Glendale Blvd., Alvarado Ave. and Echo Park Ave. Friday 4:00-10:00 pm, Saturday 12:00-10:00 pm, Sunday 12:00-10:00 pm. Free Admission.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

Uforia Music Festival – August 16th

Sponsored by the Hispanic American music service Uforia, this festival includes two stages, featuring popular acts in both Latin and hip hop genres, including Kid Cudi, Ludacris, and Mexican rock group Camila. Held at LA’s Exposition Park, the festival will also include a Vendor’s Village and tons of food-trucks all day.

Exposition Park, 700 State Dr., Los Angeles. 2:45 pm-12:00 am. Gen. Admission $46.05 + fees.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Robyn Beck)

Venice Beach Music Fest – August 23rd

Whenever we visit Venice Beach, it’s guaranteed we’ll find an eclectic mix of cultures and unique arts.  The 9th Annual Venice Beach Music Fest perfectly reflects the spirit of the area, with an all-day fun and FREE experience! Live performances include legendary singer Willie Chambers, funk rockers Zen Robbi, and Middle Eastern bellydancing from Ya Harissa Bellydance Theater.  And don’t forget to hit up the after-party, featuring a founding member of Black Flag, Chuck Dukowski!

Windward Plaza Park, 1 Windward Ave., Venice Beach. 11:00 am-7:00 pm. Free admission.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Trixie Trextor)

FYF Fest – August 23rd-24th

What began as a small music event in Echo Park created by an 18 year-old Sean Carlson, has now become a massive music festival that tons of LA festival goers look forward to every year!  Now in its 11th year and located at The LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park, this upcoming SOLD-OUT festival (like all other sellouts has lots of tickets available at the window, scalpers out front, people with a few extras, dealers, brokers, and craigslisters) promises to be a massive talent fest. With names like The Strokes, Phoenix, Interpol, Haim, Against Me!, and more, it’s sure to be a blast.

 

LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park, 3939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Saturday & Sunday, 2:00 pm-12:00 am.

Long Beach Psyclone August 29th-31st

SoCal rockabilly lovers will definitely love this music festival, featuring tons of rockabilly and psychobilly performances happening all Labor Day weekend long. Held at the Seaport Marina Hotel, the weekend includes internationally known performers like The Sharks (UK) and The Long Tall Texans (UK), as well as fun record hop events, and a pool party and BBQ to culminate the weekend!

Seaport Marina Hotel, 6400 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach. Weekend Pass Admission $80 + fees.

Shoreline Jam Music Festival – August 30th-31st

This awesome, Labor Day Weekend event, sponsored by KROQ, features a jam-packed live music lineup, including KROQ favorites The Dirty Heads, Pepper, and Seedless!  Located at the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, festival-goers can enjoy a cold drink and yummy food as you stroll through the many vendors and take in the scenic views of the Long Beach harbor!

The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. General Admission $25.  VIP Admission $75 (includes 2 drink tickets, VIP Lounge access, and access to explore the Queen Mary!)

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Theo Wargo)

Made In America Festival – August 30th-31st

Co-created by hip hop mogul Jay Z in 2012, this successful festival originated in Philadelphia. But this year marks the first time the festival will be held in Los Angeles at Grand Park. The Rocky Stage, Liberty Stage, and Freedom Tent will feature performances from some of the best in rock, hip hop, and EDM, including Imagine Dragons, Kayne West, John Mayer, Iggy Azalea, Weezer, Rise Against, Capital Cities, Steve Aoki, and many more.

Grand Park, 227 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles. 2-Day Pass Admission $200 + fees.

Mad Decent Block Party – September 13th

Created by Mad Decent founder Diplo in 2008, this Block Party tour will be visiting Los Angeles in September. Taking place at the LA Center Studios, this vibrant event will include performances from members of the Mad Decent family, including Laidback Luke, singer Elliphant, and Diplo himself!  Hey, who knows?  Maybe even rapper Riff Raff will make a guest appearance.

LA Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles. Doors 1:00 pm

(Britt Bickel)

Sunset Strip Music Festival – September 20th-21st

One of the most happening music events in LA is the SSMF! Since 2008, the iconic Sunset Strip has been filled with performances on the street and on the legendary stages of venues such as the Whiskey A Go-Go, The Roxy Theatre, and Rainbow Bar & Grill. This year, expect the Strip to get rocked with major performances including, Jane’s Addiction, Empire Of The Sun, Cold War Kids, Mayer Hawthorne, Tove Lo of "Habits (Stay High)" fame, and more.

Saturday, 2:00-11:00 pm, Sunday, 2:00-10:00 pm. 2 Day Pass Admission $125 + fees.

U.S. Open of Surfing (U.S. "terrorism")

Pat Macpherson, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; Matt Coker (OCWeekly) POLICE STATE

Surf Guide (illustration by Luke McGarry; cover design by Dustin Ames/OCWeekly)

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Teen Allegedly Makes Threats Before U.S. Open of Surfing Begins; 45 78 Weekend Arrests

See update upping the number of arrests downtown during the U.S. Open of Surfing's opening weekend. 

Saltwater Buddha (Yogis)

Dude, I thought, like, man, surfing's totally a Buddhist sport, real California, you know, the waves, going with the flow, ying-yong, big Happy Buddha bellies, and just like chilling. Man, cops gotta harsh our mellow cause some kid's totally goofin' on 'em. HBPD needs to take a chill pill and not use this as some kinda excuse [pretext] to crack down on some major recreation and good times.

(July 28, 2014) It's unclear if a 16-year-old boy took OC Weekly's "Surf Bros Must Die" cover story literally, but Huntington Beach Police accuse him of making credible threats against the U.S. Open of Surfing via social media before a search of his home produced a handgun and a shotgun.

 

Lies of the Presstitute (Mainstream) Media

The alleged threats were posted Thursday, the kid was booked into juvie Friday night, the nine-day event opened Saturday morning, and by Sunday night police had made more than 45 78 more arrests, mostly for booze-related offenses. But no riots, so far...

• Surf Bros Must Die: A special report on how to keep the U.S. Open of Surfing riot-free

According to Huntington Beach Police, they received word of the threats against the U.S. Open around noon Friday, and the initial information gathered made them seem credible. They aren't saying which social media platform the kid supposedly used, citing the ongoing investigation. More (p. 2)

• Loathing, getting high, and parenting in Orange County
• Dude, join the Ku Klux Klan, white power, hail Himmler!
• Cracking down on pot (again) in Santa Ana, Orange Co
• Mother Nature: 25 amazing natural swimming pools
• Most viewed: World News (TheGuardian.com_

I'm a Mexican-American Buddhist

Crystal Quintero, Pfc. Sandoval; Amber Larson, Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; LA Times

Mexican-Americans and other Latinos wandering around the City of Angels (latimes.com)

Latino celebs like Chicana Selena Gomez on the streets of L.A. (PeopleEnEspanol.com)

Los Angeles' favorite soccer/futbol team, like its favorite cuisine, comes from Mexico (AP)

 

It's all about directly experiencing the Truth

Q: If you were a "Mexican Buddhist," wouldn't you live in L.A.?

A: I guess that's true. I don't live in Latin America. I must be a Mexican-American Buddhist because I live in Los Angeles.

Buddhist temples here are very welcoming to people who speak Spanish or Spanglish. They try to be very accommodating to explain the Dharma or offer meditation instruction.

La Virgen de Guadalupe as Latin Guan Yin

Beyond Chino Hills, far to the east near the massive Hindu mandir which is larger than the Malibu forest mandir, there is a large Thai Buddhist temple that tried to get a permit from the city to build a golden stupa. The city said it was too big. So they cut it down to size and set it in the parking lot. That temple has a little guest house dedicated to Native Americans, who were once the locals before colonization and incorporation. When one asks the monks why it's there, they explain that it's out of reverence for the people who originally settled that land.

Ancient Mexico in Mesoamerica was partially usurped to form the United States. Mesoamerica included North and Central America, including California, where the people remember the Mayan, Aztec, Toltec, and Olmec empires (wiki)

 

Reality check: El Pueblo de L.A.

Going West (Hsi Lai) temple-complex in Hacienda Heights on the border with Orange County is very welcoming, too. They are a Taiwanese Mahayana missionary movement, so one expects it. One does not expect to be so warmly treated in about 100 much smaller temples that dot Latin neighborhoods all over L.A. County.

Q: And what Dharma message do you like best?

Jessica Alba, mom, Beverly Hills

A: The message of independent thinking. The Dharma is not about faith or priestly authority. It is about free inquiry and a sangha, a community, that includes the people who practice the Path. The Kalama Sutra tells us so, as do so many teachings of the Buddha.

Like the original Protestant movement opposing corrupt Catholic institutions, Buddhism says we don't need an intermediary between us and the Truth, us and reality, us and enlightenment (seeing things as they really are), seeing the end-of-suffering (nirvana).

Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) loves Lucy

We don't need idols, Gods, or heroes. They're all well and good. What we need is practice and insight. And that's up to us. No one gets anywhere without help, but no one can help us so much that they are doing it for us. No one can do it for us. I think Mexican-Americans can really relate to this. Maybe all Americans in our diversity can, like disaffected Presbyterians and languishing Lutherans [Editor: Like my dad, you mean?] What did people want but a direct experience of sacred knowledge, liberating enlightenment, of the divine, of the entheogenic (godhood-within) experience.

Speaking of diversity, before there was America there was Mexico. And Mexico was the place for diversity. It still is! The Los Angeles Times recently (hardcopy June 13, online June 12, 2014) had a front page story titled "Mestizo Nation: Mexican DNA reveals a staggering range of diversity"! Mestizo means "mixed" (miscegenation, which was illegal in the U.S. until the 1950s, but has been and is now one of the most popular things Anglos and Latinos do, like Sofia Vergara and "Al Bundy" on Modern Family as the new Lucy and her Hispanic hubby).

Afghan, Chinese Buddhist missionaries to Cali

"Mexico," it seems, gets its name from one Indian tribe, the Mexica or Mēxihcatls, who were Aztecs. Mexicans again became the majority group in sunny California in 2013, but now we're Mexican-Americans, and many of us are interested in Buddhism. After all, what few know is that Buddhism arrived in Mexico and California LONG before Europeans, Columbus, or Christianity.

 

Mestizo Nation 
Geoffrey Mohan (Science: latimes.com)
Mexico boasts a staggering genetic diversity, study shows

Writers, artists, and historians have long pondered what it means to be Mexican. Now science has offered its answer, and it could change how medicine uses racial and ethnic categories to assess disease risk, testing, and treatment.

• California no longer has a white majority (Think Progress) 
• Hospital to train barbers in black areas to test for hypertension
• Teaching Through Trauma: How poverty affects kids' brains

The Big Irish Fair Music Fest (June 14-15)

Pat Macpherson, Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; IrishFair.org

Irishman Che Guevara Lynch

The seashore town of Long Beach in Los Angeles' famous harbor is the location for this year's Southern California cultural celebration known as Irish Fair, like the earlier one held at the Pomona Fairplex. There may be more people with Irish ancestors in greater L.A. than in Belfast or Dublin because there are 100,000,000 in the worldwide diaspora.

The many activities help us remember we did not grow up with, like listening to traditional music, Irish food and drink, and many other engaging aspects of Irish culture. Can Irish Americans play the Irish bodhran, commune with the Fay (faeries), dance like the island youth, or shop for Irish crafts? They can now.

Summer Guide to Los Angeles 2014

Amber Larson, Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; PasadenaWeekly.com

Thai Theravada Buddhist young woman in traditional garb (Sasin Tipchai/Bugphai/flickr.com)

Summer Guide 2014: Guide to Summer activities for the season

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Wat Phra Kaew (Naxerdam)

Thought you were traveling to the Theravada Buddhist wonderland that is Thailand? Think again. The military says elections will not be allowed any sooner than next year. And without a duly elected government, a junta of generals will be in charge. Curfew will continue.  

• Thailand travel update: Curfews lifted in tourist hotspots (CNN) 
• How Thailand's coup could affect its economy

Thai protesters rise against coup (CNN)

And Thai-land, which means "free" land, can learn what it's like to live in a police state like neighbors Burma and Cambodia, who have endured the dictatorship of the Hitler-like Gen. Than Shwe and the Saffron Revolution he and his generals crushed and the Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields that followed from it in the Land of Angkor and Angkor Wat. Both countries, wondrous places for spiritual-tourists, are easily accessible from Thailand. A simple bus ride across an international border used to be enough. And the "troubles" actually preserved lifestyles and temples holding them in a kind of time warp. With modernity come the trappings of modernity. So see it while you can. Few places are more "modern" than L.A., and this is sure to be a bumper year for materialistic-tourism. See a genuine Thai Buddhist temple complex in Los Angeles at Wat Thai North Hollywood. And there are a number of Burmese temples, the best and biggest perhaps being two in Azusa (Thondrarama Brahma Vihara) and La Puente, deep on the eastern border of suburban L.A.

Staying focused

Concentrate on the task at hand and your talent and knowledge will come to the forefront

Pain in the offing
There really is no easy way to leave your lover

What do you want?
Be fair but firm with squatting father and sibling

Another story

Anger at a friend’s "bad" behavior could be triggered by past event.

Dancing in the streets
Make Music Pasadena fest brings 150 bands to town for a Saturday filled with music

"For the free world"

That's "Entershamement"
Amy G. uses her unique comic and singing skills to battle self-doubts at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre

Los Angeles EVENTS, June 2014

Amber Larson, Seth Auberon, Kat, Wisdom Quarterly; Pacifica Radio L.A. (kpfk.org)

Lummis Day Festival of Northeast Los Angeles, June 1, Highland Park (lummisday.org)

The revolution will be televised thanks to Uprising TV with Sonali Kolhatkar. Attending the launch party at Cafe Club Fais Do Do, L.A. (uprisingtv.brownpapertickets.com)

Brazilian Summer Festival, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood, L.A. (braziliannites.com)

Rebuild the Philippines, June 8, Greek Theatre, Hollywood (greektheatrela.com)

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, June 4-8, 2014, Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood (lagff.org)

Dances with Films Festival, Hollywood, California (danceswithfilms.com)

Pacifica Free Speech Radio L.A., Santa Barbara (KPFK FM 90.7, 98.7) post fund drive

FREE "Weenie Roast" Concert (videostream)

Kat, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; KROQ.radio.com (CBS, Inc.)

SEE: AVICII, Beck, Foster the People, Fall Out Boy, The Neighbourhood, Bastille, Fitz & The Tantrums, Capital Cities, Phantogram, The 1975, American Authors, Kongos, and Bleachers.

KROQ Weenie Roast Saturday, May 31, 2014: Watch the live Webcast TODAY at 1:00 pm | Set Times/venue info | Lineup 

   

SoCal: the crowd at the 22nd annual summer modern-rock L.A. radio bash (kroq.com)