by KCRW Host & DJ Raul Campos
We’re in New York City for the 11th annual Latin Alternative Music Conference! My trusty assistant and road dawg, Brent Gordon and I have hit the streets of the big apple. No sleep before our 6am flight may not have been the best idea, as any delusions of sleeping on the plane were quickly dashed. We hear the air conditioning at KCRW is on the fritz but that can’t compare to walking out of the airport and being greeted by over 100 degree NYC heat and humidity.
We waited for a taxi next to Edward James Olmos (who was on our flight from L.A-big star sighting!), and our driver, apparently amused by our “schtick” dropped us off at our accomadations for the week and central location for the LAMC, The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan.
Most of the lobby was sitting at the lounge focused with rapt attention at the Uruguay vs. Netherlands World Cup game. But once we threw our luggage in the room we were off to the first event of the week, Ana Tijoux performing live at the Apple Store in SoHo. This Apple Store was a respectable sized theatre/performance space and sound set-up, and all of the seats were already filled once we arrived just as she started her set and it was already standing room only. We watched her short but crowd-pleasing half-hour performance, picked up our new iPhone 4 so we can bring you live videos and photos of events as they happen, and were met by Brooklyn based House DJ Jon Cutler. We also ran into Uriel Waizel, DJ and Music Director of Mexico City’s “Ibero 90.9. (who we Hill have a live guest DJ Session on Thurday night…so stay tuned)” Jon took us all to a tasty Latin fusion joint around the corner called “Gonzalez Y Gonzalez” (definitely recommend if you find yourself wandering thru the neighboorhood).
After grub, Mr. Cutler drove us over to Williamsburg, North Brooklyn to check out some relaxed spots where he likes to chill. We cooled off at the Union Pool, a joint with a the AC on full blast and a nice patio in the back to continue our conversation. We hadn’t eaten all day, so we were still ready for the DELICIOUS tacos offered by the El Diablo Taco truck wedged into the back patio.
It was still baking in the 90s outside, so we popped into one last place to cool off, the “Barcade” also in Williamsburg. It featured about 30 old-school arcade machines inside a modest draft house with a selection of gourmet beers on tap. Jon Cutler logged in a long session on his favorite old school machine “Asteroids” and we CAME within just a few thousand of the top score on the “Ms. Pac-Man” machine.
We all parted ways, and Jon dropped us off back at the hotel in Manhattan. A long, hot NYC day, and no sleep made deep slumber a gaurantee for last night.
Now the first big day of LAMC as I host LAMC Music Night at Central Park Summerstage, with Ana Tijoux (hopefully, having her live in Studio later this week), El Guincho, and Bostich + Fusible of Nortec Collective. The show’s gonna be at least as hot as the weather!
More to come…..
Raul & Brent
Follow Raul: @RaulCampos on Twitter
Follow Brent: @luminar on Twitter