I walked into the dual Tower Records/Books with the specific intention of stealing a copy of Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller and the fluorescent lights were humming this low frequency that made feel annoyed and there were these college kids browsing the literature section wearing vintage band t-shirts that probably cost more than the actual vinyl.
yo la tengo had me in its hands for more than a passing crush.....they've stuck around in the jukebox mind we all keep, but i've never heard this song. i love thinking about what i should have done like playing out scenarios in my head. In reality, i remember this one dude. He was my roommate. We were six people living together, one guy, the old one in the attic that he transformed into a living space. he grew mushrooms up there. best damn mushrooms i've ever taken. no surprise. he was a chemist. retired real early and spent his time on lake winnebago near appleton canoing. anyway, back to one of my roommates....Eric was his name and we were at summer fest in milwaukee.....massive musical festival and the place where you might be able to land a kiss on a stranger and eric spotted his ex girlfriend and she made small talk and they walked away and eric was pissed because he had something else in store for her. he'd played it out in his head so many times so we went hunting for her and eventually found her and he just said, "fuck you" and he felt great burning that bridge... he played the piano. all these people that come and go in and out of our lives. And i love me a Miller, both the books and the beer. Cheers my friend!
I always feel like I know the people in your stories, especially the ones set in North Hollywood, which is where I crash landed when I first moved to LA in the early 90s.
Thanks, Jim. I'm glad I can bring these people to life outside of my head. You know , I still have dreams about doing mundane shit in N. Hollywood. So fucking weird.
No I never went inside, but I've been by a few times. It's a beautiful building. I didn't go west of Hollywood very often unless I was going to Santa Monica.
God I love this.
Cheers, Candy. By the way have you ever heard Iggy Pop's song, "Candy?" I love that song. 🙂
One of my favs! Now we have our karaoke duet settled.
“Yeah, well, it hurt me real bad when you left. Hey, I'm glad you got out, but, but I miss you.”
That would be super cute. I'm kinda disappointed I never did that song.
The time is now, Gary. You just had to meet Candy.
I never knew one before. 😂
We’re hard to find. Usually on a pole or behind the counter of a diner. 🚬
Back in the day, we had a couple Tower Records in Chicago so this was a welcome flashback to say the least
yo la tengo had me in its hands for more than a passing crush.....they've stuck around in the jukebox mind we all keep, but i've never heard this song. i love thinking about what i should have done like playing out scenarios in my head. In reality, i remember this one dude. He was my roommate. We were six people living together, one guy, the old one in the attic that he transformed into a living space. he grew mushrooms up there. best damn mushrooms i've ever taken. no surprise. he was a chemist. retired real early and spent his time on lake winnebago near appleton canoing. anyway, back to one of my roommates....Eric was his name and we were at summer fest in milwaukee.....massive musical festival and the place where you might be able to land a kiss on a stranger and eric spotted his ex girlfriend and she made small talk and they walked away and eric was pissed because he had something else in store for her. he'd played it out in his head so many times so we went hunting for her and eventually found her and he just said, "fuck you" and he felt great burning that bridge... he played the piano. all these people that come and go in and out of our lives. And i love me a Miller, both the books and the beer. Cheers my friend!
Speaking my language. Gen Xer from SoCal here, too.
That was a filthy life. I miss it.
I appreciate you stopping by, Mandy. What part of SoCal were you from?
Born in LA, grew up in the Inland Empire and San Diego in my late teens/20s.
I never knew much about the IE but I knew a girl in Riverside. 🤷
San Diego must have had an awesome punk scene at the time.
I dropped Tropic of Cancer a few years ago and thought Henry Miller was a bit redundant 🫠. This made me want to pick him back now…
....but he CAN be redundant. But I suppose a lot of writers can?
Fluorescent light humming is almost pretty much the worst.
For some reason it reminds me of shitty jobs or horror movies. 😵💫
Ahhh how lovely. I want to know how you got from point A to point F with this girl
Mutual friends
epic sense of humor in this. instant sub
Right on Troy. I subbed as well.
I always feel like I know the people in your stories, especially the ones set in North Hollywood, which is where I crash landed when I first moved to LA in the early 90s.
Thanks, Jim. I'm glad I can bring these people to life outside of my head. You know , I still have dreams about doing mundane shit in N. Hollywood. So fucking weird.
Brilliant writing Gary. Thanks for sharing. Also, I love Yo La Tengo!
Thanks for taking the time to read, Nadine. I appreciate ya!
It was a pleasure. 😀
🔥 Cigarettes in the freezer forever
💕 here's to future ciggies
Did you ever go to the Sunset Strip Tower? That was a place of worship for my sister, but I was a wannabe
No I never went inside, but I've been by a few times. It's a beautiful building. I didn't go west of Hollywood very often unless I was going to Santa Monica.
What a great piece!
Thanks for the kind words, Mike. 🌴
you’re so cool
So are you m'dear.
Just a really fun read Gary, thanks. Love the wheezing door!
Thanks bud. As always, I appreciate ya.
I remember that Tower location well.
They had a pretty decent music selection if I remember correctly. The last thing I ever bought there was a Bolt Thrower cassette. 😂