Five Things: The World Record on Echo Park

Name checking a band as the West coast heir apparent to Big Star is a bold statement--brave in fact--but that’s exactly how I’ve been hailing The World Record since first catching them live in 2007. Up until recently catching a World Record show was a rarity---one part luck and one part finding yourself at the right place at the time. This was mainly due to leader/vocalist/songwriter Andy Creighton's obligations to the various other bands was in (Parson Redheads/Apex Manor). But with a new album in the can, we can expect a lot of WR events in the near future I'm told.

A longtime resident of LA's eastside, I caught up with Andy the other day and asked him to lay out some of his favorite spots around the neighborhood. Andy, in his own words, follows.

1)  The refried beans at .  At some point I began comparing all the refried beans I encountered in LA to these.  I didn't notice it at first.  I'd just be eating beans somewhere and thinking,"These beans are quite good.  Not quite as good as the ones I got at the Rodeo Grill."  After enough times it finally hit me that they are my favorite.  Superior rich flavor and not too thick.  I have yet to find their match.  The rest of the food is reliable.  It's a good joint.

2)  Rotee with Green Curry Sauce at .  It's juicy, greasy, hot (if you eat quickly enough), with this great sauce that I freaking love.  I don't really know how it all adds up to what it does, but, like the beans from #1, it is better than it should be, and serves to support the rest of the menu.  The restaurant itself is also a pleasant place to spend a little time in.  It doesn't feel like you're right next to Glendale Boulevard.

3)  The crazy stair-maze at the Effie Street cul-de-sac.  I haven't had cause to wend my way up it in quite a while, but it is mysterious and fun.  The stairs start at the west end of Effie Street not far from where it crosses Glendale Boulevard.  As you ascend you'll see several paths lead off to the right.  Take one and you may end up where my friends used to live.  Or you may end up in someone else's laundry facilities.  Or you may end up dead.  Who knows?

4)  The stage at .  Ascending the tight spiral staircase with anything more than a small guitar amp is clearly impossible. When you do start up it and face your first one or two dicey moments, it dawns on you also that there's no turning back.  But it is only at the top (which you do reach intact) that you truly understand the glory of the Origami stage.  A treacherous, unprotected eight- or nine-foot drop yawns before you as you gaze down upon the crowd of record-buyers below, none of whom seems particularly interested in catching you when you make that misstep that results in your most memorable performance.

I'm sure at some point they'll have to put up a safety railing but when they do, Echo Park will lose something special.

5)  No one I know has a better design eye than my pal Aaron Ballard.  He has an uncanny knack for making artistic choices that look perfectly natural.  The high quality of the work is only one of the attractions of his shop though; it's also an art gallery featuring work of local and not-so-local artists, and part of the shop is devoted to the non-profit studio Raven & Lily.  Keep your eyes peeled for the Diana Creighton show at the end of July...