Five Things: With Ryan Wilson

If you've been paying attention to local music over the past six years or so there is a good chance you've spotted Ryan Wilson onstage with his guitar or behind a couple of turntables during a DJ set. A member of both L.A.'s Division Day and The Little Ones, I caught up with Ryan this week to get his take on some favorite neighborhood spots...some familiar and some off the beaten path.

Wilson is currently juggling two full-band schedules: writing and recording with both Division Day and The Little Ones. He's also working on a solo record when not out collecting vinyl or making moves in his fantasy basketball league. Ryan's picks, in his own words, below.

Education: Machine Project - Want to learn how to pickle your own food? Build a mini synth? Explore a sunken ship? Kick back in an enchanted forest? Receive a personal folk-serenade, or participate in the annual Fry-B-Q? This is your spot. Machine Project is an event space that offers classes, lectures, art, music, and a heaping helping of "etc." It's located on Alvarado next to the Downbeat cafe - stop in and become a member, or check out the website for upcoming happenings. I recently took a class there on the special effects at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. 5 stars. 

Restaurant: - I've been a fan since the beginning and always recommend this neighborhood joint to friends from out of town. Deep dish pizza, cuban-style sandwiches, and mussels frites are not to be missed. Plus, everybody there is super friendly - go for the food, stay for the good vibes.

Venue: - The Echo will always have a special place in my heart as the site of my band's first "real" show, which was actually in the unfinished back-basement that would eventually become the Echoplex. At the time, I think it was being used to host quincineras. booker extraordinaire and all around classy individual, has done an amazing job putting the Echo in Echo Park over the past several years. Here's to many more.   

Store: Rewind: The Recycled Electronics Store - I can't say enough positive things about this place. Jen and Oscar are obscenely pleasant and knowledgable, the prices are more than fair, and their repair rate is well below what you'd get charged anywhere else. I took Brian from The Little Ones over there one afternoon to look at record players and we were out the door with a great turntable and vintage Marantz receiver in about 20 minutes. Oscar even helped carry it to the car. Word seems to be getting out about how great this spot is, which I couldn't be happier about - it's nice to see the good guys win. 

DIY Space: Pehrspace - I was going to write about a bar, but then, why waste words on a place you usually end up at when you could tell somebody about a destination worth seeking out. This DIY-style venue is tucked away in a little office complex off of Glendale Blvd south of Sunset. The theme here is access - there's no stage separating the audience from the music, no crazy lights, no plastic wristbands or free lighters - just you, whatever you brought in that brown paper bag, and a license to enjoy yourself. Pehrspace hosts an eclectic range of acts - the floor is open to anyone. Well, maybe not *anyone,* but it sure feels like it - maybe it's just a testament to the goodwill with which they run this place.