Poketo

Go BIG…

Poketo — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:03:36 +0000

The other day, I decided to put giant POKETO letters in the storefront window of the new Poketo store (soon to be open). Every once in a while I’ve been mixing it up with some fun little dinosaurs and rearranging a bit. Go check it out, 820 E. Third Street, Los Angeles… next to Wurstkuche and Apolis Activism. If you are there, post it on Instagram or Facebook… we’ll be doing some fun giveaways for posts we see!

No big deal…

Poketo — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:27:21 +0000

As you know, we are getting ready to open up the new Poketo brick and mortar store really soon… just getting through some final hurdles, we’ll keep you posted as soon as we get those doors open. In the meantime, we’ve had some friends stop in, check up, and just say hi… No big deal.

The gals at Novak making you look your best… and our very own, Charlie of Poketo… No big deal.

Mr. Baller, Gary Chou, and executive producer of Surrogate Valentine films, winning awards many times over on the indie film circuit… No big deal.

Artist, Jesse LeDoux… his album cover for The Shins was nominated for a Grammy… No big deal.

Artist/photographer Gina Osterloh just ended a show at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts… No big deal.

Our friend Greg here giving us a hand… you’ve heard of John Legend? No big deal.

Adam and Jinsoo of up and coming electronic-art-gaming LA Gamespace… there is amazing things in the works here… they will be no big deal.

Portugal. The Man…

Poketo — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:45 +0000

I think the LA weather does Portugal. The Man good… Not one person at UCLA’s Royce Hall was sitting… as a matter of fact, as soon as they started, fans rushed the front (including me), and everyone was singing along to John Gourley’s words. They played a mix of a bunch of albums, lots from Censored Colors, Satanic Satanist, and In The Mountain In The Cloud. Every time I see Portugal play, they pretty much put on the best show again and again. Their show for Poketo a couple years back is my gold standard and forever ingrained. This show brought me back. Enjoy the visuals.

I was on stage right… John was on the other end there… I had front row, so, didn’t want to risk it battling my way through the crowd.

I was right in front of the awesome Noah Gersh on guitar and Zach Carothers on bass…

Portugal played with UCLA’s Philharmonia… a mini orchestra…

Who wants to play it safe? Do it. Dream Sessions

Poketo — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:36 +0000

Our friend, singer/songwriter, musician, actor Goh Nakamura is giving it all, he’s living the dream. His cards are on the table, he’s got nothing to lose, and everything to gain. After a successful run in the indie film circuit with the film Surrogate Valentine in 2011, he immediately set forth with the film sequel to Surrogate Valentine titled, Daylight Savings. Like the first film, it has screened with rave reviews at SXSW and just last weekend at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. He’s been on the road for the past couple of years, playing venues, screening the film, road tripping from state to state… living the dream.

Now, Goh’s got a project on Kickstarter called “The Dream Sessions: Musical Travel Show”. He is dubbing it, the music version of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. He’ll be traveling the country, playing with some of the best musicians, recording, making original music, eating, chatting, seeing what is in their neck of the woods. What sounds cool is that you would not only see the process of art being made and documented, but, in the end, a finished product… a documentary and potentially, an album.

Already, he has musicians Kid Koala, Tim Bulkley, Jane Lui, Art Hirahara, Gary Wang, and Grand Hallway lined up. It’s still a work in progress, more musicians will be added, but, I know Goh, and Goh makes things happen. He’s a man of his word and when he does it, he does it with sincerity and awesomeness.

You can check out the video above or read all about the Kickstarter Project here. If you can give, do it… if you can spread the word, do it. Living the dream.

Arts and Crafts… Echo Park style

Poketo — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:28:17 +0000

The Echo Park Craft Fair happened right up the street from us this past weekend. This is a bi-annual event at the home of Rachel Craven. It was a very intimate setting in Rachel’s backyard, her son sold lemondae, a local taco stand was on hand, and dozens of individual makers and quality brands including David Scheid, Me & Arrow, Le Feu De L’Eau, Jo Abellera of Kkibo, Beatrice Valenzuela, and more.

This hill of Echo Park is called Angeleno Heights, known for its high concentration of Victorian era homes in Los Angeles. I’ll save some of the grand Victorian homes for another post… some of them are incredible with carriage homes where they used to keep the horses, now turned into second homes and studios. Love this part of Echo Park, it feels like another world.

Art, all of the time…

Poketo — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:36 +0000

A stroll around the Arts District, new art happening, endlessly it seems…

Poketo crew, Joe and Charlie…

Sound and Experiments at Sonos Studio…

Poketo — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:27 +0000

It was pretty incredible being in the same room with the legendary Jimmy Cliff. First, an interview followed by an intimate, acoustic session at Sonos Studio. He talked about his days of rebellion, hanging out with Joe Strummer, playing with Jimi Hendrix, and making music before it was dubbed reggae. When asked how he was able to hold on to his moving voice over the years, Jimmy answered, “just staying positive”.

Our friend and writer Julie Wolfson invited us out to this event. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see this first show at Sonos Studio. The space will hold events, lectures, listening parties, sound installations, and music performances. First Jimmy Cliff, up next is music by Bleached and a dj set with Questlove. I have a feeling there is going to be some great stuff happening at Sonos.

Also coming up is an opening for Luke Fischbeck’s interactive, sound installation. Below are images of the installation. Each of the ropes trigger sound when you touch or move through them.

LA goodness…

Poketo — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:08 +0000

Hanging with our friend, Nayoung, owner of Proof Bakery in Atwater Village. This bakery is blowing up. In the quick chat we had with Nayoung, every single customer that came through knew her by name and she in turn knew each one… there is no doubt as to why her bakery is so successful. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s a must go… not only because it’s a very friendly neighborhood spot, but, they have the best almond croissants among many, many other delicious treats. They also serve Handsome Coffee, which you know we are huge fans of.

Then, from Atwater to Highland Park, a quick meeting with our friends Kagan and Justin of the Knowhow Shop LA. These architects have opened up a design studio and custom fabrication shop in a cool little residential strip of Highland Park. We are brainstorming store signage for the new Poketo retail store! Can’t wait! In the meantime, check out all of their projects at knowhowshopla.tumblr.com.