Orange County

GRMLN

“Never expose it to bright light (especially sunlight, which will kill it); Never get it wet (which will make it multiply); and, most importantly: Never feed it after midnight.” - Mr. Wing, Gremlins, 1984

Somebody broke all the rules with this gremlin.  Orange County’s one man act, GRMLN, is the sunniest of lo-fi surf soaked beach days gliding effortlessly into some adult beverages and a late-night burrito.  The best of days.  The type of days that GRMLN, real name Yoodoo, is living at College in Santa Cruz and fully weaves into his music.  His first offering on bandcamp is aptly titled First Phase.   It’s a four-song window that immediately draws you in with comparisons to the ever familiar Beach Fossils but leaves a level of separation and wonderment that the second phase will be something big.  I think it’s a great platform and can’t wait for GRMLN to springboard from his dorm room and begin to find his sound.  That’s what college is all about: finding yourself.  It’s not about  being awkward, babes, listening to music, going to parties, shower beers, being stupid and eating late-night burritos.  Or is it?

Listen to First Phase, below, and download for free.  That is unless YOU ARE NOT READY.

Great Park Balloon

Some iPhone photos from a recent helium balloon adventure at the OC Great Park in Irvine, which used to be El Toro Air Force Base.  The 10 minute ride is free, with the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 passengers, and soar up to 400 feet above the surrounding landscape.  I really wish that it was in a more intriguing and inspirational place as Irvine to me is a mess of corporate plazas, tract homes and crazy housewives.  Imagine soaring 400 ft up in the air at a place like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, way cooler.  But I was still able to capture some images that I was pleasantly surprised with when I got home.