SHALLOW HALLS - BAD HABITS

Bad Habits EP is a great first impression of Shallow Halls

Shallow Halls, a Garage rock band from Santa Fe Springs, debuted their first EP titled ‘Bad Habits’ earlier this week by releasing two singles: It’s Over and Mirrors. We got an early release and I have to admit I had the biggest smile on my face. I was so excited to hear their music after listening to what they already had on bandcamp. George linked me a shared file on dropbox early Thursday morning and without hesitation I opened it despite being in the middle of class. It was fantastic, the EP is full of high energy, memorable lyrics and to top it all off George's vocals echo that of early punk signers. I was genuinely satisfied by the content in their EP, it was exactly what I expected and more. I immediately got my phone and messaged the band to tell them that I was so overly thrilled by it. The overall feel of the EP is very well produced and the songs fit well with each other. It's not just a collection of good songs, they are carefully crafted in this EP and you can hear it. It seems like these boys have found their sound and I am excited for future albums.

Catch them tonight at the Hi- Hat, alongside Meatbodies, Feels, Melted, and Ivy Leaguers.  

They will have physical copies of Bad Habits, T-shirts and More.

HERE'S TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

Back in 2008, when Barack Obama won for the first time, my parents cried tears of joy. I remember my mom cheering on that things in the United States were going to get better. And, for the most part, they did. On election night, I saw my dad get watery eyed as Donald Trump was named our elect-president. I saw the worry in his eyes. That night was a very quiet night in our home.

Around midnight, Steph and I, along with a couple other friends, met up because we were having trouble processing the fact that Donald Trump actually became our president. It's not that we hate him because he's a Republican or anything like that. It's just, we thought it was a joke. Obviously, everyone underestimated him but I'm not even going to criticize his policies or the fact that he's not qualified for the position as president. I'm just really angry and completely disappointed at the fact that all he did by campaigning was incite and justify waves of hate towards minorities, women, immigrants, LGBTQ, disabled people and basically anyone who isn't a white male. I'm not worried about Trump. I'm worried about his supporters because he's restored them with the confidence to openly be prejudice and bigots. What blows my mind is that what he said and promised resonated with most of America. He won because Americans voted for him because they agree with him.

Post-election, protests flared up all over the country. A couple months ago I didn't think I would participate in something like this. My mom asked me what I would be changing by participating in an anti-Trump protest. I left the house without knowing how to give her a response. I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen but it felt right. It felt necessary because I was legitimately nervous about the future, about our future, and protesting felt like the right thing to do.

While making our way to city hall in DTLA we could hear the chants people were shouting at the top of their lungs. When we caught up to the crowd I looked around and saw all types of people walking together, chanting and waving posters around. I felt chills. I realized that all these protests were occurring because enough people disagree with all the hate Trump has influenced throughout the U.S and honestly, just being surrounded by people that felt just as strongly about the matter at hand was sweet relief.

These protests aren't going to cause immediate change but protesting our president-elect and everything he represents is a justified and reasonable action. Protesting means that we are not going to let hate, discrimination or anything else Trump has inspired become a norm. We will not let hate win and because of that I'm hopeful for our future.

DON'T BE A NAIVE MILLENNIAL

Recently, I've been thinking about U.S history a lot. I think about the Civil Rights Movement and how it must of been such a scary but exhilarating time to be alive. The 60’s as a whole was full of civil rights movements that included women, blacks, LGBTQ, and Chicanos. There was a sense of unity. Everyone had something they believed in, something to fight for. It was a revolutionary time with radical ideas that have shaped our lives in the U.S. I’m full of admiration for the people that influenced  these movements because they had the courage to fight for their rights and make a change.

I wonder if all these people that risked their lives and worked so passionately  for what they believed, could've guessed what an impact they were going to make in U.S history. I mean, I don't think Martin Luther King Jr. joined the movement and expected to be talked about and read about in every U.S classroom. I definitely don't think he ever thought he'd have his own federal holiday either.

Well, there was a point where I thought that these movements fixed what was broken. There was a moment where I actually thought  that I would never witness a historical social movement here in the United States because things were fine now. I actually, genuinely felt sad that I’d never witness the greatness of someone like MLK. I'm disappointed in myself for having the audacity to think such a thing. It’s like for a split second I felt privileged and I wasn't a first generation Mexican-American woman with immigrant parents when I had that thought. Oops.

This presidential election itself is proof that the U.S still needs a lot of work. The United States is a mess. I don't think I'm being dramatic when I say that 2016 has been a bit of a historical disaster. Trump has brought to light issues the U.S has had since the 60’s (and even before that), they all still exist. The worst part is I’m not sure if I should thank Trump for doing that it. His demeaning and bigoted mindset has influenced so much hate but it’s also influenced a new wave of activism to fight back. Things that are happening and shaping history right now are the revival of the women's movement, the black lives matter movement, refugee crisis, ISIS, climate change, and oh yeah, Donald Trump wants to deport all immigrants and build a wall across the U.S-Mexico border. So, looking back at history, all those events are iconic and life changing but history is happening right now and we have the opportunity to be a part of it.

I’m pretty disappointed that this is the first presidential election I get to vote in because it feels like I’m just voting for the lesser of two evils and not someone I genuinely believe in. But, frankly, I don’t have the privilege to just 'sit this one out' or even write in a candidate's name. Even as millennials I don't think we have that privilege either. This is our future. Our responsibility.

So, what I’m trying to say is, don't be a naive millennial. Get out of your bubble. Just because it’s not affecting you doesn’t mean it’s not happening or not important. Pay attention. Get out there and vote. There is no such thing as a protest vote. You're not sending a message by not voting or by writing in a third party candidate name or even by writing in Bernie’s name! No one is receiving that message.

So, uh, anyway, here's to 2017 being less of a disaster.

SPACE GIRL

 

A NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES PART II

UNTITLED NO. 001

taken in  long beach, ca

REBEL HEROES - STILLS FROM A SHORT FILM WE'LL NEVER MAKE

Set in the 70’s amidst the Ziggy Stardust frenzy, two strangers meet on the road and end up driving across state lines together to catch their idol live for the first time.

Beverly, trying to get away from her abusive boyfriend, bumps into the mysterious Estelle at a liquor store when her car breaks down near by. Not having enough money to eat and fix the car she finds herself conflicted. Estelle is on the run but even fugitives get hungry. One thing leads to another and they find themselves bonding over stolen goods from the liquor store. That's when they discover their mutual obsession with  Ziggy Stardust and are convinced he is the only solution to all their current woes in life, so they decide to go see him. This makes them go as far as a stealing car and hustling old men in bars all in a matter of 3 days. This troublous trip full of police sirens, running away from people (and problems), a deep passion for music and newly found friendships is what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime for the eccentric duo.

Do they both make it to the Bowie concert? Does Beverly's abusive boyfriend catch up to them? Does Estelle's shady past catch up to her? Do they meet Bowie himself? Or maybe they both die?

We'll never know.

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