The Cold War Kids guide to Los Angeles

How would you describe Los Angeles to someone who's never been?

LA to me is one the most futuristic places I’ve ever been to. I live there now, but I grew up about 40 miles east. It doesn’t make much more sense to me now than it did when I was a kid, which I why I might enjoy it so much. I feel like a tourist, even when at home. Endless places to go, endless streets to walk. The people are odd, it’s dirty (figuratively and literally), it has the best selection of good (and bad) food options of anywhere I’ve ever been. I walk around LA just as much as I drive it, which I don’t think is really the norm for people that live here. It’s an incredibly lonely place but I find it so inspiring. The older I get, the more I appreciate cinema and LA is responsible for much of that appreciation. It’s a temporary city, always changing; super fake, but just so fascinating. It’s a hard place to visit if you don’t know where to go. The more I think about it, I feel like I have no idea how to answer this question, ha.

Who are the best local musicians/bands/artists?

Some great current bands from LA are Liphemra, FIDLAR, Off, No Age, Local Natives, Hanni El Khatib, Airborne Toxic Event, Warpaint, Allah-Las, Silver Sun Pickups, Honus Honus, Chelsea Wolfe (although I think she moved recently), Cherry Glazerr, Bishop Briggs, Nick Waterhouse, The Molochs, Tijuana Panthers, Coromandelles, Superhumanoids, Crystal Antlers, Flying Lotus, and Beck, to name a few.

What's the best venue to watch live music?

Best venue I think to watch live music is The Troubadour - you get the sense that the place really hasn’t changed since the '70s. It hasn’t fallen into the same 'pay to play' trap that legendary places like The Whiskey and Roxy have fallen into. The Smell is also a great cheap place to see newer bands, but also will have older acts like Jonathan Richman roll through. The Wiltern has always been one of my favorites too. The Fonda also is great and not too big but not too small.

What's the best club?

I don’t really go to the clubs, sorry not sorry.

Where's the best record store?

My favorite big record store is Amoeba in Hollywood, my favorite small record store is Jacknife Records in Atwater village. Jacknife is basically next door to my art studio and it’s a great place to go take a breather.

Where's the best place/s to eat?

My favorite breakfast place is Little Dom's in Los Feliz. I go there a few times a week when I’m in town. It’s the best. Italian. Only downside of it is that the vibe is so great, everybody always is filming there so sometimes you end up having to go somewhere else. You always see it pop up in TV shows and movies and stuff. The food is great and they are the friendliest people. They do it right.

I like Guerrilla Tacos a lot. They have a food truck parked down the block from my house in front of the Cha Cha Lounge every Thursday. The line can get long, but their tacos are dynamite... Jitlada in Hollywood is a favorite Thai spot. It's bonkers delicious, but you will sweat, and probably see celebs. Go there at off hours so you don’t have to wait because it packs out. I love Speranza in Silverlake. Great Italian food.

On that food tip, watch Jonathan Gold’s documentary City Of Gold. It’s a great documentary that is 100% accurate. That man knows LA food and has tips like no other. I think that documentary had a big influence on our last record.

Best place/s to drink?

My go-to bar is Edendale in Silver Lake... it’s walking distance from my house which is probably why. It’s an old fire station, so it’s extremely long. This new bar, which I think was opened by André Saraiva, called The Friend is great. Been going there a lot with my friends lately, but I also wonder how long it will last... La Poubelle next door to UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade) is a great French place. My favorite thing to do on a Tuesday is go for happy hour drinks at La Poubelle and then comedy at UCB at 8pm. Also lately I have been going to the Ace Hotel rooftop bar. The view of Downtown is unreal.

Who are the local heroes?

Local Heroes off the top of my head are Flea, Tim Armstrong, Viggo Mortenson, Daniel Lanois, Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, Mark Bradford, Tom Waits, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kendrick Lamar, Marc Maron, John Doe, Joaquin Phoenix, Jack Nicholson, Bob Dylan, Larry David, Sarah Silverman, Tig Notaro, The Duplass brothers, Ed Rusha, John Fante, Dennis Hopper, Cindy Crawford, John Hamm, Jonathan Gold, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Stulhbarg, Angelina Jolie, Nancy Bea Hefley and Vin Scully, Snoop Dogg, PT Anderson, and Sister Corita Kent.

Favourite urban legend/myth?

The biggest urban myth I think about LA is that it’s not a desert. It’s totally a desert. It just has concrete poured over most of it.

What are the best sights to see and places to visit?

The 'old zoo' in Griffith Park is off the grid but fun to visit if you can find it. You can climb in the cages but it’s a kinda dangerous so be careful. The view from the top of Griffith Observatory is gorgeous.

I’ve always really loved the Hollyhock House. It’s a Frank Lloyd Wright house on a big hill in the middle of Los Feliz. The Broad Museum Downtown has great art. All three MOCAs are great. I like going to JF Chen’s a lot - he’s a furniture dealer guy and I like visiting his places more than the galleries at times. Regen Projects is a great gallery. La Cieniga has a gallery row that is great. Be sure and visit Paul Loya Gallery (a gallery that reps yours truly!).

It’s a bit of a drive, but The Sunken City is great. It’s in San Pedro, very close to Cold War Kids' studio - if you’ve seen the Big Lebowski, it’s where Donny's ashes are scattered. Basically, it’s a big part of a freeway that collapsed in a landslide and it’s just a bunch concrete sort of falling into the ocean. It feels like a scene out of The Road or something.

Visit Upright Citizens Brigade for comedy (I mentioned earlier) that the 8pm show on Tuesdays hosted by Cameron and Rhea is the best for new stand-up acts (and older acts trying out new material).

Stay away from LAX, the airport. It's hell on earth.

How do you get around the city? Why?

I drive my car around the city, or I walk. Sometimes I take the underground metro but not very often... there are not that many stations for how huge the city is.

Where is the best place to relax? To take a walk?

I like to relax at Barnsdall Park a lot. It’s free and relaxing, and kind of secluded up on a big hill in the middle of Los Feliz.

What's the worst thing about Los Angeles?

The worst thing about LA is how divided and angry everyone can be because of being trapped in your car all day.

What's the best thing about Los Angeles?

The best thing about LA is the culture and the endless events, people, and options that exist on all levels. I haven’t been home in a month. We have been on tour across the states, and I can’t find a better time to write this. I don’t tend to be much of a nostalgic person, but as I’m flying home as I did this interview, I am very excited to get back to LA.