ONE WORKING MUSICIAN’S TAKE ON THE L.A. AUTO SHOW

I think this photo really illustrates how much more bulky cars have become over the last 50 years

I’m definitely a car guy, but over the years my taste has evolved; away from super cars and luxury barges, towards efficiency, practicality, affordability and reliability. Perhaps that is just another way of saying I’m getting old, but nevertheless I remain a car nut, and the LA Auto Show is turning into an annual pilgrimage for me.

I get a kick out of going to a car show by public transport, so I park and ride from Redondo Station where I take the Green Line to the Blue Line and about 50-60 minutes later I get off at Pico Station, which is right in front of the LACC.
Sure, even in typical LA traffic driving may still be (a little) faster, but getting to and fro downtown is a hassle, and with the insane parking fees in and around the convention center, I don’t bother.
And did I tell you, taking the train from Redondo to downtown costs $1.25? That’s right, a roundtrip for two whole dollars and fifty cents! My car would probably burn about two gallons of gas, which currently works out to around seven bucks. Add $20 for parking and taking the train becomes an unbeatable value proposition.

the possible future of urban transportation according to Toyota

But really, I’m a car guy. No, really. I keep up with auto industry news, know quite a bit about the history, and most importantly, I love to drive.
My current ride is a 2005 Infiniti FX35, which is basically a Nissan 350Z on stilts. With its higher center of gravity (and 4000+ lbs. curb weight) it’s not quite as agile as a proper sports car, but it’s closer than you’d think.
The best part is you can haul stuff in it, which is great for a working musician like me. I have to schlep keyboards and amplification to and from gigs, so a hatchback with collapsible rear seat is all but a necessity for me.
For the most part, the FX has been an enjoyable mix of brawn and practicality, but after ten years and 132K+ miles, the clock is ticking. Also, averaging 15-16 mpg around LA is becoming unjustifiable, so this year’s Auto Show was to be my opportunity to check out a bunch of potential replacements all in one place.

Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid left me unimpressed

I was most looking forward to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. I had previously driven a 2013 RAV4 rental, and the experience had been a pleasant surprise. Stop and go traffic is pretty much the norm in this town, so from that perspective the hybrid thing makes a lot of sense. You don’t burn any unnecessary fuel while idling. Unfortunately, the RAV4 Hybrid’s batteries are stowed right behind the rear seat. Not an issue with the seats up, but with the seats down there is an ungainly and impractical bump right in the middle of the floor, which is pretty much a deal killer for me. I have (part of) the rear seat down 60% of the time, and with that bump my keyboard would be seesawing. So without ever having driven one, my enthusiasm for it has cooled considerably. For good measure, I checked the cargo hold of a Toyota Prius V with the seat down, and that was a lot more even.

the RAV4 Hybrid’s utility is compromised by this hump

with the seats down, the cargo area of the Prius V is nicely level

Market leader in the segment is the Honda CR-V, which just about ticks all boxes except for its looks. Maybe other people love it, but I sure don’t. Then there is the Mazda CX-5, which purports to be a sportier alternative, and my personal favorite, the Subaru Forester. I got to take one for a spin around the block at the show, and it seems like a perfectly agreeable companion for the LA grind. Domestic contenders are the Chevy Equinox (or GMC Terrain) Ford Escape and Dodge Journey. I have driven all of them as rentals, and while they were decent, I would not consider owning any of them. Then there is the Jeep Cherokee, but I have yet to get my paws on one.

the Subaru Forester remains my favorite in its class

Direct competitors for my old FX would be the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC300, Lexus RX and maybe the Volvo XC60, but I don’t think I’ll be shopping in that price bracket. Not on a working musician’s income, anyway. Of those models, I think I’d like the RDX the best. It is basically a luxury version of the aforementioned CR-V, with a V6 and minus the ugly.

These days I don’t pine much for unattainable exotic sports cars, and a vehicle has to make economic sense for me to be interesting. The Buick Cascada does just that. In Europe it is sold as an Opel, and it has just the right mix of affordability, luxury and style. If I didn’t have to schlep gear all the time, this would make my shortlist.

Buick Cascada, semi-affordable luxury convertible

I did walk through Porsche’s room, but that was no fun. It is like walking through a jewelry store, where everything is locked up in glass displays; look but don’t touch. Based on that, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to give Porsche a sale, even if I had that kind of money.

There was a bunch of aftermarket stuff, like custom RV’s or van-based executive limos, but as far as new models go, the show wasn’t all that exciting.
Still, I look forward to doing it all again next year!

Why do guys out here in LA play so loud?!?

It is the nuttiest thing I have ever seen. Brilliant musicians, all turning their amps up to 11 and jamming with earplugs in! Why?!?

Just turn it down!

Hints:

– Play at a volume that is acceptable over a sustained period of time. If your ears can handle it, the audience can, too. If you need earplugs, you are playing too loud!

– Play to the room. Let the drummer play alone, without amplification, for a few minutes, so he can gauge how loud to play before the room starts to resonate uncomfortably. Have other players adjust to that level. Make the drummer understand that he should be playing at an average level below that, so there’s some room for crescendos and fortes.

– The bass is extremely room-sensitive. There can be lot of build-up and standing waves at high volume, which can effectively alter the way we perceive the pitch of the instrument. This has happened to me many times. In some rooms, at high volume the bass will sound almost a semi-tone higher than what is played. It is excruciating to try and play along in what sounds like a different key!

– When a player turns it up a little for his solo, remind him to turn it back down when he is done with it. It is amazing how often people will forget to turn it down (and that includes me, yes).

– To get an idea of what music sounded like before we brought 5 kW amps to the gig, do a couple of acoustic gigs. It is amazing how much difference that can make. Remember, there was a time when an entire big band would play with an unamplified double bass.

Really, guys, who are we kidding? I don’t know about you, but I can’t even play well with those earplugs in. I will use them on occasion when I fear the sound pressure could cause hearing damage, but it changes everything, and it feels and sounds unnatural to me. That is NOT how music is supposed to be made.

Turn it down, people. There is no need.

My Asus/Vista64 laptop annoyed me. For some reason Firefox was unable to connect to the net. One day it just stopped working. After some mucking about I found out it was caused by some Anti-Virus Software that came with the computer.

I deactivated the AVS, installed Microsoft’s free Security Essentials and problem solved. This reinforces my belief that AVS is largely redundant if you exercise some caution. As a bonus, the computer runs much better now.

I still like my Macs better, but I don’t consider Windows Vista to be the suckfest it is generally made out to be.

I use an Apple computer. According to internet lore (perpetuated by the Windows protagonists, no doubt) this makes me a fanboi, an idiot who drank the Kool Aid and bought into the Apple hype. I am being exploited and have to pay “Apple tax” (on hardware that is apparently up to 50% cheaper when bought from newegg.com) just because of a pretty box. That’s all there is to it, case closed.

In fact, my decision to get a Mac was a fairly rational one. Although I have always had PC’s, I worked on Macs professionally and came to appreciate the platform for what it is. But not enough to justify the higher sticker price, so when I was ready for a new computer I had made up my mind and was going to buy a custom-built Windows laptop, made by a small company who specializes in audio PC’s.

I chose mobility over performance, as I knew I would not be stationary for too long. I did eyeball the MacBookPros but could not afford it, so I ordered a Windows laptop for about EUR 1700. This was in 2007. A few days later, I passed by the Apple Store and considered the iMacs. They looked portable. Had better hardware specs than the Windows laptop I just ordered. And cost about the same.

Most importantly, a nifty feature called Bootcamp was on the way. Still in a beta phase, but acquaintances told me it worked fine on their machines. So for the same money I get a big screen computer that runs both platforms, is semi-portable and has better performance to boot? Done. I cancelled the laptop order and bought an iMac.

Happy camping is the result. Portability is real thanks to an iLugger. And Bootcamp works as advertised, so I made a partition with WindowsXP for the –ahem- “evaluation” software and games. I would habitually start projects in my officially purchased copy of Cubase (OSX), and finish them in WinXP where I had access to software that I wouldn’t have been able to buy.

But the weirdest thing happened. I gradually stopped using the cracked software because I could not be bothered to reboot into WinXP everytime. Long story short, nowadays I stay in OSX and use only legit software. Windows is reserved for the occasional game.

I don’t hate Windows. It is undeniably more volatile and vulnerable, but with common sense and a bit of caution you really need not worry too much. I hear good things about Win7 and if Apple does not offer better bang-for-buck in the next MacPro my next computer may well be a custom-built rackmount PC.

I’d miss OSX, though. There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence on the net suggesting that Win7 may actually outperform OSX in many respects. I believe it, but I don’t care. If true, I’d happily take a performance hit for the hassle-free and relaxing work environment that is OSX.

If numbers are all that matters, there is no doubt. Get a Windows PC, save $$$ and get the job done. Strictly speaking, nobody needs plants in their office. Or framed photos of their loved ones. For all the blah blah, you could work in a cardboard box and still do your job.

So why do people put plants in their office and photos on their desk? Some call it Feng Shui (google/wiki it if you don’t know what it means). For many if not most people a sense of aesthetics helps them get through the day and be more productive.

It’s the same for me with OSX. I find it a pleasing and even soothing work environment. And Apple’s integration of hardware and software also guarantuees a more stable and reliable platform: indeed, my aging iMac is the best Windows machine I have ever owned!

I’ve schlepped it with me through airport security on three different continents, had it involuntarily stress-tested in the trunk of many a car on unpaved backroads and it has held up nicely, touch wood.

My only concern is that Apple’s success in the consumer electronics market has shifted their focus away from professional computing, and it remains to be seen if they can continue to cater to the needs of a relatively small (but loyal) niche market. The discontinuance of the Xserve and retarding update cycle of the MacPro do not bode well in this regard.

I hope they stay committed to what was once their core business, for Apple offers something unique in the ever-competitive world of computing: a product that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.