It isn't every day that we leave our tiny condo to venture into the city, much less the Ramada Inn north of Sunset in Hollywood. On September 17, 2004 we abandoned our beloved Tivo and partook in our first live music show since the Steve Kowalsky's Army show at the Knitting Factory about 600 BC. But who can resist the Legendary Stardust Cowboy's only LA appearance this year, even if it is in the Ramada Inn grotto?

Miss Di and Art Fein

Upon arrival we spotted an apparent but not tip-of-your-tongue-recognizable VIP, Art Fein, who was graciously spelling his name for a reporter so we were able to figure out that he was in fact a genuine VIP, not just a self-proclaimed VIP (the self-proclaimed VIP being an abundant species in LA). Art Fein is an LA music scenemeister, 60's music aficionado who had/has his own radio show, and was the host of Art Fein's Poker Party on cable here in LA. Art is the author of 2 books, A Guide to the Rock and Roll Landmarks of Los Angeles and The Greatest Rock and Roll Stories. Art's story starts much like my own, complete with a bicycle trip to buy records. His started with "Oooby Dooby" and mine started with Elvis Costello's Armed Forces, but either way, you gotta love that bicycle-to-the-record-store stuff. Heck, I was even grounded at the time.

Although Art was psyched to see The Ledge, he was actually at the 60's-themed show to see Jimmy Angel, a 70 year-old Elvis high school classmate who now lives in Japan, also making a rare LA appearance. The reputation is "voice like an angel" and Jimmy certainly delivered.

Sadly, in our rabid fervor to see the Ledge we neglected to pick up a programme of all of the bands, most notably a very enthusiastic 60's style band of apparent Cheapskate (the band, not the way of life) enthusiasts who couldn't have been more than 20 years old and who'd made the trek from Tucson despite a car breakdown in the [literal] Middle of Nowhere. I'd had a conversation with my assistant earlier in the day and she'd inquired about how bands get their first gigs. Sadly, she wasn't present for this illustration of what one's first gig (or nearly so, based on their enthusiasm alone, not their perfect set) looks like.

4 bands later, the Ledge made his entrance, and an entrance he made, six-shooters a-blastin'. The guns were real, but thankfully the bullets were blanks. You've got to admire a guy who will travel with real firearms in this day and age. Apparently, the bullets used to be live ammo. I guess we caught a break, or maybe the Ramada. The Ledge had an all-star lineup, with Klaus Fluoride of Dead Kennedys fame, the drummer from the Cramps, and a killer bassist from Kansas whose name my Sam Adams-addled brain cannot remember. This was no pickup band, and these fellers have a lot of respect for the Ledge and what he's all about. I'm glad they've figured the "what he's all about" part out, because I surely haven't, but the Ledge surely delivered right along with the band. He came out with Ghost Riders in the Sky and ripped right into Paralyzed right after that. Not one to disappoint, he actually played Paralyzed again at the end of the set. For diehard fans, as Miss Diana is, he also played all of his "greatest hits" including Standing in a Trashcan, and Radar. I've actually been arrested to Radar, but that's another story.

Despite being an older fella, and despite the fact he'd actually worked the night shift the night before, he jumped around like my chiropractor advised me against. He even stripped almost nekkid toward the end of the show. Call him a "one hit wonder" if you will (Paralyzed hit the Billboard Hot 200), but every song's a hit, and even if it isn't an official hit, the live performance will make it so.

You knew this, but I'm going to say it again: if you get the chance to see the Ledge, go.

Visit Paralyzed, the Ledge home page