The Baked Potato: Where LA's music industry comes to play

 

The linoleum “wood”-paneled walls and frame-less, threadbare Frank Zappa posters say it all: If you’re not here for the music you’ve come to the wrong place.

Los Angeles may be infamous for being the city where former Dairy Queen employees from Iowa make their hajj to try and become the next big thing; but for every one of these painfully optimistic, wayward souls there are at least two exceptionally talented musicians who have come to work in the city’s prodigious music industry. From studio musicians needed for movie scores and backing work on albums, to nascent legends and established icons who come to record, the amount of musical talent here at any given time is simply astronomical. Good news for you is that when they’re not at work they have a playground: The Baked Potato.

Located just down Ventura Boulevard from Frank Zappa’s old recording studio, the music varies from night to night, but is deeply rooted in “Zappa-esk” jazz and rock fusion.  It’s always a jam, it’s always smokin’ and aside from whose playing there is always a common thread underlying it all. My friends and I joke that its simply “Baked Potato Music”

And yes:  in addition to a full bar and world-class live music they actually serve a variety of baked potatoes. However, given how expensive they are I’ve often wondered if it’s just a sneaky way of making the place an all ages venue. 

Mind you that the only downside of the Baked Potato is that it can be quite pricey. Acts change every night(see website for calendar), but every Monday is Monday Night Jamz: its a $10 cover and two drink minimum featuring the same group of stellar musicians every week(see clip above). They usually play until 11 or so when it becomes an open mic. Granted there have been a few duds in the past, but more far more often than not the talent that casually walks up on the stage bears testament to just how much this city’s cup is brimming over with world-class talent.

And for the star-struck out there, know that The Baked Potato has a rather interesting line-up of regular patrons. Is that Andy Garcia?!

NOTE: More music from the Baked Potato can be found by simply typing in "Baked Potato Jam" into youtube

Avoiding Lincoln and How to Not Get Stuck in Traffic on the Way to LAX

Think of it as the 405 with fewer lanes, slower speed limits and stoplights. If this has not conjured up a clear enough mental image, just know that Lincoln Boulevard is the bane of every Westsider's existence and should be avoided at all costs. I live a half a mile away from this disaster and make it a point to only drive on it after 8pm and find innovative ways of paralleling it. Do note that it is nowhere near as bad on the weekends as it is on the weekdays, but that during the summer the beach crowds can change that. In addition to the Lincoln Alternative I have for you, note that if it's not during the summer it can be a wise decision to follow the coast via Ocean and Pacific avenues to avoid it.

To avoid the street that is the bane of every westsiders' automotive existence take the following route. Granted a great deal of the route does not run along major streets so you'll be hitting 30 mph tops, but at least you'll be moving.

Now I know you're you're most likely wondering what the deal is with the zig-zags it takes south of Ocean Park. Just know that Lincoln is such an over trodden route that 23rd street has become crowded, albeit far less congested north/south route through the Westside. Hence, the zig-zags are to help you avoid it and Walgrove(the street it turns into once it enters Los Angeles). Only take this route during peak congestion times(8-10am 4-7pm)as it is almost all side streets. If you're looking to get to the airport after soaking up your last whiff of Pacific Ocean air, take Beethoven to Short and make a left on Lincoln. Continue south on Lincoln through Westchester and follow the prominent signs to the Airport. Don't worry that this route uses Lincoln to get to the airport; traffic flow drops significantly at the point at which you turn left on to it.