![]() ![]() ![]() Over time, I’d notice Justin signing at appearances by big-time speakers like Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, as well as local concerts by punk legends like Alice Bag and The Avengers. To us parents of elementary school students and supporters of public education, he was a big deal. Not more than a few minutes later, my wife and sister were excited to tell me they just spotted the guy who was all over the news doing American Sign Language interpretation at the LAUSD teacher strike rallies. The Dils had played the social club for Deaf people with Catholic Discipline during the first wave of West Coast punk. Like everyone else, they were excited about seeing The Dils play their first show in four decades, adding that they wanted to interview Chip Kinman for the movie, too. But it was news to me that he and his Deaf filmmaker pal Delbert Whetter whom he also introduced, were making a documentary about the San Francisco Deaf Club. Tickets are 12$ and children under 12 get in free.When Justin Maurer introduced himself to me at a Save Music in Chinatown benefit show last winter, I was already a big fan of his garage punk band Maniac and knew a little about Clorox Girls and Suspect Parts, too. at the Human Resources art gallery in Chinatown. “Now they’re 50 years old and holding babies, trying to contribute to something instead of trying to destroy it.” “These are the same people you were trying to buy beer in downtown L.A. Madame Wong’s closed in 1985 and has been converted to a loft residence. ![]() Hong Kong Cafe closed in 1981 and became a gift shop. “You’d ask for a case of beer and she’d tell you to get the hell out of the kitchen.” “She’d ask you, are you going to bring in customers today, and you’d say yes,” Magrann said. Magrann’s band played at Madame Wong’s in the ‘80s, and he says Wong helped bring order to the chaos. The clubs faced each other in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, jostling for acclaim and musical acts, a battle of skinny ties and nose rings. She leaned toward power pop acts, while Hong Kong Cafe hosted the more hardcore punk bands, the ones Wong had lost patience with. But she saw the crowds and became one of the genre’s most ardent promoters. So we found these alternative venues, restaurants, VFWs, anything,” Magrann said. “Troubadour and Whiskey would look at punk rockers and see violence and destruction. Mike Magrann, guitarist and lead singer for the Cerritos-based punk band Channel Three, said that places like Madame Wong’s and Hong Kong Cafe breathed life into a growing scene. “There are really not many opportunities to learn music for kids growing up in Chinatown,” Choi said.Ĭhinatown used to be a place that nurtured music, some musicians say. But without the music program, their chances are slim. Some of the children have been talented enough to earn scholarships for lessons at the prestigious Colburn School of Music in downtown Los Angeles. Principal Cheuk Choi said the music lessons helped students join choirs, glee clubs and other activities later in life. But this may be the program’s last year because of budget cuts. “Neither group really hangs out in Chinatown, but I knew they would help out if they could,” Wong said.Īt Castelar Elementary, up to 450 kids get weekly music lessons and learn to play violin and cello. “There’s this tradition of punk rock here, and there’s a thriving art gallery scene,” organizer Martin Wong said. ![]()
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