Josh Vietti

Josh Vietti performing alongside One Republic "Apologize." Video by Peace Want Love.

In case you haven't seen it already, my story on Josh Vietti is online now via Santa Monica Mirror.

I'm in awe of street performers. These are the ballsiest of all musicians. Think about it. When a musician and/or band plays at a club, they may or may not have a decent turnout and response, but there's a better shot of things going well because a) people might actually be going to see them; b) people who aren't going to see them are probably drunk and having a good time anyhow and c) there are probably at least a few friends that the musicians have conned into attending the show for support. Street performers are all alone, save for the little girls who are accompanied by guardians when performing Rihanna covers. They are all alone and they are playing in a venue as horrid as Third Street Promenade, which is essentially the same thing as playing at a mall except that it's outside and there are more tourists because somewhere, somehow someone has convinced the British and the Japanese that Third Street Promenade is not a mall featuring the exact same corporate stores that you can find in Northridge, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Fullerton or any other non-cool place in the vicinity of Los Angeles. And they play their two hour or so alloted set and thousands will pass them, but few will stop and even fewer will tip, let alone buy a CD. Maybe I'm exaggerating. I have a feeling that street performers sell more CDs than your typical band playing the Echo or Spaceland, but they also have to put up with more people who just don't care.

I dislike the fact that street performers are almost solely limited to hideous tourist traps like the Promenade and Universal City Walk. I want to see folk musicians playing on street corners in Echo Park and mimes performing on Ventura Boulevard. After all, Los Angeles is a city, shouldn't we start acting like one?