TONIGHT FINAL ‘ROB Z PROGRAM’ at EL CID – Q&A w/ROB Z
Robert Zylowski, better known to everyone as Rob Z, has been a fixture in the L.A. Nightlife Scene for almost a decade and tonight after 4 years of putting on his free monthly “Variety Night” known as the Rob Z Program he has decided to “retire” the well received fun-filled night at El Cid (4212 Sunset Blvd). Below is a Q&A with Rob Z that provides us all with info about the motivation to both start and end the Rob Z Program as well as what you will find him doing in the future.
TRAFFIK: When and Why did you decide to start the Rob Z Program?
ROB Z: I started the Rob Z Program back in 2006 at Highland Grounds (now defunct) Being a regular of the venue since late 1998 I was approached by HG to do a Valentine’s show and I translated that night into my own evening. Then HG became no more I took a bit of a hiatus and then brought the show to EL CID December 2007. To answer the “why” of this question I just wanted a space to try out different ideas, musically (and to have a place where I could play too). My initial idea for the RZP was inspired by MTV’s “UNPLUGGED” series. I had known so many bands at this point from hosting KISS OR KILL and just being in the scene that I loved the idea of rock bands going acoustic or country or loungy. Basically just riffing off their own sound. And I didn’t want just a regular rock night. I wanted to mix it up some.
TRAFFIK: How would you describe the Rob Z Program?
ROB Z: Well, it’s really just a music night at its core but it has a variety theme to it. Every month I wanted people to have a slightly different experience. Always have fun but toy with different vibes and musical styles.
TRAFFIK: What would you have described the audience that attended the Rob Z Program’s? Many of them knew you from other projects, what was their reception to these programs?
ROB Z: I thought the reception was very good. But maybe that’s because most of the crowd was just being polite. It’s possible that I might be the most hated man in showbizness but due to the polite nature of the crowd I would never know. I’m just kidding. You’re right. Most of my audience did know me from other projects. Namely, KISS OR KILL which I hosted for 5 years. So there was already a built in comfort ability there. And I lucked out and kind of got grandfathered into my shows when KISS OR KILL ended in 2007 that was when I started my run at EL CID. So I think we all just slid into my nights pretty seamlessly.
TRAFFIK: Were you influenced by any of the variety shows that were common place decades ago?
Rob Z: I’ve always been a huge fan of old time entertainment. The Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, The Rat Pack, The Beat generation. And yes even shows like Laugh In and The Muppet show were huge influences. I like the idea of mixing it up.
TRAFFIK: What were some of your favorite moments or standout performances for these shows?
ROB Z: I really do think all the shows I’ve done have had great moments but I think the ones that stand out most have to be the BEATNIK BONANZA nights with The Beatnik Bandits Poetry Experiment. Improv musicians and spoken word artists. I like that those shows had no net. No rehearsals, very little discussion. To steal a line from Steve Martin it was “creativity in action”.
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Honey, Honey: Re-Discovering the Sunset Strip – Viper Room, Trip One
Re-Experience. Here’s a brief quote about me in the intraffik.com contributors section: “. . . you’ll occasionally see him at music venues across Los Angeles – from Mr. T’s to The Key Club and various in between locations.” It occurred to me that I’ve given a lot of love to North-East Los Angeles recently. Now this is mainly driven by the fact that I live near the music venues in this area and so it is just easier for me to see bands at Spaceland versus say The Key Club. To provide some proof, here’s my column “What I Listened to in February” with venues assigned:
Seamonsters: Silverlake Lounge
Venus Illuminato: Silverlake Lounge
The Muddy Reds: Silverlake Lounge
Rich Podgur: Kibitz – the farthest west of the bunch
Open Hand: Spaceland
Year Long Disaster: Spaceland
Obi Best: Spaceland
Eastern Conference Champions: Spaceland
Asa Ransom: Spaceland
Hockey: Spaceland
My January list has a broader music venue scope, but it also has a high focus on bands playing in North-East Los Angeles. Kibitz was once again the farthest west I got. There was also Club Moscow at Boardners (Hollywood) and Fox and Hounds (Studio City), but then North-East Los Angeles popped up with regularity: Spaceland, El Cid, Echo Curio and the Bootleg Theatre.
Do you see where I’m going? It was time to head to the Sunset Strip.
Three years ago, I was heading to the Sunset Strip on a monthly basis. Those trips started to dwindle over the years, but recently I found myself there three times in a period of a week.
First Trip to the Sunset Strip. Viper Room
Off to see Honey Honey. (more…)
NOTES FROM VIVACE – WHAT I LISTENED TO IN JANUARY…
The Mo-odds: “Bop Shu Bop”
Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob: “Cartwheels”
High Life Cavaliers: ” No Dead Set Plans Yet” (more…)
A NIGHT IN PHOTOS – SEPT. 16, 2009
This is a “night in photos” column with a short write-up tagged to it.
Wednesday night, September 16th, I headed out to Spaceland and then to El Cid. At Spaceland, Diane Birch was in town. You may recall that I wrote a column about her awhile back (click here for that column). My regret about that column was not having any photos to share with you from that night. Therefore, the inspiration for this photo column that was discussed with my TRAffIK editor/friend. After Birch’s set, I headed over to El Cid where I caught two bands: New Fidelity and New Maximum Donkey. Yes, two bands with the word “New” in it. I believe both of these bands were previously mentioned/featured on inTraffik.com. Hope you all enjoy the photos (click on images to enlarge). (more…)