The House that Jon (Re)Built

We have reached the end of an era as L.A.'s famous Largo on Fairfax moved to a new location. Now it is destined to become L.A.'s famous Largo on La Cienaga. Since moving to Southern California in 2005, I have had the pleasure of going to the Largo several times (most notably, for the great Jon Brion). At the end of its 12-year lease, the small, cabaret-style restaurant on Fairfax has new diggs, opting instead for a small, cabaret-style theatre on La Cienaga. Dara and I were able to catch a Jon Brion show at the new venue this past Friday (Brion's first at the new club, which he worked with quirky owner, Flanaga, to customize the sound system there).

During the show, Brion labeled the first four friday gigs as sound check, and after struggling through some technical difficulties (lost on all but the most veteran of musicians), Jon declared that playing the new place was like "driving a brand new car into a utility pole." But a bad day for Jon Brion is better than the best performances of most people.

And so it was that Jon started out with his beautiful "Theme," from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and then on to a funky piano-loop version of "Same Thing," from his band The Grays (always a great rendition). From there, he proceeded to wow the audience with a blend of standards, and rock tunes (the Kinks, The Who's "Baba O'Reilly,"), as well as Jon's own songs.

Jon is still getting used to the new place, and so must we all. So what is it like (for those of you who find such things interesting)? Well, no more crappy food. Or any food. Or drink, for that matter. Just sit quietly in the theatre and await the beautiful music. The seats are cramped, and are strangely numbered (our row started out #5, #3, #6, #23...), not to mention old and uncomfortable. The inside of the theatre is plain and unadorned, but for a red velvet curtain, and the aforementioned, brown-upholstered seats.

You enter the theatre via a charming courtyard terrace that opens to La Cienaga, and a very classy "Live, Nude, Girls, Girls, Girls" sign flasshing out at you from across the street. It's no Canters Deli, but it's interesting. Definitely worth checking out again.