Rubin Recommends

(Part of The Weekly Check In series)

Sonny Kay, used to run a record distro called Bottlenekk Distribution (that I loved to mail order from back in 97) and he was kind enough to distribute the Anniversary 7″ I released, (when I had no idea what I was doing.) That’s when I realized he also sang for Angel Hair, The VSS, (and others,) ran GSL (Gold Standard Labratories) and is a collage art/graphic designer (doing lots of record covers over the years, Mars Volta, The Locust, etc.) Since the recent closing of GSL, I wanted to check in and see what he was up to lately. He’s busy, he’s always doing something.

RR: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?

Kay: These days I’m really focused on art and design stuff. I just finished opening my first ever gallery show at this little place here in L.A. called Han Cholo. The opening was last weekend, the turnout was great, a few things have sold so far… From what I can tell, it was a success. It was just like putting on a punk show without the burden of having to explain to the bands why no one showed up. I spent the month prior to that finishing up a few of the pieces in the show. Now it’s back to freelancing again for the foreseeable next few months, which is a nice change of pace. It’s fun to kind of switch gears every few days. I’m doing a few album covers, a couple of tour posters, and some steady work making ads and posters for some local venues.

RR: Where have you traveled so far this month?

Kay: I toured Europe for 5 weeks recently, tour-managing for this band called Anavan, some friends from around here. It was a good time, but 5 weeks can start to get kind of exhausting. It’s probably the last time I’ll do something like that without actually being in the band. The highlight for me was going to Poland for the first time. I spent a week in Oakland over the holidays at my mom’s place which was awesome… food, drink, TV. Came back rested and ready to rip.

RR: What’s your favorite music right now?

Kay: Tobacco’s “Fucked Up Friends” has been on pretty heavy rotation. The last Gang Gang Dance record, Gnarls Barkley, The Bug, TV on the Radio, Minor Threat… Picked up some old Vangelis vinyl a few months ago and have been getting into it. I saw Blade Runner again recently and had forgotten how awesome the Vangelis soundtrack was. Too bad he’s only really known for Chariots of Fire, at least in the US.

RR: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?

Kay: The most exciting food development of the past year for me took place in Dortmund, Germany at this little spot called Arabic (which the Germans pronounce a-RAY-bic). There’s a whole string of these Middle Eastern places in the city center, but a friend recommend we ignore them all and go straight to Arabic, which was excellent advice. The house specialty is called, appropriately, Arabic. Man, I have dreamt about this friggin thing since then. It’s more of a burrito than anything else. The wrapping is this warm, thick, spongy bread that is sort of like a thick, dusty crépe, filled with spicy veggie beef “medallions”, tahini, salad… My stomach is growling just thinking about it. I’d never been to Dortmund before but I swear I will go back just for another one of those things. Completely slays any falafel anywhere.

RR: Anything Else You Want To Mention?

Kay: I’ve been fronting this for-charity hardcore band for a few months, with some dudes from a million old hardcore bands. We cover Flex Your Head from start to finish, and nothing else. If you’re in L.A., come check it out: myspace.com/millionsofdeadcomps.

Thanks for checking in, Matt. Here’s a photo of myself and Stefan from the German band Confused, hanging out at Die Au in Frankfurt a couple of months back.