Comments (0) Best Music at an Art Event - 2012
Downtown Art Walk
541 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-624-6212
On its website, Downtown Art Walk describes itself as a "public art phenomenon" that "brings together art lovers and community friends." Indeed, it is partly that. But it's also a raucous party full of young people voraciously consuming all manner of food and beverages (particularly beverages) and seeing great music. Just by walking the streets you'll see a wide range of musical showcases at the monthly event, ranging from planned to impromptu to illegal, everyone from New Orleans–style brass trios to guitar-bearing buskers to Occupy-inspired rabble-rousers with bass drums. Warning: The police have been cracking down more on performers without permits recently. We saw cornrowed white rapper Riff Raff getting the crowd sweaty at a small art gallery moments before the cops ended the party, for example. In fact, Art Walk offers high drama almost every time out, which is probably not something "art lovers" are accustomed to. Various locations, dwntwn. (213) 617-4929, downtownartwalk.org.
—Ben Westhoff
