i’ve got to get these down before i manage to forget them, but i’ve had a star-studded past week. last monday at the futureheads show — a fine, fun performance which really sold me on the new album which i had previously doubted, but now quite approve of even if it may not be as energetic as the first — we were standing around near the bar after the opener (french kicks: like the walkmen without the creativity), when my friend jen pointed out that none other than seth cohen himself, adam brody was walking by right behind us! i think that’s now my second OC cast member sighting, having seen mischa barton briefly and from a distance a couple years back at coachella. my mission is to collect all 4.

then this weekend topped that by far. we were innocently going to an LA film festival screening of an inconvenient truth in a plaza downtown. one of those nice amphitheatre-type open-air corporate park sort of places. fountains, etc. word was that al gore was going to put in an appearance, which was kind of cool. i always approved of that guy, it’d be nice to get to clap for him and show support. then out of seemingly nowhere, after his required thank-yous and rallying cries, he says he wants to introduce his friend, and, shit you not, i heard the former vice president say, “and now, ladies and gentleman, JON BON JOVI!”

against all logic, bon jovi and his guitarist richie sambora (whose name i couldn’t have told you until this night, but apparently my friends were all quite aware of) emerged from the wings with guitars (richies was a DOUBLE HEADED ACOUSTIC), and played unplugged versions of ‘living on a prayer’, his recent country-ish hit, a cover of ‘peace love and understanding’, and finally, amazingly, ‘dead or alive’. it blew my mind, especially on a day i had most definitely NOT had the thought, “hmm, maybe today i’ll see a live acoustic bon jovi set”. wonderful evening.

the movie turned out to be really interesting, even despite the preaching-to-the-choir aspect. mostly because even those of us who appreciate the need for energy reform might not realize just how drastic the damage has become. he shows shome charts that simply make you shudder. i’d see it if i were you, then trade your car in for a bike. or a rickshaw maybe.