Sunset Junction in LA? - Xander can't come out & play

HI. Its Xander Smith from RUN RUN RUN. And this is what happens when you try to go to Sunset Junction if you are me this year.

I was excited to see the lineup of bands playing the 2007 installment of SUNSET JUNCTION street fair in Silverlake, CA. I used to work at this show, as a runner, just to be involved. One year, I was actually the guy who got to close down Sunset Blvd at midnight the day before, so they could construct the fair. Imagine that, getting to walk out onto the biggest street in your hometown, and just stand in the middle of it, and say, "STOP! We're closing this down!" In a PJ HARVEY t-shirt no less.

This time around, my band, RUN RUN RUN, wasn't on tour, I wasn't on holiday with the folks, and I didn't have to work, so I thought I could finally go and just relax and enjoy myself. I got so worked up about going that I couldn't sleep the night before. Really! I'm that much of a dork. I started to think about ex-girlfriends that I might run into, and that got me a little anxious, but then I paid no attention. The temperature was a record breaking, and I heard reports of people passing out on the hot pavement, but that was no obstacle. My other friend called and said, there's absolutely no parking, and we can't seem to buy any water anywhere. All reasons, to perhaps skip the event, as I considered driving over there (on about 3 hours of sleep). But, NO, Xander Smith was going despite all the warnings of discomfort.

I got in my little truck and started heading to Silverlake. I had the AC blasting and U2's "With Or Without YOu" came on the radio. I was enjoying my cool capsule of 80s rock nostaglia, and then as I made my way to exit for the street fair, some force greater than me, took my hands and made me quickly turn left, unexpectedly. This was problematic because it was all the way from the far right hand lane, in front of 2 other lanes of traffic that included a city bus, that came 15 feet from creaming me, and not to mention, that it was onto a one way street going in the opposite direction of my vehicle! WOW! duh!!
Seconds later, I crashed into the far curb of the intersection, destroying the right side of my truck. The tires were mangled and blown, the alignment all screwed up, and I sat that, the street now hauntingly empty, thinking, "That happened!" I wonder what horrible fate awaited me if i HAD made it to the show??

Well, i laughed. I was in a bit of shock, but called a tow company. They came around about 45 minutes later. The tow truck driver, Alejandro, said, "Woah, man. you really fucked this shit up! Did a cat run out in the street or something?" I said, "No, God wanted to keep me from going somewhere, but he thought a bolder would be too obvious, so he made me drive into a curb so my car coulds move forward." I think I creeped him out with the God stuff, even thought he, of course, had a huge, plastic Jesus on his dashborad. He drove me and my sad little car back home to Culver City, CA. So... uh.... no Sunset Juction for Xander this year! waaah waaaah

Xander Smith - Culver City, CA