Sadly, praying to Elvis does not appear to work (if you don't understand that comment, check yesterday's post) - at least not on the first try.
Here's what went down:
We drove out to Santa Ana - about an hour away - and picked up the very cool 72 deVille sedan we test drove yesterday. We took the car down to the super-nice mechanic we met yesterday for the inspection to buy and compression test. Knowing the tests were going to take a few hours, we drove out to Huntington Beach for a casual seaside lunch and some window shopping. 3 hours later we headed back to Santa Ana to get the run down from the mechanic.
Ben, the owner of Tim's Auto Repair (714-554-9500; 1020 N. Harbor Blvd.), was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. He was very thorough, taking the time to talk us through all the points covered in the tests and giving us a honest opinion of the car and the service we should probably have done on it. His price for both tests plus a few gallons of gas (because the cheap ass dealer keeps the tank empty) was $140. Ben couldn't have been nicer and we felt like he knows his stuff.
Unfortunately, we then had to go back down the street to the ratty used car dealership selling the car - Brothers Motors. THEY SUCK!! We don't like to badmouth anyone, but when you are totally ignored for over 30 min. by all of the employees, who later imply you don't know anything about cars and that your standards are too high, that the mechanic you went to overcharged you and ruins all of their deals, when the owner of the business refuses to acknowledge you then claims to be praying to avoid dealing with you and finally won't even give you his name, all before you say ANYTHING about the car you have just spent money on in the hopes of buying, there is something VERY WRONG.
The whole situation was so ridiculous, I'm losing steam recounting it...We talked about getting kicked out of the dealership all the way back to Hollywood. Because, yes, we, the only two professional, well-dressed people on the premises, were kicked out of Brothers Motors for asking for a business card!
Stay tuned for more of the ridiculous story tomorrow. Right now, it's time for a beer. Suffice to say, Elvis would not have liked the way we were treated. EP was all about the manners...
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
We asketh, and he delivereth...
Yesterday, we asked El to send us a Cadillac.
Today, we test-drove a pretty sweet '72 deVille sedan.
Is this a sign that he is/was more than a mere mortal?!? Does praying to Elvis really work?!?
You'll have to check in with us tomorrow to find out - we'll be going back to give the car another looksy and get it checked out by a mechanic.
And that's all we're going to say for now because we don't want to jinx it!!!
We're sick of looking at junkers!
Today, we test-drove a pretty sweet '72 deVille sedan.
Is this a sign that he is/was more than a mere mortal?!? Does praying to Elvis really work?!?
You'll have to check in with us tomorrow to find out - we'll be going back to give the car another looksy and get it checked out by a mechanic.
And that's all we're going to say for now because we don't want to jinx it!!!
We're sick of looking at junkers!
Why We Need a Cadillac!
We need a Caddy because it's the great American car and more than any other, it was Elvis' favorite. More then Ford or Chevy, a Caddy was part of the American dream realized. I know that in light of our current global situation, a car that gets 11 miles to the gallon may not be the best choice for the great American road trip, but Elvis wouldn't want it any other way.
Our Caddy will be a shrine on wheels, a throwback to simpler times, even.
In a few moments we are off to Long Beach to look at a nice Caddy FROM A DEALER! Good times. Hopefully this one won't be covered in mold!
Stay tuned!
Our Caddy will be a shrine on wheels, a throwback to simpler times, even.
In a few moments we are off to Long Beach to look at a nice Caddy FROM A DEALER! Good times. Hopefully this one won't be covered in mold!
Stay tuned!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Car shopping with El Vez
We still have not found our dream Cadillac. Or any suitable Cadillac for that matter. Urgh.
However, on a positive note, we have been in touch with the mucho talented El Vez (he's called the Mexican Elvis but he's so much more)! We'll be interviewing him for the film if we can get past a few scheduling hurdles...Which I don't even want to begin sorting out until we have the all-important mobile Elvis shrine (a.k.a. The Cadillac)!
Elvis, give us a Cadillac!
Everyone else, check out El Vez (see link at right)!!
However, on a positive note, we have been in touch with the mucho talented El Vez (he's called the Mexican Elvis but he's so much more)! We'll be interviewing him for the film if we can get past a few scheduling hurdles...Which I don't even want to begin sorting out until we have the all-important mobile Elvis shrine (a.k.a. The Cadillac)!
Elvis, give us a Cadillac!
Everyone else, check out El Vez (see link at right)!!
Friday, May 25, 2007
My Daddy Is Elvis
This is a student film my buddy Kat Shuchter made at UC Berekely. Her medical doctor dad has a not so dark secret...press play to find out!
Easy Street and Elvis People
We were back in Simi Valley yesteday, as Erica posted below, and once again found EASY STREET. I mean LITERALLY. Easy Street in Simi Valley leads to a strip mall with a Starbucks and El Pollo Loco, the finest in local coffee and cuisine. Erica took some pictures of Easy Street but me, being an idiot, didn't have the card in the camera so all was lost. It was in my card reader...at home...miles and miles away from easy street. I MEAN COME ONE, THE IRONY!
Elvis People is a new play coming to NYC this summer. Check out the website (linked up on the right) and someone go and tell me about it.
Is it just me, or is there something about this guy?
Elvis People is a new play coming to NYC this summer. Check out the website (linked up on the right) and someone go and tell me about it.
Is it just me, or is there something about this guy?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Metal Elvis rocks our world!
It's been quite a busy afternoon in Elvis Road Trip Documentary Land...
The best news is that Metal Elvis has graciously agreed to be interviewed for our film! If you're not from the Southwest, you might not have heard about Metal Elvis (until a few days ago we hadn't either), but now is definitely the time to check him out!
Metal Elvis is the tremendously talented Elvis tribute artist Chance Tinder performing the King's hits backed by a band of heavy metal heads (players apparently inspired by Slash, Nikki Sixx and Peter Criss). It's Elvis Presley crossed with metal riffs and heavy attitude...A truly original take on Elvis' music and rock 'n' roll legacy. We love it!!
We can't wait to meet Chance this August in Phoenix and find out all about his very unique perspective on Elvis! But you can learn about and listen to Metal Elvis right now by visiting their site, www.metalelvis.com.
On the Cadillac hunt front, Helen and I spent a good chunk of the afternoon looking at cars again. We came across another stinker in Van Nuys (giant flora of mold growing inside the car can't be good) and one serious possibility in Simi...If the car checks out with the mechanic, it might be The One.
We'll keep you posted, of couse, and in the meantime keep looking, too.
The best news is that Metal Elvis has graciously agreed to be interviewed for our film! If you're not from the Southwest, you might not have heard about Metal Elvis (until a few days ago we hadn't either), but now is definitely the time to check him out!
Metal Elvis is the tremendously talented Elvis tribute artist Chance Tinder performing the King's hits backed by a band of heavy metal heads (players apparently inspired by Slash, Nikki Sixx and Peter Criss). It's Elvis Presley crossed with metal riffs and heavy attitude...A truly original take on Elvis' music and rock 'n' roll legacy. We love it!!
We can't wait to meet Chance this August in Phoenix and find out all about his very unique perspective on Elvis! But you can learn about and listen to Metal Elvis right now by visiting their site, www.metalelvis.com.
On the Cadillac hunt front, Helen and I spent a good chunk of the afternoon looking at cars again. We came across another stinker in Van Nuys (giant flora of mold growing inside the car can't be good) and one serious possibility in Simi...If the car checks out with the mechanic, it might be The One.
We'll keep you posted, of couse, and in the meantime keep looking, too.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The Cadillac hunt continues...
Helen and I spent the better part of this afternoon driving to the nether regions of Los Angeles with hopes of purchasing (what appeared to be) a cool, road-ready, bright pink 1975 Cadillac.
Sadly, things did not go as planned. The car that looked great in pictures was much worse for the wear in person - think lots of rust, flaking paint, water spots, a totally torn top and shredded interior. We also learned that it did not have a battery or maintenance records - and it hasn't been registered since 1992. Urgh.
On the roughly hour-long drive back to Hollywood, here's what we determined we learned from this little escapade:
1. A big pink Cadillac is a really cool looking car. We still plan on getting one (yes, we know we'll probably have to paint it ourselves) for the movie!
2. Buying a used car is never easy.
3. We don't know much about Simi Valley. It's sprawling and seems to be packed with C-grade Italian restaurants. (If you live in Simi and can point out its finer attributes to us, please do!).
4. We like it when people are direct and up-front.
So, though we are wiser than we were this morning, we are still unfortunately Cadillac-less. And, as many of you know, getting the right pre-1977 Cadillac for this film is essential!
With that in mind, if you have a hot tip on a pre-1977 Caddie in solid, drivable condition (we don't care too much about body condition) for sale for $3500 or less in the SoCal area, contact us NOW! If we end up buying the car we'll send you an Elvis vigil candle for free!!
Sadly, things did not go as planned. The car that looked great in pictures was much worse for the wear in person - think lots of rust, flaking paint, water spots, a totally torn top and shredded interior. We also learned that it did not have a battery or maintenance records - and it hasn't been registered since 1992. Urgh.
On the roughly hour-long drive back to Hollywood, here's what we determined we learned from this little escapade:
1. A big pink Cadillac is a really cool looking car. We still plan on getting one (yes, we know we'll probably have to paint it ourselves) for the movie!
2. Buying a used car is never easy.
3. We don't know much about Simi Valley. It's sprawling and seems to be packed with C-grade Italian restaurants. (If you live in Simi and can point out its finer attributes to us, please do!).
4. We like it when people are direct and up-front.
So, though we are wiser than we were this morning, we are still unfortunately Cadillac-less. And, as many of you know, getting the right pre-1977 Cadillac for this film is essential!
With that in mind, if you have a hot tip on a pre-1977 Caddie in solid, drivable condition (we don't care too much about body condition) for sale for $3500 or less in the SoCal area, contact us NOW! If we end up buying the car we'll send you an Elvis vigil candle for free!!
Monday, May 21, 2007
King of the City by the Bay
Serendipity, baby. While up in SF to get testimonial from the lovely Susan Lowe (scroll down) we stayed to catch Elvises running in the world famous Bay to Breakers. Stay tuned for pictures from our trip.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Off to San Fran
hello. off to san fran today to do our first fan interview.
check out the new links to elvis websites, if you're in dallas, go see a tribute artist!!!
check out the new links to elvis websites, if you're in dallas, go see a tribute artist!!!
Monday, May 14, 2007
This just in
The good people of 24 Bros. (Josh and J. Martin, link to the left) will be joining the 3-lady crew in Austin, TX and accompany us up to Dallas, Tupelo and then on to Memphis. Good times.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
T minus 3 months
We are three months out! I invite all of our readers (at the moment there are only 3!) to send me photos of Elvis now to post. Elvis now is anything that represents the King now. Art, folk art...kitsch, whatever you see and take a picture of!
See the photo below of me and some people with an impersonator in San Fran. That is Elvis now. TCB!
See the photo below of me and some people with an impersonator in San Fran. That is Elvis now. TCB!
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