Former Culver City resident Adam Smith, a musician and political activist, takes a break from Los Angeles City Council meetings to perform at the Cinema Bar this week, and he told the News about what he has in store for his old hometown.
When did you start playing and performing?
I started playing acoustic guitar in the late ‘90s, and have been writing music on and off since the early 2000’s. I moved to L.A. in early 2003, a few weeks before the U.S. invaded Iraq, and have been writing protest songs and topical songs ever since.
Describe your sound…
I like to describe my sound as acoustic fight music, as my songs are generally soft, with a lot of fingerpicking, but I’m generally pissed off about something or someone when I’m writing them. I really enjoy writing songs to respond to current events, and use L.A. City Council meetings, L.A. Police Commission and other public meetings as vehicles to sing songs that may only have lyrical relevance for a particular day or vote, but it’s a fun way to stay engaged politically.
What are your career highlights so far?
Over the years, I’ve done some intense songwriting challenges, like writing, recording and posting on YouTube a song every day for a month at a time. It’s been fulfilling to push myself to churn out imperfect songs to encourage the writing process. Though I’d say some of my proudest career moments have come quite recently, like last summer out playing picket lines in support of striking workers, and even just this month, when students from various local university campuses have invited me out to play my songs in support of their Gaza Solidarity Encampments.
Do you have recorded music available?
I’ve got some recorded material linked at anotheradamsmith.com.
Have you performed at the Cinema Bar before? Any memories?
I’ve played at the Cinema a lot over the years, starting back in 2005 or so. It’s always been a place I love coming back to play, and when I lived in Culver City for a time, I was proud to go there as a local!
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
I’m looking forward to this show coming up on May 23, as I’ll be using it as an excuse to celebrate my birthday, and will have some great musicians. Matthew Schoenfeld and Paul Barone and others, who also happen to be great friends, will be up to join me on some songs.
What else do you have coming up?
I recorded a couple songs about a year ago at New Monkey Studios in the valley (formerly Elliott Smith’s studio) and am looking forward to getting back in there this summer to put together an album.
Adam Smith performs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next show at Boulevard Music is Banshee in the Kitchen, on Saturday, May 25. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more info.
