The Times, they are a-changing

In case you haven't heard, the L.A. Times is going through more hard times lately. This music blog took a big hit, losing several of our regular contributors, including Casey Dolan, Liam Gowing, Jason Gelt, Camilo Smith and Kevin Bronson. We also lost Richard Cromelin, a long-time staff writer who wrote lovely pieces recently on Steve Wynn and "Mamma Mia!"

Soundboard is a group blog, so you've seen these names mixed in with many others. Some of them are leaving right away, and some of them we'll get to enjoy for a few weeks longer. But all of them have their own stories, in addition to the ones they wrote:

Casey Dolan: Pity the rockist fool who has suggested to Casey that songs should be short, well-behaved nuggets. Casey liked it long and tangled. The son of a composer, he'll have you know, Casey had an insatiable appetite for prog-rock, jazz and anything truly funky.

Jason Gelt, aka Magnanimous Collector: Let us again regale you with the Magnanimous Collector's stats -- 2,500 LPs, 45s and 10-inches. In other words, nonstop music for more than 65 days. Can your itunes library touch that? Jason always wrote with enthusiasm about his beloved thrash and trash; look for the Collector at Mr. T's Bowl and other centers of scuzz.

Liam Gowing: Do you need a guy who can kick ass on drums and skydive? Then Liam's your man. Known as Action Man around The Guide and Will Call Winner extraordinaire on this blog, Liam documented his experience at Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp with humor and sensitivity. Read it while listening to your favorite never-ending guitar solo.

Camilo Smith: Our correspondent in hip-hop, Camilo will be covering Nas tonight at the Roxy but we already miss him. He had a soft spot for the backpackers of yore and New Jack swing but he saw far and wide into music, including the rave-y fringes of DJ culture and world music.

Kevin Bronson: Recognize this guy? Perhaps you saw him pogoing in front of you at a show or racing across the Polo Field at Coachella, with a silver laptop in tow, handy for blogging about whatever band was lucky enough to capture his eye, which included the Silversun Pickups, the Airborne Toxic Event and a whole slew of other kids with angular haircuts hanging out in Silver Lake. He started Buzz Bands, a column which became The Times' first music blog before folding into Soundboard. That's him pictured above, smiling in the post-concert detritus of Spaceland. Never was a man more blissful around crumpled fliers and empty beer cups -- the sign of a good show -- than Kevin Bronson.

You might see their names on Soundboard in the future, but in the meantime, we wish them all the best of luck.

--Margaret Wappler

Photo courtesy of KBro

Comments

[Kevin]

Kevin Bronson, thank you. In the short time I was exposed to your column I found numerous local bands and much more enjoyment.

LA Times, no thanks to you. It may seem like tough times call for tough decisions, but losing subscriptions due to the very cuts you *have* to make does not bode well for the future.

[guest]

That sucks! I feel their pain. I'm also gonna lose my job soon!

[Bruce]

Kevin Bronson didn't really give all local bands a chance. He came off really biased and also as an elitist, only promoting bands he particularly liked. There are tons of local bands he never mentioned that deserved recognition but weren't up to his standards. Not a very good idea to be biased as a music writer with your "select few" local bands. Glad to see him gone.

[MEA]

That photo was taken by Kristy Sparow (www.sparowphotography.com)