Los Angeles has something to offer everyone. For the cynical, it’s a great place to watch your world-view confirmed, as so many young aspirations get squashed every day by a machine that rewards those lucky enough to be already born famous. For the hopeful, there’s still plenty of signs of life here, with ideas of making art that matters, or art that might matter somewhere, always right on the surface of the ocean. It’s always within grasp, and out of reach just enough to keep you moving in new directions. For those who love history everywhere, there is a lot to see here. It has multiple layers, with all of the world’s cultures living in one sprawling place, and they all seem to be driving in the same direction at the exact same time.
It’s a spectacular place to look at the history of the film industry, of superstar’s lives, and there are many other nooks and crannies to explore, too. If you happen to be looking for a Los Angeles cheap hotel, and have heard of Tom Waits, then you’ll enjoy all of the city, in all different kinds of light. Those who really know his music understand the deep sense of heartache, as well as the strange dark humor, and will no doubt recognize it in the city of broken dreams. His characters all still seem to live here, or these might be their sons and daughters, roaming the streets, looking for something that’s vital but also probably lost forever.
It doesn’t even matter that it’s lost, not all that much, because the power of his art is in expressing a hope that exists after all hope is lost. Somewhere in the deep morning hours, after the party is over, and no one expects anything any more, this is the point where his voices start to speak in the most beautiful and poignant way. The Tom Waits Tour of L.A. can show you all the secret spots in his songs, and take you to some of his favorite haunts, when he was living here and developing his persona that would eventually turn into a cultural icon.