I've been reading the Easy Reader for probably as long as it's been in existence, but that's over now. It's now a garbage can liner in my book. I even used to write a column for them, back in my college days when I was a journalism major, but they have recently violated the boundaries of good taste and journalistic responsibility when they without cause trashed my band Cubensis, our fans, and the band we pay tribute to, the Grateful Dead. Their "reviewer" Ryan Beachkowski crossed the border of decency in his June 19 article, which didn't critique the band except to rant that he'd hated Grateful Dead music for a good 40 years, calling it "heroin-induced," and instead he turned his rage on our innocent fans, whom he called "bad for business," unwashed, smelly, high on drugs and too cheap to buy drinks at a bar. Little did Beachkowski know that when he deliberately maligned and insulted a whole class of people with his near-racist remarks, they would stand up for themselves and call his article what it was, offensive, intolerant anti-60's rhetoric bordering on libel. The people he called "unwashed" confronted him with the fact that most of them are professional businessmen and women, many drive high-end cars and earn multiples of what Beachkowski must steal from the Easy Reader for his unprofessional drivel. They in fact bathe regularly, buy all the drinks they want in a bar, and enjoy the band Cubensis for a multitude of reasons, and they don't appreciate being degraded for their choice of entertainment by someone who claims his favorite music is "death metal" like Pulse of the Maggot, whose name more describes Beachkowski's intelligence than anything. More than the writer, I blame entertainment editor Bondo and ultimately publisher Kevin Cody for their abject failure to do their job and keep their writers within the bounds of decency. It's funny: Cubensis has been trying to get a writeup in the Easy Reader for years. I would call Bondo and invite him to lunch so we could discuss the band, but he wouldn't even give me the courtesy of a reply. Bondo's never going to fully admit that the article was harmful excrement. I LOVE how he declares we now "have a story about us" in his rag, like this is what we had in mind. Maybe I'll write a story about his heritage and about how inept he is in performing the duties of his profession, and even go so far as to say the people that actually read the crap he writes are filthy unwashed scumbags. Then, we'll publish it in the paper for all to see. This is essentially what he's done to US, so let's see if he enjoys his "story" as much as he thinks we should ours. Only the fact that I am a decent human being will prevent me from actually following through with that idea, but he would deserve it. Even though he's heard protests from over 200 fans by now, it's pretty clear that Bondo is flippantly trying to downplay the whole thing, minimize it, and actually joke about it. He suggests that the article was so over the top, it couldn't possibly be taken seriously. That's very convenient for HIM, but I won't be satisfied until the paper properly and completely validates that what the reporter did was inappropriate and outrageous, and wasn't even good enough to be called "yellow journalism". They need to issue a complete retraction, not just print a few letters to the editor like Bondo claims will happen next week, and they also should print an unbiased and fair review of the band. However, someone's going to have to tell me about it, because I will never again pick up a copy of an alleged newspaper which without justification seeks to tear down an established, popular band and its fans, and whose writer even has the gall to criticize other members of the press who have written favorably about the band. The "Easy Reader" is in the end not so easy to read. Please boycott this publication. read more

The Easy Reader is a bigoted, hate-spewing publication. They are not professional writers, publishers nor editors. I can't believe this newspaper can get away with publishing the disgusting filth they do. Let's all ban together and get rid of this newspaper and their trashy writers from our horizon. It's important to stand up for what is right, and in this day in age no publication should be allowed to be so downright disrespectful and self-righteous to allow crap like this to be written. Upon inquiring to their paper about this distasteful crap, the entertainment editor Bondo Wyszpolski wrote to me and some of my friends, telling me that myself and all Cubensis fans are jerks, nobody at the paper took the article seriously, and that they thought it was funny, etc. Some damn nerve... ----------- Here's what the article said: Live Music Review Cubensis by Ryan Beachkofski Published June 19, 2008 in the Easy Reader Cubensis, a self-proclaimed Grateful Dead uber-tribute band, needs an editorial kick in the hemp shorts for three specific reasons: First, a band could be the finest tribute band on earth with the ability to cover trademarked songs from the originators without a glitch or misstep. Fine. I have no argument that Cubensis may play Grateful Dead music to undeniable perfection. I wouldn't even know because I race to the tuner every time I hear one of the hillbilly heroin-induced-wannabe-jazz car crashes make it to air play. Secondly, I just don't get it. Finally, I feel that Cubensis' following is bad for business. It's a shocker, I know. But Cubensis has a 40-member hard core following that heels when the band comes a calling. Every band wishes for that blessing and every house booking agent knows that phenomenon is too good to turn away. The standard envelope for four sets of anything, no matter the number of members in a band, is $300 flat, unless the band has a name or an in-pocket following that plans to buy drinks. Cubensis asks for north of $1K. After my 10-minute punishment that put me in front of this band, I realized a few things about their groupies: 1) You're not helping the cause of saving water by refusing to shower. You only contribute to methane gas emissions that cause global warming. 2) Is it absolutely necessary to immediately remove your flip flops when entering an establishment that serves food and drink? And 3) don't show up high. That's what the bar is for. Pony up those few pieces of silver and buttons you keep in that silly pouch you made from hemp rope and sunshine and invest in some commerce. I took note from a reliable source after leaving the musical water boarding and asked the employee of another club about this band and its following: "You're right about the asking price and the patronage. They want a thousand bucks and the hippies don't spend a dime on drinks. The band gets the take at the door and we get left with bupkis and hours of mopping up after the blackfoots." In essence, I don't care if Bill Walton and the other hundreds of thousands of VW van-driving bad dancers see color in the music. I am utterly disappointed in my colleagues that inscribe "Cubensis plays with the same laid-back mastery as the Real McCoy." That is just plain promotional banter for hire. Cubensis is just an extension of the original Grateful Dead, whose music drove me to madness at UCSB (where the free-range Dead Heads account for the lingering odor of BO and patchouli oil). If you love it, great, please keep it to yourself. I, on the other hand, will practice my civic duty and choose not to choose. And get your carbon monoxide billowing vans a tune up. Forget "Saving the Rainforest," as your bumper sticker denotes. Save oxygen by getting that piece of #$@%! off the road. ER -------------------------------------------------- read more

So, I've only read, like, 5 pages, total, of one edition of EASY READER, but apparently such a tiny tiny sampling is enough to judge the entire newspaper and all its editors AND faithful readers, as proven by the publication of Ryan Beachkofski's review of Cubensis, whom he only saw for 10 minutes. With that being said, here is MY (equally unprofessional, biased, and amateurish) review of their paper: The EASY READER is a completely unprofessional, amateurish, hate-mongering piece of crap, and all its readers are self-obsessed, gas guzzling SUV drivers with fake tans and plastic boobs. I mourn the loss of the trees so sadly put to use to print the trash that EASY READER spews. The only people who use the EASY READER appropriately are the bums who use it to wipe their asses. read more

SERIOUSLY, I WISH I COULD GIVE NEGATIVE STARS ON THIS PIECE OF TRASH PUBLICATION. The Newspaper is run by idiots - from the writers to the editors and publishers. How can they be so lame and trashy? It pisses me off that people can call themselves "writers" who are purely idiots with an ignorant opinion of the world. I'm sure none of them have actually studied journalism or know anything about reporting/writing. It's quite obvious that most people could write more interesting articles than these jerks. It makes no sense that anyone would read this trash... Seriously folks, pick up the Pennysaver... MUCH more interesting than this crap. I wish we could get the trees back that its killed in its time on this earth. LAME. read more

The Easy Reader is such a gem in our community! They don't just cover local news with thoughtful insight, they also actively support the arts in a way that makes a huge difference. I'm always impressed by how they showcase and uplift local artists through features and ongoing exhibits.. bringing vibrancy and connection to our area. Kevin, in particular, deserves a special shoutout.. he is tirelessly genuinely dedicated to bringing meaningful stories to light. His work makes the Easy Reader feel personal and community-driven. We're lucky to have them here! read more

Horrible writers who defamation of character people , FAKE NEWS . News should reported from both sides of a story to get accurate position. If not, that's why it's fake news to sell subscriptions. Easy Reader lost credibility and will never get me to advertise w them. read more

Easy Reader is a community and entertainment newsweekly covering Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach. Home delivery is around 50,000 copies of Easy Reader per week. They also publish easyreadernews.com, Beach Magazine and Peninsula People. read more

Worst rag in South Bay. Period.