ONE WORD OR TWO ABOUT LIVE MUSIC
It’s always a gamble. A risk you must take.
Recently I followed my own column recommendations …
I caught Dave Wakeling, founder / leader / songwriter and most importantly THE VOICE of all those great hits from The (English) Beat and General Public delivering a great concert to the crowded crowd in our new neighborhood, The Venice, looking very promising west, is on Lincoln. But I’ve seen Wakeling 8-10 times and this show wasn’t what I hinted at in my column. Not nearly as many hits, too many slower or little known songs. The band was excellent, but they can be killers on these hits.
Last week I was up in Northridge for a promising show (90 minutes there, 28 back): Police founding drummer Stewart Copeland, a sensational player, had arranged these great songs for a 28 piece orchestra plus guitar and bass and three Singer. But I couldn’t “hear” it, even in the acoustically fine Soraya Hall and sitting right next to the soundboard. Copeland was too loud and the bass boomed in the first half and the singers were too loud and the guitar and instrumental soloists were inaudible the whole time. I had never encountered bad sound there. The mixologist looked around 20 and said, embarrassed during the break, “We had a few technical problems.” But they were never fixed.
But you still have to show up for the gold. You will almost always get this if you choose wisely. And as the great philosopher of Kings Wayne Gretky said, adjusted here – you will 100% miss all of the great concerts you don’t go to.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
HARVELLE’S is celebrating Jason & Damian’s 4th anniversary there with THE DAMN WELL PLEASE ORGAN TRIO – If you’ve somehow managed to never make it to Harvelle’s in the past 90 years, now is your perfect opportunity, because Darius Holbert, alias The DWPOT is a show like no other, a mob of excellent musicians who populate the stage on the edge of the chaos, but with Darius tending these cats to make them sound like New Orleans heaven. He’s mostly retired now and only plays here, and usually just for Mardi Gras, so what are you waiting for? Fri 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, DTSM, $ 10.
CELSO SALIM & DARRYL CARRIERE – I’ve kept telling you about these two because even though it looked like they would be there forever, that word doesn’t exist for musicians and now they go, this will be their last show. Just walk down Main Street on a lovely Sunday afternoon to see a spectacular slide guitar harmonica vocal blues duo. Earlier than before because of the blunt DST change. Sun 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., parking next to Ashland Hill, Main Street, free.
EM THE MASTER – I HAVE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED EM’s show for months and I still do. “The master”? Too much hype in the marquee? Not if you can back it up, and em will. She sings, dances, has dancers. She crawls across the floor like a reptile, grabs the microphone and never misses a beat. She doesn’t play the piano, she attacks it. Use your voice as an instrument in a creative way. Your energy is uninterrupted and seemingly limitless. Writes great songs that fit her act perfectly, and she may remind you of a more energetic Lady Gaga. Every Tuesday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, DTSM, $ 10.
RECOMMENDED:
THIS EVENING! – HAMILTON – I think the only way I can go wrong is if I don’t recommend it, based on what I’ve heard and read. Tonight – Thu, Fri, Sat, Tue, Wed, next Thu 8 p.m., Sun 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m., also Sat 2 p.m., Pantages Theater, Hollywood, $ 49-3000 +, depending on date / time.
PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT presents HANSEL UND GRETEL – A few years ago LA Opera did H&G and I had reservations, I mean really, a children’s fairy tale, not the heavy moral problems that opera usually tackles? But it was great and fun, and I expect the POP to deliver their own unique brand of it, family friendly, sung in English, outdoors in Forest Lawn Cemetery, it’s the perfect introduction to opera for kids and adults looking to get away like children behave opera. Being directed by co-founder Josh Shaw is a huge plus. The gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and there will be table spaces for picnics before and during each show. Free parking spaces available. Sat, Sun 5 p.m.; Forest Lawn Glendale, $ 10-125.
LIBRARY GIRL presents MICHAEL CAINE PROJECT, Part III – I missed Part I & II! But I bet that won’t matter for Part III. If you love Michael Caine, especially movies with him, or poetry, spoken word, and music then you should be here. There’s nothing like it in LA, and it’s in our back yard. And at reasonable prices, with free parking and dessert. Such an offer. Sun 7 p.m., Ruskin Group Theater, SM Airport, $ 15.
THE TOLEDO SHOW – There is little in this life that you can rely on, especially in the world of live music, but two of them are: Toledo Diamond 1), which shows up every Sunday evening at Harvelle for 20 (!) Years, and 2) put on a great show. I’m now in my fifth decade of being entertained by The Toledo Show, which dates back to its beginnings outside the Sunset Strip, and the show and its band have only gotten better over the years. Every Sunday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, DTSM, $ 12.
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY: “Appalachian Spring” – I haven’t seen her in decades, but companies that reach their notoriety usually keep their mojo going through leadership and personal change and changing cultural winds. so long ago this will be an unforgettable experience. Music by Aaron Copeland, choreography by Graham. Sun 8 p.m., The Soraya, CSU Northridge, $ 41-86.
COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA: “Music of Ella Fitzgerald” – This 18-piece band (playing the Basie charts?), Some of which Basie hired a long time ago, has received some rave reviews for producing solid swing , for whom Basie was known, and while obviously no one could replace his incomparable singer Ella Fitzgerald, Lizz Wright is a great choice and does it wisely Lizz Wright, not Ella. Wed 8 p.m., The Soraya, CSU Northridge, $ 41-86.
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS: PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT presents HANSEL UND GRETEL, Forest Lawn Glendale, November 20-21; LA OPERA presents ROSSINI’s “CINDERELLA”, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 11/20/12/12; BONEDADDYS, Venice West, November 21; DIE SCATALITEN, Venice West, March 12th; CHARLIE HUNTER – SCOTT AMANDOLA DUO, Venice West, 12/4; PONCHO SANCHEZ and his Latin Jazz Band, Catalina Jazz Club, 12/10/12; JOHN MAYALL, WALTER TROUT, Saban Montclair, 12/12; TAKE 6 CHRISTMAS, Pepperdine, 12/15; X, BLASTER, Henry Fonda, 12/16; MUSICARES HONORS JONI MITCHELL, LA Convention Center, 1/29/22.
Charles Andrews has heard a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 2,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 34 years and would not live anywhere else in the world. For real. Send love and / or rebuke to [email protected]
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