June 20 events, Acoustic Americana Music Calendar & News 2008

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"Tied to the Tracks"
ACOUSTIC AMERICANA
MUSIC CALENDAR & NEWS
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Events for June 20, 2008
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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June calendar, as a continuous read, is now at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, along with each day’s updated post of events, and our newest popular feature, the anniversaries of things that happened on that date.
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Each day’s updated events and anniversaries are also at www.myspace.com/laacoustic – for the time being. Because Myspace now accepts only short posts, we must go through the ponderous process of listing events there in small blocks, usually one day at a time – so, the calendar will move to other sites, and that will happen soon.
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FUTURE EVENTS are posted into 2009. We update often, and we add a BUNCH of concerts, club gigs, workshops, and recurring events as dates arrive. Things are easy to find at at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com; on our myspace site, reading into the future curiously requires that you use the “Older Entries” button that appears when you click “View All” – thus going “back” to the future… just one of the many myspace aberrations that will cause us to abandon it soon.
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LATEST NEWS FEATURES always post separately. The most recent edition posted June 19; previous news features posted June 13; recent editions are available at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com; earlier editions are still available on the myspace page (www.myspace.com/laacoustic), by using the “View All” button, and if you don’t see what you want, then you’ll need to journey farther back than recent editions by using the “older entries” button as many times as necessary, to find what you want (curiously, to see into the future as well as into the past) and you can go all the back to when acoustic music was made by indigenous natives pounding on hollow logs with rocks.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 20
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Today’s anniversaries:
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GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES was adopted by Congress in 1782, after 6 years of consideration of various designs. The face is the eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows, with a shield of 13 stars and 13 stripes, and the motto, “E Pluribus Unum.” The reverse side, with its eye and pyramid, is the subject of all manner of modern speculation and efforts to ascribe sinister meanings.
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WEST VIRGINIA entered the union in 1863, having been carved-off of Virginia, then a seceded state and part of the Confederacy. It gave the residents of the mountainous region what the majority wanted, and bolstered Lincoln’s government with more votes from the new state’s members in Congress.
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“BENNY GOODMAN’S SWING SCHOOL” made its final broadcast in 1939, after a 3-year run on radio. It helped popularize swing jazz, nationwide.
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ED SULLIVAN ON-AIR in 1938, as “Toast of the Town,” his original variety show, debuted. It would later be known as “The Ed Sullivan Show,” move to TV, and last until 1971.
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U.S.-SOVIET “HOT LINE” agreement reached in 1963, to create a direct line on a “red phone” between the two heads of state. After nearly having a nuclear war in the Cuban Missile Crisis on October, 1962, it was an unprecedented step toward communication aimed at preventing disaster. It became a popular plot device in techno-thrillers and movies for three decades.
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“JAWS” OPENED in 1975 and just as Hitchcock’s “Psycho” kept people out of the shower, Steven Spielberg and Peter Benchley kept ‘em out of the water. It won 3 Oscars, and was the highest-grossing film ever, until “Star Wars” in 1977.
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ALASKAN OIL arrived from the Alaska Pipeline this day in 1977, through the $8 billion, three-years-to-build, 48 inch diameter conduit. The “Exxon Valdez” tragedy in 1989 would follow, near where tankers collect oil at the pipeline’s southern terminus in Valdez, AK. Today, a controversy rages over whether to honor the protections in place for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) or whether to allow Big Oil to invade the refuge and drill for oil that would be pumped south through an extension of the old and deteriorating pipeline.
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SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM was installed by President Jimmy Carter on the White House on this day in 1979. President Reagan would order the system removed, and the White House returned to the utility grid.
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TODAY’S EVENTS:
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Fri-Sun, Jun 20-22; in Colorado:
The TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL (www.bluegrass.com/telluride) continues (began Thu, Jun 19), as much acoustic roots music as bluegrass, it includes the prestigious Telluride Troubadour singer-songwriter competition. If you're looking for an early summer road trip, this one is fabulous. Tix went on sale in Dec, and it always sells-out. The venue is in the bottom of a box canyon, 10,000 ft above the sea, in Telluride, Colorado, and the view to the left of the stage includes a 600 waterfall. You must go, at least once.
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For those who just need to get out of town, and want an escape with a lot of music, consider the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, then the South Park Music Tour in Central Colorado, which is a FREE festival of all music genres, June 26-29 (see calendar listing). Now, THAT’s a Rocky Mountain High!
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Fri, Jun 20:
Annual 2008 “LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL” continues today, runs Jun 19 through Jun 29, showcasing more than 100 feature films, alongside star-studded premieres, outdoor screenings, live musical performances, and a Family Day. Info and sched at www.lafilmfest.com.
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Fri, every week:
6-9 pm DAVE OSTI and DEANNA COGAN jam out on acoustic classic rock tunes every Friday at the Mayan Bar, 311 W Foothill Bl, Monrovia.
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Fri, every week:
6-8 pm OPEN MIC at Fendi's Café, 539 East Bixby Rd (near Atlantic), Long Beach; 562-424-4774.
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Fri, Jun 20:
7-10 pm LUIS OLIART at Rodrigo’s, 150 W Parkridge Av, Corona 92880; 951-738-0373.
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Fri, Jun 20:
7:30 pm “HOW THE WEST WAS SUNG” with MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY & THE RIO GRANDE BANK is the “Best of the West” program with the PASADENA POPS ORCHESTRA at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge 91011; www.DescansoGardens.org; 818-949-4200. Audience members will be transported to the Wild West when cowboy poet and singer MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY (“Carolina in the Pines” and “Wildfire”) saddles-up with the POPS. From Ennio Morricone's "Once Upon A Time in the West" theme to Jay Livingstone's theme for TV's "Bonanza," Maestra RACHAEL WORBY, the POPS and Murphey will take the audience down the trail of the best of the Old West. (Show runs Fri & Sat, Jun 20 & 21.) Dinner available. Free parking. Reserv recommended. $20.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8 pm LOWEN & NAVARRO plus STONEHONEY opening, at McCabe's, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica; 310-828-4497; www.mccabes.com. Get your tix immediately for this L&N small-band show, with PHIL PARLAPIANO on keys and accordion and PHIL HURLEY, DAVE PHENICIE and SCOTTY LUND of STONEHONEY backing.
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ERIC LOWEN & DAN NAVARRO are two of the greatest songwriters of our time. They wrote “We Belong,” which became a worldwide #4 hit for PAT BENATAR. You’ve heard them perform live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” where their previous album had its world premiere. Their songs have been recorded by many other top-selling artists, but no one delivers them with the marvelous harmonies of the pair themselves. They sparkle. Their new CD, “Learning to Fall,” is due in July. Dan tells us, “In the meantime, please enjoy the first video from the album, with 30-voice ALS Choir including patients (PALS), friends, family and caregivers, all joining in song to make a point. That life is beautiful with or without a serious disease. The love in the room was huge. Come savor some of it at http://lownav.c.topica.com/maalI5KabHEyLbPhQnzbaehoil.”
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ERIC LOWEN continues to battle ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and, as trite as it sounds, he is always an inspiration. The pair is playing some of then top folk festivals in America this summer. If you’ve seen Eric and Dan perform before, you already know why you want to be at this show. If you have never seen them, go. It is always a special privilege to see then perform live. Specific link for this show, http://lownav.c.topica.com/maalI5KabHD4sbPhQnzbaehoil. $20.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8 pm brings I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. plays “CALTECH UNDER THE STARS” an acoustic concert series, outdoors on Caltech's Beckman Mall, on the Caltech campus in Pasadena; 626-395-4652 or 888-222-5832. You’ve heard them performing live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” Formed in 1999 by ROB WALLER and brothers PAUL & ANTHONY LACQUES during a philosophical discussion on an East Mojave desert trek, I See Hawks In L.A. wrote their first songs and then sought advice from local country rock / roots / cowboy swing guru DAVID JACKSON, sideman with John Denver, Dillard & Clark, and Emmy Lou Harris. Jackson recorded Rob and Paul, adding his own melodic bass lines. This demo turned into featured songs on the Hawks debut on Ethic Records, featuring legendary fiddler BRANTLEY KEARNS (Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin, Hazel Dickens). The CD established the Hawks’ signature sound: high lonesome three-part harmonies, twangy guitar, and unadorned acoustic arrangements, with lyrics musing on mortality, whales, and the geography of pre-apocalyptic Los Angeles. Asrtists’ info, www.iseehawks.com. Free concert parking for Beckman Mall at 332 S Michigan Av, Pasadena (south of Del Mar Bl). Bring a blanket, a picnic dinner, and feel free to get up and dance. Texas barbeque and beverages will be available for purchase on-site from Barn Burner. No tix req’d, free.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8 pm O.C.TIMES bring innovative barbershop quartet to the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info www.coffeegallery.com; reservations 626-398-7917. The music of OC Times is inspired by artists like Michael Buble’, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis. This young, energetic quartet breathes new life into some of our favorite swing standards and rock and roll classics. Hailing from Orange County, CA, SHAWN YORK (tenor), SEAN DEVINE (lead), CORY HUNT (bass), and PAT CLAYPOOL (baritone) have taken barbershop harmony back to where it started over a century ago, as pop-culture. As a competing barbershop quartet, all four are proud members of the International Barbershop Harmony Society. OC Times won the 2007 2nd place International Quartet Silver Medal, and were 2004-2005 Far Western District Quartet Champions. In addition to their quartet accomplishments, all four are active members with the 6-time International Chorus Gold Medalists, THE MASTERS OF HARMONY, as well as section leaders of the 2007 International Gold Medal Chorus, WESTMINSTER. In April 2006, OC Times headlined a show in the Alice Tully Hall of the world famous Lincoln Center in New York City, and in Oct 2007, the quartet performed in Nottingham, England. Tours in 2008 will take the group to Sweden, Finland, and Russia. $15.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8 pm ANNA BENTHOLM-JENSEN at Suzy's Bar & Grill, 1141 Aviation Bl (at Prospect), Hermosa Beach; 310-379-0082. Anna is from Denmark, making her second US tour. We heard her last time she was in L.A., and she has some fine original songs, in English.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8-10 pm monthly “AMERICANA MUSIC CIRCLE” with MARK “POCKET” GOLDBERG, ERNEST TROOST, NICK KIRGO, JOHN STOWERS, and performing host LAUREN ADAMS, at Kulak's Woodshed, 5230-1-2 Laurel Canyon Bl, North Hollywood; 818-766-9913; info and live webcast at www.kulakswoodshed.com. Tonight’s show is a benefit for the venue’s legal defense fund.
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The Americana Music Circle in Los Angeles has been a local showcase for eight years. One artist or band opens the show, followed by a three-artist song circle, then Lauren Adams closes the show. The circle is designed to encourage the artists to play and sing each other's songs, and that leads to some magical musical moments.
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Featured performer is MARK "POCKET "GOLDBERG at 8 pm. One of L.A.'s most respected "roots" bass players, he is also a singer-songwriter and producer. His songwriting credits include covers by Jack Mack & The Heart Attack, Peach, Kirk "Eli" Fletcher, Finis Tasby, Randy Sacks, Jeffrey P. Ross, Big Buck, Paraphenalia, Twinkle Twang, and others. Some of the collaborators and musicians who contributed to Mark’s own album are Denny Freeman (Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Vaughn), John Herron (Wolfman Jack, Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Bros.), Mike Thompson (the Eagles, Rod Stewart, Johnny Rivers), Barry Goldberg (Electric Flag, Gladys Knight, the Ramones), Danny Timms (Bonnie Raitt, Highwaymen, Delbert McClinton), Matthew Nelson (Nelson, Red 37), Rick Shlosser (Van Morrison, Etta James, Dolly Parton), Zeke Zirngiebel (David Crosby, Warren Zevon, Tower o' Power), Stan Behrens (Willie Dixon, Jimmy Smith, Canned Heat), Phil Bloch (Ry Cooder, Terry Evans, T-Lou Zydeco), Dave Morgan (Rick Nelson, Ray Charles, Jim Messina), and others.
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The music circle brings at 8:30 pm with ERNEST TROOST, NICK KIRGO, and JOHN STOWERS. Emmy-winning and multiply Emmy-nominated composer ERNEST TROOST has written more than one hundred scores for films and television. He has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” where the title track of his bluesy CD, “All the Boats Are Gonna Rise,” was a “Listener Favorite of 2006.”
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LAUREN ADAMS performs at 9:15 pm. She’s performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and take a look at this piece by Laurie Joulie in “Take Country Back” magazine: “One listen and I was hooked. Superb, intelligent, thought-provoking songs written with the heart and soul of someone's who's been there and survived to write songs about it. Real songs for real people wrapped in melodies that , promise to capture, inspire and pull the listener in again and again. Songwriters of Lauren Adams' level are few and far between. "Secret Heart" not only begs to be heard, it deserves it!"
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More on the artists and the series at www.myspace.com/americanacircle and www.americanacircle. No cover, but it’s a benefit show.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8-9:15 pm CROSS TOWN COWBOYS at Borders, 24445 Town Center Dr, Valencia 91355. Info, www.CrossTownCowboys.com.
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Fri, Jun 20:
8 pm TRISH LESTER at Rattlesnake Slim’s Coffee, Tea, and Tack, 23127 Lyons Av, Newhall; 661-877-4165; www.myspace.com/rattlesnakeslims. Trish has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” and she is part of the ensemble of the “Women on the Move,” the charity CD for domestic violence shelters, and the CD that’s spent more time than any other, ever, as the top editors’ pick on CD Baby, where over 190,000 CDs compete for that honor. Also, we love the venue’s self-promo: “If you like pre-made concentrated coffee from a plastic bag or tea that comes from concentrate than keep goin’ down Lyons. If you prefer music that is produced by a giant media conglomerate and a computer, than stay away. If your preference for music is generated by Pro-Tools, not by people with talent, than stay away. Yeah, we know that we seem like a hick joint. We would rather be hick than fake. We have the blues all the time. We love Howlin Wolf and Ella. We listen to Billie and Willie. We design our own clothes. We have a nice selection of vintage hand made cowboy shirts perfect for the rockabilly in your family. Oh yeah and we are a tack and saddle shop too. Lets see you try and saddle up at Hollister. We brew our coffee and blend our shakes from beans not bags. We bring in live music Fridays and Satudays. If you want to be on our mailing list than just drop us a line at RattlesnakeSlims@earthlink.net.”
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Fri, Jun 20; live theater:
8 pm TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ “SUMMER AND SMOKE” for “L.A. Theatre Works” at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Bl, L.A. 90049; 310-440-4500; www.skirball.org. This sensuous play tells the story of a repressed minister's daughter who secretly longs for a man who is focused only on sexual conquest. Runs Wed, Jun 18 to Fri, Jun 20 at 8 pm; Sat, Jun 21 at 3 pm; Sun, Jun 22 at 4 pm. Skirball Members eligible for discount; gen’l $47 & $39.50; $20 students.
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Fri, every week:
8-10:30 pm THE PLOUGHBOYS play an every-Friday residency at the Tam O'Shanter, 2980 Los Feliz Bl, Los Feliz 90039; www.lawrysonline.com/tamoshanter_gen_info.asp; 323-664-0228. Band member Mark Romano says, “Great food, drinks, dancing, and of course, music!” Info & directions, www.theploughboys.com. All ages, no cover.
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Fri, every week:
8-10 pm ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE, singer-songwriter or band, at Kulak's Woodshed, 5230-1/2 Laurel Canyon Bl, North Hollywood; 818-766-9913; info / web simulcast at www.kulakswoodshed.com. Must be a member of venue in advance to gain entry. No cover, artists are unpaid, and a $10 donation to the venue is expected from each participant & audience member.
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Fri, Jun 20; rock-opera:
“THE WHO’S TOMMY” with ALICE RIPLEY & NONA HENDRYX runs Jun 18-29, at the Ricardo Montalban Theater, 1615 Vine St, Hollywood 90028. Somehow, the L.A. Times found it, even though it isn’t classical or jazz (usually the only music they acknowledge), and they have named it their “#1 L.A. Times Summer Theater Pick.” Sure, it’s largely an electric performance, but we’re sure you want to know about it. Info & tix, www.TheWhosTommy.com.
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Fri, repeats 3rd Fri, every month:
8:30-11 pm CONTRA DANCE at the War Memorial Hall, 435 S Fair Oaks Av, South Pasadena. Music by live band. Recent musicians have included TOM & PATRICK SAUBER, STEVE LEWIS and MIKE SAUBER. Dance instruction at 7:30 pm.
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Fri, Jun 20:
9 pm MANDA performs an acoustic set at the “BOHEMIAN SHINDIG” on The Key Club’s Main Stage, 9039 W Sunset Bl, West Hollywood 90069; 310-786-1712; www.acousticplayhouse.com. MANDA’s brand-new debut album, “KEEPS ON TURNING,” was an early pick by “Tied to the Tracks” host Larry Wines as a hit, when he wrote, “It’s outstanding, with a folk-rock temperament and songs that, if there is any justice in the world, will be hits you’ll hear for years to come.” Now her CD is nominated as Record Of The Year, with her song, “Wash It All Away,” nominated for Single Of The Year, in the Los Angeles Music Awards. Manda tells us, “The LAMAS have awarded me in the past with Female Singer-Songwriter Of The Year in 2005, and Indie Rock Single Of The Year for ‘Mr. Madness’ in ‘06, so here we go again =) The LAMAs take place on November 20th at The Music Box, so some time to wait for the final results.” Meantime, you catch her show tonight and hear her music. Artist info, www.mandamusic.net. $10.
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Fri, Jun 20:
9 pm COLDWATER CANYON at the Cowboy Palace Saloon, 21635 Devonshire St (Devonshire & Owensmouth), Chatsworth 91311; www.cowboypalace.com; 818-341-0166. Live music 7 nights a week, sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric. Preceded by free line dance lessons with Marie, 7-9 pm. No cover.
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View all of June at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, or listings continue at www.myspace.com/laacoustic with chronological date listings, as separate posts. On myspace, use the “view all” and then, curiously enough, the “older” button to see into the future, all the way into 2009. The calendar will be moving soon, where we won’t need to post events in small increments, and we’ll let you know when and to where. Meantime, the most recent info, both events and news, lives on both the myspace and the blogspot pages.
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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