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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Wednesday special with a WONDERFULLY cheap deal!

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(GUIDE Blogspot edition no. 1,525.)
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Contents / in this edition:

1) WEDNESDAY'S TOP RECOMMENDATION (THROUGH SUNDAY, BUT ESPC. TONIGHT): THEATRE IN PASADENA

2) THREE MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TONIGHT

3) TICKET ALERTS: ON SALE FRIDAY & SATURDAY

4) TV: "THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" EXAMINES "HOW CAN A PARTY UNITE?"

5) CATCH A WEB SHOW ST. PADDY'S DAY MORNING

Here are those features.

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# 1 news feature...

WEDNESDAY'S TOP RECOMMENDATION (THROUGH SUNDAY, BUT ESPC. TONIGHT): THEATRE IN PASADENA

Boston Court Theatre's production of "Colony Collapse" comes to an end on Sunday. There are only 5 performances remaining. You should go.

TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16th is the special "$5 Night," which means every available ticket is only $5.

Thursday through Sunday tix are $35 and $39. Running time is 2 hours, 50 minutes.

No advance sales for the Wed. evening special. All the tickets are first come, first served at the door, beginning at 7 pm.

Theatre management tells us, "We've grown quite fond of this cast and crew, and if you've seen the production you have had a glimpse into why. How could you not love these awesome people?"

The L.A. Times review by Darryl H. Miller describes the premise:

"The widespread devastation of honeybees, as dutiful workers abandon their hives and leave their dependents to implode, is a key metaphor in the new play 'Colony Collapse.'

"That sort of symbolism can quickly turn heavy, but playwright Stefanie Zadravec keeps it buoyant as she tells a tale of lost souls."

Read the complete review at:

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-86005289/

Watch a video preview of "Colony Collapse" at:

www.bostoncourt.org

Read all of the reviews in their entirety, at:

https://weplaydifferent.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/review-rundown-colony-collapse/

Boston Court Theater, 70 N Mentor Av, Pasadena. Curtain at 8 pm, Thu-Sat; 2 pm for the closing show this Sunday. Ends March 20.

Info & advance tix (except for the Wed. special), 626-683-6883; www.bostoncourt.org


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# 2 news feature...

THREE MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TONIGHT

Yep, TOMORROW is St. Patrick's Day, and we'll bring you recommendations in the morning for how to get your shamrock on. But there IS good music tonight...

√ Taylor John Williams plays his "stylistic blending of folk and soul" Wednesday night at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. There aren’t a whole lot of bells and whistles attached to the music crafted and performed by the 24 year old musician from Oregon. He’s not what you’d call a working developer of sonic experimentation. He’s not interested in making an audience wonder “what that sound was.” Instead his allure comes from a certain visceral desperation to make a lasting living as a storyteller. Williams combines the spiritual cadence of a Glen Hansard, or Jeff Buckley, with his own unique impression; one that clearly displays his deep-rooted kinship to the pain of the earth. While he may be most well known for his unique reimagining of popular hits such as Lorde’s “Royals,” and Tears For Fears’ “Mad World” on season 7 of NBC’s “The Voice,” his original works showcase truly distinct perspectives that feel both universal, and strangely foreign at the same time. His independently-released debut EP, “Song of a Dead Man,” contains a barrage of thoughtful, forthright lyricism delivered through a stylistic blending of folk and soul. The music speaks to the impermanence of everything, the importance of constant appreciation, and the idea that love and ownership have no business together. The EP garnered immediate attention, breaking into the iTunes top 100 albums chart and acting as a very promising first statement for the young musician. Ride the Red Line subway to Hollywood & Vine Station, walk a block to Cajuenga, then half a block S to the venue. Advance tix at: www.hotelcafe.com
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√ Pre-St. Patrick's "Irish Wednesday,"
in Altadena:
8 pm PATRICK BALL brings his "Celtic Harp & Story" concert to the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena. It's sold-out, but you can try for the waiting list, at: 626-798-6236.
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√ Pre-St. Patrick's "Irish Wednesday,"
in South Pas:
8:30-11:30 pm Weekly "IRISH SESSION" is a structured jam with Michael Kelly (Sligo Rags) presiding, at Griffins Of Kinsale, 1007 Mission St, South Pasadena; 626-799-0926. Free.


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# 3 news feature...

TICKET ALERTS: ON SALE FRIDAY & SATURDAY

On Sale Friday...

√ Brett Dennen with Firekid: show is May 27 at the El Rey Theatre in L.A. (use your browser, and start with the venue to save big corporate extortion charges.)

√ "An Intimate Evening with Good Old War (Acoustic)": show is June 24 at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. Keith Goodwin is a singer /songwriter / multi-instrumentalist who owns a cat named King and a dog named Jet. He’s a middle child with two children of his own. Keith writes, at the very least, an idea for a song each day and is known for unique stage dancing. Dan Schwartz is a music-obsessed Sagittarius with a bike riding habit the size of Philadelphia. He is also a coffee enthusiast and an avid reader who doesn't need a movie to be "good" to like it. He enjoys a game of dominos and a shot of whiskey with friends. Most of all, Dan is a guitar player, songwriter, and harmony singer. "Broken Into Better Shape" (2015) finds Good Old War pushing their musical boundaries to the limit. Road-weary from two years at sea, the trio set out to write an album full of songs that were not limited to sounding perfect in a live experience. The result is the band’s proudest moment, an album of lush, well-crafted songs with no filler, ten songs whittled down from a pool of over forty. Tix on sale Fri, Mar 18, 10 am, at: www.hotelcafe.com

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On Sale Saturday...

√ ★★★ Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, plus Emmylou Harris: show is July 8 at the Santa Barbara Bowl (the Guide will have details, soon.)

√ ★★★ Steve Martin and Martin Short with The All Male Bluegrass Boys: show is August 14 at Santa Barbara Bowl (the Guide will have details, soon.)

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On Sale Now:

√ ★★★ Midori and "The Planets," with Pacific Symphony: multiple concerts, Thu-Sat, April 28-30, at 8 pm, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa; go early for the talk with the maestro at 7 pm. This'll be a classical music show of the year; here are 4 reasons why: (1) Mesmerizing virtuoso, former child prodigy,  and so famous that she goes by one name — Midori — joins Pacific Symphony to perform Erich Korngold’s achingly beautiful "Violin Concerto," which the composer reimagined from four of his acclaimed film scores. (2) The exquisite program is led by Grammy and Juno award-winning music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey, whom Musical America called: “One of the most versatile and charismatic musicians in the world.” (3) Plus, Tovey leads the orchestra in grand, thrilling, wholly iconic music inspired by the galaxy — Gustav Holst’s dramatic interpretation of the cosmos, “The Planets,” enhanced by the voices of the women of Pacific Chorale (John Alexander, artistic director); (4) and, Debussy’s luminous piano piece, “Clair de Lune,”  orchestrated by the legendary Leopold Stokowski. A preview talk with Alan Chapman begins at 7 pm. Advance  tix ($25-$110, and it'll sell-out), are now available at: 714-755-5799, or www.PacificSymphony.org
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√ Jeffrey Foucault: show is May 10 at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. Jeffrey Foucault hits the road last fall with a full band release tour, bringing the backing band from the album — and that's noteworthy. The lineup features legendary electric guitar player Bo Ramsey (Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown), bassist Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T, Cold Satellite) and longtime drummer and tour partner Billy Conway (Morphine). Caitlin Canty, whose breakout 2015 release, "Reckless Skyline" was one Jeffrey Foucault produced and played on, joins the band on backing vocals. It's a hand-picked lineup whose natural affinity — featuring Ramsey's economy of phrase and raw simplicity — are the perfect compliment to Foucault's elegant lines and weather-beaten drawl. It's evident from first moment, with the whole ensemble notable for an instinctive restraint and use of negative space. These aren't kids copping riffs: these are grown men drawing from the deep, strange well of real American music, and they have nothing to prove. With "Salt As Wolves" — his 10th studio album and fifth collection of original songs — Foucault gives us a tough, spare collection of darkly rendered blues and ballads, like a field recording of a place that never existed. In a series of letters to lovers, friends, heroes, and family, Foucault deftly weaves together disparate strands of sound and experience, raw love, and hard wisdom. Tix on sale now at: www.hotelcafe.com
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√ Ruby Friedman Orchestra plays April 5 at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. The Ruby Friedman Orchestra is releasing its long-awaited album "Gem." The L.A.-based band is fronted by vocalist-songwriter Ruby Friedman,dubbed “L.A.’s own dynamic diva” by LA Weekly; The Los Angeles Times boiled its reaction down to four stars and one word: “POWERHOUSE.” Friedman’s stops-out vocal performances — drawing on such diverse sources as Bessie Smith, PJ Harvey, Aretha Franklin, and Patsy Cline — and affecting original songs, have enraptured audiences at such L.A. venues as House of Blues, the Troubadour, the Roxy, the Satellite, the Echo, and the Hotel Café (where the band played a weekly residency). She has also appeared with legendary pianist Tom McDermott at "Jazz Fest" in New Orleans and as guest vocalist with the top-flight big band of Grammy winners / "Boardwalk Empire" cast members Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks in NYC. Her solo single, “The End of the World,” captured airplay on KROQ, KCSN, and KCRW. Her music has been keenly featured on both FX series "Justified" and "Sons of Anarchy," as well as FoxSports and NBC promos, and her vocal version of Sly and The Family Stone’s “Family Affair” was featured on the 2nd season trailer for Emmy Award-winning "Transparent." Ruby Friedman is the featured vocalist on the Clio Award-winning 2015 multimedia and TV campaign blitz for Sony PS4's "Bloodborne." Tix on sale now at: www.hotelcafe.com
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√ The Shadowboxers play Hotel Café in Hollywood on April 28. The Shadowboxers have a passion for captivating lyrics, tight harmonies, and soulful vocals. Founding members Scott Schwartz, Matt Lipkins, and Adam Hoffman experienced an almost-instantaneous musical compatibility when they first started writing together. They’ve forged a cohesive sound based on a shared reverence for the strong,taut harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel, D’Angelo, and The Beatles. This young band’s unified sound has an R&B-soaked, smart perspective replete with an abundance of vocal talent and songwriting skill. In the short time they’ve been playing together, The Shadowboxers have found a collective voice that is intelligent, soulful, and catchy. Check out their cover of "Pusher Love Girl" Live in Atlanta on the venue's site. Tix on sale now at: www.hotelcafe.com


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# 4 news feature...

TV: "THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" EXAMINES "HOW CAN A PARTY UNITE?"

The record field of presidential candidates continues (mercifully) to narrow during the excruciatingly long primary and caucus process. Next comes the questions of solidarity behind the eventual party nominees.

Speculation of whether current front-runners can yet be defeated, and even breakaway parties, are running rampant.

There are numerous times in our history when there were divisions within political parties, existential questions of whom to stand behind, and which two-person ticket would represent the best chance at winning the White House. "THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE," the long-running PBS series, produced its own miniseries, "The Presidents," a few seasons back. It has fresh relevancy in this improbable year. Their online offerings, featuring clips and resources from the series' library of presidential biographies and full episodes, remind us that presidential nominees are not always decided before a convention starts.

You can watch video features on this topic, or entire, in-depth, award-winning bios of individual presidents, free and on-demand, at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/presidents/
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Plus...

This Week in Presidential History...

On March 12, 1947, in response to Great Britain's withdrawal of military and financial support to the Greek government for its civil war against the Greek Communist Party, President Harry Truman addressed a joint session of Congress to request $400 million in aid for Greece and Turkey. ($400 million was a breathtaking sum in postwar 1947.)

In what is now known as "The Truman Doctrine," the President outlined a shift in American foreign policy wherein the U.S. would offer assistance (financial, military, political) to democratic nations challenged by communist forces. He said:

"I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation." — Pres. Harry S Truman.

And therein is the basis of a lot of the Cold War.

The Guide's editor, who is something of an historian, adds:

By the way, did you notice there is no "period" after the "S" in Truman's name? That's because it isn't an initial that abbreviates a word. Truman's middle name was just "S" — thus, not "S."


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# 5 news feature...

CATCH A WEB SHOW ST. PADDY'S DAY MORNING

Tune-in to hear The Harmony People, Shane Alexander, and Holly Ann Lewis, which airs on The Krush 92.5 FM on the Central Coast, and streams free at www.krush925.com.

It's a 9 am web & radio repeats of a performance that happened Tuesday night. One of many in the astonishingly abundant productions by Steve Key.

Details of more at http://songwritersatplay.com/calendar


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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS and ticket alerts, published separately, and always available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.

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More soon, as always.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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