Support local music

Here's some of the best shows around compliments of my friend Sierra Madre Sue (apologies to Sue and Billy, my computer didn't like your photo, sorry):

Guitar player extraordinaire BILLY BURKE has a studio next door to where I work in Sierra Madre, where he records, rehearses and gives guitar lessons. Some afternoons I am amused by the sounds of some kid playing AC/DC or Pat Benatar licks over and over! If I stay a little later in the evening, I can tell it's an adult with more discerning taste & I get to hear some cool old blues stuff. By night, Billy trades off blazin' guitar leads with band leader Willie, in LIGHTNIN' WILLIE AND THE POOR BOYS. You can see them this Saturday, Dec. 1st at the BUCCANEER LOUNGE and on New Year's Eve at Cafe 322, but I'll remind you about that in a few weeks! If you or your kid wanna be a rock 'n' roll star, call Billy for lessons at 626-622-6123. I'll look forward to hearing you through the walls someday!

THIS JUST ADDED: THURS. 11/29 - JEAN SUDBURY & FRIENDS @ SIERRA MADRE BOOKS, 6 - 9pm. 18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. - Downstairs. 626-836-3200. Violinist Jean hosts an acoustic evening with many of her talented friends; Pop & Jazz standards.

11/29 - Every Thursday at the Skyebox in Montrose, Better Than Blue (Danny, Felicia, Steve Hammett, etc.) continues to host a weekly Jam Night. It runs from 8:30 PM until 12. 3710 N. Verdugo Rd. 818-249-3617. Above the Sun Palace Chinese Restaurant. http://www.betterthanblue.com/openjampage.html

FRI. 11/30 - DAVE OSTI @ McMURPHY'S TAVERN IN PASADENA, 5pm - HAPPY HOUR! 72 N. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-666-1445. Full bar, drink & appetizer specials 4 - 7pm. Solo guitar & vocals, mostly originals.

FRI. 11/30 - CHICO'S BAIL BONDS doing a semi-acoustic thing @ THE DOCKSIDE GRILL RESTAURANT IN WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474. In the bar area, but you can order dinner there too. Full Bar. Blues. http://chicosbailbondsblues.com/

FRI. 11/30 - "SWING DANCE PARTY" with FLAT TOP TOM @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. "Pizza, Martinis and dancing the night away to great swing and blues!!! God bless!!" www.flattoptom.com


FRI. 11/30 - VELOURIA @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, cheap drinks, no cover, free parking, pool table. ROCK 'n ROLL. Richard Reese's kid's band, along with CANDYPANTS and SIGGY, 9pm.

SAT. 12/1 - ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAM @ SIERRA MADRE BOOKS STORE, 7pm. FREE. 18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. - DOWNSTAIRS. 626-836-3200. All are welcome - bring your instrument and/or voice and join in the music making! http://www.sierramadrebooks.com/

SAT. 12/1 - Open Mic Night @ the FRETHOUSE in Covina. 309 N. Citrus Ave. (626) 339-7020. Always on the first Saturday of the month, and just one dollar for performers or audience. Sign-up starts at 7:30. If there aren't enough slots for everybody they'll make a list for the next month, and call you. Each act gets two songs or ten minutes, whichever comes first. The show starts at 8:00. They'll have desserts and coffee ready. Bring your friends and family and join the show! 31st Occasional Doo Dah Parade Queen Naughty Mickie will make an appearance. www.covina.com/frethouse/

SAT. 12/1 - SIMON PURE @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Soups, sandwiches, pastries, desserts, coffee drinks, etc. Featuring Jarrett Lesko of Murphy's Flaw fame. Bluegrass.

SAT. 12/1 - JEFF STETSON and THE B.O. TRIO PLAY A "MIXED BAG AND SOME BLUES" @ ZEPHYR COFFEE HOUSE IN PASADENA, 8:30 - 10pm. 2419 E. Colorado Blvd., just E. of Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-793-7330. Soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, etc.

SAT. 12/1 - BETTER THAN BLUE @ CAPRI LOUNGE IN GLENDALE. Not sure of the time. 1134 N. Pacific Ave. 818-956-8738. Rock, Soul & Blues.

SAT. 12/1 - LIGHTNIN' WILLIE AND THE POORBOYS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9:15pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, free parking in back. Lightnin' fast BLUES from Willie and Billy & company! www.myspace.com/lightninwillie

SUN. 12/2 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 12/2 - GRANT PARK SOFTBALL - ALL ARE WELCOME! NOT A LEAGUE - JUST FOR FUN & THE LOVE OF THE GAME! CORNER OF CORDOVA & MICHIGAN IN PASADENA, 3 BLOCKS WEST OF PCC. BATTING PRACTICE 12:30, GAME TIME ASAP. BRING YOUR GLOVE, BAT, CHAIR, ICE CHEST, GUITAR, UKULELE, ETC. EVERY SUNDAY...

SUN. 12/2 - Have lunch with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food in a comfy setting. Bring the family! Acoustic folk/rock, classic country. Special guest Mark Switzer on Pedal Steel and Lap Steel guitars.

SUN. 12/2 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday evening.

12/4 - TACO TUESDAY @ MARY'S MARKET IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, with RON CULLEN (aka Ron Ho from Hawaii) & FRIENDS, 6:30 - 9:30pm. 561 Woodland Ave. Limited parking. Acoustic Classic Rock.

FYI: MAX BUDA WILL NOT BE DOING THEIR REGULAR 1st WED. AT CAFE 322 - SEE THEM NEXT WEEK ON WED. 12/12.

FRI. 12/7 - "1st FRIDAY ART CLUB" @ McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World in Altadena. 2475 N. Lake Ave. 626-794-8779. $5 - includes dinner! The belly dance duo Almase Arabesque will be joined by Tamara and Friends for a performance featuring swords, shimmies and live drums. There will be artwork by indie artists on display and available for purchase, a band, a buffet style dinner and more. Queen Naughty Mickie of the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will also make an appearance.

FRI. 12/7 - RICK SHEA & THE LOSIN' END with TRACY HUFFMAN @ THE PRESS IN CLAREMONT, 10pm - 1am. 129 Harvard Ave. 909-625-4808. Honky Tonk Blues/Country. http://rickshea.com/

FRI. 12/7 - BOBBY BRADFORD MOTET @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian food. A fixture on the local jazz scene, Bobby Bradford is best known for his early 70's work with Ornette Coleman, and was one of my brother Rick's early musical influences.

SAT. 12/8 - MURPHY'S FLAW @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, with STEPHANIE BETTMAN & THE BOYS, 8 - 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-836-1596. Soups, sandwiches, pastries, desserts, coffee drinks, etc. Individual and combined sets from these two Bluegrass bands.

SAT. 12/8 - SNOTTY SCOTTY & THE HANKIES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table, free parking. Garage Rock & amusing antics from Scotty & the boys - always sure to please!

SAT. 12/8 - THE MOONLIGHT WRANGLERS @ THE CONTINENTAL ROOM IN FULLERTON, 10pm. 115 Santa Fe Ave. 714-237-0077. Orange County's oldest bar, since 1925. Fiddler JANE FRIMODIG of Horses on Astroturf fame, saddling up with her old band on a few songs. My report from visiting their website: 4 guys named Mike & a guy named Carlo doin' some pretty cool countrified jazzy lounge-a-billy stuff, and one or more of them attended Monrovia High School!
http://www.myspace.com/themoonlightwranglers

SUN. 12/9 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 12/9 - THE MERCY POWELL QUARTET @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Mercy, Josh, Marc & Peter Burke doin' some standards & jazzy stuff for your dining & listening pleasure! A whole other side of Mercy - not to be missed!

SUN. 12/9 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday evening.

Please remember to call and verify all info. before making plans. Everything is subject to change. This is show biz, after all.

Hope to see you out & about,
SierraMadreSue
sierramadresue@yahoo.com

FOR EVEN MORE COOL SHOWS & INFO., CHECK OUT THESE SITES:
http://www.myspace.com/americanarootsla
http://www.aliveandpicking.com /calendar.html
http://www.beantowncoffeebar.com/calendar.html
http://www.coffeegallery.com/home.html
http://www.covina.com/frethouse /concerts.html
http://www.swhillcountry.com
http://cafe322.com/