Thursday, January 24, 2008

Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

The music world lost a legend last weekend. And Sierra Madre lost a friend. Singer-songwriter, folk music icon, and former member of the Kingston Trio, John Stewart passed away Saturday morning in the same San Diego hospital he was born in, 68 years ago. A big fan of our little town, John spent alot of time here in Sierra Madre in recent years, and was inspired to write a song about it ("Jasmine") on his last album. He especially enjoyed the homey atmosphere of Bean Town and was known to stop in at the Buccaneer to see his favorite local band, Snotty Scotty & the Hankies. He loved their raucous version of his most famous song, "Daydream Believer", saying it was the best he ever heard! Last month, while recording for his next record, John invited Snotty Scotty to join him on that particular song, along with professional musicians Lindsey Buckingham, Russ Kunkel and Henry Diltz - all right here in Sierra Madre!
Being best pals with my boss (and friend) Greg, John visited our office many times. I brought in a Kingston Trio album that I purchased at a thrift store for 50 cents, and John said it was "overpriced!" He took the liberty of signing the autographs of all 3 members in his best imitation of their respective handwriting styles, and said it was "a pretty good forgery", and "probably increased its value to at least a dollar!"
John Stewart touched the lives and hearts of millions of people all over the world, and will be sorely missed. For the complete obituary, and to purchase John's music, please visit his website: http://chillywinds.com/
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1/24 - 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. 21 & over. http://www.betterthanblue.com/openjampage.html

FRI. 1/25 - THE 2 STEVES* @ DOCKSIDE GRILL IN WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey North (on restaurant row, off the 10 Fwy.) 626-915-3474. In the bar area, but you can eat dinner there; all ages ok. Acoustic rock/folk faves from *Ysais & Vargas of Horses On Astroturf fame.

FRI. 1/25 - STEEL ROD @ BARNEY'S GRILL & PUB IN PASADENA. 93 W. Colorado Blvd. 626-577-2739. Full kitchen. No cover. Rock to Salsa. Fridays in January.

FRI. 1/25 - NUTTY @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. No cover, full bar & great Italian food. These guys are a gas - saw them last time! "Rat Pack" lounge-style arrangements of popular rock tunes.

FRI. 1/25 - THE HUBCAPS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, with special guests THE WALTONES, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table. Celebrating KEITH's BIRTHDAY (of the Hubcaps & Bottle Shop fame!)

FRI. 1/25 & SAT. 1/26 - "ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART" - THE MUSIC OF NEIL YOUNG performed by various artists, 10pm. No cover, 21 & over. Rick Shea, Walter Clevenger, Wyman Reese, Katy Stone and many more. http://www.myspace.com/the_press

*Note: DAY/DATE/TIME CHANGE!!! SATURDAY, 1/26 - "Happy Hour" with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 3-6pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food in a comfy setting. Happy Hour drink & appetizer specials.

SAT. 1/26 - DAVE OSTI @ THE MAYAN BAR IN MONROVIA, INSIDE THE AZTEC HOTEL, 6pm. 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. Full bar and kitchen, no cover. Solo Acoustic, mostly originals. Dave is a huge fan of John Stewart's music, and I imagine he'll be paying tribute to him at this show.

SAT. 1/26 - 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. 1/26 - LEW READER @ STEAMERS COFFEE SHOP IN SIERRA MADRE, 7:30 - 9:30pm. 142 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-5213. Coffee, tea, pastries, etc. The quiche is outstanding! Acoustic Rock.

SAT. 1/26 - LISA FINNIE's CD RELEASE PARTY @ VIVA CANTINA IN BURBANK, 8pm. 900 Riverside Dr. (next to the L.A. Equestrian Center.) 818-845-2425. No cover, all ages, full bar and great Mexican food. Many special guests. CDs available for purchase. http://home.earthlink.net/~finnie66/index.html

SAT. 1/26 - JO JO & THE BOXBOYS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. No cover, full bar, 21 & over. I'm calling it V.S.O.P. - very special "occasional" performance, featuring members of The Boys, Better Than Blue, Horses on Astroturf, Chico's Bail Bonds, The Subs, etc. - BUGGS, DANNY, JOE, KEITH and FELICIA...... by the way, which one's Jo Jo?

SUN. 1/27 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 1/27 - 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... No Football on TV today - should be a good turnout!!!

SUN. 1/27 - DUE TO A ROTARY CLUB FUNCTION AT CAFE 322, SEE *SAT. 1/26 FOR THE NEW ASTROTURF GIG.

SUN. 1/27 - "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.

FRI. 2/1 - 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.

FRI. 2/1 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE PRESS IN CLAREMONT, 9pm. 129 Harvard Ave. 909-625-4808. Full bar and kitchen. BLUEGRASS with the Dupuy Brothers & friends.

FRI. 2/1 - OCHO X @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Full bar, no cover, pool table, free parking. The Sotelo Brothers, Peter Burke, etc. These guys get better every time I see them! Appropriately, their recent show at 322 was more on the jazzy side. They tend to rock more at the Buc!

SAT. 2/2 - THE 2 STEVES (Ysais & Vargas) doin' their acoustic duo thing @ THE ST. RITA'S WINE TASTING FUND RAISER at the Alverno Villa, 7pm I think. $20 at the door, or $10 in advance. All guests are to bring one $15 bottle of wine as well. Call St. Rita's School for complete details: 626-355-6114. This event was a big success last year, and a bigger turnout is expected!

SAT. 2/2 - 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! www.covina.com/frethouse/

SAT. 2/2 - 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.

SUN. 2/3 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 2/3 - 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. No cover, all ages. Mercy, Josh, Marc & Peter Burke doin' some standards & jazzy stuff for your dining & listening pleasure!

SUN. 2/3 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE BARN BURNER IN PASADENA, 5 - 8pm. 1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-403-RIBS. BBQ, beer, wine. BLUEGRASS.

SUN. 2/3 - "THE LISTENING ROOM CONCERTS" with host BRETT PERKINS returns to THE FREMONT CENTER THEATRE in SOUTH PASADENA, 8 - 10pm. Doors open at 7:30. 1000 S. Fremont Ave. Reservations: 626-441-5977. $10 admission. Brett and many other local and international singer-songwriters will perform their original songs in an artist-friendly setting. Brett still lives in Denmark, so this may be a one-time gig. If you are holding season tickets from previous years, they WILL be honored.

SUN. 2/3 - "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.

TUES. 2/5 - THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ELECTION - GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

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://cafe322.com/
http://www.swhillcountry.com/
http://www.myspace.com/piratedive
http://www.coffeegallery.com/home.html
http://www.myspace.com/americanarootsla
http://www.aliveandpicking.com/calendar.html
http://www.covina.com/frethouse/concerts.html

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