Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

My good friend CLAYTON MORELAND passed away on Monday, February 18th - the date of his 46th birthday. I met him in 1980 when he came to work at Music Plus in Pasadena, after his Mom's company, City One Stop, merged with the Music Plus record chain. For many of us, it was a growing up/learning experience, and we forged life-long friendships, and in some cases, even marraiges. Those years were some of the best years of our lives, and I have many fond memories of times spent with Clayton and all the other "Plus" people. Although we had alot in common, musical preference was NOT necessarily one of them! So, forgive me my friend, for quoting one of MY favorites when I say: "MAY YOU STAY FOREVER YOUNG."
(This photo was taken in early 1981, just before Clayton's 19th birthday.)

TONITE, 3/4 - IF YOU GET THIS EARLY ENOUGH! - TACO TUESDAY @ MARY'S MARKET IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30 - 8:30pm, featuring JODI & THE MINIONS, playing/singing standards with a high standard of standardness! Yummy, cheap tacos!

THURS. 3/6 - PRESTON SMITH @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm - 1am. 48 E. Huntington Dr. 626-254-1760. Full bar, awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. Preston brings his unique musical stylings and infectious personality to the east side - every Thursday night in March.

FRI. 3/7 - DAVE OSTI @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6pm Happy Hour. 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. Full bar and kitchen, no cover. Solo Acoustic, mostly originals. Reports are that Dave has doubled their Happy Hour business, and this is a happenin' scene!

FRI. 3/7 - BOBBY BRADFORD MO'TET @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8:30 - 11:30pm. 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. Great article in the current issue of ARROYO MONTHLY about him.

FRI. 3/7 - ADAM MARSLAND & HIS CHAOS BAND @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Full bar, no cover, pool table, 21 & over. Indie/Powerpop/Soul is what is says on their MySpace page. And in SPIN magazine, they're described as "a high-energy cross between Brian Wilson, Paul Stanley, and Elton John." You can definitely hear the Brian Wilson influence in the songs I sampled, and there's a great video of them performing with Beach Boy Al Jardine, on his "California Saga". Howard & Squirrel - you're gonna love these guys!

SAT. 3/8 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. Saturday BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SAT. 3/8 - "SATURDAY NIGHT SMOKEOUT" OPEN MIC NIGHT @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30 - 9pm. With opening act JOE VIDIMOS AT 5:30PM. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking - consider walking or biking. Open Mic nights are the 2nd Sat. of every month.

SAT. 3/8 - SECOND WIND BLUEGRASS BAND @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 – 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc. Familiar face Donn Cunningham of Vin Fiz Flyer fame on guitar and vocals.

SAT. 3/8 - 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. 3/8 - HORSES ON ASTROTURF @ ROUTE 66 ROADHOUSE IN DUARTE, 9pm. 1846 E. Huntington Dr. 626-357-4210. Full bar & kitchen, pool tables, dance floor. No cover, 21 & over. Hillbilly Hippie Rock. and YES - Jane will be there!

SAT. 3/8 - FATSO JETSON @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Full bar, no cover, pool table, 21 & over. Mario & Larry from Cafe 322's ROCK band. Opening act is Punk group MONSTER SQUAD.

SAT. 3/8 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm. 48 E. Huntington Dr. 626-254-1760. Full bar & Lupe Mendoza cookin' up some awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. R&B, Rock, Funk, Disco. Their debut at this venue.

SATURDAY, 3/8 - DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS BEFORE GOING TO BED - "SPRING AHEAD" ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. yippee!

SUN. 3/9 - 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. 3/9 - 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. 3/9 - 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!

SUN. 3/9 - "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. The place gets PACKED, so get there early!

SUN. 3/9 - THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS @ THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE IN ALTADENA, 7pm. 2029 N. Lake Ave. 626-398-7917. $15. "WESTERN MUSIC REVUE." How can I NOT list these guys - they live in Sierra Madre!

3/11 - "TACO TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30 - 8:30pm, with RAY HILL on thekeyboards with tunes spanning the decades. "A great guy in his 70's who has a huge repertoire of all kinds of piano tunes. He used to do arrangements for Big Bands and he likes to tell stories about the pieces he plays....a real canyon treasure." 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking - consider walking or biking.

TUES. 3/11 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE PIKE IN LONG BEACH, 8pm - Midnight. 1836 E. 4th St. 562-437-4453. Fun Bluegrass stuff w/great harmonies & snazzy overalls! The Dupuy brothers, etc.

WED. 3/12 - MAX BUDA @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7:30 - 10:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian food. No cover, all ages. Unique jazzy rock stuff from Chester & the boys.

THURS. 3/13 - PRESTON SMITH @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm - 1am. 48 E. Huntington Dr. 626-254-1760. Full bar & Lupe Mendoza cookin' up some awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. Thursdays in March.

FRI. 3/14 - DAVE OSTI @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6pm Happy Hour. 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. Full bar and kitchen, no cover. Solo Acoustic, mostly originals.

FRI. 3/14 - THE SHEDS opening for THE AQUABATS @ THE CANYON CLUB IN AGOURA HILLS, 7pm. 28912 Roadside Dr. $15 admission OR call 818-325-5855 for discount tickets. Ska/Punk/Reggae. My young pals are rockin' their way to the bigtime! Way to go guys!

FRI. 3/14 - MAX BUDA @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045 Full bar, no cover, free parking in back. Wait a second - 2 gigs in one week? Can you old guys handle that? Eclectic mix of Rock & Jazz from Chester, Jerry, Bruce, Tedroy & Peter Burke.

SAT. 3/15 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. Saturday BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SAT. 3/15 - JOB STRILES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045 Full bar, no cover, free parking in back. Left-handed guitar, Sierra Madre's own Peter Burke on drums, and sometimes Rick Germond on Blues harmonica.

SUN. 3/16 - 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. 3/16 - 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. 3/16 - "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. The place gets PACKED, so get there early!

MON. 3/17 - ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY @ THE AMERICAN LEGION, POST 280 IN PASADENA, with the S.A.L. O'MANDERS (STEVE VARGAS, DEANNA COGAN & STEVE YSAIS), 7 - 10pm. 626-792-9938. 179 N. Vinedo Ave. On the (heated) patio. $7 cover, corned beef & cabbage available for a nominal donation. A "Sons of the American Legion" event. Acoustic Rock & Classic Country.

MON. 3/17 - continue your ST. PAT'S PARTY @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE with THE HUBCAPS, 9pm? Bartender Rock requested 'em! 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, no corned beef & cabbage - try the pork rinds! Classic Rock/lots of Neil Young - Keith from the Bottle Shop's band. I love these guys!

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.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

3 comments:

A girl named Lou said...

I just read your blog comment about Clayton Moreland. His wife just informed me that he passed away a year and a half ago. He was a good friend and it was nice to find something about him on the internet. I don't know if I ever met you but thanks for posting such a great memorial to him. You must be someone very extrodinary. That kind of describes all of his friends. Respectfully submitted by Louiko Sunday

A girl named Lou said...

I am new to blogging and I hope you got my original blog reply. In case you didn't, Thanks for remembering Clayton. He was a great friend and I truly miss him. It was great to google him and find a friend who also felt a loss. I live in Michigan and didn't find out until now. I am searching for an obituary but finding you and that picture was fantastic. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I went to boarding school with Clayton and was trying to find him after all these years. Sucks I will not be able to talk and see him. We have lots to talk about but I waited too long. I have some lyrics I wanted to share with him. The stories I could tell, but all good, funny, happy....Highschool. Love to all that loved him. He was a great friend that I can not forget. Trace Terrin