Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

Mercy & the Merkettes have been around for over 20 years and are extremely good at what they do – that is – make you wanna get up and dance! R&B, Funk, Disco, Blues, Motown & Rock, complete with back-up singers & choreographed dance moves. They play pretty frequently in the greater San Gabriel Valley & you can find most of their gigs listed here. HOWEVER – there's another side of Mercy that you really should check out – a classier, more romantic side – that she displays every other Sunday at CAFÉ 322 in Sierra Madre, with THE MERCY POWELL QUARTET.
Jazz & Pop Standards seem to suit her very well, and the fact that she's accompanied by some pretty outstanding musicians, in a great sounding (and looking) room doesn't hurt either! Have a glass of wine, some fine Italian food and kick back and enjoy – not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Mercy is pictured here, and details for the Sunday, March 16th gig are below…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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. One of my favorite local bands.

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. This place is not as pricey at it looks. Preston is all over the place – Jazz, Blues, Pop, R&B, Standards – delightfully indescribable! 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... and if I'm reading this right - the DAVE OSTI (Rock) BAND is on at 9pm. http://www.myspace.com/daveosti

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 – VIN FIZ FLYER @ SIERRA MADRE BOOKS STORE, 7 – 9pm. 18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., downstairs in the cozy living room. 626-836-3200. FREE. All ages. http://www.sierramadrebooks.com/ Bluegrass.

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. Bruce's Birthday show! (or was that Wednesday?)

FRI. 3/14 & SAT. 3/15 - THE SUBS (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter-ego) @ THE 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. Danny Hesse, Joe Velosa, Felicia Bright.

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 – "SATURDAY NIGHT SMOKEOUT" featuring GLENN OLIVIERA on acoustic guitar @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFÉ IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Opening act at 5:30 TBD. Open Mic after 8:30. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking - consider walking or biking.

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.

SAT. 3/15 - MARTINI DIARIES @ COLOMBO'S ITALIAN STEAK HOUSE IN EAGLE ROCK, 10pm - 1am. 1833 Colorado Blvd. 323-254-9138. Full kitchen & bar. Jeff Stetson & friends. Jeff sez: first set will be jazz & then evolve into "Acid-Lounge-Jazz-Rock!" Sounds interesting!

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 dinner 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. Classic Rock/lots of Neil Young - Keith from the Bottle Shop's band. I love these guys!

3/18 - "TACO TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, with JOE TORTOMASI on ukulele at 5:30 and JODI & THE MINIONS, 6:30 - 8:30pm (Standards.) 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking - consider walking or biking. Yummy cheap tacos!

THURS. 3/20 - 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. This place is not as pricey at it looks. Preston is all over the place – Jazz, Blues, Pop, R&B, Standards – delightfully indescribable! Thursdays in March.

FRI. 3/21 - 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. http://www.myspace.com/daveosti

FRI. 3/21 – STEVE & STEVE (Vargas & Ysais of Horses On Astroturf fame) @ THE 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 faves/harmony vocals, lots of Beatles.

FRI. 3/21 – STEVEN RADICE & FRIENDS @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 – 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc. FREE. Acoustic guitar, bass, ukulele, etc.

FRI. 3/21 – LIGHTNIN' WILLIE & THE POORBOYS @ CAFÉ 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8:30pm? 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. No cover. Upbeat BLUES. This is a great venue for these guys.

FRI. 3/21 – JAIMI SHUEY, DAVE GLEASON & OLD CALIFORNIO @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE, 9PM. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover. I've seen Jaimi - she's great, my brother Rick is a big fan of Dave Gleason, and how can you go wrong with a name like Old Californio? I can't wait! Americana/Country.

SAT. 3/22 - 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/

Note: Date & Time Change! SAT. 3/22 – NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFÉ 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 3 – 6pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. No cover, all ages. Happy Hour prices/specials at 4pm. Instead of their usual Sunday. Acoustic Folk & Classic Country.

SAT. 3/22 – "SATURDAY NIGHT SMOKEOUT" featuring CARL'S SECRET PROJECT @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFÉ IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Ally (Ramsey) & Kelley (Putman) - 2 talented gals, guitar & vocals. Opening act at 5:30 TBD. Open Mic after 8:30. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking.

SAT. 3/22 – CHICO'S BAIL BONDS @ THE 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. Semi-acoustic BLUES. http://chicosbailbondsblues.com/

SAT. 3/22 – MARK HUMPHREYS @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 – 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc. FREE. Singer-songwriter, guitarist. http://www.markhumphreys.com/

SAT. 3/22 – MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover. R&B, Funk, Disco, Blues, Motown & Rock, complete with back-up singers & choreographed dance moves!

SUN. 3/23 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. Easter BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUNDAY, 3/23 – HAPPY EASTER EVERYBUNNY!
And I believe Café 322 is closed for the Holiday. Call ahead if you were planning to go – 626-836-5414, or check next week's Music News for confirmation.

Shameless Plug Dept. – Danny & Felicia of The Subs and Better Than Blue want to let you all know that a friend of theirs has opened a new music store in town – PASADENA GUITARS at 27 N. Mentor, open Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm – check it out: http://www.pasadenaguitars.net/index.html

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