Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

This is a big month for birthdays in my circle of friends and family, and this Sunday, April 27th happens to be the birthday of three, count 'em - 3 - local musicians in that circle. Come to think of it, you might even call it a drum circle, because two of them are currently drummers and the other started out as one!

Pictured in the photo are: (middle) TOM BEHRENS (aka Billy Booger) of SNOTTY SCOTTY & THE HANKIES and ALUMINUM MARSHMALLOW fame; (right) DAVE SLIFKIN of HORSES ON ASTROTURF fame; and (left) RON OTA who is best known around here as a member of THE AGE OF AQUARIUS HORNS, who appear with the Marshmallow when the pay is right and/or the stage is big enough! Ron has also been the main sound guy at the Wistaria Festival the last five years. Check the listings below, as all three bands have gigs this weekend.
Extra credit if you can guess the ages of these three birthday boys!

FRI. 4/25 - DAVE OSTI AND DEANNA COGAN @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6 - 9pm Happy Hour. 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. NO COVER. Full bar, limited food menu - save your appetite for Lupe's tacos at Bar Twist! Acoustic Guitar, vocals. http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/

FRI. 4/25 - DAN ROTEN @ SIERRA MADRE BOOKS, 7pm. 18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., downstairs in the cozy living room. 626-836-3200. FREE. All ages. Guitar/vocals - adult contemporary, with a crossover country influence. And while you're there, check out the unique wood paintings on the walls, by local artist and friend, Schuyler Wrobel. I want one of each!

FRI. 4/25 - "SWING DANCE PARTY" with FLAT TOP TOM @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8:30 - 11:30pm. 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!!" http://www.flattoptom.com/

FRI. 4/25 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE PIKE BAR IN LONG BEACH, 9pm - 1am. 1836 E. 4th St. 562-437-4453. Fun Bluegrass stuff w/great harmonies & snazzy overalls! The Dupuy Brothers and friends. http://www.wrecknsow.com/

FRI. 4/25 - SNOTTY SCOTTY & THE HANKIES @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm. 48 E. Huntington Dr. 626-254-1760. Full bar, awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. Probably one of the nicest places these guys have ever played! http://www.myspace.com/snottyscottyandthehankies

FRI. 4/25 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9:30pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table, cheap drinks, 21 & over. R&B, Rock, Funk, Disco. http://www.mercyandthemerkettes.com/

SAT. 4/26 - CAIN ENABLERS @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1 - 5pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian food. Afternoon BLUES inside; classic cars, rods & bikes outside. Meet & hang at "MOTO 322."

SAT. 4/26 - NADDY @ MARY'S MARKET AND CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 7 - 9PM. Gary Putman (of Prime Movers fame) & wife Kelley (of Carl's Secret Project.) 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. All ages, FREE. Limited parking - consider walking or biking. Opening act at 6pm TBA.

SAT. 4/26 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES AT ST. RITA'S "CASINO NIGHT" FUNDRAISER @ LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL, 6:30pm. Enter thru driveway on Michillinda. $40 at the door. This event is open to the public, and proceeds benefit my niece and nephews and all who attend St. Rita's School - thank you very much!

SAT. 4/26 - "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. Joe Velosa, Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright. Acoustic rock, soul & blues.

SAT. 4/26 - THE SUPERSTITIONS @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8:30 - 11:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Blues, R&B, Zydeco. One of Richard Reese's favorite bands! http://www.myspace.com/theesuperstitions

SAT. 4/26 - HORSES ON ASTROTURF @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table, cheap drinks, 21 & over. Hillbilly Hippie Rock. DAVE'S BIRTHDAY SHOW!

SAT. 4/26 - ALUMINUM MARSHMALLOW AT FIRST CABIN IN ARCADIA, 9pm. 46 E. Huntington Dr. 626-446-2575. Classic 60's, 70's & some 80's Rock. Should be interesting getting all those guys on that small stage, horns or no horns! TOM'S BIRTHDAY SHOW! AND RON TOO!

SUN. 4/27 - 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. 4/27 - 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...

SUN. 4/27 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ KIWANIS CLUB'S ANNUAL CAR SHOW, JOHNNY CARSON PARK IN BURBANK, 12 - 2pm. Vintage cars, etc. Look for Jay Leno's entry! and YES - Mercy is ALSO playing at Cafe 322 this afternoon! She's the hardest working gal in show biz this weekend! http://www.mercyandthemerkettes.com/

SUN. 4/27 - 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. Standards & Jazzy stuff from Mercy, Josh, Marc & Peter. Marc's Dad's Birthday celebration!

SUN. 4/27 - "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. Get there early - they pack 'em in!

4/29 - "TACO TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, featuring JOE TORTOMASI on Ukulele, 5:30 - 6:30 and JODI & THE MINIONS, 6:30 - 8:30pm. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Limited parking - consider walking or biking. All ages, FREE. Yummy, cheap tacos!

WED. 4/30 - JANE FULLER AND RUBEN RAMOS DUO @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Jazz standards & contemporary blues, with vocals.

THURS. 5/1 - "THE DOUBLE SHOTS" @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 10pm. 48 E. Huntington Dr. 626-254-1760. Full bar, awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. Celebrating the Birthdays of co-owner Andy and cocktail waitress Carrie. Possible special guests! (also see below...)

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT: "THE DOUBLE SHOTS" (Tim Neblung & Geoff Leiter) RETURN TO THE DOCKSIDE GRILL IN WEST COVINA FOR 3 NIGHTS OF ACOUSTIC FAVORITES & HARMONY VOCALS. FRI. 5/2 @ 7pm, SAT. 5/3 @ 8pm, and SUN. 5/4 @ 6pm. On Sunday evening, they invite all their musician pals to show up and sit in, for an all-star jam. Prior to relocating to Northern Calif., this used to be their home base, and they have a huge following. Should be fun!

FRI. 5/2 - DAVE OSTI @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6 - 9pm Happy Hour. 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. NO COVER. Full bar, limited food menu. Solo Acoustic Guitar/Vocals. http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/

FRI. 5/2 - GROOVY REDNECKS @ BARNBURNER RESTAURANT IN PASADENA, 9pm. 1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-403-RIBS. BBQ, beer, wine. Raucous, rowdy, irreverant Country Rock!

SAT. 5/3 - 28th ANNUAL CLAREMONT FOLK FESTIVAL @ SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 9am - 9:30pm. 225 W. 8th Street, Claremont. $50 general admission/adults for all shows and workshops, kids 12 and under free. Headlining acts: BEN HARPER, TAJ MAHAL & JACKSON BROWNE. RICK SHEA and THE DULCIMERS OF DUNLORE (both former Wistaria Festival performers) also on the bill. For tickets and complete info: call: 909-624-2928 or go to: http://www.claremontfolkfestival.org/index.php

SAT. 5/3 - THE SHEDS @ "RELAY FOR LIFE" - AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY FUNDRAISER, WILLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AGOURA HILLS, 6:15pm on the Main Stage. 29026 Laro Dr. Guitar player Morgan (and the entire Sheds family) is on a walking team, raising money in honor of his friend Alex who has lymphoma. For more info. or to make a donation, visit Mo's Relay page: personal page.

SAT. 5/3 - 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. 5/3 - MARTINI DIARIES featuring JEFF STETSON & friends @ COLOMBO'S ITALIAN STEAK HOUSE IN EAGLE ROCK, 10pm - 1am. 1833 Colorado Blvd. 323-254-9138. Full kitchen & bar. Jeff sez: first set will be Jazz & then evolve into "Acid-Lounge-Jazz-Rock!" 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month.

SUN. 5/4 - 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. 5/4 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ BARN BURNER RESTAURANT IN PASADENA, 5 - 8pm. 1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-403-RIBS. BBQ, beer, wine. Fun Bluegrass stuff w/great harmonies & snazzy overalls! The Dupuy Brothers and friends. http://www.wrecknsow.com/

SUN. 5/4 - "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. Get there early - they pack 'em in!

MON. 5/5 - The Sons of the American Legion present a Cinco de Mayo FIESTA @ The American Legion - Post 280 in East Pasadena, 5 - 10pm. Raffle prizes, food and music. 179 N. Vinedo. 626-792-9938. Live music outside on the patio by EL QUATRO DE VARGAS QUARTET, starting at 7pm. Featuring Steve Vargas, Deanna Cogan, Paul Dorn, and Peter Burke. $10 admission includes carne asada and carne de pollo dinner as well as dinero for the band, so if you want to eat, get there early! $2.50 Margaritas - muy bueno!

**THE SHEDS NEED YOUR SUPPORT: to win a spot on the WARPED TOUR this Summer, my young friends THE SHEDS are competing against other up and coming bands. Please take a minute to register and VOTE for them on this site: http://battleofthebands.com/

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

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