Friday, June 27, 2008

End o' week musings

Yes, I know I've been remiss, but I was covering the Warped Tour last Friday and am still catching up. It was a great concert with tons of cool bands despite the searing heat. I kept going by enjoying lots of frozen lemonade and hanging out under the tents when I could. My favorite acts were Beat Union, The Briggs, The Aggrolites, HorrorPops, Devil Wears Prada, Broadway Calls, Story of the Year, Pennywise, Norma Jean, Street Dogs and Civet.

On Saturday I joined the Pasadena History Museum and the Mout Lowe Preservation Society for a hike to the Mount Lowe Railway. The spot nestled in the mountains above Pasadena was once a resort visited by people of all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Its hotels and dance hall are long gone, but the foundations remain, as do parts of the zoo, picnic areas and train platform. Very intriguing!

Monday found me in Bobbie Oliver's comedy class at the Ice House in Pasadena. I am working on a story about what it's like to do standup comedy and had to present an act. The best part was that I got some laughs... at the right times! I'll be doing a set at the Joke Gym in Arcadia in August.

Wednesday was very busy- lots of interviews and assignments. Among the most interesting was a chat with actor Chad Allen about his role in the play "Looped" opening at the Pasadena Playhouse in a couple of weeks. In the evening I attended a Mekhong tasting. Mekhong is a rum from Thailand and is unlike any rum I have ever sampled. It mixes very well and can be used to create some innovative drinks, but honestly I liked it straight just fine. You can find it in the U.S. in Thai restaurants and some liquor retailers.

Last night I danced during Club Flotsam at Mr. T's Bowl in Highland Park. The crowd was amazing! They applauded, ooohed and aaahed and had a great time with me and my swords.

I will be dancing again on Sunday with my partner Zaynah, here's the scoop:
Punk Raqs
3-7 p.m. Sunday, June 29
Almase Arabesque performs at 4:15 p.m.
Cal State San Bernardino
5500 University
San Bernardino

Other excitement includes Monday off, which I will spend doing something fun with my mother- the beach, Chinatown, the mall, whatever she chooses! And on Tuesday I will be taking a magic lesson with Wayne Kawamoto. Boy, I just love being busy!

Photos I got 'em: Better late than never I have some photos from our performance at Cairo Caravan at Santa Anita Park earlier this month. They were taken by Richard Lowe, visit http://www.renaissancefaire.net/ for more of his good stuff!
In rotation this week: Wreck N Sow, Robert Clune & the Peacemakers, Beat Union, Ours, The Randies, Tribe of Gypsies and Lacuna Coil.

Thought of the week: Keep positive. That's what I'm telling myself. Today I got to work and my car refused to go into park. I could turn it off, but I couldn't take the key out. I was in trouble. I calmly called my co-worker (from the parking lot lol!), told her what was up and drove back past my house to my mechanic. I'm at work now (obviously) waiting to hear what's up. I hope it's something simple and cheap... I think I did pretty well with this situation- I didn't get mad or swear, I resigned myself to an "Oh well, that's weird" and am trying to think happy thoughts. I haven't had any problems with my car since I've had it, so I can't complain... Here's to a better weekend!

Keep on rockin'
Mickie



Trevor Menear's debut due out July 15

Trevor Menear’s debut album, Introducing Trevor Menear will be released by Shangri-La Music digitally on July 15, 2008 and the CD version on august 1, exclusively through the CIMS retail network (Coalition of Independent Music Stores), it was announced today. The Chicago-based rock guitarist is also scheduled to perform several hometown shows throughout the summer.

Menear, 23 is winning over fans and critics, alike, with a talent well beyond his age. A born musician, he picked up the guitar at the early age of 10 and has been playing festivals since he was a kid, jamming with the likes of Jonny Winter, Sugar Blue, Ted Nugent, Buckwheat Zydeco and many other notable musicians. At the age of 13, he was one of the youngest musicians to play the House of Blues in his hometown of Chicago.

“We’re thrilled to be working with such a gifted young artist,” says Jeff Ayeroff, Co-president of Shangri-La Music. “Trevor embodies the type of inventive musicians we are looking forward to helping develop and expand their careers.”

Menear’s songwriting, guitar playing and producing talents attracted a number of well known guests for this CD debut including Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, kd lang) on pedal steel guitar, Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers, Foo Fighters) on organ, David Leach (Ben Harper) on percussion, Tony Llorens (B.B. King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan) on organ and vocals from C.C. White (Ryan Adams) and Grammy-winner Grey DeLisle.

“It was a pleasure to play on Trevor’s new album. He plays with the inspiration and sensitivity of someone far beyond his years,” says Llorens. “I have worked with Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan and can therefore say that Trevor is following in their footsteps.”

Grey DeLisle also spoke to Menear’s talent in saying, “Trevor’s strong point of view and clarity of vision are qualities that most artists struggle a lifetime to establish.”

While Introducing Trevor Menear is his debut album of original material, Menear recently gained attention with his cover of John Lennon’s “John Sinclair” on Warner Bros. Records’ Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. The track, with a retro sound recorded on 78 rpm acetate with a 1930’s resonator guitar, appears on the American Express and iTunes digital box set editions of the compilation. Menear also won over crowds at this year’s SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX with multiple showcase appearances and guest spots with soul artist Chris Pierce.

Journalists worldwide are also taking note of Menear’s guitar skills. CrossRoads Magazine in France raved, “At 21, his playing is on par with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Lang at the height of their glory.”

In a review of Menear’s live show, the Grand Rapids Press praised his “extraordinary guitar work and voice that belies his age.” The paper went on to say Menear is “on the cusp of something big.”

Trevor Menear will kick off the album release with both solo acoustic and full band shows throughout Chicago this summer and will be returning to Michigan on August 2nd where he will take the stage as part of Grand Haven’s annual Coast Guard Festival. He will also appear as a guest on the WGN 720 Chicago radio show Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan on July 27.

Trevor Menear Tour Dates:

6/25 Underground Lounge Chicago, IL Solo Acoustic Show
7/2 Underground Lounge Chicago, IL Solo Acoustic Show
7/23 Underground Lounge Chicago, IL Full Band Show
8/2 Coast Guard Festival Grand Haven, MI Full Band Show
8/4 The Elbo Room Chicago, IL Full Band Show

About Shangri-La Music:
Headed by Jeff Ayeroff, former Co-Chairman of Virgin Records America, Co-President of The Work Group and Vice Chairman of Warner Brothers Records, and his longtime Rock the Vote partner Jon Rubin, Shangri-La Music is a new joint venture with Shangri-La Entertainment. Along with Trevor Menear, early signings to the label include UK rock band The Duke Spirit and Parisian rock quartet Neimo.

More information on Trevor Menear is available at www.trevormenear.com or www.myspace.com/trevormenear.

Biomusique coming to Bodhi Tree

MUSICIANS FROM IRON MAN, MATRIX, 300, NARNIA, AND PASSION OF THE CHRIST UNITE TO CREATE BIOMUSIQUE

IN-STORE PERFORMANCE AT THE BODHI TREE ON JULY 18

Biomusique In-Store Performance at 7:30p.m. In West Hollywood

WHAT: Live in-store performance by biomusique to promote the release of Kosmic Music’s “the 10,000 steps.” Biomusique will be performing songs from “the 10,000 steps” along with musical improvisation.

WHO: Performance by the highly praised vocalist Lisbeth Scott who’s mesmerizing vocals can be heard on “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Munich,” and “The Passion of The Christ.” Scott will be joined by master musician/percussionist Greg Ellis whose talents can be heard on major motion films such as “Iron Man,” “300” and “The Matrix.”

WHEN: Friday, July 18 at 7:30pm

WHERE: Bodhi Bookstore located at: 8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood
Phone: (310) 659-1733

WHY: To promote Kosmic Music’s release of biomusique’s debut album “the 10,000 steps”

OTHER INFO: The songs on “the 10,000 steps” range from poignantly moving to serene and radiant, weaving a richly textural tapestry of emotion and sound – a ‘sonic sculpture,’ similar to a film score. Ellis’ intricate, carefully-crafted arrangements frame the tonal nuances achieved by Lisbeth Scott’s luminous voice in masterfully precise performances. Ellis plays numerous instruments including all percussion, trumpet, guitar, dulcimer, piano and bass while Scott contributes vocals, plays her 1911 Steinway grand piano, harmonium, guitar and calimba.

For more information on biomusique please visit www.kosmicmusic.com

Upcoming concerts around California

Carson
August 17
EVERY TIME I DIE
@ Home Depot Center – VANS WARPED TOUR
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie

Chula Vista
July 16
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH / 36 CRAZYFISTS / BLACK TIDE
@ Coors Amphitheater
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists
www.myspace.com/blacktide
ROCKSTAR MAYHEM FESTIVAL!!! w/Slipknot, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more!!

August 14
EVERY TIME I DIE
@ Coors Amphitheatre – VANS WARPED TOUR
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie

Devore
July 13
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH / 36 CRAZYFISTS / BLACK TIDE
@ Glen Helen Pavilion
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists
www.myspace.com/blacktide
www.myspace.com/ffdp
ROCKSTAR MAYHEM FESTIVAL!!! w/Slipknot, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more!!

August 30
TESTAMENT
@ Glen Helen Pavilion
www.myspace.com/testamentlegions
w/Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, and Motorhead

Fresno
July 15
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH / 36 CRAZYFISTS / BLACK TIDE
@ Save Mart Center
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists
www.myspace.com/blacktide
www.myspace.com/ffdp
ROCKSTAR MAYHEM FESTIVAL!!! w/Slipknot, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more!!

August 13
EVERY TIME I DIE
@ Save Mart Center – VANS WARPED TOUR
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie

Marysville
July 11
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH / 36 CRAZYFISTS / BLACK TIDE
@ Sleep Train Amphitheater
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists
www.myspace.com/blacktide
www.myspace.com/ffdp
ROCKSTAR MAYHEM FESTIVAL!!! w/Slipknot, Disturbed, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more!!

August 16
EVERY TIME I DIE
@ Sleep Train Amphitheatre – VANS WARPED TOUR
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie

Modesto
July 14
36 CRAZYFISTS
@ Fat Cat
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists

August 5
DROID
@ Fat Cat
www.myspace.com/droid

Mountain View
July 12
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH / 36 CRAZYFISTS / BLACK TIDE
@ Shoreline Amphitheatre
www.myspace.com/36crazyfists
www.myspace.com/blacktide
www.myspace.com/ffdp
ROCKSTAR MAYHEM FESTIVAL!!! w/Slipknot, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more!!

August 15
EVERY TIME I DIE
@ Shoreline Amphitheatre – VANS WARPED TOUR
http://www.myspace.com/everytimeidie

August 31
BAY AREA’S TESTAMENT
@ Shoreline Amphitheater
www.myspace.com/testamentlegions
w/Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, and Motorhead

Orangevale
August 6
DROID
@ The Boardwalk
www.myspace.com/droid

San Francisco
August 7
DROID
@ The 12 Galaxies
www.myspace.com/droid

Simone to peform at Hollywood Bowl Saturday

SIMONE
DAUGHTER OF NINA SIMONE
LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
"SGT. PEPPER'S...REVISITED" TRIBUTE CONCERT
6/28 @ 8:00PM

WHAT: Simone - Nina Simone's daughter - joins Cheap Trick, Billy Corgan, Gov't Mule's Danny Louis, Gomez's Ian Ball, Bill Lloyd and Rob Laufer for the "Sgt. Pepper's...Revisited" tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl as well arrives in Los Angeles to promote the May 13, 2008 release of her debut solo album Simone On Simone.

WHEN:
Saturday, June 28, 2008
8:00PM

WHERE:
The Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA

For more information on Simone, please visit:
www.simonesworld.com

Victoria Secret party with Fall Out Boy

VICTORIA’S SECRET PINK PARTIES AT THE PIER
WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FROM FALL OUT BOY FOR PINKAPALOOZA

Hosted by the New VS PINK Model Behati Prinsloo at the Santa Monica Pier
To Celebrate the Launch of Victoria’s Secret PINK’s NEW Collegiate Collection

WHO: Everyone’s favorite rockers, Fall Out Boy, will perform for Victoria’s Secret PINK customers and Los Angeles notables at the first-ever Pinkapalooza event thrown by Victoria’s Secret PINK. Launched nationwide in July 2004, Victoria’s Secret PINK is a lifestyle collection designed for young women that consists activewear, loungewear, sleepwear, lingerie and accessories.

WHAT: Victoria’s Secret PINK is celebrating the launch of their back-to-school collection with Fall Out Boy at L.A.’s legendary Santa Monica Pier. Hosted by Behati Prinsloo, VS PINK fans are invited to rock out with Fall Out Boy, compete in USC vs. UCLA rivalry games and be among the first to shop the brand’s newest collection. Guests can pick up their Pinkapalooza party passes at participating Victoria’s Secret PINK stores, from designated PINK street teams throughout the Los Angeles area or download on www.vspink.com. The party passes allow guests access into the party and FREE rides and games on a first come, first serve basis.

WHERE: Santa Monica Pier

WHEN: Thursday, July 17, 2008
Doors open at 5 PM, Fall Out Boy to perform at 9PM

Upcoming releases from Epitaph and Hellcat

July 8 – Bad Religion – New Maps Of Hell Deluxe Edition (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/badreligion
· Bad Religion’s 2007 critically heralded album, New Maps of Hell, has been given the “Deluxe” treatment for a limited release (15,000 copies in North America). The new edition will include the album + 7 song acoustic EP and a DVD that will include a making of documentary, live concert from Las Vegas as well as the “New Dark Ages” and “Honest Goodbye” music videos.

July 8 – Street Dogs – State of Grace (Hellcat) – www.myspace.com/streetdogs
· Boston based Street Dogs are back with their fourth studio album, State of Grace, which is their most accessible and hardest hitting record to date. Led by former Dropkick Murphys singer/Gulf War vet/Boston fire fighter Mike McColgan, Street Dogs are currently playing the main stage of Warped Tour.

Sept 9 – The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Ocean And The Sun (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/thesoundofanimalsfighting
· The Sound of Animals Fighting return with their visionary, highly conceptual third collaboration: The Ocean and the Sun. A tinkering, rewiring and experimentation with modern and traditional music forms, the endlessly inventive album tacks toward a ghostly, natural energy in both its organic production (this is the third piecemeal assembly from the Lynx, the Skunk, the Walrus, and the Nightingale) and its subject: the raw vastness of nature, the Sun, the ocean, and how we fail to recognize its power and mystery. Both a mash-up of decades of musical influences and a visceral, fine-tuned mosaic, The Ocean and the Sun further galvanizes the band's role in the creation and rethinking of what music will and should be.

Sept 9 – Civet – Hell Hath No Fury (Hellcat) – www.myspace.com/civet
· The hottest all-girl rock n' roll band (both literally and figuratively) to erupt from the Los Angeles rock scene since Joan Jett and Lita Ford formed The Runaways. Civet brings the power but they also bring the fun, combining the bold confidence of a band like Bikini Kill with the dirty-sexy appeal of trailblazing rock n' rollers like The Rolling Stones and the rollicking bounce of The Clash. The femme fatales upcoming release is already gaining buzz through word of mouth by critics and fans alike.

Sept 9 – Static Thought – The Motive For Movement (Hellcat) – www.myspace.com/staticthought
· East Bay’s rabid punks, Static Thought, have crafted a rocking followup to 2007’s In The Trenches and have their eyes set on bringing back the integrity, originality and voice of the hopeless and angry to punk rock.

Sept 23 – Sing It Loud – Come Around (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/singitloud
· The electrifying quintet has made a name for themselves in the classic D.I.Y way: touring non-stop across the country, bringing their ridiculously energetic live shows to big cities and small towns like, selling their self-titled EP at shows and on-line, and with the release of Come Around, all that hard work is finally paying off. Produced by Motion City Soundtrack guitarist Josh Cain and mixed by Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182), Come Around combines bright catchy melodies, buzzing synths and rocking riffs for one of the year’s most vibrant power-pop albums.

Sept 23 – I Set My Friends On Fire – You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/isetmyfriendsonfire
· Combining elements of grindcore, pop, hardcore and electronica, the precocious duo, I Set My Friends On Fire, have crafted twelve hard hitting and truly ironic tracks that showcase their unique style of music and hilarious sense of humor. You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter ambushes listeners from the get-go with the tumultuous track “Beauty Is In The Eyes Of The Beerholder,” which pairs metal riffs and hardcore breakdowns with melodic sing along choruses. A virtual workout, physically and aurally, the album continues its relentless electro-grindfest with tracks like “Ravenous, Ravenous Rhino,” “WTFWJD” and “ASL,” which will have everyone spastically convulsing towards the dance floor.

Oct TBA – I Am Ghost – TBA (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/iamghost
· The dark rockers return with their sophomore album.

Oct TBA – Escape The Fate – TBA (Epitaph) – www.myspace.com/escapethefate
· With new singer, Craig Mabbit (BlessTheFall) on board, there is absolutley no stopping this band from conquering the rock world this fall.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Support local music at Mr. T's Bowl

http://www.myspace.com/mrtsbowl
Mr T's Bowl
5621 1/2 N. Figueroa St
at Ave 57 in
Highland Park
----------------------------------------

Thur July 3rd
the keith walsh experience (9pm)
http://www.myspace.com/thekeithwalshexperience
Kids of Whidney High (10pm) (before they go off on Tour)
Bridged (Seattle)
http://www.Myspace.com/bridged
and others....
No cover
-----------------------------------------

Fri July 4th
The Voyeurs
The Grizzly Owls
Terrapin
Seasons
----------------------------

Sat July 5th
The big wham bam post 4th Pot Luck Party with
The The Wrecktangles (Portland OR) 12am
The Chump Change Gang 11pm
Firethorn (from S.D.) 10pm
http://www.myspace.com/firethornrock
Carnage Asada (return from a long sleep) 9pm
http://www.myspace.com/familiacarnageasada
Swords of Fatima 8pm
Hell Surfers 7pm
two more bands TBA
Show starts at 5pm
$5.00
--------------------------------------

Sun July 6th
Red Maids
http://www.myspace.com/redmaids
Correatown,
http://www.myspace.com/correatown
Monster
http://www.myspace.com/monstertheband
One Trick Pony
Doors open at 9pm
No cover
----------------------------------

Mon July 7th
Plastic Soul residency in July
http://www.myspace.com/plasticsoul
with
The Digs
Hand Over Heart
Plastic Soul
Brandon Schott
no cover
-----------------------------------------------

Tue July 8th
T-Bowl Tuesday
call for line up
no cover
------------------------------------------------

Wed July 9th
Pic Vicious
http://www.myspace.com/picvicious
HB3
http://www.myspace.com/fromthelaboratory
Jason Farnham
http://www.myspace.com/jasonfarnham
Zaptra
http://www.myspace.com/zaptra
No cover
-----------------------------------------

Thur July 10th
Archbishop Jason Polland (music/performance artist)
http://www.myspace.com/jasonpolland
Service Group
http://www.myspace.com/servicegroup
Downtown/Union
http://myspace.com/downtownunion
and others....
No cover

Bluesman Stan West performing tonight, Friday and Sunday

Stan's Performance Schedule

Stan will be putting on a solo performance at:
Frisella's Roastery
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
6:30pm - 9:00pm
179 N Glendora Ave
Glendora, California
(626) 852-1810
Great food! Beer and wine. Try their tri-tip for a real sandwich treat!

The Stan West Band will be performing in the:
Claremont New Village Plaza
at the Laemmle Theater Courtyard
Friday, June 27th, 2008
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Between Indian Hill and Oberlin
South of 2nd Street and North of 1st Street
Claremont, California
Free admission

The Stan West Band will be performing at the:
Joy Ride IV
Benefit for Bienvenidos Children's Centers
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
1:00pm - 5:00pm
1603 N San Gabriel Canyon Rd
Azusa, California
For further information
Phone: 626.914.1779
www.thejoyride.org
Free admission. $5.00 lunch.
Lots of biker stuff, vendors, etc.

A bluesman from hat to boots, Stan West is, according to blues expert Bernie Pearl, one of this country's premiere slide guitarists.

"Stan West knows the Blues." Vintage Guitar Magazine

"If there is any justice, Stan West would be a legend." Seven Days

Take a guided hike in the San Gabriel Canyon Saturday

The US Forest Service will have its monthly Naturalist led tour on Saturday, June 28th 2008. This month we will be exploring the rich and colorful history of the San Gabriel Canyon.

Visitors will learn about the Gabrielino/Tongva, our Native Americans who inhabited our local foothills and mountains, the great rancheros of the early 1800, and the colorful and sometimes rowdy gold mining history of Eldoradoville on the East Fork. On one of our stops we will see the location of the Forks Dam fiasco, the San Gabriel Canyon Railroad, and the Navy torpedo test site.

This is an excellent outing for families, scout groups, or anyone interested in their local mountains .

The tour will start at 9AM and last until about 1 PM, meet at the San Gabriel Canyon Environmental Education Center, which is located 0.7 miles PAST the East Fork Bridge on Hwy. 39 above the City of Azusa. Cost is $5.00 per person.

Visitors should bring water, lunch, sturdy walking shoes, sun screen, insect repellent, cameras, binoculars and dress in layers for the weather . Hiking will not be strenuous but we will be hiking over uneven and rocky terrain. Make sure that your vehicle is in good working order , and you have a full tank of gas.

If you have questions or concerns contact Steve Segreto at (909) 982-2879

Zorthian/Feynman exhibit opening at the Armory

Opening Saturday, June 28, 7 to 9 p.m., will be “Jirayr Zorthian / Richard Feynman: A Conversation in Art”. This exhibition will be on view through August 31, and will document one of the most famous and unusual artist and scientist collaborations in the history of Southern California, that between artist and public personality Jirayr H. Zorthian and Caltech Nobel Laureate physicist Richard P. Feynman. This exhibition is curated by Jay Belloli.

A color-illustrated catalogue will be published by the Armory in connection with each exhibition.
Jirayr H. Zorthian was a Yale University-trained artist who created respected paintings, murals, and drawings throughout his life. His career also included forty-seven years of constructing and designing buildings, including his unconventional ranch in the hills at the top of Altadena, California, as well as serving as an architecture and design consultant. Although he spent many of his years living in his residence on the edge of Los Angeles’ vibrant contemporary art world - his visual art was rarely shown.

A true bohemian in a time when the approach to living an artist’s life was changing, he was much better known as a memorable personality rather than as an artist whose work had achieved national recognition. Zorthian’s most important artistic influences may have been on the famous Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman of the California Institute of Technology.

Feynman was extremely open to exploring new areas of inquiry beyond his world-famous expertise in science. Zorthian agreed to teach Feynman to draw, and Feynman agreed to teach Zorthian physics. The scientific instruction did not continue long, but Zorthian’s influences on Feynman led to the physicist’s twenty-five year involvement in art making. Much of Zorthian’s art was figurative and, as many artists, with an emphasis on drawing the human figure, particularly the beautiful and frequently erotic female form. Feynman embraced the discipline and pleasures of figure drawing as well as the challenges of portraiture.

This exhibition will be the first significant survey of Jirayr Zorthian’s art; and the first extensive exhibition of Richard Feynman’s drawings in four decades. Significantly, this association occurred in Pasadena, a city historically known as a center of both science and the arts. In a new millennium marked by a growing involvement of artists in scientific inquiry, it is important to look back at an earlier example of the relationship between art and science – one in which an artist influenced a scientist in the traditional media, discipline, and sensuality of the fine arts.

This exhibition is made possible by a generous grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance.

This exhibition will be on view in the Susan and John Caldwell Gallery at the Armory is at 145 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, and will be open Tuesday – Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free. The Armory is easily accessible from the Gold Line Memorial Park Station in Pasadena.

For information about Armory exhibitions and events, the public may call 626.792.5101 x122. or visit the Armory website at www.armoryarts.org.

"The Gits" documentary to be screened Monday at The Echoplex

“The Gits is a sizzling, tight-as-a-drum, transcendent study of a woman’s incredible creativity, her insanely tragic death, and the way both have haunted and inspired so many for years afterwards. That woman is Mia Zapata, and you will never forget her after seeing the movie [first-time director Kerri] O’Kane spent more than a decade creating for her and her band, The Gits....this is a rock doc that kicks amazing amounts of ass.” -- Chris Estey, KEXP blog, Seattle WA

“The Gits” documentary will be showing at THE ECHOPLEX (1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles) on Monday, July 7 at 7:30 pm. Appearances by director Kerri O’Kane, and other special guests. Tickets are $10 available at www.ticketweb.com. This is an 18+ event. For additional information, please visit http://www.attheecho.com.

The film will be released on DVD via Liberation Entertainment on July 8.For more information on “The Gits” documentary please visit www.thegitsmovie.com or www.myspace.com/thegitsmovie.

Upcoming concerts around California from Live Nation

Both Shows On Sale Friday June 27 at 10 AM:
PAUL WELLER
With Special Guest
The Wiltern
September 2 & 3
--------------------------

On Sale Saturday June 28 at 10 AM:
IDINA MENZEL
The Wiltern
Friday August 15

See clips of Lamb of God's new DVD

HEADBANGERS BALL TO FEATURE FOOTAGE FROM LAMB OF GOD’S UPCOMING DOUBLE DVD “WALK WITH ME IN HELL”…CLIPS AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE AT HEADBANGERSBLOG.COM!!!


Footage from LAMB OF GOD’s upcoming double disc DVD, ‘Walk With Me In Hell’, is currently available online at:

http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/24/exclusive-video-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell/

http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/25/exclusive-video-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell-pt-2/

http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/26/exclusive-premiere-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell-pt-3/

Headbangersblog.com will be posting additional material from the DVD all week!

Fans craving even more footage from ‘Walk With Me In Hell’ can tune into MTV2’s Headbangers Ball this Saturday night at 11PM for exclusive clips from the upcoming double disc DVD.

‘Walk With Me In Hell’ features all-access footage from the bus to the stage and everything in between, and like the band’s unrelenting music, never lets up. The ‘Walk With Me In Hell’ two DVD set features over five hours of incredible, all-access footage. Disc 1 contains the highly anticipated feature documentary ‘Walk With Me In Hell’ and multiple live performance extras from across the globe on the Sacrament World Tour. Disc 2 includes the additional full-length feature “Making of Sacrament” plus LAMB OF GOD’s entire, uncut, brutal performance at the Download Festival 2007, where they performed in front of over 72,000 fans.

LAMB OF GOD will be screening the full-length feature from the 2 DVD set at Chelsea Cinemas in New York City on June 30 at 7PM, with the full band in attendance!

For an exclusive preview of the DVD, visit http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/24/exclusive-video-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell/, http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/25/exclusive-video-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell-pt-2/, and http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/06/26/exclusive-premiere-walk-with-lamb-of-god-in-hell-pt-3/.

mtvU Video Music Awards Tour goes to Six Flags across the nation

Six Flags, the world’s largest regional theme park company, and mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, are joining forces this summer to offer red hot college favorites Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, Metro Station, and Katy Perry for the mtvU Video Music Awards Tour at Six Flags. The tour will take place at Six Flags theme parks across the nation, and will lead up to the blowout "2008 MTV Video Music Awards" show at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 7th, making for an even bigger music celebration than last year’s show in Las Vegas.

This year the tour has alternating line-ups that will feature bands like Boys Like Girls, who have a long and successful track record with mtvU, including a win for "Breaking Woodie" at the "2007 mtvU Woodie Awards," and a featured spot on the 2007 mtvU VMA Rookie Showcase. The band has also reached the #1 spot on MTV’s Total Request Live, was a key act on the 2007 Vans Warped Tour and spent more than forty weeks on the Billboard Heatseekers Top New Artist chart.

Another leading breakout group, All Time Low, has garnered many successes including the #1 streamed video on MTV.com, filmed live at the 2008 mtvU Campus Invasion Music Festival, and four videos now in the top ten on mtvU.com. In addition, their video for "Dear Maria Count Me In" has been streamed over 3 million times on MySpace.

Other bands joining the tour are Metro Station, whose single, "Shake It," is currently the #2 alternative track -- and in the top 5 overall -- on iTunes, and Katy Perry, who will perform her hit song "I Kissed a Girl," now the #2 track on iTunes and #1 pop track on iTunes, this Friday on MTV's new music series, "FNMTV Premieres…"

The mtvU Video Music Awards Tour at Six Flags builds on the success of last year’s inaugural concert series, where previous mtvU "Breaking Woodie" winner, Plain White Ts, belted out "Hey There Delilah" – last year’s #1 pop hit and summer anthem – all across the country. Six Flags visitors were also treated to memorable performances from Secondhand Serenade and mtvU’s 2007 Best Music on Campus Artist of the Year, Bamboo Shoots.

Six Flags is the definitive spot for thrilling rides and fantastic entertainment, and the music floored more than 22,000 fans over five concert dates at the parks—quickly establishing the mtvU Six Flags series as a breeding ground for some of the summer’s best emerging music.

“We’re excited to be partnering again with Six Flags this year,” says Chris McCarthy, VP mtvU Marketing and Strategic Development, “and to bring MTV’s marquee Video Music Awards to the parks—gearing fans up for the big show. With the rebranded tour, theme park goers will be entertained by a much greater array of today’s biggest and emerging music talents.”

“Six Flags is the summer destination for the hottest acts in music and we are thrilled to include the mtvU Video Music Awards Tour as another addition to the great entertainment value we offer our guests,” said Dan Weinberg, VP, Entertainment for Six Flags.

The mtvU Video Music Awards Tour at Six Flags will be featured at the following parks this July and August:

7/23 & 9/1 - Six Flags Fiesta Texas - San Antonio, TX
7/25 & 8/31 - Six Flags Over Texas - Arlington, TX (Dallas metro)
7/27 - Six Flags over Georgia - Atlanta, GA
8/5 - Six Flags St. Louis - St. Louis, MO
8/19 - Six Flags America - Bowie, MD (Baltimore/D.C. metro)
8/20 - Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, NJ (Philadelphia metro)
8/21 - Six Flags New England - Agawam, MA (Boston metro)

Admission to the concerts are free with park admission and are first come, first served. Discounted student tickets are also available. For more information, log on to vmatour.mtvU.com, or visit www.sixflags.com and click on your participating park.

The 2008 mtvU VMA Tour is sponsored by Army and HP.

Shimmy Showcase Sunday

THIS SUNDAY, WE FEATURE A VARIETY OF BELLYDANCE STYLES--SO WHATEVER YOUR FAVORITE--CABARET, FOLK OR TRIBAL--WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU! PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO SHIMMYSHOWCASE JULY 6 (INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND).

ALSO TO ALL DANCERS--WE STILL HAVE OPENINGS FOR JULY 13 AND AUGUST 3! PLEASE CHECK OUT SCHEDULE BELOW FOR DETAILS!

Everyone is invited to come out, have a cup of Java, munch on something yummy and enjoy some really great dancing FOR FREE!

Below is our upcoming schedule for the next several Sundays at the Coffee Haven Internet Cafe in Long Beach. If you are a dancer interested in performing at an upcoming showcase, please check out the schedule below for open dates and then email us at
shimmyshowcase@yahoogroups.com
with the dates on which you'd like to perform.

The SHIMMY SHOWCASE begins at 7 p.m. at the COFFEE HAVEN in Long Beach (1708 E. Broadway -- 562-437-3785).

~~~~~~~~~ UPCOMING SHOWCASE CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~

June 29: Abraiha is coordinator for this evening, and Delilah, Raks Bahlam, and Meryem Vani will also be performing. Please come down and watch this delightful group of dancers perform for you in the warm, intimate, friendly environment of Coffee Haven!

July 6: NO SHOWCASE. Independence Day.

July 13: Alexiis is our coordinator for the evening and we have Brandi and Hade signed on to also perform for you. If you would like to perform for this Shimmy Showcase, please contact us at ShimmyShowcase@yahoogroups.com.

July 20: LIVE MUSIC featuring Fernan Cobian playing Arabic Ude with live percussion! Akasha and Sara will be dancing with coordinator Saviya. Have you had the opportunity to dance to live music lately? Enjoy open dance time as well!

July 27: Blues is in the House! The long, hot days of summer are upon us, gasoline prices are in the stratosphere, you can’t afford to run the air conditioner and no relief is in sight. With all that, who doesn’t have the blues? We thought the time right to bring back this theme—popular with both dancers and audience alike. Coordinator Abraiha and Meryem Vani, Gaea, Saphira and Kalila will perform their bellydance interpretations of the Blues. This will be a show you won’t want to miss!

August 3: Alexiis is our coordinator for the evening and she is delighted to have Hipsy Gypsies performing for this showcase. We still have openings, so if you would like to perform for this Shimmy Showcase, please contact us at ShimmyShowcase@yahoogroups.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please allow time for parking to avoid missing any of the fun, so be sure to be at the coffee house well before 7:00 PM. We try not to start the show until everyone has settled with a tasty beverage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

for additional information, please visit our website at: www.ShimmyShowcase.com

We look forward to seeing you soon at the Sunday Shimmyshowcase!

Karmacy to perform at Be the Cause benefit Friday

The hip hop group Karmacy joins with Southern California nonprofit Be the Cause for a benefit concert at the Hollywood Knitting Factory, where it will release its second album, "Wooden Bling," June 27. Blazin' Hope II's line-up includes special guest performers Raja Kumari, Jason Joseph, The Himalayan Project, Nicco and DJ Yashraj.

Two charities that serve underprivileged youth will receive 100% of ticket sale proceeds. Peace4Kids helps South LA foster kids and other at-risk youth learn life skills and creative arts such as producing and recording their own music and spoken word (at an arts educational center sponsored by the Black Eyed Peas). P4K youth artists will perform at Blazin' Hope II.

The second beneficiary is Itipini Community Project, a 3,000-inhabitant squatters' camp in South Africa. In addition to running a primary health care clinic and a feeding program for children, Itipini empowers children through both a pre-school and an after-school children's program.

Karmacy is dropping "Wooden Bling" in charitable fashion in large part because it infuses the party scene with a rare sense of altruism. "We want our music to be more than just entertainment. We want it to actually help people," says member Swapnil Shah, who is an orthopedic surgeon by day. "Be the Cause has given us the perfect opportunity to do so."

Karmacy is a hip hop trio, whose debut album, "The Movement," was released in 2004. Addressing the idea of cross-cultural identities that are fluid yet universally relatable, their tracks might be in any of five languages, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati or English.

Be the Cause is an all volunteer-run nonprofit founded in early 2002 that helps manifest enriching service opportunities. Members do service to benefit the community, while improving themselves as world citizens.

EVENT: Blazin' Hope II
DATE: Friday June 27, 2008
TIME: 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM
WHO: 21 and over
PLACE: Knitting Factory – Hollywood @ 7021 Hollywood Blvd, LA 90028
TICKETS: $20 presale / $25 presale with album / $25 at the door (no album)
Event info and ticket purchase at http://bethecause.org/bh/

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Club Flotsam at Mr. T's Thursday

Club Flotsam
9 p.m. Thursday, June 26
Mr. T's Bowl
5621 1/2 N. Figueroa
Highland Park
No cover - one drink minimum
(323) 256-7561

Featuring:
Mrs. Brown's Lovely Daughter
Out of Town
Skyline Electric
NIBIRU
and Nocturra of the Almase Arabesque belly dance troupe
Free raffle prizes and more!!

Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

There's a great little music scene going on in the Sierra Madre Canyon two nights a week, and it all happens at MARY'S MARKET & CAFE at 561 Woodland Ave. "Taco Tuesdays" offer yummy tacos & burritos and on Saturdays it's homemade pie and ice cream, along with live music from a growing roster of local musicians and friends, under a majestic oak tree.

Pictured here with me this week is FAITHANNE, the gal who books all the music at Mary's, and another new friend I have made through this Music News hobby of mine! Please keep in mind that she and all the other talented artists that perform at Mary's are "playing for food" and your tips - and show your appreciation generously!

Note: The music generally starts at 6:30pm. Look for specific listings here, as they are confirmed, or call: 626-355-4534.
__________________________________________________________________________
WED. 6/25 - VIN FIZ FLYER @ THE SIERRA MADRE FARMERS' MARKET, 6 - 7pm. In the Mariposa parking lot, behind the Bottle Shop, etc. "Bluegrass with a bit more fizz." And don't forget to tip the band! Wait - is there an echo in here?

WED. 6/25 - MAX BUDA @ THE OLD TOWNE PUB IN PASADENA, 9pm. Corner of Fair Oaks & Union, behind the big ugly Container Store - enter thru alley off of Holly St. 626-577-6583. No cover. BEER. Eclectic jazzy-rock stuff from Chester, Jerry, Tedroy, Bruce & Pete. And yes it's true - the boycott is officially over! Our pal Ken is back at the helm, and patrons and musicians alike will once again be treated with the respect they deserve! Woo hoo! WELCOME BACK KEN and MAX BUDA!

FRI. 6/27 - 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. Acoustic Guitar, vocals. Cool dude/Hot chick! http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/

FRI. 6/27 & SAT. 6/28 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. In the bar area, but you can order food also. All ages ok. Joe Velosa, Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright. Acoustic rock, soul & blues. 626-915-3474.

FRI. 6/27 - THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS and THE TEXAS TRAILHANDS @ THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE IN ALTADENA, 8pm. 2029 N. Lake Ave. 626-398-7917. $18. "It'll be an unforgettable evening of lively Western music and fun you won't want to miss!" http://www.thetumblingtumbleweeds.com/http://www.texastrailhands.com/

FRI. 6/27 - "FLOATING LUAU" UKULELE SHOW @ THE TONGA HUT IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 8pm. Featuring KING KUKULELE AND THE FRIKI TIKIS, MALAHINI MARC (Doten) and RIKI RONTIKI, as well as The Polynesian Paradise Dancers. 12808 Victory Blvd. 818-769-0708. $5 cover. FREE Rum tastings and door prizes, while they last! http://www.kingkukulele.com/ http://www.myspace.com/tongahut

FRI. 6/27 - T.C.'s LIVING ROOM opens for LUNGBUTTER @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table, cheap drinks. Rock/Alternative.

FRI. 6/27 - "SWING DANCE PARTY" with FLAT TOP TOM & HIS JUMP CATS @ 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/

SAT. 6/28 - 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. 6/28 - "MUSICIANS' CIRCLE" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6:30pm. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. All ages, FREE. Limited parking. Homemade pie and ice cream available for purchase. All are welcome to bring their instruments/voices and join in. A good opportunity to try out new material and get feedback from other singer-songwriters.

SAT. 6/28 - 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. 6/28 - 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, 21 & over. R&B, Rock, Funk, Motown, Disco. http://www.mercyandthemerkettes.com/

SUN. 6/29 - 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. 6/29 - 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. Acoustic Folk/Rock, Classic Country. Special treat: Violinist/mandolinist/vocalist Jane will be in the house today! yee haw!

SUN. 6/29 - "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!

TUES. 7/1 - THE FOLK COLLECTION @ MEMORIAL PARK'S LEVITT PAVILION IN OLD TOWNE PASADENA, 6 - 7pm. On Raymond between Walnut & Holly. Gold Line train stop is Memorial Park. Americana/Folk.

JULY 1st - "TACO TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, featuring JANE FULLER, 6:30 - 8:30pm. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. All ages, FREE. Limited parking. Yummy cheap tacos! Jazz Standards/Contemporary Blues.

WED. 7/2 - FARMERS' MARKET IN SIERRA MADRE - NEW SUMMER HOURS: 4 to 8PM.

THURS. 7/3 - ANNUAL 3rd OF JULY CONCERT IN SIERRA MADRE'S MEMORIAL PARK, featuring THE SHEDS and ALUMINUM MARSHMALLOW WITH THE AGE OF AQUARIUS HORNS, 5:30pm. 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. @ Hermosa Ave. Possible third band of local kids on at 5:00 - check back next week for more info. Beer garden opens at 5pm & last call is at 10:30pm.

THURS. 7/3 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. R&B, Funk, Motown, etc. Dance floor! If the place isn't already packed by the time the beer garden closes at the Park, they will be soon!

NOTE: the BUCCANEER closes at 11pm on Thurs. July 3rd.

FRI. 7/4 - SIERRA MADRE 4th OF JULY PARADE, 10am. Starts at the corner of Sunnyside & Sierra Madre Blvd. & proceeds east to Sierra Vista Park, where you can get hosed down by the Volunteer Fire Dept. at the end of the Parade! (Note: that is the ONLY area where water play will be allowed!) Watch/listen for local hillbilly-hippie-rock favorites HORSES ON ASTROTURF. Post-Parade Beer Garden, kids activities and live music in Memorial Park, 11am - 4pm.

FRI. 7/4 - DAVE OSTI AND DEANNA COGAN @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 4 - 7pm. Note: earlier time, so you can go watch Fireworks! 311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. NO COVER. Full bar, limited food menu. Acoustic Guitar, vocals. Cool dude/Hot chick! http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/

SAT. 7/5 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. Red, White & BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SAT. 7/5 - the WRECKTANGLES and a bunch of other bands (The Chump Change Gang, Swords of Fatima, Carnage Asada (heck of a name there!), Hell Surfers, etc.) @ MR. T's BOWL IN HIGHLAND PARK, with the first band at 5pm, I believe. They're still workin' out the schedule. Check back here next week or call to confirm: 323-256-7561. 5621 1/2 Figueroa. Probably a $5 cover. The return of the Wrecktangles - Raghead, Leslie, Boo, Gavin & the other guy whose name I got wrong last time, so I'm not even gonna go there! Punk/Rock.

SUN. 7/6 - 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. 7/6 - 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. 7/6 - 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. 7/6 - THE SURFING SAFARIS @ MEMORIAL PARK BANDSHELL IN SIERRA MADRE, 6 - 8pm. 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. "Beach Party" tunes/Surf music. A great way to kick off Summer. In thar dude!

SUN. 7/6 - TIM TEDROW & TERRY VREELAND @ SIERRA CUP IN MONROVIA, 6pm. 409 S. Myrtle Ave. 626-301-4214. Traditional Folk Music. Gotta love the title of their latest CD: "Songs We Stole From Our Friends". Tim used to do the sound at the "Listening Room Concerts". These guys are great! http://www.trough.com/tedrow-vreeland/default.htm

SUN. 7/6 - "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!

ADVANCE NOTICE DEPT.: get your tickets NOW for the annual Colorado Street Bridge Party on Sat. 7/19. http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/

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://sierracup.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

Esotouric to offer Tom Waits tour August 30

New L.A. Bus Tour and Book Follows in Tom Waits' Youthful Footsteps

WHAT: Esotouric debuts "Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' Los Angeles" bus tour, followed by a group reading and signing of host David Smay's new book "Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones" (Continuum's 33 1/3 series)

WHEN: Bus tour is Saturday August 30, noon-4pm, reading follows at 6pm

WHERE: Bus tour departs from The King Edward Saloon, 131 E 5th Street, reading at Metropolis Books, 440 S. Main Street

COST: $62/person

MORE INFO: visit http://www.esotouric.com or call 323-223-2767

Legendary musician Tom Waits is touring this summer, but fans in his old hometown are out of luck-- all the dates are in the South. But Esotouric, the bus adventure company whose offbeat tours expose LA's secret history, is launching a new tour on August 30 that should scratch that gravelly voiced itch.

CRAWLING DOWN CAHUENGA: TOM WAITS' LOS ANGELES is the definitive tour of Tom Waits' formative creative life and the people, places and late night pastries that shaped it.

Calling all rain dogs, gin-soaked boys and Gun Street girls! Climb aboard as your hosts David Smay (author of the new 33 1/3 series book on"Swordfishtrombones") and Esotouric's Kim Cooper (a Zoetrope Studios intern who'll tell how she used teenage subterfuge to arrange a private concert by Tom) lead you on a scrupulously researched ride through Tom's epic misdeeds and shenanigans, from the Trashing of the Troubadour to epic nights at the Tropicana.

And oh, there are such tales to tell, from food fights with L.A. Punks and smackdowns with L.A. Police. We'll crawl through the Sewers of Paris, tattle on the Ivar Theater, and get the lowdown on Tom's legendary performances at the Wiltern and elsewhere.

Before departing for points rural, Tom left hismark all over L.A., from Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Studios to Sunset Sound to Skid Row. We'll show you where Tom found his true love and collaborator, Kathleen Brennan, and how all the pieces came together to transform a drunken, desperate singer into the multi-faceted, multi-media artist he'd become.

Raised near San Diego, Tom Waits launched his musical career in L.A., signing with David Geffen's Asylum Records in 1972, living at the raunchy Tropicana Hotel (where he sawed off the kitchen drain board so his piano would fit), and building a reputation as a songwriter willing to risk his own health and sanity to get inside the sad sack characters that peopled songs like "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)," "On The Nickel" and "Pasties And A G-string (At The Two O'clock Club)." By 1980, Tom was 31 and starting to feel the effects of his hard living.

While scoring the music to Francis Ford Coppola's "One From The Heart," he met Kathleen Brennan, whose influence would completely transform his life and his art. After a whirlwind courtship the pair married and began a 28-year creative and personal partnership, beginning with the revolutionary album "Swordfishtrombones," the subject of tour host David Smay's new book.

As a symbolic passage from lonesome bar hopping to family joys and sobriety, the tour starts and ends at two important downtown sites. Passengers gather in the King Edward Saloon, the last surviving Skid Row bar with the Christmas 2007 loss of Craby Joe's, before boarding Esotouric's luxury coach class bus, where the mood is set with vintage photos and live footage.

CRAWLING DOWN CAHUENGA spans Tom's personal city, from The Nickel (aka Skid Row) to once-ratty West Hollywood, favorite strip clubs and midnight diners, recording studios, night clubs, record labels and film studios, before rolling back downtown for a communal snack at Clifton's Cafeteria.

After the tour and the snack at Clifton's Cafeteria, hosts David and Kim will be at Metropolis Books, reading from their 33 1/3 series books on Tom Waits and Neutral Milk Hotel. Joining them is Austin writer Hayden Childs, author of "Richard and Linda Thompson 'Shoot Out The Lights."

ABOUT THE HOSTS:
Longtime collaborators David Smay and Kim Cooper co-edited the books "Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth" ("quite simply the most fun music book I have ever read." -Bucketfull of Brains) and "Lost in the Grooves: Scram's Capricious Guide to the Music You Missed" ("the perfect book for the advanced record collector" -Ear Candy) before penning their solo 33 1/3 series books on Tom Waits and Neutral Milk Hotel. Kim gives Esotouric's rock history and true crime tours. David Smay lives in San Francisco, where he is working on a history of the Beats.

Upcoming Esotouric bus tour schedule (new tours starred):
Sat June 28 ­ Amoeba Music - Where the Action Was rock history tour with guest star Ruthann Friedman (composer of "Windy")
*Sat July 12 - Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: The New Chinatowns
Sat July 26 - Pasadena Confidential
Sat Aug.2 - Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: Route 66
Sat Aug 9- Vroman's Bookstore ­ Haunts of A Dirty Old Man: Charles Bukowki's LA
Sat Aug 16 - The Real Black Dahlia
Sat Aug 23 ­ John Fante's Bunker Hill
*Sat Aug 30 - Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' LA
Sun Sept 7 - Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: South LA
Sat Sept 13 - Blood & Dumplings
Sat Sept 20 ­ Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles: The Many Downtowns
Sat Oct 11- Vroman's Bookstore - Raymond Chandler's LA
Sat Oct 18- Raymond Chandler's Bay City
Sat Oct 25 ­ Halloween Horrors

For more info on Esotouric, visit http://www.esotouric.com

For more info on David and Kim's previous books, visit
http://www.bubblegum-music.com
http://www.lostinthegrooves.com

Upcoming Live Nation concerts around Southern California

On Sale Saturday June 28 at 10 AM:
3 DOORS DOWN
With Special Guests:
Aaron Lewis (of Staind)
Hinder
Sick Puppies
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
August 31
--------------------------------------

On Sale Saturday June 28 at 10 AM:
NINE INCH NAILS
With Special Guest: Deerhunter
The Forum
Saturday – September 6

On Sale Saturday June 28 at 10 AM:
3 DOORS DOWN
With Special Guests:
Aaron Lewis (of Staind)
Hinder
Sick Puppies
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
August 31

Both Shows On Sale Friday June 27 at 10 AM:
PAUL WELLER
With Special Guest
The Wiltern
September 2 & 3

On Sale Friday June 27 at 1 PM:
ANA GABRIEL
Gibson Amphitheatre
Saturday September 20

On Sale Saturday June 28 at 10 AM:
IDINA MENZEL
The Wiltern
Friday August 15

On Sale Friday June 27 at 10 AM
STARS
Avalon (Hollywood)
October 1

The Secret Handshake on tour

Lot's going on in the world of Luis Dubuc aka The Secret Handshake. The Dallas, TX product has been hard at work behind his debut album One Full Year which is in stores now on Triple Crown Records. The Secret Handshake will be on the Warped Tour from July 1st through July 9th and then heading out on his "Summer Of Love" headline tour for the rest of July and August. All dates are below.

** The Secret Handshake just dropped "History In The Making Vol.1" - a FREE mixtape that's available to download here: http://www.thesecrethandshake.net/mixtape.html - There are a couple new demo's on there along with some covers and freestyle's over Lupe Fiasco, Ne-Yo and Ginuwine beats.

** Remixes of TSH songs are all over the blogs, a quick search on elbo.ws will turn up the new Crookers and Bloody Beetroots remixes of "Summer Of '98" and The Toxic Avenger's remix of "Too Young."

** The Secret Handshake recently had their cover of Skee Lo's "I Wish" placed on the Punk Goes Crunk compilation and has become an instant fan favorite.

For The Secret Handshake's week long run on the Warped Tour Luis will be "Lifecasting" live video on Justin.TV 24/7 through a small backpack he'll be wearing capable of broadcasting live video from his point of view. This will give people a really unique view into the life of an artist on the tour; a sort of a constant, uncensored reality TV show.

People will be able to watch Luis live at http://www.justin.tv/thesecrethandshake - Justin.TV is the destination site for live video online. With its 100% free, high quality live video streaming technology; combined with the largest social network community among any live video site, Justin.TV is the perfect tool for broadcasting live to millions. Other artists who have used Justin.TV to deliver streaming live broadcasts include The Jonas Brothers, Danity Kane, All American Rejects and Angels & Airwaves.

Warped Tour:
July 1st - St. Louis, MO
July 2nd - Kansas City, MO
July 3rd - Dallas, TX
July 5th - San Antonio, TX
July 6th - Houston, TX
July 9th - Atlanta, GA

"Summer Of Love" Headlining Tour:
Support Bands: Breath Carolina (7/26-8/21), Courage Call (7/21-8/3), The Morning Of (8/5-8/21)
July 21st - Bakersfield, CA - Jerry's Pizza
July 23rd - Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
July 24th - Reno, NV - Club Underground
July 25th - Provo, UT - Velour
July 26th - Ogden, UT - TBA
July 28th - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
July 30th - Omaha, NE - Roxbury
July 31st - De Moines, IA - House of Bricks
Aug. 1st - Chicago, IL - Majoes (Tinley Park, IL)
Aug. 2nd - Cleveland, IL - Grog Shop
Aug. 3rd - Toledo, OH - TBA
Aug. 5th - Newport, KY - TBA
Aug. 6th - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel
Aug. 7th - Altoona, PA - Jaggard
Aug. 8th - NYC - TBA
Aug. 9th - Baltimore, MD - TBA
Aug 10th - Virginia Beach, VA - Steppin Out
Aug 11th - Wilmington, NC - Lucky's Pub
Aug 12th - Raleigh, NC - The Brewery
Aug 14th - Columbia, SC - TBA
Aug 15th - Tampa, FL - TBA
Aug 16th - Jacksonville, FL - TBA
Aug 17th - Pensacola, FL - TBA
Aug 19th - Waco, TX - TBA
Aug 21st - McAllen, TX - TBA

Website: www.thesecrethandshake.net
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thesecrethandshake

Motley Crue to release new effort and tour

Rock is back on June 24th when Mötley Crüe, the world's most notorious rock band, will release their first new studio album featuring all of the original members in over a decade; titled Saints of Los Angeles, (with a gritty Top 10 first single of the same name) the album is comprised of songs lyrically inspired by the band's jaw-dropping accounts of decadence chronicled in their NY Times best-selling memoir The Dirt.

Of the new material, Rolling Stone says, "The Crüe is back and they're grimier than ever."

Following the original release of The Dirt in 2001, the NY Times said of the book: "Open it anywhere and find a story to remember," while Details said, " makes Pamela Des Barres' ' I'm With The Band' look like a nun's diary by comparison."

In support of their new album, Mötley Crüe will make a bevy of media appearances, including Larry King Live (June 20th), The Late Show With David Letterman (June 24th), and Access Hollywood to name a few. Clear Channel will even offer fans a sneak peek of the new record over 171 stations on the day of release.

The band has also created Crüe Fest, a touring rock festival embracing the lifestyle of rock that brings headlining bands together, giving fans a five-for-the-price of-one value in this atmosphere where rock rules once again. Produced by Live Nation, the inaugural year of the tour features Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M., and Trapt and kicks off July 1st in West Palm Beach, Florida, working its way across North America for over 40 dates throughout July and August. Tickets, band profiles and exclusive content from all of the Crüe Fest bands will consistently be uploaded at www.therockvine.com.

In April, Mötley Crüe debuted their single "Saints of Los Angeles" with a live performance at their Los Angeles press conference announcing Crüe Fest. The ubiquitous presence and popularity of music-based video games has influenced a resurgence of rock that has not only rejuvenated the average rock fan, but also served to create and educate a new generation of rock lovers. Mötley Crüe teamed up with MTV's Rock Band (who is also a partner of the Crüe Fest tour) to debut a download of the single for use on the game simultaneous with its iTunes debut. If one had doubts of the role of these games in bringing rock back, the sales numbers of the single on Rock Band would lay them to rest: Rock Band downloads were a staggering five times that of those sold on iTunes.

For more information on Mötley Crüe please visit www.motley.com and www.myspace.com/motleycrue.

Crüe Fest U.S./Canada Tour Dates:

July:
07.01.08 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
07.03.08 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
07.05.08 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
07.06.08 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
07.08.08 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
07.09.08 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
07.10.08 Sarnia, ONT Bayfest
07.12.08 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
07.13.08 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
07.15.08 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
07.16.08 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
07.18.08 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Indianapolis
07.19.08 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater
07.20.08 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis
07.22.08 Houston, TX Toyota Center
07.23.08 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
07.24.08 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
07.26.08 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
07.27.08 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
07.29.08 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
07.31.08 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

August:
08.01.08 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
08.02.08 Los Angeles, CA Glen Helen Pavilion
08.05.08 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
08.06.08 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
08.08.08 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheatre
08.09.08 Portland, OR Rose Garden
08.11.08 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
08.13.08 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
08.14.08 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
08.15.08 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre
08.17.08 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
08.19.08 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Amphitheatre
08.20.08 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
08.22.08 Boston, MA Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
08.23.08 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
08.24.08 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
08.28.08 Toronto, ONT Molson Amphitheatre
08.29.08 Albany, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
08.30.08 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
08.31.08 Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion

Closure In Moscow's effort available as a digital-only in U.S. Aug. 5

Championed as “young Aussie rockers who are gunning for new ground” by Alternative Press, Closure In Moscow, a five-piece from down under, is indeed looking to widen its fan base with its catchy, yet melodic, brand of progressive, avant-garde rock. The band’s debut EP The Penance & The Patience (which was originally released in Australia on Taperjean Records and debuted at No. 13 on the Australian Independent Album Charts) will be available as a digital-only release in the U.S. starting August 5 via Science Records.

Having taken on odd jobs to self-finance their EP, or albumette as they say in Australia, the band members (vocalist Chris De Cinque, guitarists Manny Zennelli and Michael Barrett, bassist Brad Kimber and drummer Beau) even sold their cars to fly out producer Kris Crummett (Kaddisfly, Dance Gavin Dance) to their hometown of Melbourne to record.

Reminiscent of The Mars Volta, Circa Survive, and Chiodos, Closure in Moscow has more in common with complex, seasoned bands like Rush and Tool than they do with fellow Aussie rockers AC/DC; pretty impressive for a band whose average age is 21.

Currently selling out shows all over Australia and touring with the likes of Coheed and Cambria, the band will head Stateside in September to begin writing songs for their upcoming full-length release which should be out late ‘08/early ‘09. A fall U.S. tour from September through November is in the works right now.

Check out the band’s video for “We Want Guarantees, Not Hunger Pains” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpu9s6aafws

www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow

Participate in the Great American Backyard Campout Saturday

Don’t forget to remind your readers to join families across the country this Saturday, June 28, for the Great American Backyard Campout! Avoid high gas prices and experience the wildlife found in your own backyard.

Research now shows that kids spend an average of 44 hours per week staring at electronic screens, TV, video games and computers -- for the first time in our country’s history; we have an entire generation that is growing up disconnected from nature. Help reverse this trend and spend an evening stargazing, telling stories, and cooking outdoors. The National Wildlife Federation is providing recipes, nocturnal wildlife guides, exploration activities, nature guides, and much more to make your camping experience fun and rewarding.

Head to www.backyardcampout.org to register your campsite and learn more about the Great American Backyard Campout.

Take advantage of summer this weekend and trade in your website for a campsite. You never know what you can discover right outside your backdoor!

The National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Extraterrestrial music concert to be held in NYC July 8

This Tuesday July 8,2008 at 7:00PM the Brazilian composer Emanuel Dimas de Melo Pimenta will perform SETI - a new concert at the celebrated Bjorn Ressle Contemporary Art Gallery in New York City.

Emanuel Pimenta, who lives in Switzerland, composed SETI in 2002 exclusively using extraterrestrial sounds. The music score was totally created inside virtual environments. The performance will include the projection of a film by Pimenta based on images captured by NASA from the frontiers of the known Universe.

SETI's world premiere happened in 2003, in Lausanne, Switzerland at the local Experimental Art and Film Festival. The film at Bjorn Ressle's Art Gallery will be a world premiere. Mark Wiener and Marcia Grostein, both recognized artists living in New York will be responsible for the environment design.

This concert is part of a five-year project by Emanuel Pimenta at Bjorn Ressle's Contemporary Art Gallery. With several cds and books published in diverse countries, Pimenta collaborated with John Cage between 1986 and 1992 and remains a commissioned composer for Merce Cunningham since 1986.

Admittance will be free, more information is available at the link below:
www.asa-art.com/seti2008.html

Bjorn Ressle Gallery
16 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10075
Between Madison and Fifth Avenue Second floor
Phone: (212) 744-2266
Mail@RessleArt.com

Colorado Street Bridge festival set for July 19

Cruise on over to the Colorado Street Bridge on July 19, 2008 for Pasadena Heritage’s unique summer party, A Celebration on the Colorado Street Bridge! Join us from 6 pm to 11 pm as we celebrate historic preservation on one of the world’s most beautiful bridges with continuous live music on three stages, dancing, antique cars, children’s activities, festive food and beverages plus much, much more!

Discounted advance tickets can be purchased by calling Pasadena Heritage at (626) 441-6333 or visiting www.pasadenaheritage.org.

Discounted advance ticket prices are as follows:
Non member: $13/adults, children (Ages 7-12) half price, children 6 and under free
Pasadena Heritage member: $10 adults, children (Ages 7-12) half price, children 6 and under freeAt the Gate Prices: $15 Adults, children (Ages 7-12) $7, children 6 and under free
This signature fundraising event supports Pasadena Heritage’s historic preservation and education programs.

Scars on Broadway to tour

Scars on Broadway, the much-anticipated collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan - best known for their Grammy-winning, multi-Platinum success in System of a Down - announce that they will headline their first North American tour, performing in some two dozen cities during October and November. The tour is in support of Scars On Broadway's self-titled debut album due out July 29 (Interscope). Tour cities are listed below; dates and venues will be announced shortly.

In addition, the band has shot the first Scars on Broadway music video for the track "They Say," which is set to premiere this Friday, June 27 on Yahoo!'s home page and Yahoo!'s music front page. The video, shot in Los Angeles earlier this month, was directed by Paul Minor (Muse, Queens of the Stone Age) and incorporates performance footage cut with an evocative potpourri of startling images from our world's culture - occurrences in nature, war, natural and man-made disasters, animals in the wild, human interaction, weather phenomenon, and so on.

With more details coming soon, here are the confirmed tour cities for Scars on Broadway's upcoming North American tour:
San Diego, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Atlanta, GA
Norfolk, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
New York, NY
Montreal, QC
Toronto, ONT
Detroit, MI
Chicago, IL
St. Louis, MO
Minneapolis, MN
Kansas City, MO
Denver, CO
Salt Lake City, UT
Edmonton, AB
Calgary, AB
Vancouver, BC
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA

Genghis Tron to tour with The Faint

GENGHIS TRON will join Omaha, NE’s THE FAINT for a number of shows on their upcoming headlining tour. GENGHIS TRON will meet up THE FAINT, along with JAGUAR LOVE, in Worcester, MA on August 20th. A listing of tour dates and cities can be found below.

Additionally, live footage from GENGHIS TRON’s recent performance in Paris, France as part of the Noise Festival can now be viewed online. Festival sponsors Noise Magazine have posted footage.

GENGHIS TRON has also recently premiered their first music video from their acclaimed Board Up The House album, for “Things Don’t Look Good”. The video was lensed by producer / director Ravi Zupa for Parts and Labor Union.

www.RELAPSE.com
www.GENGHISTRON.com
www.MySpace.com/GENGHISTRON.

GENGHIS TRON Tour Dates:

June 30 Bratislava, Slovakia Randal (w/ BRUTAL TRUTH)
July 1 Budapest, Hungary Rocktogon
July 2 Prague, Czech Republic Klub 007
July 3 Wiesbaden, Germany Schlachthof
July 4 Belfort, France Eurockeennes Festival (w/ MASSIVE ATTACK, CAT POWER, GIRL TALK, and more)
July 5 Oslo, Norway Club Maiden
August 20 Worcester, MA The Palladium (w/ THE FAINT, JAGUAR LOVE)
August 21 Toronto, ON Opera House (w/ THE FAINT, JAGUAR LOVE)
August 22 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre (w/ THE FAINT, JAGUAR LOVE)
August 23 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium (w/ THE FAINT, JAGUAR LOVE)

News from Bernie Pearl

From Bernie Pearl:

Hi: Summer is here! Had a great time at the Bayou fest. Visited with old friends Cash McCall, Alex Dixon, Guitar Shorty, Barbara Morrison, and old radio colleague Helen Borgers (KJAZZ) on Saturday. I sat in on National slide with a Zydeco trio early Sunday morning for a telecast on Fox-TV. Then we opened the show on the Club N'Orleans Stage at noon. Hung out the rest of the day partying to the music. Much cooler Sunday.

Fourth of July weekend we head east for a guitar workshop and concert in Nevada, a festival in New Mexico, and a show at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix.

I just received a link to a wonderful review of Mike and my concert at Boulevard Music in April. Also, we videotaped our May concert at the Fret House and expect to post one or more of the songs online, somewhere. I'll let you know. Meanwhile, you can check out this review: http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/cr0010.htm.

Summer Highlight Shows

Friday, July 18
The Huntington Beach Art Center presents The Bernie Pearl Blues Band in an evening of Old School Blues.
Concert/Cabaret setting, beverages served, limited seating.
7:30-10:00.
538 Main St.,
Huntington Beach.
(714) 374-1650

Saturday, August 2
An afternoon of "Poetry & Blues" featuring the Pearl Brothers.
Bernie and bassist Mike Barry play the blues, and noted poet Sherman Pearl reads from his latest book, "Profanities".
3:00-5:00,
at the
Ocean Park Library,
2601 Main St.,
Santa Monica (at Ocean Park Bl.).
Free admission and refreshments. Limited seating on a first-come basis.
(310) 453-0183.

Saturday, August 28
Bernie and Mike Barry in acoustic concert at Zoey's, in Ventura.
A lovely little eatery with first-rate sound. Thursday night is acoustic blues night. Opening set by our friend, the excellent Bob Jones.
800-10:00,
$15.
Upstairs venue.
451 Main St.
Ventura CA 93001.
(805) 652-1137.
Reservations recommended.

"Old School Blues, Acoustic/Electric" is just beginning to get reviews and airplay. Here's a review posted on the Missouri Blues Society's website:
"A worthy disc for every blues lovers library."
http://www.moblues.org/cd_rev3.htm

Ras Kass to release new effort in August

RAS KASS PREPS "INSTITUTIONALIZED VOL. II" FOR AUGUST 5th RELEASE ON BABYGRANDE RECORDS

One of the most critically acclaimed West Coast emcees of all time, Ras Kass is renowned for his complex lyricism, sharp battle rhymes and witty punchlines.
1996's debut "Soul On Ice" established Ras as one of the front-runners of the post West Coast gangsta rap movement pioneered by seminal acts such as N.W.A. and nationally popularized by modern day icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg & more.
Marrying a hardcore street sensibility with his signature witty wordplay, Ras built a loyal underground core with subsequent albums including 1998's "Rasassination," featuring guest appearances by Dr. Dre, Xzibit, Twista & RZA (of Wu-Tang) as well as multiple mixtape releases.
Currently serving time, Ras Kass' ambition in the face of adversity is on full display with the August 5th bow of "Institutionalized Vol. II."
Sure to satisfy Ras' loyal constituency and beyond, "Institutionalized Vol. 2" is a testament to both Ras' resilience and the raw skill that underlies his longevity within the ever-changing hip-hop landscape.
For more information and to sample some tracks, please visit:

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Village Mandala Drum Circle Wednesday in Montclair

Village Mandala Drum Circle
Wednesday 7pm June 25, 2008

Summer Solstice Potluck!!

Monte Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation
9185 Monte Vista Avenue
Montclair, California 91763
909-626-0520

more information: Vernon Lewis vaelewis@yahoo.com or (909)980-5663

The Congregation is on the east side of Monte Vista, 1/2 mile north of the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10) and adjacent to the Montclair Plaza.

We now meet on the FOURTH Wednesday of the month!
Jun. 25th
Jul. 23rd
Aug. 27th
Sep. 24th
Oct. 22nd
Nov. 26th ( maybe )
Dec. 31st New Year's Eve!

visit us online... (free membership, and no spam!)
http://villagemandala.tribe.net
http://people.tribe.net/vernon

I See Hawks in L.A. at McCabe's July 11

KCRW Presents I See Hawks In L.A. at McCabe’s for a show in support of their new CD Hallowed Ground

Friday, July 11
McCabe’s Guitar Shop
3101 Pico Blvd.,
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 828-4497
http://www.mccabes.com
All ages, 8 pm, $16
The Chapin Sisters co-headline

Tequila Mockingbird presents Club Fluffer tonight

Club Fluffer @ Miss Kimmy's Karaoke

Jun 24, 2008 9:00 pm (Tuesday)

Where: Rainbow Bar & Grill: Upstairs
9015 W Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90069

Who:
Tequila Mockingbird
The Twinny Twins
Dave Anger

www.rocknrollhollywood.com
www.myspace.com/tequilaofhollywood
www.myspace.com/clubfluffer
www.rockcitynews.com/lascoop

Claremont Pooch Park needs your help on 4th of July

Claremont Pooch Park meeting
Date: Monday June 30th
Time: 7:00PM
Place: Roundtable Pizza located on Baseline and Mills in Claremont

This meeting will discuss the details for our 4th of July Event at Memorial Park and also mark out things on our map for suggested changes.

Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting.

We also invite all of you to come to the City's 4th of July celebration in Memorial Park located on Indian Hill Blvd North of the Village in Claremont. The Pooch Park will have two booths there, food and merchandise. We have a new toy shipment so there are lots of goodies to buy for your pooch. Please come out and support your Claremont Pooch Park and if you have time, even an hour, we could sure use your help in one of our booths.

Hope to see you at the meeting or Memorial Park on the 4th. We will start setting up around 7:00AM and tear down around 4:00PM.

www.claremontpoochpark.org

Check out Dave Lovejoy

Dave Lovejoy is one of my favorite artists. I highly recommend this show! ~M

Dave Lovejoy - Out of Order
July 12 through August 2
Opening Reception: July 12, 7 PM to 10 PM
MorYork Gallery
4959 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Web site: www.lovejoyart.com

MorYork Gallery presents Out of Order – Artifacts of an Alternate Reality, an exhibition of ceramics and assemblage works by Pasadena artist David Lovejoy. Lovejoy is a maker, utilizing whatever materials fit the need. Trained as a ceramic artist, his recent work includes mixed-media and assemblage. He has won several awards, most recently a grant from the City of Pasadena, and has been named one of the “Art Stars of California” by Art in California magazine.

About the Exhibition
Out of Order – Artifacts of an Alternate Reality is a collection of new and recent work by Dave Lovejoy, both in clay and assemblage. As an artist working in two media linked to different traditions of artmaking, Lovejoy seems at ease with the juxtaposition of clay and assemblage.

“I appreciate old, weathered surfaces - the textures and colors of forgotten warehouses and old industrial structures - and the stories contained in everyday things, through years of use,” Lovejoy says. “My artistic direction has always involved an exploration of these aged finishes, primarily in clay."

Likewise, his assemblage works hint at some unknown purpose, as if they’re relics of an alternate past.

“I think on some level it must be annoying to people because it looks like it should do something,” Lovejoy says. “But to me, it’s just whatever action you would imagine, frozen in time.”

Lovejoy is an artist in residence at the Gallery at the End of the World in Altadena, where he teaches ceramics classes in raku firing techniques.

Location and Hours:
MorYork Gallery is located at 4959 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042. The opening reception will be Saturday, July 12th, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM as part of the NELA (North East Los Angeles) Second Saturday Art Night. The exhibition is viewable by appointment through August 2nd.

Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) cancels U.S. tour

Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) has cancelled his U.S. appearances this summer due to health reasons. This includes his August 5th Gibson Amphitheatre performance as part of the Regeneration Tour. According to Pete’s family Pete is receiving treatment and is on his way to recovery, but doctors are unwilling to commit that he'd be cleared to tour in time to start the U.S. dates July 25th; so rather than disappoint his fans at the last minute the decision has been made to postpone the dates now.

New York Dolls release new live album and tour

New York Dolls announce the release of their brand new unabashed live album. Recorded in December of last year at NYC's Fillmore East, this disc captures ten prime tracks from the reunited Dolls: "Babylon," "Trash," "Jet Boy," "Personality Crisis," "Rainbow Store," "Looking for a Kiss," "Puss 'N' Boots," "Dance Like a Monkey," "Pills," and "Lonely Planet Boy." Its everything you have come love about the Dolls over their giant spanning career, yet still keeps you on your toes and wanting more.

Morrissey recently exclaimed this with a fervor that somehow made his chronologically impossible claims seem plausible. Watching footage of the 'Dolls onstage two years ago at the behest of one of their biggest fans (who was curating the prestigious Meltdown Festival in London) one realized just how vast - and heretofore unsung - their influence truly was.

Everyone knows the famous logo: chrome lipstick, scrawling that name across an unseen mirror, but it's more than the great brand. It's not about the androgyny either. Skinny boys were wearing make up long before them. Little Richard. Elvis. It's not even about the music, as the Dolls themselves were always quick to credit 50's R&B numbers or early 60's girl group productions as their own influences. Really, what makes the Dolls so eternal is the attitude - it got into rock's water supply and never left.

Kiss, Aerosmith, The Ramones, Blondie, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, Hanoi Rocks, The Strokes, The Libertines and just about any gang of strutting rockers who are convinced that their band could take your band and possibly your whole town in a pretty for pretty, ugly for ugly throwdown. The Dolls, and their disciples win, not just with brawn but with what guitarist Sylvain Sylvain calls "plenty of intellect and plenty of sex."

Thirty five years into their existence (thirty one since they disbanded down in Florida in a haze of smack withdrawal and managerial anarchy), with three men down, they can still take your band, pretty for pretty, ugly for ugly, onstage, and now, with the long (long) awaited follow up to 1974's awesome Too Much, Too Soon, on CD too.

"You know how England is," David Johansen quips in his Staten Island drawl, thick as South Ferry sludge, "We made a big noise over there, and we were having so much fun, we decided to keep going."

"The phone didn't stop ringing," Sylvain adds, "The kids wanted this. Kids of all ages."

An album's worth of brand new New York Dolls compositions, as unlikely as it may have seemed in 2003, was a foregone conclusion after wildly successful festival and live dates that spanned the past two years. They were a reunion when they re-started. Now, with replacement members feeling comfortable stepping into the stack heels of departed legends like Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan, and most recently Arthur "Killer" Kane, they're a gang once more.

"It won't be very long that we'll be together longer than the original band was," Johansen laughs.

European Summer Tour
June 26 - Cork Ireland - Live at the Marquee w/ Morrissey
June 28 - Dubin, Ireland - Irish Museum of Modern Art w/ Morrissey
June 29 - Glasgow, Scotland - The Garage - Headline
July 1 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms - Headline
July 2 - Bristol, UK - KLA - Headline
July 3 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3 - Headline
July 4 - London, UK - Wireless Festival - Headline Tuborg Stage
July 12 - Kent, UK - Down on the Farm Festival
July 13 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Club Vega - Headline
July 16 - Athens, Greece - Fly Beeyond Festival
July 18 - Benicassim, Spain - FIB Festival
July 24 - Stezanno, Italy - Druso Under the Sky Festival
July 25 - Pinarella Di Cervia, Italy - Rock Planet Club - Headline
July 29 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Heatwave Festival w/ Morrissey
Aug 2 - Lokeren, Belgium - Lokerse Festeen Festival

More Dates To Be Added...