Support local music with Sierra Madre Sue

It's no secret that I'm a DeadHead - a fan and follower of the Grateful Dead and their offshoot bands. I probably saw them 20 times before founder Jerry Garcia died in 1995 - on my birthday, no less. It was tragic for me and millions of DeadHeads all over the world.

But fortunately, the remaining band members continue to tour as The Dead, and I'm going to see them this Saturday at the Forum - the venue where I saw them for the very first time over 30 years ago.

I'm sorry to say that I never met Jerry Garcia, but I did meet co-founder Bob Weir a couple of times. Here's a photo of me and Bobby staring dreamily into one another's eyes at a record industry function, circa 1981. I wonder if he remembers me...
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5/5 - "TAPAS TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CANYON CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON with RAY HILL on piano, 6 - 7pm and STEVE VARGAS on guitar & vocals, 7 - 9pm. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Cozy venue, YUMMY FOOD!

"TUESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA" @ CAFE 322 with QUIZMASTER MIDGE, 8pm. $2 per person to play, CASH or gift certificates to the top 3 teams. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414.

WED. 5/6 - THE DRIVE NOW @ Second Street Sports Bar in Upland, 7 - 11pm. 271 North 2nd Ave. 909-946-1750. Free Pool the 1st hour and 50% off Burgers all night. (There's like 8 or more pool tables there.) Keith Neal on Guitar and vocals, Javany Martinez on Guitar and vocals, Buggs Manocchi on drums and vocals. Classic Rock Music.

WED. 5/6 - 3 FAT GUYS & A PUNK @ KATIE JAKE'S IN COVINA, 9pm. Corner of Citrus & Workman. 626-967-2765. Full bar, no cover. Blues, Rock from Jimmy McGrew, Drake, Mike Leasure, Jamie Hunting and Gratz Arias. Every Wed. until further notice. http://www.myspace.com/thefatguysandpunks

"WEDNESDAY NIGHT PLATTER PARTY" @ THE BUCCANEER, 9pm. Bring your favorite LP records and Dan Besocke will play entire sides on his turntable, commercial free! 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045.

FRI. 5/8 - The MELLOW D'z (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, coldest beer in town! Acoustic Guitar, vocals. "Hot Chick, Cool Dude & Music to suit your mood!" http://www.myspace.com/themellowdeees

FRI. 5/8 - THE DRIVE NOW @ GALLI'S PIANO BAR IN ALTA LOMA, 8pm - Midnight. 6620 Carnelian St. 909-941-1100. Full Bar, Food, Dancing. Keith Neal on Guitar and vocals, Javany Martinez on Guitar and vocals, Buggs Manocchi on drums and vocals. Classic Rock Music. http://www.gallis.net

FRI. 5/8 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 8pm - Midnight. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474. Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright, and newest sub, Robert Gonzalez. Acoustic Rock, Soul & Blues.

FRI. 5/8 - ANDREW'S BAD STUFF @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table. Rock covers from Acid Andy & friends.

SAT. 5/9 - 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. The Mission St. Gold Line station is just a short walk away, and makes for a nice outing. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SAT. 5/9 - SOUTH PASADENA ECLECTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL & ART WALK, 4 - 10pm. FREE multi-stage, multi-artist event, including: Stan Ridgway, I See Hawks in L.A., Double Naught Spy Car, Severin Browne and many more. Gallery Tours. Shopping. Food, Wine & Beer Garden. On Mission St. between Fair Oaks & Meridian. The Gold Line will take you right there. http://www.southpaschamber.com/

SAT. 5/9 - THE DEAD @ THE FABULOUS FORUM IN L.A., 7:30pm.

SAT. 5/9 - THE B.O. TRIO, featuring JEFF STETSON, play "A MIXED BAG AND SOME BLUES" @ ZEPHYR COFFEE HOUSE IN PASADENA, 8:30 - 10pm. 2419 E. Colorado Blvd., just E. of Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-793-7330. Soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, etc.

SAT. 5/9 - CHICO'S BAIL BONDS @ THE DOCKSIDE BAR & GRILL, 9pm - 1am. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474. No cover, full bar & kitchen. Semi-acoustic BLUES.

MAY 10th - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

SUN. 5/10 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 . All ages. Mother's Day BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 5/10 - 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.

SUN. 5/10 - THE MERCY POWELL QUARTET @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 12 - 4pm. 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 MOTHER'S DAY dining & listening pleasure! (Note earlier start time.)

SUN. 5/10 - "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!

5/12 - "TAPAS TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CANYON CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON with DAVE OSTI, 6 - 7pm and MARK & BURKE, 7 - 9pm. 561 Woodland Ave. 626-355-4534. Cozy venue, YUMMY FOOD! Acoustic Rock, etc.

"TUESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA" @ CAFE 322 with QUIZMASTER MIDGE, 8pm. $2 per person to play, CASH or gift certificates to the top 3 teams. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414.

TUES. 5/12 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE PIKE IN LONG BEACH, 8pm - Midnight. 1836 E. 4th St. 562-437-4453. Fun Bluegrass stuff w/great harmonies & snazzy overalls! The Dupuy brothers, etc. http://www.wrecknsow.com/index.htm

WED. 5/13 - aka MAX BUDA @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. No cover, full bar & great Italian food. Eclectic jazzy rock stuff from Chester & the boys.

WED. 5/13 - 3 FAT GUYS & A PUNK @ KATIE JAKE'S IN COVINA, 9pm. Corner of Citrus & Workman. 626-967-2765. Full bar, no cover. Blues, Rock from Jimmy McGrew, Drake, Mike Leasure, Jamie Hunting and Gratz Arias. Every Wed. until further notice. http://www.myspace.com/thefatguysandpunks

"WEDNESDAY NIGHT PLATTER PARTY" @ THE BUCCANEER, 9pm. Bring your favorite LP records and Dan Besocke will play entire sides on his turntable, commercial free! 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045.

FRI. 5/15 - The MELLOW D'z (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, coldest beer in town! Acoustic Guitar, vocals. "Hot Chick, Cool Dude & Music to suit your mood!" http://www.myspace.com/themellowdeees

FRI. 5/15 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 8pm - Midnight. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474. Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright, Robert Gonzalez. Acoustic Rock, Soul & Blues.

FRI. 5/15 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 9 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar & great Italian food (with live Jazz from 7-9pm.) No cover, DANCE FLOOR, packed house! R&B, Disco, Funk, Rock, Motown, etc. mercyandthemerkettes.com

FRI. 5/15 - GROOVY LEMON PIE @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9:30pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, cheap drinks! Classic Rock from Greg Tortell, Gary Putman, Jorge Mena & Woody Smith. www.myspace.com/glpie

SAT. 5/16 - 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. The Mission St. Gold Line station is just a short walk away, and makes for a nice outing. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SAT. 5/16 - SIERRA MADRE ART FAIR IN MEMORIAL PARK, 9:30am - 6pm. Fine art, jewelry, crafts, etc. Food court and live music in the bandshell and on the south lawn. VIN FIZ FLYER, STRING PLANET, TOM CORBETT and more.
http://www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org/index.php?page=artfair_music

SAT. 5/16 - JO JO & THE BOXBOYS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. No cover, full bar, 21 & over. All-star band featuring members of The Boys, Better Than Blue, Horses on Astroturf, Chico's Bail Bonds, The Subs, etc. - BUGGS, DANNY, JOE, KEITH and FELICIA...... by the way, which one's Jo Jo?

SAT. 5/16 - 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. 5/17 - SIERRA MADRE ART FAIR IN MEMORIAL PARK, 9:30am - 5pm. Fine art, jewelry, crafts, etc. Food court and live music in the bandshell and on the south lawn. STRING PLANET, COWBOP, ANN LUKE and more.
http://www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org/index.php?page=artfair_music

SUN. 5/17 - VIN FIZ FLYER, FUR DIXON & STEVE WERNER, TREMOLOCO, THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS and many, many more @ the 49th ANNUAL TOPANGA BANJO & FIDDLE CONTEST AND FOLK FESTIVAL. 9am - 6pm. Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Admission prices range from $8.50 to $15 for various age groups and advance purchases. http://www.topangabanjofiddle.org/index.html

SUN. 5/17 - 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. 5/17 - 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! Acoustic Folk/Rock, Classic Country.

SUN. 5/17 - the BARRY SCHWAM SHOW @ THE SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE, 7pm. 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Reservations: 626-256-3809. An evening of eclectic music and comedy from one of Sierra Madre's most colorful characters, and surprise guests!

SUN. 5/17 - "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!
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