Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 12/4 – 12/17

Posted on December 1, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

There is plenty going on in Ventura to get you into the spirit of the holidays starting with the social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, December 7 downtown Ventura with a man-made snowfall and live music from the Adelaide Band, Upstream and Bruno and the Hooligans. If it’s not already sold out, get your tickets at www.VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

There will be a “Winter Wonder Rock Variety Show” at the Garage on Friday, December 6, with Slanted Land, the Volt per Octaves and Hard Six, then the following night a “Hawaiian Holiday” party with How to Live with Robots, Pink Droid and Identity Crisis.

Namba will be hosting, “Doc the Halls” on Saturday, December 7, with the 805 Gospel Allstars, Doc Ventura, Marley Rae Lovelace, Tamara Sue, the Ghetto Lions and special guest RJ Mischo; tickets are $15 the day of the event.

Jodi Farrell’s music studio student 25th Annual Holiday Concert will be held at the Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church on Saturday, December 7. The guest band will feature Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Ray Dean Mize and Manon Franklin.

The 19th Annual 4 Kids 2 Kids Toy Drive concert will be held at the Ventura Beach Club this year on Sunday, December 8 from 1 – 8 pm featuring Crooked Eye Tommy, Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers, Jim Guston & Truth Jones, Johnny & the Love Handles and more. There’s a $25 cover and they’re also asking for a new unwrapped toy.

There will be an afternoon a holiday popup market at Topa Mountain Winery for their “Shop, Sip & Be Merry” event. Providing the music will be the Brambles, and the Dales on Saturday, December 14 from 1-6 pm.

Quick Notes: enjoy Brazilian Jazz with Teka & New Bossa featuring Kevin Winard, Randy Tico and Doug Webb on Thursday, December 5, at the Winery Ventura; Oak and Main has Hed PE, Bazerk and United Rage on Friday, December 6; Chopperfest returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 8, and along with all the hot rides will be live music from the Zepp Heads, Jan Michael and the Vincents, Twisted Gypsy; featuring music out of the 60s Laurel Canyon scene will be California Dreams at Plan B Wine Cellars on Sunday afternoon, December 8; We were Giants (Idaho) and Next Door to Heaven (Russia) play The Garage on Thursday, December 12; there will be a special Listening Room Holiday Jam at Leashless on Sunday, December 15 at 3 pm; the Christmas musical, “Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” opens December 11 for a couple of weeks at the Rubicon Theater; the Ripkatz return to Sans Souci on Friday, December 13; and the Barrelhouse Wailers CD release party will be at the Winery Ventura on Friday, December 13.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 11/20 – 12/3

Posted on November 17, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Congratulations to Tommy and Paddy Marsh as they will be traveling to Memphis to compete in the Solo Duo category at the International Blues Challenge in January. To help with the cost of the trip, there will be a special evening of Blues at Oak and Main on Sunday, November 24. All the money raised will not only help Crooked Eye Tommy but Jim Gustin & Truth Jones who will compete in the band category. Both are scheduled to perform along with special guests sitting in such as Teresa Russell, Laurie Morvan, Mark Sells, Kelly Zirbes & Perry Robertson, Ray Jaurique, Brigitte Purdy Rios, Toni Dodd and if that weren’t enough, I get to help emcee the event, so you better be there!

Remember the good folks from Green Art People? Well they’ve put together a family Thanksgiving reunion on the eve of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 27 from 6 – 9 pm at Bombay’s with VC/DC (Grateful Dead covers), and a performance of Alice’s Restaurant by Hip E. Mark and the Group “W” Bench. All are invited!

You now can enjoy live music along with the delicious food at Peirano’s on Main Street. The artists are being booked by Steve and Polly Hoganson (Zoey’s, Topa Mountain Music Fest, Ones to Watch Productions). On the books for upcoming gigs are The Swilly’s, Jodi Farrell Brent Franklin and Danny McGaw (see calendar listings).

Quick Notes: The Aquabats play at Discovery on Friday, November 22; The White Buffalo returns to the Ventura Theater on Friday, November 22; Elwood who is out on his Guitar Town Tour will be making at stop at Sandbox Coffeehouse on Sunday, November 24 at noon; The Untouchables are booked for Oak and Main for Saturday, November 30; and don’t forget to set aside Saturday, December 8, for the Downtown Ventura Winter Wine Walk, the social event of the year! Tickets can be bought at VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

Last issue I covered the upcoming CD release party for the Local Love Project Holiday Album, The Spirit of Giving benefiting fire survivors, well I have my copy and it’s totally worthy to add to your seasonal collection of Christmas music. It’s produced by John Baffa (Grammy award winning recording engineer) and Ralph Carter, featuring covers and originals from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Dirty Rice, Kelly’s Lot with Doug Pettibone, Guy Martin, Charles Law and Jagged and more. There are too many highlights, but just two of them are the Ventura High School Choir’s cover of “That’s Christmas to Me,” and Sugaray Rayford’s “O Holy Night.” I’m also a new fan of the Midtones. If you celebrate Christmas, then I highly recommend adding this to your collection, you can get it online at www.CDBaby.com/cd/totallylocalvc, you can even have it shipped as a gift to someone else.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 11/6 – 11/19

Posted on November 6, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

A very special project benefiting those affected by the Thomas Fire is the local Love project Holiday album featuring so many local artists and their holiday favorites. The brainchild behind Local Love Project of course is Kat Merrick who undertook this amazing endeavor earlier this year gathering the musicians, arranging studio times, producing the CDs, virtually everything it takes to pull off an enterprise of this scope. The end result is a holiday CD that will not only enhance your holidays, but will benefit fire survivors. You’re invited to attend the CD release party and 2nd Annual Thomas Fire Remembrance, all to benefit fire survivors on Friday, November 8, at the Masons Lodge (482 E. Santa Clara Street) with live performances from Guy Martin, RJ Mischo, Fish Fry and the Vonettes, the Bobby Hart Band, Raging Arb and more. If you can’t make the launch party, you can still support by purchasing a CD online at www.TotallyLocalVC.com.

The San Buenaventura Mission is the site for a special free concert of Missa Cellensis by Franz Josephy Haydn featuring the Ventura College choir, singers and chamber orchestra. This one is free to the public and starts at 7:30 pm.

Quick Notes: there’s a new jam night at the Blue Room in the Harbor called “The Get Down Jam” on Thursdays starting at 9:30 pm; Tommy Marsh’s the Session welcomes Keeshea Pratt on Thursday, November 7 at Grapes and Hops; Cantara Cellars in Camarillo is celebrating their one-year anniversary with Double Trouble and Ignition on Saturday, November 9 (2-10 pm); stop in for Jodi Farrell’s Performance Workshop on Saturday afternoon, November 9, at Namba; Radioactive Chicken Heads, the world’s most notorious band of genetically modified poultry punk rock mutants play Oak and Main on Saturday, November 9 and then The Dickies will play the venue the following Saturday, November 16; Noble Fabrication is hosting a 2019 Auto Show with art and live music from S.O.B.s, and Wired to benefit Food Share on Sunday, November 10 noon to 5 pm; the Ventura County Concert band play their annual free patriotic concert at Ventura High School’s auditorium Sunday afternoon, November 10 at 3 pm; Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts roll into town from Colorado with their outlaw country style for a date at The Red Cove on Thursday, November 14; Boom Duo’s CD release party will be held at Leashless Brewing on Friday, November 15; and the Channel Cities Jazz Club present The Barrelhouse Wailers on Sunday afternoon, November 17 at the Golden China.

And finally, congratulations to Kelly Z for celebrating 25 years performing (solo and as Kelly’s Lot). Her performance at the Mint was amazing, and I hear she plans to take the show on the road starting with Ventura very soon.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/23 – 11/5

Posted on October 23, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
With Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, I’m finding many venues are having their costume parties the weekend before with a few on Halloween; but there are several celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following, so almost two weeks of spooky fun at hand. Let’s start with HallowQueens, this one features bands with female lead singers on Saturday, October 26, at The Garage with The Guitar and Whiskey Club, Fallen Saints, Soup Hat and Sik Sik Sicks. Nasty Nights, the Halloween Edition, lands at the Hong Kong Inn with Idecline, Civil Conflict, Psychotic Barnyard, Bootleg Brigade, Guttural Riot (LA) and Plot (SB); and then the Alpine Camp Band hosts a Halloween Ball at Leashless on that Saturday as well. On Halloween, Copa Cubana has Sound Effect, there’s Discovery’s Emo Night performed by Class of 05, and there will be DJ’s hosting costume parties at Star Lounge, The Tavern, and Bombay’s.

Something new for downtown, many venues will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following Halloween. On Saturday afternoon, November 2 from noon to 6 pm, Chestnut will be shut down with lots of festivities for the entire family including strolling entertainment with Mariachi, Hermanos Hererra and Folkloricos. That evening, the Ventura Theater has Columbian group, La Sonora Dinamita (Cumbia music), and 50 Sticks of Dynamite will host Dia de los Muertos party at Grapes and Hops. Everyone is invited to dress to impress, I trust there will be loads of painted faces that day and night.

Quick Notes: Namba’s Spooktaculara Halloween Variety Show is Friday, October 25; Oak and Main has Trapt on Saturday, October 26 and Tantric on Sunday October 27, advance tickets available on their website and Facebook pages; there will be a special event at Topa Mountain Winery as they host Taste of Ojai on Sunday, October 27, featuring music from the Danny McGaw Band; you can enjoy live Reggae at Bombay’s 6-9 pm with Bomba Fiya and Lay Low on Saturday, October 26; Jonathan McEuen is the featured artist for a Music and Art for Youth fundraiser at Namba on Saturday, October 26; a second open mic dubbed “Acoustic Gathering” has landed at Golden China 6-9 pm on Thursdays; Danny D. continues to croon the room with Sinatra tunes Tuesdays at Prime and Casa Bella on Thursdays; Tammy offers Tango Tuesdays with dance lessons at Grapes and Hops; No Motiv celebrates the 25th anniversary of And the Sadness Prevails at Discovery on Friday, November 1 performing along with Out of Trust, Slowtrip and Omega Point; and finally, you’ll want to set aside Friday, November 8, for the Local Love project holiday CD release party at the Channel Islands Masonic Lodge (482 E Santa Clara in Ventura), I’ll have more on this special event next issue!

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/9 – 10/22

Posted on October 6, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
I’m really looking forward to a number of special events of the next two weekends starting with C.A.R.Lfest on Saturday, October 12 at Promenade Park along the boardwalk at the beach. Funds are being raised to support the Canine Adoption and Rescue League serving Ventura County. Bands on the bill include Kelly’s Lot, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jim Gustin & Truth Jones plus a number of special guests (I hear Teresa James is just one of them). This one runs noon to 6 pm with the music starting at 1 pm; tickets are $25 and Bike Ventura will be on hand providing a free bike corral for those riding to the event.

Namba on Oak in downtown Ventura will have a special all-ages “Families Rock!” show on Saturday, October 12, where each band is comprised of moms, dads, and the kids! Don’t miss performances by The Cheesebergens, Sepiatone, and The Rockin’ Henrys. Namba will also host a fundraiser for the Ventura County Rescue Mission featuring Charlie Baker, Mark & Michael Lennon on Friday, October 18. For ticket information, go to NambaArts.com.

The Seaside Highland Games return to the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of October 12 and 13 with such fabulous bands as Cockswain, Nerea, Seven Nations and Sligo Rags playing both days.

The Ventura Marathon falls over the weekend of October 19 and 20 with the staging area moving from the pier to Mission Park downtown, and because so many runners (and those supporting them) love the suds, there will be a Ventura Brew Fest on Saturday. Music over the weekend will include Kistmit, Acoustic Generation, Lightnin’ Willie, Deadrock and Power Syndicate.

Quick Notes: I’m sorry to report that Andy is cutting back on live music at Copa Cobana (and the Blue Room) for now with the Jerry McWorter Trio on Tuesday and live bands on Sunday afternoon only; the Sushi House on Seaward has Gary Ballen playing acoustic favorites every Saturday afternoon 1 – 3:30 pm; though the Angry Brians won’t be at Seaside Highland Games, they will be performing at Grapes and Hops on Friday, October 11; before the DJs, there will be live music at 6 pm at Bombay’s on Saturday, October 12, with The Mighty Cash Cats and Silver Threads, then Saturday, October 19, with Solidmente and Kris Simeon; Alan Thornhill, Martin Young and Jim Monahan play Topa Mountain Winery on Sunday afternoon, October 13; there will be a punk show at Golden China on Tuesday, October 15, with D.R.I., Intent, Cholos on Acid and No Divide; Buck-O-Nine plays The Garage along with The Upbeat and The Robot Uprising on Friday, October 18; and finally, the Ventura Beach Club hosts The Apartment 805 with a tech night featuring Allan Guerrero, CMVib3 and more on Friday, October 18.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 9/25 – 10/8

Posted on September 23, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Back in the day as Program Director of KXBS the Bus here in Ventura in the 90s, one of our local bands that did pretty well for themselves was No Motiv. Well they are getting back together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their release And the Sadness Prevails. They’ll be playing a handful of shows including one at Discovery on Friday, November 1. Tickets are only $13 (in advance, $15 day of). Out of Trust, Slowtrip and Omega Point will also play.

Speaking of Discovery, along with giving local bands a stage to play and bringing amazing tribute and Reggae bands to town, they’ll have Good Riddance (supporting new album, Thoughts and Prayers) on Saturday, October 5 and English punk rock band, Subhumans on Monday, October 21.

You’ll want to hold a spot for these events coming up, so mark down on your calendar now so you don’t miss them, both fall over the same weekend too. First there’s CARLFest Blues & Roots Music Festival at Promenade Park on Saturday, October 12 with Kelly’s Lot, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jim Gustin & Truth Jones plus some special guests; and then there’s the Seaside Highland Games at the Fairgrounds over the entire weekend, October 12 and 13 with Sligo Rags, Cockswain, Seven Nations and Nerea playing on a number of stages.

Quick Notes: Limon y Sal hosts live bands on Saturday afternoons 1-4 pm; Dallas Hodge (worked with Canned Heat & Steve Marriott) returns to Grapes and Hops on Friday, September 27; The Garage hosts The Pretty Uglys, Amo Corps, Rising Elijah and Electric Children on Friday, September 27; Caught Red Handed plays Cantara Cellars on Saturday, September 28; Hip Hop, R&B artist Mo Stylez has a show at Knights of Columbus on Saturday, September 28; there will be a free Chamber concert with woodwind quintet at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 28; The Rubicon Theater’s run of “I Dig Rock and Roll” will come to an end on Sunday, September 29; The Dead Kennedys play with The Living End at the Ventura Theater on Friday, October 4; The Native Howl is on tour and will make a stop at Oak and Main on Saturday, October 5; The Colette Lovejoy Band plays Pier under the Stars on Saturday, October 5; and finally, Four Brix Winery is launching a SunDay FunDay the first Sunday of the month with Charlie Baker playing October 6.

Congratulations to Polly and Steve Hoganson for pulling off another wonderful Topa Mountain Music Fest at Libbey Bowl. I was so grateful to have been asked to emcee; it was truly a remarkable day with extraordinary talent all day long and for such a great cause. Net proceeds go to Stand Up to Cancer and the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul

Gallery

Posted on September 13, 2019 by venturarocks

This gallery contains 10 photos.

Ventura Theater, September 9, 2019Photos: Seth Brandes Stevie Van Zandt brought his high energy soul review to the Ventura Theatre on Monday, Sept 9. Stevie, perhaps best know as Bruce Springsteen’s partner in the E Street Band, also programs 2 … Continue reading →

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 9/11 – 9/24

Posted on September 10, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The Topa Mountain MusicFest is coming up fast, it’s on Saturday, September 21, with yours truly emceeing the event this year! I hope you’ll make it out for a great cause and amazing artists in a gorgeous setting at Libbey Bowl in Ojai. National and artists out of Southern California fill the line up from Brett Dennen, The Marc Broussard Band, The Mother Hips, to Bryan Titus Trio with The Brambles, Reverend Tall Tree Band (Chris Pierce), Timmy Curran with Lee Koch, Tom Freund, and Quincy Coleman with Shane Alexander. The Topa Mountain MusicFest “Finding a Cure” Cancer Benefit net proceeds go directly to Stand up to Cancer and the Glioblastoma Foundation. Many thanks to Steve and Polly Hoganson of Ones To Watch Productions (and former owners of Zoey’s) for putting on another amazing concert. Get your tickets and more information at TopaMountainMusicFest.org.

Another full day of music, on the same day, Saturday, September 21, will be the Boots & Brews Country Music Festival with Billy Currington, Niko Moon, Easton Corbin and David Nail. This event runs 1 pm to 9 pm at the San Buenaventura State Beach Park. For more information for all you Country music fans, go to BootsAndBrews.com/Ventura.

The Ventura Theater has a number of show coming up over the next two weeks, it’s Black Label Society on September 11, Xavier Rudd on the 13, heavy rockers, Last in Line (former members of Dio, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, the Offspring and Ozzy Osbourne) on the 15 and Bob Weir and Wolf Bros. on September 20.

Quick Notes: I Dig Rock & Roll Music opens at the Rubicon and runs September 11 through the 29 with the big opening night official gala on Saturday, the 14; Lol Goodman Band out of the UK roll into the Red Cove on Wednesday, September 11; Stalag 13, Goat Rhythm and The Pegs take over Concrete Jungle Brewing on Friday, September 13; One Hundred Paces record release party’s at Bombay’s on Saturday, September 14 with Owen Bucey opening (7 pm); there will be a Paddle Out honoring Neal Casal on Sunday, September 15 at 10 am at Promenade Park; there’s a special Spayghetti No Balls fundraiser for spaying and neutering pets at Four Brix Winery on Sunday, September 15 with Fishfry; the SMO, Smoke Me Out tour 2019 hits the Ventura Fairgrounds on Friday, September 19; Abel Garcia’s CD release party’s at Oak and Main on Thursday, September 19; Goodnight Kiss has a date at The Tavern, on Friday, September 20; Another Tech805 show lands at the Hong Kong Inn on Saturday, September 21; and finally, Cholos on Acid with IDecline, Scheisse Minnelli, Civil Conflict and more play Sunday Punk Rock party at the Garage 2-6 pm on the 22.

Rock the Wish with Dennis Quaid and the Sharks

Posted on September 8, 2019 by venturarocks

Rock the Wish fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation
September 7, 2019 at Topa Mountain Winery
with Dennis Quaid and the Sharks

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 8/26/19 – 9/9/10/19

Posted on August 26, 2019 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

We’re wrapping up the summer season with a number of events including Bombay’s Annual Beach Party with stages indoors and out, a beer garden, mechanical bull and more. DJs will keep you dancing all night long with bands performing earlier in the evening, Dudeo Perez, Strange Case and The Swells on Saturday starting at 6:30 and Uproots on Sunday at 3 pm followed by Black Star at 6 pm.

Another event over the Labor Day weekend will be the Ventura Nationals at the fairgrounds, along with the hot rides will be plenty of live music from Jesse Dayton, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, Eddie & the Scorpions, The Moontones and The Rockin’ Henrys.

Topa Mountain Winery in Ojai is hosting a Make-a-Wish fundraiser dubbing it “Rock the Wish” featuring Dennis Quaid and the Sharks; opening, will be three amazing local ladies, Cindy Kalmenson, Patricia Avis and Natalie Gelman. Music starts at 5:30 pm followed by a screening of Quaid’s movie The Rookie at 8 pm. According to a press release, Quaid said the shows are as much fun for those in attendance as they are for the band. “(The audiences) have a blast, which is all we want. I make a complete and utter fool of myself,” Quaid said. He added, “I think that’s the only way to have fun (onstage), instead of trying to pretend to be cool and all the rest of that stuff.” Okay, I’m in!

Stephen “Ragga” Marley makes a stop during his fifty-city tour across the U.S. at Discovery on Friday, September 6. Son to Bob Marley, Stephen has earned his own legacy garnering eight Grammy awards over the years. The tour name honors his father’s iconic live album with the Wailers, calling it “Babylon by Bus” tour.

The Music Under the Stars series wraps up the season on Saturday, August 31 with The Swing Kings at Olivas Adobe; unfortunately, this show is also sold out. With so many shows selling out so fast, perhaps the City will entertain adding another show on Friday nights.

Quick Notes: Don’t miss punk rock fun with The Adolescents and Love Canal at The Garage on Friday, August 30; Rey Fresco with The Collective will be at El Rey Cantina on Friday, August 30; The Lab on Azahar has Like the Morning and Edukated on Saturday, August 31; IDEAL Music Collective will land at the Golden China on Saturday, August 31; The Sunday Drivers play Dargan’s on Sunday, September 1; Flying Colors play the Ventura Theater on Thursday, September 5; First Friday music at Harvest Café features Shay Moulder on September 6; Second Sunday Supper at Plan B Wine Cellars will host The Beatunes on the 8 of September; and finally Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at Ventura Theater Monday, September 9.

And finally, I am sad to report the passing of Neal Casal who lived locally yet work with such bands as Ryan Adams and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. I was lucky to catch him jamming with Crazy Rust at Bombay’s in the backroom several years ago. R.I.P. Neal.