Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 9/30 – 10/13

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
The Hits Keep on Coming
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The Pullmen

The Pullmen played to a packed house at Bombay’s on Friday, September 25th. Their new CD, “Going Dark” hits the streets October 9. They’ll be touring Europe through the end of October.

Keifer Sutherland will be rolling into town with his band on Friday, October 23, when he’ll be playing an intimate show at W20 at the Watermark.  Even though there are no advance tickets (everyone pays at the door day of the show), you should mark this on your calendar now. Only 120 people will be admitted and tickets are only $10. Mark Hartley, owner of W20/Watermark told me he’s really looking forward to this one and it turns out he’s a big fan of “24”.

Robert Cray’s latest CD/DVD was released this summer featuring some of the footage of his show last year in Ventura.  The “4 Nights of 40 Years Live” is available everywhere including Amazon.com and locally at Salzer’s. Shawn Jones opened for Cray that night and apparently open doors as he’s been asked to tour with The Robert Cray Band this month in Europe.  I asked Shawn about it. He said, “It’s one of the biggest honors of my career!  I have been a Cray fan for over 30 years now. This is another level of respect for me!  Knowing he is a fantastic guy as well helps; I am beside myself actually!”

The Wine Rack has been busy booking stellar bands and artists.  You can ease back into the work week with their Monday night residency though October with Michael Cregan, then the Tim Carroll band on Tuesdays with Doug Johnson on drums. They also have live music most Thursdays and every Friday and Saturday.  Dirk Shumaker (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy) and Trey O’Toole (Pulse Drumming) will be back on Friday, October 2nd, and I’m also looking forward to Christine Olive an Australian artist who is a surfer, environmentalist and singer/songwriter who has been touring the Southern California area making a stop at the Wine Rack on Friday October 9.

The annual Seaside Highland Games take over the Ventura Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday October 9th and 10th with fun and games for the entire family including live music from Tannahill Weavers, Celtic Spring, The Angry Brians, Golden Bough and Highway Way.

And finally there’s a new performance venue – Namba – which will be featuring “Music Speaks” on four consecutive Sundays in October.  The event will be hosted and moderated by jazz vocalist and songwriter, Toni Jannotta.  The four early evening performances will be featured in this order: October 4th with three-time Emmy award winner Bill Richmond, October 11th with Alan Thornhill, October 18 Hekar Rivera and Steve Sunnarborg, and then finally on October 25th it’s Kiki Ebsen, daughter of the late Buddy Ebsen.  Namba is nestled in the middle of downtown Ventura at 47 South Oak Street. Call (805) 628-9250 for ticket information.

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

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 9/16 – 9/29

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Ventura Keeps Rockin’
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Michael John and the Bottomline

Michael John and the Bottom Line return this year to the California Blues and Brews Festival.

It’s that time of year again when the California Beer Festival rolls into town with several events during the week including a food pairing competition, a Craft Beer Heaven day and of course the highlight of the event the California Blues and Brews Festival on Sunday, September 20 at Mission Park, downtown Ventura. The day promises to be filled with the some of the hottest blues around on two stages featuring Walter Trout, Booker T, Mingo Fishtrap, Mr. Sipp, The Bomb and Michael John and the Bottom Line. You can get all the ticket information at www.CaliforniaBluesFestival.com. While you’re there, be sure to swing by the VenturaRocks.com tent to say hello!

Punk Rock Sunday features seven hours of punk-filled music on Sunday, September 27th with the Hymen Blasters, Cupcake, the NaVaNaX, All-a-Blur, My Modern Valentinue, Kang Gang and more. This one’s being held at the Ventura Beach Club at the very end of Main Street right before the 33 Freeway.

The Rock on the Dock series continues at the Ventura Harbor on Saturday, September 19, with the Hard-Times Band, then the following week they’ll have two days of music, first Friday the 25th with two sets at 2:00 and 4:30 with Unkle Monkey, then Saturday the 26th with Smokey & Friends. Saturday set times run 3-6 pm.

The Pullmen will be releasing their new album, “Going Dark” on October 9, then they’ll hit the road to support it with their first stop in Paris, France; but before they go all European on us, you’ll be able to catch them live at their Europe Tour Pre-party at Bombay’s on Friday, September 25th. The new release includes ten new songs featuring their high energy alt/rock thrashing country vibe which will also be available on vinyl.

Congratulations to Zachary James and Alexandra for tying the knot earlier this month up in Oakland, California. The two have been supporting each other the past few years musically speaking with their bands, Zachary James and the All Seeing Eyes, and Alexandra and the Starlight Band.

And finally, just a head’s up that the good folks at CAPS TV have approached me recently to talk about hosting a music program highlighting local bands and I’m happy to report the project has been given the “Green Light!” More to come as we close in on our debut episode, but we will feature Ventura music news updates, we will have local photographers sharing their favorite photos of live music, and we will have bands and solo artists in the studio performing along with a Q&A session. If you don’t have cable, the programs will be available online, and soon, we plan to offer live streaming. Yeah, this is going to ROCK!

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

Ventura Music Photos: September 2015

Bombay’s – September 25, 2015
The Pullmen
The Pullmen


Ventura Beach Party & Marathon – September 13, 2015
Shaky Feelin’
Shaky Feelin'


Boatyard Cafe – September 11, 2015
The Hills of Malibu
The Hills of Malibu


Bombay’s 31st Annual Beach Party – September 4, 2015
Hy Brasil
Hy Brasil
The Rubberneck Lions
The Rubberneck Lions


Grapes and Hops – September 4, 2015
Nathan and Jonathan McEuen and Friends
McEuens


Discovery – September 4, 2015
decker.
decker.


Amigo’s – September 3, 2015
Gypsy Blues Band (Photo Credit: Candy Marshall)

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 9/2 – 9/15

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Summer in the City
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The Velveteen Band will perform at Bombay's 31st Annual Beach Party on Friday, September 4.

The Velveteen Band will perform at Bombay’s 31st Annual Beach Party on Friday, September 4.

There are plenty of “End of Summer” bashes – though summer isn’t officially over until September 23, but who’s keeping tabs? The Pierpont Inn’s BBQ series ends with a huge bang as they welcome back Dirty Rice on Thursday, September 3rd. If you were there the last time the band played, then you know you should get there early to nab a seat and order up some delicious grub!

And then of course Bombay’s 31st annual End of Summer Beach Party runs the first weekend of September with bands rockin’ the joint on the front stage, back stage, and outdoor stage. Their full itinerary is listed on VenturaRocks.com, but some of the bands to watch for are Hy Brasil, The Velveteen Band, Rubberneck Lions, Raging Arb and the Redheads, Rey Fresco, The Darkside of the Hand, 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Bloody Mary Morning, The Jelly, Brother Fortune, and of course Gygax!

Here are just a few concerts coming up at the Ventura Theater that you may not want to miss: The Deftones on Saturday, October 31; The Misfits on Thursday, November 12; Pepper on Saturday, November 21; Dwight Yoakam on Friday, December 11 and I already snagged my ticket for the 20th Anniversary of Everclear’s Sparkle and Fade Tour, on Sunday, November 22.

W20 at the Watermark has been offering more Thursday night Guitar Pulls with Shawn Jones and friends. If you’re a fan of flat out amazing guitar playing, you should make it a point to attend the next one. Thursday, August 27th, Shawn and Joe Baugh had Tariqh Akoni in the house; Akoni has played with such artists as Josh Groban, Christina Aguilera, Elton John, Smokey Robinson and Tom Scott (to name just a few).

Speaking of Tom Scott, we can all call him neighbor the next time we bump into him at the supermarket having just moved to Ventura; but more importantly, don’t miss him the next time he plays at Squashed Grapes which we hope will be often. His sold out performance on Friday, August 28, was flat out amazing. He’s not only uber talented, but the audience enjoyed the back story from Scott on many of the songs the band performed. He happily shook hands and signed CDs; he’s a class act for sure.

And then finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t report that Squashed Grapes will be leaving their jazz format for the night of Friday, September 18 when they’ll have a Jimi Hendrix Memorial Performance with Jimi’s cousin, Riki Hendrix who has recorded and toured with Buddy Miles, and Billy Cox who were both original members of Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies. The night will be hosted by Rosa Lee Brooks, Jimi’s legendary love interest who was featured on the first two songs he ever recorded. Reserve your seat ASAP.

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