Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/20/21 – 11/2/21

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

Work has begun on the new music venue scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2022 replacing Discovery on Thompson Blvd. A few local residents have teamed up with Ineffable Music Group to launch Ventura Music Hall and if it has anything to do with music you know they’ll have our support. According to their press release, Ineffable specializes in bringing famous bands of all genres to smaller venues for special once-in-a-lifetime experiences, alongside supporting local bands just making a name for themselves and everything in between. Dinner and a show in a non-pretentious, comfortable place…you had me at “new music venue.”  The website is a bit of tease, I’m sure more information will be available the close we get to their grand opening, but go ahead and bookmark them at VenturaMusicHall.com.

And speaking of new venues, The Grape has quietly opened their doors and jazz is flowing once again, but make no mistake about it, there will be a grand opening celebration to be had, so stay tuned.  Meanwhile I’m happy to report the Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carey from Tool will play on March 23. Tickets are through Eventbrite starting at $25. You can find out more on their Facebook page.

Most Halloween parties I’ve seen are scheduled for Saturday, October 30, but a handful fall on the actual date, on Sunday. You’ll want to do some additional research to figure out whether the venue of your choice has a cover charge or not, and whether the entertainment is still on. Things change, it’s a fluid environment. Gigi’s on Grand Ave. in Ventura has a hard rock thrasher line up with Tung, Persekutor, Deth Crux and Get Bent; on the opposite end of the spectrum The Grape will host the Barrelhouse Wailers and their brand of hot jazz, both venues have a $10 cover. See listings for a lot more options.

Quick Notes: Martha Davis & the Motels play the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 30; RAW, Crazy D & the Nutz along with Crawdads play the Sewer on Friday, October 22; and Kelly’s Lot host their annual fundraiser for CARL this year at Seaward Brewing on Saturday, October 23.

Many thanks to my good friend Christine Law who will be hosting the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour for me. Her show debuts on Tuesday, October 19, at 5 pm, but it repeats on Friday at 5, and Sunday at noon, then again, the following week. So you get six chances to tune into KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM here in Ventura, or use the MyTuner radio app on your smart device, or listen online at CapsMedia.org/radio.

And finally, do check out the VenturaRockSpot where we interview artists in and around the 805.  We talk about their past, the music scene, writing music, anything and everything having to do with their musical journey. We currently have 34 episodes to peruse with a number hosts including Jeff Donovan from the Guitar and Whiskey Club, Christine Law from Star Goes Nova, and my self, owner/operator of VenturaRocks.com  Just a few artists to check out: The Mini Bar Project, Will Breman, simi-finalist from NBC’s the Voice, Spinz, Guy Martin, Bone Maggot, Medicine Hat, Kelly’s Lot, and a whole lot more. It’s an eclectic mix for sure! Just go to VenturaRocksSpot.com and start watching!

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, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/6/21 – 10/19/21

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

Randy Parsons has left the building? Randy packed up the prime space he had occupied upstairs since 2014 overlooking Main and Chestnut for Parsons Guitars (past clients include Jimmy Page, Jack White, Sammy Hagar and others), it was where he created state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind guitars, and where he provided luthier workshops for those who wanted to learn how to build their own guitar which included students such as Ventura’s own Gary Best.

I asked Randy for any final words and he told me, “I really loved Ventura, it’s a special place, the people are all pretty damn cool, although I’m still convinced the whole city is some type of witness protection program.”

I thought about it, and I can’t disagree! Though totally talented and incredibly nice, I always admired his love for cats; there’s just something about a man who adores the feline species. Randy and wife have landed in Kansas where they bought a castle looking church moving on to their next adventure.

Colin Bailey and Pam BaumgardnerAnd speaking of next adventures, Colin Bailey has also left the building, he passed away peacefully at his home in Port Hueneme at age 87. I met Colin when I saw him first perform at Squashed Grapes in 2015 with the Frank Potenza Trio. Adam and Josh from the Grape told me to look up Colin’s background which I did and I was just floored. This man had not only worked with Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Joe Pass and dozens more, he not only recorded on more than 100 jazz albums, he not only continued to give drum workshops including those at Pulse Drumming here in Ventura, but he was the drummer on the Charlie Brown Christmas special, a cartoon special that will always take me back to my childhood!

For some reason, there are so many special events falling on the same day, Saturday, October 9; I’ve listed them here along with websites to find out more:

  1. Topa Mountain Music 2021 Benefit Concert headlining is The White Buffalo with sets from Lee Koch Band, Bryan Titus Trio, Will Breman Band and more at the Libbey Bowl. Go to TopaMountainMusic.org for more information and tickets.
  2. Surf ‘n’ Suds at San Buenaventura State Beach, where it’s more about the beer than music, but it’s always a good time. Performing will be Jacob Marquez and the Good Vibes, Mestizo and DJ Hecktik. For tickets go to SurfBeerFest.com.
  3. SteckleStock 2021 at Steckle Park in Santa Paula features a full day of live music from Premonition, Sisterook, Charles Law Band, No Biggee, Tommy Foytek Band and Whiskey Business. You can find more on this via Facebook on Premonition’s page.
  4. Surfers Point Live has a full day of Reggae, 2 – 10 pm at the Ventura Fairgrounds featuring Sublime with Rome, the Dirty Heads, Rey Fresco, Local Love Project and Hirie. Find out more at SurfersPointLive.com.

Quick Notes: Congratulations to Suzanne & Ian McFayden (50 Sticks of Dynamite, Duncan and the Dragonslayers) for tying the knot; tickets are on sale for the Ventura Winter Wine Walk for December 11 sometimes called the event of the season if not the year for downtown Ventura (CBFProductions.com); Cadillac Zack presents the Delgado Brothers at Cantara Cellars on Friday, October 8 and the legendary band Canned Heat plays Thursday, October 14 (call Zack at 323-377-5291 for tickets); Ojai Pops Orchestra has a free show at the Libbey Bowl on Sunday, October 10; Ventura Theater shows include Social Distortion October 6 (rescheduled for Monday, October 11), Pennywise with Dead Kennedys on October 7, Pennywise with Strung Out of October 8, and Elefante, Inspector on October 15; Queen Nation plays a free show at the Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard on Wednesday, October 13 at 6:30 pm; and Phil Salazar & the Kin Folk play the Ojai Underground Exchange on Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16.

VenturaRocks.com is undergoing changes. I’ve invested in a new calendar app which doesn’t seem to be saving me much time, but I can load items way in advance which should help in the long run. The look and feel is evolving and for the time being, I’m covering all of Ventura County.

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, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.