Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 8/5 – 8/18

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
It’s Fair to Say Ventura Rocks
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Rachel Flowers

Rachel Flowers to perform at Scan Health and Wellness Center August 14, 2015.

I’m a tad giddy with anticipation for the 2015 Ventura County Fair: cinnamon buns, corn on the cob, livestock, carnival rides, vendors and of course another fine line up of music. I’m personally looking forward to the B52’s, Kevin Costner and the Modern West, The Band Perry, Lean Rimes, and call me goofy, but there’s no way I’m missing Huey Lewis and the News! Full line up of musical entertainment can be found on their ad here in the Breeze.

Squashed Grapes is bringing back Emmy Award Winning guitarist, Chieli Minucci and the Special EFX, on August. 7th; then the following morning you can cheer on the Squashed Grapes float in the Ventura Fair parade. Those same players will be appearing that evening at the Grape featuring Karl Hunter and Dirk Shumaker of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Franklin Murphy of Shaky Feelin’, Jacob Scesney, Trey O’Toole and RJ Root.

I’m super curious to see Gygax at Bombay’s on Friday, August 14, the band features Armand John Lizzy, Bryant Throckmorton, Justin Dempsey and Eric Harris. Members from local bands getting together to create a new band isn’t necessarily newsworthy in this town; however, this band is for the nerd in all of us as they center around the fantasy imagery and creation of role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. Too weird? I seriously hope so!

Growing in popularity are the Second Sunday Suppers at Plan B. The next one is scheduled for Sunday, August 8 from 4:30 – 7 pm featuring Donna Greene and the Roadhouse Daddies.

Taking the place of over two decades of Bowlful of Blues, is the Inaugural Ojai Blues Festival scheduled for August 15 at the Ojai Art Center featuring Deb Ryder, Crooked Eye Tommy, Shawn Jones and Alastair Greene.

Just a few of the upcoming shows to look forward to at Discovery include Whitey Morgan on August 15, Eric Hutchinson on August 18 and Los Lonely Boys on August 23.

The Scan Health and Wellness Center at 6633 Telephone Road in Ventura is hosting its first ever Jazz Night on August 14, 5:30pm. Rachel Flowers is the featured artist with E’nuff Said opening. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call Scan at 805-658-0365 for information and to secure tickets.

The music lineup for the California Blues and Brews Festival on September 20 includes Walter Trout, blues for the modern daze, Mr. Sipp, the Mississippi blues child; and Mingo Fishtrap out of Austin, Texas. You can get more information on the three-day beer festival event and line up your tickets at www.CaliforniaBluesFestival.com.

And finally, I’m sorry to report that Gladys Dietz passed away July 20. She opened Gigi’s cocktails 30 years ago, on New Year’s Eve 1985.

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: October 2014

Bombay Bar and Grill – October 31, 2014
Mandex
Mandex - Aaron Orbit


Squashed Grapes – October 31, 2014
Donna Greene and the Roadhouse Daddies


W20 at the Watermark – October 31, 2014
The Bomb
The Bomb


W20 at The Watermark – October 26, 2014
Heavy Petty
Heavy Petty


Grapes and Hops – October 26, 2014
Jade Hendrix
Jade Hendrix


Squashed Grapes – October 24, 2014
Doug Webb Group:  Doug Webb, Danny Carey, Steve Fister, Jimmy Earl, Matt Rohde
See more on this performance:  Grape Blog
The Doug Webb Group

 


Saloon BBQ – October 18, 2014
Steve and Sally Williams

Steve and Sally Williams


Squashed Grapes – October 18, 2014
Paul Weitz Group with Donna Deussen

Paul Weitz GroupDonna Deussen


Bombay Bar and Grill – October 18, 2014
Taylor Rae
Taylor Rae


The Wine Rack – October 18, 2014
Jill Martini Soiree
Jill Martini Soiree


Final performance at Yolie’s – October 17, 2014
(Hi Hat Entertainment looking for new location)
R&B Bombers
Photo credit:  David C. Smolen
R&B Bombers


Squashed Grapes – October 16, 2014
The Pulse Daddies:  Trey O’Toole, Karl Hunter, Hans Ottsen, Dirk Shumaker
The Pulse Daddies

 


Squashed Grapes – October 14, 2014
Charles Lloyd & Dorothy Darr, Screening of movie, “Arrows Into Infinity”
(Charles Lloyd will receive the NEA Jazz Masters Award 2015. He was the Honoree at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival Jazz Legends Gala, hosted by Herbie Hancock. Lloyd was also the recipient of the 2014 Alfa Jazz Fest International Music Award.)
Josh, Charles, Dorothy, Adam and Pam


Amigos – October 12, 2014
CRV: Carmen & the Renegade Vigilantes
CRV


Bombay Bar and Grill – October 12, 2014
Notes for Notes Benefit
Sgt. Pepper
Sgt. Pepper


W20 at The Watermark – October 12, 2014
Tommy and the High Pilots
Tommy and the High Pilots


BBQ Saloon Bar – October 12, 2014
The Dan Grimm Band w/ special guest Tommy Marsh
The Dan Grimm Band


Grapes & Hops – October 12, 2014
Kilo Hues (San Diego)
Kilo Hughes


Squashed Grapes – October 9, 2014
The Lounge Trio:  Cougar Estrada, Randy Tico & Adam Clark
Randy Tico and Cougar Estrada


Amigos – October 7, 2014
Nathan McEuen, Jonathan McEuen and John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
McEuen Family


Amigos – October 5, 2014
The Tossers The Tossers


Grapes & Hops – October 5, 2014
Brandon Ragan Brandon Ragan


Amigos – October 5, 2014
Karen Eden & Joe Hamilton: Fundraiser for team “Lick Cancer

Karen Eden & Joe Hamilton


Pier Under the Stars – October 4, 2014
Caliente 805
Caliente 805


Bombay Bar and Grill – October 3, 2014
Jason Cruz and Buddy Darling

Jason & Buddy


Bombay Bar and Grill – October 3, 2014
Lee Koch
Lee Koch


The Garage – October 2, 2014
The Shivas (Portland, OR)
The Shivas

Crooked Eye Tommy Fundraiser

logoBombay Bar and Grill
Sunday, January 12, 2014

Ventura came together yet again to help.  This time it was to help get Tommy Marsh and the band to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in a couple of weeks.  The line up was phenomenal with Guy Martin, Mikey Mo, Kelly’s Lot, 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Ray Jourique & the Uptown Brothers, 4 on the Floor, Donna Greene & the Roadhouse Daddies.  Plus Tommy’s two bands played.  First Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog opened the show, and then the band of the hour, closed the show as Crooked Eye Tommy and fellow bandmates, brother Paddy Marsh, Jimmy Calire, Tony Cicero and Glade Rasmussen tore it up.

The fans showed up, danced, and bought raffle tickets.  They also entered to win a Gibson SB Robot guitar which after all was said and done went to Lester Gray.  Congratulations you bastard.  I thought for sure one of my two tickets would be lucky!

Crooked Eye Tommy FundraiserWe had a blast hanging with good friends and family. Loved how Ventura Singles Rock showed up to support. Several local musicians showed up to show the love.  Kat from Totally Local VC and Sandy from the Tom and Sandy Show were on hand to make announcements. And though Kelly and Perry from Kelly’s Lot performed early, they stayed to the very end keeping it extremely lively.  Kelly, you’re a hoot. Thanks for sporting the shirt babe!  And the volunteers were all cheerful and enjoying the music.  And again Diana Boydstun, your such an asset.  Every time I’ve called to ask for your help on a fundraiser, you have never hesitated.  So glad to see that you had a blast and just know, I’ll be calling on you again! And Seth Brandes, thanks so much for being there helping and taking such great photos!

Diego and the staff at Bombay’s are a class act.  Armand John Lizzy and Chris Husted  did a terrific job running sound on the two stages.

And Tommy couldn’t have been more humble.  He sincerely deserves this show of support.

Now it’s MEMPHIS BABY!!!  Good luck Crooked Eye Tommy, do Ventura proud and represent us well.

 

 

 

Ventura Rocks in Ventura Breeze – 1/8/14 – 1/21/14

breezeVentura Music Scene
All Hans on deck
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

I woke up pleasantly surprised on New Year’s Day to find that Hans Ottsen had just released a brand new EP called Music for Mind Movies. While getting to know Hans and his live jazz performances at one of my favorite venues, Squashed Grapes, I learned that he also teaches guitar lessons, and is a well-sought after session musician.  He co-produced and engineered at Filzar Studios for the past year or so, and recently worked on Phil Salazar’s new release, Life on the Edge, in exchange he earned some prime studio time.

So how did Hans use that time?  He told me, “I got the band Tico Trio in there a couple months ago and we’re planning to release that one in early 2014. These tracks were really just me experimenting in the studio. I never really planned to release them as I was creating them.  Then I thought it’d be fun to release an EP without any jazz on it.”

Han’s EP titled Music for Mind Movies is seven eclectic beautifully written and performed songs that if you allow, will take you to another place. Hans explained, “As for the name, the tunes don’t adhere to any one genre. There’s some ambient electronic, instrumental pop, demented circus music, but I can’t really describe it all easily. I’ve been told that it all kinda sounds like ‘music from a movie.’ Those movies have yet to be made. They exist in the mind.  Music For Mind Movies.”   You can buy the new EP at www.HansOttsen.Bandcamp.com

The Ventura County Concert Band (VCCB) is celebrating their 50th season with their next performance scheduled for Sunday, January 26, at the Ventura High School auditorium at 3:00 pm. VCCB is a non-profit Community Concert Band, under the direction of Ms. Julie Judd based here in Ventura.  They perform for the community free of charge 4 times a year. Take the whole family for an incredible show.

And two shows to watch for at the Majestic Ventura Theater this month.  If you like grooving to what they call “Sunshine Reggae,” you won’t want to miss Iration on Friday, January 24 and then Grammy award winning Country artist Dwight Yoakum will be kicking it up on Friday, January 31, as he continues to tour in support of his latest release, “3 Pears.”  Contact Ventura Theater for ticket availability.

And don’t forget we’re helping to get Tommy Marsh to Nashville to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.  Fundraiser is Sunday, January 12 at Bombay’s with Guy Martin, Kelly’s Lot, 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Mikey Mo, Donna Greene and the Roadhouse Daddies, 4 on the Floor, Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers, and Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog. All this amazing music for only $10 plus it helps get Crooked Eye Tommy to the competition.  See you there!!!

Have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help on publicizing?  Send all information short or long:  Pam@VenturaRocks.com.