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

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

Ventura Rocks artworkCongratulations 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.

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 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.