Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 4/7/21 – 4/20/21

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

Ventura Rocks artwork

More venues are offering live music complying with all the Covid-19 restrictions in place as we continue to move through the tiers. Of course, you need to do your part as well so we don’t ruin it for everyone…again. Wear your mask, keep socially distanced from others not in your party and don’t be rushing the stage (sort of kidding on that one). So far, I’ve seen the posts/listings for live music here in Ventura at Winchesters, Vaquero y Mar (formerly Hong Kong Inn), Café Fiore, Leashless Brewing, Prime, and Copa Cubana; Camarillo has Camarillo Barrelworks (Flatfish Brewing/Cantara Cellars), Relm Wine Beer Bistro; and Oxnard has the Shores, Surfside Seafood, and 1901 Speakeasy. You can find listings on VenturaRocks.com; I update the website whenever I get wind of any live music. It’s a bit of a crap shoot when certain venues don’t list their events on their website or on social media, but a lot of the bands let me know. When I hear, you hear.

A big congratulations to Shane Alexander for landing a national Chevy commercial featuring one of his songs, “Everything as One.” It’s featured in their Drive Safe campaign which literally gave me the chills watching it knowing how much Shane deserves to have his music featured. Very well done Shane…and Chevy!

Interview with Max Kasch

For this issue, I caught up with Max Kasch out of Ojai. I’ve seen Max perform a number of times which included the first time at Zoey’s One to Watch contest back around 2012. He shared top honors with another local performer Derek Jennings that year. I understand the prize was an opportunity to record an EP in Santa Barbara with famed sessions and touring musician Tariqh Akoni (musical director for Josh Groban) along with a bunch of famous musicians including Doug Pettibone. For a lot of people including myself, Max landed on our radar as a young actor in the 2003 movie “Holes” alongside Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf and Tim Blake Nelson. He can also be seen in “Waiting”, “the Greatest Game Ever Played” and “Whiplash” to name just a few. But even with all his acting credits, music is rightfully and thankfully his passion.

photo of Max Kasch

Pam: I understand music is your passion now, and it has been for some time. I believe the first time I saw you was at Zoey’s…many years ago. Where do you typically perform in the 805?

Max Kasch: Well, truth be told, music was always the passion. It sort of took a while to circle back to it being the direction I wanted to move in. I detoured a bit into the acting world by pure chance and really only pursued it to make a living for my family.
I performed anywhere I could, really. Any place that would have me. Rock City in Camarillo, various Farmers and Makers Markets. Zoey’s was really the only place that gave me a consistent stage to work from and I loved their performers and vibe so it sort of became my main focus.

Pam: How did you first develop your songwriting skills, or did it just come naturally for you?

Max: I think it came naturally. Of course, everything needs to be honed and refined, but I like to think of the process as out of my hands really. When you’re really plugged in, writing is like pulling it out of the ether. Sort of like a conduit to some other realm. When it comes like that, it’s incredibly easy.

Pam: Do you collaborate with other artists? If so, who?

Max: I haven’t collaborated extensively as far as writing together with other artists, but Jesse Siebenberg and I work together producing my music like dancers in a tango.

Pam: That’s a great way to describe a working relationship. Did performing in front of an audience come easily with your acting experience? Or did you need to work on your stage presence and interaction with the audience?

Max: I’m still not really sure if having a stage presence was a conscious decision or something I chose to work on. It really wouldn’t matter to me playing for 3 people or 30,000. I’d do the same show either way. When I’m playing live, I suppose if I really feel like I’m doing what I need to do artistically, I feel nothing. Nothing personally, I mean. I’m neither impressing or disappointing myself. my focus is on doing the songs the way they should be done and communicating with the band effectively and hopefully the people watching or listening are feeling the presence through the music.

Pam: Catch me up on all your produced music to date.


Max: Well a few years ago I had an EP produced by Tariqh Akoni up in Santa Barbara. I did a very limited, unmastered run of CD’s for that release. To date I’ve only released one full length album with Jesse Siebenberg producing. We had a tremendous cast of players on that album that breathed some serious fire into my songs. The likes of Joey Waronker and Bob Seibenberg (Jesse’s father and drummer for Supertramp) Dave Palmer, Dave Levita, Austin Beede, Gabe Noel and Danny Wright.
Pam: How has it been this past year working as a singer/songwriter during the pandemic?
Max: To be honest it was the first time in my life I didn’t have to work. I finally found myself with time and a little money to finish this album. I really focused on writing new material and refining my craft and abilities even more. Beyond that, I didn’t do any zoom shows or live streams and it felt great not having any pressure or demand to do that!

photo of Max Kasch

Pam: What are you currently working on?

Max: Well I currently have a self-titled album “Max Kasch” live on all the streaming platforms and for sale on Bandcamp. I also have two follow-up EP’s complete. One is more of a stripped-down sort of lonesome acoustic cowboy [genre] and the other under the working title “Max Trash” which are very aggressive, experimental tracks that represent a whole other side of my musical tastes and expressions. I’m very excited about putting both out before the year’s end. I’ve compiled so much material over the last few years that it seems intuitive now to just keep releasing things.

Pam: What are your short-term goals; and long-term goals?


Max: Short term goals are to keep refining my craft of songwriting and to self record. I finally put a little money behind some gear and being able to record myself whenever, wherever. I think it’ll open up a lot of new ideas I’d like to get out quickly.
Long term I’d like to maybe pay my rent doing this for a living. Beyond that, it’s all sugar on top!

Pam: Any final parting words for our readers?


Max: Please pick up your trash wherever you go. It’s all headed for the Pacific anyway, but its goddamn unsightly.

I love Max’s parting words! You can follow Max on Instagram at maxkaschmusic or find out more about Max on his Bandcamp page: https://maxkasch.bandcamp.com/releases.

We’ve schedule Max to be a guest on an upcoming episode of the VenturaRockSpot which is a monthly interview show where mostly local artists out of the 805 are interviewed and they share some of their music either live, or with pre-recorded videos. You can view all episodes to date at www.VenturaRockSpot.com where you can see bands/artists such as Guy Martin, the Guitar and Whiskey Club, Bone Maggot, Kelly’s Lot, Kyle Smith and more (28 episodes to date).

And don’t forget to tune into the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP out of CAPS Media at 104.1 FM here in Ventura. My show airs Tuesdays at 5 pm with repeats on Fridays at 5 pm and Sundays at noon. You can also listen via the MyTuner app on your smart device or online at CapsMedia.org/radio.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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 Music Photos: April 2014

Music in Ventura

Sans Souci – April 25, 2014
Radio Threat
Radio Threat


Amigo’s Surf Cantina – April 25, 2014
Bigfoot Invasion – Cougar Estrada, Ruben Estrada, John Schnackenberg, Ruben Martinez, Rene Martinez
Bigfoot Invasion


The Wine Rack – April 25, 2014
Ebony Ann Blaze
Ebony Ann Blaze


The Keynote Lounge – April 24, 2014
Open mic jam night!
Wild Rideopen mic


Bombay’s Bar and Grill – April 23, 2014
The Session featuring Coco Montoya and Mikey Mo
The Session


Amigo’s Surf Cantina – April 23, 2014
Kyle Swan, Benjamin Buttner and Doug Johnson


Bombay Bar and Grill – April 19, 2014
Groove Session


Bombay Bar and Grill – April 19, 2014
The Pullmen
The Pullmen


Bombay Bar and Grill – April 19, 2014
Botanical Gardens Fundraiser
Ray Jaurique, Tommy and Paddy Marsh
Ray Jaurique, Tommy and Paddy Marsh


The Wine Rack – April 19, 2014
Dan Grimm
Dan Grimm


The 805 Bar – April 19, 2014 – Andy’s Birthday Bash
Steve and Sally Williams
Steve and Sally Williams


Bombay Bar and Grill – April 18, 2014
Sharks and Cobras
Sharks and Cobras


W20 at The Watermark – April 18, 2014
Shawn Jones
Shawn Jones and Mario Calire


Squashed Grapes – April 17, 2014
The Jazz Report:  Bevan Mason (keys); Brad Dutz (drums); Danny Young (bass); Jacob Scesney (sax); Dave Tolegian (flute/sax).
The Jazz Report


The Tavern – April 16, 2014
American Hoss
American Hoss


Yolie’s – April 12, 2014
Morry Sochat with Tommy Harkenrider (guitar), Steve Nelson (bass) and Jerry McWorter (drums)
Morry Sochat


Squashed Grapes – April 10, 2014
Ventura Jazz CollectivePam from VenturaRocks.com and Adam from Squashed Grapes representing!Ventura Jazz Collective

Pablo Plasencia, Crystal Rose Sanchez, Patrick Martin, Pam Baumgardner, Adam Randall, Trey O’Toole from Pulse Drumming and Bill Bannister.

Bombay Bar and Grill – April 9, 2014The Session: Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog with guest Cadillac Zack – Post Jam with Paul Vallis, Franklin Murphy, Jacob Scesney
Jacob Scesney


Squashed Grapes – April 9, 2014
Nee Sackey Trio with special guest Karl Hunter
0409_Karl-Hunter_001 Nee Sackey Trio
The Nee Sackey Trio featured Nee on bass, Hans Ottsen on guitar and Adam Clark (not pictured) on drums with special guest Karl Hunter of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on sax.


The Star Lounge – April 6, 2014|
Dallas Burrow from Austin, TX
Dallas Burrow


Downtown Ventura – April 6, 2014
D.on Darox
D.on Darox


The Garage – April 5, 2014
Shelby Figueroa
Shelby Figueroa


The Garage – April 5, 2014
Practical Animal
Practical Animal


Bombay Bar and Grill – April 4, 2014
Alicia Murphy, Derek Jennings & Max Kasch
Alicia Murphy


The Wine Rack – April 4, 2014
Matthew Zeltzer
Matthew Zeltzer


Amigo’s Surf Cantina – April 1, 2014
Nathan McEuen
Nathan McEuen