Ventura Music Scene 1/24/24 – 2/6/24

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
artwork
There’s already a lot going on for 2024, so let’s get right to it. You should consider treating yourself to an intimate show with singer/songwriter, Nathan McEuen, on Friday, January 26, at the Ojai Underground. I became a fan when he had a week-night residency at Amigo’s several years ago, and I’ve played his original music on my radio show at Caps Media in the past. He’s a sweetheart of a guy and uber talented coming from a musical family including his brother, Jonathan, and father John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame.

Namba Performing Arts will be hosting their 2024 Winter Gala, a celebration of the diverse tapestry of talent in our community as well as to honor their late founde, Julia Campbell Namba. Featured performers include Grammy Award winning jazz pianist, Greg Karukas and Mexico City based singer/songwriter, Maya Burns. While I’m happy to report this one is sold out, that doesn’t mean you can’t still help keep Namba going by making a donation, large or small, to NambaArts.com.

On Friday, February 2, The Deer Lodge hosts British singer/songwriter, Pete Molinari, but also on the bill will be Robin Taylor Zander. Now if this name sounds familiar and you’re a fan of classic rock, well it should; his dad, Robin Zander, is founding member of Cheap Trick with whom he’s been touring with the past few years. I caught Cheap Trick in 2022 at the Ventura County Fair where it was a treat to see father and son on the same stage.

The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts will host a Women’s Voices Concert on Sunday afternoon, January 28, featuring Grammy nominee Janet Robin, national radio chart topper Rebecca Folsom; International Singer-Songwriter Associate (ISSA) Entertainer of the Year Charu Suri; poet & NYT Bestseller Katie Hendricks; and #1 iTunes top Singer/Songwriter, Kris Angelis.

Tickets are on sale now for 311 at the Ventura Theater for Tuesday, March 5 and recently added to Ventura Music Hall are Los Lobos for Sunday, March 3, Guttermouth with Buck-O-Nine on Thursday April 18 and Steel Pulse for Friday, April 19.

Quick Notes: Julian Marley and the Uprising play the Ventura Music Hall on Wednesday, January 24; a special Sunday afternoon birthday bash will be held on January 28 at the Garage with Bloody Mary Morning in the mix starting at 3 pm; The Trivle Omdobble play Topa Topa Brewing on Sunday January 28; Jesse Harris and his band with special guest Katie Skene will play Cantara Cellars on Friday, February 2; Phil Salazar and Tom Corbett play the Ojai Underground on Saturday, February 3; and the Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Association standing monthly gig at the Poinsettia Pavilion falls on Sunday, February 4;

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 11/22 – 12/5

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

The holiday season is in full swing with Ventura looking as lovely as ever with music keeping us as lively as ever.  To start off with, it’s the “social event of the year,” Ventura Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair on Saturday, December 2.  The holiday street fair is free and runs from Noon until 8 pm; the main stage of music is also free and located at the corner of Main and California with City Hall as the backdrop. The bands rockin’ the event this year are the Road Brothers, Adelaide and the Bomb.  Then of course it’s the Wine Walk (21 and over) which typically sells out every year; it runs from 4 until 7 pm.

Squashed Grapes is hosting a fundraiser for the local chapter of Notes for Notes on Saturday afternoon, December 2, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm with two acts on the bill.  Firstly, it’s the East Valley Road band featuring Notes for Notes students who are raising funds to help them get to a Blues competition in Nashville, and then it’s Patrick Warburton’s band called The Bearded Pearl Clams featuring Pearl Jam tunes.  Yes, you read that right, it is that Patrick Warburton of Seinfeld and Rules of Engagement fame.  It’s all about raising awareness about this amazing program available to our up and coming young musicians here in Ventura where they have a state-of-the-art recording studio available to them and soon a mentoring program featuring a Master’s program with key local musicians. You can learn more about this non-profit organization at NotesForNotes.org.

The Surfrider Foundation’s 8th annual Pints Against Plastics benefit will be held at Discovery on Saturday, November 25th, with Through the Roots and Rising Son providing the reggae. The fundraiser is for litter prevention efforts for Ventura County beaches and rivers. Find out more at Ventura.Surfrider.org.

Quick notes:  Kick off the holiday weekend with pre-Thanksgiving fun on Wednesday night, November 22, with Yachtley Crew at Bombay’s; Nathan McEuen returns to town with a show at Grapes and Hops on Friday, November 24, with what he calls Nathan McEuen and the Enormous Ego Band; there’s a Numbskull Productions show at the Garage with Captured! By Robots on Friday, November 24; catch The Tenderloin and Spivey Spi at Duke’s on Seaward on Friday, December 1; the Old Time Country Music Christmas concert will be held on Sunday, December 3, at the Poinsettia Pavilion; and just released, the soundtrack to the documentary featuring local blind musician, Rachel Flowers, “Hearing is Believing.”

And finally, Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers are working on their second release.  Ray told me he’s penned ten or eleven new songs and that this one will include some special guest players; they’re working out of Castaway 7 Studios here in Ventura.

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 3/29 – 4/11

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Local Music and More!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Scott Belsha, Joshua Moreau, Jon Bon Jovi, Natalie Gelman and Nathan McEuen taken February 28, 2017 at Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA. Photo credit: David Bergman.

There’s something to be said for when you open for Bon Jovi, and that something is “Holy Moly!!” Natalie Gelman and Nathan McEuen opened for Bon Jovi who is out promoting their latest album, “This House is Not for Sale.” Nathan also had the opportunity play one of his own songs, “Lately” to the sold-out crowd.

The Tossers, Britrock extravaganza, will be playing three nights in a row with two nights at the Vine in Ojai (March 31 and April 1) playing more of the soft underbelly side of the British music scene especially since they’ll have a piano available; then the following day they return for the first Sunday residency at Amigo’s in Ventura. Nigel Chisholm of the Vine and John Fincham bass player come from the same music scene in Birmingham, England.

A number of local bands have been invited to perform during the Skull & Roses Festival at the Ventura Fairgrounds including Shaky Feelin’, The Deal, Unkle Monkey, Rachel Sedacca’s Scarlet-Fire and 9 Mile Skid. Tickets and full music listings can be found at SkullAndRosesFestival.com. The three-day event runs April 7 through April 9.

LA based jazz singer/songwriter, Saundra Booker & Friends will be performing on Thursday, March 30 at Squashed Grapes. After battling kidney cancer, Booker founded the Jazz Musicians Against Cancer Fund and Foundation; all money raised this evening will go the JMAC fund. Also, coming up at the Grape: The Jay Smith Group on March 31; Brad Rabuchin (five years with Ray Charles) & Friends will be there on the 6th; and the Jimmy Calire Trio (Raven, America) on the 7th.

Quick notes: Brian Nicolet returned to Ventura after living abroad and performing with the Phly Boyz based out of Nice, France for the past three years; both Kings Revenge and Honey Owl are about to go back in the studio, Honey Owl’s next gig in Ventura will be at Bombay’s on April 1st; Four Brix has Fido playing 5:30 – 7:30 on Friday, March 31 for Teacher’s Appreciation Night; and Champagne on Main returns to Ventura with DJs and local artists like Joe Hamilton at the Visitor’s Center playing on Saturday, April 8.

And finally, on my radio show, “The Pam Baumgardner Mostly Local Music Hour” on KPPQ-LP 104.1 FM, be sure to tune in April 3rd when I play a cut from the Gentlemen’s Blues Club. Mick Tover of Dive Bar Messiahs was producer and founding member of GBC and he sent me a cover of “Whipping Post” featuring Alan “BB” Chung King Mirikitani on guitar. He told me that Dickie Betts was so impressed by the GBC’s version that he had his road manager contact them trying to recruit members to play with the Dickie Betts Band.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? 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 11/11 – 11/24

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
“Blues to jazz and all points in between”
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Ashford Gordon and Glade Rasmussen at the Hong Kong Inn's Blues Jam Sunday.

Ashford Gordon and Glade Rasmussen at the Hong Kong Inn’s Blues Jam Sunday.

The Hong Kong Inn has started hosting a monthly Blues Jam Session on what will be the first Sunday of the month. The kick-off session was on Sunday November 8 with Ashford Gordon supported by Ray Jaurique, Glade Rasmussen and Chris Jensen. All players of all skill levels are welcome to sit in during the second set.

Having signed a distribution deal with Mesa Blue Moon Records last month, Nathan McEuen has been pulling out all the stops, touring more aggressively and will be making a stop at Salzer’s Records on Friday, November 13.  Get out and support Nathan who will have Jesse Olema and special guests with him, but more importantly, pick up a copy of his latest release, “Side by Side”.

Our good friend Dan Grimm with his brand of California Flip-Floppy-Tonkiness returns to the Wine Rack for a gig on Friday, November 20; there’s no denying Grimm’s love for Ventura when he sings original material such as “Two Trees” or “Ventucky.” Meanwhile, Mike Cregan continues his Monday night residency and Frank Barajas and Doug Johnson have taken over Tuesday nights.

The Channel Cities Jazz Club will feature Clyde Reaslinger Big Band on November 15 at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in the Channel Islands Harbor. The proceeds will be split between CCJC’s Jazz Camp Scholarship fund and the Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation. Besides giving musicians of all ages a forum to perform and share jazz, the club’s mission is to build bonds between generations and to enhance musical educational opportunities for youth.

Doug Webb returns to Squashed Grapes with not only Steve Fister, Jimmy Earl and Danny Carey of Tool, but added to the mix this time will be Mike Garson on Piano. Garson has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and No Doubt. This promises to be the epitome of the expression, “Off the Hook.” Tickets are on sale for Saturday, November 14 at Squashed Grapes; downbeat is 7 pm.

I’ll admit I’m a tad giddy with anticipation for a several shows coming up at the Majestic Ventura Theater.  There’s Pepper on November 21, Everclear’s 20th Anniversary of Sparkle and Fade on November 22 and Sublime with Rome on November 27.  By the way, Rebelution returns for two shows in March, don’t miss out and get your tickets soon as they always sell out.

And finally, local musician Gary Best has invited everyone out for an afternoon of Los Dudes at Grapes and Hops on Sunday, November 15 before he goes in for heart surgery.  He’s been taking care of the body and getting healthy, and we love and support him in all those endeavors.

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)

Nathan McEuen – Side by Side

Nathan McEuenNathan McEuen recently wrapped up production on his sixth solo album called, “Side by Side.”  I’d been hearing about a pending upcoming release for the past year after he started a Tuesday evening residency at Amigos in early 2014.  I made it a point to stop in on a dozen or so occasions to check it out; Nathan has this sort of shy, witty charm about him that is quite endearing.  I quickly came to know by heart the inspiration behind the banjo he played.  In a nutshell, it’s a gift from Russi Taylor, the voice of Mini Mouse.  The banjo belonged to her late husband Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse.  It’s a lovely story with a delightful song written in thanks for the honor of being the recipient of this gift.   But as quaint as that is, you really need to read the liner notes behind Taylor’s inspiration and the song, “Pictures of You in My Heart”.   There’s no doubt about it, Nathan has heart and it certainly comes through in his writing and music.

Of course some of the basics on Nathan are good to know.  He comes from a very talented family of musicians; I’m sure you’ve seen his brother Jonathan McEuen play around town either with his own shows, contributing to other artists or joining Nathan for a tune or two from time to time.  And of course, there’s pops, John McEuen from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  I was lucky to be at Amigos the evening both Jonathan and John joined Nathan for a couple of songs.  When I mentioned to Nathan you could see the genuine affection his family has for one another, he just looked down with one of those shy smiles and said, “Yes, it runs deep in our family.”McEuen Family

Nathan’s record, “Side by Side” features six tracks out of ten on the banjo, an instrument he said he just picked up a few years ago (I did mention he has talent, right?). The remaining four songs are Folk – Americana and not only feature his guitar work, but he brings to the table the amazing Jesse Siebenberg, who helped co-produce this one in part at Brotheryn Studios.

Other musician credits to note:  Randy Tico on upright bass; Jesse Olema on fiddle; Ashley Broder on mandolin; Samantha Harvey on accordian; Craig Eastman onfiddle, Chris Caswell strings and piano; Marcy Vaj on violin and viola; Jeness Johnson on cello and as mentioned previously Jesse Siebenberg B-3, bass, drums, slide guitar and BG vox.

My own personal protocol when it comes to reviewing an album is that I spend some time with it.  A lot of time.  I’ll listen while driving around, I’ll listen while working at my computer, and I’ll sit there doing nothing else but paying attention to detail.  The great thing about Nathan’s “Side by Side” is that I was already familiar with most of his songs and now I had the chance to learn the lyrics and hear what his songs sound like with a full band behind him.  But I know an artist has passed my own personal acid test when I find myself whistling or singing a line from one of their songs. “Side by Side” has passed with flying colors.

Nathan has a way of writing clever lyrics:

“They say I’m always up to no good
I’m the best at bad decisions

But am I always up to no good?
Well if you stand where I’ve stood
Your high horse might be broken
What’s so bad about feelin’ so good?”

 “Up to No Good” is my favorite track but I’ve found myself humming to all his lyrics and I have a new found love for “Pictures of You in My Heart” after learning the true life back story on it.  Nathan does justice to their love story.

I recommend picking this one up the next time you see him or on his website.  The CD will get a broader distribution in a few months.

www.NathanMcEuen.com
www.Facebook.com/NathanMcEuenMusic

The Interview

Nathan McEuenI sat down with Nathan at Amigo’s the night before leaving for a few weeks taking his new material on the road for shows in the Colorado Rockies, Idaho, Utah.

Ventura Rocks:  How long have you been working on material for this one?

Nathan:  Probably about a good year and a half.

VR: What inspires you to start writing?

Nathan:  I started writing as a child when I was about eight years old simply because I was surrounded by a bunch of people who wrote songs and it was such a cool thing to create something out of nothing.

VR: Are you always writing material?

Nathan:  Absolutely. Today before the show, I had a songwriting session in Thousand Oaks even though I just released an album, I’m already working on my next one, actually two of them.

VR:  I recall when we spoke last year you had different types of material, some harder than others, like the Foo Fighters?

Nathan:  Well, in the stylings of…I didn’t want to release an album with five different genres on it; that would be too difficult to explain to people, so the first one I ended up putting out an album with banjo and guitar. Half of it’s banjo instrumentals and joined with a bunch of other musicians that range from an upright bass, mandolin, fiddles and a little bit of percussion that go around the banjo.  The other half is singer songwriter fully produced full band material.  so this album is a cool complete contrast. half of it’s instrumental and the other half singer songwriter.  That was a lot of fun and it seems to be going over really great at live shows playing the banjo then singer songwriter thing. It’s a fun blend.

VR: I don’t know that I was a fan of the banjo before, but watching you play the past year it’s in my realm of reality now and I’ve really begun to appreciate it, even dig it.

Nathan: It’s definitely an acquired taste.

VR: I sit there and watch you picking, it’s amazing. Let me see your fingers!.

Nathan: Okay.

VR: (Inspecting Nathan’s fingers) Oh my god (impressed).

Nathan: Yeah they’re calloused a little bit.

VR: Yeah they are!

Nathan: I’m constantly playing.

VR: How long have you been playing the banjo?

Nathan: A solid four years. I grew up with a banjo playing father which a lot of people know, and some people don’t. People might assume I started playing it at a young age, but no, we kind of out of respect for my father, my brothers and I, and even my sister, we kind of decided to not play the banjo for a long time for various reasons.  But four years ago I started finding my own voice on the banjo and I started writing a bunch of songs.

VR: What does your dad think about that?

Nathan: When we talk about it, he’s told me things like, “I don’t know Nathan, you’re finding a bunch of notes that I never had.”  Or, “I can’t play that like you.”

(we laugh)

Nathan: And it’s nice because I can’t play like he does. It’s fun thing because it’s not like I’m copying him.

VR: Right, it’s your own style.

Nathan:  And there are some things that I think he’s very proud of just to say the least.

VR: Well I was here (at Amigo’s) that night when your brother Jonathan and your dad joined you for a couple of songs.

Nathan: That was so much fun, and that was a very rare moment.  He just happened to be passing through town.

VR: I was just sitting there watching the three of you and it was clear, you could see the genuine affection that you all have for one another.

Nathan: Yep. (pauses) It definitely, runs deep in our family.

VR: So where did you record this one?

Nathan: Mainly I recorded it in Southern California between the Valley and LA; it’s simply a guy who has a studio in his back yard. And I recorded the majority of the banjo instrumentals there. The majority of the singer songwriter part was in Ojai at Brotheryn Studios, and a couple of studios in between. Once tracked needed a string quartet so I recorded that in Venice. The first song that I ever tracked for this album actually was tracked in Atlanta, Georgia called Tree Sounds Studios. So I started in the East Coast actually and then brought it to the West Coast.

VR: When mixing the album did it sound like it was recorded in different places?

Nathan: Well the whole point is to have contrast.  I didn’t want the banjo to sound exactly like the produced singer songwriting stuff.  So there’s a continuity between the songs, but there is a drastic change halfway through the album people will notice, but it seems to flow.

VR: Who produced it?

Nathan: I produced most of it.  The last half I co-produced with a friend of mine, Jesse Siebenberg. I had other executive producers, but they took care of financing. But Jesse was producer with me the last four tracks, and I produced the rest of it.

VR: He plays on it as well?

Nathan: Yes. Jesse is an animal in the studio; a lot of people who work with him know him to play everything it seems. But on this album in particular he is playing – between the four tracks – some slide, the bass the drum, keyboards, and singing background vocals even!  We had a great time, we just got a lot of work done.  A majority of those songs we got done very quickly and once we got to the point where we needed to add strings, it was just very easy because we worked so well. He’s easy to work with.

VR: He’s a pro. Very talented.

Nathan: For sure.

VR: And you have your own label?

Nathan: Yes, my own label with six solo albums out now. I’ve been acting as my own label for the whole thing; some days it’s answering the phones, and some days it’s emptying the trash and other days playing songs on the stage.  It’s been fun keeping it going, but I am looking to partner up with people who see the vision and the grand picture but I can still act as my own label and pay for all the recording, but partnering up with a distribution company will be very beneficial for me.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/15 – 10/28

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

McEuen FamilyIt turns out that this is my one-year anniversary writing for the Ventura Breeze.  Yay! Thank you Sheldon for designating the highly-prized back page for music. You rock!

Nathan McEuen’s Tuesday evening residency at Amigos is always a treat, but October 7, he stepped it up several notches when he performed with not only his brother Jonathan, but with their dad, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  While it was cool, hearing them perform, it was even cooler seeing the admiration they have for one another.  Looking forward to hearing the new album Nathan has been diligently working on; he hopes to release it sometime in November.

I’m always tickled when I’m approached for talent advice for events being planned; case in point, Charleen Mora (Dirty Rice) of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce was searching for a jazz trio for the upcoming TASTE event being held October 30.  I’m pleased as punch to say The Hans Ottsen Trio will be performing.  TASTE will be held at the Museum of Ventura County this year with over 40 exhibitors and some exceptional jazz.

Taylor Rae returns to Bombays.  I happened upon her the last time she played there and immediately became a fan of her southern rock music with a tinge of blues.  She’ll perform earlier in the evening on the 18th for an all-ages show at 8 pm.

On the Grape front: The Pulse Daddies comprised of Trey O’Toole (Pulse Drumming), Karl Hunter and Dirk Shumaker (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), and Hans Ottsen are on the bill for Oct. 16. Donna Deussen & the Paul Weitz Trio return on the 18th and of course Doug Webb Quintet with Danny Carey of Tool on the 24th.  And though I’m glad other publications are finally recognizing a “rebirth” of America’s original art form in Ventura, I would like to go on record as saying our  jazz scene returned two years ago when Squashed Grapes started providing consistent high caliber jazz artists Wednesday through Saturday with a jazz jam every other Tuesday.

I’m loving the community support for The Baker Family as traditional media and social media have been getting the word out on how to help them rebuild after their incredible losses. Discovery Ventura is hosting a fundraiser on October 26 with Raging Arb and the Redheads, Zepp Heads and Good Deeds.  Suggested donation is $10, but you can always dig deeper and give more.

And finally, because it falls on Friday this year, you know Ventura will be off-the-hook with Halloween parties.  Most venues are pulling out all the stops hoping to pack their joint with revelers.  From Amigos on Main to Billy O’s midtown to The Garage on the East end of town, live music will abound.  Dirty Rice will be at Discovery, The Bomb at the Watermark, Smooth Hound Smith at Red Cove, The UnUsual Suspects at Keynote,  Tony Ybarra at Peirano’s and well, the list goes on and on.  Be sure to visit VenturaRocks.com for a more comprehensive listing.

(At press time, I was assured that Discovery would be having music for the Baker Family fundraiser and for Halloween but their entertainment permit is being appealed)

If you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing?  Send all information short or long to  Pam@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

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze – 5/14 – 5/27

Rixton

Ventura Breeze logoVentura Music Scene
Ventura Rocks!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

W20 at the top of The Watermark played host Thursday, May 8, for a special invite only Rixton concert.  About 30 lucky 105.5 radio contest winners attended the intimate noon time show.  The British pop rock R&B band have been getting traction with their first single, “Me and My Broken Heart.”  You may have caught them performing it in the past month on both the Voice and the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

How cool is it that Nathan McEuen can be found playing at Amigos for Happy Hour on Tuesdays; and how cool is it that his Nitty Gritty Dirt Band dad, John McEuen, stopped by to sit in for a few songs on Tuesday, May 6?   VERY COOL.

The headliner for the Roadshow Revival:  a Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash will be Grammy Award Winners, Los Lobos.  Other acts on the bill for the all day festival June 14 at the Fairgrounds will be The Paladins, Dale Watson, James Intveld, and much more.  See www.RoadshowRevival.com.

It’s out with the old and in with the new as The Chaotic Knights retire their name as they welcome their new lead singer, David Cunningham on board. They’re renaming the band Whiskey Stone.

By the way, Martha Davis of the Motels never sounded better when she headlined the Ventura Beach Festival May 3; the Surfaris kicked some serious butt as well.

Hi-Hat Entertainment welcomes Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) to Yolie’s on Friday, May 16; Reverend Horton Heat will be at the Majestic Ventura Theater on May 23, the Green on the 26th and Against Me! on the 27th.  And not only is the restaurant back, but the Hong Kong Inn is offering late night music on most weekends again.

Discovery has been ramping up getting ready to offer music on a more consistent basis.  Look for Wailing Souls and Prezident Brown on May 23, and Hollywood U2 (tribute band) on May 25.  Ticket information can be found on their website www.DiscoveryVentura.com.   They’re also looking for local bands to showcase throughout the summer, just so you know.

Special guest, Doug Webb, will join Tico Trio later this month at Squashed Grapes on Saturday, May 31.  Webb has been featured on over 500 recordings for hundreds of artists including Quincy Jones, Freddie Hubbard, and Stanley Clarke; he also has recorded for hundreds of movies and television shows including The Family Guy orchestra.

And finally, work continues for Ventura Music Week; mark it on your calendar now for June 6 – June 15th with the official kickoff party on Thursday, June 5; details coming soon.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing?  Send all information short or long to  Pam@VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Photos: May 2014

Music in Ventura
Amigos – May 25, 2014
Cougar Estrada – The Lounge Trio
The Lounge Trio


Squashed Grapes – May 24, 2014
Tom Buckner & the Ventura Connection w/ special guest Theo Saunders
Tom Buckner and the Ventura Connection


Squashed Grapes – May 24, 2014
TreCoustics
TreCoustics


Discovery Ventura – May 23, 2014
Wailing Souls
Wailing Souls


Squashed Grapes – May 21, 2014
Skip Spiro’s Little BIG Band


Cafe Fiore – May 21, 2014
Big Adventure
0521_Big


Private Home – May 19, 2014
Zack
Zack


Squashed Grapes – May 17, 2014
Donna Deussen & the Paul Weitz Trio
Donna Deussen & Paul Weitz Trio


Pulse Drumming Drum Clinic – May 17, 2014
Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice


Yolie’s – May 16, 2014
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson


Gone West Cellars – May 16, 2014
National Cat
National Cat


W20 at the Watermark – May 15, 2014
Ventura Social Club
Ventura Social Club


Surf Brewery – May 13, 2014
Swing Cheese
Swing Cheese


Salzer’s Records – May 13, 2014
Keb Mo
Keb Mo


Squashed Grapes – May 10, 2014
Ventura Jazz Collective:  Pablo Plasencia, Trey O’Toole, Patrick Martin, Bill Bannister
Ventura Jazz Collective


Golden China – May 9, 2014
Angie’s Curse
Angie's Curse


Bombay Bar and Grill – May 9, 2014
sleepercub
sleepercub


Bombay Bar and Grill – May 9, 2014
Taylor Rae
Taylor Rae


Green Art People – May 6, 2014
Jonathan and Nathan McEuen
Jonathan and Nathan McEuen


Amigo’s Surf Cantina – May 5, 2014
Los Dudes
Los Dudes


Ventura Beach Festival – May 3, 2014
Martha Davis and The Motels
Martha Davis and the Motels


Ventura Beach Festival – May 3, 2014
The Surfaris
The Surfaris


Ventura Beach Festival – May 3, 2014
Rey Fresco
Rey FrescoRey Fresco


Ventura Beach Festival – May 3, 2014
Spencer the Gardener
Spencer the Gardener


Ventura Beach Festival – May 3, 2014
Dirty Rice
Dirty Rice


Squashed Grapes – May 1, 2014
Emmy Award Winner Chieli Minucci and Special EFX
Chieli Minucci and Special EFX