Cirith Ungol

Cirith Ungol photoCirith Ungol will be winding down their careers on a high note this next year.
By: Pam Baumgardner

Ventura is full of musicians who live and breath music. It’s one of the reasons I love this town so much. One of those bands is Cirith Ungol whose history sounds like a rock opera, and if I didn’t know Robert Garven (drummer) personally, I would have laid money that their story was pure fiction.
From practicing in a bedroom here in Ventura in the 70s to playing arena festivals in Europe, it truly is an inspiring story. And though the point of this article isn’t to provide their history (I hope a book and/or movie will be in the works), the point is to pay homage to Cirith Ungol who will be winding down their careers on a high note this next year.
In 1992, after releasing four albums, a number of band personnel changes, and frustrations with the industry, the stress took its toll, and the band officially called it quits. Then in 1998, co-founder, Jerry Fogle died of liver failure. There would be calls for the band to reunite, requests for interviews, and a growing fan base in Europe, but the two remaining core members, Garven and Tim Baker had become “civilians” working their normal jobs and living uncomplicated lives for just about twenty-five years. Then in 2015, Garven, Baker, former guitarists Greg Lindstrom and Jimmy Barraza got together and started to play in a rehearsal space where I’m told, the magic was rediscovered. After bassist Flint declined to rejoin, Jarvis Leatherby of Night Demon (huge fan of the band), stepped in.
Then 2016 Cirith Ungol headlined the Frost and Fire II festival at the Majestic Ventura Theater. I was there that night and the packed house of metal fans from around the world cheered and welcomed back the band with open arms. In Garven’s words, “When the ancient stars aligned, Cirith Ungol crawled out of its ancient slumber, to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world.” Two days later, the City of Ventura declared October 10, 2016 to be Cirith Ungol Day.

Fast forward to today, after playing metal festivals in Europe to packed stadiums and venues, Cirith Ungol has announced they will retire from live performances at the end of 2024.
Cirith Ungol will release their sixth full-length album, Dark Parade this month via Metal Blade Records and will play a special record release show on October 20 at the Roxy in West Hollywood. Not only will this be the bands first Los Angeles live performance in thirty-five years, but it will commemorate The Roxy’s 50th anniversary with the band playing their new release in its entirety followed by a full set of their classic material.
I can’t imagine what a thrill it has been since reuniting and playing to packed crowds, but it couldn’t have happened to a better group of guys. Congratulations Cirith Ungol!

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 3/14 – 3/27

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

You won’t want to miss the return of the Preachers Blues Band when they reunite for Thomas Fire relief show at the Hong Kong Inn on Saturday, March 17. It’s been almost five years and it may not happen again for who knows how long! I’m hearing many musicians who have sat in with the band in the past are on board to perform too including Rick Reeves, Guy Martin, Ashford Gordon, Ray Jaurique, Preston Smith, Kelly Zirbes, Perry Robertson, Glade Rassmussen, John Fincham, Jerry Breiner, Ian McFadyen, Jodi Farrell and more!

A popular event every year as a precursor to the Ventura Music Festival is the Student Jazz competition. Judges will award cash prizes to three of Southern California’s best high school jazz musicians and they’ll be invited to perform during the Festival’s run. The competition this year will be held at Squashed Grapes on Sunday, March 18, at 2 pm. While this one is free, donations for the Young Artists Fund will be gratefully appreciated.

Beware the bagpipers throughout the day at different venues on Saturday, March 17, but as St. Patrick’s Day actually falls on a Saturday, there will also be plenty of music during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Main Street downtown Ventura. Get the entire family there early so you can get a good seat to cheer on the participating entrees. It’s always a hoot!

Quick notes: Opera Santa Barbara is offering a free performance on Friday, March 16 during the lunch hour at EP Foster Library; Donavon Frankenreiter plays Discovery on Friday, March 16; The Galactic Polecats play Sans Souci on Saturday, March 17;
Cranberry Sauce debuts at Grapes and Hops on Sunday, March 18, offering music by The Beatles; The Majestic Ventura Theater has Flogging Molly on Monday, March 19, and Ministry on Friday, March 23; The Phantom Pomps CD release party at the Hong Kong Inn is on Saturday, March 24; Tickets for Frost and Fire IV have gone on sale for three nights at the Ventura Theater October 4, 5 and 6th with Cirith Ungol, Gygax, Night Demon, Screamer and more on the bill; the Ventura County Concert band holds one of their annual free shows at the Ventura High School Auditorium on Sunday afternoon, March 18, at 3 pm, this one is called “Simply…the Masters”; and ARC of Ventura is holding their annual “Let’s Go Out” event at Bombay’s on Sunday, March 24, with Fish Fry, the Vonettes and Seth Pettersen and Friends.

And finally, VenturaRocks.com is celebrating their 9th anniversary serving the community. There are a number of changes coming soon including the listing of only live music along with the inclusion of venues from neighboring cities.

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 10/12-10/25

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Ebbs and Flows of our Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

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Nobody likes change, especially when it involves the closing of another venue which offered live music. I’ll admit to my disappointment; especially when walking by Saturday night and not hearing upbeat live music from W20 at the Watermark. I wanted to berate Hartley for letting us down, but you know, he and Kathy sort of deserve less stress in their lives. It would have made the blow easier knowing the new tenants would carry on with live music, but alas, it doesn’t appear they will. I’m trusting the other venues in town to pick up the slack and help out the bands scrambling to find places to play. I always say there are ebbs and flows with Ventura’s music scene. Guess which one we’re in.

Doing his best to pick up the slack of course is Mike Toler just around the corner from W20 at Amigos. He’s got a nice line up of music scheduled including Mi6 on Sunday October 23d. He told me that he’s looking forward to the return of his friend Wes Nile and Mi6. He said, “The last time we had them at Amigos they really brought it with something I had not seen before. Imagine listening to a DJ but the DJ was being replaced by a band, and unless you were in front of the band, you wouldn’t know the difference!”

I’m glad I was able to witness the return of Cirith Ungol at the Ventura Theater during the Frost and Fire II fest. The City of Ventura was scheduled to recognize their reuniting after 25 years at the City Council meeting on Monday the 10th. I’ve heard European dates will be coming up for them in 2017.

SteampunkFest will be held at the Heritage Square in Oxnard on October 15th and 16th. The event is being touted as kid friendly with wacky events all day. Some of the bands scheduled include 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Abby and the Myth, Cirque Des Betes, and of course the Velveteen Band. For more information and ticket prices, check out www.OxnardSteamPunkFest.com.

I’m hearing good things about the band, Big Jesus, an alt-rock band out of Atlanta, GA, who will be coming to town this month. They’ve been getting a lot of good coverage for their latest release; Rolling Stone Magazine praised them for “reviving 90’s alternative” which happens to my favorite era of music. Actually the entire week at the Ventura Theater will be rockin’ with Yellowcard on the 19th, Garbage on the 20th, Ben Folds on the 21st, Common Kings on the 22nd and wrapping up the week will be Big Jesus opening for Good Charlotte on Sunday the 23rd.

And finally, happy anniversary to Sheldon and the staff of the Ventura Breeze. I would like to personally thank Sheldon for supporting Ventura’s music scene by devoting a full page to its coverage.

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 2016

Grapes and Hops – October 30,2016
Paul Mars Black
Paul Mars Black


Majestic Ventura Theater – October 19, 2016
Yellowcard – The Final World Tour
Yellowcard


Duke’s – October 16, 2016
Rin Kon Kiki – Photo Credit Kim from Pulse Drumming
Rin Kon Kiki


Majestic Ventura Theater – October 8, 2016
Frost and Fire II – Cirith Ungol
Cirith UngolCirith UngolCirith Ungol


Squashed Grapes – October 8, 2016
The Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carey from TOOL
The Doug Webb Group


Majestic Ventura Theater – October 4, 2016
Jackson Browne – photo credit Albert Munoz
Jackson Browne

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/14 – 10/27

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Erin Go Bragh!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The Highland Way
The Seaside Highland Games came and went taking those gorgeous men and beautiful women in kilts with them. I stopped in to check out the Celtic music and I wasn’t disappointed; crowd favorites were The Angry Brians, Tannahill Weavers and Highland Way, I’m certainly looking forward to next year’s event and may even be bold enough to try haggis, but probably not.

Congratulations to Plan B Wine Cellars on their 3rd anniversary!  They partied in fine form with Jen Staves and the Bluzfish on Sunday, October 11.

Local hip hop artist, Michael Crawford drops his new album “Escape Artist” on October 16 with a CD release party at the Tavern. I was sent an advance copy and yeah, the man’s got talent.

Frost and Fire, a heavy metal festival will take over Bombay’s on October 17th with such bands as Manilla Road from Wichita, KS, Ashbury from Tucson, AZ our very own Night Demon over a half dozen more bands. There will also be a meet and greet with Tim Baker and Robert Garven of Cirith Ungol. Doors open at 4:30 pm.

Mike Toler is the official new owner of Amigos and he’s brought in his good friend Luke O’Dea to help out with booking bands, promotion and social media. I’ve been assured they plan to offer a variety bands 365 days a year. It’s all good news with the exception of losing Bernadette who will be returning to England this month. Mike is throwing her a farewell party on Saturday, October 17, so swing by to say goodbye and wish her well.

Three-time Grammy winner Tom Scott returns to Squashed Grapes October 24, and it will be another first for the Grape when they offer two seatings in one night. Both are only $10 with 7 and 9 pm show times.

Oh! And I have to share about the extraordinary night recently at Squashed Grapes when Bruce Forman performed the Red Guitar.  The place was at capacity, and you literally could have heard a pin drop the audience was so captivated. The second set Forman brought up his special guest whom he had teased earlier on social media stating he couldn’t say who it was for “contractual reasons.”  Well it turned out to be Tierney Sutton who sang requests the entire second set.  Five time Grammy nominated and the 2005 Jazzweek Vocalist of the year, Sutton heads up the Tierney Sutton Band  who have headlined the Hollywood Bowl, the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Yeah, it was intense and a privilege to witness.

And finally, don’t forget Kiefer Sutherland will be at W20 at the Watermark on Friday, October 23.  Ten-dollar tickets will be available the night of the show. Doors open at 7 pm.

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 .