Tag Archives: Mike Garson

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze – 4/12 – 4/25

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

This year’s California Jazz & Wine Fest was another sold-out success; it was held Sunday, April 9, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village. The event helped to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Conejo Valley. The music was exceptional, headlining was The Danny Janklow Quintet; other bands of note included the Lao Tizer Quartet, Bruce Forman’s Cow Bop, and Ventura’s own, The Barrelhouse Wailers.

Keeping with jazz, don’t miss Mike Garson (Bowie, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins) when he returns to Squashed Grapes bringing with him this time, Emmy and Grammy nominated Gaby Moreno on Thursday, April 13; Paul McCallum and Friends return on Saturday, April 15; and Gary Herbig (Harry James, Elvis, Tower of Power) and Bill Spoke Quintet be in the house on April 19.

Our local artists have been busy producing new music.  Hot off the presses is the latest CD from Hot Roux called Hometown Blues.  You can pick up a copy when Hi Hat Entertainment hosts their CD release party on Friday, April 21, at the Hong Kong Inn. You won’t want to miss this one as the band will feature not only lead man Jerry McWorter, but Ed Berghoff, Brent Harding, Jimmy Calire and Bill Flores.

Congratulations to local musician Travis Greer for landing a gig on the highly popular Criminal Minds television show on CBS.  He’s well-known for his improv work here in town as well as playing with the Los Dudes.

Eric Burdon joined Robby Krieger of the Doors for “Roadhouse Blues,” Saturday, April 8, at Libby Bowl. They then played “House of the Rising Sun” from The Animals. Tommy Marsh’s Crooked Eye Tommy warmed up the crowd.

The next One’s to Watch Productions will be held Wednesday, April 19, at the Plaza Playhouse in Carpinteria with Matt Duke, Jay Nash, Tony Lucca and Tim Curran. You can get tickets at OnesToWatchProductions.com.

I caught up with Ross Emery of Roadshow Revival as he ramps up for this year’s show.  It’s going to look a lot different this time around with the whole event being held on one day and at Discovery Ventura, but he told me who the headliner is, and I promised not to tell until May 1st, but between you and me, I’m pretty jazzed about it.  Watch for social media news, and get your tickets now!

Here’s a couple of one-liner notes of interest:  Jade Hendrix will be opening for Berlin when they play the Libbey Bowl April 22; Face to Face will be at Discovery on May 7 with Bad Cop/Bad Cop opening; Paddy’s is celebrating their 23rd anniversary on April 21st with DJ Pat Harper who will be playing classic house music; the Ventura County Spring Fair will be held at the Fairgrounds April 14 – 16 with carnival rides, petting zoo and music from The Velveteen Band; and finally, I’m looking forward to hearing new music from 8Stops7, they just signed with Wendigo Records and will be back in the studio in July.

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 Music Photos – February 2017

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Bombay Bar and Grill – February 19, 2017
CASH BASH
The Mighty Cash Cats with Jade Hendrix (Photo: Cliff Montgomery)

Grapes and Hops – February 16, 2017
Jeff Silbar and Suzie Candell 

Bombay Bar and Grill – February 11, 2017
Yachtley Crew

Squashed Grapes – February 9, 2017
Mike Garson (Bowie, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins), Dave Liebman (NEA Jazz Masters Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Endowment for the Arts)
with special guest appearance Jacob Scesney

Discovery – February 4, 2017
The Band That Fell to Earth (Bowie Tribute)

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze – 2/1 – 2/14

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Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
Bringing on the Blues, Jazz and more…
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The line-up at Squashed Grape is getting hotter and hotter as we get further into 2017.  Karl Hunter (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy) and friends return on Thursday February 2 with his band mPhaka; Bobby West (Wynton Marsalis, R.Kelly, Smokey Robinson) returns on Saturday, February 4; it will be a night of hot jazz with the international jazz manouche and Balkan music band Het Hat Club with Laura Lackey on vocals Wednesday, February 8; and Mike Garson (Bowie) and David Liebman (Miles Davis, Chic Corea) return on Thursday February 9.  If you were there the last time Garson played, then you too were blown away when Garson played “A Space Oddity” on the piano.

Discovery has several noteworthy shows lined up including Shaky Feelin’ on February 3; a Bowie tribute band, The Band that Feel to Earth on the 4th; several local musicians will be on hand to honor the late great reggae artist on Bob Marley day, February 9; the Hubcap Stealers will be there on the 10th; and finally, a Black Sabbath tribute band on Saturday, February 11. Go to the Discovery’s website for tickets and times as they vary.

As you probably know, there’s a wonderful Blues community supporting this genre of music and nobody does a better job at bringing notable Blues artists to town than Hi Hat Entertainment. You’ll want to mark down on your calendar that following dates: Friday, February 3, it’s James Intveld; February 10th, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps; Carl Sonny Leyland’s on Friday, February 17; Alastair Greene & Deanna Bogart on Friday, February 24; and a special show on Sunday, February 26 with Karen Lovely with Lisa Mann & Ben Rice. Get the lowdown at HiHatEntertainment.com. All Hat Hi shows are at the Hong Kong Inn where you’ll find one more concert to add to your calendar, RJ Mischo has a special blues party on Saturday, February 4 with Hashbrown, Fred Kaplan, Rick Reed and Johnny Morgan. All shows start at 8; covers vary.

Topa Topa Brewery launches their open mic night February 1 and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. Signups at 6 and it runs 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

The legendary David Nigel Lloyd is reuniting after 30 years with Jonathan Mako Sharkey for a special performance on Saturday, February 11. Nigel Lloyd, one of the pre-eminent Acid Folk performers in the world will hold a songwriting workshop at 6 pm, then he’ll join up with Sharkey (musician and Port Hueneme Councilman) for a concert at the Loft in Camarillo.

And finally, CAPS Media is launching a low-powered FM station here in Ventura and it’s schedule to launch in mid-February. I’ll be hosting a weekly hour-long program highlighting independent artists including local artists from the area, and artists who have played in town. I’ll let you know when we’re live and on air at 104.1 FM.

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 Music Photos: November 2015

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Amigo’s Surf Cantina – November 28, 2015
With the Dive Bar Messiahs REPRESENTING!
DBM

Ventura Beach Club – Novembre 28, 2015
Raging Arb and the Redheads & Spencer the Gardener

Majestic Ventura Theater – November 22, 2015
Everclear
Everclear

Squashed Grapes – November 14, 2015
The Doug Webb Group
151114_SG_DougWebbDoug Webb (horns) has recorded with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Quincy Jones, and dozens of others. He played with the house band for the Dennis Miller Show and continues to tour witht he Doc Severinsen orchestera. He’s recorded music for hundreds of TV shows and movies such as Mysitc River and Million Dollar Baby including the saxophone of Lisa in the The Simpsons.
Jimmy Earl (bass) has performed nightly on Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003. He’s worked with Chick Corea, Robben Ford, and dozens of other artists.
Steve Fister (guitar) has performed and recorded with the likes of Bon Jovi, Lita Ford, Pat Travers, Joe Satriani and more.
Danny Carey (drums) from Tool. Enough said.
But this past week Webb brought in Mike Garson who has played with the Smashing Pumpkins, NiN, and David Bowie to name a few. You know the piano on Young Americans by Bowie? That’s Garson.
The night was electrifying to say the least.

The Hong Kong Inn – November 8, 2015
Ashford Gordon Blues Jam
1108_HongKong_Ashford

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 11/11 – 11/24

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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.