Tag Archives: VenturaRocks.com

Top Ten Gift Ideas

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The holidays are fast approaching and maybe you’re like my friend Lynn who finished shopping for perfect gifts months ago, or like me, you are still psyching yourself up to hit the shopping centers dreading the hordes of people, long lines and canned Christmas music.  Before you contemplate slipping into body armor, I have an idea!  (And if you know me you know what I’m about to say) Give the gift of music!  I’ve put together a list of a few artists who call the 805 their home or play in the area regularly.

  • White BuffaloThe White Buffalo’s latest release “Shadows Grey & Evil Ways” is deep, powerful, hypnotic. If you’re an avid fan of the popular biker saga Son’s of Anarchy you’ll recognize The Buffalo’s songs/voice woven beautifully into the storyline. Genre: Americana/Folk   www.thewhitebuffalo.com
  • Shane AlexanderShane Alexander  A voice blessed by the Gods along with amazing guitar work his newest effort “ Ladera“ will want you pressing repeat again and again. Genre: Folk/Pop/Rock www.shanealexandermusic.com
  • Delaney GibsonDelaney Gibson’s 3rd full length album “Tall Like the Tree” reflects her growth since moving out of Ventura and maturing through experiences in life and love.  Fans still get the satisfaction of her soaring vocals but with the added bonus of a fully formed lyricist. Genre: Pop/Theatrical  www.delaneygibson.com
  • john fullbrightJohn Fullbright’s first record was Grammy nominated and rightly so.  A brilliant songwriter we are waiting with bated breath for new stuff ‘cause we can’t get enough.  Until then “From the Ground Up” will do nicely. Genre Americana/Folk www.johnfullbrightmusic.com
  • Reverend Tall Tree Reverend Tall Tree & the Blackstrap Brothers, AKA Chris Pierce’s newest musical project, has finally recorded their soul stomping sounds. The self-titled album is in limited release. Snap them up quick.  Genre: Driving Blues/Gospel/Howling harmonica www.reverendtalltree.com
  • LissieLissie – On a world-wide tour in support of her newest record “Back to Forever”, smoky, explosive vocals, crazy-amazing hooks, Lissie harkens comparisons to Janis. But know this – she is absolutely her own woman.  Genre: Rock/Pop/Folk   www.lissie.com
  • Milk Carton KidsThe Milk Carton Kids – Joey Ryan & Kenneth Pattengale were solo artists who then joined forces a short three years ago and are conquering, bludgeoning, slaying the Americana world.  Zoey’s was honored to have been a part of their very first live recording “Retrospect “.  Pick that up along with “Prologue” and their latest “The Ash and Clay.” You’ll thank me later.  Genre: Folk/Americana   www.themilkcartonkids.com
  • Brian WrightBrian Wright thoughtfully weaves imaginative tales of pain, love and woe. Close your eyes and enjoy the ride of “Rattle Their Chains” Genre: Americana/Rock-n-Roll www.brianwrightmusic.com
  • MassengerMassenger. The ultimate Ventura Indie band their record “Massenger” is all things good about Ventura beach life. With the able bodied vocalist Sasha Green and support by Seth Pettersen this is a gem. Genre: Surf/punk/pop/rock www.massenger.bandcamp.com/
  • 50 Sticks of Dynamite50 Sticks of Dynamite – A fan of their live shows we do have to recognize the hardest working band in the city and their latest record “Love, Dream, Truth, Love”.  If only for the fact that lead singer Ian MacFadyen plays electric banjo! Genre: Banjo fueled Rock N Roll.  www.50sticks.com

Ventura Rocks Welcomes Polly Hoganson

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December 2013 – VenturaRocks.com welcomes Polly Hoganson on board as a staff columnist!!!

As you know, Polly and Steve ran Zoey’s and were pivotal in helping so many artists launch their careers, giving them a safe place to play as well as bringing national acts to town.  Ventura’s music scene would not be where it is today without them.  But now with Zoey’s behind them, Polly still believes in our music community more than ever and so we are proud to be able to provide a platform for Polly to stay connected to this amazing music scene.

We look forward to her column and reading advice for artists as well as insights for fans.

Photo by Gene Dunn

Polly & Meiko
Photo by Gene Dunn

Mario Calire and Friends at W20

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Ventura’s music scene got just a tad cooler when Mario Calire and a couple of his Ozomatli bandmates and other good friends got together for a Thursday night show (Nov. 21, 2013) at W20 at the Watermark.  The night was amazing.  The boys put on one hell of a show!

 

Ventura Rocks in Ventura Breeze – 11/13/13 – 11/26/13

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The Music Scene
Around Town
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Sunday afternoons at the Ventura Harbor just got better for the month of November with “Wine, Dine and Jazz”. Every Sunday, noon to 3:00, live jazz can be heard on the Village Carousel Stage. Participating venues will offer up wine and food specials while patrons get to enjoy jazz out on the grass. Still to come are the Toni Jannotta Jazz Duo on 11/17, and Justin Claveria Jazz Trio on 11/24.

Rockabilly legend, Wanda Jackson, and a psychobilly band from Denmark, Nekormantix, hit the Majestic Ventura Theater on November 24 with local bands supporting the bill including Hard Six who have been called, “the ultimate party band” by members of the Dead Kennedys and have collectively opened for such acts as The Black Eyed Peas, Sponge and Veruca Salt. Also supporting the bill are Radio Threat, The Graveyard Kings and The Cursed Bastards.

After their amazing debut performance at Squashed Grapes, Jazz Punks will be returning to Ventura for a show at Amigos on Friday, November 15. You got to trust me on this, they are off the hook!!! Don’t miss it. And as always, no cover at Amigos on Main, but you’ll want to bring some extra cash for dinner/drinks and to get your own Jazz Punks CD and t-shirt.

The 13th annual 4Kids2Kids Toy Run and BBQ will be held on Nov 23rd at The House of Magic. Grand Marshals are Nick St. Nicolas (Steppenwolf) and Mickey Jones (drummer for Trini Lopez, Johnny Rivers, Dylan). Local musicians will be dropping by all day for Nick St. Nicolas all-star band. See www.VenturaRocks.com for more information and flyer.

The Winter Wine Walk is one of those annual events where they shut down portions of downtown Ventura and the town really comes out to mingle with family and friends while visiting participating venues. Snow will be falling on Main Street and music will be provided by Orlando Napier, The British Beat Band and The Bomb. This event, December 7, traditionally sells out ahead of time, so don’t miss out! www.VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

Local favorites Shaky Feelin’ have released their second CD called “Shaky Feelin’ Live at Green Art People.” If you know and love the band, trust me, this CD captures the band live at their finest. Plus, they’ll make lovely stocking stuffers for Christmas. Just saying.

And finally, even though Zoey’s may have closed their doors, you have to love Steve and Polly for seeing through this year’s Ones to Watch. They put out feelers for a venue to hold this important event and immediately Jim Rice, Executive Director for Bell Arts, stepped up. “I have been a long time fan of Zoey’s and how they really honor musicians,” Rice explained. “When I heard they needed a venue for The Ones to Watch I thought we might provide the same type of atmosphere and attitude towards singer songwriters.” The Ones to Watch will be held at Bell Arts on Saturday, November 23. Finalists are Alicia Murphy, Max Kasch, Mitchell Blake, Derek Jennings, Grace Fellows, Anita Coats, Gabby Sol, and John Ash.

Eve Mimiaga’s Departure

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Pam and Eve

My business partner Eve Mimiaga gave me her notice that she could no longer work on VenturaRocks.com.  It broke my heart, but I completely understand.  She gave me to the end of November.

When I approached Eve, over five years ago about this venture, she didn’t think twice about jumping in.  She was 100% on board about our Mission Statement:

Our Mission is to help stimulate the economy in our favorite city in the whole wide world by promoting venues who offer music and to promote the artists who live in and around Ventura as well as those who travel here to play.
We want to inspire people to get out and support Ventura’s music scene.
We promise never to charge the venues or the artist to be listed on VenturaRocks.com.

That’s a pretty cool endeavor.

We’ve had a blast working together going out supporting shows and becoming friends with so many venue owners and artists.

But there is a cost, monetarily, physically and mentally.  We have not made a dime off of VenturaRocks.com to date.  We’ve sold a lot of t-shirts, but those sales have not covered the cost of producing them yet.  So, no, we have nothing to show, but the fruits of our labor, a more vibrant music scene. We have paid for everything out of our own pockets, which neither of us is complaining about, we’ve been happy to do it.  But the strain of every single week compiling information from venues and bands has taken its toll on Eve.

She has had to continue to badger certain venues for their music listings, sometimes driving there to speak to some new employee who could care less about the music and who has never heard of VenturaRocks.com.   Your first response might be, “Screw them!  Don’t list them.” But we want to be the source for people who want to hear music.  So we have to cover everyone, whether the venues care or not.  I feel her frustration.  And I’m going to know it more intimately as she hands over all her notes and contacts so I can take it over.  But more than anything, Eve would like to be able to relax and not deal with the strain of a deadline twice a week.  She has earned a stress-free life.

I love Eve dearly and we will continue to be best of Friends and we will continue to hang out and support shows.  Our families will continue to spend holidays together and I plan on growing old together, so don’t worry about our friendship.  It’s rock solid.

This blog post is about validation for Eve.  Her selfless contribution to Ventura’s music scene is appreciated.  Ventura Rocks even more because of her.

Deep Pockets at Wine Dine & Jazz

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The Ventura Harbor is trying something new called Wine Dine & Jazz on Sunday afternoons in November with participating merchants offering up wine and food specials while patrons get to enjoy some amazing jazz out on the Village Carousel Stage.
The first Sunday in November they offered up one of our favorites, Deep Pockets.  Still to come: Jon Stanger Jazz Duo on 11/10, Toni Jannotta Jazz Duo on 11/17, and Justin Claveria Jazz Trio on 11/24.

Blues at the Beach – 2013

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BATB_Misc_003We can’t imagine there won’t be more future events like this because Blues at the Beach was a huge success!  Players Casino, Roadshow Revival and Totally Local VC teamed up to bring a Blues festival to Ventura County and they pulled it off to a big win on November 2, 2013.
All the acts on the bill were outstanding with the 44’s opening, then the R&B Bombers, Guy Martin, Shawn Jones, James Harmon, The Mannish Boys and Elvin Bishop.  Extra added treat was Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds joining both The Mannish Boys & Elvin Bishop for a number of songs.
We hope you enjoy some of the photos we took:

Headliner: Elvin Bishop


The Mannish Boys

James Harmon

 

Shawn Jones

Guy Martin

The R&B Bombers

See you next year!

Jonny Reese of Amigos and Pam Baumgardner of VenturaRocks.com

Jonny Reese of Amigos and Pam Baumgardner of VenturaRocks.com

 

 

Album Review – 50 Sticks of Dynamite

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Love Dream Truth Love
By Pam Baumgardner

Love Dream Truth Love

Love Dream Truth Love

One of the coolest things about Ventura’s music scene is that you really get to know the bands and the more you go out to support their shows, the more you get to know their original songs, so it’s always a treat when one of our local favorites comes out with a CD to enjoy on your own time.

I’m a huge 50 Sticks fan.  But here’s the funny thing, there are a handful of instruments I can normally do without, such as the accordion or the bagpipe, and I use to add the banjo in there; I use to equate the banjo with the old school TV show, “Hee Haw”, but then I had seen a number of performances by Steve Martin which just floored me.  So I’ve developed a respect for banjo playing over the years, and with a more open mind, I was primed to fully embrace the banjo when I first saw Ian playing it during an early 50 Sticks show back at J’s (now Peirano’s) in early 2011.

The early days!

The early days!

This ain’t no bluegrass band, and it ain’t no country jam band.  This is straight-forward rock and roll.  The band describes their sound as banjo driven roots rock & blues.  Regardless, it’s the kind of music that inspires you to get off your ass and dance to their infectious tunes.

Ian McFayden

Ian McFayden

50 Sticks released their second album this year called, Love Dream Truth Love.  I’m completely jazzed to include in my private collection of local music songs like “Far Away,”  “For You,” and the title track “Love Dream.

“Far Away” reminds me of a classic movie or an old relationship which you can count on for getting much needed comfort.  It just feels right;  I love the line, “Yes I’m gonna find you baby and make your untamed heart my own” in the song, “For You.”  The tune seriously drives me to dance which is always a fun thing when you’re seat belted behind the wheel driving down the 101; The title track, “Love Dream Truth Love” is the quintessential rock anthem; and I love the harp on “What’s Next?”

The band is comprised of local musicians you’ve seen over the years in various
projects.  It’s extremely cool when you bring four guys together and it just clicks.

50 Sticks of Dynamite
Banjo: Ian McFadyen
Guitar and harmonica: Whitey Wingland
Bass: Michael Dominguez
Drums: Chris Jensen

And though I still prefer to see the boys play their tunes live, the CD will keep be satisfied until the next we meet.

www.50Sticks.com   
www.facebook.com/fiftysticks.ofdynamite

50 Sticks of Dynamite

8Stops7 at Billy O’s

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Monday Night Residency at Billy O’s October 2013.  Ventura’s music scene even ROCKS on Monday nights if you care to venture out!

Jazz Punks at Squashed Grapes

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The Jazz Punks made their Ventura debut this weekend at Squashed Grapes.
May I just say, OMIGOD!!!  These guys were off the hook!!  Melding traditional jazz with rock/punk favorites.  We’re talking the Clash, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin melded with jazz standards like Take Five, Take the “A” Train and No Blues.   UNFREAKIN’ BELIEVABLE!!!   Do not miss them the next time they roll through town!
www.jazzpunks.com/
Like them on Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/jazzpunks