Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze June 8 – June 21

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
“Music and the Arts”
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Good Vibrations: A Harmony of Art & Music at Very Ventura.

Good Vibrations: A Harmony of Art & Music at Very Ventura.

Very Ventura is one of the coolest stores in town featuring local vendors. It’s also where you’ll find the Ventura Rocks Music Listening Station which offers recorded music from local musicians. They have a gorgeous gallery towards the back of the store called Gallery V which will host a new exhibit called “Good Vibrations: A Harmony of Art & Music” on June 18th which will run through July 24. Xavier Montes will perform at the opening reception. I’m especially looking forward to seeing the works from one of my favorite rock photographers, Cliff Montgomery; you might have seen his work up at Bombay’s.

Surf Brewery will be celebrating their 5th anniversary with a party in the parking lot all day long featuring live music including Raging Arb and the Redheads, The Slider, Tom Loughman Band and more. Make your plans to join in the fun on Saturday, June 18; the music runs 2-7 pm. They’ll have several specials and are hoping to raise funds for the Notes for Notes program at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Ventura.

Reggae returns to the Tree House at Café Fiore on Sundays now through Labor Day. Catch bands like the Babylon Rockers, Jahmark & the Soulshakers, and Casey Jones & the Reggae Train. Music kicks off at 6 pm.

Watermark has extended their live music to include Thursday evenings 7-9 pm with more of an easy listening vibe including artists such as Karen Eden, Coso, Jade Hendrix and others.

The Ventura premiere of the Rachel Flowers documentary by Lorenzo DeStefano entitled, “Hearing is Believing” will be shown at the Century Theater on June 9; Rachel will be performing at Squashed Grapes on Saturday, June 18.

And speaking of locally produced documentaries, I caught Rain Perry’s new film, “The Shopkeeper”; it’s an amazing piece of work which gives a better understanding of the struggles musicians face. It’s evolves around the life of music producer Mark Hallman, but covers the more important aspect of the evolving music industry and asks the question, “Everybody can make a record, but nobody can make a living. Is there a problem with that?” The film is an excellent platform for starting that dialogue not only with musicians, but with music lovers and our responsibility when it comes to supporting artists. The film will be available eventually on iTunes and Hulu. You can find a Q&A with Rain Perry at VenturaRocks.com.

And finally, by the time we go to press the next episode of Ventura Rocks at CAPS Media featuring Shaky Feelin’ should be up and available on the Ventura Rocks and CAPS Media You Tube channels. The band was super fun to work with and I think an excellent representation of what Ventura’s music scene is all about.

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.

Album Review: Bloody Mary Morning

That Girl
Review by Pam Baumgardner

That GirlThis band has been around for many years packing in the joints they played, but then in the late 90’s tragedy struck when drummer Ephraim Ashton died in a car accident.  Soon after, members tried out different versions of BMM, they started up or joined different bands (Big Dictator,  Dave Rea, Dr. M, Loudmouth Soup, The Pits…) and of course they’ve worked on their day jobs and raising their perspective families.  Three years ago BMM reunited for a show at Bombay’s, they were writing music again, and this time they were just in it for the fun and again, they’re finding Ventura supporting them.

The thing about Bloody Mary Morning is that they write solid songs that engage you right off the get-go.  They’re fun, catchy, energetic and memorable…pretty much like their live shows.  I love that the band didn’t overproduce their songs making them sound sterile or lifeless.  There’s an edge, it’s a tad rough with the vocals push it making the LP sound just a tad punk for the rock genre that is Bloody Mary Morning.

The guys in the band are about as nice and talented as you’ll find here in Ventura.  They are what is right about Ventura’s music scene.  These guys rock and the new CD does as well.  Pick it up, you won’t be disappointed.

Here now a sample of some of my favorite tracks:

Sunshine:


That Girl:


Candles:

And just a side note:  I’ll admit the cover artwork reminded of something I couldn’t quite but my finger on.  But then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  HA!  Ingenious!!

Bloody Mary Morning – That Girl
Found in VERY VENTURA on California Street, Downtown Ventura.
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Kelly Turner – Bass
Chad Turner – Vocals
Ryan Denger – Guitar
Ray Stoynoff – Drums

All songs were written by Bloody Mary Morning and recorded at Brotheryn Studios by Jason Mariani.  Jessie Siebenberg, Dave Rea and John Young contributed as well.

Sounds like:  Foo Fighters, Wilco, Weezer, Kings of Leon, Eagles.
Sources:  Bill Locey article in the VC Star; liner notes, official website.
Bloody Mary Morning Bloody Mary Morning