Ventura Music Scene
Ventura Summer One for the Books
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Who called it?  Yeah you got that right. I did when I speculated that the Doug Webb Group would be another one for the books because they absolutely killed it at Squashed Grapes Saturday, August 26 with special guest Danny Carey of Tool on drums.   Carey told me that he doesn’t frequent Ventura all too often, but he recollected playing the Ventura Theater with Tool, and of course visiting his bud Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons) who lives nearby.  He clearly was having a great time navigating through the jazz pieces Doug Webb had selected for the evening and even if I do say so myself, he nailed it. Carey goes out on tour with Primus next.  Webb of course is no stranger to the Grape, and it’s always a treat to have the guy who plays the saxophone of Lisa on The Simpsons in the house.  Plus having played with Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Quincy Jones, and others to name but a few, is nothing to sneeze at. The house was comfortable sold out to capacity with a number of fans outside hoping to get a glimpse of Carey, and as the drummer is seated directly next to the front window, they weren’t disappointed.

And though school is back in session, Summer is far from over with several key events to look forward to including the Ventura Beach Party on September 6 and 7 down at the pier which has music both days and a Marathon which is a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.  The following weekend, also down along the promenade is the Aloha Festival on the 13 and 14 with Dirty Rice performing on Saturday.   And then of course the ever popular California Beer Festival September 20 and 21 with Sunday featuring some killer blues acts such as Tab Benoit, Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, and Michael John & the Bottom Line.

Look for the annual Key to the Highway Blues Benefit for Khepera House Rehab and Recovery program at Bombay’s on Sunday, September 7 with Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog, Brian Batchley & Friends, Guy Martin and 50 Sticks of Dynamite.  I’m also hearing there will be special guests showing up including Kelly Zires and Perry Robertson of Kelly’s Lot.  Kphepera House has been helping drug addicts and alcoholics and their family in Ventura County for over 30 years.

The White Buffalo was no stranger to Zoey’s and he even headlined Polly’s benefit last year; but now he’s stepping it up a notch (or five) with his appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show August 27  and he’ll be headlining the Ventura Theater on September 20 in support of his most recent release, Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways.

And finally,on a very sad note, it is with a heavy heart we learned of the passing of Dan Wilson over the Labor Day weekend.  Ventura’s music community has lost a true gem.

This is a good time to give a gentle reminder to ALL musicians, fans, and media who support Ventura’s music scene:  we’re all in this together.   Enough said.

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