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MUSIC
NEWS Viva Las Vargas! (5/14/08)
 Those
of you who know me or have been reading the Music News for some time, know
that I like birthdays - my own and everyone else's! I like to celebrate
birthdays for days or even weeks, and I love birthday parties! This weekend
is the STEVE VARGAS THREE-DAY BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA or
VIVA LAS VARGAS! starting with his rock band HORSES ON ASTROTURF at BAR TWIST on Friday
night, and concluding with his acoustic group NEW ASTROTURF at CAFE 322 on
Sunday afternoon. He'll get some time to rest on Saturday before I drag him
out to the Sierra Madre Art Fair, the St. Rita's Centennial Reception, Bar
Twist and the Buc! (Info. on all these events below.) If he doesn't make
it to work on Monday, the State of California will just have to muddle
through without him! Sorry Arnold.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE!!!
Tonite!!!
WED. 5/14 - MAX BUDA @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE,
8 - 11pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian
food. No cover, all ages.
Unique jazzy rock stuff from Chester & the
boys.
Tonite!!!
WED. 5/14 - DAVE GLEASON (Acoustic set) and THE
RUNNING KIND @ VIVA CANTINA IN BURBANK, 9pm. 900 Riverside Dr., next to the
L.A. Equestrian Center. 818-845-2425. Full bar & great Mexican food. No
cover. Americana/Country.
http://www.myspace.com/davegleasonmusic
THURS. 5/15 - DAVID
SERBY @ THE PIKE BAR IN LONG BEACH, 9pm. 1836 E. 4th St., one block west of
Cherry. 562-437-4453. Full bar and dinner 'til late. No cover.
Country/Americana.
http://www.myspace.com/thepike
http://www.davidserby.com/home.html
FRI. 5/16 - DAVE OSTI
@ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6 - 9pm Happy Hour.
311 W. Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. NO COVER. Full bar, limited food
menu. Solo Acoustic Guitar/Vocals.
http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/
FRI. 5/16 - OCHO X @ CHARCUTERIE IN
SIERRA MADRE, 6:30 - 9pm. 120 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. The newest restaurant
and music venue in town. Gourmet sandwiches, salads, imported beer/wine.
Indoor and outdoor seating. Latin influenced rock/jazz jams. The Sotelo
Brothers, Peter Burke on drums.
FRI. 5/16 - CHICO'S
BAIL BONDS doing their semi-acoustic thing @ THE DOCKSIDE GRILL RESTAURANT
IN WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474.
In the bar area, but you can order dinner there too. Full Bar. Blues.
http://chicosbailbondsblues.com/
FRI. 5/16 - HORSES ON
ASTROTURF @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm. 48 E. Huntington Dr.
626-254-1760. Full bar, awesome food! Classy place, nice ambience, NO
COVER, dance floor. Hillbilly Hippie Rock from Steve, Steve, John & Pete
(yes - Pete will be going straight from his Ocho X gig to do another shift
here! hmm, maybe I'll get a ride with him!)
Kicking off
Vargas'
Birthday Weekend!
http://www.myspace.com/horsesonastroturf
SAT. 5/17 - BARRY "BIG
B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro.
626-441-2443 . All ages. Saturday BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent.
http://www.bigbbrenner.com/
SAT. 5/17 - "MOTO 322" - CLASSIC CARS, HOT RODS, BIKES
OUTSIDE and live music with THE RODEO DRIVERS inside, 1 - 4pm. 322 W.
Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414.
Call first on this one -
the band's website says 5/24.
SAT. 5/17 - ST. RITA'S CHURCH CENTENNIAL MASS
AND RECEPTION, 5:30pm. Baldwin & Grandview in Sierra Madre. Cardinal
Mahony and all former living St. Rita's Priests will be participating in the
mass. Complimentary appetizers and beverages in O'Malley Hall immediately
following - approx. 7-7:30pm. All are invited to attend.
(Family trivia: our dog Tiny had the same birthday as
Father O'Malley!)
SAT. 5/17 - "SATURDAY NIGHT SMOKEOUT" @ MARY'S
MARKET & CAFE IN SIERRA MADRE CANYON, 6pm. 561 Woodland Ave.
626-355-4534.
OPEN MIC NIGHT - for anyone who wants to come
and play for 5 to 20 minutes. Food and drinks available for
purchase. ***A note of thanks to all who attended the fund raiser last Taco
Tuesday - it was a great success! Please continue to support this local
market and music venue.
SAT. 5/17 and SUN.
5/18 - SIERRA MADRE ART FAIR @ MEMORIAL PARK, SIERRA MADRE BLVD. & HERMOSA
AVE. Live Music in the Bandshell and on the South Lawn, including Stephanie
Bettman & The Boys, String Planet, Logan Coats, Ann Luke and more. For
info. and complete schedule, go to:
http://www.sierramadreartfair.com/
Thank you Charlie, for another fine line-up!
SAT. 5/17 - DIME BOX BAND and MURPHY'S FLAW @
SIERRA MADRE BOOKS, 7pm. 18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., downstairs in the cozy
living room. 626-836-3200. Bluegrass.
www.dimeboxband.com
http://www.sierramadrebooks.com/
SAT. 5/17 - DAVE
TRAVIS with MARK HEFFINGTON opening for I SEE HAWKS IN L.A @ GELENCSER HOUSE
CONCERTS IN CLAREMONT, 8pm. Reservations and directions: 909-596-1266. $15
donation. Country Rock/Roots Music.
www.gelencserhouseconcerts.com
SAT. 5/17 - THE FORTUNATE FEW @ THE
BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, pool table, free parking, 21 & over.
Blues, with John Washburn on harp.
myspace.com/fortunatefewblues
SAT. 5/17 - MERCY &
THE MERKETTES @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm. 48 E. Huntington Dr.
626-254-1760. Full bar, Lupe Mendoza's awesome food! Classy place, nice
ambience, NO COVER, dance floor. R&B, Disco, Rock, Motown, etc.
www.mercyandthemerkettes.com
SUN. 5/18 – THE 48th
ANNUAL TOPANGA BANJO-FIDDLE CONTEST and FOLK FESTIVAL IN AGOURA HILLS, 9am –
6pm. For complete line-up and info:
http://www.topangabanjofiddle.org/index.html
Some highlights, thanks to Paul Dorn:
Murphy's Flaw (with VinFizFlyer and
New Astroturf bass player Paul Dorn) is a contestant in the 9:30 - 12:30
slot.
Vin Fiz Flyer is a contestant in the
1 – 3pm slot.
Second Wind Bluegrass (with VFF
guitar player Donn Cunningham) is a contestant in the 1 – 3pm slot.
Simon Pure(with Murphy's Flaw
mandolin player Jarrett Lesko) plays the main stage at 5:10 to 5:40pm.
Fur Dixon and Steve Werner play on
the Railroad Stage from 12 - 1pm.
Stephanie Bettman is on the Railroad
Stage, 1 – 2pm
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Cancelled:
SUN. 5/18 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER
IS NOT DOING BRUNCH @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, as they
are having a private party.
SUN. 5/18 - Have lunch
with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra
Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food in a comfy
setting. Classic Country/Folk from Steve, Deanna, Pete and special guests
Danny on guitar and Tom on upright bass.
STEVE VARGAS' BIRTHDAY BASH!
SUN. 5/18 - "OPERA TO
BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm. 322 W. Sierra
Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday
evening. Get there early, as the place gets packed!
5/20 - "TACO TUESDAY" @ MARY'S MARKET & CAFE IN
SIERRA MADRE CANYON with ROADHOUSE RON, 6:30 - 8:30pm (Acoustic
guitar/vocals.) Opening act at 5:30 TBA. 561 Woodland Ave.
626-355-4534.
Limited parking - consider walking or
biking. Yummy cheap tacos!
WED. 5/21 - MATT SLOCUM, JOHN STORIE, JOE BAGG
- HAMMOND B3 ORGAN TRIO - PERFORMING @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7:30 -
10:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great
Italian food. No cover, all ages. "An evening of Jazz standards and
original compositions. The trio's musical influences range from Jimmy
Smith's organ trio with Wes Montgomery and Grady Tate, to Larry Young's band
with Elvin Jones and Grant Green, as well as more contemporary groups like
Trio Beyond and the Larry Goldings Trio."
FRI. 5/23 - DAVE OSTI AND DEANNA COGAN @ THE
MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) in MONROVIA, 6 - 9pm Happy Hour. 311 W.
Foothill Blvd. 626-358-3231. NO COVER. Full bar, limited food menu.
Acoustic Guitar, vocals.
http://www.davidvalentinoosti.com/
FRI. 5/23 - BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH @ ARCADIA
BLUES CLUB IN ARCADIA, 10pm with opening act Bobby Bluehouse at 8pm. 16 E.
Huntington Dr. 626-447-9349.
I'm guessing the cover charge is $10, but look
for their coupon in the May 3 issue of Arcadia Quarterly - I just got
one! Outlaw Country, Blues.
http://www.myspace.com/bsojc
FRI. 5/23 & SAT. 5/24 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than
Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm.
3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. In the bar area, but you can order food also.
All ages ok. Joe Velosa, Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright. Acoustic rock, soul
& blues. 626-915-3474.
www.wearethesubs.com/
SAT. 5/24 - BERNIE PEARL @ THE FRET HOUSE IN
COVINA, 8pm. 309 N. Citrus Ave. 626-339-7020. $15. Two
sets of mostly traditional BLUES on the acoustic guitar, in an intimate,
artist-friendly setting.
http://www.myspace.com/berniepearl
SUN. 5/25 - GRANT PARK SOFTBALL - ALL ARE
WELCOME. NOT A LEAGUE - JUST FOR FUN & THE LOVE OF THE GAME! CORNER OF
CORDOVA & MICHIGAN IN PASADENA, 3 BLOCKS WEST OF PCC. BATTING PRACTICE
12:30, GAME TIME ASAP. BRING YOUR GLOVE, BAT, CHAIR, ICE CHEST, GUITAR,
UKULELE, ETC. EVERY SUNDAY...
and possibly
a HOLIDAY MONDAY GAME as well? "We don't need no stinkin' permit!"
SUN. 5/25 - THE MERCY POWELL QUARTET @ CAFE 322
IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd . 626-836-5414.
Full bar and great Italian food. No cover, all ages. Standards & Jazzy
stuff from Mercy, Josh, Marc & Peter.
SUN. 5/25 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL
PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday evening. Get
there early, as the place gets packed!
**THE SHEDS NEED YOUR
SUPPORT: to win a spot on the WARPED TOUR this Summer, my
young friends THE SHEDS are competing against other up and coming bands.
It's not too late to
register and VOTE for them on this site:
http://battleofthebands.com/
Please remember to call
and verify all info. before making plans. Everything is subject to change.
This is show biz, after all.
Hope to see you out & about,
SierraMadreSue
sierramadresue@yahoo.com
FOR EVEN MORE COOL SHOWS & INFO.,
CHECK OUT THESE SITES:
http://cafe322.com/
http://sierracup.com
http://www.myspace.com/piratedive
http://www.coffeegallery.com/home.html
http://www.myspace.com/americanarootsla
http://www.aliveandpicking.com/calendar.html
http://www.covina.com/frethouse/concerts.html
http:www.myspace.com\losangelesaccordionfest |
We're going to post
links to past Music News columns, not because it makes sense to post
outdated calendar items, but just so you can look up the name of the band
that played at that place last Thursday that it's driving you crazy that you
can't remember. Actually, we may also add to some of the old columns
by creating links at the blurb about an event, if we cover it and have
either photos or videos that we've posted for that event.
5/7/08
3/21/08
3/14/08
3/7/08
2/29/08
2/22/08
2/15/08
2/8/08
2/1/08
1/25/08
1/18/08
7/6/07
6/29/07
6/22/07
6/15/07
6/8/07
6/1/07
5/25/07
5/18/07
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