Wednesday, December 31, 2008

3...2...1...

New Year's Eve! 
Again!

What happened that I can reflect on??

What about next year?
What are my hopes and dreams?

One thing I know...
I will be at Harvelle's when the clock strikes 12.
James Torme will be ushering in the new year and backing him will be Ryan Cross, Brandon Coleman and Gene Coye. If you're unfamiliar with this trio, let me introduce you. Bass, Keys and Drums, respectively, these guys are what's happening in modern jazz. 

Special guests always appear. 

Here's my summation:
2008 was great,
but 2009  will be fine.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Bongo Fury : The Pre-New Years Eve








Shhhhhhhhhhh.... it's Bongo Fury. 

The city's coolest secret burlesque night, featuring the live afro-cuban samba of the city's coolest 4 piece group, led by the incomparable Mr. Walter Davis (sax, flute) with Victor Orlando (bongos/congas), Asa Watkins (drums) and Bjørn Fleuren (bass).

The night's secret lies in the ultimate beauty of the 2 featured dancers. With a wealth of L.A.'s best of the best dancers in his Rolodex™ the night's dancers always rate "10"s all around. Breathtakingly beautiful, scantily clad, shaking, jiggling, writhing on the floor, these women are from all over the world, but now they're here.

In between sets DJ Daylight spins soulful wax and Brazilian beats.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Kevin Moore : Monday : Invitational Jam

Monday nights at Harvelle's have been drawing increasingly larger crowds due to the December residency of Kevin Moore, a skilled singer/songwriter and a legendary blues man. His guitar skills are impressive, his voice is a beehive full of compacted soul, dripping with honey. This last week his impressive 3 piece band backed him rock solidly as he engaged the crowd with versions of "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Love And Happiness", "If You Want Me To Stay", "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and surprisingly, a version of Steely Dan's "Black Cow"! Just awesome.
He had guest vocalist Gavin Christopher (above) working it out as well, joining in on a slow soul version of "Love The One You're With", and a couple of other songs. Maybe most notably, Kevin proved his quiet guitar flash performing an extended solo with the gravitas of Jimmy Page. Versatility, musicianship, and the chops of a seasoned entertainer, Kevin's doing something right!



Monday night packed house. Onstage - Kevin Moore and Gavin Christopher.


Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Toledo Show : Liver Than You'll Ever Be!

Note to self : 
Toledo Show. 
9pm. Harvelle's. 
Downtown Santa Monica.

New Years Eve : Cross/Coleman/Coye

New Year's Eve at Harvelle's is fast approaching. The soul-crossed funk of Ryan Cross, Brandon Coleman and Gene Coye is guaranteed to move the crowd and induce much partying, imbibing, blowing of noise-makers and general New Year's Eve festivities! It's a once in a lifetime chance to usher in the penultimate New Years Eve of the decade with Ryan Cross and Co.

The trio always bring along some of the most talented vocalists and musicians around. New Year's Eve will feature the sweet soul croon of James Tormé. 

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Café R&B : Dancing About Architecture

Café R&B are something that needs to be experienced live! Tonight, Saturday Dec 27, might be the right time for the experience. I believe Elvis Costello said "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture", and while here at my humble little blog, I try to describe music as best as possible, Café R&B need to be seen to be believed. With apologies to Mr. Costello, I write the following: Lead singer Roach, stupifies the audience with her own breed of voodoo soul 'n' blues, while the men in suits lock it up and hold it down!!! Must be seen to be believed! 
You can quote me on that.

Bill Magee : Blues Complex

Oh yeah! 

Last night's Bill Magee show was live and loud. 
His Hendrix-ian trail of foot-stomping, good time blues-rock, kept the party going til the midnight hour (and way beyond). Most impressive, the guy's got a legendary sustain on his axe that betrays gravity. His tasty rock-styled solos and scritchy-scratchy rhythm playing makes him one of the most captivating guitarists I've seen in a long time! 
Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll!

My friend from Queens had just got to town. 
She ordered a Hennesey French Martini.
I'd never heard of such a drink.
Must be an East coast thing?!?
I dunno.

Bill Magee brought the house down.
That's all that matters.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Bill Magee


The day after Christmas and it's a Friday. Tonight at the club, Harvelle's does what it does best: Rock the blues for your listening pleasure!!! Tonight, from the back woods of Mississippi all the way to Santa Monica, CA,  it's Bill Magee! 

Come down, drink and dance - it's the middle of a 5-day weekend fer crisssakes! 
You may have relatives in town, or you're from out-of-town visiting. 
Bring the relatives or your local hosts... most importantly, come down and hear the blues!




Check out Bill Magees website!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Toledo Show : L.A. Faves

Recently a topic of an article in the L.A. Times, The Toledo Show are some baaadass muthafuckers! This gang of musicians, dancers and the enigma that is Toledo Diamond (singer/songwriter/dancer/movie star), bring their dark, dangerous and incredibly funky riot to their Sunday night residency at Harvelle's. If you haven't experienced it yet, tonight is the night! Don't sleep, don't stress, don't go shopping for Xmas bargains, come down to Harvelle's for The Toledo Show's Sunday night mayhem!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Welcome To The Studio : T-Smidi


Terry Smidi of Vibe Session Productions 
"WELCOME 2 DA’ STUDIO" 
STARRING T. SMIDI AND FEATURING KENNI SKI, GREEDY DANIELS, YOUNG CIRE, RACHEL LYNN AND BRENT LABRADA WITH DJ CHRIS CUTS. 
LEGENDARY SURPRISE GUEST SCHEDULED TO APPEAR! 

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

House Of Vibe :
Q. When is a House not on land and not on water?

A. When it's on fire!

House Of Vibe mos def set the roof ablaze with fierce funk, rock & reggae, jazz, hip-hop and r&b. A night of some of the Westside's best players and rappers jam and celebrate music all night long!



photos 
top to bottom:
Phil & Colin 
Greg & Chris
Asa, Deploi, Colin & Brew


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Miss Willie Brown : Setting The Westside On Fire






Kicking ass is a pastime Miss Willie Brown excel in. 

That they proved Thursday night at Harvelle's

Amanda sported a brand new guitar on it's maiden performance. With Kasey by her side, singing her heart out, it's an ultimate musical sight to behold. 

Miss Willie Brown is going places, catch them locally while you can.

(shout out to Kayleigh)

Bongo Fury Tuesday : The Rules




The first rule of Bongo Fury? 
Do not talk about Bongo Fury. 

Tuesday nights at Harvelle's is the reason I started going there in the first place. A therapy of sorts of it's own, it's many a man and woman's burlesque fantasy come to life. It's a Tuesday wake-up call, a chance to fall in love, or more casually, have a drink with friends.

The inspirational retreat, led by the incomparable Walter Davis, features the exotic beauty of burlesque-style dancers, latin afro-samba jazz, and the intoxicating aroma of cocktails. 
A treat for all the senses. 

DJ Daylite spins classic acid jazz, soul & funk and hip-hop into the night for your dancing pleasure.

The second rule of Bongo Fury?
Shhhhhhhhhhhh...

pix:
-Victor Orlando/Walter Davis/Asa (on drums)/Miss Dakota
-Victor Orlando bongos it up.
-DJ Daylite spinning the wax

Monday, December 15, 2008

Kevin Moore Invitational Blues Jam : 15 Years Gone... Now Back Here At Harvelle's


























































Kevin Moore's homecoming last week, was a hell of a way to start his Monday night residency at Harvelle's.

The Invitational Jam's (which will continue through the end of December) featured guests included vocalists Ty Taylor (The Ghosthounds) and the smooth soulful Heather Lauren

Kevin and the band ripped through awesome versions of "Love & Happiness", "It's A Real Mutha For Ya", "Born Under A Bad Sign" "The Christmas Song" and his own "Shave Yo Legs". 

His monster backup band tore through some gut-crunching blues-funk, blues-rock and blues-soul and had the Monday night crowd dancing in the aisles. With his easy going style onstage and obvious audience rapport, Kevin demonstrated his incredible guitar prowess and proved why he is at the top of his game.


Sunday, December 14, 2008

THE Toledo Show!!

The Toledo Show. The Toledo Show! Sunday night at Harvelle's. Toledo and The Dames are here to entertain you in their own dark-funk cabaret style. Read the recent story on Toledo, The Toledo Show and Harvelle's in the L.A. Times.






















(all photos : Ringo H.W. Chiu / Los Angeles Times)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Bongo Fury's Carolina : Happy Birthday!


One of Bongo Fury's hottest dancers, and club fave Carolina Cerisola is having a birthday today. Argentinian Carolina, is one of the hottest and most exotic dancers in Tuesday night's Bongo Fury show. Watch her schedule for when she'll be appearing next!
Wishing you a happy one C.C.!!! 

(photo@​contagiousbrainchild​.​com)

Delgado Brothers : Saturday Night Live!


Delgado Brothers, bring their spontaneous musical party to Harvelle's on a Saturday night. If you haven't heard El Monte born brothers Steve (drums), Joey (guitar), and Bob (bass) along with Dave Kelley (Piano, Hammond organ) and Victor Bisetti (Percussion), tonight's your chance. These heavy bluesmen rock and incite much enthusiastic dancing.
__________________________________________________________
"A Brother's Dream", the new Delgado Brother's album, is now out, on Bell Asher Records. 12 new memorable originals, with special guests, and loads of fun.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Gary Allegretto and the Sugar Daddys













Gary Allegretto, one of the Southlands Premier Blues Harpists is having a party.

It's Gary's Annual Blues Birthday Bash!
Promises to be a crowded shin-dig hosted by Gary and the Sugar Daddys

(b&w photos by Bruce Weber)

EXTRA! Read all about it!
The 'Toledo' Show make the L.A. Times


The 'Toledo' show gets a second look
Los Angeles Times December 11, 2008

Casual clubbers are forgiven in advance if they think they've entered a night-life wormhole this month. Burlesque and gritty blues-and-jazz-influenced music are back in vogue all over town, perhaps as a result of a faltering economy that harks back to the Depression era.

Consequently, some Angelenos are taking a fresh look at long-running, music-and-burlesque experience "The Toledo Show," which plays Thursday night by special arrangement at Hollywood nightclub-restaurant hybrid the Kress. Partly responsible for the new popularity is a movie opening Friday in limited nationwide release, "Dark Streets," which features the soul cabaret's frontman, Toledo Christopher Dimon (a.k.a. Toledo Diamond).

"We never went away," said Dimon before his long-standing weekly gig at Santa Monica venue Harvelle's on Sunday. His "Toledo Show" played all over Los Angeles for the better part of the last decade before settling in the small 4th Street lounge the last five years.

"But we've evolved," the husky-voiced ringleader said with a laugh.

This month, the Toldeo Show is suddenly back on some night crawlers' radar, thanks in part to a tie-in with a small production company who is using the band to market the film, in which Dimon appears and plays a pivotal role.

Andrea Balen, one of "Dark Streets' " producers, said Dimon, though not a professional actor, was a natural pick for the role of Prince in the film, which is sold as a sort of noirish, blues version of "Moulin Rouge."

"Once we met Toledo, we stopped auditioning people," Balen said before the Sunday show (the film's female lead, Bijou Phillips, also performed with the "Toledo Show" band Sunday and is expected to sing again Thursday at the Kress). "He was perfect [as Prince]."

However, it's fans of the real Prince who might enjoy "The Toledo Show," which is sex-soaked and funky. The entire experience is akin to listening to the famed musician's "Black Album," with dancers, called "dames" in the show, bumping and grinding near audience members at certain junctures during the evening. And while the original numbers the band performs rarely elevate to anything as catchy as a tune written by his Purpleness (Dimon's vocals aren't for everyone), the experience is what the Toledo Show is all about.

And while jaded L.A. nightlife veterans may scoff at the Toledo Show as a poor man's version of the (now closed) nightclub Forty Deuce, others say the show is underrated.

"It's artistic and different," said Jackie O'Neill, 34, in Sunday night's crowd. "You can see live music all over L.A., but you can't always see a real show."

— Charlie Amter/L.A. Times
photo by Ringo H.W. Chiu/L.A. Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Miss Willie Brown Returns

Kasey and Amanda aka Miss Willie Brown, are it!
What can I say? These sassy Southern women are gorgeous, talented (they sing like angels) and on their way to the top. They have a decidedly Country leaning, but i would be more inclined to call it Western/American. Whatever you call it, the songs are full of catchy hooks, sing along choruses and sweet sweet soul. While the women harmonize sweetly, the band rocks it Memphis style.
Miss Willie Brown is pure entertainment. 

Last time I saw 'em the place was packed, and the energy in the room was off-the-charts. 
Highly recommended!

(shout out to Brian Allen on bass!)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tomorrow : The Return of Miss Willie Brown

Tomorrow, the double-barreled shot of Kasey and Amanda aka Miss Willie Brown take aim at Santa Monica and hit their target - Harvelle's. 

Brewster's Millions : House Of Vibe All Stars





Wednesday night at Harvelles: Much hyped, heavily
 attended,  this funk/soul/hip-hop/reggae themed night is an amazing way to celebrate getting over the mid-week hump. 

Brew and the crew throw down everything from Herbie Hancock to Led Zeppelin in their own inimitable soulful style, mixing it up and featuring some of the baddest players in L.A. On the m-i-c, Local rappers Deploi, John Swift, Jack Freezie from the Westside Tribe always move the crowd, one of the most beautiful and hottest on the Westside, and special guests in the house and on the stage abound.

See you there!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Furious Bongos & Gorgeous Dancers













Bongo Fury - every Tuesday night - is the latin/afro-samba soundtrack behind the half-naked burlesque dancers gyrating for your entertainment. The incomparable Walter Davis and his saxaphone lead the swinging evening into the night, where drinking and dancing are welcome and encouraged. 

DJ Daylite spins the wax in-between sets by the 4-piece combo in a flurried blend of kick-started Maceo Parker and soulful Blue Note cool. 
Come see for yourself.