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.
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"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.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Kevin Moore : Returning after 15 years!

The crew at Harvelle's are excited as hell to have Kevin Moore back in the club!
So, where's he been all these years?

Los Angeles born Moore, was a Harvelle's regular some 15 years ago, (before he adopted his better known stage name), performing every Sunday night for 2 years.

When he left his Harvelle's residency, his vision complete, his music encompassed not only his take on authentic delta blues, but many genres including folk, jazz and r&b. 

The man is a singer/songwriter at the core, but with his amazing guitar talent, most consider him an authentic bluesman. He's collaborated with Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, but this month, he returns to the "home" where he first worked out the music that is an integral part of his repertoire. Every Monday til the end of the year, Kevin Moore will be at Harvelle's, right here in Santa Monica.

Come early. 
This is gonna be a real treat for fans of the blues.