House Of Vibe : Just Be Thankful

The annual House Of Vibe "Just Be Thankful" Show

Toledo 500 : 10 Years Of The Show

The Toledo Show is a dirty burlesque film noir experience that can only be understood by being present. For 10 years The Toledo Show has taken over Sunday nights at Harvelle's in Santa Monica pushing boundaries and converting the uninitiated into staying out late on Sunday nights.

Unlike any other show, The Toledo Show is wholly original, funky as hell and leaves you exhausted and satisfied. 

Happy Anniversary Toledo and company! 

Walter is incomparable

Toledo's 10 year Anniversary

Dame Erin

Rachel Lynn, Toledo, Dame Mindy

Dame Nykky returns triumphant.

Dame Erin's dance of love

Toledo diggin' on Dame Molly's thighs

 Jonathan Heuer plays guitar

House Of Vibe : Wed Night Leo Party TONIGHT!!

The House Of Vibe AllStars is a collective of players, singers and rappers who get together every Wednesday night to stir souls and kick out the jams. Not all at once of course, but a night with HOVAS is like a cool party. It starts mellow but ends up a full-out bash. You never know who's gonna drop by!!

Anthony Brewster

Shaunte and Sebastian

Cecilia Noel

Brew

Kris Hawkins

Greg Raymond

Amy Lou

Myka 9

Chali 2na and LaidLaw

Deploi

It's funk, it's hip-hop, it's soul and r&b. There's nothing like it anywhere else. Every Wednesday, Brew and the crew get down like it's the last day on earth.
Like it's 1999.
It must be experienced to be understood.
A HOVAS show is like surfing a giant wave on an inflatable ass. It's like getting yelled at for playing your drums too loud - and not caring. It's like winning at chess and selling the most candy bars. It's impossible not to have a memorable time.

House Of Vibe & Chali 2na : Makin' Hip-Hop History

 The early '90s was a great time in rap music on the West coast, specifically L.A. and even more specifically the corner of Crenshaw & Exposition; a place called The Good Life Café. This mecca of creativity and it's new-school patrons took an academic approach to re-drawing hip-hop's architecture. In a wholly supportive atmosphere, The Good Life provided nourishment, not just for the body, but for the mind and soul as well, hosting workshops and open mics as a regular part of the curriculum; blatantly moving away from the gangsta posturing, misogyny, and other damaging stereotypes that had really thus far defined the West's rap game.

Deploi 

Kris Hawkins plays the guitar while Brew toasts on the m-i-c.

Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Myka-9 of Freestyle Fellowship were 2 of the scenes most active members. Last week at House Of Vibe's Westside Wednesday, they were re-united. With Chali firmly in control as the session's MC, he kept this 3-ring hip-hop circus moving as the video below clearly shows. As for the others involved - here's a very brief accounting; Ellay Khule (aka The Rifleman) is one of the original "lifers" who still use the original fast wordy style. J-Smoov and St. Mark were in a crew called 3 The Hard Way until J-Smoov went solo and St. Mark started Dark Leaf. Laidlaw (upper left corner) is Chali's brother, Deploi, Anon and Freewill are part of House Of Vibe / Westside Tribe. Freewill is also part of The Luminous Movement.

The video above is of House Of Vibe's performances of :

1-Welcome To The Fish Market (Chali 2na)

appearing on the mic in order is Chali 2na, Chali's brother Laidlaw, J-Smoov, HOV's Deploi, Freestyle Fellowship's Myka 9, Anon the inspirational MC, St. Mark, and Ellay Khule.

2-Mass Appeal (Gangstarr)/The Next Movement (The Roots)

Chali 2na, Laidlaw & FreeWill.

House Of Vibe Allstars - in this particular session were Anthony Brewster aka Brew (v, k), Greg Raymond (k), Corey Cofield (b), Deploi (rap), FreeWill (rap), Amy Lou (perc), Kris Hawkins (g), Shaunte Palmer (trombone), Sebastian Legar (trumpet), Jamon Laws (sax) and Walter Turner III (d)

House Of Vibe get down like this every Wednesday - only at Harvelle's in Santa Monica.

LA's Westsiders : House Of Vibe & Ruben's Tacos

The House of Vibe All Stars always represent on Wednesday nights at Harvelle's. It's a Venetians super hang with The Westside Tribe in numbers down on 4th St. They bring light and love and music and good times. No bad vibes. No fakin' the funk. And now with tacos out back!!*

*Ruben serves up mighty fine tacos. Find him here: 310-343-9200

Looking ahead : The week at a glance

Monday:

Ultralove plays smoothed out hip-hop flavored sexy jazz r&b with a singer/songwriter edge. Full of amazing players, they keep the dancefloor packed with a beautiful young crowd. You'll be singing Ultralove's songs on the way home cuz of the incredible hooks!! 

Tuesday:

Omar Alexander is the embodiment of the U.S Latin music artist virtuoso. Born on New York soil to a Colombian mother and an Indian father, Omar Alexander represents the fluid cultural mix of contemporary America, and manages to translate that same international cosmic blend into his music - which marries a smart, alternative Latin sensibility to a no nonsense booty-shaking funk.

Wednesday:

CHEA!! It's a Westside Wednesday with House Of Vibe All-Stars! This mid-week massive is the heart & soul of band leader Anthony Brewster. He keeps the band pumping hard through 2 incredible sets of soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop and r&b.

Harvelle's is your one-stop shop for an evening out. Located in the heart of Santa Monica's utopian downtown on historical 4th St., Harvelle's provides music, full bar*, ample dance floor, smooth dudes, kool cats, nice chicks, bitchy dames... everything you need for an unforgettable night. If you've been, you know. If you haven't - come check it out!

*no pennies or dimes

2 Guys Walk Into A Bar...

Ultralove and Brew.

Ultralove plays every Monday night without fail! His blend of modern hip-hop acousti-soul churns out hook-laden groove music that the ladies (as well as everyone else) seem to find irresistible. Brew runs things onstage Wednesdays with his group House Of Vibe All-Stars. The All-Stars include a fresh variety of singers, rappers and players of all sorts who come by and join in the party, which Brew conducts like a funky Andre Previn.

HOV : The Tony Tarasco Roast PT.2

The Tony Tarasco Roast / House Of Vibe All Stars night was so epic it needed two postings. I didn't even mention in the last post that Chali 2na was hangin' out that night. Chali always heats it up at Harvelle's when he plays with HOV. And with the Tabasco™ fire lit under Mr T, Chali brought it to it's boiling point!!

Pics taken with the Hipstamatic™ app for the iPhone!

That's Chali 2na having a great time!

Kris Hawkins solo-ing through "Maggot Brain"

Greg Raymond gets down on the keys

Tony and Deploi on the m-i-c.

Jon Swift caught in the act

Tony adjusts his coiffure as Brew intros the next high-larious roaster

Chali 2na gets it done!

This "roaster's" delivery was a crowd pleaser.

Brew 'splains the "roast rules" to Tony

Cyrus took a shot at the sizzling Mr Tarasco

This "roaster" sported Tony's Baltimore Orioles Jersey.

Deploi leavin' 'em in a trail of smoke

Sebastian and Dan are 1/3rd of the HOV horn section

Amy Lou shakes her moneymaker

Deploi

Chali frontin' the band

Ijeoma sings "Be Thankful"

Fish

Bassist Corey Cofield

Deploi and Chali rip it up.

House Of Vibe All-Stars play a set of wicked funk and hip-hop mixed with some badass soul and reggae every Wednesday night at Harvelle's. Some of the best musicians play for HOV, and you never know who might sit-in. They got horns and guitars and keyboards and many rappers and singers. And Amy Lou on percussion!