Harvelle's Santa Monica : The Weekend Ahead

Harvelle's in Long Beach : Exciting Weekend Shows!!

The Toledo Show : Fuck You For Fucking Me...

...For Fucking Myself!!
-The battle cry of Toledo Show frontman Toledo Diamond.

The Toledo Show 2/12/12 Santa Monica, CA -
Another night of sweaty jazz funk and delicious dames bumpin' and grindin' went down last night at Harvelle's. The Toledo Show band is Asa Watkins (drums), Walter Davis (sax), Spoonie (bass/vocals), Sebastian Leger (keys/trumpet) and Shamari Harbin (vocals). The Dames are Erin, Evalee, Mindy, Molly & Nykky. Special guest on vocals - Ultralove.


The Toledo Show play at Harvelle's in Santa Monica every Sunday night, and at the new Harvelle's in Long Beach every Thursday. 

It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it!!

Harvelle's Santa Monica Weekend :Adrian Hibbs & Dessy DiLauroJimmy Z And The Z Tribe &The Toledo Show

It's a big weekend in Santa Monica! 

It's a Soul Double Header on Friday night. The uptown New Orleans influenced sound of Adrian Hibbs will make you feel good! Dessy DiLauro brings her distinctive jazzy sound and her amazing voice to complete the night. Saturday night is alright for fighting according to Elton John. Also alright, Jimmy Z and The Z Tribe! World famous Etta James sideman, sax/harmonica player Jimmy Z throws down the electric Chicago style blues. Jamie James opens the night with an early set at 8:30. Sunday brings The Toledo Show with their film noir soul and femme fatale cabaret - a satisfying way to end another perfect weekend. Harvelle's Santa Monica is located at 1432 4th St. Santa Monica. Ample parking in the structure just South of the club. 

The Toledo Show : T Plays It Cool

Toledo Diamond

Santa Monica

Jan 2012 

LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE : Comes To Harvelle's

The current issue of Los Angeles Magazine ("Classic L.A." issue) features a glowing review of my favorite Westside bar. If you read this blog, then you are already aware of Harvelle's. 

If not, check out the write-up, and if it sounds good to you, come pay a visit.  

Besides the decor and the speakeasy vibe, besides the custom cocktails and authentic nightly blues & jazz, there's always plenty of parking in the structure adjacent to the club and there's a spot next door (West 4th/Jane) that serves great food (you can order and have it delivered to the bar) until about midnight. If you love live music, enjoy a night out dancing, or imbibing with like-minded people over delicious one-of-a-kind cocktails, check out Harvelle's (1432 4th St. between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd. in downtown Santa Monica) [Harvelle's Santa Monica]

Some other things you may not be aware of:

Harlow Gold - the spectacular underground burlesque revue that consistently sells out (It's the last 2 Thursdays of each month - reservations are highly suggested.) [Reservations link]

There's Westside Wednesdays - local Venice collective House Of Vibe All Stars mid-week massive that combines live hip-hop, reggae, jazz, funk and r&b played by some of the industry's most in-demand musicians. [House Of Vibe All-Stars]

Every Monday night is Ultralove - infamous local singer/songwriter who's faithful fan base makes a ritual of kicking the week off with a dose of the band's illest medicine. [Ultralove]

And there's The Toledo Show.

The longest running show of it's kind, having just celebrated it's 10 year anniversary at Harvelle's, it's a wild burlesque road trip to hell and back. The must-see spectacle is a Westside institution and you really should be indoctrinated. Every Sunday night, the tall, dark and handsome Toledo Diamond mounts his Show - his gravely baritone tells erotic stories of hard living in the back alleys of this grimy urban metropolis, while the impossibly funky band jams tirelessly. A bevy of dancing "Dames" gyrate electrically throughout the evening, enticing you with their bouncy bodices, ripped stockings, red lips and high heels. They're a thing of beauty. [The Toledo Show]

Last year, the up and coming Vintage Trouble left their sold-out year long Tuesday night residency at the club to launch their first European tour. They've been back twice since and are currently in Australia playing sold-out stadiums and festivals. They will be back in Europe this summer touring with Lenny Kravitz. Congrats to VT for being the next big thing. It's completely deserved. [Vintage Trouble]

Additionally, there is now a second Harvelle's in Long Beach.

Larger in size with the same attention to the light and sound systems, the venue is garnering accolades and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The bluegrass/ragtime of Capt Jeffrey & His Musical Chumbuckets have been packing 'em in on Sunday nights (Phil Alvin of The Blasters has stopped by and sat in a couple of times). The very cool The Vespertines take over on Monday nights. And on Feb 4, Sheila E. will be bringing her family (Pete, Juan, and Peter Michael Escovedo) for what promises to be an exciting night of incredible latin flavored funk!! That's what the Escovedos do!! The club is located at 201 E. BROADWAY beneath The Congregation Ale House. [Harvelle's Long Beach]

The Toledo Show : In The L.A. Weekly!!

The LA Weekly came to The Toledo Show on Sunday night, and wrote this excellent review.

photo : Nick Faigin

[LA Weekly link]

The Toledo Show : Thirsty!!

Hungry for love, but thirsty for water - that was tonight's un-official theme, and evidently both Toledo and dancer Molly D'amour were parched as hell. Crystal Geyser is the official water of The Toledo Show and Harvelle's. Come have a bottle or a beer or one of the specialty cocktails.
____________________________________
The Toledo Show goes off every Sunday night for the last 10 years at Harvelle's in Santa Monica - 1432 4th St. between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd. They also play at the Harvelle's in Long Beach every Thursday.

The Toledo Show : 1 Night 2 Photos

Every Sunday night in Santa Monica (Thursday in Long Beach), The Toledo Show is an institution. Running for 10 years, this film noir cabaret has garnered fans worldwide due to it's impossibly funky dirty jazz, beautiful dancing "dames", and the leader of the pack, Toledo Diamond - a front man's front man who is so captivating that women swoon at his feet.

Wholly original and ripe for repeated attendances, The Toledo Show is beyond the description my humble adjectives can depict. Come check it out. [Toledo Show Website]

This is Dame Mindy and fan/friend of the show Miss Heather hanging out in-between sets.

The Toledo Show : The Dames!

I almost think that if you're not cool enough to have shown up to see The Toledo Show, you're not worthy of seeing The Dames. You're lucky. I'm giving you a sneak peek, not just because "sex sells", but perhaps if you don't know, you'll come check it out. 

Still pictures - even HD video - doesn't do The Toledo Show justice. It's an experience of light and sound and funk and a virtual walk down the back alleys of Toledo Diamond's cerebral private universe. Is it fiction? Or are these true tales from Toledo's adventures? One never knows, do one?  So here for your pleasure, a small gallery from a recent Sunday Toledo Show.

DJ Mic on the mic keeps the club hits bangin' all night long!!

Dame Leah is sho nuff sittin' on a goldmine!

Tonight, along with Sebastian Leger (keys, trumpet, vocals), Seth Murphy (d) and Mike Gunn (b)were The Toledo Show back line. Bringing it deep and low, loud and fresh, uncomplicated and true, they handled their debut with The Toledo Show with fire and much aplomb!! Check them out as the drum and bass of Ultralove; they play at Harvelle's every Monday.

And by the way...

you're still not worthy.

Toledo & Ultralove : The King and Prince Of Harvelle's

 There is a genuine bromance going on between the front men of The Toledo Show and Ultralove - Toledo Diamond and Mike "Ultralove" Wagner respectively. I don't know who started it, but at some point in each of their shows (Toledo's on Sunday, Ultralove's on Monday) the other will make a guest appearance and bring a different kind of funk to the repertoire for a few minutes.

The video above is of The Toledo Show, but ironically Ultralove's drummer (Seth Murphy) and bassist (Mike Gunn) were the acting back line for The Toledo Show on that particular night. Ultralove stepped to the mic extra confidently and spit a cool 16 bars over Toledo's funky-as-shiz "Run Chicken Little" riff, which then evolved into an impromptu duet between the two with Toledo calling Ultralove his "hero" and Ultralove getting on his knees to perform the "i'm not worthy"gesture.

Harvelle's & The Toledo Show :In The Huffington Post

For the complete post click [here]

The Toledo Show : 10 Years At Harvelle's

Last week marked the 500th Toledo Show at Harvelle's.
Tonight we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of it all!!

I know many of the vamps here tonight as well as all the principals.  Congratulations to Toledo, Malik, Walter, Brewster, Seabass, Spoonie, Asa, Vicious, Jonathan, Shamari special guests Ultralove and Jessie Payo, and the dames: Nykky, Mindy, Molly (below), Erin, Leah & Annie.

The band has brought it so solid and heavy for so long it's become a West side institution. Soon to be in residence at Harvelle's new Long Beach location every Thursday night starting Oct 6.  With a bigger stage and brilliant sound system, its gonna be spectacular.

Tonight the crowd is thick and filled. Giant reverberations of live frequencies fill the room as bass & drum rev it up to see who can play the loudest. And Ultralove!! Yeah representing Monday nights along with Seth and Mike Gunn in the house.

It's cool and calm near the front of the club. I'm chilled out with bottled water sitting in plain site of an air conditioning vent. The dance floor is a different story! Swamp-like, hot and sweaty - more crowded than usual - it was difficult to move through it to give a pound to the faithful homies - those who religiously respect The Toledo Show.

Everyone's present. Dan, Dorthea, Guy, Heather, Nate, new jack Alfred, the curly haired Italian dude, the 2 metal dudes, even Deon the painter and that guy in the zorro hat who comes the last half hour and walks from hot young girl to hot young girl kissing hands and kissing ass, as he runs his numbers game in search of an inappropriately young chica. I've heard he has slipped money into at least one of the dame's hand. What's up with that???  - He's here too. A big shout-out to Kristen from Chicago.  A Guido's restaurant employee who digs jazz-funk, perhaps as much as I do.

Overall a chill time and congrats to Toledo Diamond for succeeding at raising and nurturing this phenomenon. I'm sure it's inception was really when Mr. Diamond first decided to take the stage.
What will the next 10 Years bring?
We'll have to wait and see...

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