Blues And Burlesque : A Monster Combo

Blues and burlesque seem like a perfect combo. Especially dirty, grimy blues. Fucked up blues. Deranged bluesmen pumping three chords louder and louder, twin guitars dueling while the harp player blows like a hurricane and a singer in a red three-piece suit bellows through a homemade bullhorn, which only serves to distort and fuck things up further. Molly, a burlesque dancer of some note and a Toledo Show "Dame", threw herself around like a voluptuous rag doll, psychotically blazing a sexy scene to the delight of both the boys in the band and the folks on the floor. Take a look for yourself:


The Band is 'Smokehouse' Brown (guitar), 'Pink' Arguello (vocals), Henry Carvajal (guitar), Tom Fillman (drums), Johnny Mastro (harmonica) and Bobby Tsukamoto (bass).

James Gadson : The Funky Drummer10,000 People Can't be Wrong!!

Using a Canon G-10, I shot this clip of James Gadson on the drums playing one of the beats he "owns"; "Use Me", the Bill Withers classic that Gadson righteously layed down for the groove. Gadson used to sit in on Monday night at Harvelle's as part of blues guitarist Kirk Fletcher's residency. This particular session, the band approached the tune reverentially, but other then the original funked-up drum part, the jam lacks the beauty of the original. I have issues with the vocalist, but then again, Bill Withers was an exceptional singer and almost anyone would have trouble covering one of his tunes better than himself, however, props to the guy for trying and this clip is about James Gadson anyway!!

Recently this video reached it's 10,000 view!!
10,000 people checking out Gadson's grooves!!

Kirk Fletcher : The Bridge Is Over

Guitarist Kirk Fletcher has been playing at Harvelle's every Monday night for a longtime. Tonight that residency ends. The new jack bluesman with the black Vans skateboard shoes won't be gracing the stage at Harvelle's on the regular any longer. I'm sure we'll see him around the club and I'm pretty sure he's playing one night in Sept. But Mondays are done.


Tonight was a night full of surprises. Backing Kirk was Gary Fegason on drums, Bobby Tsukamoto on bass (pictured above and below)and Josh Sklair on guitar (also above and below Bobby's pic).





This would have been enough. The 4 of them together were supersonic and mighty.


Sitting in were a bakers half-dozen of guests including funky sexy cool singer Lisa Foreman (above) and Page-esque guitarist John Nevolo (below).


The second set opened with singer Sir Harry Bowen (photo below) who took over the night on vocals.


Nothing excited tonights room full o' blues however like the onstage appearance of guitar genius Joe Bonamassa (not pictured).




You could literally feel the room a-twittering and updating their facebook status with the news of what they were watching.


Kirk - I've spent many a night at Harvelle's watching you play the hell out that axe like nobody's business. Thank you.

This entry posted live from Harvelle's using BlogPress & the iPhone photo app

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Kirk Fletcher : Out Of The Dark

Monday night, blues new-jack Kirk Fletcher brings his thing to the stage at Harvelle's and lets loose with some of the nicest and coolest soloing in town. Augmented by a kick ass band including Bobby Tsukamoto on bass, Luke Miller on keys and Mark Shark on guitar they throw down, making classics into their own and having too much fun in the process.

The (left sleeve) tattooed Kirk can go arm-to-arm with any of the great blues legends, (and has) but does so on his own terms in a t-shirt, jeans and his signature black Vans™. Last week, Miss Willie Brown's Kasey and Amanda took the stage, along with guitarist Sam Meek - one of the hottest players around. Sam seriously set the place on fire as he led the group through some classic Southern rock. The place went wild!

Mark Shark

Kirk with Miss Willie Brown's Kasey and Amanda

TUESDAY :: Vintage Trouble, a bunch of hungry guys with rock 'n' roll swagger and one of the best frontmen currently working, Ty Taylor. These guys come to rock the crowd, and seemingly do it with little effort... the audience is young, happy, knows all the words and engage in non-stop dancing.

Come join in the movement!!

all photos taken with the Hipstamatic™ app for the iPhone™

Kirk Fletcher : Down To The Bone

It's a blue Monday today.

I'm a little disoriented from last night's Toledo show.

A blaze of funk fire gave way to nightmarish sleeplessness. Crying toddler tears from down the alley woke me repeatedly and tonight I sit perched on my fave bar stool with my fave bartender and my fave cocktail waitress on my least fave night of the week. Seems like everyone I know outside of this bar is out of town, out of love, out of luck or in the morgue.
So it looks like I'm in the right place.

Oh yeah!!!
I see the Miss Willie Brown crew is here, so big double long neck clinks to them.

Amanda and Kasey!!

Luv ya ladies!!!

- Posted live from Harvelle's using BlogPress & the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Kirk Fletcher : Back In The Saddle

I have not seen Mr Kirk Fletcher around these parts in a couple of months.

While he has a weekly residency, he took a couple of weeks off- he had guitar baadasss Josh Smith filling in for him while he did some road gigs - and for some

collection of reasons - Memorial Day, out-of-town, whatever, i havent been around.

But I'm here and he's back with a team of benevolent virtuosos including Bobby Tsukomoto on bass, Gary Ferguson on drums and Mark Shark on guitar.

Also sitting in - Rob Bacon on guitar, Brian Allen on bass, and Sam Meek on the guitar.

Kirk Fletcher brings the heat every Monday night. Only at Harvelle's.


- Posted live from Harvelle's using BlogPress & the Hipstamatic™ photo app for the iPhone

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Where's Captain Kirk?

Indeed, even as the marquee says Kirk Fletcher, the band was without their leader. The rest of the dudes are here; Luke Miller on keys, Bobby Tsukomoto on bass, Paulie Cerra on sax and vocals and of course, legendary drummer James Gadson (google him).




The house is packed tonight with Harvelle's royalty. Sir Harry Bowen is owning the dancefloor, while Miss Willie Brown's Amanda and Kasey, along
with guitar hero Sam Meek and bassist Brian Allen are here to support their bandmate Luke.Toledo Diamond is at the bar chillin, and on his way out, as I was coming in, was Toledo Show bassist Spoonie.


Josh Smith is standing in for Kirk tonight and he's rocking it.



Also sitting in is the incredible bassist Travis Carlton (again, google).

Toledo (above)

Amanda (above)

Closing the first set with the theme from Sanford and Son, they helped this poor scribe to have a less unpleasant "first Monday" of the new decade.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Kirk Fletcher : New School Bluesmania

Every Monday at Harvelle's, Kirk Fletcher plays the blues, and James Gadson joins him on drums, bringing his OG funk beats. Kirk's core group also consists of Paulie Cerra on sax/vox, Bobby Tsukamoto on bass and Luke Miller on keys.

They throw down, they wail, they let it lay and they bring it all back home.

Kirk Fletcher's Blues Gang

Kirk Fletcher's gang of blues musicians including drummer James Gadson came full force and kicked the week off for me. Drinking Blue Moon and O.J. the funk was all around. Here's a few pix of the night.

Funky Drummer : James Gadson

James Gadson is one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Perhaps a bit too obsequiously, I call the man Mr Gadson, but then again, he is on records by everyone from Marvin Gaye to Dyke & The Blazers. He's been sampled by Public Enemy, NWA, some of the hardest core rappers out there, so you've definitely heard him play!

Check out his laid back seriously groooved playing on What's Going On or Bill Wither's "Use Me" (below). James -- err--- Mr. Gadson is due all respect and then some. His awesome career is as unique as it is long.

A true living legend, he plays every Monday night at Harvelle's with Kirk Fletcher.

Kirk Fletcher : Monday nights.

Kirk Fletcher guitar
James Gadson drums and vocals
Bobby Tsukamoto on bass
Paulie Cerra on sax and vocals