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!!

J.T. Ross : Messin' With The Blues!!

Better stand back when J.T. Ross hits the stage. The singer/ harmonica player is a force to be reckoned with! With a top band including guitar gods Henry Carvajal & Kirk Fletcher, J.T. Ross bleeds blues!! 

Another great Friday night at Harvelle's!!
Peace, love and music shout out to Dave, Cevin, Heather, Kirk and J.T.!!
A tremendous tip-of-the-cravat to Vintage Trouble who recorded at Abbey Road Studios today!! Good lord you guys are blowing up!! cheers to Ty, Rick, Richard and Nalle!!

Harvelle's : Ultimate New Year's Eve Spot

Ringing in the new year at Harvelle's seemed like the right way to start off 2011. The music, the people, the patrons, the staff - everyone is there for a good drama-free time. And that's what they deliver. Yes, there's party favors and a champagne toast at midnight, but you can get that anywhere. What makes Harvelle's special is the live music.

This year Guitar Shorty, Jimmy Z (sax, harmonica, vocals), Kirk Fletcher (guitar/vocals) and Jeff Young (keys and vocals) formed a sort of blues supergroup with power to spare. They rocked the crowd until way past midnight with the crowd still cheering for one more song!

Well now, we've all got another 365 days ahead to make some changes, change some vices and maybe pick up a few new ones.

You never can tell.

Happy new year to all the readers of this blog.

Today is Kirk Fletcher's Birthday!

Happiest of birthdays to my fave guitar shredding, Vans™ wearing blues guitarist!

Kirk will be playing at Harvelle's on New Year's Eve!!

Chris Cain : Blues Brother

Over the weekend - Friday night actually - I made a point to go out to see Chris Cain. He is a complete and total guitar playin' bluesman.

He is a bluesman's bluesman.

I have proof.

I got a text message that alerted me "half the Harvelle's roster is here!!"

When I arrived there was Kirk Fletcher, Joey Delgado, Key Frances, Dennis Jones and Cadillac Zack all their to worship the godlike genius of Chris Cain. I think that's all the proof anyone would need.

"Don't judge a book by it's cover" Bo Diddley used to say.

Never was it truer than with Chris Cain.

Dressed in his trademark overalls, with his wild head-nodding while he plays, it's almost as if he's shaking the music loose - something he couldn't do if he stood still. Whatever the reason, his sound comes from a place few of us have been. Chris Cain digs down into the depths and plays & sings the blues with aplomb and fraternal recognition.

The blues and Chris Cain - brothers.

the B3 guy and the bass player holding it down

Kirk Fletcher

If you have the opportunity to see Chris Cain live - DO IT!

If you were there then you know...

Harvelle's Weekend : Plan Accordingly!

< -Click to enlarge.

Thursday:

Kirk Fletcher : New-jack blues guitarist (formerly of The Fabulous Thunderbirds).Backing Kirk is Luke Miller/keys, Calvin Turner/bass, Lemar Carter/drums, and Kris Bradley on vocals.

Friday:

Club favorites The Boneshakers bring their super bad grooves featuring the vocals of Mr Sweet Pea Atkinson (Lyle Lovett, Was (Not Was)).

Saturday:

Prepare to dance and let loose, as Arthur Adams brings down the house with his home brew; combining legendary vocals and electric blues soulfulness.

Sunday:

Experience the dark erotic funky burlesque cabaret that is The Toledo Show.

Harvelle's is your one stop shop for an evening out. Located in the heart of Santa Monica's utopian downtown, Harvelle's provides the music, the cocktails, the cats, the dames and the whole dirty deal. If you've been, you know. If you have yet to, check it out; inside it's dark with red booths and a black and white checkerboard dance floor. It's always a great time and I'm usually hangin' out somewhere in the house.

See you there.

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

Tonight : A note from Kirk Fletcher

Kirk Fletcher

Hey everyone!! I'm doing Harvelle's tonight 9:30pm!! ROOTS MUSIC TONIGHT!! Myself, Bobby Tsukamoto on bass, Gary Ferguson on drums, and the great Mark Shark on slide guitar!! Gonna be fun!!

Kirk Fletcher : Blue Monday

How does it feel?
To treat me like you do?

Those are the first 2 lines of the
classic 80s New Order track "Blue Monday". Decades later Kirk and the Gang give new meaning to the term.

Listen to Kirk play the blues. Commiserate with others who hate Mondays or who just enjoy hangin' at Harvelle's.

Travis Carlton on bass, Luke Miller on keys and Vincent Foster on the drums back Kirk. Sam Meek also sat in on guitar.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States