House Of Vibe : Just Be Thankful

The annual House Of Vibe "Just Be Thankful" Show

Ultralove! On The Promenade

I ran into my man Ultralove busking down on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. He treated me to a version of the sad blues lament Strange Fruit. Written by Abel Meeropol in 1939, it was made famous by Billie Holiday. Ultralove performs every Monday night at Harvelle's in Santa Monica with a full band.

Ultralove Meet Jessie : Jessie Meet Ultralove

Ultralove's Monday night residency at Harvelle's in Santa Monica is one of the secret treasures that the beloved little spot on 4th St. holds within. Any night of the week, great blues, jazz and burlesque are featured attractions, but on Monday nights, the guy who goes by the name Ultralove, brings his own Philly-flavored roster of songs - sung and rapped - and backed by his super-tight, deep-in-the-pocket group (aka The Suns Of Bitches). 

Seems like Harvelle's fave, singer Jessie Payo has been smitten with a case of the Ultraloves! Yes, Ms. Payo, has written a piece on Mr. Ultralove for NOHO ARTS DISTRICT.COM [read it here] and he has her nose wide open!! Check out the video below to see why!!

"...more than a target for women’s under-garments, he uses his music as a platform for changing the world for the better."

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!!

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.

Ultralove's Monday : My World And Welcome To It

Venice resident Mike "Ultralove" Wagner spends his days as a mild mannered folk singer, appearing at lounges and happenings around his 'hood. His blend of modern singer/songwriter sensibilities infused with hip-hop hooks, both sung and rapped by the Philly native have created a bit of a buzz down here. And on Monday nights, Ultralove takes the stage at Harvelle's with his group, which is stacked with players who augment his songs with crack-shot arrangements and righteous in-the-pocket grooves.

 Ultralove, Seth Murphy, Doug Showalter

 Other members of the band are Mike Gunn on bass, John Piazza (aka John Swift) on keys and rapping, and DJ Paper on turntables. If you haven't experienced Ultralove live, you should; the band truly delivers! Here's a video from this past week's show. The song "Rich and Famous" has a killer hook and in this extended jam version special guests Jon Swift, Joe Con, Sebastien Leger on trumpet and DJ Paper bring their "A" game! Bless Ultralove, he does what he does and makes the world a better place.

Ultralove'd : A Trip Around The Sun

My man Ultralove is lethal!! 

Every Monday night - for the last 52 weeks - Ultralove has brought his crew and unleashed 'em on Harvelle's. Ultralove then pumps out the sweetest hip-hop flavored folk-funk you've ever heard. Keeping the dance floor hustling, and the rest of the place singing along to the musical and lyrical hooks provided in such jams as "Breakfast In Bed", "Last Leg"and "Rich And Famous".

Tonight's celebration was full of excitement and guests. Joel Van Dijk returned as did singers Love Logic and Soul Star. House Of Vibe's horn men Jaman and Sebastian sat in; Joe Con, DJ Paper, and even Harvelle's bartender Candise jumped onstage to spit 16 or so bars.

The Ultralove experience is worth visiting and re-visiting; as he hones his craft in front of a live audience his evolution has been swift and obviously ready for the next phase of his career. Do yourself a favor - come down and let him coax out the ultra-lover in you. 

Ultralove gets down with 6 strings.

Singin' : Soul Star, Ultralove and Love Logic

Drummer Seth Murphy.

Jon Piazza on keys.

Mike Gunn - bass slayer.

Axemen Joel and Doug.

DJ Paper keeps the crowd body-movin' all night long.

Cheers Lauralee!

House of Vibe's Jaman and SeaBass.

Ultralove's [revolution] is available on [iTunes] and [Amazon]

Ultralove music & info can be found on [Tumblr]

Listen to Ultralove music on [Soundcloud]

Follow Ultralove on [Twitter]

Ultralove performs every Monday night at [Harvelle's]

Ultralove : Every Monday

UltraLove : The Ultra-magnetic Emcee

Mike - the Ultra Lover hisself - has a mutha-funkin' serious party at Harvelle's once a week every Monday!! Real talk!! It's a great time and there's plenty of young beautiful L.A. "10"s that the band attracts. What more do you need? Party goes off around 9 or so... and it's a really good time.

Ultralove is Mike "UltraLove" Wagner (vocals, guitar), Seth Murphy (drums), Douglas Showalter (guitar), Mike Gunn (bass), Adam Berg (keys), Jon Piazza (keys and rap) and DJ Paper (spins).

 Ultralove brings his brand of soul and hip-hop flavored r&b to Harvelle's every Monday night.

Shaunte Palmer plays the trombone with House Of Vibe on Wednesday nights. Sometimes he and trumpeter Sebastian Legar come down to the Ultralove show and add some major brass.

Ultralove gives Saturday night style entertainment on a Monday.

DJ Paper 

can't stop playing 

those 

block-rockin' 

beats!!

Ultralove : See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me

Tonight - it's Ultralove!

Mike "Ultralove" Wagner is the up&comer to see.
Ultralove (the band) play every Monday night at Harvelle's and very quietly, it has become the best party night of the week. Ultralove's (the band) sound is hip-hop influenced - but in the hands of a skilled singer/songwriter like Ultralove (the man) and the crack-shot ballistics of Ultralove (the band) - the sound is new and fresh and - ok, i'll say it - it's "baby making music".

That's right.

How this skinny kid from Philly is able to transcend the genres and somehow create a hybrid between Stax style soul, eighties pop hooks, sexy Pendergrass/Prince style eroticism - all with the style and energy of a laid-back funkateer strumming an acoustic guitar - is a beautiful mystery for all of us to enjoy.

Kudos to the band : Doug Showalter (g) Adam Berg (k), Jon Swift (k and rap), Mike Gunn (bassist extrordinaire) and heavy hitter Seth Murphy (d).

Shout out to Chelsea, Shaunte, Sebastian, Lauralee, Brew, Guy and Greg Raymond.

I Got The Munchies For Your Ultralove

Ultralove is the man.

His Monday nights at Harvelle's are becoming the party place to be. Ultralove celebrates the beginning of each new work week by giving back to the community with his righteous grooves and ridiculously talented band. Every week they seem to play harder and engage the crowd more and more.

Doug Showalter on dynamite guitar, plays with flash and verve, not to mention his re-interpretation of funk as it fits the unique Ultralove model.

Jon Piazza (aka Jon Swift) sat in on keys - on loan from Wednesday's mid-week massive House Of Vibe All Stars - and threw down in a way he doesn't generally - that is showcasing his considerable keyboard chops!! 

Bassist Mike Gunn is having so much fun on stage it's truly joyful to watch (and hear) him dominate his 5-stringed beauty. The contrast in personalities with the lead singer creates a sort of dynamic duo; a Richards/Jagger or Page/Plant kinda vibe.

This week, singers Love Logiq and Soul Star were absent, so the sound was much more focused on the band's playing which is skin-tight and pocket deep due in large part to accomplished drummer Seth Murphy. He keeps the rhythm going - his hits per pound pack a wallop. I'm sure he's practicing in-between Mondays cuz he's making the songs "groove"-ier and with more rhythmic depth every time I see 'em.

Special guests like Toledo (of the Toledo Show) and the very rock-star haired rapper Joe Con understand the appeal of Ultralove's vibe and shared the stage adding flava, to make it that much better!