Miss Willie Brown : Which One's Willie?

Remeniscent of Pink Floyd t-shirts in the 1970s that read "Which one's Pink?", a "Which One's Willie?" campaign might be something that the Southern women might wanna consider. The answer is that Amanda (the one who plays guitar) and Kasey (the one who doesn't) are collectively and officially Miss Willie Brown; 2 Venice locals who wait tables at one of the city's best Bar-B-Que joints, but with their sweet harmonies and their kick ass approach, the day job looks dangerously close to being not needed. They have what it takes. 

Completely engaging the crowd, even jumping onto the dance floor for a brief twirl with some enthusiastic fans, their songs are about freedom, relationships and .... 

bad relationships!

The intense 4 piece band pushed it to the max, dynamically backing the women. No small task, considering Kasey and Amanda's bookended high energy dose. Given genrous solos throughout the night the guitar/bass/drums/keyboards 4 piece opened the second set with some authentic Memphis-style r& b instrumentals.

(pix courtesy my camera phone)

Real Estate : The House Of Vibe

Economy got ya down? 

Is your home worth almost nothing?

Take a break from the reality and get some realty:

A sawbuck is all you need to get into a house.

The House of Vibe, that is.

The funkiest crew in L.A., the H.O.V. Allstars featuring Anthony Brewster (pictured)

Toledo : the show, the whole show and nothing but the show

It's all about the show. 

The Toledo Show. 

What is it? 

An indescribable musical experience mixing the drama of cabaret with the funk of Sly and the Family Stone. Maestro Toledo's incredible vocal style is commanding and nicotine coated. 

Surrounding him is a a team of burlesque dancers. These women - The Dames - will take your breath away as they gyrate and become slaves to the rhythm of the hottest band in town!

Spend some time with Toledo and company, and you'll be addicted to the show - every Sunday night at Harvelle's.

Ryan Cross' Saturday Night Jazz

Ryan Cross returns to Harvelle's tonight following his stellar performance last month. His incredible trio which features Mr. Cross on bass, Brandon Coleman on keys, and Gene Coye on drums is sophisticated and funky.

While these players are serious and seriously talented, the trio is augmented with vocalists and other players. You never know who might be on stage singing and swinging as the showcase rolls into the Santa Monica night.

Scheduled to be onstage tonight, beautiful jazz singer Hilary VanLier, (above w/ Ryan) who coated the room in absolute sweetness last month, will return along with Chelsea Nichole, a brilliant singer whose neo-soul meditations are sure to have the place bopping and digging the deep grooves.

Funky Friday! : House Of Vibe All Stars!

It's gonna be a funky friday, as House Of Vibe All Stars return to Harvelle's! It's a birthday bash for Deploi from the Westside Tribe (aka Joey), and Lady J. (aka Jamie). 

Celebrating in their own funk-torious style, H.O.V. always deliver their incredible mix of soul drenched jazz, rap, rock and reggae. Channeling Funkadelic, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and Herbie Hancock while mixing it up with their own style, the players always deliver. 

Watch out for the horn section. 

These mighty warriors of the brass will blow down the doors, as Brew and the crew bum rush in time to funk things up! Always a good time! 

See you there!

House Of Vibe All Stars : Rachel Lynn's Birthday Party!

The Wednesday night House Of Vibe session will kick off with an acoustic set by birthday girl Rachel Lynn!

Come celebrate! It's a party! Vocalist/songwriter Rachel Lynn's birthday bash will be a great time. Last year R.L.'s b-day party packed the club, so get there early. The House Of Vibe All Stars will be tearing the place apart with funk, jazz, hip-hop, reggae and rock (check their version of Led Zep's No Quarter!) to keep the party alive and jumping. Piss off your co-workers by coming into work hung-over with a club-stamp still on your wrist! You can nap in your car during lunch! It'll be worth it!

Big up to Brew and the crew!!!

The Toledo Show : the speakeasy vibe

As always, Sunday nights at Harvelle's is all about The Toledo Show. The night features cabaret jazz and dramatic funk and R & B as led by eccentric maestro Toledo.

The over-the-top show features burlesque-style dancing girls known as The Dames. A local troupe of beautiful lingerie clad women - they are the thinking man's Pussycat Dolls.

They seem possessed by the big band, who are some of the hottest players in town. I've heard that Toledo lives somewhere in Tinseltown, but he appears to have come from Planet Cool.

This Sunday night party is just what you need as the weekend comes to an end.