Dezmond Meeks : Trouble Free (almost)

I was proud to see Dezmond Meeks was performing Tuesday night (regular Tues residents Vintage Trouble took the night off). I say proud, because I first met Dezmond at Harvelle's about a year ago, when he performed with Ryan Cross' SoulFunk. Since, we've run into each other around town, and I've been able to watch him evolve. He never fails to command attention and entertain - whether sitting in at a jazz club, doing stripped down covers at a coffeehouse or onstage at a cool place (like Harvelle's). Dezmond is as natural a performer as two of his idols — Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. And like them, he does what he does, because that's what he was born to do.


He dazzles on the piano, has an incredibly dynamic vocal range and the energy of an NBA all-star. I mean to say that Dezmond Meeks is a star. A celestial being. He doesn't need sparkly clothes or flashing lights to make himself brighter (but he looks good in 'em!). Dezmond Meeks has genuine heart and soul.


Joining Dez onstage were Vintage Trouble lead singer Ty Taylor (not pictured) and James Delisco (above) - lead singer of his own band- Funky Deep.



Laura Jane Jones came through with her jazzy fresh vocals and the most amazing corkscrew curls I've ever seen, making her one to watch. As petite, feminine and coy as she is - the opposite is true of her vocal ability. Big, pure and emotive, she led her terrific band through a set of all originals. She really got the crowd revved up for Dezmond.


Also this eve - Harvelle's regular Dancin' John celebrated his birthday. While some are more appreciative fans than others, Dancin' John is true to himself, and his creative output - a sorta raw funky interpretive dance - leaves one awestruck, but like a lot of us, he loves to get down and has a real love for live music.


Happy Birthday Johnny!!


And they even spelled his name right on the marquee!!! Dezmond Meeks uber alles!!

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

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Arthur Adams : Home Brewin'

To hear Arthur Adams sing the blues is nothing short of hearing the sweetest soul music imaginable.

Beyond earthly, his sad slow voice echoes times of yore when things were simpler - when if all you had was three chords- you figured out a way to make them into many songs and entertain for hours.

It's said that singing the blues isn't to make yourself feel better, but rather to make those listening feel worse.

Arthur doesn't play that. He's here to party, to make you dance, to walk out into the crowd with his wireless Gibson ES335 and shred among the masses.

Arthur Adams is doubtlessly the last of his breed. He does what a lot of blues singin' muthas used to do. But none of them have the chops, tenacity and skills of Arthur Adams. And he's survived them all.

Arthur Adams plays Harvelle's every once in a while. Check in and come down to see him live.
(While he's still alive).

Thx Always David & Cevin
Special thx to Lou Castro (Arthur Adam's bassist)
Shout outs to Mika, John, Samantha, Nesto, Joseph and
West 4th/Jane

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Bone Shake Me

The Boneshakers ain't fuckin' around. They came to play. Under any conditions.

In the news today, they said there's a tornado in Brooklyn. If the Boneshakers were in Brooklyn that tornado would have mellowed out under the bone shaking funk of The Boneshakers.

The Boneshakers consist of a baadasssss group of the music world's most hardcore funkateers. Randy Jacobs is a guitar hero. Like a surgeon, his guitar work is precise and cutting. The man doesn't use a guitar pick - he plays with his fingers, his thumbs, his wrist - his whole damn hand.


Sweet Pea Atkinson is a dapper crooner with an ability to emote like the Smokey's and the Marvin's and the Curtis' did. He's always impeccably dressed and always throws it down. And the audience always responds. God bless Sweet Pea Atkinson.(After the show we sat around and talked about Wattstax and Mavis Staples and Bonnie Raitt (whom he has played with in- addition to Lyle Lovett).


Johnny Kirkwood on drums laid it deep in the pocket and kept it on-the-one all night long. I love that.



T.O. Banks - who I've long been a fan of - plays the funky keys with outrageous ease. He channels the late great Billy Preston, which is really sayin' somethin'.

And the funkiest man in the room - the bassist. Known as J.V. Collier (not pictured) this is the one who holds down the bottom end and is one of the top guys in the biz. Incredible.

Neither tornados, inflamed esophagi, little practice time, tinnitus nor busted kneecaps have been able to stop 'em thus far.

They have several recordings available. I picked up 2 or 3 or 4 of them from a nice lady wandering around the club with a box of discs and a change purse. I'm all set.

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

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

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.

Double Trouble : The legions are growing

Ty Taylor on the mic - Rick on the bass

It's the place to be on a Tuesday night. While the rest of you sub-urbanites plug in, turn on and cop out, the cool people are dancing the night away with wild abandon and the soundtrack is provided by Vintage Trouble. The guys have just released their first album entitled "The Bomb Shelter Sessions" <--Click to get it from iTunes!

Richard on drums - Rick on the bass

Nalle - lead guitar

Richard on drums

Tonight's "Trouble Tuesday" started off with the acoustic soul music of Kandace Lindsey. Backed by a trio of exceptional players, KL let her voice do the talking (hehe). She has a new EP coming out in a couple of weeks. It's called "Acoustic Fire". <--Click to get it from iTunes!

She always brings joy whenever I've seen her. Brilliant!

Kandace

Congrats to Charlie Brumbly of Vintage Trouble on the birth of his baby. One more (soon to be) VT fan on the planet.

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

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States

Vintage Trouble : Tuesday Night In Pix

Vintage Trouble have taken over Tuesday nights at Harvelle's!! They have a new album on iTunes. They are quickly becoming the band to watch! Tuesday's has been renamed Trouble Tuesday in their honor. The images above were taken last Tuesday. Come join the party!!

Toledo Show : T Plays It Cool

Labor Day weekend. If you ain't already here... This is THE place to be RIGHT NOW!! But there's a line down the block.


Dames, funk, heroes, villains - the whole damn thing.
(below - Toledo: gettin down zebra style!!)

(below - Walter Davis: blowing the battle cry of The Toledo Show. His mighty saxophone has been heard from the Eastside to the Westside. )


Tomorrow : Labor Day proper. Come out and meet UltraLove. The singer's beginning his Monday night residency, come by, and get down wit yer badself
CORRECTION : Tomorrow is Venice rockstar Stevie Starlight! UltraLove will be here next Monday.

Big ups to David, Cevin, Alex, John, Jackie, Mika, Candise, Melinda, Ray, Stan, Nesto, young Chelsea and the Westside Tribe!! Where's Emily?

Thanks for making it interesting : Mindy, Erin, Ashley, Shamari and lil' Cassandra!! Where's Heather?

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

Location:4th St,Santa Monica,United States