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.

Vintage Trouble : Shut Up! And Play!!

The UK has long been known for appreciating "American" music (jazz/blues/soul/r&b) in a much more fanatical way then us, their Yankee counterparts. True to form, those across the pond have discovered Vintage Trouble, in a way that America just hasn't yet. Despite their countless performances across this land and over there, perhaps we're just too vast to embrace them. As hard as they are to miss once you've met 'em, if you don't know, well... then you just don't know.

If great songs, amazing musicianship, hard work, cool clothes and real "soul" music are not enough stimulus for ya, it might be time to check off this planet or at least develop a relationship with mind-altering substances on the regular, cuz you just ain't wit it!




Here's some notes from the road:

Nov 12, 2011 (Middlesbrough, UK) "Tonight, had great day with 200 kids as we did a show for them at Malsis School, Cross Hills. Yeah they rocked!" - Nalle Colt"We played a show today in Yorkshire - UK for 100s of private school kids from 6 years old to high school. My life has been changed this day. I have been reconnected to youthful joy. Tonight we play Middlesboro - UK. Bring it, TroubleMakers. Reconnect me with adult joy. (wink wink)" - Ty Taylor

CONGRATULATIONS!!Nov 9 2011 (London)Vintage Trouble Accepting their 2011 CLASSIC ROCK AWARDS for BEST NEW BAND!!

Click below to read this brief interview with the band upon accepting their "Best New Band 2011" award:

 

PAYOTE : Tuesdays Will Never Be The Same

The one and only Jessie Payo now owns Tuesday nights at Harvelle's. Her band Payote is Johnny Stachela - Guitar, Adam Sizemore - Vocals/Keys, Vince Fossett Jr. - Drums and Kevin Ogburn - Bass.

Harvelle's & The Toledo Show :In The Huffington Post

For the complete post click [here]

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.

The Toledo Show : 10 Years At Harvelle's

Last week marked the 500th Toledo Show at Harvelle's.
Tonight we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of it all!!

I know many of the vamps here tonight as well as all the principals.  Congratulations to Toledo, Malik, Walter, Brewster, Seabass, Spoonie, Asa, Vicious, Jonathan, Shamari special guests Ultralove and Jessie Payo, and the dames: Nykky, Mindy, Molly (below), Erin, Leah & Annie.

The band has brought it so solid and heavy for so long it's become a West side institution. Soon to be in residence at Harvelle's new Long Beach location every Thursday night starting Oct 6.  With a bigger stage and brilliant sound system, its gonna be spectacular.

Tonight the crowd is thick and filled. Giant reverberations of live frequencies fill the room as bass & drum rev it up to see who can play the loudest. And Ultralove!! Yeah representing Monday nights along with Seth and Mike Gunn in the house.

It's cool and calm near the front of the club. I'm chilled out with bottled water sitting in plain site of an air conditioning vent. The dance floor is a different story! Swamp-like, hot and sweaty - more crowded than usual - it was difficult to move through it to give a pound to the faithful homies - those who religiously respect The Toledo Show.

Everyone's present. Dan, Dorthea, Guy, Heather, Nate, new jack Alfred, the curly haired Italian dude, the 2 metal dudes, even Deon the painter and that guy in the zorro hat who comes the last half hour and walks from hot young girl to hot young girl kissing hands and kissing ass, as he runs his numbers game in search of an inappropriately young chica. I've heard he has slipped money into at least one of the dame's hand. What's up with that???  - He's here too. A big shout-out to Kristen from Chicago.  A Guido's restaurant employee who digs jazz-funk, perhaps as much as I do.

Overall a chill time and congrats to Toledo Diamond for succeeding at raising and nurturing this phenomenon. I'm sure it's inception was really when Mr. Diamond first decided to take the stage.
What will the next 10 Years bring?
We'll have to wait and see...