by Matt Kettmann
FROM THE BOWL TO SOhO: The Damian Marley/Ben
Harper show on Tuesday, August 15, at the Bowl will slide into SOhO
for an official after-party sponsored by Everloving Records, the
label that launched Jack Johnson’s first album. With a Bowl ticket
stub, it’ll be free admission and SOhO-goers will get to see the
Culver City Dub Collective, which features Jack Johnson’s drummer
Adam Topol (pictured) leading the group in Lee “Scratch”
Perry-inspired, King Tubby-esque beats. Everloving’s newest
artist — and one of France’s best-selling pop stars — Piers Faccini
is also on the bill, prepared to deliver his brand of West African
rhythms and poetic ballads. It’ll be worth a post-concert visit,
fo’ sho’.
THE ROCKS RUNDOWN: We can’t say it enough:
Rocks is coming up in the State Street live music scene, and this
coming week is no different. It begins tonight, Thursday, August
10, with 19-year-old Brittany Batastini, who plays the keys while
belting out strong vocals; the Big Island of Hawai‘i’s Bhudahead;
creative songwriting mastermind Matt McAvene, winner of the recent
regional Battle of the Bands; and hometown boy Gabe Lackner, making
another appearance before heading back to his Brooklyn digs. On
Friday, August 11, the lineup features singer/songwriters Mike
Schmid, Amy Kuney, Tim Fagan, and Kelly Dalton. Then on Saturday,
August 12, make way for sultry L.A. songstress Quincy Coleman as
well the Suspects and pop sensation Holden, a trio of San Marcos
High grads who’ve been playing together and touring the country for
years now. Even John Palminteri is rumored to be attending that
show, which is a birthday bash for T-Rex Moore. And then, next
Thursday, August 17, get ready for another appearance by Matt
McAvene, who’‘ll be opening for L.A. rockers Arrica Rose and the
…’s (fresh out of the studio with their full-length debut People
Like Us on the streets) and Wild Blooms, an Austin-born duo who
play an enticing brand of ethereal electronica.
UN OTRO TICO SHOW: Costa Rica native turned
Santa Barbara resident Luis Muñoz makes a stop with his Latin jazz
band at SOhO next Thursday, August 17. Muñoz, whose last album Vida
garnered international praise, will be playing some songs off his
upcoming release, which is tentatively titled Paz, combines jazz
with Costa Rican folklore, and features the able help of Tom
Etchart on bass, Jonathan Dane on trumpet, George Friedenthal on
keys, Tom Buckner on woodwinds, Raul Rico on percussion, and
Narciso Sotomayor — another Tico, as Costa Ricans call
themselves — on guitar. So get a sneak peek at the new work from
the one of the leaders in Latin jazz.
THE VELVET DOOR: A little further down State
Street at the Velvet Jones, they’re welcoming a Friday night show
from Ona, one of the county’s most promising original rock bands,
and another appearance by the increasingly popular Vajra, a
rock-funk-metal-jazz-hip-hop band outta L.A. with some S.B. roots.
Then, the following Tuesday, August 15, SoCal’s latest offering of
reggae-tinged punk-pop (or is it the other way around?) comes to
the Velvet. That would be Dumbluck, whose growing presence on the
West Coast club scene was bolstered by the recent release of the
full-length album Sweetmilk Underground. They’re playing with Can’t
Hang, the best reggae rock band to ever emerge from the greater
Baltimore area.
LAST SHOTS: Inhibitions will get kicked out the
back door at SOhO on Sunday night, August 13, for nine fearless
adults plan to have their very own “Breakthrough Performances” that
evening. As the culmination of an empowerment program for adults
designed by music professional Mick Pulver, the night will feature
shy men singing about love and timid women rocking out. Backed by
the talented Breakthrough Band, the program graduates shall have
the night of their lives. … Down south a tad at the Majestic
Ventura Theatre, actress-turned-rocker Jada Pinkett Smith and her
band Wicked Wisdom will rock the crowd on Thursday, August 17,
before the legendarily creepy Alice Cooper hits the stage. No word
on whether hubbie Will Smith will be there.