Events for August 2024
Happy Hour Every Day 4pm - 6pm, Excludes Concert Nights and Holidays
Calendar Month Navigation
Calendar of Events
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 Erisa Nicole6:00 pm Smooth Jazz $www.ticketmaster.com cover Erisa NicoleJuly 28 @ 6:00 pm Erisa Nicole is an up-and-coming smooth jazz saxophonist who has been captivating audiences with her soulful sounds since she first picked up the instrument.Born and raised in San Diego, CA Erisa has always had a passion for music, and was exposed to a wide range of genres growing up. This variety of influences has helped shape her unique sound and style. Erisa Nicole got a late start playing the saxophone, however, she quickly proved to be a natural talent. She has since developed a signature sound that blends elements of jazz, soul, funk, and R&B. Erisa has been performing live for the past six years, playing at many of the top jazz clubs/venues in San Diego and beyond. During this time, she has also released a couple of singles, all of which have been met with critical acclaim. Erisa Nicole’s most recent single is entitled “Fresh” produced by Adam Hawley and co-written by her and her husband and it is definitely is giving fresh vibes! Even though Erisa Nicole is new to the Smooth Jazz scene, she continues to wow audiences nationwide. Audiences of all ages and backgrounds have been charmed by her riveting performances. Her background in gospel music has also contributed to the fact that she is loved by her fans, who seem to always want more out of her when she performs live. | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 Love is a Rose5:00 pm $5 cover Love is a RoseAugust 2 @ 5:00 pm A love for the Rock and Country genre, got the members of Love is a Rose – A Linda Ronstadt Tribute Band performing, and playing in sync as if they’d been together their entire musical careers. The talent and experience of each member; performing at a variety of venues, and the sheer desire to entertain will be evident from the first note. Viva Santana8:00 pm Rock $15 cover Viva SantanaAugust 2 @ 8:00 pm Viva is the original Santana tribute act originating in 1990 in Southern California. The music of Santana has inspired each player to pour heart and soul into every performance and become a link to the master himself. Carlos Santana and his innovative sounds have finally reached the forefront of rock where they belong. | 3 |
4 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 4 DJ John Phillips8:30 pm Dance DJ $10 cover DJ John PhillipsAugust 4 @ 8:30 pm | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 8 | 9 Backwater Blues Band with Special Guests5:00 pm Blues $5 cover Backwater Blues Band with Special GuestsAugust 9 @ 5:00 pm The Backwater Blues Band is one of San Diego’s #1 Blues, Authentic Rock & Blues,Soul Blues, Funk, Originals, Classic Rock Blues, and R & B. Composed of members with a rich history in the San Diego music scene, the Backwater Blues Band will bring an ambiance and sound to our stage second to none.
Blue Largo6:00 pm Ameriana $5 cover Blue LargoAugust 9 @ 6:00 pm lue Largo was formed by guitarist Eric Lieberman and vocalist Alicia Aragon in 1999. Eric has been a fixture on the Southern California blues scene since 1981, when he began his four year stint with San Diego’s now legendary King Biscuit Blues Band. He then went on to form The Rhumboogies, which featured vocalist Earl Thomas, and subsequently The Juke Stompers. As part of the Southern California blues community during the 1980’s, Eric became closely associated with The Paladins, The James Harman Band, Hollywood Fats, Kid Ramos and Junior Watson. He was even lucky enough to play a gig with Hollywood Fats at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, just two weeks shy of Fats’ untimely and sudden death. Both The Rhumboogies and The Juke Stompers have shared bills with B.B. King, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, The Paladins and The James Harman Band. And two of Eric’s greatest disciples, Robby Eason and Nathan James, both went on to play guitar for James Harman in the nineties and 2000’s. In addition to Robby and Nathan, pretty much any blues musician who has lived in San Diego at any time from 1981 to the present, regardless of what instrument they play, will attest to Eric’s major influence on the San Diego music community for almost the past four decades. Eric first met Alicia Aragon when he was playing guitar with The King Biscuit Blues Band in 1982. That band had a steady gig, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at a club in San Diego called The Mandolin Wind, which lasted longer than the four years Eric was with that band. Because Eric was all of twenty seven years old at the time, and meeting girls at the gig was high on his list of priorities, he had a self imposed policy of not dating the waitresses who worked at the club. But when Alicia started waitressing there, that rule went right out the window. While Alicia was too shy to be singing in public back then, she always had a deep and genuine love for blues and jazz, and therefore very deliberately sought out work in venues that featured such live music. Subsequent to working at The Mandolin Wind, she worked for fourteen years at Elario’s in La Jolla, where artists such as Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessell, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Hand Crawford, Pappa John Creach and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson performed on a semi regular basis. Now that’s a lot of music and soul to ingest over fourteen years! Eric is a band leader who doesn’t sing himself, and that’s not the best spot to be in. You’re always dependent on having a great singer, who fits into the band both stylistically and personally, and that is not always so easy to find. So throughout the years, whenever Eric lost a singer, he would try and talk Alicia into singing with him. He knew Alicia’s genuine love for the music he loved, and how supportive she had always been of his music. But more than all that, Alicia would learn these Billie Holiday or Sarah Vaughan songs on her own, just for the love and desire of learning them, and when Eric would hear her singing them a cappella, he was almost moved to tears. And that convinced him that she could bring the same passion, emotion and honesty to the forefront of his band. But it took many pleas and many rejections, before Alicia finally acquiesced one day in 1999. And once she said “yes,” Blue Largo was born! Blue Largo released its debut album, What A Day, produced by Mavis Staples’ guitar player and musical director, Rick Holmstrom in 2000, and released its second record Still In Love With You in 2002. While maintaining its home base in San Diego, Blue Largo has traveled up and down the California coast, playing such well known venues as Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco, The Derby in Los Angeles and the legendary Blue Café in Long Beach in the early 2000’s. But in November 2006, Eric developed a neurological condition known as Focal Dystonia, which caused him to lose coordination in his right hand. He probably should have stopped playing altogether at that point, as he could barley even play in time. If he could hold onto a pick at all, it was as if it was attached to a rubber band. But playing guitar is an addiction for Eric, and he couldn’t force himself to stop, just as most addicts can’t force themselves to stop whatever their addition is. So, he kept the band going, playing mostly small local gigs, while doing everything possible to overcome his Focal Dystonia, including learning to read Braille and taking formal piano lessons. The idea here is to learn new tasks, using the affected parts of the body, in order to create new neurotransmitters, which hopefully replace the damaged neurotransmitters that are causing the dystonia. Because Eric tried such a multitude of remedies to help him conquer his dystonia, it is difficult to know which were the most effective. But he believes that if it was any one specific thing, it was spending approximately five hours a day for over eleven years, retraining himself how to play, one note at a time, without the dystonic, spasmodic hand motions. And while he’s still not one hundred percent free of his dystonia, he’s about ninety five percent back to normal, and still spending those five hours a day working towards getting back to a hundred percent. Because of Eric’s condition, Blue Largo didn’t record another record for fifteen years, from 2003 to 2015. But by 2015, with Alicia’s encouragement, he became convinced that he was healed enough to once again commit something to tape, and the result is the band’s third album, Sing Your Own Song. Up until this time, Blue Largo has always been a traditional 1940’s / ’50’s era blues band, specializing in covers by such artists as Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Louis Jordan, T Bone Walker and Julia Lee. But Eric started jotting down some song ides of his own over the years, which he and Alicia revisited when they decided to record this new record, and lo and behold, Sing Your Own Song contains seven original songs, dealing with life’s big issues…….. confronting challenges, despair, hope, perseverance, and ultimately prevailing! Music wise, the record contains everything from gospel to Louisiana swamp grooves, 1960’s rhythm and blues, jump blues, sensual ballads and lowdown acoustic country blues. And as a result of the spark that this new record gave Blue Largo, the band played the Gator By The Bay Festival in 2016 and 2018, and both The Baja Blues Festival in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, and The San Diego Blues Festival in 2017. Blue Largo has now completed its fourth album, Before The Devil Steals Your Soul, scheduled for release on October 19, 2018. Believing Devil to be the band’s strongest and most creative record yet, it contains ten original songs, as well as Nina Simone’s Feeling Good, Jimmy Ruffin’s What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted, Nat Adderley’s Work Song, and a mambo guitar instrumental entitled Bodas De Oro, which pays tribute to the great Cuban guitarist, Manuel Galban. As for the original compositions on Devil, once again Eric chooses to write in his own voice, addressing life’s big issues, such as the political and social state of our country in Wash Away and Same Race, the loss a loved one to terminal illness in The Long Goodbye, and the need to live our lives to the fullest, in truth and righteousness, before it’s too late, in Before The Devil Steals Your Soul. If I Can Make It To Augusta is a tribute to all the musicians who have been out there paying their dues on the road for decades, and who now wish to settle down to a more serene, peaceful life at home. Monrovia is the first song Eric has written as a fictional story, the theme being betrayal of love, infidelity, jealousy and ultimately murder. For its musical ambience Eric was channeling a Quentin Tarantino or Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western soundtrack. And finally, I’m Alive addresses the incredible inspirational healing power of music itself! With the completely organic and unforced stylistic change from playing vintage blues covers to writing its own original material, Blue Largo now likes to think of its music as “Original Vintage Rhythm and Blues.” The songs are definitely original, and Eric just lets them come to him as they do. He doesn’t intentionally try to write in anyone’s voice other than his own. He most certainly doesn’t try to write in the voice of some African American blues artist from the 1940’s or ’50’s, because in spite of his great love and respect for that music, it is not his music, nor does it reflect the life and times in which he grew up. In spite of dedicating the better part of his adult life to studying and paying tribute to the blues of the 1940’s and ’50’s, it only makes sense that the songs which come out of Eric are much more evocative of the rhythm and blues and soul music from the 1960’s, that he came of age hearing on his parents’ car radio. And in the end, because Eric, Alicia and all of Blue Largo’s musicians have been so genuinely steeped in vintage blues for so many decades, Sing Your Own Song and Before The Devil Steals Your Soul can’t help but to capture and evoke the essence of that sound and vibe, without even trying. In addition to Eric and Alicia, Blue Largo’s current line-up consists of Taryn “T-Bird” Donath (piano), Raphael Salmon (organ), Marcus P. Bashore (drums), Mike “Sandlewood” Jones (Fender bass), and Dave Castel De Oro and Eddie Croft (saxophones.) Blue Largo was formed by guitarist Eric Lieberman and vocalist Alicia Aragon in 1999. Eric recruited his old music partner, saxophonist Jonny Viau from as far back as 1982, when they were both sidemen in the King Biscuit Blues Band, and together with pianist Sue Palmer, drummer Phil Rowley, bassist Roger Daschle and baritone sax man Troy Jennings, the band released its debut album, “What A Day!” produced by Rick Holmstrom in the year 2000. The band went through a few personnel changes, and with piano virtuoso, Carl Sonny Leyland and bassist Chris Crepps on board , released its second record “Still In Love With You” in 2002. While maintaining its home base in San Diego, California during the past fifteen years, Blue Largo has traveled up and down the California coast, playing such well known venues as Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco, The Derby in Los Angeles and the legendary Blue Café in Long Beach. In November2006, Eric developed a rare neurological condition called focal dystonia, which affected the coordination in his right hand, thus putting an end to any further recording plans until May 2015. With great dedication and hard work, Eric has overcome his focal dystonia to the point where he felt he would be able to record again, and the result is the band’s third album, entitled “Sing Your Own Song,” to be officially released September 18, 2015. Blue Largo has always been a traditional 1940’s / ‘50’s era blues band, specializing in covers by such artists as Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Louis Jordan, T Bone Walker and Julia Lee. Eric never considered himself a songwriter, but has rather always focused on paying tribute to the great artists whom he loves so much. However, he jotted down a few ideas over the years, which he and Alicia revisited when they decided to record their current album, and lo and behold, “Sing Your Own Song” contains seven original songs, which the band is most proud of and excited about! These original songs deal with life’s big issues…….. the challenges, despair, hope, perseverance, and ultimately prevailing! Music wise, the record contains everything from Louisiana swamp grooves to gospel, rhythm and blues, jump blues, sensual ballads and lowdown acoustic country blues, and Blue Largo is ready and rearing to bring it all to their live shows. Along with Eric and Alicia, the current Blue Largo line-up features Jonny Viau on tenor and baritone saxophones, Marcus Bashore on drums, Taryn Donath on piano and Art Kraatz on bass. “Sing Your Own Song,” which was recorded and co-produced by Nathan James, also features Nathan on rhythm guitar, resonator guitar and upright bass, Ron Felton and Marty Dodson on drums, Joey Jazdzewski on both Fender and upright bass, Rafael Salmon on organ, Dave Castel de Oro on tenor saxophone and Missy Anderson on backing vocals. As Charlie Parker said, “Now’s the Time,” and we believe now is the time for Blue Largo! So people get ready, get on board, and don’t let this soul train leave the station without you! POWERED BY SITE ASSEMBLE INTERNET SERVICES COPYRIGHT © 2000-2022 BLUE LARGO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | 10 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 10 |
11 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 11 | 12 | 13 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 13 Santiago Orozco8:30 pm Latin Rock $5 cover Santiago OrozcoAugust 13 @ 8:30 pm | 14 | 15 Jack Tempchin & special guests6:00 pm $Ticketmaster cover Jack Tempchin & special guestsAugust 15 @ 6:00 pm Jack Tempchin is a legendary hit songwriter, whose compositions “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone” are synonymous with the Southern California Sound. These songs can be found on the Eagles’ compilation Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, which the RIAA named the Best-Selling U.S. Album of the 20th Century. Jack Tempchin songs have been performed or recorded by several artists, including George Jones, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Jackson Browne, Dwight Yoakam, Linda Ronstadt, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Richie Havens, Sammy Kershaw, Kate Wolf, Tom Rush and more. Jack Tempchin has also performed live with 3 Eagles—Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit. He’s also played with greats like Poco, Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Chicago, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, Jimmy Webb, Al Kooper, Kenny Loggins, Karla Bonoff, Christopher Cross and Dolly Parton, among others. In the mid-90s, Jack toured as the opening act for Ringo Starr and His All Star Band at major venues Radio City Music Hall and The Hollywood Bowl. A San Diego native, In 1976, Jack Tempchin was first signed by Clive Davis to Arista Records, along with Jules Shear and Richard Stekol, in the band The Funky Kings. Retro-rocker Johnny Rivers recorded The Funky Kings’ track “Slow Dancing (Swayin’ To the Music)” written by Tempchin, and made it a Billboard Top 10 in 1977. In the 1980s, Tempchin co-wrote a dozen radio hits for Glenn Frey’s solo career, including “True Love,” “The One You Love,” “Sexy Girl,” “Party Town,” “I Found Somebody,” “Soul Searchin,” and “Livin’ Right.” Other Tempchin/Frey co-writes include Top 40 hits “Smuggler’s Blues” and “You Belong to The City” for the original ‘Miami Vice’ TV show soundtrack. These two songs were later sampled in the 90s by platinum rappers Coolio (“Nature of the Business”) and Jay-Z (“City Is Mine”). Famously, Tempchin’s tune “Peaceful Easy Feeling” was featured in a notorious taxi scene in the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski where Jeff Bridges’ character is unceremoniously tossed from a cab. “Part Of Me, Part Of You,” another Tempchin/Frey classic, was the end-title theme song for the Oscar-award winning film Thelma & Louise. In 2015, a Tempchin/Frey co-write was featured in David O. Russell’s Joy starring Jennifer Lawrence. In 2014, Jack’s lyrical manuscripts for “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone” as well as his original Stella guitar were on view at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to that, his lyrics were featured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Henry San Diego, CA-based Mrs. Henry is a hard-hitting rock and roll band, a quartet of singular spirits on a shared journey, paying homage to a historic legacy as they introduce a new chapter in American roots music. In concert, Mrs. Henry tethers cerebral excursions and soaring jams to life-affirming anthems. With spring-loaded authority, bassist Blake Dean and drummer Chad Lee balance the spiraling keyboard dexterity of Jody Bagley and the scorching guitar of Daniel Cervantes. All four, compelling lead singers, possess individual voices that intersect and complement one another, singular identities that unite in celebratory choruses. Tracked on vintage analog gear in historic Southern California studios, their latest release, Keep on Rising, is a full-on rock opera, a three Act album that will span three physical vinyl LPs. While the points of reference might seem far-flung — Dante’s Inferno and Ziggy Stardust meet Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Tommy by the Who – the narrative is cohesive, a theme that the band’s de facto leader, Daniel Cervantes explains is a classic tale of life, death and rebirth. “We write what we know,” he notes. “It’s through our lens, and we are a rock and roll band.” | 16 | 17 |
18 Phylicia Rae & Jacob Webb6:00 pm $ticketmaster cover | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 23 | 24 |
25 Smooth Jazz Alley6:00 pm $ticketmaster cover | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 Casey Hensley6:00 pm Blues $5 cover Casey HensleyAugust 29 @ 6:00 pm
Casey Hensley is an American female blues, swing, and rock and roll singer, songwriter and record producer. To date, Hensley has released two albums including her 2017 debut issue, Live. The Los Angeles Times described Hensley as a “rising star”. She was named ‘Best Blues Artist’ at the 2019 San Diego Music Awards. Her work includes a mixture of Chicago and jump blues, plus swing and rock and roll. Hensley is a distant relative of the late Patsy Cline. | 30 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 30 | 31 Concert NightConcert NightAugust 31 Detroit Underground8:30 pm Dance $15 cover Detroit UndergroundAugust 31 @ 8:30 pm The Detroit Underground was established in 1994, and still has several of its original members. Over the years the band has earned the reputation for being a hard working, high energy, show band. The group features a very solid and funky rhythm section. These four seasoned players provide a solid foundation for the band’s “smokin” horns. Topping it off are California’s best male and female lead vocalists. These two high-powered singers will light up the stage, and leave you singing their songs long after you leave the show. This powerful combination of dedicated musicians gives the band the ability to crank out tunes from artists such as EARTH, WIND, and FIRE, CHAKA KAHN,and STEVIE WONDER. We also play great motown hits and heart-felt ballads. The Detroit Underground is not just another nightclub act, but a complete musical experience http://www.thedetroitunderground.com
|