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MyWeek in Music February 7th to February 14thby Scott Zensen
Photographs by:
Scott Zensen
Steve Covault
Ok to be fun I finally took some pictures so I will add them to the mix here shortly but don't expect much and it will be only a couple till I can get a camera that gives consistent results. I must have dropped it cause sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It always gives me a little thumbnail that looks ok but when you actually download it from the camera, mixed results would be a nice term. You cannot even say nice composition because that's one of the things that's skewed besides the light meter and a few other things! Well on to MyWeek In Music!
Wednesday I went to Farmer's market in OB to again see some of the great free music that is presented there by Beach Music Mafia. First up was Chelsea Flor who has been out of town lately. It was good to hear her songs again and chat afterwards. Next up was the Beach Music Mafia chieftain himself Chuck Schiele who wowed the crowd for a long set of The Grams songs and a few outstanding covers. Chuck has been a local musician around in San Diego and around OB for many years and is a valued member of the OB community. His band The Grams just recently won the San Diego Music Awards for Best Americana. After chuck played we had one of the best singer/songwriter's in San Diego, a transplant from Virginia Beach. She has a been a favorite in San Diego since she first showed up on the scene here in San Diego. Her current band now has four members with the addition of Marcia Claire on Bass, Bill Coomes on Djembe/Drums and Mike Spurgat on lead guitar. Barbara's insightful words and beautiful voice is complemented by a harmonization with the voices of Bill and Mike. Now with Marcia whom has a great voice herself. I look forward to hearing nothing but great music out of this band in the coming years. Even some of the other musicians present agree that as far as they are concerned they are voting for her in the next San Diego Music Awards voting.
Thursday I went to the Brass Rail in Hillcrest where I went for Mono Mono's plugged with host Laura Kuebel. When you go to their site (Brass Rail) it said the show was starting at 7:30 but no one was there till 8 to 8:30. So I left and came back and got to see the first act, which was Monovox. I was impressed with them but it was a short set because they were going to do a closing set too! Happy Ron took the stage and did a few of his numbers and even asked Brooklyn and Laura to sit in on a song. It was great fun to watch! Brooklyn came on next and did a great job as usual and she brought up the percussionist David and lead guitarist/singer Ritchie from Monovox and they backed her up with some 
amazing sounds. She always sounds amazing but they sure made her sound better. After Brooklyn came Willie Ames who played guitar but then pulled out a banjo and gave us a few songs with it. After Willie came Laura who gave us a short set to accommodate a few last minute arrivals. But Laura still sounded great.
If you get a chance to hear her play and sing then it can make your night. I am sure I am forgetting someone or maybe just mixing this up. I have gotten to use to seeing only one of two shows a week. So when I have a full week like this I really need to write it down. All I can remember for the rest of the night is listening to Chelsea and Doktor Dave do a few of Chelsea's songs and then it was time for Monovox again. Monovox is an awesome band that has some really sweet sounds coming from the band. They have two guitarists and drummer 
a percussionist and a bassist. They have a distinct sound very rock oriented with guitar licks like Santana from one guitarist and Hendrix from the other. In fact Steve the other guitarist hands actually blur as he is playing the guitar. He plays fast and hard! Together they pull out an interesting sound together. Some of the songs are Latino but not all of them. But we are not talking a salsa beat here we are definitely talking Rock n, Roll. You can check it out for yourself on the 25th of January because they are playing at the Brass Rail again then!
Friday was my favorite gig probably because it had a lot of my favorites Sandi Shaner, Inigo, Ken Rahn, Tim Flannery, Barbara Nesbitt, Citizen Band, Deadline Friday, Not Your Mom, and last but obviously not least SweetTooth. The night started off really weird for me but I will keep the to myself. Most of my friends know what went down but it had nothing to do with music so I won't bore you. But Sandi Shaner was the first up she had two people with her. A young woman with a sweet voice as backup and even a small solo and a gentleman who played the guitar with Sandi. I didn't catch their names but I will try harder next time. Inigo has some sweet sounds but I was outside in a conversation so I missed most of their set. The Boat and Ski is a very fun place to go. Probably my favorite venue and it usually ends up being a very social night with lots and lots of good music in between. If I had money I would definitely opt for becoming a member there. We are just lucky that the club really likes to support local music and opens its doors to everyone during these events. After Inigo Ken Rahn took the stage and blew everyone away with his very funny songs. I think next to his girlfriend (the birthday girl) and SweetTooth, he was my favorite performer that night! If you haven't heard Ken's songs then you haven't ever laughed before at beautifully written innuendo and fun! Tim Flannery came up and wowed us with his very talented songwriting and singing and even asks the birthday girl to sit in on a couple of songs. Which isn't unusual because she uses her beautiful voice to back him up in the studio on the current CD he is making. I don't usually go in for a straight country sound but he is great and she make him sound off the charts in my opinion! Next up was the birthday girl herself with her entire band which I mentioned above in Wednesday's accounting except that Bill Coomes had his entire drum kit instead of just his Djembe believe me when I say it makes a difference. They have such a rich sound and they harmonize so well together you would think the band has been together for years rather then just a few months. Barbara's voice is so crisp and beautiful and her songs so well written and sounding that it is like listening to perfection on earth and maybe we are hearing what it will be like in a heaven full of music! Citizen Band came to bat next and Jeff's humor always gets everyone in the mood to listen to the great rock sounds of the band. Even though it is kind of double duty for a couple musicians in the band who don't get a break. Which would be the beautiful at multi-talented Marcia Claire who is in Barbara's band and a few others and in fact doesn't get to sit down because of being in four of the nights bands. I am also talking of course of the new addition to Citizen Band, Mike Spurgat who is also in Barbara's band and in the next up band Deadline Friday! At least Bill Coomes who is also in Deadline Friday got a break while Citizen Band was playing! This also started the evening off with a start in rock and roll with them getting it started and Deadline Friday bringing us to a crescendo. Then Not Your Mom takes us down. But just a little bit because these ladies are hot and they sound terrific. They kept us up there until Matt and the other guys from SweetTooth finished us off. They were in real shape tonight and just wailed us up and over the top making it a colossal night of music. Next time I say go out to listen to music at one of Listen Local's Boat and Ski gigs then please heed my advice! You can't go wrong!
Saturday was no less a night of fun! I went to a new venue for me, but maybe one some of you have gone to before. Its called Hot Monkey Love Café and it is behind a salvation army storefront on the second floor. The place is raw but they are working on making it better and in the next year or so they promise a lot of changes. I went to see yet again Citizen Band, Scott Wilson Electric and SweetTooth. Now I promo'd this in last weeks blog and so I wanted to see this for myself, even though I had seen half the bands the previous evening (or rather 2/3rds). So I wanted to see Scott Wilson a little more I think? Citizen Band opened which is weird cause I always think of them as the headlining band. In fact all three of these bands are the headline acts so I thought the order was interesting. But I think Citizen Band had another gig that night. Scott Wilson Electric sounded really good tonight but when do they not! There was a pretty good crowd at the show with Citizen Band but it swelled once Scott's band started playing. If you have never heard Scott play you need to get out to one of his gig's right away. I think he is an outstanding performer and I would hate to think that someone who likes good rock and roll would miss out on one of the best in town. SweetTooth ended the night and as usual they rocked the house with their best tunes, and Johnny Mack was outrageously good as usual. Next time Hot Monkey Love Café has a great gig be sure to go and have some fun. Some of the best acts in town are showing up more and more regularly! So don't miss 'em here!
Sunday I took the night off but there was plenty of good music out there. If you were smart you headed for Lestat's to hear Kerri Dopart, Josh Damigo and Rob Deez. If you missed it like I did then you'll definitely be sorry. Like I was! But go see em next time!
Monday I went to see Astra Kelly at her weekly gig downtown at Dublins a nice Irish bar with décor that suggests a direct pipeline to Ireland for Guinness Beer. All nice dark woods with brass and decked out like an Irish pub. The stage is in front of the bar where they serve beer and food and is one of the best places to visit in the Gaslamp Quarter. Astra Kelly who is one of my favorite female singers (I have about five) in the local music scene took stage first and last. This night turned out to be really fun! Current friends and old friends turned up and said "hi" and new ones were made as well! SweetTooth took stage after Astra and they did an acoustic set without Johnny Mack present who is always interesting during an acoustic set. Matt, Jeff and Rob didn't let us down and were really having fun doing acoustic versions of their rock songs. At least the ones that make a good transition to acoustic. Jeff Berkley showed up for his set, but Matt and the guys pulled him up on stage and he did a great job filling in for Johnny! So then the band consisted of Matt, Rob, Jeff and uh Jeff. I kept waiting for a joke from Jeff Berkley about it but he was saving his jokes for his set. They did a great job with their songs in acoustic form and Jeff Berkley played like he has always in the band. But if anything? Jeff Berkley is the consummate professional even if all his joking makes you feel otherwise! They even did a Led Zeppelin song on the fly with Matt trying to tell people chords along the way. You'd think they played it everyday! When Jeff came up to do his set we were pleasantly pleased with all his jokes and stories and his songs. Jeff has a wonderful voice that eases you into it and relaxes you. Allowing you to listen to the wonderful lyrics he puts together for his songs! Its always fun and pleasant to listen to him whether he is alone or with his band partner Calman 
Hart or when he is with Citizen Band. After Jeff was through with thrilling us with his songs.
Josh Damigo took the stage. Josh kept saying he didn't feel great and not to expect his best work but he was fine and as good as ever! His strong guitar playing with his melodic vocals always make you feel good and he constantly says something about his songs being girly but that is not my impression at all. They are good songs and he would not have been taken as seriously in this music scene if he wasn't talented enough to be here. Astra took the stage for a song again and called up Matt to do a couple of more with her. They did a duet of her song "Shotgun Moma" which was fun and they were funny because Astra got such a kick out of Matt singing the words Shotgun Mama. Typically this song is sung by Astra or with her group Not Your Mom which I guess it is more suited but they sounded great together doing it! If you get a chance to go down to Dublins on Mondays you will be treated to wonderful music by a variety of Astra friends. It got pretty busy for a Monday. The stigma of going out on a Monday when you just went back to work after the weekend is just silly! What better way can you think of than to sit in a nice looking bar sipping Guinness beer listening to good music? What better way to relax before you go back to the grindstone!
Well that's it for MyWeek In Music this week! If you're out there then say hi and if your not then get the hell out there and support you local music scene! I'm Out
Ciao
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