March 2010
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Featured Artist: JOHN WALSH
PIANO BAR + Happy Hour - Come on it and start your happy hour at 5pm-8pm, and then enjoy as we kick it down a notch, and play the classics all night long on the piano. ALL WINE AND SIGNATURE MARTINIS HALF OFF AFTER 8PM FOR THE ENTIRE NIGHT. Super chill piano vibe, music starts 8pm.
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THE SOUNDBOX SESSIONS : Our most innovative evening, directed by Steve Aguilar. Beginning at 830pm, watch professional musicians take original and cover music, and reinterpret the music in front of your ears, unrehearsed. Guest appearances nightly. Largely acoustic, focused on harmony, melody, and a unique approach to some classic tunes...also featuring Bryon Holly & Al Kim. Check the calendar for the weekly featured artist.
Featured Artist: OLIVIA PUCCI
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Featured Artist: SABER ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA
Join us for a night of reggae music.
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KNIGHTS OF MONTE CARLO w. Kid Theodore, The New RoomKNIGHTS OF MONTE CARLO w. Kid Theodore, The New RoomThe Knights of Monte Carlo are distinctly rich, gorgeously handsome and they exhibit exquisitely refined taste. What ambrosia was to the Greek Gods of Mythology, The Knights of Monte Carlo are to Yacht Rock. Because of their own unique style, they frequently attract chic and pulchritudinous admirers from all over the world, as well as many foreign countries. This makes the Knights of Monte Carlo the most popular and internationally sought after "Soft Rock" tribute ensemble of all time. They can be seen performing at only the finest resorts, on luxury cruise ships and the occassional celebrity wedding. So consider it luck, or even fate, if you ever get the chance to see The Knights of Monte Carlo perform live. They usually have much more important things on their agendas such as drinking Pina Coladas, carousing with women almost twice their own age. (All of this occurs, of course, on board a yacht or a helicopter....or more likely, a yacht WITH a helicopter on it.) Remember, The Knights of Monte Carlo look forward to meeting each and every one of you while you thank them for their services...orally.
Tod Mcleod
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
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M80's Dance Night
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CHRIS PIERCE w. Maxim Ludwig, Leila BroussardCHRIS PIERCE w. Maxim Ludwig, Leila BroussardPromo: First ten groups to reserve their table (and 4 ticket purchases get a free signed bottle of Ledbetter Syrah by Chris Pierce. This is the wine Chris Pierce owns).
Info: Chris Pierce is a soul singer. Chris Pierce is a song-craftsman. He is a gifted performer. With his second all analog studio recording under his belt entitled "Walking on the Earth," and over 350 live performances in the past two years, Chris Pierce is living by his own words, "keep on keeping on". Born and raised in Southern California, Chris has been performing in clubs, on television and on concert tours since before he could drive. Still a young man, he has earned the notoriety of an underground music legend. Chris Pierce is often described as an old soul and his music is oftencompared to greats like Bill Withers, Al Green and Otis Redding, yet he has a voice that stands alone. He believes in making albums that not only feel good as a whole but can also be broken down and be rediscovered again and again, one song at a time.
Whether playing in a 20,000 seat sold out stadium, a 20-seat coffeehouse, or producing and playing in the studio, Chris brings it all and never holds back. A Chris Pierce performance is widely known to move people in a positive direction. His energy is powerful and contagious. He is also known worldwide for his awe-inspiring, soulful real emotion and well written songs. Chris has been building a grass roots following over the past several years across the globe playing city after city, country after country, reaching out to one heart at a time. Chris opened for Seal during his sold-out worldwide tour playing to thousands of people each night. During the last couple years alone he's played three Japan tours, three European tours, eight tours in the UnitedStates and supporters everywhere are flooding Chris's websites anxiously waiting to experience his soulfulness again.
A respected song-craftsman in the music community, Chris's songs have made their way to both big and small screens, including the soundtrack for the Oscar winning film Crash, TV's hit show Brothers and Sisters, A Banana Republic national ad campaign which aired during Bravo's show Project Runway, and ABC's hit show What About Brian. Chris's songs are also currently featured on Sirius Radio, XM Radio as well as hit radio stations in Japan. Chris is receiving amazing accolades and press during his tours in the U.S. and Europe and his widespread popularity in Japan is steadily growing as well. Chris has growing relationships and sponsorships with several music and clothing companies, including Taylor Guitars, and Horny Toad Activewear.
Chris has a very special bond with his fans and is known for staying after his shows to sign CD's and talk to his ever-growing fan base. He is respectedbyhis peers and has shared the with stage Al Green, Toots and the Maytals, Seal, B.B. King, Colbie Caillat, Raul Midon, Jamie Cullum, Tristan Prettyman, Ozomatli, Robert Cray and Macy Gray to only name a few. He was chosen by Myspace.com as a featured artist and was featured recently on E! Entertainment channel and dubbed a "rising star."
The Chris Pierce sound has soulful depth and uplifting vibrations. His true love of music is obvious from every note of each live performance and recording. Chris Pierce has the gift of deliverance. He states that, "I am driven by hope, life and love. I let it pour out of my soul in the form of music." So indulge yourself and check out Chris's music and his live show and discover the real emotions of Chris Pierce onyourown.
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BARCELONA w. ShaimusBARCELONA w. ShaimusTwo years prior to the formation of the band, Brian was involved in a solo project. He recorded Safety Songs and then employed his musically-inclined friends to accompany him on a tour to support the debut album. After working with his fellow musicians, Brian came to realize that he worked better as part of a band. The friends created a music ensemble and called themselves Barcelona. Fennell described the band's sound when he stated that, "[w]e classify our music style as piano rock."[2]
Touring beganin late 2005 upon the formation of the band. Brian Fennell, Chris Bristol and Rhett Stonelake attended Seattle Pacific University. Bristol and Stonelake were still seniors when the band began performing gigs. Most of the band's earlier shows were on the West Coast, which has been attributed to their success in becoming a familiar name amongst music listeners in the west. [3]
The band was featured on MySpace on August 15, 2007, which caught the attention of an A&R; representative who helped initiate a promotional deal with MySpace Records and MySpace.com. [4] The band made a television appearance on Good Day Sacramento on August 8, 2007 to promote the upcoming debut album, Absolutes, and play a sample set. [5] Barcelona released Absolutes, on September 25, 2007, which received favorable reviews, especially from hometown critics. [6]
Barcelona performed at Bumbershoot 2008 in Seattle. [7]
On December 18, 2008 Universal Records announced that they had signed Barcelona to their label, Universal Motown. The label released a remastered version of the band's original Absolutes on April 28, 2009 including four additional tracks. The rerelease of Absolutes was self produced by Barcelona and Brian Eichelberger, a close friend of the band and former member.Michael H. Brauer, a two-time Grammy winner for his work with artists like Coldplay and John Mayer mixed the album.
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THE RESCUES w. HoneyHoneyTHE RESCUES w. HoneyHoneyFour disparate parts crashed together to make one majestic sound in 2008. What started as a lark at a party in the Hollywood Hills has quickly turned into the most powerful force in the LA music scene. Kyler England, Gabriel Mann, Adrianne Gonzalez and Rob Giles, all successful singer songwriters in their own right, have created a new, compelling sound that started as a multi-instrumental, four-part harmony "indie supergroup" and grew into thing of its own where dark meets light, hope meets peril and beauty is found in unexpected places.
Their chemistry is evident at their explosive, emotional live shows, which are always packed with everyone from jaded hipsters waiting for a cure to avid and devoted music fans lining up around the block to catch a glimpse and feel the energy. In their performances and their songwriting, the Rescues strive to find new ways to express beauty and the music industry has taken note: LA Weekly says Their voices take flight. Soaring and gorgeous" while five Rescues songs have been featured on Grey's Anatomy this season alone, and their song "Break Me Out" was featured in national TV spots for both feature film Love Happens (Jennifer Aniston/Aaron Eckhart) and Lifetime's hit new show Drop Dead Diva among others. Their majorlabel full-length debut and an EP will be released in the winter and spring of 2010. Look for The Rescues on tour all year.
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THE SOUNDBOX SESSIONS : Our most innovative evening, directed by Steve Aguilar. Beginning at 830pm, watch professional musicians take original and cover music, and reinterpret the music in front of your ears, unrehearsed. Guest appearances nightly. Largely acoustic, focused on harmony, melody, and a unique approach to some classic tunes...also featuring Bryon Holly & Al Kim. Check the calendar for the weekly featured artist.
Featured Artist: JUSTINE BENNETT
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Join us for a night of reggae music.
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TOO RUDE w. Babylon Saints, Wait for GreenTOO RUDE w. Babylon Saints, Wait for GreenAs most of you know Too Rude started as Dogboys solo studio project: The first release was a traditional reggae record with a punk attitude. It was released on Suburban Noise Records, and is available at merch.com. Dogboy aka Roby was featured on the first three KottonMouth Kings writing such hits (just kidding) as Dogs Life and On the Run, as well as singing and collaborating on various other songs on Royal Highness, High Society and Hidden Stash II. Dogboy toured with KMK supporting the albums mentioned. Too Rude also toured with KMK and Corporate Avenger. Touring with KMK Dogboy also Devirginized Too Rude acoustic. Too Rude is now a five-piece band reminiscent of the Clash meets the Bad Brains style in an original way.
Great songs laced with magical hooks that make The Beatles look like Jingle Writers. The obvious classical training in Dogboys operatic vocal range is mind-boggling. Backed by the oh-so-impressive amazing and mind boggling fact that the remaining four musicians all graduated from G.I.T. with honors including the drummer Kike, who has also been blessed with the (unknown to him) rhythmic charm of being Neil Perts illegitimate son. If the astonishing mystical fact that all five of these hell-bent for ganja rockers met at the tender age of five as a break-dance crew on Star Search in the late 80s doesnt intimidate you, then their intense Hair meets Cats live show will.
Tod Mcleod
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
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LADY DANVILLE, THE FOLD, UNTIL JUNE
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AUTOMATIC LOVELETTER w. Phathom, Jules LarsonAUTOMATIC LOVELETTER w. Phathom, Jules LarsonThe band was first called Stars and Scars but had changed their name by the time they came to play both the main Bamboozle and Bamboozle Left in 2008[1] and played on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. "Paramore is the female-fronted draw of the day here at Bamboozle Left, but Automatic Loveletter's Juliet Simms more than held her own on the Nokia Ticket Rush stage. Clad in an obligatory black hoodie and strumming an acoustic guitar, she wailed her way through a frenetic half-hour set split by a solo acoustic ballad. Get this band on a main stage and shell be receiving automatic love letters by the truckload." LA Times [2]
Simms has lent guest vocals on several songs for better known bands. Simms' voice can be heard on records from LoveHateHero's "Theatre ofRobots", Secondhand Serenade's "Fix You", All Time Low's "Remembering Sunday", and most recently Cartel's "Lose It".[3]
Recently Epic Records had a head of label change resulting in Automatic Loveletter not being with them anymore. As of July 7, 2009 the current situation is they were signed with RCA (date unknown currently) and have half their album completed.
The band is listed to be on the entire 2010 Vans Warped Tour.
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Movie Night: Michael Jackson
9:00 am
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THE BASTARDS w. Mediadrone, Republic of Letter
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HOLLYWOOD U2 w. Brandon EdgarHOLLYWOOD U2 w. Brandon EdgarBased in Los Angeles, Hollywood U2 is the World's Leading U2 Tribute Band. No other U2 Tribute Band makes Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. so proud. This U2 Tribute Band are not simply U2 impersonators who have an uncanny resemblance, but consummate musicians who bring the true heart of U2 to every performance. Hollywood U2 shows bring the respect that U2, their music, and their fans deserve through the precision, excitement, and exact emulation of a U2 concert. This show is, aside fromhiring U2 themselves, the World's Leading U2 Tribute Band.
Travelling internationally, Hollywood U2 performs U2 Music from Boy, October, War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop, All That You Can't LeaveBehind, and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, and No Line On the Horizon with unrivaled accuracy as only Hollywood U2 can. Hollywood U2 covers all periods of U2s music with U2 songs such as Pride, Vertigo, With or Without You, New Years Day, One, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, City of Blinding Lights, Elevation, Where the Streets Have No Name, Red Hill Mining Town, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Zoo Station, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Bullet the Blue Sky, Mysterious Ways (yes, with a belly dancer), Magnificent, Get On Your Boots, No Line On the Horizon, etc., the list goes on and on. A Hollywood U2 tribute show is as compelling as seeing a U2 concert and a must see for all U2 fans.
St. Patricks Day
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Join us for a night of reggae music.
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ONE DROP REDEMPTIONONE DROP REDEMPTIONOne Drop Redemption is a 'Hard-hitting' Roots Rock Reggae group
celebrating the music of the Legendary Reggae Artist, Bob Marley.
Guaranteed to pack up de dance floor! Do not mistake them with your
average reggae 'cover band'. One Drop Redemption is afull fledged 8
member reggae group that is said to authentically produce the 'classic'
reggae vibes of the original Bob Marley & The Wailers. Available
for small, medium, and large venues (they are a much favored group for
weddings, birthdays, concert headliner, as well as an opening act for
national touring groups.). They have their own 32 channel/5000 watt
sound system.
Tod Mcleod
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
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CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT - Hearts of Hermosa
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ALANA GRACE w. Sara Dee, Bradford ShawALANA GRACE w. Sara Dee, Bradford ShawI have spent my life in the single minded pursuit of living a life in
the spot light...with no regard for the
cost or repercussions...without fear of loneliness and isolation or
being the object of envy or scorn. From as
far back as I can remember I have tried to be the best I could be- as a
student, a dancer, a singer and an
artist. When it all comes down to it, I must live with myself alone and
the pride in who I am and what I have
worked for makes me whole. Without it I am empty... I have learned to
appreciate the differences between us all
and truly believe that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. It is the
inner beauty that transcends and
remains in the hearts of others. My music is a way to express what I
can't explain; my melodies hold my
emotions. That said, here is what some have said about me...
"Some people think in colors," says Alana Grace, an emerging
singer-songwriter-performer. "I think in
melodies."
Describing herself as an "18-year-old girl with a big dream," Alana
Grace takes her infectious melodies and
infuses them with unique expressions of personal empowerment. In songs
like "Break The Silence," she shares her
thoughts and feelings with a rare and captivating empathy.
"I always wanted to be a singer and a performer," she admits and has
followed that dream and listened to her
muses from an early age. She began performing when she was 2, taking
piano lessons at 5, singing lessons at 8,
and acted professionally shortly thereafter. (She has since appeared in
an NBC Movie of the Week, a TNN
Entertainment Special, several pilots, sitcoms, and television
specials.)
"When I started writing," she says of her songs, "it all fell into
place."
The first Alana Grace recording to see an official release is "Black
Roses Red," an original song (co-written
with Michael Hunter Ochs and Jeff Cohen), penned for the film "The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."
An extraordinary singer and charismatic performer, Alana spent five
months (December 2004-April 2005) in a Los
Angeles studio with producers Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte,
Eve 6) and John Fields (Switchfoot,
Pink, Andrew WK) creating her first full-length album.
She co-wrote all of the songs on "Break The Silence," which is mixed by
music industry legends Bob
Clearmountain (the Rolling Stones, the Cure, Aerosmith) and Chris
Lord-Alge (Green Day, Hoobastank, Alanis
Morissette).
With the release of "Break The Silence," Alana Grace is coming into her
own as an artist, giving voice to her
innermost feelings and sharing them with the world.
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MEAGHAN SMITH w. Greg Holden, Ian Axel, Katie CostelloMEAGHAN SMITH w. Greg Holden, Ian Axel, Katie CostelloHello, I'm Meaghan Smith. I like to draw and paint, and I love to sing. I have always loved to sing. Music played a big role in my family. I used to sing with my three wonderful sisters in four part harmony. My mom is a piano player and my dad is a gifted singer, bass player and whistler. We spent a lot of time making music together. I started playing piano when I was young and later, guitar. When I was 12 I wrote a few songs. But I was really REALLY shy so no one ever heard them. After years of singing with my family I had developed an acute case of overwhelming, knee-shaking, stomach turning stage fright.
Meanwhile, I somehow graduated from high school and went to college for classical animation. I was so shy, I figured being a musician was not a possibility for me becuase I couldn't work up the nerve to play in front of anyone. The next best thing was to draw. But I had some really good friends at college, and they encouraged me to sing some of my songs for them. I started playing little shows in the stairwells of my college, where the acoustics were really good. Eventually my teachers and friends started coming to my stairwell concerts and I slowly gained a little bit of confidence.
It wasn't until I moved to Halifax for a job in animation thatI really started to try to get over my stage fright. I couldn't go on with my life till l had at least tried. So after work I went to open mics to attempt to get over my stage fright. It took four years, but finally I started to be able to sing in front of people the way I sang alone. CBC recorded an album for me called Lost With Directions in 2004, and in 2006 I decided to make my own album. I wrote 11 songs, hired a producer named Les Cooper and worked with him to make my first full length album, The Cricket's Orchestra.
Then in 2007 I met some really great folks who came here for the Halifax Film Festival. Most of them are music supervisors based out of LA. They listened to my songs and passed it on to their friends in the industry. They have becomegreat friends and supporters of my music.
Then after a whirlwind series of events, I found a great management team in Terry McBride, Coleen Novak and Ari Martin of Nettwerk management. I also signed a major label deal with Sire Records (Warner America)! I'm in an amazing place in my life right now. My most unthinkable dreams are coming true... I am singing music in front of people that like what I do! And I'm not even afraid anymore! I am married to an amazing guy who plays guitar in my band and comeswith me on my adventures! I get to travel to amazing places and meet incredible people and see amazing things!
I have no idea what will happen in my future. There seem to be no limits! I hope that my music touches many people for years to come. This is an amazing adventure, and I am thankful to everyone who has ever truly encouraged, supported or inspired me to become more than I ever thought I could!
Wish me luck!
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THE SOUNDBOX SESSIONS : Our most innovative evening, directed by Steve Aguilar. Beginning at 830pm, watch professional musicians take original and cover music, and reinterpret the music in front of your ears, unrehearsed. Guest appearances nightly. Largely acoustic, focused on harmony, melody, and a unique approach to some classic tunes...also featuring Bryon Holly & Al Kim. Check the calendar for the weekly featured artist.
Featured Artist: JAMIE ALONGE
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Join us for a night of reggae music.
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MISHKA, w. Ease UpMISHKA, w. Ease UpMishkas biography has an almost cinematic sweep. He spent most of his early life on a boat in the Caribbean, sailing from island to island with his seafaring parents and older sisters. A child of the islands, it was almost inevitable that hed be drawn to reggae, Rastafari, and the natural mystic that inhabits his music and his soul. Above The Bones is his third album and the debut release for Matthew McConaugheys j. k. livin label.
The music I heard growing up from my parents, sisters and the places we visited gave me a lot of musical and cultural flexibility. Everything Ive ever heard blends together in what I do. Im a huge reggae fan but theres folk, soul, rock and other elements in the music.
Mishkas international outlook is a product of his unique upbringing. My parents met in Bermuda Mishka explains. They always had dreams of living at sea and my father built a boat for the family to live on. I moved onto the boat when I was three.
We sailed all over the Atlantic and Caribbean Mishka recalls. We visited Brazil, all the Caribbean islands, even made a cross-Atlantic trip to Portugal and England. Mishka and his sisters were home schooled until they went to boarding school for their higher education. Learning how to read maps and chart a course was my math and geography class, going ashore in different countries and talking to people about their culture was my history class, reading books on board was my literary education, picking up French and Portuguese in the ports we visited was my language school.
The boat had a small battery run cassette player and Mishka heard the music his parents loved: The Beatles, Jimmy Cliff, Dylan and Jimmy Buffett who was sailing the same waters as his family in those days. My sisters turned me on to the Police, Cars and Roxy Music, but when I heard Burning Spear, Culture, and Bob Marley, I got addicted to roots reggae.
Mishka moved to London and his debut, the self-titled Mishka, became a Top 40 hit in England. Give You All the Love cracked the charts in Britain and Japan where it went Top 10. While he was making Mishka, Swedish producer Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison) was working in the studio next door. Terefe produced Mishkas second album, 2005s One Tree, a blendof electronica, folk and reggae. While on tour, Mishka met Darryl Thompson a long time guitarist for Sly & Robbie. They were working on Above the Bones when Matthew McConaughey showed up and signed Mishka to his new label j. k. livin.
Mishkas varied musical interests are evident on Above the Bones but his vocals may be the most captivating element of the album. His striking tenor is mellow and intense with a bluesy quality that gives every word an aching intensity. Its a timeless voice, the familiarsound of a friend youve always known but never met.
Higher Heights opens the album with a roots reggae vibe. Its a song of empowerment and encouragement to people who want to see more love and unity in the world, an invitation to let our better nature shine and heal the troubled world we live in. 3rd Eye Vision is a rock steady groove. Its a prayer for the planet that urges us to live in harmony with the earth and find peace of mind amidst a system that often forces us to be hypocritical to ourselves. Peace and Love is a simple three chord celebration of eternal values. Mishkas vocal is full of sweet soulful fire. The title track for the album is essentially a folk song about honoring our ancestors, their memories, their tribulations and theirjoys and translating that into a prayer for the living.
Other stand out tracks include Coastline Journey with laid back conga lines and surfer style guitar licks this one is essentially a love song for the ocean; Mountains Meet the Sea a tender r
Tod Mcleod
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
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DIEGO'S UMBRELLA w. Peter Goetz, PortDIEGO'S UMBRELLA w. Peter Goetz, PortAs San Franciscos ambassadors of gypsy rock, Diegos Umbrella captures Californias cultural multiplicity with enthusiasm, humor and decadence.
These urban, gringo mariachis have performed more than 800 live shows, cloaked in elaborate homemade outfits. This bands unforgettable performance has visually and aurally captivated diverse audiences around the globe.
Influenced heavily by flamenco, klezmer, and Latin percussion, Diegos Umbrella has introduced the world to a new kind of popular music, with sounds reminiscent to that of Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly and The Clash.
Shortly after migrating to Northern California from rural Wisconsin, DU front man, Vaughn Lindstrom (acoustic guitar, vocals, lead songwriter) teamed up with California native Tyson Maulhardt (electric guitar, vocals) to create a musical ensemble they dubbed, Diegos Umbrella. The namesake: their friends arm tattoo.
Diegos Umbrella debuted in 2001 with its first album, Songs for the Farmers. With the addition of Kevin Blair (bass), Jason Kleinberg (violin, vocals, accordion), Jake Wood (drums, percussion) and Ben Leon (lead vocals, electric guitar, percussion), Diegos Umbrella has been packing venues throughout the Western U.S. and Europe with its heavy-hitting live shows and filling airwaves in the U.S. and Europe with lively tunes.
The band released Kung Fu Palace in 2006 and Viva la Juerga in 2007. Within a few months Juerga ranked #129 on the CMJ Top 200 Chart. This spring Diegos Umbrella will release the much-anticipated record, Double Panther.
Several DU songs were also featured in the X-Dance-award-winning documentary Sofia, the Quiksilver/Roxy surf DVD Shimmer, as well as CBS Elimination Station. Diegos Umbrella also performs three songs in the Lionsgate comedy Still Waiting (2009).
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JOHN CRUZ w. MISOJOHN CRUZ w. MISOFrom the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley on Oahu, John Cruz knew he was destined to play music. Whether inside or outside the home, his earliest memories were filled with song. His Hawaiian grandmother had a beautiful voice and sang in church. His mom loved the Motown sound and had an extensive record collection. His dad played country music and taught John to perform live shows at a very young age. His brothers and sisters were all musically inclined and, along with numerous aunties,uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends, they have surrounded John with the gift of music for his entire life. Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn't until he moved to the East Coast in 1983 that he developed his own style as a singer songwriter. During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth in subways, coffeehouses and bars in New York's Greenwich Village, as well as in the clubs and local haunts from Martha's Vineyard to the Boston area. While attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, John ventured in to acting and dancing, which strengthened his command of the stage. He spent six years in theatre and dance companies, performing everywhere from Lincoln Center to Washington D.C. As a member of the prestigious New World Theater, John played the lead role in "The Dance and the Railroad," by Tony Award winning Broadway playwright, David Henry Hwang, of M. Butterfly fame. John's outstanding performance was nationally recognized in the finals of a collegiate drama competition. John returned to Hawaii in 1995 to help his brother Ernie record his album. At the time, Ernie was in the immensely popular band, the Ka'au Crater Boys. He invited John to play bass with them and to play his own songs during their shows. The exposure tolarge crowds gave John's music a substantial fan base before it was even recorded. When his first album, Acoustic Soul was released in 1996, it made an artistic and commercial impact like few other recordings in Hawaiian musical history. Acoustic Soul todate has sold over 100,000 copies in Hawaii alone. John produced the album himself and released it on his own label, Lilikoi Records. It spawned the radio hits "Shine On," "Sitting in Limbo" and "Island Style," which has become a local anthem known around the world. Most songs from the album still receive daily radio airplay and can be heard on numerous compilation CDs, in hotels, airports, shopping malls, school music classes, commercials and just about everywhere else music is played within the state.Acoustic Soul won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1997 -- one for Contemporary Album of the Year and one for Most Promising Artist. In 2005, John added the Grammy Award to his list of honors. His original song "Jo Bo's Night" was featured on the compilationCDSlack Key Guitar Volume 2, which won the first Grammy ever awarded for Hawaiian music. Over the years, John has attracted some stellar fans. Stars like Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Eddie Vedder, Jimmy Buffett, Lisa Loeb, Trey Anastasio and others, have shown their support in various ways. John co-wrote a song with Trey called "A Case of Ice and Snow," which was released on the Phish frontman's solo CD, Bar 17. World Champion surfer Kelly Slater featured three of John's songs on his DVD, "Letting Go,"in 2006. Jack Johnson has released "Island Style" on several CDs and plays it frequently in concert. John joined Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, along with other quality singer songwriters, on the WMVY radio compilation CD, Fresh Produce Volume 4, with his hit song "Missing You." In October 2006, a documentary film on his life, "Made of Music - The Story of John Cruz," debuted at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu. A few weeks later, it was honored with the Aloha Visionary
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A.M w. The Persephone's Bees, Paul DoucetteA.M w. The Persephone's Bees, Paul DoucetteTulsa-born and New Orleans-raised, indie artist AM brings a heady brew the band calls "Indie Lounge Pop", which is a twinkling Anglified folk-rock-pop, caressing Philly soul and funky R&B; whatchacallit -- and, best of all, joyously unheard points in-between. AM does all this with an acute, finessing ear for the ancient art of real, true songcraft. Sure, AM's very personal brand of pop is sturdily built, but so are Mack trucks. What we'd like to point your attention to are the brashly bold new shapes he brings to bear on the modern pop song, with, arguably, some of the best bridges and choruses in the bizness. Superbly, subtly drawn arrangements of said material, whether drawing from the Beatles and Badfinger or Curtis Mayfield and Jorge Ben, demonstrate over and again this simple fact of songwriting life: that Imagination and taste is what it's all about . . . and these are, of course, things you couldn't buy with all the gold in the realm.
AM takes equal parts of classic Americana, folk-rock and pop, and melts them down into something entirely his own, and he does it with two things money cant buy: imagination and taste. These sturdily built pop songs are graced with ingeniously colorful arrangements and have that instant classic thing stamped all over them
- LA Weekly
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THE SOUNDBOX SESSIONS : Our most innovative evening, directed by Steve Aguilar. Beginning at 830pm, watch professional musicians take original and cover music, and reinterpret the music in front of your ears, unrehearsed. Guest appearances nightly. Largely acoustic, focused on harmony, melody, and a unique approach to some classic tunes...also featuring Bryon Holly & Al Kim. Check the calendar for the weekly featured artist.
Featured Artist: Brent George
9:00 am
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