So long, summer
This summer has been punctuated at beginning and end by the Twilight Dance Series of concerts on the Santa Monica Pier. I can hardly believe that Thursday will be this year’s finale, featuring Patti Smith. You can see a gallery with all my pics from this year’s series at this link.
For the abridged version, scroll on down.
July 2, 2009: Playing for Change and opening act, Bushman
Grandpa Elliot of Playing for Change
Playing for Change kicked off the summer in style. They have, of course, gained world renown through the movie seen all over the internet, which you can see by clicking here. Especially memorable was the tribute to Michael Jackson, who had just passed a few days before, which featured my new favorite singer Clarence Bekker.
The Playing for Change project had its start on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade and has by now circled the globe in many times in many forms.
Click here for the Playing for Change concert’s photo gallery.
July 9, 2009: Joan Baez and opening act, Tift Merritt
Joan Baez serenades an adoring crowd on July 9, 2009
The legendary Joan Baez’s concert drew the largest crowd of the summer (unless Ms. Patti Smith can top it on Thursday…) She performed favorites like, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, “Long Black Veil”, and “Gracias a la Vida. Her emotional tribute to the people of Iran with “We Shall Overcome” was one of the evening’s many highlights.
Click here for the Joan Baez concert photo gallery.
July 16, 2009: Sgt. Garcia with opening band Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca
Sgt. Garcia performing on the Santa Monica Pier on July 16, 2009
Bruno “Sergent” Garcia brought his Latin fusion sound to the Santa Monica Pier. Take a little cumbia, a little reggae, sprinkle in some eclectic, modern Euro and traditional African influences, and you have a musical style originated by Garcia that has become known as “Salsamuffin”.
Click here for the Sgt. Garcia concert photo gallery.
July 23, 2009: La Monica Ballroom Redux. Squirrel Nut Zippers with opening act Big Band Alumni
Squirrel Nut Zippers (top left) headlined the La Monica Ballroom Redux. Johnny Vana and his Big Band Alumni (bottom center and right) opened with a swing. Fans were greeted in style by costumed volunteers (bottom left) Dancing the night away (top right).
On July 23, 2009 the Pier honored the La Monica Ballroom, which was open on the Pier from 1924 until 1962. The 2009 tribute was a treat for big band and swing fans. Many arrived dressed in style and ready to shake it and twirl on the dance floor installed specially for the event. Even members of the two-left-feet club could join in, thanks to lessons provided by John Cassese, The Dance Doctor.
Click here for the La Monica Ballroom Redux photo gallery.
July 30, 2009: Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited
Thomas Mapfumo performs on the Santa Monica Pier July 30, 2009.
Known as the “Lion of Zimbabwe”, Thomas Mapfumo blends Western music with traditional Shona sounds. The band drove down from Oregon to perform on the Pier and played cuts from their latest album, entitled Exile. The song “God Bless Africa” was a crowd favorite.
Click here for the Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited photo gallery.
August 6, 2009: Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women with opening act Paul Thorn
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women Performed on the Santa Monica PIer on August 6, 2009.
“There are two types of folk music: quiet folk music and loud folk music. I play both.”-Dave Alvin
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women performed on August 6, 2009. The roots band is out of Downey, CA and, as their name would suggest, features an all female band backing Dave Alvin on a wide range of songs including “Abilene”, “Boss of the Blues”, “Downey Girl”, and “4th of July”. I personally enjoyed the countrified and bluesified version of “Que Sera Sera”, featuring vocalist Christy McWilson.
Click here for the Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women concert photo gallery.
August 20, 2009: Venice and opening act Promise of the Real**
Venice for an appreciative hometown crowd on the Santa Monica Pier
Local guys Venice may hail from just a bit south, but they are right at home on the Santa Monica Pier. The band rocked with a set full of songs you feel like you’ve known all your life. The band plays all over the world, but its local roots are unmistakable. Made up of brothers and cousins, the band’s members have many colorful memories of the Pier, some of which they shared throughout the evening. Venice tours all over the world. For tour dates, visit the band’s website.
Click here for the Venice’s concert photo gallery.
August 27, 2009: Lowrider with opening band Very Be Careful
Lowrider pulled off a polished performance on the Santa Monica Pier, even if it was unplanned
Lowrider rode in to save the day when songstress Lila Downs was forced to cancel her scheduled appearance due to illness. Harold Brown, Howard Scott, BB Dickerson and Lee Oskar are 4 of the 5 living members of War, the iconic band of the 1970s. But they can’t use the name War these days, so they tour under their current name, Lowrider. They had the crowd dancing and singing along to familiar melodies like “Why Can’t We Be Friends”, “Cisco Kid”, and of course “Lowrider”.
Click here for the Lowrider concert’s photo gallery.
**The August 13, 2009 concert was photographed by the fantabulous Joy Peters. You can see Joy’s photos from the Idan Raichel Project peformance by clicking here . Also check out Joy Peters Photography website.
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