Breathe in the Good Life of Prescott, Arizona – Day 9, Part 2

Prescott, Arizona. A picturesque and historic desert mountain town approximately 90 minutes north of Phoenix. Old West. Charming. Friendly. Relaxing. More than 800 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. A quaint and highly walkable downtown referred to as “Whiskey Row,” filled with shoppes, galleries, trading posts, restaurants, and historic hotels and saloons. How could I possibly explore all that this area has to offer in less than two days? I was as determined as ever to give it my best shot.

Spent a remarkable morning in the old mining town of Jerome. On the way back to Prescott, I made a point to stop off at the modern yet rustic hillside Phippen Museum of Western Art that I spotted on the way up the road earlier in the day. So glad I did! Check out the view from the parking lot. I was immediately and warmly greeted by volunteer Roger Gaddis at the registration desk, and I asked if it might be possible to get a highlights tour. Well, it just so happened that docent and local artist Joe Webster said he would be glad to do so. Seriously? Fantastic! People are so nice here.

Below is a bit of what I learned about this understated repository of Western art. Years after his passing, the George Phippen Memorial Foundation received a generous 3-acre land grant from the Deep Well Ranch and opened the doors of the museum in 1984 with the objective of honoring the memory and art of George Phippen and other great American West artists. Phippen, incredibly talented and self-taught, was one of the four founding members and the first president of Cowboy Artists of America, a members-only organization of traditional cowboy and Western artists. Current exhibits include the third annual “Hold Your Horses” art exhibit and sale of unique and expressive works and a phenomenal “Golden Age of Cowgirls” exhibit with a spirited collection of cowgirl-themed art, photography, memorabilia and artifacts. I was graciously allowed to snap a few photos to show as examples of the extraordinary art that lives within these walls. Permanent exhibits include works by Solon Borglum, Ray Swanson, George Phippen and the Western Heritage Gallery. Enjoy a few snippets of what this museum has to offer.

The glorious clouds. Humility. Gratitude.The cowgirl exhibit was so fun! Yee haw! Rebels before their time.And this guy … ever heard of him? Tom Mix, an early Western movie megastar. You will see him everywhere in Prescott. He starred in nearly 300 pictures, some of which were filmed in Prescott, where he owned the Bar Circle A Ranch back in 1913. Absolutely precious. So lifelike. I want to give her a hug. I agree with Ray Swanson, the artist of the painting below. There is something so captivating and magical about the Native American culture. 

Thank you kindly for the tour and hospitality, Joe and Roger. What a magnificent museum! Much appreciated.

Moving on down the road, I parked right downtown and made my way in and out of the shoppes, galleries, saloons and eateries along Whiskey Row. Come along with me as I take you on a walking tour of historic downtown Prescott.

The Rancher’s Wife Van Gogh’s EarThe Ice Cream Parlour Ortega’s 6th Generation (trading post)Prescott Trading CompanyOne of my favorites, the Ian Russell Gallery of Fine Art, where I had the pleasure of chatting with the fashionable and sophisticated Christine. Very friendly and in the know about the local and regional art scene. Thanks for all the tips, Christine! I so love this! Bizarre and meaningful at the same time.I absolutely love meeting new, interesting and delightful people on my travels. So fulfilling! 
The Palace Saloon. Opened in 1877 (some historians claim 1868). Boy, if these walls could talk! Well, they kind of did, actually, with all the amazing vintage photographs. It was sheer entertainment just standing there looking at all the history of this place. A hangout for the likes of “Doc” Holliday, and Virgil and Wyatt Earp. The oldest and best-known frontier saloon in the state of Arizona. Can’t you just see them busting through these swinging doors like in all the old Westerns? Sensational! Look! It’s our cowboy friend, Tom Mix! Devastating Whiskey Row fire of 1900 destroyed most all of the buildings along Montezuma Street. Patrons actually moved the intricately carved bar across the street and saved it from being burned, so it is still intact to this day. New and improved Palace Hotel and Saloon, reopened in 1901. Just a few gambling essentials from back in the day. You never know when you might have to use a little force to change the outcome of the game. A George Phippen postcard. How coincidental! Not only can you sit down for a beer and something tasty to eat, but the Palace Saloon also is a pure treasure trove of historical photos and memorabilia. Much of it is on loan from the Sharlot Hall Museum. Food smelled delicious and the staff were a nice bunch.

Let us continue on now, shall we?

Take in a cold beverage and some live music at one of the many saloons along Whiskey Row. At the very least, belly up to the bar and treat yourself to a sarsaparilla while getting to know a few of the locals.

Jersey Lilly’sMatt’sAnd the Bird Cage Saloon Savor the unique art and craft goods at the Newman Gallery. And down the street at the “Cornerstone of Prescott” stands the historic Hotel St. Michael. Opened in 1901, after the devastating fire of 1900 burned down the Hotel Burke that originally stood in its place, the Hotel St. Michael has hosted many dignitaries and VIPs over the years. I am intrigued and entertained by the way each hotel boasts the unique and historic qualities of its elevator!  I love the displays of vintage photos everywhere you go. It gives the feeling of strong sense of historic pride within Prescott.  Whiskey Row then …And now …Stunning Courthouse Square! It seems as though people treat this like a central plaza. A genuine gathering place within the community. So pleasant and beautifully kept up. Like a postcard! The location for many local events and concerts. So down home. I love it! Find your inner mystic among the books, crystals and such at Lifeways Books and Gifts. Another fantastical stop along my tour, ‘Tis Art Center and Gallery. An awesome space with good energy! I told the woman there that this would be ideal for private events.An old microwave door repurposed into art. Now that’s cool. I love this piece. So playful.The Elks Theatre and Opera House, built in 1904 as a clubhouse and lovingly restored by the city of Prescott. Sure would like to see a show at this vintage beauty. 
Crossed the street to take a peek inside yet another remarkable historic hotel. The crown jewel of Prescott, the 1927 Hassayampa Inn. Hand-painted, wood-beam ceiling. Remarkable!
The elegant 78-room hotel, designed with Spanish and Italian influences, was completed for a total of $275,000 in only 10 months. With early guests such as Tom Mix, Will Rogers and Clark Gable to name a few, and more recently Sam Elliott, the Beach Boys and my favorite, Mr. Tom Selleck! The Hassayampa, too, prides itself on its vintage elevator. Oh, and they are dog-friendly too! The original Peacock dining room then. and now … The Bar. Love the colors in contrast with the dark wood. Wandered into this unbelievably cool coffeeshop/bakery/seasoning haven. The Spice Traveler is a wonderland for those who love to cook or want to learn how. Recipes, ideas, samples. They’ve got it all. Unadulterated discovery and exploration for your taste buds. As I made my way to the back of the shoppe, I stumbled upon the stairway to Superstition Meadery (aka Heaven), which just HAPPENED to be on my Prescott to-do list. Imagine the good fortune!  Mead, the oldest form of alcohol known to man, made with fermented honey. This was a first for me. Quite tasty, I will say! If you have never tried it, do yourself a favor and find some. Better yet, come here to Superstition, and Matthew will serve you a flight that will sweep you off your feet. Lagrimas de Oro. Divine. Blueberry Spaceship. Tart and sassy. Relaxing in this cozy, dimly lit cavern with their mead flights, here are two very satisfied customers and new residents of Prescott, Elizabeth and Morgan. Enjoy your new town, ladies! It was great chatting with you. It really is the nectar of the gods. I highly recommend a visit here. Drinking all that mead, I worked up an appetite, so I slid on down to the Prescott Brewing Company for a tall glass of ice water and a Buffalo chicken wrap. Hit. The. Spot. Feeling like a million bucks as I headed back to my adorable nest at the Motor Lodge. I scooped up my furry, well-rested friend Elliott and make our way to the Granite Dells for sunset! No. This is not fake. This is not a stock photo. These are the 1.4 billion-year-old Granite Dells at Watson Lake. Characterized by the smooth and rounded rock formations caused by weathering. Photo taken with my iPhone and untouched. I was completely overwhelmed by this scenery. Awestruck.
Even Elliott had to pause for a moment to take it all in. Outstanding.Do be sure to cover yourself with bug spray, as I was viciously attacked by hordes of mosquitoes. Perhaps they come out at dusk, or perhaps my blood is just incredibly tasty? Ok, gross. Regardless … unforgettable views. So peaceful. Truly lovely.And as the sun sets on the Arizona horizon, I am grateful for all the adventure and beauty I experienced in just one day. One for the books. Making a beeline straight for my bed, I got distracted by all the neon and … wait a minute … is that jazz coming from Courthouse Square? Uh-oh. One last stop. Then it’s bedtime. I promise.
My good parking karma still in full effect, I scored a spot directly across the street and we were serenaded for another hour or so by mellow jazz harmonies, smooth grooves and classics like Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train.” I was completely exhausted but so incredibly content. Elliott and I even made some new human and doggy friends. Returned to the Motor Lodge just in time to drift off into a deep slumber in that white fluffy cloud of a bed. Night-night, my friends. Prescott makes me happy.

Timeless Tunes, Delectable Bites and General Sherman

My favorite old school radio station, Cruisin’ 1430 AM, streamed out of Denver, is always playing hits from Johnny Rivers, and I love his music, so after a quick search I learned he was scheduled to play in Visalia, California on February 27th. As I checked the map, I noticed that it isn’t too terribly far from Sequoia National Park. Well shoot! That’s a doable drive, right? A weekend of live music and giant trees sounds like fun, so off we go! Decided to make Day One the long trek to Sequoia National Park so that Sunday could be a relatively easy drive back to LA. What I love most about my road trips is being able to drive freely on the open road with my co-pilot Elliott, some good tunes playing on my stereo, taking in all the scenery and not being burdened and annoyed by bumper to bumper traffic as I traverse the city streets getting from Point A to Point B. And that is exactly what I got. Easy breezing through the agricultural fields, orange orchards and small towns of McFarland, Delano, Porterville,Exeter, and on to Lake Kaweah where people were out boating and camping and loving life.

  

I decided to stop in Three Rivers for some nutritional fuel before heading into the trees and I could NOT have POSSIBLY made a better choice than to stop off at ol’ Buckaroo for some lunch. Equipped with a kitchen housed in a food truck that creates MAGICALLY DELICIOUS organic chow, an open seating area that faces the mountains and a rushing river, blue skies above, flowers and trees in bloom, AND a totally chill dog-friendly vibe. I was one happy clam. I ordered a blueberry basil soda (YUM) and the house-made lemon ricotta pancakes… dear GOD in heaven, these were TOO GOOD for words! I don’t think I will ever forget that whole scenario, so it’s definitely worth mentioning here. After sufficiently stuffing my face, we got back in the car and made our way into the park to meet this General Sherman that I’d heard so much about.

  
 Unfortunately, I am plagued with a propensity for vertigo and motion sickness so I will say that the 18-mile switchback drive from the entrance of Sequoia National Park to the point where General Sherman lives was a completely nauseating and un-fun experience for me… AND I WAS DRIVING. Thankfully, it only took about 45 minutes to get there and I was able to score a parking spot in the very puny adjacent lot, as I was not feeling inspired to take a long hike after that drive, especially knowing that I had to drive back down the same way I came. Fun. Regardless, breathtaking beauty surrounds and the aroma of fresh air in the woods was completely intoxicating. Quite a few people shared my plan to beat the spring and summer crowds on this chilly day, as I even had to wait my turn to take most photos, but well worth every minute. Finally, Elliott and I got to meet the most famous Giant Sequoia, General Sherman in person! The largest known living tree on earth. Whoa. That’s insane. This guy is 275 feet tall, 25 feet around and has had somewhere between 2,300 and 2,700 birthdays, No joke! I wanted to run up to him and give him a great big hug, but unlike the disrespectful group in front of me, I read the signs posted EVERYWHERE that asked people to PLEASE NOT step on the ground near the Giant Sequoias, as it damages their roots. I thought it would most certainly bring me bad karma to do so, therefore I chose to have a few photos taken from farther back which is fine by me if it helps prolong the lives of these bad boys. Being in the presence of such gigantic trees that have been living on this earth for so long was quite a humbling experience. I read somewhere that walking in nature actually changes your brain activity for the better and who could argue with that? While I was not excited to get back in the car for that 18-mile pin curve drive, I felt almost cleansed in a way after making the trek and spending some time amongst these splendidly enormous and ancient plants and was even graced with a waterfall sighting on my way down the mountain.

 Fast forward a few hours, after some much needed rest and relaxation at the hotel and I had gained my second wind to go see me some Johnny Rivers! And for the record, downtown Visalia is utterly darling. Eclectic, vintage, quaint and friendly area with boutiques, antique shoppes, restaurants, cafes and the historic Fox Theatre, which was the venue for the show. I am a huge fan of all historic theatres and love seeing live music performed on their stages. Built in 1930 this jewel was built as part of the Fox Theatre chain, where it showed movies for 66 years before closing down. Thanks to local efforts and generous funding, the Fox was restored and reopened in 1999.

  
Johnny took the stage around 8pm and opened with “Seventh Son”. I will tell you, from note one I thought to myself, “Damn, this guy has still got it!” I bobbed and sang along in my seat with hit after hit, “Tracks of my Tears,” “Mountain of Love,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Summer Rain,” a captivating rendition of “House of the Rising Sun,” “Poor Side of Town,” “Route 66,” “Memphis,” and one of the best of the night, “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Blues.” His voice has been remarkably preserved, his guitar playing was raw, adventurous and spot on. Virtually impossible to say anything negative about his performance. I knew every song, except for a cover which I suspected was a Sade original? The guy still rocks it like he’s in his 30’s. Not bad for this 73 year old Louisiana boy. 

It was announced that Johnny Rivers would be giving autographs after the show, so I squeezed and weaved my way through the crowd as quickly as possible to get to the merchandise table in order to purchase a CD for Johnny to sign. It was there I met up with Chuck and Debbie, a likely pair of fun loving hooligans who were also in the front of the line for Johnny’s autograph. Debbie and I shared some laughs as we verbally wrestled which one of us would run away with Johnny if he asked, while Chuck acted as referee scoring our insults and comebacks. Highly entertaining. I always dig making new friends on my adventures. And here he comes! Johnny Rivers makes his way to the merch table and Debbie and I are ready to make our move. I give him my CD and say, “My name is Sally,” as he grabs my CD out of my hand while he hastily and carelessly signs the cover and replies, “I don’t do names. If I signed everyone’s names on their CDs I would be here all night,” and hands me back my CD. Well…damn. Really?

So, now it’s Debbie’s turn and she says in her cutest most flirtatious voice, “Johnny are you happily married?” and… no response at all. She repeated her question and again was greeted with crickets as he rushed to hand her back her CD. SNAAAAAP! Wow, could he have been any LESS enthusiastic or friendly with the crowd of people that makes it possible for him to still perform live in front of audiences? I get it, you’re tired or you had a bad day and don’t feel like being chatty, but come on man! Humor us just a little, would you? We left the line and went out front of the theatre to lick our wounded egos and laughed heartily as we realized NEITHER of us would be running away with Johnny Rivers. I told her that’s fine with me, I will stick to my one true love, Tom Selleck, thank you very much. Funny stuff! Great meeting you two and I hope to run into you again somewhere. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the show but was admittedly a bit put off by the whole autograph incident, so I will give Johnny an A for his musical performance, and a D for his crotchety personality.

 As I walked back to my car, I stopped into this hip little coffee shop called Tazzaria just as they were closing and this adorable young man, Austin explained that they were closing for the night and aren’t open on Sundays. Hearing a brief run down of my efforts to get to the show that night and then getting snubbed by Johnny Rivers himself, and bummed out that I wouldn’t get to try this place out in the morning, Austin went above and beyond cool and not only let me have a cookie but made me a steamed skim milk with sugar free vanilla (on the house!) to go with it. Seriously, I absolutely love cool people. He had no obligation to say anything other than, “Sorry Ma’am, we’re closed,” but instead, took the high road and was super kind and cool to me. Thank you for being you, Austin and I will see you on the flip side! Open road, fresh air, pancakes, trees, good music, cool people and a chocolate chip cookie with milk before turning in for the night. And to quote Ice Cube…I gotta say it was a good day!

The Good ol’ Boys of The Marshall Tucker Band

  
Doug Gray and the members of The Marshall Tucker band just want you to get down have a good time at their show. And that I did. The stars  aligned as I was finally able to catch them live last night at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. I’m really digging that venue after 4 or 5 shows. Yes, it’s a bit of a hike up the 101 but they get some super cool bands, offer plentiful free parking, awesome sound system and generally super laid back, fun-loving crowds. I feel like I’m on a field trip out in the country somewhere every time I drive down the dark, winding road approaching this place. They offer dinner seating at most shows, but realistically speaking, it would be a virtual impossibility to get there by 7pm, so I just opt for the standing room only tickets and aim to get there by 9pm to allow traffic to die down a bit. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! 

Since 1972, Doug Gray and a myriad of others have been making music. And not just any music, but soulful, bluesy, jazzy, Southern-fried rock music. After hitting all time professional highs, as well as sustaining the tragic loss of Tommy Caldwell in 1980, The Marshall Tucker Band is still kicking and they are here to entertain you. 

Opening the show with his deep southern drawl, Doug Gray says,  “Let’s get on down to it,” and I knew we were in for a treat. 

  
Their sound is so deliciously 70’s. The guitars, bass, drums, the FLUTE, ohhhh the amazing flute. Being a flute player myself, I was always a fan of the brilliant use of a flute in a rock band. And can this guy, Marcus James Henderson play a flute or what? As well as the saxophone, keyboards and outta sight vocals as well! And how can you NOT love any band whose lead singer plays the tambourine? The whole band jams and sings and are clearly loving what they do, and even said so… “We’re not afraid to stand up here and have a good time.” And you believe it too! You can just feel the good vibrations.

Playing hit after hit,  “Dog Eat Dog World,” “Take the Highway,” “Fire on the Mountain”. The crowd sang and cheered along. A quick side  note about the audiences at The Canyon Club, a bit older than the LA crowds, with a few bikers and cowboys thrown in the mix. Just another reason why I know I’m not in LA proper anymore. Love it!

  
“Desert Skies” resonated like a lonely cowboy singing beside the campfire. So so good. Gray explained it was from 1974, an classic country song while traveling around in an old dodge van. A new favorite of mine! 

“Heard it in a Love Song,” I recognized it in a millisecond. God I love that song! The PERFECT country roadtrip tune, with just a hint of a beers on a beach in Mexico. 

As the crowd hollered and begged for more, they left on a high note with a sincere, “Thank you very much for keeping us around all these years,” and broke into “Can’t You See.” Now this is a band worth seeing over and over again. Talent, showmanship, grace, good times and great music… Now that’s what I call a show! 

Heart: Crazy About That Magic Man

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. These two Queens of Rock are unstoppable.

There is something so intoxicating about the power of endurance, the kind of stamina that can still yield a wildly howling audience four decades later. Heart fits this bill without any doubt in my mind. In 1976, the U.S. radio waves were flooded with two hits that soon became iconic rock songs of that day and for always: “Crazy on You,” and “Magic Man.” Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, have now sold over 35 million albums worldwide to date. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2013?? It was about damn time, wasn’t it??) as well as receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are seemingly superhuman with their various musical talents ranging from Ann on the vocals, flute, guitar, keyboards, percussion, violin and autoharp and Nancy mastering the guitar, mandolin, keyboards, synthesizers and even harmonica. Simply put, these two chics rock like no other women ever have. Although I missed HALF the show thanks to a Friday night LA rush hour from hell, what I did catch of the show was totally outta sight!
I took my seat JUST as “Straight On” was starting. Thank the Lord Baby Jesus I made it in time for one of my all time faves by Heart. Ann sounds absolutely incredible. That raspy powerhouse voice with the force of a herd of wild horses and a range equal to the seductive Sirens of Greek mythology. It’s like something in her voice is saying, “come hither little one…but mess with me and I will kick your ass.” Even Royalty have their struggles and thankfully Ann was able to defeat her demons, and embraced the importance of treating her body and vocal chords with the respect and TLC that they deserve. This in turn extended her life and allowed her to continue singing her songs as they were written all those years ago. So inspirational! Kudos to you, Ann!

The legendary Ann Wilson of Heart.

And then there’s Nancy. Looking better than ever, she is truly a gifted musician. She seems to be able to jam on just about any instrument you put in front of her. She can play it hard. She can play it soft. She can even rock the mic. The girl can rock it any way she wants. Through all the twists and turns both of their lives have taken, these two women and their music have stood the test of time. Their performance was fun, intense, personal, and edgy.
Who has the cajones to cover “Let Me Roll It” by Wings? The crowd went completely BANANAS as Nancy struck that first, ever-recognizable riff. Outstanding! I hate to say it, but their version gave the original a run for its money. Hard, sexy, passion-filled and in your face. Right on!

Nancy Wilson. The original Guitar Hero. Love her mojo!

They continued with their smash hits “Heaven,” “These Dreams,” and an absolutely bone-chilling acoustic rendition of “Alone”, as all the memories surrounding those days washed over the audience.
Nancy loved teasing and torturing the crowd as she held back from the start of “Crazy On You.” The crowd screamed and cheered and begged for her to get on with the song. She was loving every second of it as she jumped around on that stage with more verve than guitarists half her age. She is incredible. The crowd went mad as Ann flawlessly threw out those high notes. My God. What a voice.
As if that weren’t enough, they came back to treat us with a mind blowing seven minute encore version of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” Again begging the question, WHO ELSE COULD POSSIBLY PULL THIS OFF?

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart rocked us into the night at the LA County Fair.

For all the trouble and headaches the commute down to Pomona caused me, I would say it was well worth it to see these gals in all their glory. And I went through 5 hours of hell to get there. That should tell you something.
I didn’t get to hear my most favorite song from early childhood “Dog & Butterfly,” but I will leave you with this:

“We’re getting older the world’s getting colder
For the life of me I don’t know the reason why
Maybe it’s livin’ making us give in
Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide
We’re balanced together ocean upon the sky….”

The best words are those written from the Heart.

Similar stage and feel to the Cheyenne Frontier Days set up in Wyoming. Good sound. Good lights. No seat too terribly far from the stage.

The LA County Fair at the Pomona Fairplex. The most difficult time I’ve had getting to a show to date. Good thing Heart was AWESOME.

Gypsy Allstars: Baila Me and Bellydancing

The Gypsy Allstars playing at Herb Alpert’s incredibly cool venue, Vibrato Jazz Grill in Bel Air, California.

Gypsy music. The steamy rhythms and raw, lustful vocals of the wandering Romani musicians throughout Northern India and Eastern Europe. An alluring blend of musical language, style and dance. Just sounds sexy, doesn’t it?
For the past 25 years, the Gipsy Kings have lavished us with their gifts of music and passion. We were captivated by their fiery melodies and impressed by the fullness of their compositions.

In 2013, Gipsy King drummer Cedric Leonardi reached out to his fellow alum, including vocalist and guitar virtuoso Mario Reyes, to create a new collaborative sound reuniting them with their blood line connections to the Rajasthani gypsy tribes of India. These seasoned musicians seem to flourish in their effortless fusion of sensual international sounds. The result is an untamed, fleshy and succulent breath of fresh air. Breathing new life into old favorites such as “Baila Me,” and “Bamboleo” with Indian chanting and vigorous drumming. Their music captures your senses and doesn’t let go. You cannot help but move. My belly dancing moves of the past kicked in without hesitation. It’s like an involuntary reflex when you are watching them perform live as you are mentally and spiritually transported to far away lands.

Rajasthani musicians of India. What incredible voices. Excellent addition to this musical adventure.

They rounded out the evening with a provocative “Un Amor,” one of my very favorite tunes. Mmmm. Delicious. Attending their show at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill in Bel Air only intensified this adventure in all things gypsy. The intimate size. The candlelit room. The nearly perfect acoustics. Dancing. Dining. Drinking. Altogether exhilarating.

A tasty concoction of vodka, St. Germaine and lime juice, whipped up for me by my friendly bartender Philip. Salud! and Sante!

British Invasion: Blast From the Past Still Packs a Punch

The glorious Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA.

Friday night, September 19, 2014 at the fantastically historic Saban Theatre (1930) in Beverly Hills, joined by my fellow music loving friend Maxine for an evening of Brit Pop bands of the 60’s. We had such a jolly good time! No, I’m not from England, nor was I alive in the 60’s, but as a genuine lover of all music, I have always had a personal fondness for the light and frolicky quality of that era’s music and was really looking forward to a fun night of music from the fabulous 60’s!

Terry Sylvester of The Hollies

After a rather long running, tepid and unnecessary performance from a local 60’s band The Malibooz, Terry Sylvester of The Hollies came out and got the crowd shaking to “Bus Stop” and “Carrie Anne” making us beg for more. Literally! Really, they should have been given a much longer set time. They sounded so fantastic and I was completely bummed out there was no time for “Long Cool Woman,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and what about “The Air That I Breathe???” Next time, skip the opening local act and give the real talent more stage time, PLEASE?

Mike Pender of The Searchers

Next up, Mike Pender of The Searchers. Mike was quite the handsome young buck back in the day, and I gotta say, he is still LOOKIN GOOD. Decked out in a black suit with a full head of thick wavy hair,the term SILVER FOX comes to mind. I went wild for “Needles and Pins,” one of my personal all time favorite songs and of course the always playful singalong “Love Potion Number 9!” More! More! We want more!

Chad and Jeremy

Chad and Jeremy took the stage and amazed everyone with their incredibly timeless voices. Singing mostly acoustic, they were beautifully on key. Impressive! “Yesterday’s Gone,” “Willow Weep for Me,” and their big money maker, “A Summer Song.” What a delightful duo these two are. Carrying their audience back to less complicated days of young love and warm summer days at the beach. Both English, Jeremy is a very well spoken man wearing a suit, while Chad is now a jeans and leather necklace wearing hippy living in Idaho. Go figure! But they still sound wonderful together!

Billy J. Kramer

Billy J. Kramer posseses a very large stage presence. He is all over the place! He sang his hit “Bad to Me,” as well as truly respectable versions of his famous 60’s cover of the Burt Bacharach song “Trains and Boats and Planes,” and the Walker Brothers smash hit “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.” He is an extremely passionate man, wholeheartedly dedicated to the hey day of the British Invasion. He even wrote a song called “To Liverpool With Love,” in honor of Brian Epstein who helped catapult The Beatles to mega success. I liked Billy. I really did. I think he is a talented musician worthy of this tour, but if I were running the show, I would have swapped places with him and The Hollies. Just my opinion, but in all seriousness.

Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon

Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon, who was more or less the emcee of the night, wooed us with “I Go To Pieces,” “A World Without Love,” and a sassy, snappy “Lady Godiva.” He is a HOOT! Wearing a black and white checked suit, brimming with youthful energy and full of wonderfully entertaining stories about the good old days back in England.

Denny Laine of The Moody Blues

And last but not least, was Denny Laine of The Moody Blues! Strangely, his set was also incredibly short but thank God for small miracles he did play another one of my all time favorite tunes, “”Go Now.” Ohhhhh I love that song! Love it! He appropriately ended the night with The Wings’ hit “Band on the Run,” and I listened to it as I was heading out to beat the crowds to the garage.
What a show! What a lineup! A few things could have been better, but it really was awesome to hear snippets from all these guys, still singing and sounding remarkably solid. Outta sight, man!

Los Angeles: Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

Things in LA have been a little nuttier than usual as of late, but thankfully the good times are still rolling to balance things out. I thought it might be a welcomed diversion to give a behind the scenes sneak peek into what goes on out here besides all the fabulous fun and glamour. Just remember, all that glitters is not gold but there is always a silver lining.

Finally after 16 months of watching bad decisions play out at the hand of our “Leadership Team,” the company I work for has been acquired. History and experience tell me it is now time to kick Plan B into high gear. My gut tells me that job security is not on the horizon for this girl. The single thing I would miss most about my current job? Bringing Elliott to work every day. It has been a pure joy to have him there with me by my side. He soothes and entertains me like no other. He seriously cracks me up. Such a good kid, he is! By far, the best thing about this otherwise less than magical work experience.

The apartment above me is being remodeled. We are now into week 7 of construction, frequent bouts of no running water, flooding from above into my bathroom as well as bedroom closet, God only knows what kind of molds I am now breathing in. They start making noise around 7am and were sanding the floors until Midnight the other night. The first crew of losers was fired for drinking and job abandonment. And just for fun, I now have two huge holes in my apartment where the drywall rotted through from the water damage that are waiting to be patched up. All that on top of a 10% rent increase and the possibility that any day now I could receive my 60 day notice so that they can demolish and remodel my unit in order to justify jacking up the rent another $500 a month? Good times indeed!

That being said, shit happens. A lot of it is beyond our control. It’s examples like the above that serve as gentle reminders to delight in and appreciate all the scooby snacks you can. Why give undue energy to all the negativity out there? Why not challenge yourself to break out and dig in to all the good stuff? It’s there. You just have to focus your eyes and mind in the right direction.

Living near the ocean in an upscale beach town rocks. I’m not gonna lie. Is it a perfect living situation? No. But I can skip down to the water in less than 10 minutes or hop on my bike and be there in about 3. There are worse places to live for sure.

Life in Los Angeles has its challenges, but a lack of super cool and interesting things to do is not one of them.

This weekend I ventured down to East Village Long Beach from an online tip and I have to tell you, I had a BLAST! What a breath of fresh air. One of those nights that you don’t want to end… the kind that restores your energy and faith in mankind.

The people I came across were so unbelievably friendly, cool and welcoming. The area is an eclectic mix of art galleries, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and a smattering of watering holes and barber shops/hair salons all set amongst old architecture and Palm trees. A very urban feel with a slight edge, but not too sharp. I want to share a few of the random interactions that I experienced while there:
A tall, lanky 80’s emo-ish poet chic with a Flock of Seagulls hairdo and dark eye makeup performed her spoken word rap in an almost performance art dance for me and two others while I sipped wine in an art gallery. She told me her words were inspired by my “vibe”. Totally fascinating!

I watched a variety of spectacular musicians perform at the annual Buskerfest including Jesse Daniel Edwards and band who played a kind of modern day Hillbilly style with impressive vocals and even watched the ukulele player play THE SAW. NICE!

Ray Barbee blew me away with his soulful, ambient, surf style guitar work. This pro skater turned musician has got some hard core talent. Swaying to his groove. OMG I could have listened to him all night long. The crowd worshipped him. An instant favorite!

I met a streetwise DJ transplant from New York who shared some fantastic inside scoop with me on a handful of underground happenings in LA and Vegas. Notes were taken for future reference. Thanks Todd, the New York Dude!

Elliott and I passed a shoppe with skads of sparkly goodies and walked inside. Just so happens, the store owner has a female yorkie named Pearl who is reportedly “not friendly” but came running over to Elliott and would not leave his side. She was precious! I found Elliott a blue blingy collar, much more fitting of my handsome furry gentleman than his ratty old Petsmart collar. The owner was feeding Pearl sorbet and even handed Elliott a small mouthful! It was like an impromptu doggy date! Love at first sight…ahhhh.

Later in the evening we hung out in a vintage boutique that had a guy spinning some far out tunes while everyone was glued to their iPhones, drinking beer and eating…wait for it…CORNNUTS.

After a cop made a comment to me about how cute Elliott is, I asked him what time the meters run until. He KINDLY told me I have to feed the meter until 9, but they don’t chalk the tires so I can just put in more money without having to move my car. Wow! Where. Am. I???

Walking through the crowd, a large male hand reached out to let Elliott sniff and I hear a booming “G’Day Mate!” Elliott caught the eye of a jovial Australian man who was completely enamored with him. I couldn’t help but laugh. Too cool!

We encountered a woman with two small children who wanted to say hi to Elliott and being a fellow yorkie owner herself, she noticed that Elliott seemed hungry. She told the kids ice cream was coming soon, but first sat down on the pavement and opened up her leftover container and let Elliott chow down on her remaining brown rice and veggies.

SERIOUSLY?? How completely cool are all of these anecdotes? What else is there to say except that when you remain open to all forms of positive energy, it will find you…even through leaky pipes.