from page 16.
Musical Storm
Showing San Pedro What It’s All Bout Roller Derby Girls to be hosted at CRAFTED by: Cory Hooker, Editorial Intern
Continued from page 18.
Backing up and supporting all these players was a highly regarded drummer, percussionist, educator, and noted author, Maria Martinez, whose drumming talents seamlessly integrated into all the genres performed. As McClung said, playing the steel pedal guitar is a mental chess game and as an instructor of this instrument he should know. He made the observation that most of these players do not often look up. Rather, they are meticulously focused on what they are doing, managing the mechanics of two necks, knee levers that raise the chords and scales and working the pedals, all while playing beautiful music. The draw of the steel pedal guitar, regardless of genre or song, is that in a talented musician’s hands its tonalities vibrates through your body. This is an instrument you hear and feel. If you didn’t see it, you’re in luck. McClung is considering making this an annual concert at Alvas.
Men of Steel
elegant rendition of Billy Strayhorns signature composition, “Lush Life.” Skip Edwards performed some original compositions, including “Walking Through Clover,” “405 Shuffle,” and a sweet little number called, “I Sang Dixie.” “405 Shuffle” is as the name implies. With Edwards’ dexterity on the pedal steel he literally plays cars dancing, mixed up and moving to and fro, even rumbling at high speed only to yield to the vehicular two-step once again. The multi-talented Rick Schmidt followed Edwards with a jazzy number. Schmidt also sings and plays five different types of guitars and keyboards as well. He treated us to the melodies of “Doxology,” a short hymn of praises to God and a duet with McClung on “Face of an Angel.” Then he closed his set with a traditional Hawaiian-style tuning on the neck (called C6). Surprisingly, it sounded a little bit like jazz and was reminiscent of Earl Klugh’s melodic fingering style of playing. JayDee Maness returned closed the evening in great style, by playing Mel Street’s huge country hit, “Borrowed Angel.” A song Maness said pedal steel players love to play. Maness closed the set with, “Tears in Heaven,” which Maness explains he recorded with Clapton.
On Saturday night the blues and rock continues with sounds from the New Blues Revolution who will kick out the jams at Godmother’s Saloon. The New Blues Revolution brings a very accessible way to the blues for the non purist. The mix of pop, rock and blues with layered with the guitar playing virtuosity of Chap Cooper. Cooper brings the Satriani/Vai feel to his playing, check out “Pink 7” on the group’s self titled CD. I have been playing different versions of the group’s material on Lunch at the Barr (On Tuesday and Thursday’s at 11 a.m.). The songs that are the best, really are much more pop oriented. “The Blue Cafe’” and “Lately” are a couple of the strongest songs of their original material. Their overall performance is dynamic. I wonder if the room is a little small for a band that plays the bigger stages around the Southland. Though no stranger to the blues bar circuit, the energy and panache of front man Bill Grisolia, who is returning from two solo gigs in Spain, is over the top. Expect to be entertained. One final note, The Buffalo Fire Department in Torrance is putting on some great shows. Kirk Makin and Patti Orbeck are playing on Wednesdays until the beginning of September from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I first met and heard the duo at The Annual Dylan Festival, which is produced and fronted by Andy Hill and Rene Safier. Makin is the lead guitarist in Hard Rain (Hill and Safier’s band) and Orbeck is an independent recording artist and is one of the featured singers every year. It is an evening of mainly covers and originals played with sublime deft and skill. They are really having loads of fun playing with the audience and taking requests. They are filling in for Andy Hill and Rene Safier who are currently touring in the Pacific Northwest. Hill and Safier will be back in a couple of weeks to take back the Wednesday night spot that they have been filling every week. Venue: Buffalo Fire Department Location: 1261 Cabrillo Ave, Torrance
Architecture For Dogs Architecture for Dogs presents a conceptual exhibition curated by the Tokyo-based designer Kenya Hara. The exhibition was a collaboration of worldrenowned architects and designers who examined the relationships between dogs and humans to design and build habitats for man’s best friend. The exhibition launched at Miami Art Basel in 2012 and will have its worldwide museum debut at LBMA before an international exhibition schedule. Closes September 1, 2013. Detail: (562) 439.2119; lbma.org Venue: Long Beach Museum of Art Location: 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
August 23 – September 5, 2013
love what it did for me when I first joined and how it changed me in all the best ways.” The Long Beach Roller Derby is also featuring a classic roller disco, the first in San Pedro for a few decades, on Aug. 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. Families and children of all ages will be able to skate around the warehouse. Starting at 7 p.m., the adult session begins. Beer will be available with ID. Tickets are $5 and they will have rentals for those who do not own skates. Though now retired from skating, Villa has always been focused on the production and management side. “No. I don’t play roller derby, but I create some of the most entertaining and hard working roller derby around. I’ve produced 11 roller derby events and eight of them were sellout events with over 2,000 people in attendance. Not a lot of leagues have done that.” With events planned well into 2014, the Long Beach Roller Derby is looking to stay in San Pedro.
by The Ventura County Blues Society and placed into the top of 5 out of 1,700 entries. Dave can be seen at The House of Blues in Anaheim as well as The Lighthouse Cafe’ in Hermosa Beach. Check out the August issue of Southland Blues Magazine, and find out more about Dave Widow. Chuck Alvarez and his band will be kicking off at 9 p.m. at T.C. on 9th and Gaffey. Then White Boy James and the Blues Express will be at Godmother’s Saloon at a 9 p.m. downbeat. This is a night when you can catch three of the top shows all in one night within a mile of each gig. Dave Widow and Line Up 7:30 p.m. at Alvas Music/Showroom. Chuck Alvarez 9 p.m. TC’s 9th & Gaffey. White Boy James and The Blues Express 9 p.m. at Godmothers’ Saloon, 7th & Centre.
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
CRAFTED goers beware! The Long Beach Roller Derby Girls are in town. After a long stint at the Queen Mary Dome, they will be breaking in their new home starting Sept. 14, with their first bout, “Momma’s Gonna Knock You Bout.” Occupying the adjacent warehouse next to CRAFTED, the Long Beach Roller Derby is looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship that will help both CRAFTED and the roller derby team grow. For those who don’t know, bouts are competitions between teams that are incredibly physical and very fast pace. Fans seated around the rink get “in-your-face” action as skaters fly by or are slammed down on the floor next to them. Following their first bout, the Derby Girls are planning for bouts in October and November. After winter break, they will kick off the 2014 season with nine bouts. When the 2014 season arrives, a San Pedro themed team will be added. “We are recruiting all of the time!” said Jamie Villa, general manager and co-founder of the Long Beach Roller Derby. “I love roller derby. I
Calendar from page 18.
19