Twilight Dance Series, Ben Lee, Ry Cumming, Brother: July 15, 2010

Vol. 3 – Concert Guide

July 15 This week’s acts...

Australia Rocks The Pier!

Featuring Ben Lee Ry Cuming | Brother Presented by Australian Consulate, V Australia and Tourism Australia Ben Lee

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Ry Cuming

Contents Page. 6

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Welcome!

TDS map

Photo play

A few words from Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver.

Map helps concert-goers navigate this year’s TDS. Locate parking, seating and access to the historic Santa Monica Pier.

Send us your photos! If we like what we see you’ll see your photography in future issues of this guide.

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Australia Rocks the Pier Ben Lee headlines a night of music from Down Under

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Spectator guide A survival guide for this year’s TDS. Everything from parking to public safety is detailed in our easy-to-use guide.

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A look at week 1 Pictures of Konono No. 1 performance, the first act of this year’s Twilight Dance Series.

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Upcoming shows Find out who’s set to play future TDS concerts.

About this publication This Twilight Dance Series guide has been created as a partnership between the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation and the Santa Monica Daily Press.

Editor: Daniel Archuleta Designer: Darren Ouellette Photography: Wisephotographic.com, Santa Monica Pier Publisher: Ross Furukawa

The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation is a non-profit created in 1983 by the Santa Monica City Council to preserve and enhance the pleasure pier experience for people of all ages and for future generations.

Special thanks: Mike Jennings, Ben Franz-Knight, James Harris, Amber Kessee, Dennis Lin, Clayton O'Brien, Anne Railsback, Rob Schwenker, Brittney Seeliger, Connie Sommerville, Nick Taborek, Scott Zubor,

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For more information, visit santamonicapier.org, or call (310) 458-8901.

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Welcome

Mission statement

I would like to welcome you to this uniquely Santa Monica event.

For 26 years, the Twilight Dance Series has drawn crowds to the historic Santa Monica Pier, giving this city by the sea an opportunity to shine.

Enjoy the show, the beautiful scenery

Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp.

Board Members

and the world-class lineup of talent.

Kent Smith, Chair Joel Brand, Vice-chair Anne Elizabeth Biege-Pearson, Eric Faber, Treasurer Allan Lipsky, At Large Ellen Brennan Cindy Bendat Michael Dubin David Newberg

Bobby Shriver Mayor, Santa Monica

Secretary

To preserve and enhance the pleasure pier experience for people of all ages and for future generations.

Staff Ben Franz-Knight, Executive Director Aurora Pi単a, Operations Manager Jim Harris, Community Venue Liaison & Pier Historian Anne Railsback, Acting Marketing/Community Relations Mgr Rosa Flores, Administrative Assistant Bobby Shriver

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Australia Rocks the Pier Ben Lee headlines a night of music from Down Under

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fter last week’s performance by Congolese group Konono No. 1, the Twilight Dance Series receives another international injection, this time in the form of an award-winning artist from Down Under.

Now based out of Los Angeles, singer/songwriter Ben Lee first made a name for himself in his native Australia before finding similar success stateside with his brand of cheery, infectious pop.

For Lee, it all started in 1992, when he and a few fellow teenagers formed a rambunctious punk outfit by the name of Noise Addict. The group’s talent was evident from the beginning, attracting the interest of Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and the Beastie Boys’ Mike Diamond, whose Grand Royal label later released Lee’s first two solo efforts.

Noise Addict disbanded in the mid-‘90s, but by then, Lee’s career was already taking off. After coming out with his first solo album, “Grandpaw Would,” and moving to New York City, he continued to generate melodic, guitar-driven songs versed with thoughtful lyrics, achieving a level of success unique for someone so young.

2005 was the year Lee truly announced his arrival as a force on the pop scene, with the release of “Awake Is the New Sleep.”

The album went double platinum in Australia and won four Australian Recording Industry Association awards, including Single of the Year for the infectious (no pun intended) “Catch My Disease.”

Lee, now 31, credits influences like Jonathan Richman and The Pet Shop Boys

for guiding him throughout his career. But he’s also developed his own distinctive qualities, having gained the kind of perspective that only comes after years of writing, recording and touring in different parts of the world.

“It’s a beautiful thing to have a craft that you can use as a lens, watching yourself change all the time,” he says. “I think there’s an easiness and spontaneity and lightness with the way I approach my music that has never been there before.

“When you’re 16 and you’re trying to escape, it brings a lot of angst into your work. That’s not really there anymore.”

Indeed, if angst is what you seek, you’ll find little trace of it in Lee’s present-day tunes. The curly-haired crooner’s seventh and latest solo album, 2009’s “The Rebirth of Venus,” represents a far cry from his early days as a bright-eyed teenager, as he delves into an appreciation of feminine nature.

Lee recalls being interested in the idea that “this macho attitude” had hurt the worldwide economy in recent years.

“It feels like the same thing happened sort of on a personal, emotional and international level with the way countries treat each other,” he says. “And it was just exploring the idea that it was what traditionally we call feminine characteristics — like creativity, compassion — those were really the answer to move into a new way of being in the world.” www.ben-lee.com

Ry Cuming

Ben Lee

Ry Cuming

Brother

Pop Singer

Independent Rockers

Born in the small coastal Australian town of Angourie, Ry grew up with a surfboard under one arm and his dad’s record collection under the other. He quickly developed a love for a number of different styles of music from Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. www.rycuming.com

Fusing signature vocals and guitar with the deep pulse of the didgeridoo, the soaring highs of the bagpipes, and tribal percussion, Brother is wholly original. The band’s powerhouse live performances are an energetic celebration, captivating and engaging the audience from the first song to the last. www.brothermusic.com

Brother

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THE SANTA MONICA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION PROUD SUPPORTERS OF

25 years of Concerts on the Pier

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Twilight Dance Series

Spectator guide Parking, seating and general FAQ made easy Parking Parking is available in the 1550 Pacific Coast Highway Lot, on a first-come, firstserved basis. There is no parking permitted on the Pier Parking Deck.

There are also a number of city structures located in nearby Downtown Santa Monica.

For more information, visit the City of Santa Monica’s parking site for directions and pricing. The address is parking.smgov.net/overview.html.

For directions to the Santa Monica Pier, visit santamonicapier.org/location.

bring low beach chairs so not to block the view of other concert-goers. Many people do sit on the sand at the beach below the pier deck.

Alcohol consumption is not permitted on public spaces; however, there are several full service bars on the pier and there will be a wine garden at each of the concerts.

Pets Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Smoking Bike valet There is a free bike valet located next to the beach bike path just south of the Santa Monica Pier.

Smoking is permitted in designated areas only. There are two designated smoking areas in the general vicinity of the concert.

One area is designated in the south east corner and one in the south west corner.

Seating Seating is not provided. You are welcome to bring beach chairs and blankets and sit on the pier deck or the beach. We ask that you

Tickets No ticket or reservation is necessary for the concerts. And all of the concerts are free. However, should you find yourself wanting to express your appreciation for the concerts you are welcome to make a tax deductible contribution the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation either by donating online at santamonicapier.org or in person at one of the concerts by going to the pier booth.

First aid/lost and found If you require first aid or assistance, please visit the pier booth/tent and we will contact the proper authority. If it is an emergency, please call 911. The lost and found will also be located at that location.

Rates start at

88/night

$

Weather

SANTA MONICA PIER

It never gets really cold, but after the sun goes down it can sometimes get a bit chilly requiring only a sweater or light jacket. It's always a good idea to have something to throw on just in case.

Pier contact info email:

reservations@seaviewhotel.com

310.393.6711 | 1760 Ocean Avenue | Santa Monica, CA

Book On-line Today

www.seaviewhotel .com

Telephone: (310) 458-8901 Internet: santamonicapier.org Mail: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A Santa Monica, CA. 90401

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Photo play Send us your pics!

The Twilight Dance Series wants you ... to send us your photography.

We're asking concert-goers to snap away and send us your best pics. We plan to publish this usergenerated content in subsequent issues of this guide.

You can send us your pictures (in the largest possible format) to mytdspics@gmail.com. Or, you can visit our Facebook page and upload your pics there as well at www.facebook.com Search: Santa Monica Pier

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Flash back Konono No. 1 rocked the first night of the Twilight Dance Series with an innovative take on Bazombo trance music

A lively crowd came out for Konono No. 1 during the first week of the Twilight Dance Series.

Kids play before showtime.

Win a PHAT Cycles Beach Cruiser every week!

The TDS Wine Garden

raffle to benefit

buy raffle tickets at the Santa Monica Daily Press booth 1 for $5 | 5 for $20 | 10 for $30 all proceeds go directly to fund the Teach and Test water quality program at Santa Monica High School and Palisades High

Konono No. 1 - Week 1

Konono No. 1 - Week 1

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The Lobster welcomes Thursday Night Pier Concerts!

Enjoy the concerts while feasting on our own original Santa Monica Clam Bake picnic to go.

SANTA MONICA CLAM BAKE F

OR

TWO

Starting Thursday Nights 5-7pm ORGANIC COUNTRY FRESH FARMS BABY GREENS FENNEL, CHERRY TOMATOES & SHAVED PARMESAN WITH RED WINE VINAIGRETTE

LOBSTER’S CLAM BAKE STEAMED 1 LB. AMERICAN LOBSTER TAIL & CLAWS, MANILA CLAMS, 6EA MEXICAN WILD SHRIMP, MELTED BUTTER, COCKTAIL SAUCE & LEMON 1/2

MIXED HEIRLOOM POTATOES & CORN ON THE COBB SOUR DOUGH BREAD WITH CHIMICHURRI MIXED COOKIES MUST CALL TO PRE-ORDER | TO-GO ONLY | NO SUBSTITUTIONS $70 (PLUS TAX & GRATUITY)

The famous Santa Monica Pier Carousel as it looks today.

The story behind the Carousel & Hippodrome Historian James Harris remembers one of the most famous landmarks on the Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica TOBACCO “THE LUXURY TOBACCO SHOP”

STORE

LOUNGE

Monday-Thursday - 10am to 10pm Friday-Saturday - 10am to midnight Sunday - 11am to 10pm

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from the book "Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier," by James Harris. It is used by permission of Angel City Press. For more information on this book, visit www.angelcitypress.com.

20% premium cigar off & pipe selection OFFER ENDS 8/1

1434 4th St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 | (310) 393-9592

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n June 12, 1916 the Looff Hippodrome opened its doors to the public for the first time and the public fell in love, for inside the curious looking structure was a circling menagerie of wooden animals suited to delight anyone who cared to ride upon them. It was a genuine carousel. The music of an automatic band organ, manufactured by A. Ruth & Son of Waldkirch, Germany, accompanied the animals. The organ’s sound could be heard well into the town, drawing people toward its melody and the stable of fun inside.

The Hippodrome, a mixture of Byzantine, Moorish and California architecture, is a twostory structure measuring just over one hundred feet square. Its swooping roof and corner turrets give the building a whimsical allure. The second floor was built as both office and apartment space, housing the owners and management of the new pier’s development project.

The carousel inside was a Looff original, hand-crafted by Charles Looff himself. It offered a mixture of hand-carved horses, giraffes, camels, tigers and other jungle animals, all jumpers — animals that move upand-down — spreading three rows across the revolving platform. Brass rings were dispensed, awarding free rides to the lucky recipients. The ride was so popular that, within three months of its first run, it was expanded to include an outer row of twentyfour additional animals. Surrounding the carousel were rocking chairs where nonriders could relax and watch the wooden animals and their passengers circle around.

In 1939, while the amusement pier struggled with ownership issues, the Looff carousel was sold to the Belmont Park

HUMIDORS

Angel City Press

amusement park in Mission Beach, San Diego. It remained there until 1976, when it was disassembled and sold off in pieces. A C.W. Parker #316 carousel, previously housed on the Ocean Park Pier, replaced the Looff unit. The Parker, made in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1916, was originally built for use in a beer parlor, but the timing of Prohibition relegated it to storage for several years before it found a home on the Ocean Park Pier in 1925.

The Parker carousel remained in the Hippodrome until 1947, when Walter Newcomb sold it to make room for his own carousel, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company #62. Newcomb found it in the 1930s through a classified advertisement in Showman’s National Magazine. He sent his brother Ted to inspect it, who then bought it on sight. He first installed the carousel on the Venice Pier, but when that pier burned in 1947, Newcomb moved it to its new home in the Hippodrome. The Philadelphia Toboggan Company #62 carousel remains there today as one among only a handful of historic, all-wooden merry-go-rounds in operation.

A standard Philadelphia Toboggan Carousel, its two interior rows consist entirely of jumpers, while the horses on the outer row are all standing. The noble animals number forty-four in all.

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2010 Twilight Dance Series Week 3, July 22 Presented by KCRW

Jovanotti Italian Super Star Jovanotti (aka Lorenzo Cherubini) fills stadiums in his native Italy and throughout Latin America. He sets out this summer to bring his synthesis of rap, rock, hip-hop and rock to festivals across America. Jovanotti’s music has transformed from its early roots in rap and hip-hop to a broader hybrid, incorporating pointed lyrics addressing philosophical, religious, social, and political issues, more

typical of a singer-songwriter, Italian cantautore tradition.

He has recorded 11 studio albums, the four most recent releases reaching No. 1 in Italy. Over the past 20 years, Jovanotti has collaborated with Brazil’s Daniela Mercury, Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, and recorded alongside Ben Harper, Michael Franti (Spearhead) and Bono (U2). Jovanotti appears on several international compilations, most notably “Red Hot + Rhapsody,” a 1998 tribute to George Gershwin, on which he performed “I Got Rhythm” and His song “Piove” is featured on the CD “Peppers & Eggs” from the soundtrack of the TV series “The Sopranos.”

Jovanotti

Jace Everett Singer/Songwriter Indiana-born, Texas-raised, singer/songwriter Jace Everett became enamored by both gospel music and the works of Willie Nelson in his teenage years. Jace’s upbringing in the evangelical church and his far-flung travels are apparent in his songs: “The church is where I learned about music, played bass and did my first real public singing … where the girls thought I was really cool. I’ve always been attracted to emotionally and spiritually mature themes — philosophically and musically…”

Jace’s song “Bad Things” is the theme song, heard over the opening montage, of “True Blood,” HBO’s most successful series since “The Sopranos.” As the third season begins, Jace releases his own new album “Red Revelations” and hits the road playing these songs. Everett’s music evokes the complex, vividly emotional terrain of his diverse influences and springs from the same sources of inspiration, contradiction and risk; Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Marvin Gaye.

Ana Tijoux Chilean Rapera Chilean hip-hop artist Ana Tijoux was born in France to a French mother and a Chilean father while they were living in exile during the Pinochet dictatorship. After the return to democracy, the family moved back to Chile. While studying literature in school, Anita began immersing herself in Santiago’s hip-hop underground. Rhyming first in French, then later in Spanish, Tijoux found “… a platform to talk about all kinds of things” in a way that was cathartic.

Tijoux is one of those rare rappers who actually carry a tune as gracefully as she can craft a lyric. Her singing abilities have caused her to be recruited to perform on tracks with the Argentine electronic-tango-alternative group Bajofondo, and to pair up with Mexican rocker Julieta Venegas on her hit song “Eres Para Mi.” She has developed a growing following for her jazzinflected, ‘90s trip-hop, unusually melodic rapping and witty, politically savvy lyrics. Her U.S. debut, “1977,” is named after the year of her birth and has just been released by National Records.

Week 4, July 29 Presented by KCRW

Kailash Kher’s Kailasa Indian Pop/Rock/Bollywood There is no greater star in Indian popular music today than Kailash Kher, a revered singer whose prodigious vocal gifts and inspiring personality have made him a household name across the subcontinent. Kailash Kher’s 2004 meteoric rise from a humble upbringing outside of New Delhi to being appointed a judge for the 2008-09 season of “Indian Idol” is nothing less than remarkable. It is also a testament to the strength and appeal of what is undeniably one of the most unique voices in Indian music today.

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Week 8, Aug. 26

Presented by Beatlesfest Week 5, Aug. 5 Presented by Bloomingdale’s Santa Monica

Rickie Lee Jones Duchess of Coolsville Rickie Lee Jones is one of the most singular artists in today’s music world. A clue to defining her iconoclasm comes from her own family description as “lower-middleclass-hillbilly-hipster.” From her emergence on the national scene in 1979, Rickie Lee has become one of the most acclaimed and talented singer/songwriters of our time spanning many genres: folk, rock, jazz, soul, spoken word and pop. Her first self-titled album launched her career and received five Grammy nominations. Her nominations included Best Song, for “Last Chance Texaco,” Best Album, Best Pop Vocal and Best Rock Vocal. As it happened, she won Best New Artist, and her career was launched. Just four months after her debut, Rickie Lee graced the cover of Rolling Stone, and again only 18 months later.

Week 6, Aug. 12

Soulive Funk Jazz Organ Trio Not many bands can say they’ve recorded with such diverse artists as Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, Talib Kweli and John Scofield. Nor can many, if any, bands lay claim to opening for The Rolling Stones on one tour and having Stevie Wonder sit in with them on the next.

Breakestra Hip-Hop Funk Beats Formed by Dr. Miles Tackett, “Musicman,” in 1996, Breakestra began as the house band for the legendary club called The Breaks. The band is rooted in deep funk, soul, jazz fever and musical friendships. A Breakestra show is about dancing and swinging, musicians on stage getting loose and playing serious grooves. Breakestra has a way of invigorating breakbeats, paving the way for the funkily naïve to embrace the rhythmic revolution that James Brown kicked off more than 30 years ago!

Week 7, Aug. 19

Mick Taylor Legendary Guitarist/Former Rolling Stone As one of the most admired and respected guitarists in blues, R&B and rock music, Mick Taylor’s distinctive, elegant slide guitar work graces some of the key albums in rock ‘n’ roll history. Mick Taylor’s biggest impact and recognition came when he joined the ranks of illustrious alumni of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, accepting the Rolling Stones’ offer to replace founding member Brian Jones in 1969. The Stones had already established their reputation as “the greatest rock ’n’ roll band” in the world, having just released the classic “Beggar’s Banquet.” Taylor quickly added his imprint to the Stones and was present for the legendary concert tours through 1974.

Tom Nolan Band Blues, R&B and Soul One word sums up the Tom Nolan Band’s mission: “Dance!” Long-time local favorites, TNB boasts a world class rhythm section, great singers and soloist, and an intense stage show. TNB brings people to their feet playing a mix of originals and classic dance tunes which blend soul, blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll.

Beatlesfest, a three-day tribute that began five years ago, is proud to be a part of the Twilight Dance Series this summer! Abbey Road will open the night with an acoustic set of the Beatles, followed by Los Angeles-based Led Zepagain, as part of the British Invasion.

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An icon of American music born in New Orleans, Dr. John is indelibly linked to the traditions and singularity of the city’s musical and cultural heritage. Mac Rebennack burst onto the rock ‘n’ roll scene in the late 1960s as Dr. John, the Night Tripper, merging the R&B, voodoo rhythms and chants of his native New Orleans to create a persona perfect for the psychedelic era. Over the years he’s thrown in jazz, classic American songbook, zydeco, boogie woogie and rock into the mix.

Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Brothers Week 9, Sept. 2 Presented by Bayside District

World Mardi Gras Music Originally from New Orleans Eddie Baytos can be said to be from N’Wahlins via Hollywood.

Dr. John & the Lower 911

For more information, visit www.santamonicapier.org.

New Orleans Icon

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