Twilight Dance Series, Dr. John, the lower 911: September 2, 2010

Vol. 10 – Concert Guide

September 2 This week’s acts ...

Presented by Bayside District

Dr. John & the Lower 911

Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Brothers

Dr. John & the Lower 911

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Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Brothers - Week 9

Dr. John & the Lower 911 - Week 9

Contents Page. 6

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Welcome!

Spectator guide

Flash back

A few words from Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver.

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

Pictures from the first weeks of the Twilight Dance Series.

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A touch of the 'Big Easy' Dr. John & the Lower 911 close out this year's Twilight Dance Series Page 10

TDS map

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Photo play

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To the rescue Santa Monica rallies to save 2010 Twilight Dance Series

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

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

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: Melody Gerding, James Harris, Mike Jennings, Ben Franz-Knight, Dennis Lin, Anne Railsback, Rob Schwenker, Brittney Seeliger, Connie Sommerville

®

®

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 Lori Nafshun

Bobby Shriver Mayor, Santa Monica

Secretary

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

Staff

Bobby Shriver

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

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A touch of the 'Big Easy' Dr. John & the Lower 911 close out this year's Santa Monica Twilight Dance Series with style

Dr. John & the Lower 911 - Week 9

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

Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Brothers - Week 9

It will take a special kind of doctor to cure those end-of-summer blues.

Luckily, that's exactly who will be making a house call Thursday at the Santa Monica Pier where Dr. John & the Lower 911 will close the 26th annual Twilight Dance Series with a healthy dose of "The Big Easy."

The highly-anticipated show will finally strike the 69-year-old venerated musician off a wish list of entertainers who have never performed at the pier but whose appearances have long been coveted by the concert's producers.

“He's an American treasure,” Katharine King, who has produced the show since its inception, said. “We feel very blessed and lucky to get him.”

The five-time Grammy Award winning artist is regarded by many as the epitome of New Orleans' rich and unique musical heritage, an icon who made his mark on the scene in 1968 with the release of breakthrough album, “Gris-Gris,” blending rhythm & blues, funk, psychedelic rock and voodoo chants.

The seeds were planted early for Mac Rebennack, whose father owned a record store where the young aspiring musician would listen to what was then called, “Race Records,” paying particular focus to traditional and progressive jazz, Afro-Cuban music and gospel.

“I chose this path because it seemed like an easier job than to lug radios and televisions like my father,” said Rebennack, who would become famous as Dr. John.

He started his career in the 1950s as a well-respected guitarist, writing and performing on recordings by Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford. But a promising future as a guitarist ended in the 1960s when Rebennack was shot in the finger while defending a bandmate, forcing a change of instruments to the piano.

Dr. John moved to Los Angeles shortly after the incident and became a highlydemanded session musician, performing on records by Sonny & Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin and The Rolling Stones.

It was “Gris-Gris” that marked a new chapter as a solo artist and where Rebennack became Dr. John, the Night Tripper, named after a voodoo practitioner in the 1800s.

He adopted not only a new stage name

but a persona that would perform memorable concerts of a mystical nature, involving elaborate costumes and voodoo-esque rituals. The debut solo album is now ranked 143rd on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

“The groovy Afro-Caribbean percussion and creaky sound effects aren't just otherwordly — they seem to come from several other worlds all at once,” the magazine reported..

Dr. John similarly followed up with “Babylon” (1969), “Remedies,” (1970) and “The Sun, Moon & Herbs” (1971), gaining the respect of fellow musicians Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, both of whom made cameos in “The Sun, Moon and Herbs.”

He followed up with hits like “Right Place, Wrong Time,” and “Such a Night” from 1973 album, “In the Right Place.”

In 1972, Rebennack recorded “Dr. John's Gumbo,” an album that would pay tribute to his musical roots in the Crescent City, covering a number of New Orleans standards with an original take. The album would later join “Gris-Gris” on Rolling Stone's list at 402.

Dr. John's repertoire has expanded over the years, including boogie woogie and zydeco. But he doesn't like to affix a description to his sound.

“Music is in the ear, in the spirit of the digger of the music,” he said.

The artist's devotion to New Orleans has remained constant throughout, performing at concerts to raise money following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and releasing benefit album – “Sippiana Hericane.” A year later, he released “City that Care Forgot,” an album that criticizes the federal government's response to the hurricane aftermath, later winning him a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. His most recent work, “Tribal,” was released last month and revisits the old "Gris-Gris" style that brought him fame more than four decades ago.

In the final summer concert of the Twilight Dance Series, Dr. John said he expects to see people dancing, “shaking their ass, ala New Orleans.”

“My life is a ritual, and my gigs are always unexpected to me and my band even though they play by set lists that are written that day, it's always a different show, and it's always something off the hook.”

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Spectator guide Parking, seating and general FAQ made easy Parking

THE SANTA MONICA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION PROUD SUPPORTERS OF

25 years of Concerts on the Pier

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.

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

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 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

First aid/lost and found

Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

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.

Smoking 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.

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.

Rates start at

88/night

$

SANTA MONICA PIER

email:

reservations@seaviewhotel.com

310.393.6711 | 1760 Ocean Avenue | Santa Monica, CA

Book On-line Today

www.seaviewhotel .com

Weather 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 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!

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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

TDS photo by Mary Leipziger

Fans TDS photo by Mary Leipziger

TDS photo by Mary Leipziger

Fans

Fans

TDS photo by Charlotte Kane

Rickie Lee Jones - Week 5

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Flash back Twilight Dance Series concerts have featured acts ranging from Konono No. 1 in week one to Beatlesfest in week eight

Abbey Road - Week 8

Win a PHAT Cycles Beach Cruiser every week!

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

Led Zepagain - Week 8

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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

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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)

Santa Monica TOBACCO “THE LUXURY TOBACCO SHOP”

STORE

LOUNGE

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

HUMIDORS

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

1434 4th St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 | (310) 393-9592 Bettye LaVette - Week 7

Soulive - Week 6

Rickie Lee Jones - Week 5

Breakestra - Week 6

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Tom Nolan Band - Week 7

Jovanotti - Week 3

Brother - Week 2

Konono No. 1 - Week 1

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Jovanotti - Week 3

Brother - Week 2

Konono No. 1 - Week 1

Ana Tijoux - Week 3

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Jace Everett - Week 3

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Daily Grill Picnic Boxes are perfect for outdoor concerts, special events, parties and yes, picnics too.

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To the rescue Santa Monica rallies to save 2010 Twilight Dance Series Swho your true friends are.

ometimes it takes a rough patch to realize

Picnic Daily See our full Picnic Box menu on our website at www.dailygrill.com

2501 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica - (310) 309-2170

For the Santa Monica Pier's annual Twilight Dance Series, which almost didn’t happen this year after the recession cut into the event’s funding, this summer’s full calendar of concerts is a case in point.

Faced with a $92,000 shortfall to put on the series, local leaders asked for help from the community to save the free concerts.

What they received was an outpouring of support that surprised even the most ardent Twilight Dance Series fans.

“Out of this crisis has come a renewed awareness of the deep passion and love for these summer concerts throughout the community,” said Ben Franz-Knight, the executive director of the Pier Restoration Corp., which organizes the series.

By showcasing top talent for free in a breathtaking setting next to the Pacific Ocean, TDS has always been about celebrating community. This year, the community gave back.

“I personally was truly humbled by the response. To see people reaching into their pockets and giving donations from $5 up to $5,000 — it showed that across the board, from people that have modest means to people that have more financial resources, this is an important event.”

All told, individual donations topped $30,000. With the flood of community support, new sponsors came out of the woodwork, contributing more than $100,000 — and allowing organizers to put on a full slate of nine summer concerts featuring top-notch acts.

“Only a few months ago, the future of the series appeared bleak and signs were strong that it would be canceled,” said Santa Monica City Councilman Richard Bloom. “I am grateful that this wonderful community rose to the challenge, pulled together and saved the series.”

Bloom and his colleagues on the council were also a big part of the effort to save the concerts, donating $35,000 from the council’s budget to put on the event and helping to build momentum for the fundraising drive.

With the council and individual donors piling up, Franz-Knight said he started getting calls from new sponsors who were eager to support an event that was clearly so important to so many people.

The Bayside District Corp., the group that manages and promotes Downtown Santa Monica, came up with $20,000.

Pacific Park, the amusement park located on the iconic Santa Monica Pier, matched that gift to become a major sponsor of the event. National companies also seized the opportunity to partner with the series, with Bloomingdale’s, Naked Juice and Time Warner Cable, among others, signing on as supporting sponsors.

To Bloom, the public support for the series, despite the difficult economic times,

shows just how important communitybuilding events like the Twilight Dance Series are— especially when the going gets tough.

“After more than 25 years, the Twilight Dance Series is an enduring summer tradition,” Bloom said. “It has become well known for its world-class location on the water and its consistently eclectic and highquality range of musical performances.”

This year, simply holding the event required extra effort from organizers and community members who support the free concerts alike. But with the weekly events set to begin July 8, it’s already clear to everyone involved the time and expense is sure to be well worth it.

“It’s a labor of love for its producers and the Pier Restoration Corp. staff and board,” Bloom said.

Now in its 26th season, this year, the Twilight Dance Series promises to draw some of the biggest crowds in its history with a diverse group artists that play everything from rock ‘n’ roll and blues to world music from Australia, India and South America.

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