Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 19, 2014, to experience the slide guitar wizardry of singer/songwriter Kraig Kenning, who'll be performing live at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe, in Sarasota FL, from 7PM to 10PM. Intensely talented, intensely driven, intensely poetic, Kenning takes you on a journey through life's challenges, victories and wondrous moments.
During the break, check out his extensive collection of original CDs. One of the new ones is a great compilation of his most popular tunes. Personally, it's become my driving-around-town soundtrack. He sells them for too cheap, but then again you can afford to collect them all.
JR's has great comfort food, too, while you're stamping your feet to Kenning's energetic show.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Saturday Night Live Music in Sarasota
Well, tonight promises an embarrassment of riches, if you're hankering for live music in Sarasota. You can feel like the President, flitting from one gig to the next on Inauguration Day. Here are some of my picks, along with videos to give you a flavor of their sounds. Keep in mind that they are all much better seen and heard live. Feel free to improvise and add your own faves to the lineup:
Mumbo Jumbo plays righteous funk at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe (Old Packinghouse Road between Palmer Blvd & Bahia Vista Street), 7PM to 11PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
TC & the Troublemakers keeps everyone -- hear that? everyone! - dancing at Mattison's City Grille in downtown Sarasota (Main Street and Lemon Avenue), 7:30PM to 12 midnight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lisa Ridings & Vertigo power up their R&B, soul, and rock machine at Ocean Blues (Hillview Street, between Osprey Ave and Tamiami Trail), 9PM to 11PM at least.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Put on your dancing shoes, because you will want to get out there and boogy. Just sayin' . . .
Mumbo Jumbo plays righteous funk at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe (Old Packinghouse Road between Palmer Blvd & Bahia Vista Street), 7PM to 11PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
TC & the Troublemakers keeps everyone -- hear that? everyone! - dancing at Mattison's City Grille in downtown Sarasota (Main Street and Lemon Avenue), 7:30PM to 12 midnight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lisa Ridings & Vertigo power up their R&B, soul, and rock machine at Ocean Blues (Hillview Street, between Osprey Ave and Tamiami Trail), 9PM to 11PM at least.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Put on your dancing shoes, because you will want to get out there and boogy. Just sayin' . . .
Monday, February 10, 2014
Beatles 50 Year Ed Sullivan Show TV Special
I usually write about the local Sarasota live music scene, but I have to diverge today in order to remark on the Beatles 50 Year Ed Sullivan Show TV Special that aired last night. Am I the only one who thought the best part of the show was when actual Beatles sang and played?
While I admire the talent and polish of all the previous acts and musicians on the show, both young and legendary, the production felt more like a Kennedy Center dirge-for-the-almost-dead than a celebration of the lighthearted, fun, happy, whimsical, adventurous, youthful characters that Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney still clearly are.
Clearly, there needs to be a sequel to last night's show, and here are my unsolicited suggestions:
1) Book the actual Ed Sullivan (now David Letterman) theater in New York. What does L.A. have to do with the Beatles in America?
2) If there are cover bands, select those with players who are young and just starting out, to convey the energy of the Beatles who actually played here in 1964. How about some mop-tops? There are plenty of those available even in this Millenial generation of musicians. For example, here in Sarasota we have the marvelous The Tracks:
3) Keep the production values simple. No visual dazzling required, either in the hair, makeup, glitter or stage sets we saw on the L.A. stage last night.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to watch the special last night. And, yes, it was great to see amazing musicians of Beatles vintage, such as Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton, reveling in their chops onstage. It just whetted my appetiite for another show, hopefully orchestrated next time by Paul and Ringo.
While I admire the talent and polish of all the previous acts and musicians on the show, both young and legendary, the production felt more like a Kennedy Center dirge-for-the-almost-dead than a celebration of the lighthearted, fun, happy, whimsical, adventurous, youthful characters that Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney still clearly are.
Clearly, there needs to be a sequel to last night's show, and here are my unsolicited suggestions:
1) Book the actual Ed Sullivan (now David Letterman) theater in New York. What does L.A. have to do with the Beatles in America?
2) If there are cover bands, select those with players who are young and just starting out, to convey the energy of the Beatles who actually played here in 1964. How about some mop-tops? There are plenty of those available even in this Millenial generation of musicians. For example, here in Sarasota we have the marvelous The Tracks:
3) Keep the production values simple. No visual dazzling required, either in the hair, makeup, glitter or stage sets we saw on the L.A. stage last night.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to watch the special last night. And, yes, it was great to see amazing musicians of Beatles vintage, such as Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton, reveling in their chops onstage. It just whetted my appetiite for another show, hopefully orchestrated next time by Paul and Ringo.
Friday, February 7, 2014
John Howard and "Captain" Matt at Matto Matto in Sarasota
Tonight's chilly night air did not dissuade a Friday night neighborhood crowd from dining outside at Matto Matto restaurant in Burns Square, serenaded by the smooth harmonies and well-blended instrumentalism of local singer/songwriter John Howard, accompanied by "Captain" Matt Baker, recently returned to the Sarasota live music scene after an 18-month sabbatical up north.
The duo was set up against the front of the relatively new bistro, playing to diners wrapped in matching red fleece throws provided by the restauranteur. The setting had a European flavor, enhanced by the location of Matto Matto at the confluence of Pineapple and Orange Avenues in the charming old Burns Square neighborhood, a few blocks south of downtown Sarasota.
John Howard, on guitar, vocals, ukelele and harmonica, with Captain Matt on guitar, percussion and vocals, offered folk and rock covers, along with original tunes penned by Howard. The duo can be seen performing regularly around Sarasota at clubs and farmers markets.
The duo was set up against the front of the relatively new bistro, playing to diners wrapped in matching red fleece throws provided by the restauranteur. The setting had a European flavor, enhanced by the location of Matto Matto at the confluence of Pineapple and Orange Avenues in the charming old Burns Square neighborhood, a few blocks south of downtown Sarasota.
John Howard, on guitar, vocals, ukelele and harmonica, with Captain Matt on guitar, percussion and vocals, offered folk and rock covers, along with original tunes penned by Howard. The duo can be seen performing regularly around Sarasota at clubs and farmers markets.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
The Instigators are back in Sarasota
After too long away, The Instigators are back onstage in Sarasota. Last night, they packed the house at the Five O'Clock Club on Hillview Street. Fans happily swayed to their multi-instrumental, multi-vocal reggae sound.
Even better news is that The Instigators are slated to play every Sunday at Bob's Boathouse, hopefully starting in late September when the newly built restaurant reopens . . . finally.
Refer to gotonight.com for actual gig dates. Meanwhile, check them out at http://www.reverbnation.com/burtengelsman to listen to clips. But, truly, you have to experience them in person to get the whole flavor.
Even better news is that The Instigators are slated to play every Sunday at Bob's Boathouse, hopefully starting in late September when the newly built restaurant reopens . . . finally.
Refer to gotonight.com for actual gig dates. Meanwhile, check them out at http://www.reverbnation.com/burtengelsman to listen to clips. But, truly, you have to experience them in person to get the whole flavor.
AJ and the Automatics in Sarasota
After seeing AJ and the Automatics two nights in a row in Sarasota -- first at The Blue Rooster, then at Ocean Blues -- I'm still smiling as I recall happy dancers, grooveworthy funk and R&B, and AJ's full-throated vocals and fancy dance moves on stage. Simply put, AJ evokes every popular R&B singer from the 60s and 70s, pressed through his own high-energy, full-body delivery!
The sound is loud, the house literally rocks, and each of the band members provides solid entertainment with memorable solo riffs and backup vocals. For instance, Burt Engelsman on bass and Mark Serio on lead guitar. Schedules being what they are, some of the musicians change depending on the gig, but all are top-notch and each gets a chance to show off his licks.
According to AJ, "The Automatics have been around for about 19 years, touring all over Florida, doing concerts, including the Chillounge events from the east coast to west, as well as the Orlando area, and Lake Eola Park."
Lucky we are, to have AJ and the Automatics right here in Sarasota FL. For updates on their schedule, check out gotonight.com.
The sound is loud, the house literally rocks, and each of the band members provides solid entertainment with memorable solo riffs and backup vocals. For instance, Burt Engelsman on bass and Mark Serio on lead guitar. Schedules being what they are, some of the musicians change depending on the gig, but all are top-notch and each gets a chance to show off his licks.
According to AJ, "The Automatics have been around for about 19 years, touring all over Florida, doing concerts, including the Chillounge events from the east coast to west, as well as the Orlando area, and Lake Eola Park."
Lucky we are, to have AJ and the Automatics right here in Sarasota FL. For updates on their schedule, check out gotonight.com.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Pedro Arevalo in Sarasota
Here's a delightful video of a jam featuring vocals and guitar by Pedro Arevalo, with backup by additional Sarasota live music scene artists, including Acoustic Pete Arevalo, Berry Oakley, Barry from Mumbo Jumbo, and others. Like I keep saying here, there's SO much fabulous talent in this town!
The Missing Links at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe in Sarasota
Time travel has a new name, and it's The Missing Links, a high-energy cover band which plays once a month on Friday at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe, in Sarasota. A high school band during the late '60s in Sarasota, The Missing Links took a very long hiatus to create their adult lives, then got back together for a reunion concert in 2008 and have continued to play driving iconic favorites from the '60s ever since.
Band members Gary Roy, David Anson, John Purcell, and Jon Hausburg remember each lick, vocal, and beat from the Summer of Love era, and so do their fans, who pack the house at the OPC, dancing on every square inch of vibrating floor boards. Beatles, The Byrds, Motown, Beach Boys, one hit after another will leave you reeling, smiling and singing along, if you're of a certain generation (read: Boomer!).
Band members Gary Roy, David Anson, John Purcell, and Jon Hausburg remember each lick, vocal, and beat from the Summer of Love era, and so do their fans, who pack the house at the OPC, dancing on every square inch of vibrating floor boards. Beatles, The Byrds, Motown, Beach Boys, one hit after another will leave you reeling, smiling and singing along, if you're of a certain generation (read: Boomer!).
Acoustic Pete Fundraiser at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe, Sarasota
Kudos to all who organized and ran the big fundraiser at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe, in Sarasota, on Sunday, August 4, to help local musician Acoustic Pete Arevalo with medical expenses.
Continuous great music by a succession of 14 different bands, food, drinks, t-shirts and CDs, and hard-working JR and staff made for a wonderful afternoon and evening event. Somehow, the hot weather didn't matter much, with lots of borrowed pop-up tents set up in the parking lot and a huge crowd full of good spirits and warm wishes.
Continuous great music by a succession of 14 different bands, food, drinks, t-shirts and CDs, and hard-working JR and staff made for a wonderful afternoon and evening event. Somehow, the hot weather didn't matter much, with lots of borrowed pop-up tents set up in the parking lot and a huge crowd full of good spirits and warm wishes.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
David Smash Opens for Holly Williams in Sarasota
On Saturday, February 16, 2013, local Sarasota bandleader David Smash will open for singer/songwriter Holly Williams (daughter of Hank Williams, Jr.) at a solo acoustic show that begins at 8PM at WSLR radio station's performance space at 525 Kumquat Court, in Sarasota FL.
Williams is in town to open for Sheryl Crow at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. The WSLR concert offers an intimate yet spacious venue from which to appreciate the talents of both Smash and Williams. Tickets are $10 at the door.
David Smash's visibility on the Sarasota live music scene gained momentum on New Year's Eve, when he and his band -- including a wicked horn section -- took to the main stage directly under the "Pineapple" poised for its midnight drop, and rocked the huge crowd with his powerful delivery of classic covers such as "Minnie the Moocher" and debut versions of new original tunes such as "In My Small Town". Even in the chaotic street scene of New Year's Eve, Smash got the crowd clapping, dancing, and singing back to him.
Here's some video from those heady onstage moments:
Here's some video from those heady onstage moments:
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