Highly Recommended:
Terry Reid – Yes, the story everyone likes to tell is how he turned down the vocalist position for a new band being formed in England more than half a century ago, and it wound up going to a relative unknown named Robert Plant, who now has a net worth of about $200M. That’s a whole lotta Led. The topper is that Reid was only 17 at the time, and his mum wouldn’t let him. Problem with a lot of great stories like that is, you find out they are mostly not true. Reid himself said no, but with good reason. At only 17 Reid had caused enough of a stir with his amazing voice and his songs, that a major label offered him a three-album deal. Not his band, just him, featured solo artist, his name and his photos on the LP covers, and him calling the shots, no collective band decisions.
Terry Reid, Superlungs, The Voice, they called him over there, and still do. His is gruffer and grittier than Plant’s high wail but when you hear it, you can imagine it having sung all those famous hits. He seems at peace with having to constantly debunk those stories, possibly because he is a consummate artist still at the top of his game. Reid agreed to appear on my cable TV show, Not Just Another LA Music Show, years ago, and I was surprised, and soon delighted, when he showed up with his young daughter and they sang Christmas songs. It was completely charming, and incredibly good. So whatever he chooses to sing, I’m ready. Fri 8pm, McCabe’s, Santa Monica, $35.
Highway 1, USA/The Dwarf, LA Opera – Not La Traviata or Turandot so I can’t speak from the experience of having seen them, but while you are waiting for those two, in April and May, this should satisfy your soul for big voices, great acting, big sets and fine music. I can say this: in seven years of seeing almost everything our LA Opera has produced, I have never been disappointed. And this production has racked a few rave reviews. Sat, Thurs 7:30pm, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, $19-259.
Hot Club of Los Angeles — You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday, 9–11:30pm, for more than a decade now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. They should have copies of their new album Nova there for sale. Mon 9pm, Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended:
Bob Marley: One Love – I can recommend this based on the story it tells and the trailers I’ve seen, and the fact that none of my hardcore reggae friends has trashed it. But none have raved, either. It does cover only a small period in his short life, when he was most controversial in his home country of Jamaica, when it was going through an election noted for guns and violence. Attackers entered Marley’s home and tried to assassinate him and his family, and… well, you’ll have to see for yourself. Keeping in mind that Marley was one of the most popular performers the world has ever seen, and was considered also a political and religious leader, even a prophet by many. Too bad our hometown Laemmle Theaters aren’t screening it locally, but AMC Santa Monica 7 is, 1310 Third Street Promenade, today through next Thurs, check theaters for showtimes, prices.
It’s Only A Show — Famous character and comedic actor Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Linke were decades-long friends and collaborators. Linke crafted Reilly’s acclaimed solo play, Save It for the Stage, a production later immortalized on film as “The Life of Reilly!” Step behind the curtain for It’s Only a Show — a tribute to the legendary Charles Nelson Reilly. Created and performed by Paul Linke, together they took Reilly’s unique life stories around the country, and now it lands at our airport. Linke is known for his roles in CHiPs, Judging Amy, and the solo show Time Flies When You’re Alive, calls this “an evening of heart, humor and the enduring spirit of a true mentor.” The other recent one-man show I saw at Ruskin was simply great, and since this one has been held over several times, I think we all better get on over this Saturday. Sat 5pm, Ruskin Group Theatre, SM airport, $20-30.
Library Girl – Presents: Such a Long, Long Time to Be Gone and a Short Time to Be There, inspired by the song “Box of Rain” by The Grateful Dead. Curated with Steve Hochman, acclaimed local music journalist. Featuring music by Thee Holy Brothers (Willie Aron and Marvin Etzioni), and readings by: Paul Body, Mary Camarillo, Jane Cantillon, Cory Cofer, Jonathan Feldman, Steve Hochman, Veronica Jauregui and Melissa Marie Monroe. Library Girl almost always has themes/prompts relating to music, often song lyrics or album titles, so a live poets society digging into Dead lyrics should be special. Maybe you’ll even find direction, around some corner where it’s been waiting Toledo Diamond — Unique, riveting, first class act. There’s nothing like it, it is high performance art and great decadent fun. Degeneracy is rarely so well disciplined. Don’t. Miss. Toledo Diamond. Sun 9:30pm, Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
Coming Attractions: Highway 1, USA/The Dwarf, LA Opera, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 3/14, 17; Southside Slim, Harvelle’s, 3/15; It’s Only A Show, Ruskin Theatre, 3/16, 23; Toledo Diamond, Harvelle’s, 3/17, 24, 31; Hot Club of Los Angeles, Cinema Bar, 3/18, 25;; Philip Glass, Complete Etudes, Disney Hall, 3/20; Esa-pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony, 3/22; Los Straightjackets, Mccabe’s, 3/24; Sleater-Kinney, Wiltern, 3/28, Belasco, 3/29; Yo Yo Ma, Kathryn Scott, Disney Hall, 4/3; Springsteen, Kia Forum, 4/4, 7; Ethan Iverson Trio With Peter Erskine, Darek Oles, Sam First, 4/5; La Traviata, LA Opera, 4/6, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27; Saint-Saens, Organ Symphony, LA Phil, Disney Hall, 4/12, 13, 14; Mavis Staples 85th Bd, Youtube Theater, 4/18; Albert Lee, Mccabe’s, 4/19; Herbie Hancock, Disney Hall, 4/20; Academy of St. Martin in The Fields, The Soraya, 4/21; Rhiannon Giddens, Theatre at Ace Hotel, 4/25; Kraftwerk, Disney Hall, 5/21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30; John Mceuen, Mccabe’s, 5/24; Chris Stapleton, Hollywood Bowl, 6/26, 27; Rolling Stones, Sofi Stadium, 7/10, 13.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.