PICO BLVD — Santa Monica officially has a new holiday to celebrate.
Today, June 9, has officially been named Peter Case Day in honor of the long-time resident and musician who has been a fixture at the famous McCabe’s Guitar Shop for over a decade.
City Hall is expected to issue a proclamation to Case, honoring him for his continued service to the community as a musician, songwriter, and teacher. However, his time here has not been easy. In early 2009 Case underwent emergency open-heart surgery, an experience which he said showed him how much love he has in the community.
“The support has been fantastic, I was very thankful that I have great friends and a great community to offer it,” Case said. “When I first came to Santa Monica, I knew right from the beginning that I wanted to live here. I like the aspects of the smaller town that Santa Monica has. There’s always a real sense of community.”
Case has come a long way since he first moved to Santa Monica over 20 years ago. Has he just released a new album — “Wig!” — which is his first album since surgery. Recorded in only three days, Case says the release is extremely exciting.
“It’s a rock ‘n’ roll/blues record, and soon I’ll be on the road, going out and playing for the first time since my surgery. It feels great.”
Case has performed at local venues such as Santa Monica College, the Alligator Lounge, the Morgan-Wixson Theatre and the Ash Grove, formerly located on the pier, where he was a regular artist.
However, he feels most at home in McCabe’s, where he both plays and teaches.
“My first show there was in 1984, and I’ve been teaching and playing there ever since,” he said. “It’s a great community center that people from all over the world come to visit.”
With this in mind, it’s fitting that Case will debut his new album at that location. In honor of the release of “Wig!”, Case is scheduled to perform two shows tonight at McCabe’s — at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Case hopes to continue to play in Santa Monica, and he says he will return to teaching at McCabe’s in January after going on the road with his new album.
“I like being on the road but I also like teaching, and I think it is a great thing for me to be doing.”
One thing is for sure; Case will forever be remembered in Santa Monica history.
“Peter is an incredible songwriter and performer, someone who keenly observes the human condition and finds a way to match words with music to express a feeling, an opinion, and a perspective while entertaining an audience, and, in fact, usually raising the roof,” Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown said.
news@www.smdp.com
