SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY
Just announced another tour. “Got Back.” Indeed. He’ll be 80 in June. (A month later, Ringo will turn 82. Dang. Nice to live so long to enjoy all that money and recognition. George died at 58, John was only 40.) Paul’s a billionaire. So I guess he’s doing it because he loves to be on stage performing for people.
So far, 14 US dates announced (LA 5/13). I saw him a few years ago at Dodger Stadium and it was not only musically excellent, but thrilling to hear THAT voice singing those songs. Amazingly, he had lost only a smidgen vocally off his Beatles days.
Touring is physically demanding. I hope I can still walk when I’m 80.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
EM the MASTER – Yes, I know, I always list her as being at Harvelle’s “every Tuesday” night and if you dropped in last Tuesday you did not find her (on stage, anyway), but instead you stumbled upon the unique, raucous Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday celebration Harvelle’s puts on every year with The Damn Well Please Organ Trio, and you probably didn’t mind at all because Darius comes out of his cave only once a year, only at Harvelle’s, to work his magic. So now, back you go on a Tuesday evening to witness the magic of Em. I’ve been giving EM’s show a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for months now and still do. She sings, dances, has dancers. She crawls across the floor like a reptile, gripping the mic and never missing a beat. She doesn’t play the piano, she attacks it. Uses her voice as an instrument in creative ways. Her energy is nonstop and seemingly limitless. Writes terrific songs perfect for her act. More talent than anyone has a right to. Every Tues 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $10.
RECOMMENDED:
TONIGHT! - HAMILTON -- Still with us, but only two more weeks. Tonight - Thurs, Fri, Sat, Tues, Wed, next Thurs 8 p.m., Sun 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m., also Sat 2 p.m., Pantages Theater, Hollywood, $49-3000+, depending on date/time.
THE ENGLISH BEAT – Oh no, not another of those old bands trying to hang on with only one original member? Emphatically, no. Founder, lead singer, songwriter, guitarist Dave Wakeling is and mostly always has been… The Beat, as they were known in England. Sure we miss Ranking Roger, but most of their songs are indelibly stamped with Wakeling’s enthusiastic, distinctive vocals and his way with a lyric. I’ve seen him many times and sometimes his band is very good, sometimes killer. People are usually surprised by how many of their songs they know and love, and it’s not unusual to see the crowd bouncing up and down the whole time. A couple months ago he put on a somewhat lackluster performance at The Venice West, held back by some reluctance to play enough of those great hits. Take a chance that these shows will be true to good form. If so, you will emerge from the Bourbon Room sweating, and grinning uncontrollably. Fri, Sat, 8 p.m., The Bourbon Room, Hollywood, $35.
ARTURO SANDOVAL – Truly a legend. Presidential Medal of Freedom, Honorary Doctorate from Notre Dame, 10x Grammy winner, 6x Billboard Awards, Emmy winner, and Hispanic Heritage Award winner. I’m told he can still hit those dogs-only high notes he’s always been famous for. Fri, Sat 8:30 p.m., Sat 10:30 p.m. Catalina Jazz Club, Hollywood, $50-60.
SARAH SILVERMAN & FRIENDS – Who are her friends? Who knows. One can only imagine. What will she perform? Who knows? It’s possible she won’t decide until she steps on stage. I would bet, in the throes of a dangerous war in Europe, she may have a thing or two to say about that. Silverman has always been completely outspoken about her social conscience and that offends a few people. I love that about her. And she is also funny as hell. Sat 8:30 p.m., Largo at the Coronet, $35.
RICK SHEA, JULIE CHRISTENSEN – It took me a while to let Rick Shea get under my skin. He seemed kind of… well, boring, with not much of a voice. My mistake. I would see him sharing a stage with other country-folk-Americana acts, at the Barn Dance or elsewhere, usually competing for attention with rockin’ bands and crowd noise. But you have to calm y’self down and pay attention, and allow him to sweep you into landscapes of the human heart and American culture and history, as his songs do so well. Shea strums and picks a guitar and sings in an expressive baritone, just right for what his songs are telling us. McCabe’s is the perfect place to appreciate him. Of course the headliner is Julie Christensen, and she has a helluva resume, from roots rocker (Divine Horsemen) to jazz chanteuse, to doing a whole lot of touring and recording with Leonard Cohen. I’m impressed that she has worked with the inimitable Van Dyke Parks, and Alejandro Escovedo. That’s quite a range. Sun 8 p., McCabe’s, Santa Monica, $25.
TOLEDO DIAMOND -- Have you gone to catch his unique show yet, every Sunday night at Harvelle’s here in SM? I’ve been recommending him for… decades. Choreographer to the biggest stars, smoky-voiced hep cat, creator of a unique floor show, with his dames, circus hoops and bars so professionally swung upon, a band that is truly a knock out. Trust me. You’ve never seen anything like Toledo. You will not forget this show and likely you will be back, friends in tow. Sun 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: JANIS IAN, McCabe’s, 3/11, 12; SOUNDS OF LA with SALAR NADER, Getty Center, 3/12, 13; LA OPERA presents BACH’S ST. MATTHEW PASSION, 3/12. 17. 20.23. 26. 27; LIBRARY GIRL presents TENT SHOW, Ruskin Group Theatre, 3/13; MIDORI, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 3/13; JUDAS PRIEST, Shrine Auditorium, 3/15; FLOGGING MOLLY, Hollywood Palladium, 3/17; HILLARY HAHN, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 3/18, 19, 20; DAVID HIDALGO, RICK HOLMSTROM BAND, McCabe’s, 3/20; IOLANTA, PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT, 3/20, 26, 27; LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, McCabe’s, 3/21. 22; FREDA PAYNE, Vibrato, 3/24; LA PHIL plays MAHLER 7th, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 3/24. 26, 27; PETE ESCOVEDO, Vibrato, 3/30; JAVIER CAMARENA, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 3/31, 4/2; LA PHIL with ZUBIN MEHTA, MOZART’S GREAT MASS, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 3/31, 4/1, 2, 3; TOM RUSH, McCabe’s, 4/6; ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 4/6; ELIZA GILKYSON with NINA GERBER, McCabe’s, 4/8.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 36 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
