The Tap is back
If your doctor mutters the words "spinal tap," run for cover. But when I write them, rejoice! Because the way beyond excellent incredibly legendary probably greatest band in the history of anything is back in the studio, here in LA, working on a new album! Yes, they are so old, they do albums. And I have no doubt it will come out on vinyl. Targeting hip under-30s.
I know, most people under 50 have no idea what I’m babbling about, but for the rest of us, this is a bigger headline than "Guilty!" I have an unimpeachable, impeccable source for this mind blowing news flash, a source very close for many years to the mighty Brit band, Santa Monica’s own (and New Orleans too) Harry Shearer, the renaissance man of his weekly one-man radio broadcast Le Show (40 years), multiple main characters on The Simpsons (35 years), A Mighty Wind, The Truman Show, The Right Stuff, Godzilla, plus an appearance on the epic Australian newsroom satire Front Line. The list goes on forever. So when Harry tells me this is happening, you can believe it. Stay tuned for updates.
Highly Recommended
Theatricum Botanicum — Founded more than half a century ago by blacklisted writer/actor Will Geer, his family have carried on superbly, and his daughter Ellen is directing A Winter’s Tale. They are known for their Shakespeare and performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream their first season, and every year since. TB is a great reason for living in LA. Topanga Canyon Road has been reopened quickly after a landslide, so you have no excuse to put it off. A Winter’s Tale Sat 7:30pm, Midsummer Sun 3:30pm.
Hot Club of Los Angeles — You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30pm, for more than a decade now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. This amazing ensemble is a treasure, just over the border from Santa Monica. Monday 9pm, Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended
Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak — Is there anywhere a heart so hardened that they didn’t fall in love with this children’s tale and especially the mildly wild illustrations? And now you can see them much bigger than a page in a book. This is the first complete retrospective of his work since his death in 2012, and includes his work in many areas of the arts. Twyla Tharp, Spike Jonze, Tony Kushner. Opera sets. "I love opera beyond anything," he once proclaimed, "and Mozart beyond anything." 6/13-9/1, Skirball Museum. Parking fee — call (310) 440-4500 for pricing and hours info.
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. And the band is smokin’! Don’t. Miss. Toledo Diamond. Sun 9:30pm, Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
Coming Attractions (also Recommended): Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak, Skirball, 6/13-9/1; Theatricum Botanicum – A Winter’s Tale, 6/15, 23, 30, 7/4, 14, 19, 28 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 6/15, 23, 30, 7/7 – Wendy’s Peter Pan, 6/22, 29, 7/6, 14, 23, 26 – Tartuffe-Born Again, 7/13, 20, 27; Toledo Diamond, Harvelle’s, 6/16, 23, 30; Hot Club of Los Angeles, Cinema Bar, 6/17, 24; Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, 6/15, 16; Make Music Day International, 6/21; All Star Sumo, Walter Pyramid, 6/22; Doobie Brothers, Kia Forum, 6/23; Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Hollywood Bowl, 6/26, 27; Chris Potter Trio, Jazz Bakery, 6/29; Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life, Hollywood Bowl, 6/29; Rolling Stones, Sofi Stadium, 7/10, 13; Patti LaBelle, Hollywood Bowl, 7/7; All Gershwin, Hollywood Bowl, 7/11; Slash, Samantha Fish, Warren Haynes Band, Eric Gales, Greek, 7/13 ; Big Band Night, Hollywood Bowl, 7/17; Ziggy Marley, Bellwether, 7/20; Mozart Under the Stars, Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zuckerman, Hollywood Bowl, 7/23; All-Beethoven, LA Phil, 7/25; Michael Franti & Spearhead, Greek, 7/26; Dwight Yoakam, Mavericks, Greek, 7/27; Lake Street Dive, Greek, 7/27; Outlaw Fest: Willie, Bob, Mellancamp. Hollywood Bowl, 7/31; UB40, English Beat, Inner Circle, Greek, 7/31; Schumann & Bruch, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl, 8/1; Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, Greek, 8/4; Reggae Night XXII: Damian and Stephen Marley, Hollywood Bowl, 8/4; Hives, Foo Fighters, BMO Stadium, 8/9; Jon Batiste, Greek, 8/10; Pretenders, Foo Fighters, BMO Stadium, 8/11; Herbie Hancock Head Hunters 50th, Hollywood Bowl, 8/14; 10CC, Theatre at Ace Hotel, 8/15; All-Dvořák with Midori, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl, 8/20; Gary Clark Jr., Hollywood Bowl, 8/21; Dudamel & Yunchan Lim, Hollywood Bowl, 8/29.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
