Highly Recommended
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Little Feat – Susan Tedeschi was a very well regarded blueswoman (guitar, soulful vocals) with albums and tours, before she met and married Derek Trucks, nephew of original Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks. I first noticed Derek 30 years ago from a video of him playing "Layla" with such slide guitar fire and finesse that it must have made Duane Allman sit up in his grave for a better listen. He joined the ABB in 2010. So this is one of the best married musician duos ever, and they tour with a 12-piece band that rocks those blues. Little Feat? One of the best LA bands ever, and that’s saying something. How many groups could lose such a towering talent as Lowell George (only 34) and still be so good 55 years later? (Still the original four players, plus two added in the last five years.) This is a pairing for people who really love great musicianship. Fri 7pm, Greek Theatre, LA, $50-700.
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 3:30, $15-60.
LA Opera, Turandot – This may be the best opera production I have ever seen. (Don’t make fun of a rocker – I have seen a few, 40, anyway, from LA to Santa Fe to Italy.) I knew how spectacular, from photos, David Hockney set design was, but the singing was thrilling, especially the chorus (I love choruses) and soprano Angela Meade and Guanqun Yu and of course Russell Thomas, an LA Opera favorite. Yes, it’s expensive, but so is Bruce and the Stones. There is only one more performance. Sat 7:30pm, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, $424-499 (Hey, there are 120 performers on stage, those costumes and Hockney’s magnificent set — pay the piper!)
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. This amazing ensemble is a treasure, just over the border from SM. Mon 9pm, Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended
Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Senda – 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." 6/6-9/1, Skirball Museum, admission price? Parking fee — call for info and hours.
Reverend Shawn Amos – The first time I saw The Rev was at an outdoor festival at the The Broad some years ago, and he knocked me out, and has every time I’ve seen him since, through a variety of stylistic personae. A versatile talent who always gives a good show. Sat 8pm, The Broad Stage, Santa Monica, $20-65.
Library Girl – It’s Not The End of The World (A Tribute To Judy Blume) – But it sorta is, if you keep missing the incredible string of nearly 200 terrific spoken word performances available once a month here in your backyard. There’s music too, a live musician or two. This night, Stephen Feldman. And free parking. And dessert. But hey, suit yourself. I guess there is good TV on a Sunday night. Sunday 7pm, Ruskin Group Theatre, $20.
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.
English Beat, Voodoo Glow Skulls – I’ve gotta be honest, I know almost nothing about the Skulls. They’ve been around since 1988, some of them wear costumes or crazy headgear, they’ve always had a rabid following and they play a punkish brand of ska. The (English) Beat I know very well. Seen them quite a few times, and had founder-songwriter-vocalist Dave Wakeling on my cable TV show. He is The Beat. Every hit song (and there are many more of them than most people think — "Oh yeah! I love that one!") come to life with his familiar voice. And he’s almost a Santa Monican — has lived in Pacific Palisades for decades. I guess that means he could run for Council, eh, Jesse? Oh, a late change. Vampire Weekend has been added to the bill, the start time moved up to 6:30… and probably the ticket prices moved up too. Wed 6:30pm Hollywood Bowl, LA, $42-3,254.
Coming Attractions (also Recommended): Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak, Skirball, 6/6-9/1; Tedeschi Trucks Band, Little Feat, Greek, 6/7, 9; Theatricum Botanicum – A Winter’s Tale, 6/8, 15, 23, 30, 7/4, 14, 19, 28 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 6/8, 15, 23, 30, 7/7 – "Wendy’s Peter Pan," 6/22. 29, 7/6, 14, 23, 26 – Tartuffe-Born Again, 7/13. 20, 27 " LA Opera, Turandot, 6/8; Reverend Shawn Amos, Broadstage, 6/8; Library Girl, Ruskin Theatre, 6/9; Toledo Diamond, Harvelle’s, 6/9, 16, 23, 30; Hot Club of Los Angeles, Cinema Bar, 6/10, 17, 24; English Beat, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Hollywood Bowl, 6/12; Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, 6/15, 16; All Star Sumo, Walter Pyramid, 6/22; Doobie Brothers, Kia Forum, 6/23; Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Hollywood Bowl, 6/26, 27; Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life, Hollywood Bowl, 6/29; Rolling Stones, Sofi Stadium, 7/10, 13; Dwight Yoakam, Mavericks, Greek, 7/27; Lake Street Dive, Greek, 7/27; UB40, Greek, 7/31; Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, Greek, 8/4; Hives, Foo Fighters, BMO Stadium, 8/9.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
