POLKAS AND… AC/DC?
I haven’t been able to confirm one way or another, but the day of the traditional presidential pardon of the two Thanksgiving turkeys Peach and Blossom, one of the news stations said they had been raised on the music of AC/DC and… polkas. If it was a joke – I loved it.
RECOMMENDED:
Tonight -“KOOZA,” CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – Now you don’t have to drive to Vegas! This is a good bet as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and hopefully I will be able to report back on that, but a couple of friends gave it high marks. No one else really does what they do, on this scale. They invented it. I’ve only seen a few of their shows but they seem to have retained their high standards all these years, ever since I saw their first one also here on SM Beach, by the Pier, 37 years ago, that launched them to great international success. I think they know they have a rep to maintain with Santa Monicans. Thurs, Fri, Sat, next Thurs 8 p.m., Sat 4:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m., Santa Monica Pier, $69-310.
ZUBIN MEHTA Conducts SCHOENBERG’S “Gurrelieder,” LA PHIL, LA Master Chorale – This is the Schoenberg you want to experience, the former LA denizen who took a last shot at Romanticism before diving into Expressionism (and changing classical music in the 20th century), creating a sprawling masterpiece with five vocal soloists, a narrator, several choirs and a whole lotta musicians on stage all at once. It is rarely performed because of all this and because not many conductors are willing to take it on, but former LA Phil denizen Zubin Mehta is a Schoenberg master, so we are in for a treat. Fri 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA, $45-195.
STEVIE WONDER, “House Full of Toys”/“Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart” – This year they tacked the LA stop onto the end of his sold out big city “Heal” tour, coinciding with his annual Christmastime 25th “Toy” concert, so you can get in for only 20 bucks (and an unwrapped toy or “gift of joy”), talk about a win-win. They never announce guest artists for these shows, but it is LA and a good cause, so you can count on telling all your friends about who walked on stage and performed. But even if there wasn’t one, an entire show by Stevie is something you will never forget. I once saw him do more than two hours at the House of Blues – man I miss that place, what a loss to have it torn down and thrown away – solo with band and singers, and it was a gobsmack to be reminded just how many great songs this mighty musician has created. Sat 8 p.m., Crypto.com Arena, LA, $20-202.
BILLIE EILISH – It took my millennial daughter about two minutes to “get” Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell, dad maybe two years, because I didn’t sit down and listen to an entire album. But song by quirky song I began to understand what a special, rare talent she is. Along with her brilliant songwriting-producing brother Finneas, they were homeschooled by their creative parents to pursue all the arts, and by 13 Billie was working with Finneas out of their Highland Park home to release a successful EP at 16 and two years later her debut album shot straight to the top of both US and UK charts. She has 32 Grammy noms and 9 wins, Finneas has 17 noms and 10 wins. She did a James Bond theme song, for Pete's sake, as a teen – and won an Oscar. She was diagnosed with Tourets at 11, and was sexually assaulted as a child. She seems to eschew the glittery trappings of pop stardom, and that’s refreshing. I hope she lives to be 100. Sun, Mon, Tues 7 p.m., Kia Forum, Inglewood, $230 (but good luck, almost all shows sold out, including more next week — what is that, 85,000 tickets?!).
TOLEDO DIAMOND – His decades-long Sunday night residency at Santa Monica’s Harvelle’s, the oldest blues bar in LA (almost a century!), is a treasure that you shouldn’t assume will always be there. Toledo choreographs (literally) a truly unique show, a blend of ‘50s hipster jazz and his dancing dames and a most modern smokin’ hot band that gets better all the time. Every Sunday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (also recommended): “KOOZA,” CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, Santa Monica Pier, 12/12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31; ZUBIN MEHTA Conducts SCHOENBERG’S “Gurrelieder,” LA PHIL, LA Master Chorale, Disney Hall, 12/13, 15; STEVIE WONDER, Crypto.com Arena, 12/14; BILLIE EILISH, Kia Forum, 12/15, 16, 17, 20, 21; TOLEDO DIAMOND, Harvelle’s, 12/15, 22, 29; HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, Cinema Bar, 12/16, 23, 30; LOSTON HARRIS, Jazz Bakery, 12/21; SAMANTHA FISH, Fonda, 12/21; TONY GILKYSON, RICK HOLMSTROM, Cinema Bar, 12/24.
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 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or hate mail to: therealmrmusic@gmail.com
