TOP 10 LOCAL SHOWS OF 2014

2014 was a fantastic year for live music in Long Beach. From large festivals to small club shows there seemed to be something for everyone. Here's our list of the 10 best shows of the year in alphabetical order.

Jay Buchanan & Derrick Brown - Expo Arts Center -10/24  

This is our pick for the best show of the year. The entire night felt like a dream that you never wanted to end. Derrick Brown opened the show with his rock star brand of poetry that sent the crowd into a frenzy. By the time Jay Buchanan took the stage the place bursting at the seams with a standing room only crowd. Jay hadn't performed a solo show in several years and this was a genuine treat for his hometown fans. Here's a video we shot of Jay's opening song "Post Coital Kiss."

Buskerfest - East Village Arts District - 9/6

Now in it's 6th year, Buskerfest just seems to get better with age. This year featured another incredible lineup of the best local talent including Jesse Daniel Edwards, Thy Squid, The Ziggens, So Many Wizards and the winners of Buskerfest, Bearcoon. The evening ended with an amazing finale jam session with Fathers & Suns and Riot Stage.

THE REST OF THE BEST

Chrissie Hynde at Fingerprints Music - 9/29

Dancing In The Streets- Downtown Promenade 6/28

Folk Revival Festival - Rainbow Lagoon Park - 9/27

Live After 5 Kickoff Event - Federal Bar - 11/13

Rival Sons-New Years Eve on Pine Avenue -1/1

Tijuana Panthers - Live at The Pike & Bixby Park - 7/26

Twisted at the Pike - The Pike at Rainbow Harbor - 7/11

Weezer at Fingerprints Music - 10/8

AN EVENING WITH JAY BUCHANAN AND DERRICK BROWN - SWOON + CROON - RECAP WITH VIDEO - LONG BEACH - 10/24/2014

Attempting to write about the experience of listening to Jay Buchanan on stage is a daunting task. It's like trying to explain metaphysics. Intensity, pristine tone and profound power are the closest descriptors for the incomparable musician who performed last night at the hidden gem that is the Expo Art Center in beautiful Bixby Knolls. 

Derrick Brown, who is fittingly touted as one of the top five poets in America, wrangled a boisterous crowd into submission with his poems that defy labeling...Poetry? Comedy? Rock N' Roll? Although it's not the first time he has been on the bill with a musician(s), this particular pair go way back to the early beginnings in their art forms. During the evening, Jay Buchanan credited Derrick for supporting and inspiring him to perform his solo music again (also not the first musician to credit Derrick with being inspirational).
Although we've watched the two artists perform repeatedly over the past 2 decades, tonight would be different. They've successfully traded up to a large clamoring crowd in contrast to the distant past of having small venues filled like The Hub in Fullerton, The Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest or Linda's Doll Hut in Anaheim. 

Jay Buchanan on stage

After a comedic introduction by Derrick, Jay took to the stage. He lit what we would suspect was a smudge stick and carefully crafted the ambiance that would result in pure musical ecstasy by the end of the evening. The tone changed in the room. The collective energy in the room was palpable, then began the beguine with "Post Coital Kiss." 

With sage hanging in the air,  the intensity grew soul with "Roll with Me."

"Thankful" was both the song and sentiment that ended an euphoric night of pure art. We began the evening with thought provoking laughter and ended

the evening spellbound and spent. What began with the beautiful power of words ended with a collective euphoria that clearly affected even Jay  Buchanan, himself. A night no one in that room will soon forget, if ever. 

Left to Right - Jody & Judy (of Live Rock Gig) with Poet Derrick Brown

INAUGURAL 1ST SATURDAYS MUSIC AT BIXBY PARK RECAP- 8/2/2014

What a great day for local music in Long Beach! The long dormant Bixby Park band shell received new life with the inaugural 1st Saturdays Music at Bixby Park. The shows are put together by local residents Eric Gray & Melissa Escalante in partnership with Friends of Bixby Park. In addition to bringing the band shell back to life, the shows also give Long Beach musicians another venue to perform in front of their hometown crowd. 

BEARCOON

The first act to kick-off the new music series was the acoustic folk duo, Bearcoon. This pairing includes powerful lead vocals by Solange Kaye Marie Igoa and the fierce guitar slinging of Andrea Walker . The spellbinding tone of their harmonies are so entrancing that you hope they never stop. If you haven't had a chance to catch a live show, find one. In the meantime you can catch their performance at 2013's Folk Revival Festival here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDEebesuskQ..

SECOND WIND

The quartet Second Wind took the stage next and delighted the crowd with a combination of folk, bluegrass and pop. The band consists of the husband and wife team of Pattie and Marc Davidson on vocals and guitar, David Noferi on accordion and Tom Gallo on drums. The band's playlist covered music from the 1930's to present and included many well known standards.

MOVE

The last band to take the stage was the Long Beach musical collective known as Move. They have a rotating list of band members that is a whose who of local music talent. Today's version of Move included Jon Zell on guitar and vocals, Freddie Joseph Dilworth on guitar, Michael Malinowski on drums, Greggory Moore on percussion and vocals, Rachel Star Albright on vocals, Brendan Vasquez on bass and Steve Rice on organ. The band is known for their musical spontaneity and tight musicianship.

Be sure to catch the next 1st Saturdays Music at Bixby Park on Saturday, September 6th from 3pm-6pm. 

NEW RADIO SHOW "REBIRTH OF ROCK" PROMOTES LOCAL LONG BEACH MUSIC SCENE

 

I have always been frustrated with the lack of airplay that local bands receive from LA radio. Looking to fill the void I took matters into in own hands and created my own show on K-Beach radio.

 

Join me for “Rebirth of Rock” live Wednesday nights from 7 pm – 8pm (PST) on

http:// www.kbeach.org/. Once on the site simply click “listen live” to hear the broadcast. Having a few shows under my belt I have played local bands Gorgeous, Tijuana Panthers, Rival Sons, Fathers & Suns and Josh Harmony. I'm also not afraid to raid the vault to play an occasional classic from The Killingtons, Nimbus Luna, Action League or any other band from Long Beach’s rich musical past. If you would like to get your music heard please email me at jodytimmerman@gmail.com. I'm always looking for new bands to play on my show and would love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening, Jody