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Ottis at the Whiskey
By Deirdre Loy
The Sunset Strip prides itself on all its legendary bars which boast awesome reputations for amazing performers. Just the other night the bands were in rare form and out for blood-in a good way! Brad Rounds and his band Ottis are an up and coming band in Los Angeles to keep your eye on.
With a bit of charming humor and a whole lot of charisma these boys bring a lot to the table with catchy tunes that incorporate a heavy rock-punk band backing the vocals veering more toward a pop sound. Musically, the band is very much in sync, they compliment each other because their arrangements are well thought out; a welcome relief for any fan who is tired of listening to four piece band where every player is competing for all the attention. They are young, cute, and ready to rock, but their ages are deceiving because every one of them is a seasoned, talented musician. With guest appearances on Celebrity Sober House and You Don't Know Dick, even before being signed, they have been making their way through the biz with confidence, expertise, and generally all around good luck.
Set to release in the middle of April, Ottis has a four track E.P. they recently finished recording and plan to make it available on iTunes as well as through www.myspace.com/ottisrock. A couple distribution deals are in the making, so eventually they hope to reach a wider audience, but for now, we will be able to say, "I knew that band back when…" Sure to be a hit, with high-powered, fun performance tactics, these boys have winning attitudes and are always a pleasure to see. Ottis has appeared several times on television so keep your ears and eyes open for them, and make sure to check out the new album.
Whiskey A Go Go
8901 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 652-4202
The Catch and Waves at Cozy's Bar
By Deirdre Loy
An SFV band is on the scene; once again making waves in the valley where there is no marine layer to burn off, but plenty of sun. The Catch and Waves played at Cozy's in Sherman Oaks recently along with another band called Stiff and guest musicians were in abundance.
The Catch has many great musicians and is tight and right on with each other's groove; great timing and a seven-piece band which include Nigel Yancey on alto sax, Gabe Rudner on keyboards, James Petersen on guitar, Derek Beach on bass, Chris Stites on drums, and featuring Mac Tucca on vocals. This night, though, Jonah Lewis, the vocalist stand-in and friend of the band, really stole the show and became the standout performer. It is always good to see live music behind a rapper, which is not quite as popular here on the west coast as back east, bringing to mind such influences as the Roots, Tribe Called Quest, and other melodic funk masters. So many M.C.'s put on a backtrack and no matter how good the composition or beats, it can really rob the energy from live performance-unless, of course, you happen to be KRS One or someone equal to their charismatic talents.
All of the members were obviously well trained and talented; bassist Derek Beach was right on the money while sax player Nigel Yancey was bringing a fresh, smooth sound. Knowing how great these musicians are, it was a surprise to find the tunes harmonically uninteresting-something felt wrong when it was hard to attach to the melody and it got a little bit stagnant due to repetitive chord progressions. Several of the grooves were heavily syncopated which made them feel a bit uneasy-not that syncopation is bad, but it needs to be countered with simpler rhythms to keep the syncopations interesting. Nonetheless, they had everyone feeling good and enjoying themselves-they even had a group of female fans that started a dance party which is always a good way to keep the mood of the room uplifted. .
Cozy's is very cool, hosting a relaxed, friendly environment and great lineups. A casual vibe, but it is not seedy, and the staff and audience are all very supportive of the performers, which make for a nice environment and overall better show where everyone can enjoy the music and be themselves. They feature R&B, soul, funk, jazz, and alternative, and blues every night of the week, and "for more than 13 years, Monday at Cozy's has been THE jam night in L.A. and a constant fountain of emerging talent." Voted on MyFoxLA's hot list as "L.A.'s Best Blues Club" it also boasts many celebrity sightings and outstanding bands. Monday jam night is hosted by "blues giant Sugar Ray", the new Tonight Show band's Jimmy Vivino will be featured Wednesday nights starting April 8th, and former Black Crowe, Marc Ford, just played at the end of March; also they have what they deemed the "non-hokey karaoke" on Sunday nights, so whatever you are into for music, you have a good chance to find something you like down at Cozy's.
Another great benefit is their happy hour from eight to nine Sunday through Thursday with half-priced appetizers and two-for-one drink specials just before the bands start. Their kitchen stays open until "just before closing" and offers a reasonably priced menu with a nice variety which consists mainly of salads, sandwiches, and pasta which they describe as "soulful eating." Is this because they offer black-eyed peas and blackened catfish? They also have dessert!
A larger, lounge room sits in back with pool tables and couches which is away from the music just enough to chat with your friends if you do not want the full show experience, in case you are not feeling the current band or you just want to get less volume from the high-pumped sound engineering. In the main playing room, the bar sits at the back and a small stage in the front-there is a clear view of the performers from every seat. Next to that is a more intimate dining area with romantic lighting, which usually is not overcrowded because it is hard to see the bands, but it is a nice place to kick it.
The music is hot, the staff is chill, and the dress code is lax, so make sure to stop by some time to find good friends, good food, and good fun; it is sure to make you smile. To check out The Catch and Waves go to myspace.com/thecatchandwaves.com.
Cozy's Bar & Grill
14058 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 986-6000
For All Those Coachella-Goers Out There…
By Danielle Radin
Yes, it is that time of year again. Coachella is finally here, and with one of the greatest line-ups to date, it is guaranteed to be the hot topic of the season. Being an avid Coachella-goer myself, I am planning on attending all three days-bearing scorching weather, and enduring harsh conditions, all for the love of music. The weekend-long music festival features over one hundred bands of all different genres including: indie, rock and roll, techno, rap, jazz, and folk. The major headliners for the three days are: Paul Mccartney on Friday, The Killers on Saturday, and The Cure on Sunday.
The great thing about Coachella is that you can be exposed to a plethora of talented artists, while still being out in the open and in an easy-going environment. The venue is completely outdoors, and features five stages. Amongst these five stands the very famous “Coachella Stage,” where superstars such as Prince, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, and Madonna have given past epic performances.
The stages of Coachella are all within walking distance of each other, and are usually flooded with so many people that one finds that they must keep their arms at their chest just to fit. But with everyone dancing to the same beat and enjoying the same music, there is a kind of bonding that forms with your fellow audience members that I find is unmatched with any other concert I have been to. Everyone is friendly and very excited just to be there. It is not uncommon to see people walking around with neon face paint on their faces, and their favorite bands on their t-shirts. It is also common to see people doing yoga in the middle of a crowd, and venue workers squirting random people with water from long, bendy hoses.
There is an excellent selection of bands this year. On Friday, some of the bands playing include: Franz Ferdinand, Morrissey from the Smiths, Leonard Cohen, Girl Talk, The Ting Tings, and We Are Scientists. A few of Saturday’s bands include: M.I.A., TV On the Radio, Booker T and the DBTs, Atmosphere, Band of Horses, and MSTKRFT. And some of Sunday’s bands are: Okkervil River, Public Enemy, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Peter Bjorn and John, Late of the Pier, and My Bloody Valentine. With such a wide array and vast selection of genres, it is no wonder the music festival attracts thousands upon thousands of music lovers each year.
An interesting fact about this year’s line up is that there was a bit of complication in the planning of it about a month ago. Originally, Amy Winehouse was supposed to play on Saturday night, and be one of the main headliners along with The Killers. However, because of previous bad behavior while touring in America a while ago, she was denied a visa to the United States and had to cancel her much-anticipated performance within weeks of the show. Luckily, M.I.A. - the singer of the hit song “Paper Planes-” preformed at Coachella last year and was available to perform again this year, actually causing a slight boost in ticket sales.
Another cool thing about Coachella is that it tries to emphasis the importance of maintaining the environment in fun ways. Concert-goers who decide to drive to the venue with four or more people in their car can participate in a tradition called “carpoolchella,” where people decorate their cars with window paint and posters with the hopes of winning free VIP Coachella tickets for life. This fun practice encourages carpooling, and therefore helps control air pollution from Coachella audience member’s cars. The concert’s staff also encourages recycling by offering one-dollar refills with any purchase of a water bottle, and by giving audience member one free water bottle for every ten that they bring to a water booth.
This year is guaranteed to be one of best for the music festival. Those of you not going should definitely consider purchasing a ticket for at least one day next year-if not for the love of music than solely for the incredible experience. Coachella fans that are going this year, all I have to say to you is: get ready for the time of your lives.