L.A. Music Scene Winter 2018

It’s been a jam packed live music schedule this winter in the land of music and sunshine. Musical immersion. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

It’s only fitting to kick this off with Chuck Wright’s The Ultimate Jam Night (UJN) at the world famous Whisky A Go Go. What is it about this formula that channels pure unbridled Rock&Roll passion? The answer is an impressive lineup of talented musicians with a keen understanding and respect for the fans that pack the Whisky every Tuesday night. There’s a great vibe and energy, and a level of delivery and service rarely seen today. The entire staff is very professional and they make you feel right at home.  As a reminder, the UJN performances are largely unrehearsed. Artists are given their assignments ahead of time to research and practice and then it all comes together on the stage.  You will be blown away by the consistently high level of technical execution and musical mastery! Again I have to thank my terrific friend and music industry mentor Jeff Gray for turning me on to the Ultimate Jam. Jeff was my “One-on-One” at last year’s ASCAP I Create Music Expo. Huge thank you to the ASCAP team as they certainly knocked that one out of the park!

The Ultimate Jam Night impresses me on so many levels, including their support of local causes. On Tuesday night November 21, 2017 they held their “Jamsgiving” with proceeds supporting the food drive of the Midnight Mission. UJN regulars Paula Mattioli, Debby Holiday, and Keith England brought the house down with their trademark powerhouse vocals. Derek Day did as well, doing dual duty on the electric guitar. Of course it all begins with the very talented Ultimate Jam Night House Band, including UJN founder and bass player Chuck Wright from Quiet Riot and Alice Cooper, MC and lead singer Paulie Z from The Sweet and ZO2, veteran guitarist Mitch Perry from The Sweet and MSG, drummer Joe Travers from Billy Idol and Duran Duran, and multi instrumentalist Walter Ino from Survivor.

For the Tribute to Cheap Trick night on December 5, 2017, it was great to see regular UJN backup singer Maureen Davis from Mercury 5 performing out in front on lead vocal duties, as well as guitarist Chick Nielsen, AKA Rock N Robin, from the all female tribute band Cheap Chick. On December 12, 2017 theme “Paint It Black” featured tunes with the word “black” in the title, with powerhouse performances from UJN regular Joe Retta and Cherokee Fortune on lead vocals and Toshi Yanagi from the Jimmy Kimmel band on the electric guitar. On January 23, 2018, the Ultimate Jam celebrated it’s three year anniversary, with some fierce performances from Slipknot’s Sean McKnabb and UJN founder Chuck Wright on Bass, and Paulie Z, Paula Mattioli, and Debby Holiday on lead vocals. On February 13, 2018, the “Love Bites” theme, featuring songs with the world “love” in the title, included performances by UJN House Band members Paulie Z., Walter Ino, and founder Chuck Wright, and the very talented Debby Holiday once again on lead vocals! On March 13, 2018, a tribute to Slayer included first time UJN performer JD McGibney on the electric guitar. Gabriel Connor from Red Devil Vortex returned to the UJN stage on lead vocals and bass duty, as did the very talented Ira Black from I am Morbid and Westfield Massacre, on the electric guitar. While it’s not feasible to mention every talented musician who performs at the Ultimate Jam, I can tell you the list is long, diverse, and impressive. Check out their Facebook page which provides the entire list of performers each week and then you will understand the magnitude of this program.

Of course, the Whisky A Go Go was the place to be to ring in New Year’s 2018! Friday night December 30, veteran keyboardist Dizzy Reed from Guns N’ Roses performed with his band Hookers & Blow to a very enamored and devoted GN’R fan contingent. Saturday night December 31, Faster Pussycat and newly regrouped L.A. Guns brought down the house in epic form, featuring British born lead singer Phil Lewis back together with veteran guitarist Tracii Guns and Bass player Johnny Martin. Drummer Shane Fitzgibbon and guitarist Michael Grant rounded out this very talented ensemble, performing cuts from 80’s classic album Cocked & Loaded and newly released September 2017 album “The Missing Peace”. I haven’t been this excited about a new album in quite a long while! It’s chock full of classic rock influences that send my heart soaring! Check out “Speed”, “Kill it or Die”, “It’s All the Same to Me”, and title cut “Missing Peace”! I caught them again at the House Of Blues in Anaheim on January 27, 2018, this time with L.A. based rock band Budderside, featuring the very talented Patrick Stone on lead vocals, formerly of Adler’s Appetite, Colin Reid on the electric guitar, Michael Stone (AKA Stoneman) on Bass, and Rich Sacco on Drums.  They just returned from a tour in England and Scotland and I’m certainly looking forward to a new U.S. tour announcement.  They are really on top of their game performing some terrific material!  L.A. Guns returns to the Whisky A Go Go this summer for two nights July 13 and 14, 2018, although without guitarist Michael Grant who left the band in March. I can’t wait!

On Friday night, February 9, 2018, Long Island Rock&Roll trio Zebra debuted at the iconic Whisky A Go Go, a mere 35 years since the release of their Gold selling, self titled debut album. Growing up in Long Island, I remember Zebra well from their formidable start as one of the best Led Zeppelin cover bands out there. They kicked the night off with every track from that debut Gold selling album, including hits “Who’s Behind The Door” and “Tell Me What You Want” and led us out with a classic Led Zeppelin set. Incredible!

Hot Tub Johnnie’s live radio broadcast Hunnypot Live at The Mint is the place to be every other Monday night! On November 27, 2017 we were treated to master songwriter Jules Shear, whose impressive catalog includes hits “All Through The Night” recorded by Cyndi Lauper, and “If She Knew What She Wants” recorded by The Bangles. A long and storied career, Jules performed some of his new material as well, from album One More Crooked Dance, just released by the terrific team at Funzalo Records. Next, soulful singer songwriter Maggie Szabo from Canada offered up some inspiration from newly released EP “Don’t Give Up”. On December 11, 2017, Aloud, a wife and husband team originally from New England, served up some soulful, uninhibited Rock&Roll blues. As a follow up to critically lauded album It’s Got To Be Now, they just released Fan the Fury in February 2018, mixed by Guy Massey, who has done work for Paul McCartney. On January 22, 2018, the veteran musical talent of Power Trip brought down the house featuring an impressive ensemble of musical talent. Led by the passionate and mighty vocals of Garrett Holbrook, this band delivers classic Rock, Blues, & Pop covers. On the drums was veteran rocker Stephen Perkins from James Addiction. On the keyboards was Italian born Alex Alessandroni Jr, who has worked with top female talent including Christine Aguilera, Whitney Houston, and Pink to name a few. On the electric guitar, Rafael Moreira, a fixture on shows like The Voice and American Idol, who has worked with a wide range of Artists from Stevie Wonder to Steven Tyler, was outstanding. Bass Player Fabrizio Grossi, who has worked with Billy Gibbons and Glenn Hughes was equally impressive. They will be performing at Hunnypot Live again on April 16. Check them out, they are incredible! On February 19, 2018, Hunnypot Live delivered once again with some powerful women out in front, including an interview with two time Grammy Nominee and multi platinum selling songwriter Shelley Peiken. Taking the stage that night, singer, songwriter, recording artist V Torres, doing double duty at the mic singing and playing guitar, debuted new single “Restless Heart” and some other soulful blues cuts with her all female band. A former real estate fund accountant, this very talented Artist is now committed to getting her music out in the world. Terrific she’s amazing!

Gary Calamar’s Mimosa Music Series at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood is another great source of new showcase talent. On November 26, 2018, I got to see Jules Shear perform for the first time, followed by L.A. based rock band Dead Rock West performing a set of their new material from 2017 album release “More Love”, featuring single “Boundless Fearless Love”. On January 21, the incredible talent of Rock duo The Two Tens   debuted some cuts from new sophomore album “On Repeat”. L.A rockers  Prima Donna   followed with material from soon to be released album “S/T”.

Last but certainly not least, my Christmas present to my amazing and brilliant brother Geoffrey, was a platinum seat performance Monday evening, December 18 at the L.A. Forum for the incomparable Lady Gaga. My brother, who is also very musical, is a huge fan of New York born and raised Stephanie Germanotta. Both my brother and I were on our feet, swaying to and fro to “Poker Face”, “Alejandro”, “The Edge of Glory, “Born This Way”, and “Bad Romance”. What a night!

I’ll lead you out with this captivating performance. “…To the moon on a shooting star..”  “Speed” live from Milan

Cover Photo Credits: Ultimate Jam Night (UJN) February 13, 2018 with UJN Founder Bass Player Chuck Wright and MC and lead singer Paulie Z.

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UJN December 12, 2017 “Paint It Black” night at the Whisky A Go Go