Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen are Santa Monica Bound
This Week in Clubland

by Tomm Carroll

Friday, January 10-Thursday, January 16—The club action on the Westside still may be recuperating from the holidays, but things are definitely beginning to pick up. Aside from the best show coming up this weekend (see Pick of the Week, below), there are quite a few other gigs you may want to check out this week in clubland. Consider these:

Friday
While you wait to see if you won free tickets for the Rolling Stones benefit show at L.A.’s Staples Center next month, you can get yer rocks off with the next best thing – Sticky Fingers – at Johnny Foxx’s on West L.A. The popular Stones tribute band is joined by (Band Name of the Week) Honky Stomp, Superstooge and Mr. Woody.

Actor/singer/songwriter Noel Harrison returns to Boulevard Music in Culver City for another intimate evening of his music. Also on the bill is the Grammy-winning ukelele wiz and musiciolgist Ian Whitcomb.

DJ Cool Whip spins the latest sounds each Friday night at Lush in Santa Monica. Tonight, he’s joined by a couple of live bands – The Other Half and Spider.

Saturday
Paul Warren and the Wreckers live up to their name when they perform at Santa Monica’s own home of the blues, Harvelle’s.

Free on Saturday nights now that The West End has closed, The M-80’s play the music of that decade tonight at 14 Below in Santa Monica. They are joined by Avalar.

Up at the Getty Center in the Sepulveda Pass, Buddy & Julie Miller along with Tim Easton pay musical tribute to Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange (whose photos are on exhibit at the museum) with "From the Dust Bowl to Nashville" in the Harold M. Williams Auditorium. The concert is free.

Sunday
Going it alone for the first time in five years after the sudden and sad loss of her partner and musical cohort Dave Carter, Tracy Grammer brings her phenomenal voice -- as well as her expertise on guitar, violin and banjo -- to McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica for a solo show.

Monday
John Montgomery tales over the performance loft at Anastasia’s Asylum in Santa Monica.

Tuesday
Bluesy jazz vocalist and pianist Andy Bey opens a six-night-stand (through next Sunday) at Culver City’s Jazz Bakery. He will be accompanied by Cheryl Saunders (guitar), Bob Hurst (bass) and Ralph Penland (drums).

Over at Zanzibar in Santa Monica, DJ Kiilu Grand and The Soul of John Black team up for a double bill.

Wednesday
The Battle of the bands begins again at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier. Tonight’s contenders are Little Sista and Mona for Now.

Thursday
Santa Monica’s own Joachim Cooder (drummer son of guitar god Ry) and his band Vagenius performs at Santa Monica’s own Temple Bar. Erin McKeown shares the bill.

PICK OF THE WEEK

CHRIS HILLMAN & HERB PEDERSEN McCABE’S GUITAR SHOP SANTAMONICA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 8:00 & 10:00 P.M.

A two-man supergroup, Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) and Herb Pedersen (The Laurel Canyon Ramblers) have collaborated off and on for over 30 years now – either as members of the Desert Rose Band or as a duo. As a twosome, they’ve recorded two albums of their "California Country" sound –1996’s Bakersfield Bound (Suger Hill) and last year’s Way Out West (Back Porch).

Whether rockin’ out on the original "Our Love Don’t Come Easy," or adding a country twang to the standard "Save the Last Dance for Me," Hillman & Pedersen fit together perfectluy, both vocally (check out those harmonies!) and in their musical tastes.

Joining them for their two McCabe’s gigs this evening will be bass player and singer Bill Bryson (also of The Laurel Canyon Ramblers). Get set for the first big hoedown of the new year!