Vive la France! The Labéque Sisters Tickle the Ivories
at Royce Hall

by Tomm Carroll

Friday, January 17-Thursday, January 23 -- After a break for the holidays, live music is up and running again at Royce Hall as UCLA Live presents a pair of piano-playing Parisians -- and sisters to boot -- Katia and Marielle Labéque on Thursday night on the Westwood campus.

Praised equally for their "emotional range" and "technical fireworks," the sisters Labéque will joined by percusionists Colin Currie and Julio Barreto, as well as electronic composer and performer Dave Maric. The crossover classical/pop concert program will feature George Gershwin's piano duet "Three Preludes," selections from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story and the U.S. premiere of Maric's piece for two pianos, percussion and electronics -- "Exile."

Back In the Swing: You know that clubland is getting back to normal after its first-of-the-year slowdown when longtime regulars are returning to their favorite area stages. Friday night, Dave Wakeling (of the English Beat and General Public fame) returns to Santa Monica's 14 Below for another evening of his ska-influenced pop rock. Also on the bill are Number 4, Overground and Schwak.

Over at Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier, none other than Billy Vera and the Beaters are back for another Saturday night headlining slot, presenting the best in dance-inducing R&B. Opening the show is Hard 8.

New Club on the Block: If you just love the sound of your own voice, you probably wanna pay a visit to the newest Westside club, Boardwalk 11. A seven-day-a-week karaoke club and restaurant, the space at 10433 National Boulevard (near Motor Avenue) in West L.A. has been a number of music/dining venues over the years; most recently it was Stevie Joe's.

The karaoke king of the Boardwalk is Arnold Rivera, spinning background music from the 1970s through the '90s from 9:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. nightly. Drop by and croon a tune for him.

Other shows of note this week include:

Friday

There's another guitar guru at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica tonight, as John Jorgenson, longtime member of the Hellecasters and a sideman with Elton John's band, brings his prowess on the six-string -- as well as on mandolin and saxophone(!) -- to the intimate showroom.

The Pat Travers Band, with Glen Hughes and Joe Lynn Turner, jam on the blues at Johnny Foxx's in West L.A. (not far from Boardwalk 11, by the way). Also on the bill are The Emily O'Neary Band and Slick Trigger.

Saturday

Right smack in the midst of Saturday Night Fever at "L.A. Love Machine --" the Saturday night disco club at Lush in Santa Monica -- the Sting and Police tribute band Fallout (named after the chart-topping group's first single) perform. Go figure.

Sunday

It's reggae at Temple Bar in Santa Monica as Mongoose plays music to skank to, along with DJ Jeremy Sole's Musaics.

Monday

He's not performing, but the legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein (brother of Leonard) will participate in a Q&A session and sign copies of the CD soundtrack of his score for the film Far From Heaven -- likely to be nominated for an Academy Award next month -- at the Borders in Westwood at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday

Jazz piano virtuoso Jacky Terrasson kicks off a six-night-stand (through next Sunday) at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City. Performing with him are bassist Sean Smith and drummer Eric Harland.

Wednesday

"The Fiddlers Four" give the cat gut a workout at the Skirball Center in the Sepulveda Pass. Actually, three violinists and a cellist, they are Michael Doucet (of Beausoleil), Darol Anger (of the David Grisman Quartet and founder of the Turtle Island String Quartet), old-time Appalachian fiddler Bruce Molsky, and the young turk of the cello, Rushad Eggleston.)

Thursday

It's a night of "Positive Vibrations" at Zanzibar in Santa Monica as irie sounds will be spun by the likes of DJs Icy Ice, Counterstryke, Breeze and Orator.

PICK OF THE WEEK

PICK OF THE WEEK
NORTON BUFFALO & ROY ROGERS
McCABE'S GUITAR SHOP
SANTA MONICA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18
7:30 (SOLD OUT) & 9:30 P.M.

Another terrific tag-team at McCabe's this week! Hard core blues fans getcher tickets right away because the early show is already sold out for the pairing of musical luminaries Norton Buffalo and Roy Rogers.

Harp man Buffalo has been part of the legendary Steve Miller's band for nearly three decades and can currently be heard blowing his heart out (via harmonica) on Bonnie Raitt's new song "Runaway." Renowned guitarist Rogers (called the "reigning master of the bottleneck slide guitar") has been Grammy-nominated and worked with the likes of Ramblin' Jack Elliott and the late, great John Lee Hooker.

Together, they redefine Rhythm and Blues. You can hear it for yourself on their latest recorded collaboration -- and their first in over a decade -- the new Roots of Our Nature album…and of course, tonight at McCabe's.