Red Elvises, White Lion and Lots of Blues Color Clubs This Week on the Westside

Compiled by Tomm Carroll
Music Critic

Fri., Mar. 25 - Thurs., 31 -- March goes out like a White Lion in Clubland this week, when that locally based band and many other favorites grace area stages on the Westside as the month draws to a close. Following are your best bets for the week:

Friday
Last year The Red Elvises reinvented themselves once again. Original bandmates, singer-songwriter Igor Yuzof and bass-balalaika player Oleg Bernov, added three new members: American-of-Ukranian-descent Roman Dudok on saxophone and flute, American drum virtuoso Craig Pilo and a new Russian, Alex (nicknamed Sasha), on keyboards.

In 2004, the band began the year by releasing its 11th CD, Lunatics and Poets, about a year ago. Sung completely in English and reflecting the band’s musical integrity and growth, the album mixes Southern California rock ‘n’ roll with a sound more reminiscent of the founding members’ Russian roots.

Offering a “new” take on Siberian surfabilly, the Red Elvises return to their favorite dacha, Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier, for a performance this evening. The opening band is Little Sista.

Friday & Saturday
Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word "eclectic." Well known for his many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne and leader of his own band El Rayo-X, Lindley has long championed the concept of world music.

His electro-acoustic performances effortlessly combine American folk, blues and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy and Turkish musical sources. Lindley also incorporates an incredible array of stringed instruments, including but not limited to Kona and Weissenborn Hawaiian lap steel guitar, Turkish saz and chumbus, Middle Eastern oud, and Irish bouzouki.

Add to that his eye-popping outfits, uncanny vocal mimicry and demented sense of humor, and you’ve got a well-rounded show. You can catch him at three shows this weekend at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica: Friday night at 8 p.m and Saturday night at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Saturday
Pity poor Naked Eyes, those occasional hitmakers from the ‘80s responsible for “Always Something There to Remind Me.” Back on the road, the reunited band plays 14 Below in Santa Monica, but as second banana to Sticky Fingers, a Rolling Stones tribute band! Although, if one is to believe the hype, the Mick ‘n’ Keef look-and-sound-alikes are “the greatest rock and roll tribute ban in the world.” Yeah, right. Also on the bill are Kick, an INXS cover outfit and Hybris, who actually play their own stuff.

Also on Saturday night, Robert David Hall and Pat Colgan return to the “Crossroads” (aka Boulevard Music in Culver City) and bring a sense of humor and a love for great guitar playing and roadhouse vocals.

Hall can be seen weekly on the hit TV show CSI as Dr. Robbins the coroner. Colgan is a fabulous guitarist and producer. Also on the bill is the ultimate acoustic back-up musician, Mr. Charm himself, Matt Cartsonis.

Sunday
Spend Easter Sunday with local hair-metal bands White Lion and Enuff Z Nuff at the Malibu Inn. Will metal rise again?

Monday
Performing those all-important straight-ahead jazz grooves, The Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble will play ‘til Round About Midnight tonight at Temple Bar in Santa Monica. The opening act is singer-songwriter Jon Troast.

Tuesday
Jazz bassist Steve Venz and his band host a CD release party for their latest release, Scoop, at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, this one night only.

Wednesday
It’s “Humpday Boogie” at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica, featuring JT Ross with Roller Girl and his all-new Funkin' Fuz'd Bluz Jamband. A little N’awlins right here in Santa Monica!

Thursday
And speaking of New Orleans, some of the Crescent City’s favorite musical sons, The Radiators, get their southern groove on at the Malibu Inn this evening.