Dave Edmunds Picks and Lavay Smith Swings in This Week ‘s Live Music Line-Up

by Tomm Carroll

Friday, July 20-Thursday, July 26—Summer’s a time for kicking back and returning to the simpler things in life. Like a solo acoustic solo show. And that’s just what legendary Welsh roots rocker Dave Edmunds is doing this Saturday night.

Stealing some thunder from McCabe’s (who usually snags such artists), Boulevard Music in Culver City is presenting singer-songwriter-producer-and-guitar-man Edmunds in its performance room, where he’ll be demonstrating the guitar-pickin’ style on which he’s been concentrating lately.

Of course, Edmunds is known for his late ‘60s hit "I Hear You Knockin’," co-fronting the band Rockpile with Nick Lowe in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, taking the Elvis Costello song "Girls Talk" up the charts, and producing albums by and performing with everyone from The Stray Cats to the Everly Brothers. So you might expect a pickin’ and grinnin’ version of one of his rock hits during this intimate performance.

Not to be outdone, McCabe’s will have Edmunds on its schedule in early September. But this weekend, it’s a veritable two-day folk festival at the venerable Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. Soulful folkie (and a notable roots rocker in his own right), Steve Forbert returns to the stage Friday night to demonstrate how a folk musician (and one in a long line of supposed "new Dylans") could make his debut during the height of the punk era and still be around – and viable – today. Opening the show is actor/songwriter/performer George Gerdes, who released an album cleverly titled Son of Obituary.

On Saturday night, young, Celtic songbird Kate Rusby will wow the crowd with her wondrous voice (praised by Richard Thompson and Bonnie Raitt, among others) for two shows – 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Supporting her on stage will be the Battlefield Band’s multi-instrumentalist John McCusker and melodeonist Andy Cutting.

Free for All: Summer’s also a time to be free, and, in keeping with the season, there are a few totally free shows on this week’s schedule. Aside from the weekly Santa Monica Pier concert (see Pick of the Week, below), there’s also a special performance by vocalist Monica Mancini (Hank’s kid), warbling jazz, pop and standards at Chace Park in Marina del Rey on Saturday evening.

And then there’s the Summer Sunset Music Festival every Thursday at Culver City’s City Hall Courtyard. This week, it’s a pair of six-string stars, each with his own particular style. Richard Smith, English Fingerstyle legend, will be accompanied by cellist Julie Adams. Also on the bill is Flamenco guitar great Robby Longley, who will strum up a storm.

Speaking of Guitars: Another theme night at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday is "Guitarapalooza," featuring the relentless riffing of Rick Brannon, Jetpack and Code 3. And there will be plenty of axe-slinging going on at 14 Below in Santa Monica on Tuesday as well, when Bonfire (an AC/DC tribute band) takes to the stage. Also on the bill are Minus Linus and Trigger.

Other Live music to consider this week:

Friday

Bob Desena performs on both flugelhorn and vibes as he leads his Latin Jazz Ensemble at Lunaria in Century City.

Bluegrass from The Cache Valley Drifters at Boulevard Music.

Sunday

The "unsophisticated jazz" of Double Zeros at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica.

Philosophical pop from Aristotle at Santa Monica’s The West End.

Wednesday

A triple-bill "Band Names of the Week" line-up of Fatslice, The Open Door Orchestra and Liquid American Culture at Temple Bar in Santa Monica.

Thursday

Trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, with able support by Larry Koonse (guitar), Bob Hurst (bass) and Mike Stephens (drums) at The Jazz Bakery in Culver City.

LAVAY SMITH AND HER RED HOT SKILLET LICKERS AND SWING SESSION SANTA MONICA PIER THIRSDAY, JULY 26

Swing is the thing for this week’s edition of the free Twilight Dance Series of concerts as San Francisco-based sultry chanteuse Lavay Smith brings her eight-piece band down to the Southland to provide a bit of ‘Frisco-style swing.

With a voice influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washingtom, Bessie Smith, Little Esther Phillips and Big Mama Thorton, and a physique recalling that of pin-up babe Bettie Page, Smith is the sexy diva of neo-swing. And she’s been singin’ and shakin’ her stuff since 1989.

Smith is not just a glamour gal; take a listen to her two albums on Fat Note Records -- One Hour Mama and the most recent release, which incorporates many different American musical styles from blues to bebop, Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Miss Thing -- and you’ll hear that she’s got the talent to back up the looks.

Opener Swing Session is also known for its explosive stage show, so it should be one big swing-ding on the pier tonight!