The Reverend Heats up Pier; Groove Armada Takes Flight

By Tomm Carroll

Friday, August 17-Thursday, August 23 – The heathen and converted alike are encouraged to flock to the Santa Monica Pier Thursday night when the psychobilly preacher Reverend Horton Heat and his two henchmen/rhythm section deliver their hard-driving musical sermon to the masses at the free Twilight Dance Series concert, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The right Rev (real name: James C. Heath) specializes in a punk-rockabilly, as evidenced by his eight albums over the past decade, the most recent of which is last year’s Spend a Night in the Box (BMG/Time Bomb). It’s Texas roots music like you’ve never head before -- part Mojo Nixon, part Lefty Frizzel and all good, not-always-clean fun.

The appropriate opener is one Crank Williams, who offers a cowpunk take on the songs of the great Hank W. Sounds like a rollicking evening for this penultimate per concert.

And speaking of punk, the undisputed poet of the genre (at least the living one), Jim Carroll (no relation) gets the hell out of overheated New York for the cooler climes of the west coast and a couple of spoken word performances at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Friday night.

Best known for his 1980 hit record, the punk anthem "People Who Died" and his 1978 book "The Basketball Diaries" (which was made into the controversial film of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio), Carroll is a riveting performer, whether singing, reading or speaking extemporaneously. If you don’t think poetry or prose can rock, drop by McCabe’s tonight.

Other Shows of Note this Week:

Friday

Founding member of The Bobs a capella group Gunnar Madsen, plus spiritual singer Ed Munter at Boulevard Music in Culver City.

Underground duper group Hellride headline a bill which also includes Johnboy 9, Robin and Nobody’s Listening at 14 below in Santa Monica.

The Disco Pimps with DJ Mike C get down at Lush in Santa Monica.

Psydecar and Rocky Dawuni share the bill at Santa Monica’s Temple Bar.

Saturday

The 11-piece blues showband Blowin’ Smoke and His Fabulous Smokettes returns to its regular weekend gig at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica.

Lady Sings the Blues as Mickey Champion and The Black Shadows show the jazzbos whaz’ up at Lunaria in Century City (also at Harvelle’s on Wednesday).

Wednesday

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band squeezes into the Jazz Bakery in Culver City.

GROOVE ARMADA

with PHOTEK, ORGANIC AUDIO and JASON BENTLEY

SANTA MONICA MUSEUM OF FLYING

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

Prepare for take off… The Museum of Flying at the Santa Monica Airport goes techno tonight with an appearance by the acclaimed London DJ duo Groove Armada. Tom Findlay and Andy Cato concoct and spin some of the funkiest dancefloor-filling sounds that have been heard over the last few years, including "I See You Baby (Shakin’ that Ass)" and "At the River."

The popular outfit even opened for Elton John on dates of his 1999-2000 tour. The Armada’s latest musical missive, Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub (BMG/Jive/Silvertone) is scheduled to hit stores next month. But it’s all hands on decks tonight as the guys spin the night fan-funky-tastic.