FIESTA HERMOSA

FIESTA HERMOSA

Memorial Day weekend will be a huge event in the South Bay.  If you are a fan of the arts and the beach, time with family and friends, live music and beer gardens (especially that benefit great charities), then Fiesta Hermosa is the place to be!

How lucky are we that the "largest arts and crafts fair in Southern California" will be right here in our own backyard.  This event has been going on for over 30 years and will have nearly 300 artists and crafters and 18 different ethnic food choices all just a block from the sand.  There will also be activities and rides for kids so this is for sure an event for Family Fun.

The parking scene is horrendous but there will be shuttles and as always a bicycle would be a great option! Check out the Fiesta Hermosa website for more information and to answer all you questions.  See you at the beach!

Check out this VIDEO of Fiesta Hermosa so you can get a feel for it.

Where
Hermosa Beach Pier
Pier Ave and Hermosa Ave
Hermosa Beach, Ca 90254

When
Memorial Day weekend
May 29-21
10am-6pm

One of my favorite little additions about this years festival is the efforts to go green.  This is a direct statement from the website. 

"Fiesta Hermosa goes “green” in 2010

Our buses and generators will be fueled with clean-burning biodiesel, made from used vegetable oil donated by local restaurants Patrick Molloy’s, Sangria, and Café Boogaloo. Glass and plastic containers will be recycled by Consolidated Disposal, and the food court vendors will be using compostible plates and cutlery"

Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean

Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean Photos and Videos

Monte and Kiley graced us all with beautiful music last Tuesday at Suzy's bar in Hermosa Beach.  Here are a few photos from that evening as well as videos of their performances.  We hope to see them again together soon!  (sorry it has taken so long to put these up)  See many of you this Saturday Feb 27 at Fantasy Springs in Palm Springs for the Adam Lambert concert!

Video of Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean covering "Duet" by Rachael Yamagata and Ray LaMontagne video courtesy of Dougasauris on YouTube



Video of Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean covering "Secret" by Madonna, video courtesy of Dougasauris on YouTube



Video of Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean covering "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, video courtesy of Dougasauris on YouTube

Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean in Hermosa Beach

Monte Pittman

Tuesday, February 23, 2010, Monte Pittman and Kiley Dean will be performing together at the Suzy's Bar Open Mic Night in Hermosa Beach.  The time is not yet determined, but I would say do your best to be there no later than 8pm.  Monte Pittman is not only known as being a great guitar teacher, but he has been a key musician in the bands for Prong, Madonna and his current position is as the guitarist for Adam Lambert.  If you have been to a Madonna concert over the past 8 or so years or if you have seen any of her live performances such as the Hope for Haiti OF if you have seen any of the interviews/performances with Adam Lambert from television performances such as the Grammy's, Oprah, David Letterman...etc... then you have seen Monte Pittman.   You can follow Monte on Twitter @Monterrific

Kiley Dean

Kiley Dean is a contemporary singer with 3 Albums on her belt, some which have been produced or had guest appearances by big names like Timbaland and Randy jackson.  Much of Kileys recent work included being a back-up for Britney Spears on two different tours and most recently touring as back-up for Madonna during 2008 and 2009.   You can follow Kiley on Twitter @KileyDean

Suzy's Bar Open Mic

The South Bay is in for a treat as these two talents will combine Tuesday evening.  There is no entry fee so come and enjoy the many different artists that perform 15 minute sets, giving you just a taste of their talents and making you want to return every tuesday.  Suzy's Bar has great prices on tacos and beer during Open Mic night and always a varied crowd gathered to watch musicians from an array of genres.  Seating is quite limited, so if you come hungry and thirsty it may benefit you so that you may get a table.  Please be 21 and over.

Suzy's Bar
1141 Aviation Blvd
Hermosa Beach, Ca 90254
310 379 6171

"PUNK ART"

What is "Punk Art"?

It seems only suiting after my recent post all about the music scene of the South Bay that there will now be an exhibit featuring the art of South Bay punk music.  Local company, AMI Productions, formed by some South Bay natives has created an art exhibit that is on display in Hermosa Beach and features fliers, posters and other media that has graced the area over the past 30 years.  The gallery is showcasing the classic and world famous South Bay Punk bands such as Pennywise, Black Flag and the Descendants as well as those better known around the area and those just getting started.  This will certainly be an interesting look at how the Punk scene has progressed over the years.

When and Where:

Punk Art will be on display NOW- April 1, 2010 at the Hermosa Beach Historical Museum and is open to all Ages.

Hermosa Beach Historical Museum
710 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, Ca 90254
310 318 9421

HOURS: 10am-12pm Wednesdays, 2pm-4pm Saturdays and Sundays (excluding holidays)
              

xo
Erin

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT in the SOUTH BAY

Music History in the South Bay

It is fair to say that everyone loves music, some genre or style speaks to each individual in its own way.  The South Bay community must be full of music lovers when you sit back and think of the long line of live music venues that have been housed along the beach cities.  The most popular was once "Anabelles," which changed to "The Strand" and had its final days as "Club Caprice" before closing its doors at the turn of the millennium.  The same place that was once the Plush Horse, a steakhouse of sorts, later became the biggest night club in all of the South Bay.  Many of you know what I am talking about, but to some what you now know as Bristol Farms on the corner of Palos Verdes Blvd and PCH was once a place that I would work all hours of the night alongside amazing talents in a room filled with tobacco smoke, bopping around to the sounds of  harmonious melodies and bass filled beats.  

There are memories I will always hold with me, memories that will make me smile every time I drive past the Bristol Farms that is now in place of where I spent most of my evenings in the mid 90's to the early 2000's.  I had been a patron of "The Strand" as a tween and in hindsight I scored a pretty amazing job for a high school  kid when I became the Head Hostess at Club Caprice.  My daily income was not only dependent on how many hours I worked, but it was mostly based upon the talent we showcased and where I sat my guests.  We always had a few tables we would hold aside, ready to be the prime spot for the highest bidder.  The most memorable experience for me beyond the music and meeting Keanu Reeves or Kevin Bacon etc, would be working New Years Eve 1997 in a smoke filled cloudy bar and going back to work on New Years Day of 1998 to the first day that I would never have to work in a room filled with smoke again.  It was an amazing change.  I was actually able to breathe and see the artists on stage from my humble little hostess desk.  Thank you California!

Music Talent from the South Bay

Various musicians have come from the South Bay, why the majority of those that made it were from the Hardcore Punk and Alternative genre is perhaps in relation to the beach culture that adopted the surf and skate sports that have labeled our local scene.  The most successful and universal of the talents to claim the South Bay as home would be the Beach Boys, staking their stomping grounds to be the city Hawthorne. Much of what we know today to be South Bay music got their influence and start from Black Flag who also created a label that got a lot of other kids in town their start to stardom.  Other South Bay based artists are Pennywise, The Deviates, 98 Mute, Circle Jerks, The Descendants and more.

Music Now in the South Bay

There are a dozen or so venues now in the South Bay where you can go to enjoy local talents and some that house big names for a night.  Nothing out there is quite like what my corner used to be, but there does seem to be something for everyone. 

 My new favorite location would have to be Saint Rocke, not only do they have an impressive line up, but they offer a delicious menu, friendly service, fair ticket prices and the ambience is comfortable and catered to those that dress smart and want to have a good time.  My first time was for a night of dueling pianos which is always fun, and shortly after I went for a Halloween costume extravaganza put on by Scoop magazine.  SR has showcased many local talents as well as those like Ziggy Marley.  

You can watch the sunset at the beach, walk along the strand, have dinner at an old classic on the Pier and then end your night with some live music at Brixton on the Redondo Beach Pier.  Although there has been a heap of turnover in this seemingly underground location, the talent that has been housed in this venue with no windows may surprise you.  I know a couple of people that went to see Sheila E perform and were surprised when the man formerly known as Prince appeared on the stage and surely shocked those that went to see some cheap entertainment.  Just recently they had the English Beat and they will soon be having Shawn Colvin.

The venues are vast and varied and there should be something to suit the tastes of everyone around.  If you want more Blues or Funk and Soul then Cafe Boogaloo may be the right place, there are an abundance of bars housing DJ's on nearly every night or you can even go to a small strip mall hole in the wall on Tuesdays for Open Mic night at Suzy's bar.  To end it all,  what was once the hottest club in the South Bay for live music may be gone, but there are still a lot of choices to bring music to your ears and a beat to your step.

You can visit a few websites to see what is coming soon to the South Bay.
Saint Rocke

Brixton

Lighthouse Cafe

Suzy's bar

Cafe Boogaloo

*there are many more out there, but these are a few favorites*