ADD/C, Kraken, Cardiff, CA [06.27.11]

ADD/C with Doug Allen, Kraken, Cardiff, CA [06.27.11]

1) No Matter What [Badfinger]
2) Pretty In Pink [The Psychedelic Furs]
3) Girl Of My Dreams [Bram Tchaikovsky]
4) The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em) [The Greg Kihn Band]
5) Shape Of Things To Come [Max Frost And The Troopers]
6) Cinnamon Girl [Neil Young with Crazy Horse]
7) Head First [The Babys]
8) He’s A Whore [Cheap Trick]

ADD/C is Kevin Donaker-Ring [lead guitar, vocals], Jon Kanis [bass, vocals], Victor Penalosa [drums, vocals], Orrick Smith [guitar, keyboards, vocals].

Photos from tonight can be found here…

Frank Barajas, Action Andy & The Hightones, Tom Ward, Eleven, San Diego, CA [06.18.11]

Frank Barajas [with Kevin Donaker-Ring, Jon Kanis & Victor Penalosa], Action Andy & The Hightones, Tom Ward, Eleven, San Diego, CA [06.18.11]

1) Smile [Frank Barajas]
2) You Let Me Down [Frank Barajas]
3) Girl Of My Dreams [Bram Tchaikovsky]
4) The Sky Is Blue [Frank Barajas]
5) So Sad About Us [The Who]
6) Starry Eyes [The Records]
7) Crash [Frank Barajas]
8) What You Do To Me [Teenage Fanclub]
9) When You Find Out [The Nerves]
10) Disguised As Rain [Frank Barajas]

Frank Barajas is an awesome singer, guitarist and songwriter who lives in Ventura, CA.  Frank writes catchy power pop with great melodies and cool lyrics. On this evening he was supported by Kevin Donaker-Ring [lead guitar, vocals], Jon Kanis [bass, vocals] and Victor Penalosa [drums]. The sound check included a run-through of Cinnamon Girl.

Peter Case, John Prine, Humphreys By The Bay, San Diego, CA [06.11.11]

Peter Case, John Prine, Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego, CA [06.11.11]

1) Broke Down Engine
2) Walk In The Woods
3) Words Of Red
4) Space Monkey
5) House Rent Party
6) Put Down The Gun
7) First Light/I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die

Peter played a great set opening for his friend and sometime songwriting partner John Prine. After Peter’s opening set John Prine delivered a fantastically-paced two hour set with able backing from Dave Jacques on electric bass & acoustic stand up and Jason Wilbur on electric guitar.

Neil Innes, Acoustic Music San Diego, San Diego, CA [06.04.11]

Neil Innes, Acoustic Music San Diego, San Diego, CA [06.04.11]

1) All Alone [ukulele]
2) Face Mail In The Meat Zone [acoustic guitar]
3) Where Has All The Money Gone? [acoustic guitar]
4) Fiasco Superstores Advertisement #1 [piano]
5) One Of Those People [black acoustic guitar]
6) I’m Going To Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight [piano]
7) On Her Doorstep Last Night [piano]
8) Last Night On My Back Porch [piano]
9) My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies [piano]
10) recording at Abbey Road Studios/I Want To Tell You [piano]
11) Evening Sun [thin acoustic guitar]
12) Fiasco Superstores Advertisement #2 [piano]
13) Four-In-One Advertisement [piano]
14) For The Benefit Of Mankind [piano]
15) Brave Sir Robin [acoustic guitar]
16) Runaway [piano]
17) Philosopher’s Song [acoustic guitar]

18) Fiasco Superstores Advertisement #3 [piano]
19) Doubleback Alley [piano]
20) Good Times Roll [piano]
21) Another Day [piano]
22) Cheese And Onions [piano]
23) Eye Candy [acoustic guitar]
24) Cock-A-Doodle Tato Advertisement [acoustic guitar]
25) Mr. Eurovision [piano]
26) Love Is Getting Deeper [acoustic guitar]
27) Ego Warriors [black acoustic]
28) Democracy [ukulele]
29) Imitation Song [piano]
30) Slaves Of Freedom [acoustic guitar]

31) I’m The Urban Spaceman [acoustic guitar]
32) Old Age Becomes Me [ukulele]

How blessed am I to be able to count this night as the ninth time that I have seen Neil Innes in performance [previously: 09.08.94, 03.20.03, 03.22.03, 11.29.02, 11.06.04, 11.07.04, 05.27.06, 05.01.10]. The venue at 4650 Mansfield Street (right off of Adams Avenue) has become the premier listening room in San Diego, thanks in part to the natural acoustics of the Slavic Evangelic Church and the fact that alcohol isn’t served. Much as I love a good drink, it does seem to get in the way of some people’s attention span.

Tonight is, once again, further confirmation that Neil Innes is one of the all-time great singer, songwriter, musicians of the last 100 years. Few can match his flair for a turn of phrase nor his impeccable wit and irreverent surrealist worldview. Add to that a gift for melody and song structure that has few peers. His work not only as a solo artist but also as a founding member of The Bonzo Dog Band, The World, Grimms & Beatles satirists The Rutles, not to mention his significant contributions to Monty Python’s Flying Circus most assuredly qualifies Neil Innes as a timeless, world class talent. He is a true one-off Neil.

The night is sparked by an endless succession of giggles with between song patter that includes a reference to his own “People’s Guide To World Domination” before launching into a parody of the Kingston Trio’s “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” by substituting “money” for “flowers,” obliquely referencing the financial scandals of the previous half decade, expressing dismay at the world economy by jumping into a mock radio jingle for the fictitious Wal-Mart-like superstore called FIASCO. Making a sly reference to being 66 this year he cracked “I went through the ’60s and I’m going through them again.” Another off-the-cuff gem: “I love infinity…I can’t get enough of it.”

Well, I can’t get enough of Neil Innes and I’m going to go ahead and wish him a happy 67th birthday, even though it doesn’t come until December 9th! Peace & love to Essex’s favorite son.