MUSIC NEWS Presidents' and Other Birthdays

As much as I talk/write about CAFE 322, you'd think that I would have already featured a picture of owner MARIO LALLI by now.  But, as they say, timing is everything, and seeing as how Mario is celebrating a birthday this week, I'm glad I waited.  In addition to running a fabulous Italian restaraunt/bar/nightclub, Mario also heads up the band FATSO JETSON, that includes cousin Larry the chef on bass.  Mario is the lead singer and guitar player in this hard-hitting Rock band.  They'll be rattling the windows & wine glasses at CAFE 322 this Friday night, 2/22 after opening act OCHO X.  See complete details below.....

FRI. 2/22 – 38th ANNUAL "FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY" WINE & CUISINE TASTING @ THE ALVERNO VILLA, 7 – 9:30pm.  200 N. Michillinda Ave.  Info: 626-355-7186.  $60 Advance tickets ONLY at the Library, Sierra Madre Books, Bottle Shop, etc.  It WILL sell out!  As usual, my sister and I will be first in line!

FRI. 2/22 - THE SUBS (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter-ego) @ THE DOCKSIDE GRILL IN WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm.  3057 E. Garvey North (on restaurant row, off the 10 Fwy.)  626-915-3474.  In the bar area, but you can eat dinner there; all ages ok.  Danny Hesse, Joe Velosa, Felicia Bright.

FRI. 2/22 - JODI SELLARDS & FRIENDS @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm.  45 N. Baldwin Ave.  626-355-1596.  Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc.  FREE.  Pop and Jazz standards with some old school R&B and Rock thrown into the mix.  "Friends" include David Tripoli, Jean Sudbury & Steven Radice.
 
FRI. 2/22 - OCHO X and FATSO JETSON (in that order) @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8pm (I think.)  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  Owner MARIO'S BIRTHDAY SHINDIG!
 
FRI. 2/22 – LUNGBUTTER with opening act T.C. @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm.  70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-355-9045.  Full bar, no cover, pool table, lots of locals – in the band and in the audience!  Rock.

SAT. 2/23 - ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAM @ SIERRA MADRE BOOKS STORE, 7pm.  FREE.  18 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. - DOWNSTAIRS.  626-836-3200.  All are welcome - bring your instrument and/or voice and join in the music making!  http://www.sierramadrebooks.com/ 

SAT. 2/23 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm.  1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 .  All ages.  Saturday BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent.  http://www.bigbbrenner.com/ 

SAT. 2/23 - THE SORCERERS @ THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE IN ALTADENA, 2pm Matinee Show.  2029 N. Lake Ave.  626-398-7917.  $15.  From their press release: "Protest music was a thing of the past. Not anymore! THE SORCERERS' music is not about your war, it is about your disconnected American life.  Listen to THE SORCERERS and become an inspired citizen of the 21st century."  2 of these guys work with Buggs at Trader Joe's in So. Pas. 

www.the-sorcerers.com         
 
SAT. 2/23 - DAVE OSTI @ THE MAYAN BAR (inside the Aztec Hotel) IN MONROVIA, 6pm.  311 W. Foothill Blvd.  626-358-3231.  Full bar and kitchen, no cover.  Solo Acoustic, mostly originals.
 
SAT. 2/23 - CHICO'S BAIL BONDS @ THE DOCKSIDE GRILL IN WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm.  3057 E. Garvey North (on restaurant row, off the 10 Fwy.)  626-915-3474.  In the bar area, but you can eat dinner there; all ages ok.  Semi-acoustic BLUES.  http://chicosbailbondsblues.com/
 
SAT. 2/23 - MARK HUMPHREYS & Friends @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm.   45 N. Baldwin Ave.  626-355-1596.  Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc.  FREE.  Singer-songwriter, guitarist.  http://www.markhumphreys.com/
 
SAT. 2/23 - THE SUPERSTITIONS @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  Blues, R&B, Zydeco.  One of Richard Reese's favorite bands!
 
SAT. 2/23 - RICK SHEA @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9:30pm.  70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-355-9045.  Full bar, no cover, pool table, 21 & over.  Honkytonk Country/Blues.  http://rickshea.com/
 
SAT. 2/23 - SOMETHIN' SMOOTHE @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm.  48 E. Huntington Dr.  626-254-1760.  Full bar, NO COVER.  Formerly the club Rumors, now under new ownership.  Tasteful Smooth Jazz & R&B.  http://bartwist.com/

SAT. 2/23 – BUCKSWORTH @ THE PRESS IN CLAREMONT, 10pm.  129 Harvard Ave.  909-625-4808.  Full bar and kitchen.  Americana/Country.  http://www.myspace.com/bucksworth
 
SUN. 2/24 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm.  1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443 .  All ages.  BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent.  http://www.bigbbrenner.com/ 

SUN. 2/24 - GRANT PARK SOFTBALL - ALL ARE WELCOME!  NOT A LEAGUE - JUST FOR FUN & THE LOVE OF THE GAME!  CORNER OF CORDOVA & MICHIGAN IN PASADENA, 3 BLOCKS WEST OF PCC.  BATTING PRACTICE 12:30, GAME TIME ASAP.  BRING YOUR GLOVE, BAT, CHAIR, ICE CHEST, GUITAR, UKULELE, ETC.  EVERY SUNDAY...

SUN. 2/24 - Have lunch with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414.   Full bar and great Italian food in a comfy setting.  Bring the family!
 
SUN. 2/24 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  Every Sunday evening.  The place gets PACKED, so get there early!

THURS. 2/28 - L.A. JONES & THE BLUES MESSENGERS @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm.  48 E. Huntington Dr.  626-254-1760.  Full bar, NO COVER.  Formerly the club Rumors, now under new ownership.  Chef Lupe Mendoza is cookin' up some awesome food!  http://bartwist.com/   http://www.myspace.com/lajonesbluesband

FRI. 2/29 - "SWING DANCE PARTY" with FLAT TOP TOM @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  "Pizza, Martinis and dancing the night away to great swing and blues!!!  God bless!!"

www.flattoptom.com  

FRI. 2/29 - MERCY & THE MERKETTES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm.  70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-355-9045.  Full bar, no cover, pool table, 21 & over.  R&B, Rock, Funk, Disco. 

SAT. 3/1 - Open Mic Night @ the FRETHOUSE in Covina.  309 N. Citrus Ave. (626) 339-7020. Always on the first Saturday of the month, and just one dollar for performers or audience. Sign-up starts at 7:30. If there aren't enough slots for everybody they'll make a list for the next month, and call you. Each act gets two songs or ten minutes, whichever comes first. The show starts at 8:00. They'll have desserts and coffee ready. Bring your friends and family and join the show!     www.covina.com/frethouse/

SAT. 3/1 - LOGAN COATS @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm.  45 N. Baldwin Ave.  626-355-1596.  Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, etc.  Young singer-songwriter.

SAT. 3/1 - JEFF STETSON and THE B.O. TRIO PLAY A "MIXED BAG AND SOME BLUES" @ ZEPHYR COFFEE HOUSE IN PASADENA, 8:30 - 10pm.  2419 E. Colorado Blvd., just E. of Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-793-7330. Soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, etc. 

SAT. 3/1 - THE DOGS @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9pm.  70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-355-9045.  Full bar, no cover, pool table, 21 & over.  An eclectic mix of classic rock from the 60's to the early 90's.

SAT. 3/1 - SOMETHIN' SMOOTHE @ BAR TWIST IN ARCADIA, 9:30pm.  48 E. Huntington Dr.  626-254-1760.  Full bar, NO COVER.  Smooth Jazz & R&B.  http://bartwist.com/

SUN. 3/2 - THE MERCY POWELL QUARTET @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  No cover, all ages.  Mercy, Josh, Marc & Peter Burke doin' some standards & jazzy stuff for your dining & listening pleasure! 
 
SUN. 3/2 - "OPERA TO BROADWAY" VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 7pm.  322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.  Full bar and great Italian food.  Every Sunday evening.  The place gets PACKED, so get there early!

SUN. 3/2 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ THE BARN BURNER IN PASADENA, 8 - 11pm.  1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave.  626-403-RIBS.  BBQ, beer, wine.  BLUEGRASS. 

Please remember to call and verify all info. before making plans.  Everything is subject to change.  This is show biz, after all.  
 
Hope to see you out & about,
SierraMadreSue
sierramadresue@yahoo.com
 
FOR EVEN MORE COOL SHOWS & INFO., CHECK OUT THESE SITES:
http://cafe322.com/
http://www.myspace.com/piratedive
http://www.coffeegallery.com/home.html
http://www.myspace.com/americanarootsla
http://www.aliveandpicking.com/calendar.html

We're going to post links to past Music News columns, not because it makes sense to post outdated calendar items, but just so you can look up the name of the band that played at that place last Thursday that it's driving you crazy that you can't remember.  Actually, we may also add to some of the old columns by creating links at the blurb about an event, if we cover it and have either photos or videos that we've posted for that event.

2/15/08

2/8/08

2/1/08

1/25/08

1/18/08

7/6/07

6/29/07

6/22/07

6/15/07

6/8/07

6/1/07

5/25/07

5/18/07