Returning
After many months of inertia, VCReporter Band to Watch
Catholic Spit is finally showing signs of life again. It recently played a slew of shows both in and outside the 805. As our favorite young punks continue to regain some momentum we’re looking forward to seeing more of them. (Though the opportunities to play to their younger-than-21 fans are, sadly, scarce.)
Releasing
Taking time away from his myriad activities (such as surfing and chopping blocks of wood in half with his bare hands)
Seth Pettersen will release his new album,
Natural Machine, on July 23. For details, visit www.sethpettersen.com. Hip-hop artist
Riley Real expects to release his third album,
R.E.A.L. 2.0, later this summer. His most recent EP,
R.E.A.L. 1.0, is available as a free download at reverbnation.com/rileyreal. He will open for Nipsey Hussle at the Ventura Theater on Friday, July 13.
Traveling
Oxnard’s Sea Lions are currently touring the U.K. thanks in part to fans who pledged more than $1,000 via Kickstarter. The band plans to begin recording when it returns. It seems that Oxnard’s
Radio Threat can handle just about any monkey wrench that’s tossed its way. Midway through an extensive U.S. tour with Chop Tops during one of the worst heat waves the country has ever seen, the band’s new bassist (taking over for
Bobby Wilcox, who moved to Oakland to take advantage of a job offer) was forced to return home for personal reasons, making it necessary for lead singer
Favio Montes to pick up the slack. Just prior to the invitation to tour, Radio Threat was in the process of recording, which Montes said they plan to continue when they come home in early August.
Performing
The Ventura County Fair announced its entertainment lineup, which includes some younger dinosaurs than in previous years — a couple you might even get excited about.
Brett Michaels will perform on Friday, Aug. 3;
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are scheduled Saturday, Aug. 4;
Creed on Monday, Aug. 6;
Boyz II Men and
En Vogue will play on Friday, Aug. 10. Local bands slated for the event include the
Ventucky String Band,
House Arrest, Tune Bandits (a Fair tradition),
Age of Aquarius and
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Metamorphosing
Although no official announcement has been made, bassist
Shawn Echevarria is no longer playing with
Rey Fresco. He told VCReporter he wants to devote more time to his family and his painting business.
Coso Franklin is filling in for now and the band is currently recording at
Brotheryn Studios. Sources say the sessions the band did a few months back with famed producer Mario C. didn’t yield anything worthy of release. The band recently surprised fans with a couple of impromptu performances and will play Libbey Bowl on Aug. 18 with the
Ojai Youth Symphony.
Gargantua has officially changed its name to
Wooden Nomad. The superheavy rock band is currently recording its first full-length at Dead End Studio in Palm Desert (birthplace of desert/stoner rock). They will perform at
Mark Whitaker’s photography show on July 13 at
Scratch the Surface Tattoo in Ventura with a bevy of other local bands.
Living the Dream
After a handful of gigs with R&B legend
Booker T. Jones, bassist and WAV resident
Melvin Brannon Jr. became an official member of the band earlier this year. Though the gig is keeping him pretty busy, Brannon is working on a solo “dirty, funky” jazz blues project that he hopes to show off during the Westside ArtWalk on July 21. Brannon also sits in with a number of local acts, including
D on Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers, Matt Zeltzer and
Jade Hendrix.
Kickstarting
Singer-songwriter
Rain Perry gets the award for most delicious fundraising campaign ever launched by a musician. With a goal set at $13,000 to finance her next record, Perry’s cooked up some unique premiums: $2 or more gets you chocolate-covered bacon; $25= a six-pack of home-baked cookies with a signed copy of Perry’s Secret Songwriter Supper Super Secret cookbook (that’s a mouthful!); for $75 it’s a big jar of Perry’s Whore of Babylon Puttanesca, a package of fancy Italian pasta, a brick of really good Parmesan, a shaker of Garlic Gold and a signed print version of her cookbook; For $1,500, Perry will sing “Freebird” while preparing a meal for you and 10 of your friends. To drool over all Perry’s premiums and make a donation, visit www.kickstarter.com and search Rain Perry. The campaign ends Saturday, so hurry!
NoteWorthy is a monthly column dedicated to developments in Ventura County’s music scene. If you have a tip, write to Michel or give her a call.
