One Chapter Opens as Another Ends

My first concert of the new year was at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles (surprise, surprise) where I traveled to see the Watkins Family Hour plus special guests on January 11, 2017. Sean Watkins took to the stage with his guitar and wished the audience a “Happy New Year,” while Sara picked up her ukulele and wondered how late into January it was appropriate to remark on the new year. The first song, played as a duo, was one written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris, “Early in the Morning.” Upon finishing they introduced the talented Tristan Clarridge,

Our Lives Are Valuable Too

Once again to Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles for a Jon Brion show on December 23, 2016 — the real “Last Show Before We Go” on the main stage before Largo closed during the holiday period. There was quite a lot of heavy rain that day in L.A. and I don’t think the audience turnout was what it should have been for this show. There was practically a river flowing down the sides of La Cienega.  Upon entering the theatre, I was pleased to see some equipment set up on stage, including two movie screens, sampler, miniKorg, and

You’ll Be Back

I was looking for something to do on a Saturday night (December 3, 2016) and at the same time was hankering for an evening at Largo, when some tickets became available for the previously sold out performance of Paul F. Tompkins Hogs the Covers.  I snapped one up quickly and headed out the door to my favorite venue in L.A. The stage that night was packed with more musicians than I’d ever seen on there at one time, including a horn section.  The Largo stage was spruced up for Christmas and the anticipatory atmosphere was invigorating. Paul had organized an

Tired of Facing All of This

Due to Thanksgiving, Jon Brion’s monthly Largo show fell earlier in the month than usual, taking place on November 18, 2016.  It was just over a week after the US election that had many heads still spinning here on the left coast. Largo-owner Mark Flanagan introduced Jon by saying, “2017 is gonna be great.”  I wondered what on earth he could be talking about until he carried on a moment later, “We’re going to have benefits for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU and celebrate Leonard Cohen.” As if I didn’t already have so much respect for that man just for

Memories Always Start ‘Round Midnight

Jon Brion cooked up another show for us at Largo at the Coronet on Friday, October 28, 2016. A very special guest was promised and of course rumors abounded. Turned out to be actor and comedian Adam Sandler, who was on hand to try out a slew of new material. He read off many sheets of paper and had a keyboardist in tow to back him up on some of his comedic songs. Some stuff was hilarious and had me laughing hard, some stuff didn’t hit, some was just too much information and not to my taste. His set was like