Windy City wonders take to pier tonight
By ROBERT FATURECHI Special to the Daily Press
SANTA MONICA PIER — The blues of Chicago will hit Santa Monica tonight.
As part of the weekly summer concerts dubbed the Twilight Dance Series, on tap tonight is the soulful sounds of some Windy City-based musicians who made their mark on the blues genre in the 1960s.
Concertgoers should expect a blend of acoustic folk and electric blues — with a hearty Chicago influence thrown into the mix.
Included among the night’s veteran performers are vocalists Nick “The Greek” Graventites and Tracy Nelson, keyboardist Barry Goldberg, guitarist Harvey “The Snake” Mandel, drummer Sam Lay and harmonica master Corky Siegel.
Many of the veteran artists boast lengthy resumes rooted in the Midwest.
Keyboardist Goldberg collaborated with vocalist Charlie Musselwhite on his notable 1967 album “Stand Back.” Vocalist Graventites spent his heyday singing with Electric Flag — a blues group started up by guitarist Mike Bloomfield in 1967.
Each performer will be backed by a trio of instrumentalists including drummer Gary Mallaber, bassist Rick Reed with Zach Wagner on rhythm guitar.
Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier’s west parking deck. For more information, visit www.twlightdance.org, or www.santa-monicapier.org. You also can call the pier information line at (310) 458-8900. For bus information, visit bigbluebus.com or call (310) 451-5444, or visit www.mta.net.
Pier officials strongly recommend walking, biking and using mass transit to get to the concerts, as parking is limited. Parking is available in beach parking lots located at 2330 Barnard Way, located south of the pier, and 1550 PCH, just north of the pier.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2005. Read the original PDF.