HUNCHBACK JESTER RIGOLETTO (far R) -courtesy photo, LA Opera
By CHARLES ANDREWS
R.I.P. TWO GREAT ONES, SLY STONE, BRIAN WILSON
That was from my previous NOTEWORTHY column, and I had to leave it at that because of time and space considerations. They left us within two days of each other, June 9 and 11, both 82. In many ways they couldn’t have been more different, but both changed not only music but culture.
A documentary by Questlove, who attended the Q&A, “SLY LIVES (aka THE BURDEN OF BLACK GENIUS)” screened at our gem of a movie palace, The Aero, just two months before Sly’s death. Making the release and title several times ironic, since I don’t think I was the only one in the audience who didn’t know if Sly was still alive. I knew something about him, even saw Sly & The Family Stone once, in a baseball stadium in Albuquerque. But when he emerged in the ‘60s, there were so many bands doing so many things previously not attempted that it has taken the passing years, at least for me, to fully recognize his innovative thinking. Black and white musicians, and nearly a third of the band was female, his siblings Rose and Freddie were there, Cynthia Robinson played a ferocious and precise trumpet, Larry Graham became a prominent bass player, and in a psychedelic rock soul funk R&B band the drummer was white. We all know of Sly’s long list of hits, but this doc drove home the cultural content of his lyrics and stories. Sly Stone was a major civil rights beacon.
Wealth, fame and drugs became major impediments and Questlove documents that part of his story too, in the larger context of “the burden of black genius.” This is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and I urge everyone to find it and watch. It’s about so much more than just music.
As for Brian, I had a fascinating interview (and more) with him for the release of his first solo album in 1988 and bizarre. I may have to devote an entire column to that. After all, he was our Beach Boy, and was the first artist to lend his name to saving our historic Santa Monica Civic.
SORRY
To have deceived you about a new CURIOUS CITY column “Tuesday.” But you will see it tomorrow, in the SMDP Weekend edition.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
Last Performance! - VERDI’s “RIGOLETTO,” LA OPERA – With baritone star Quinn Kelsey in his signature role. “Seduction, murder, revenge - decadence and corruption” – sounds like today’s headlines, but with more class, I’m sure, and a better soundtrack. You'll hear some of the most famous music passages ever. Really sorry to have missed this one, between Norway and COVID. But I have no problem recommending it, highly. In nine years, I’ve never seen LA Opera miss yet. Sat 8 p.m., Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, $59-450.
HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES – You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30, for almost 14 years now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. This amazing ensemble is a treasure. Mon 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, free.
RECOMMENDED:
LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND – This is one of those, you’re a huge fan, or haven’t a clue. My advice is, go, and you will walk away a fan, thank me, and see him every chance you get. You blew it, Julia. Fri 8 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, $62-195.
THEATRICUM BOTANICUM: “STRIFE” Sat, “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” Sun, “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” Sun – Hooray and hallelujah, in a summer that is so far looking a bit disappointing for great performances, we can always count on Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, outdoors in the Topanga Canyon woods, now in their 50th year. It is one of the very best theatre companies in LA, with a mastery of The Bard and great topical lesser-known but so memorable productions that will stay with you. Even though you have all summer, don’t delay. You really don’t want to miss any of these (unless maybe you’ve seen “Misdummer” 50 times).
TOLEDO DIAMOND – His decades-long Sunday night residency at Santa Monica’s Harvelle’s, the oldest blues bar in LA (almost a century!), is a treasure that you shouldn’t assume will always be there. Toledo choreographs (literally) a truly unique show, a blend of ‘50s hipster jazz and his dancing dames and a most modern smokin’ hot band that gets better all the time. Every Sunday 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (also recommended): LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND, Orpheum, 6/20; PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT’s “H.M.S. PINAFORE,” Heritage Square Museum Lawn, 6/20, 21, 22; LA OPERA’s “RIGOLETTO,” Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 6/21; MAKE MUSIC DAY, global, 6/21; THEATRICUM BOTANICUM: “STRIFE” 6/21, 28, 7/5, 13, 20, 8/1, 10, 15, 22, 20 - “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” 6/22, 29, 7/6, 13, 20, 31 - “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” 6/22, 29, 7/6, 12, 8/14, 20 - “THE SEAGULL: MALIBU” 7/12, 19, 25, 8/3, 8, 17, 24, 28, 9/6, 12, 22, 28, 10/3, 5 - “WINE IN THE WILDERNESS” 8/9, 16, 24, 30, 9/7, 14, 20, 27, 29, 10/5, 12; TOLEDO DIAMOND, Harvelle’s, 6/22, 29; HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, Cinema Bar, 6/24; GETTY VILLA MUSEUM reopens, Pacific Palisades, 6/27; DAN NAVARRO, McCabe’s, 6/28.
DOWN THE ROAD (also recommended): JOHN FOGERTY, Hwd Bowl, 7/6; Disney, 7/9, 11, 12, 14, 16; ALISON KRAUS, UNION STATION, Greek, 7/13; LIBRARY GIRL, Ruskin, 7/13, 8/10, 9/14, 10/12, 11/9, 12/14; BRAHMS, GRIEG, LA PHIL, Hwd Bowl, 7/17; GERSHWIN, DVOŘÁK, LA PHIL, Hwd Bowl, 7/22; “THE PLANETS,”, LA PHIL, Hwd Bowl, 7/24; DAVE ALVIN, JIMMY DALE GILMORE, McCabe’s, 7/25, 26, 27. FATHER JOHN MISTY, LUCINDA WILLIAMS, Greek, 7/25; MEKONS, JILL SOBULE, Lodge Room, 7/26; FEMI KUTO, Fonda, 8/8; TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND, Greek, 8/13; BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, Orpheum, 8/24; FLAMING LIPS, MODEST MOUSE, Greek, 9/4; NEIL YOUNG, Hwd Bowl, 9/15; NINE INCH NAILS, Kia Forum, 9/18, 19; DWIGHT YOAKAM, Greek, 10/1.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 39 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Not even Kauai. Send love and/or hate mail to: therealmrmusic@gmail.com