50 Cent Haircut

I first saw 50 Cent Haircut at the Sherman Oaks Lounge (now called Coda) on Van Nuys Blvd. They did a rocking Honky Tonk version of Pink Floyd’s Breath ( no joke, it was great). Really a fantastic band. They play all the time in the LA area and I put them on my must see list. Jay and the gentleman of 50 Cent Haircut know how to lay it down. I have seen many shows at the Farmer’s Market at the Grove including an awesome jam on New Years Day. I felt really bad for them when they had their guitars stolen from a car in West Hollywood. As a harmonica player myself, I have to admire the band for that talent alone.

I can’t find Breath, but here is a Honky Tonk Who cover of “Don’t get fooled again” just to give you a taste of what the band is about.

Don’t Get Fooled Again



Elliott Smith Blues



Geronimo



Here is their 2003 release on Amazon.com

Brood Or Change

Angel Travis

Angel Travis

I met Angel at Ireland’s 32. I think I can write a book on the many adventures that began at Ireland’s 32. Sometimes I play the Monday night open mic. A mix of world-class comedy and music. I like to play early before it gets to crowded. One time after I played, Angel Travis came in, set up her keyboard, and blew the house away. There was no way a comedian was going to get control of that crowd after she played. I was glad I went early. That would be a tough act to follow. As an extremely attractive woman, she always had droves of men surrounding her and buying her drinks. She would often hand a Guinness in my direction because they would come much faster than she could drink them. She is truly a great friend. Her words have helped me break through some mental barriers that I was having great difficulty dealing with. She is an absolutely wonderful person. Her music is powerful. She really opens herself up and lets you see what she is all about. I am not ashamed to say that her music has moved me to tears on more than one occasion. I try to bring as many people as I can to see her shows. Always a moving experience. Each and every time, I encourage you to see her in a live performance.

PJ Prints



This next one is an awesome song from her “Woman in me” release

Think of you



Superman






You can find out where she plays next at her myspace page. I will post dates here as they come up.

Saucy Monky

Saucy Monky

One of my favorite LA area bands is Saucy Monky. I first stumbled upon them at Ireland’s 32, a fantastic Irish pub located in the San Fernando Valley. The lead girls offered me a free CD if I dropped my pants during the middle of their set. The bartender said I would be banned for life if I did. I really like to go to Ireland’s 32 so I ended up buying a CD instead. This first video comes from their Celebrity Trash album which was released in 2003. A couple of the songs from this album got a lot of radio play in Ireland.

Disco Ball





They released a cover of Divinyls “I touch myself” as a single and on their Tubulence album. The song was featured on the television show “Veronica Mars”.


I touch myself









They used to always play Thursday nights at O’Briens Pub on Main Street in Santa Monica but they say that the September 13th show was their last one there. They have a show lined up at Hotel Café at the end of September. I guess the best way to find out where they are playing next is to check out their myspace page.

Steve Miller - Joker, Jungle, and Airplane

The first song that I learned when I joined the band “Wild Child” in Plattsburg NY, back in 1992, was Steve Miller’s Jet Airplane. Nobody else wanted to sing so I stepped up and became the singer. I had a hard time learning the song and have never been known as much of a singer, but I never let that stop me.

This first song is a solo jam by Steve of his classic tune The Joker. It is really one of my favorites.

The Joker



Jungle Love Sea World in San Diego



I couldn’t find a good version of Jet Airplane on youtube so I give you this cover:

Jet Airplane cover by Sheryl Crow and John Mayer

Eric Clapton - Tear in Heaven, Layla, and others

I have not seen Eric Clapton play a live show. I hope that someday I get the chance. Eric is an amazing guitarist, I have studied his music for years. He was listed in the top ten of Rolling Stone magazine’s greatest guitarists of all time. I don’t care if you are talking about the Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (I did see John play) or any of his decades of solo music and collaborations, Eric is one of the best. He knows his blues.

I felt bad after his son died which inspired this song:

Tears In Heaven



Here is a Bob Dylan tune that everyone (including me) covers

Knocking on Heaven’s Door



Wonderful tonight is a classic love song:



And here is one more for the road,

Layla Live in Japan

Joe Cocker - Woodstock, Beautiful, and U2 cover

Hymn For My Soul is the new release from Joe Cocker that came out in 2007. I may just have to check it out. Joe became famous for his cover of The Beatles “With a little help from my friends” which featured Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page on guitar. This song became the opening track to the hit TV show “The Wonder Years. Here is Joe performing this song at Woodstock:

With a little help from my friends



Joe had a number of hits in the 80’s such as the Grammy Award winning “Love lift us up where we belong,” the theme song from my first wedding, as well as the theme song from the movie “An officer and a gentleman” and this classic hit:

You are so beautiful



And it seems that everyone wants to cover U2 these days.


One

Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road

Bruce Springsteen from New Jersey aka The Boss has been a favorite of mine since I first had paper route money to buy cassette tapes. Here are a couple of Springsteen classics:

Thunder Road acoustic unplugged




Jungleland