Tag: santa monica

Lenny Goldsmith | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/27/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Lenny Goldsmith | Facebook | History

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: Though I typically do my research before attending festivals, I didn’t do so with this year’s Way Over Yonder because I, for the most part, knew a majority of the acts that were scheduled to perform. One of the artist’s that I really had no clue about was Lenny Goldsmith. When I walked into the carousel stage area, I noticed and elderly gentleman seated behind a keyboard, back by a full band and background vocalists. I was at first skeptical of what I was about to hear, that changed as soon as he started singing. Soulful blues music filled the room and I quickly pulled my phone out to see who this man was. It turns out Lenny has had quite the history in the music industry: fronting several bands and performing records that were Billboard #1 singles, mentored by Clive Davis, was, for a time, the lead signer of Tower of Power, it all made sense. I couldn’t stay for his entire performance, but I was glad I was able to hear what I heard.

PHOTOS:

 

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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The Barr Brothers | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/27/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: The Barr Brothers | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: The first band that I was able to catch perform on the second day of Way Over Yonder was the Canadian folk quartet The Barr Brothers. Their acoustic sound was a pleasure to listen to during the mid-afternoon, especially with Sarah Page playing the harp on a number of selections. I mean … how often do you get to see a harp played on stage at a non-classical concert? I was particularly impressed with their instrumental arrangements and musicality.

PHOTOS:

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Local Natives | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Local Natives | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: While I was still in Law School, I worked part-time at a law firm that represented a band called Cavil At Rest. I was high on their music, and felt that they had a unique sound that set them apart from other up and coming bands. When they released their first full length album as Local Natives, they performed at Coachella to support it. Since I had one of their Cavil At Rest shirts, I brought it too the music festival in the off chance that I’d bump into them. As fate would have it, they did a autograph signing session and I presented the shirt to them to get signed. They were taken aback with the shirt, and thought it was pretty cool. Flash forward to the present day, and they were closing a festival of their own. It was a killer set of their most popular songs, and it was a pleasure seeing them rock the stage like I knew they would. As an added bonus, they even had Moses Sumney join them on stage to sing a cover of Little Dragon’s “After The Rain”.

SETLIST:

Local Natives | Way Over Yonder | Setlist

PHOTOS: I had a tough time snapping quality pictures of Local Natives set. I just never seemed to hit the right lighting with my shots, but a few of them came out ok. Hope you enjoy them.

 

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Little Hurricane | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Little Hurricane | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: This was one of my favorite sets at Way Over Yonder. This duo’s dirty blues rock was pretty damn awesome. They’ve got a little bit of a White Stripes vibe, except the drummer smiles a lot more. I definitely need to catch this band again when they’re up in Los Angeles performing.

PHOTOS:

 

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Lucinda Williams | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Lucinda Williams | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: Lucinda Williams. What can you say about this woman and her incredible music? Honestly … you can’t say much since it’s already been said. Having won multiple Grammy awards and being recognized as one of America’s best songwriters, it goes without saying that when she sings, you have to listen to every word, or your just missing out.

PHOTOS: Wish I had had more time in the pit for Lucinda’s set. Though the pics below aren’t bad, I feel like I should have been able to do a better job shooting around shadows and the microphone.

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Joe Fletcher | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Joe Fletcher | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: Though he usually plays with his backing band The Wrong Reasons, Joe Fletcher performed solo acoustic set at Way Over Yonder’s carousel stage. Gritty and raw, and under the hard red stage lighting, Joe performed American roots music with a passionate intensity that had his audience spellbound.

PHOTOS:

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Moses Sumney | Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: Moses Sumney | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: The first time I saw/met Moses, it was after a Hiatus Kaiyote concert at the Bootleg Theater. His impromptu acappela jam with Nai Palm impressed me so much that I made a concerted effort to see him perform live, which I did HERE and HERE. The other performances were intimate performance in front of significantly smaller crowds. I was very interested to see how his performance would play out in front of a significantly larger festival crowd. Armed with just his voice, vocal looper, electric guitar, he dazzled the crowd with creative songwriting and arrangements. I’ll admit, I much prefer seeing him perform in smaller venues, but when the music sounds this good, you take when you get it.

PHOTOS:

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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The Wild Reeds| Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 [Photos]

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

THE ACT: The Wild Reeds | Facebook | Twitter

SOUNDS LIKE: 

THOUGHTS: With tight harmonies singing folk songs about the everyman, you probably would’ve guessed that this band came from the midwest or the south. Nope. These talented musicians are Los Angeles based, and delighted the audience that came to the Carousel Stage to watch them perform with their light and carefree tunes.

PHOTOS:

VIDEO CLIPS:

To Check Out Other Acts that I Caught At Way Over Yonder, CLICK HERE!

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Way Over Yonder | Santa Monica Pier | 9/26/14 – 9/27/14 [Homepage]

It may officially be fall … but it still feels like Summer in Los Angeles. It certainly feels like summer when the sun is shining and music is playing at the Santa Monica Pier.

 

In only its second year, the Way Over Yonder festival features two days of well curated American folk music. With up and coming, and award winning, recording artists taking the stage, performing both intimate and rocking sets, it was a terrific showcase of American music.

 

Below is a list of artists that I had the chance to check out. Links to pages with my brief thoughts, photos, Instagram videos and set lists. Hope you enjoy them!

Friday, September 26th:

  1. The Far West [Photos]
  2. Houndmouth [Photos]
  3. The Wild Reeds [Photos]
  4. Moses Sumney [Photos]
  5. Joe Fletcher [Photos]
  6. Lucinda Williams [Photos]
  7. Little Hurricane [Photos]
  8. Local Natives [Photos]

Saturday, September 27th:

  1. The Barr Brothers [Photos]
  2. Lenny Goldsmith [Photos]
  3. The Lone Bellow [Photos]
  4. Leslie Stevens [Photos]
  5. Jamestown Revival [Photos]
  6. Joe Pug [Photos]
  7. Chris Robinson Brotherhood [Photos and Setlist]
  8. Linda Perhacs [Photos]
  9. Heartless Bastards [Photos]
  10. Nathaniel Rateliff [Photos]
  11. Jackson Browne [Photos and Setlist]
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Charles Bradley | Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier 9/11/14 [Photos]

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

Charles Bradley loves everybody. Charles Bradley loves you. Charles Bradley loves me. And you know what? I love Charles Bradley. I love his spirit. I love his passion. I love his music. I won’t wax poetic about how much I his music moves my soul (I’ve already done that here and here), but I will say that if anybody is the “Soul of America” incarnate, it’s that man. Mr. Charles Bradley.

 

After he closed the Twilight Concert Series with a rousing performance of “Why Is It So Hard”, I went backstage with the hopes of getting him to sign a copy of a limited edition LP I had in my collection. As luck would have it, he was greeting some fans after his so I made my way towards him and asked him if he would do me the honor of signing my album.

 

His eyes widened with a sparkle of surprise and he exclaimed, “Even I haven’t seen this record!” I went on to tell him how I first saw him at FYF and also shot him at The Fonda, and he asked me for my name, proclaiming that he would try not to forget it. With nothing left to say, I simply said, “I love you, Mr Bradley,” reaching my hand out for a hand shake. He pulled me in for a hug, wrapping me in his arms and said, “I love you too, Derrick. Thank you.”

 

Getting a hug from the The Soul of America? No better way to end a concert series. Thank you Mr. Bradley. I can’t wait to hear what music you’ve got coming for us fans next.

 

CLICK HERE to put a little soul, and love, in your heart with some video clips of Charles Bradley at the Santa Monica Pier.

 

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