DirtyHippieRadio.com Presents: Tune In Tuesdays
The Cigarette Bums at Patrick Molloy's last week.
In conjunction with local music promoter, band manager, and talent buyer – Katie Henley, Dirty Hippie Radio is presenting free live music every Tuesday night at Patrick Molloys in Hermosa Beach. It’s a simple two-fold concept: 1) Bring the people in our area a varied selection of great music they may otherwise be deprived of; 2) Generate extra exposure for excellent independent bands and musicians.
“I want to provide consistent, free entertainment for the people of the South Bay, while giving talented unsigned bands a chance to show off their skills. Everybody wins,” says Henley.
It’s an honest attempt at expanding the musical horizons of the South Bay. We all love our reggae and we all hate our punk, but we all grow weary of biscuits and gravy day after day. Without ulterior motive to ostracize our beloved So Cal locale genres, Tune In Tuesdays looks to stir up the placid summer waters. Like an eddy, we maintain a familiar presence of Rasta vibes and sublime-ly influenced music; but like a rip tide, we’re also sucking in bands from beyond the safety of our sandy shores.
Last week’s event featured the garage-surf-psych-(punk) sounds of The Cigarette Bums, the Cobalt Cranes, and the Allah Las. Although members of the Allah Las retain South Bay roots as Mira Costa alumni, as well as one RUHS alumni in the Cobalt Cranes, these 3 bands are deeply based in the LA underground, and would typically bounce off the bubble of the Hermosa Beach promenade like a mosquito coming within range of a body bathed in OFF!. And yet, like all sensible kids, they had a blast playing at the beach. And they killed it!
“It was exciting to finally play a show in the South Bay,” says RUHS alumni Mateo Leonardo, of Cobalt Cranes. “I’ve been in this band for almost 2 years, based in downtown LA, and we’ve never played in the S. Bay until that moment…it was a pleasant surprise. I felt that the S. Bay needed some outsider bands, beyond the regular they have playing at the pier…reggae fusion with punk, and cover bands. It was like a pioneer move to book that show, and it’s risky…something that you don’t know how people are going to react to in the S. Bay. I thought it was refreshing – to put it in one word.”
I’m sure it was refreshing. Some of these bands are accustomed to no pay, or worse yet: paying to play! – sometimes traveling as far as Seattle and beyond for a few measly bucks (not that it’s about the money, though we all gotta eat). But here in the Bay, and at Patrick Molloys, the starving artist’s belly is consoled by the warmth of tacos, cleansed by the effervescent percolation of cold beer, nerves quelled by a paycheck. A remarkable deal I must admit, and even while the shows are completely free of cover charge. Many of these bands have never heard “Gig” and “W-9” in the same sentence.
“It’s not the usual environment we’re used to…like art galleries,” says Leonardo. “We’re not used to playing in such controlled environments, where everything has to go by the book; but at the same time, that’s good – it’s professional.”
Only in a place like the South Bay, where numbers play dominatrix to art, do artists make their “due”. And I’m glad to see it. Trust me, I love to see a production like Kid Infinity – The 3D Experience for only $5 (including glasses) at The Smell, or all the free/donation-based shows at The Three Headed Horse and Echo Curio; but if I can see a band for free, and see them get paid…! Well then, let the good times roll: let the system do it’s thing: let Budweiser reign over me. The eternal music and art should lose nothing from it. After all, roots fight to survive and perpetuate – even if they have to adapt to absorbing saltwater, like the mangrove: like a city band playing at the beach.
Tune In Tuesdays at Patrick Molloys has also featured The Delirians, Wheeland Brothers, ZuhG., Fartbarf, Stinky Pinky, Ease Up, Fish Outta Water, Kat, B Foundation, and A Bear With A Car On Top. Next week welcomes the musical visions of Shirley Rolls, and C Horse. For up to date scheduling and to hear most of the bands, visit www.DirtyHippieRadio.com, or www.Facebook.com/DirtyHippieRadio.
Questions and comments to dirtyhippie@dirtyhippieradio.com.