Big Shows Coming Up: Ozomatli, Shellac, Breeders

Though these shows are a couple weeks away, we simply must tell you about these real gems.  We’re letting you know that each of these is a potential sell-out–so act fast, and grab your tickets via the Beachland website, or call the club at 216-383-1124.

Ozomatli, Sunday August 29th

Sunday, August 29th – Yeah, we know it’s a Sunday. But where else you gonna get this much Latin rock n’ funk. It’s gonna fill your soul like arroz y habichuelas, alcapurrias, empanadas, y mas.  Come down to the Beachland on August 29th and get nourished by the flavorful soul of Ozomatli, a multi-racial band that can seemlessly move from funk, rock, hip hop, to acumbia / salsa / reggaeton matched by very few bands in our hemisphere.  These cats bounce with G-Funk LA prowess, roll like Parliament, bring it like Fishbone, and leave no musical stone unturned in search of The Total Summertime Party.

“Elysian Persuasion” off their latest, Fire Away, as performed on the George Lopez Show:

“La Gallina” from their breakthrough record, Don’t Mess With The Dragon. For all you hip urban farmers out there:

To commemorate this exciting show, the Beachland’s offering a live digital recording of show for the first 50 ticket buyers.  Call 216-383-1124 for details on that one.  Furthermore, paying $35 at the door not only gets you a ticket, but an Ozomatli messenger bag, a copy of Fire Away, and various other goodies like stickers and a bandana. Consider that a DEAL.

Warming you up before Ozomatli’s set is an Ozo Tailgate party, complete with a Tropical BBQ and tunes by DJ Felix from TropicalCleveland.com.  This outdoor feast starts at 6 pm; the concert starts at 8 pm.  It’s all been brought to you by the Beachland, Clamato (good for bloody marys, and hangovers!), Brazilian restaurant Sergio’s Saravá, non-profit arts education group Passport Project, and Latin entertainment company TropicalCleveland.com.

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Shellac, September 1

Shellac, September 1 / Breeders, September 2 – Flip from Ozomatli’s bounce to a two-night 90s underground buzz with a two-night stretch highlighting some of the nastiest and the nicest of that era in rock.

No one, for the last rocks quite like Shellac. Classic rock and punk riffs are stripped down to a true ‘heavy metal’ essence; that is, electric bass and guitar are made to sound probably akin to drywall saws, instead of the creamy, thick sound we’re all so familiar with.   Albini shouts, whispers and cajoles like an irritated PBS narrator; meanwhile, drummer Todd Trainor anchors this mechanical reimagining of rock with big, propulsive drumming.

Here’s the band, live in Serbia, playing their not-quite hit single, “Steady As She Goes”. Don’t think for a minute they don’t know this song’s main riff is mere notes away from Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”:

On the flip side, we have one of the many bands Shellac’s Steve Albini’s recorded throughout his career as recording engineer: The Breeders, still featuring the Deal Sisters (Kelly, and Kim, who played in some one-off band called The Pixies).

Yeah, you’ve heard this one on the radio before:

And here’s what the Deals have been up to. Here’s a tune from their latest, Fate To Fatal:

The Breeders are irrepressible live–it’s like your stoner punk rock aunts and their best friends, crashing your party.  Other good friends will be celebrating that night as well; pro-Cleveland pals The Founding Fathers–currently one of CLE’s most beloved bands–will be performing after the Breeders in the Tavern.  And if you get there early–as you should–we’ll be having food and drink specials in the Tavern before the Breeders show, with special hosts, DJs like Pat the Producer from 92.3 FM’s Inner Sanctum.

Need tickets? Get thee to www.beachlandballroom.com

Shilpa Ray and the Happy Hookers this Wednesday, 1 / 20

borrowed from http://killerlemonade.files.wordpress.com

While Cleveland in January is wet, cold, and clammy, we here at the Beachland are pleased to present you music filled with sweet sweat and the howl of heat. And hey! There’s a harmonium involved, too. Which is not the name of a character from a Dr. Seuss book.

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers arrive this Wednesday, January 20th with a load of ancient musical magic.  The threads of timeless blues and folk shoot through the thumping grooves of this Brooklyn four-piece; even more antiquated and less common is the presence of the curious reed instrument often used in Indian music:

Those with wide-open ears might recognize the sound of this device– not unlike an accordion with a cold–in the spiritual qawwali music of Pakistani Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

In the decidedly more corroded and fleshly music of Shilpa Ray and the Happy Hookers, the harmonium wheezes through burly drums and guitars, and moans along with Ray’s voice, itself a thing that doesn’t look like it should be coming from her small body.

AUDIO:

“Filthy and Free“, Shilpa Ray and the Happy Hookers
“What the F*ck Was I Thinking?”

Her gale-force fierceness, combined with her f*ck-all attitude, brings to mind other rockers such as Patti Smith, Exene Cervenka, PJ Harvey, and even Poly Styrene.  Ray’s got just enough performance art technique lying in her bones, a husky dissonance in her voice, and a venomous sense of humor that starts with herself and splatters on the crowd.  As you can see from the photo atop this blog, much has been made of Ray’s crazy / sexy persona in a live setting.  That doesn’t seem to be the result of forced coquetry; rather, she’s just a girl getting her freak on, doing her own thing.  Which to some, to paraphrase Devo, might be the girl you want.

Opening are locals Chief Bromide and the Formula.  For time and tickets, go to www.beachlandballroom.com.

EAS

Beachland Weekend, Cleveland-style

  

In this ish of the Beachland blog, we keep up with the compliments, following from our New Year’s series of posts regarding the upcoming 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Submitted by you, the public:  

As some of the others who have posted about their experiences, it’s very difficult to pick the best musical moment from my many visits to the Beachland.   I have never been truly disappointed with any show; I’ve always heard (or seen) something that made the trip worthwhile; sometimes it was an opening band that I had never heard, other times it was some of the, well, interesting people in the audience.  

One such moment does stand out- several of us went to the Tavern to see Rosie Flores and Katy Moffatt.  It was one of the rare two shows in one night bills.  Rosie and Katy were great (the shots of tequila we did with Rosie didn’t hurt that impression).   The second show was Chuck Prophet.  I was vaguely aware of Chuck from Green on Red, but was not familiar with any of his solo work.  Our original intent was to leave after the first show, since I believe it was a weekday, and we also thought we might have to pay for the second show.  When it became apparent that we were not going to get kicked out before Chuck came on, and seeing that he had a full band, along with a funky microphone from what looked like the 1940’s in addition to the more typical gear, we decided to stay.
What a revelation.  There is nothing like seeing a live act for the first time that is able to rise above the listeners’ unfamiliarity with his songs, and yet immediately get them over in a memorable way.  The band was tight, Chuck was engaging, and the songs were fantastic.  We stumbled out at the end of the night commenting about how it was just another example of the Beachland magic.  

I’ve been a believer in the redemptive power of live music since seeing Eli Radish in the front of a Chesterland shopping plaza at the age of 12.   I’ve never stopped going to shows, but there was a bleak period of time in Cleveland for roots music after the original Wilbert’s closed and the Beachland’s opening.  It is without question my favorite place to see live music, and I’ve been fortunate enough to go to plenty, both here in Cleveland and in other cities across the country.  

Since you are reading this, you are probably already a fan of the Beachland.  Make it your New Year’s resolution to drag some friends out to see some live music-you know who I’m referring to, the people who were once into music, but just can’t find the time or energy to get out to shows anymore.  I guarantee they will thank you later.   The Beachland and the other live venues in town are as worthy of our support as the other cultural institutions in our city- the museums, orchestra and theaters, all of which get more attention and public funding.  And, I would argue, the support of venues like the Beachland is more important to the 20 to 35 year-olds that this region desperately needs to retain, and to attract.
So, step out with your buds, and feel the redemptive body and soul experience of live music.  Music Saves, indeed.  God bless Cindy and Mark-here’s to another 10 years!  

Vince Slusarz, Gotta Groove Records 

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There are SO many musicians who deliver an absolutely transformative experience on your stage, but hands-down, my personal favorite was:
 
Nick Lowe (acoustic)–It was in the ballroom, but it felt so intimate…like he was in a living room, singing to you, only.  And he has such an ease with a guitar in his hands…he is truly a master of his craft.
 
Runner up is Greg Cartwright.  No matter what he’s belting out, he really makes you feel it, too 

Karen Downie

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Railroad Earth just sounds so wonderful in the Beachland Ballroom. I just love the venue. Great acoustics and all. But then of course I would love Railroad Earth if they were playing under a bridge. 

Mary Lynn Pirtz

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Tonight, we’ve got one of our favorites, Alejandro Escovedo, who you might’ve read about on this very blog.   This Thursday, we’ve got the feisty pop of Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, written about in Scene Magazine, and who’ve been in steady rotation on new Cleveland radio station 107.3 The Boom.  

Saturday’s a soul session, celebrating the birthday of Beachland co-owner Mark Leddy, with noisy blues breakers The Bassholes and northern soul colossus Melvin Davis.  Don’t be afraid of the dance floor, friends.  

 Pro-Cleveland blogger Cleveland Bachelor has helped us push this Sunday’s upcoming Rural Alberta Advantage / Buried Wires / The Octagon show, which you can read about HERE.  

As Bryan Ferry once crooned, “Don’t stop the dance”: even the coiffed and laquered Mr. Ferry might have to cut a rug at this Sunday’s Beachland Polka Brunch!  Co –sponsored by The Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, the price of admission also includes a delicious brunch and a free polka dance lesson by world dance champion Valerie Salstrom from Get Hep Swing.  Polka’s a family affair, so grab the crew for a twirl and a tipple:  

EAS

Tonight: Scene Magazine’s Bands to Watch

Unless you’ve been buried under a showdrift, you probably know about tonight’s hot mess to counter Cleveland’s iciness: the Scene Magazine “Bands to Watch” showcase rolls out at 8 pm. Five bucks gets you through the door and into a world full of Cleveland’s up-and-coming talent, performing in both Ballroom and Tavern spaces.

We’ve attached some videos to warm you up for tonight…god, the bad puns are abundant as Cleveland school closings.

These guys are clearly rockin’ for Cleveland.
The Ohio Sky, “Vanish”

Why is that Kent seems like one long party?
Simeon Soul Charger “Coffin Party”

Well, she seems nice enough! And bluesy too, minus the cliched Janis bit.

Corissa Bragg, “Bad Woman”

These dudes have been given the keys to the riffs of The Lord.

Megachurch, “The Gay Agenda”

Also on the bill: Good Touch Bad Touch, Carley Tanchon, Buried Wires, and more.  See the full list, along with set times, at the Beachland website.

EAS