News & Reviews
Sandpiper with the Rebel RockersThe dirty bird: the sand trap, sand box, the box, the piper, or otherwise known as The Sandpiper. A small, dark and classic coastal bar with stiff cocktails and a charming but dirty quaint atmosphere. What in the world would South Orange County do with out the Sandpiper? Having international ties makes this scene rumble with the need for a diverse world beat sound, starting back with a local act named The Rebel Rockers. With their raw talent, they created a scene called “Taco Tuesday.” Every Tuesday the locals would gather for Happy Hour at Tortilla Flats for exceptionally well made Margaritas and tacos fried straight out of a kettle of grease. Sold for .50 back then one could easily eat $5.00 worth they were so good. The surfers, businessmen, and police would all join here and figure out the next move. Hammered and wanting to dance, the next stop would be the Sandpiper. Rolling in and hearing the thumping bass of Redlocks, Princess Diane wailing on the mic. Not sure when, 70’s or so until now you can hear the Rebel Rockers play at the Sandpiper. For the amount of time that they have been playing there it has been insane. They are by far one of the greatest reggae bands in the world. The players that play with the Rockers have had their own success not only with each other but with many others. Each player is extremely talented and plays rock steady reggae. You can go down every Wednesday night and hear quality live entertainment by the Rebel Rockers…Roots Rock Reggae. Nice stiff drinks, good dancing, and friendly people, not to mention a taxi ride home, which isn't very easy to come by in this coastal area. Written by Mijo The White House with A Betta Rydem Band Every Sunday and Monday night you will find live reggae music at the white house in Laguna bch. This phenomenon has been going on now for many decades. It has been one of the Bread Fruits of the Reggae scene in S. Orange County. The consistency of this scene has defiantly proved itself with a well-seated crowd because of quality entertainment and a great atmosphere. The island style feel is so evident that it really makes you feel like you are somewhere in the West Indies, Hey maybe it is comparable with the quality of the area, who ever said it wasn't tropical here, on some days you would never know that it is Subtropical according to the Sunset garden index .The music though on these nights is always a great treat, for one you really never know who is going to be there Of course you have to know that many of the players in this band are circulating players they are all from the same click and they all enjoy playing down here. Most of them are from the west Indies they live in LA and come down to enjoy the cool vibe. I think it reminds them of there homeland I never really could figure it out and they would never admit to it but the truth is who doesn't love Laguna beach and then playing for such a diverse crowd maybe that's it . Not like the locals spot, Everyone is welcome and a much broader scene for sure kind of where the locals can scoop up on something strange. The out of Towner’s are doing the very same in reverse so everyone is getting there's. The players I mean the actual entertainers they are just having some fun times. You know when the players are having fun that lets the rest of us cut loose ...Okay the talent wow lets see where to began, this is the real deal you have living legends in this band .You could expect to see people from the wailers, Peter toshes band soul syndicate many others but you cannot rule this scene out it is a great thing hope it stays the way it is and from the history of it I don't see it changing thank goodness. Written by Mijo The Beach Fire with Yesca The farthest south you can go in orange county there is a town called San Clemente and it has become one of the best places to have a good time in the county . Recently you have seen some major development and whether you like it or not it is growing and has big growing pains . Amongst all of this growing you can see some well needed development in the dining and entertainment area , this quint eclectic bar and grill called the beach fire is just what the doctor ordered .They have some good local acts coming through there and recently I saw a very different and unique band called Yesca which means weed in spanish. The blue eyed reggae feel they have was quit refreshing ,after all that is what S.Orange County is about. Almost thinking they where going to fall into the same songs like most of the acts do they grabbed a piece here and there and created there own expression which you could see from the roots of S.Orange County the lyrics where very unique and had a cool message of the roots of the area . Written by Mijo The Coach House the rise and fall of a great venue Poking my nose in the door when I was very young my mother and father would go and have drinks in this old wherehouse in San Juan Capistrano , happy hour cheap drinks and good clean fun . Not sure when but eventually they started hiring acts to come and play . One thing led to another and you could eventually go and see a good act there maybe even a headliner , growing up in the area I can say I have seen many shows there . You could go and dance and have a good time . Then slowly but surely all good things have to end I guess cause after awhile they pushed the dance floor to the sides they pushed the cool waiters out and the service slowly started to deteriorate . Maybe it is a money thing but some how getting pushed in to a seat that is very uncomfortable having to choke down a very expensive drink cause you are so uncomfortable you can only do one thing is order another and hope the act you came to see would come out soon . They would and you really could get a good view and the sound is always good for the headliner but that's not going to cut the mustard .you have to actually treat the customer with some goodness or they will simply go away and the fall well its soon coming the last time I was there I could only see the the grim future of this use to be great venue. Now I have personally played here and bands beware take the job at your own risk it would be good for you to play in front of a good headliner but at what cost .....Written by Mijo Supply and Demand the evil ways of Capitalism For the record I'm a musician of twenty years I have been playing Professionally for fifteen years in the Los Angeles, S.California Area. I'm currently in three different bands and always working. I have just recently started to represent these bands, knowing that if I don't do it know one else will and if you want something done right you are going to have to do it yourself. I have so many crazy stories to tell and don't even know where to start. First of all I have played most of these venues that are mentioned. Personally if I could I would have to say that the demand for bringing a draw is so important to these venues seems ironic when they feel that putting some tiny ad in a local calendar is promoting LOL! A recent story to tell is the other day a booking/promoter/owner of a venue who should remain anonymous which could be all of the venues ,which ever one, They all have very small differences and really all they are trying to do is benefit themselves and only themselves! So they called me up and were wondering if I could come in and play a show for them. So I asked the normal questions which most artist don't even ask or even care to ask and to my not so amazed ears I didn't get the response I knew I wasn't going to get. I said so let me get this straight, "You want me to play at 9:00 at night when most people are just getting in the shower to go out and draw 100 fans so that they can spend money in your facility and then we could make money?" Well this particular venue said yes exactly. I said so you sell the ticket for 10.00 and you give us two dollars for your trouble? I said if I brought 100 people in this bar/venue whatever for that matter you think two hundred dollars would be cool! I actually laughed out loud and the owner slash booker cause he's to cheap to let some one do the job the right way turned. I actually saw his true colors which I might add wasn't the first time I heard this, He got all off a sudden real abrupt and very rude to me to my amazement I was shocked and couldn't believe that a owner of a establishment could be so rude! He became very short and practically hung up on me, Actually he did hang up on me. Now I have been very professional about the way I do business and for some one to be so vague was way beyond me. I think my honesty shocked him when he asked me how many people we draw. When I told him it depends on the circumstances. 9:00, Ten dollars to get in, No promoting at all on their behalf, If we sell more then 40 tickets he would give us a whopping two whole dollars per ticket, When I started to do the math well you figure it out. I said you be lucky if I even invited my close friends let alone schlep all my gear and play for potentially two hundred dollars. Well if you figure the average cheap ass guy spends 10.00 at the bar which is pretty UN heard of in this area that's 1000.00 and that's not including the door and the three other bands they book for the same night which creates this other problem. Over worked production managers that are constantly groaning and moaning about how fast and what's the quickest way to get the night over with which seems to effect not only the artist but the entire show. All the clubs in "hollywierd" and the S.California area they can just replace the artist with some new kid on the block cause believe me in the hollywierd area there are plenty of bands that will pay. see that's the problem until all the bands get together and educate the new ones we will always have this problem. I try to be the most optimistic possible but if you are in the LA area you better get ready to rumble and put on your own shows cause if they are going to make us do all the work we might as well reap the benefits. We do use the facilities for exposure and most of the time you can agree to at least giving bk. The unsold tickets. They are only a small piece of dried leaves. Be sure to not let their pressure effect you cause opening for a national act could do a lot for exposure. Maybe even if they had a show where it is 10.00 to get in and they make you pay 2 dollars for each ticket more incentive, To help out a club pay for their over head. Like this ever happens pretty rare, I also have played out of the area and found to my great surprise that if you aren't in the hollywierd area you might actually get paid for your services . In LA area we are dime a dozen and when you get out in the regular world you could see the difference that's for sure. Okay I will respond again.....Written by Mijo |
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