The Fixx, Gene Loves Jezebel, and Acoustic Alchemy Are Setting 19 Broadway Niteclub's May Calendar on Fire!
Leading off is Pete Escovedo on May 7; Gene Loves Jezebel--May 20; The Fixx--May 23; and Acoustic Alchemy--May 28
Fairfax, CA (PRWEB) May 5, 2004 --- In keeping with its mission to become one of the premiere music venues in the Bay Area, 19 Broadway Niteclubs calendar continues to fill with some of the hottest acts that are exclusive to the little red-brick hideaway -- rapidly giving it a reputation as a world-class night club. Igniting the months hot extravaganza of must-see performances is legendary Latin-jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo (also a 2004 California Music Award nominee for Outstanding Latin Album," and Outstanding Drummer") who plays this Friday, May 7 at 9pm and 11pm, tickets are $20.00. Next up is the alternative pop, rock and Goth rock group Gene Loves Jezebel playing Thursday, May 20 at 9:30pm -- tickets are $10.00. On Sunday, May 23 at 8:30pm is the ever popular hook-filled politically aware and progressive 80s group The Fixx with an 8:30pm showtime -- tickets are $18.00 advance purchase, or $20.00 day of show. And, closing the action packed month with 2 performances is the award-winning smooth jazz sensation from Great Britain Acoustic Alchemy on Friday, May 28, 2004 at 9pm and 11pm, tickets are $30.00. Tickets to all shows are available now via Ticketweb, 1-866-468-3399, online at www.ticketweb.com, or in person at 19 Broadway Niteclub, 19 Broadway Boulevard, Fairfax, CA.
Pete Escovedo
Proclaimed by many as the latest King of Jazz" (since the passing of Tito Puente), Pete Escovedo has been a major force in the Latin music scene since the late 1960s and his versatility has made him a success in several areas of music, from Latin-jazz and salsa to rock and Latin pop. A California native, raised in Oakland, Pete Escovedo along with such seasoned bandleaders as Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez and Ray Baretto, is viewed as one of the standard bearers of Latin jazz, and has performed with a variety of pop artists that include Billy Cobham, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santa Maria, Stephen Stills, Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, Anita Baker, Sheila E, Woody Herman, Angela Bofill, Barry White, and many others. Having performed for over 25 years, Pete Escovedo is now in a place where he can really have fun and absorb the joy of performing without the pressure of having to prove anything. Pete Escovedo plays 19 Broadway Niteclub on MAY 7 at 9pm and 11pm. Tickets $20.00.
Gene Loves Jezebel
Gene Loves Jezebel was one of the premiere alternative pop acts of the 1980s, selling tons of records on the strength of twin brothers Michael and Jay Astons angelic voices, which played off of each other in a musical way. Best known for their radio-friendly hits like Desire," Motion of Love," and Jealous," the brothers parted ways following a bitter falling out, and both of them have since recorded albums under two different incarnations of the name Gene Loves Jezebel." Today, Michael Astons Gene Loves Jezebel (in 1997 Jay lost rights to the band name and the two brother havent spoken since) is on tour promoting its latest release Exploding Girl, an album Aston penned about women who have affected his life. The album is getting rave reviews and the new material bristles with brutal candor, fosters passionate performances, and thought provoking lyrics that definitely get ones attention. Rolling Stone Magazine declared Exploding Girls a smoldering melodic meditation," and it has also been said it is the strongest album Gene Loves Jezebel has ever made and could very well be a defining moment for this legendary band. Gene Loves Jezebel plays 19 Broadway Niteclub on MAY 20 at 9:30pm. Tickets $10.00.
The Fixx
A London-based new wave group that managed to sustain a successful career in America for several years in the mid-'80s, The Fixx has always flirted with the mainstream with their catchy, keyboard-driven pop. Formed by college friends vocalist/keyboardist Cy Curnin and drummer Adam Woods in the early '80s, the pair advertised in the music press for additional members; the remaining members of the group - guitarist Jamie West-Oram, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, and bassist Charlie Barret - all responded to the ad. Taking the name the Portraits, the band recorded a single for Ariola Records, Hazards in the Home, which failed to gather much attention. Within a year, the band had changed their name to The Fixx and recorded "Lost Planes," the single that led to a record contract with MCA.
The Fixx released their debut album, the Rupert Hine-produced Shuttered Room, in 1982. The record spawned two minor U.K. hits, "Stand or Fall" and "Red Skies," and spent a short time in the charts. In America, none of the singles were hits, yet the album stayed on the charts for nearly a year. After Shuttered Room, Barret left the group and was replaced by Dan K. Brown. Reach the Beach, released in 1983, established them as a hit-making force in the U.S. The brusque, pulsating "One Thing Leads to Another" became a number four hit, sending the album into the Top Ten and Reach the Beach went platinum by the end of that year and The Fixx launched two more Top 40 singles - "Saved by Zero" and "Sign of Fire." In 1984 they released Phantoms which performed well, peaking at number 19 and going gold; however, it failed to match the success of Reach the Beach and the album eventually fell off the charts. Although their audience was shrinking, the band kept their basic, synth-driven sound intact for 1986's Walkabout, which featured the hit "Secret Separation." After Walkabout, The Fixx stopped working with producer Rupert Hine, which resulted in a harder, more guitar-oriented sound for 1988's Calm Animals. The album charted at number 72, but it spawned no hit singles. Ink (1991), the group's next album, didn't reverse their declining fortunes, even though they tried to update their sound with an emphasis on guitars and slick, dance-ready beats. After the record failed to recapture their mainstream audience, The Fixx seemed to fade away before resurfacing in 1998 with Elemental. A year later, they returned with 1011 Woodland, a collection of re-recordings of their greatest hits.
Today, the London outfit hits the road to mark its 25th anniversary, and is poised to release a new version of its mid-'90s song "Election." The group kicks off the outing in mid-May and includes a stop at the Bay Areas very own 19 Broadway Niteclub and includes a short series of dates that are scattered through August. The group features original members Cy Curnin (vocals), Jamie West-Oram (guitar), Rupert Greenall (keyboards) and Adam Woods (drums); bassist Gary Tibbs, who joined the group in 2001, rounds out the lineup.
In addition to acknowledging its anniversary, The Fixx also turns its attention to this year's U.S. presidential bid with new version of 1996's "Election." The Fixx plays 19 Broadway Niteclub on May 23 at 8:30pm. Tickets $18.00 advance purchase, and $20.00 day of show.
Acoustic Alchemy
Formed in the mid-80s, Acoustic Alchemy was originally the vehicle for Greg Carmichael (b. 1953, London, England; nylon string guitar) and Nick Webb (b. 1954, Manchester, England, d. 5 February 1998; steel string guitar). Their blend of instrumental music was neither jazz nor pop, but contained elements of both, together with flamenco, reggae, and folk. Webb was a child actor who studied at the London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art, and was originally musically influenced by John Martyn and Pentangle, running a folk club in Berkhamsted. After studying jazz at Leeds College Of Music, Webb spent a couple of years attempting to become a pop songwriter. Increasingly drawn towards jazz, he founded Acoustic Alchemy with classical guitarist Simon James in the early 80s before linking up with Carmichael in 1986. Carmichael had studied classical guitar at the London College of Music and gained experience playing with jazz groups.
The duo's break came when, frustrated by the apathy for their music in England, they took a Virgin Atlantic Airlines in-flight gig, and literally played their way to America. They were signed to MCA Records as part of their Master Series, and debuted with the excellent Red Dust And Spanish Lace, which contained one of their finest compositions "Mr Chow", an example of Chinese Reggae! Following Blue Chip they joined GRP Records, although their debut for the label, Reference Point, lacked the life and sparkle of their MCA work. They redressed the balance with Back On The Case in 1991, although subsequent albums sounded workmanlike. By this time, however, the group had built up a substantial following in America thanks to their popularity on "adult contemporary radio" stations. They were also successful in Japan and mainland Europe. Webb died of pancreatic cancer in February 1998. Carmichael continues to record under the Acoustic Alchemy name, working with longstanding sidemen Frank Felix (bass), John Parsons and Miles Gilderdale (guitars), and Terry Disley (keyboards). Acoustic Alchemy plays 19 Broadway Niteclub on MAY 28 at 9pm and 11pm. Tickets $30.00.
About 19 Broadway Niteclub:
Voted the Best Music Venue in Marin County in 2003 by the North Bay Bohemian, and most recently Best Place for Live Music" by the Pacific Sun. 19 Broadway is one of the premier music venues of the entire Bay Area. Located in the charming town of Fairfax, it is a short 14-mile drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge and its central location makes it a major destination for music fans from all over the area.
In January 2001, the owners completed the expansion of the nightclub by taking over the building next door, thus doubling the size of the club. A brand new sound system was installed, along with a new and enlarged dance floor, new stage, and new lights. In 2003, the owners added a slice of paradise to the mix with Mr. Vise Grips Bamboo Bar complete with thatched awnings, bamboo covered walls, ubiquitous tiki god statues, comfy cabana chairs and a bar list of exotic libations" complete with Mr. Grips own version of the Zombie entitled Nite of the Living Dead."
Since the 2001 remodeling, this little red-brick hideaway has evolved into a world-class night club and host to a wide range of top reggae, world-music, jazz, rock and folk acts who perform in an up close and personal setting that is just about unparalleled in the Bay Area. Recent billings have included the alt-rock super group Banyan, jazz diva Diane Schuur, jazz sage Mose Allison, the Count Basie Band, R&B sax pioneer Sam Butera, surf-guitar king Dick Dale, the Mammals (featuring fiddler Jay Ungar's daughter and Pete Seeger's grandson), the Sam Kininger Band (featuring the band's namesake and Soulive saxophonist) and AC/Dshe (a butt-kicking all-girl AC/DC tribute band).
Future billings include Los Angeles-based synth-pop group Berlin, and Bow Wow Wow, the quartet organized by U.K. manager Malcolm McLaren (best known as the mastermind behind the Sex Pistols) at the start of the '80s.
For High Resolution Digital Photos Please Contact Michelle Hall
###
|
