12.20.18

PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS
TRAX BY BLISS
JD MCPHERSON, Socks (New West): ★★★
Hands down this year’s most fun Christmas album.
The Oklahoma-born rocker wrote the 11 songs in the
style of greasy ’50s R&B (and his 2011 album “Signs
& Signifiers”). “Bad Kid” and the humorous title track
gleefully capture a kid’s holiday perspective, while “Claus
vs. Claus” (with Lucie Silvas) and “All the Gifts I Need”
signal party time for grownups. jdmcpherson.com
INGRID MICHAELSON, Songs for the Season
(Cabin): ★★★★
The indie singer-songwriter stylishly recreates the
expansive sound of 1940s-’50s big-band pop with a
35-piece orchestra. It proves an endearing setting for her
girlish vocals, especially the jaunty “Looks Like a Cold,
Cold Winter,” “Mele Kalikimaka,” her own “Happy, Happy
Christmas,” and a mutual serenade with Leslie Odom Jr.,
“All I Want for Christmas is You.” ingridmichaelson.com
GABRIELLA ROSE, It’s Christmas Tonight
(self-released): ★★★
A “mini EP” comprised of the chiming original title
track plus a dusky, Karen Carpenter-meets-Mazzy Starr
take on “Silver Bells”; the melodious retro pop style
presumably dominates the Idaho teenager’s forthcoming
“Lost in Translation” album. A refreshing alternative to
overly bright, bigger-budgeted releases. Facebook.com/
gabriellarmusic
SERENA RYDER, Christmas Kisses
(Serenader Source): ★★½
The Texas a cappella quintet’s second The Juno-winning
Canadian songwriter sounds most comfortable, and
persuasive, within the melodic contours of “I’ll Be Home
for Christmas” and the conversational title track and a
brassy arrangement of “Blue Christmas.” A jazzy stroll
through “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” similarly
perks ears, but otherwise she sounds oddly constrained.
serenaryder.com
THE SIXTEEN/HARRY CHRISTOPHERS, A
Renaissance Christmas (Coro): ★★★★ Larry
Campbell & Teresa Williams, John Gorka, Jorma
Kaukonen, Suzzy Roche, the Wailin’ Jennys and Dale
Watson are among the Americana artists offering
mostly original holiday-themed songs. Davina and the
Vagabonds infuse bluesy New Orleans flavor into “Santa
Bring My Baby Back (To Me),” while Heather Masse’s
sultry tones ride the jazz-folk border with “Mittens”
and the Pines’ “Song for a Winter’s Night” evokes a
yearning to connect across frozen prairie landscapes.
Redhouserecords.com
• N I T E L I F E•
–CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
Hollywood All-Stars
Sunday—Dave McNary’s All-Star Variety Show
Wednesday—Ice House Open Mic; Wednesday
Night Live w/Rudy Moreno
Kings Row Gastropub
20 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 793-3010
kingsrowpub.com
Thursday—Thirsty Thursday w/Mike Moody
Friday—Manuel The Band
Saturday—The Krows
Sunday—Reggae Sunday w/My Reggae Band;
Shakeup Sundays w/Jessica Ash
MEOWMEOWZ! Retro ‘80s Thrift Shop
2423 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 798-6969
facebook.com/meowmeowz
Fridays and Saturdays—Live music every
Friday and Saturday; all ages welcome
Old Towne Pub
66 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena
(626) 577-6583
theoldtownepub.com
Live music most nignts of the week
Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association
73 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena
(626) 799-5689
pasadenaballroomdance.com
Saturday—Saturday Swing Dance features the
Jonathan Stout Swing Orchestra
Plate 38
2361 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 793-7100
plate38.com
Fridays & Saturdays—Live music on select
Fridays & Saturdays
The Rose
Paseo Colorado
245 E. Green St., Pasadena
(888) 645-5006
wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com
Thursday—Dev
Friday—Shwayze
Saturday—The Motels
Sunday— Soulful Sunday Brunch; DW3 & Soto
T. Boyle’s Tavern
37 N. Catalina Ave., Pasadena
(626) 578-0957
tboylestavern.com
Sunday—Geeks Who Drink Trivia
Tuesday—Geeks Who Drink Trivia
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Arcadia Blues Club
16 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia
(626) 447-9349
arcadiabluesclub.com
Friday and Saturday—Closed
The Buccaneer
70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre
(626) 355-9045
https://www.facebook.com/Buccaneer-847437898642883/
Wednesday—Wednesday Night Platter Party:
Bring your fave vinyl to be spun on turntable
First Cabin
46 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia
(626) 446-2575
Fridays-Saturdays—Pat O’Brien & the Priests
of Love exalt the blues and classic rock
The Granada
17 S. First St., Alhambra
(626) 227-2572
thegranadala.com
Thursday—Deejay Vince; Deejay Aragon
Friday—Live music w/Phil Robinson; Deejay
Magico; Deejay Vince; Deejay Miro
Saturday—Live music w/Chino Espinoza;
Deejay Miro; Deejay Marco; Deejay Tico
Sunday—Deejay Willy Gee; Deejay Zonik;
Deejay Marco
J.C. Hyke Songwriter Serenade
Matt Denny’s Ale House
145 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia
(626) 462-0250
mattdennys.com, jchyke.com
Tuesday—Closed
Villa Catrina
251 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia
(626) 294-1973
villacatrina.com
Thursdays—Comedy open mic every fi rst and
third Thursday of the month
Wednesdays—Karaoke w/Deejay Zary
WEST OF PASADENA
Colombo’s Restaurant
1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock
(323) 254-9138
colombosrestaurant.com
Thursday—Trifecta
Friday—Steve Thompson; Blue Soul
Saturday—Ernie Draffen; The Andersons
Sunday—Sasaki & Giles
Monday—Eric Ekstrand Trio
Tuesday—Closed
Wednesday—Jimmy Spencer & Karen
Hernandez
Days Inn Lounge
450 Pioneer Drive, Glendale
(323) 259-5900
tommydodson.com
Fridays—Tommy Dodson and friends present
Cabaret Fridays
The Oak and Vine
117 E. Harvard St., Glendale
(818) 507-7011
theoakandvine.com
Live music most nights of the week
Winchester Room
6522 San Fernando Road, Glendale
(818) 241-5475
thewinchesterroom.com
Friday—Karaoke
Saturday—Karaoke ■
VARIOUS ARTISTS, Season’s Greetings From
Nashville (Tone Tree): ★★½
A moody pop reminder of holidays’ downside. Kyshona
Armstrong’s hopeful “Maybe By Christmas” achieves
the most uplift; Sun Seeker’s effects-dappled “Christmas
Clown” and Lera Lynn’s smoky “I’ll Be Home for
Christmas” bring pretty melancholy, while Molly Parden’s
“In Tennessee Time” and Amber Rubarth’s “It Came
Upon the Midnight Clear” evoke friendly living room
song swaps. musicianscornernashville.com
WHITEHORSE, A Whitehorse Winter Classic
(Six Shooter): ★★★
Juno-winning husband-and-wife duo Luke Doucet
and Melissa McClelland take a jangly classic pop turn.
Their harmonies are sweetly alluring, especially during
a sensual “Blue Christmas,” and the adult viewpoint of
midtempo rockers like “Ho Ho Ho” and “Merry Xmas,
Baby (I Hope You Get What You Deserve)” is welcome,
but this may appeal most to fans. whitehorsemusic.ca
Americana Troubadours
TED RUSSELL KAMP, MICHAEL MCNEVIN
PERFORM AT WINE AND SONG WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Shake off the post-holiday blues with a visit to the Blue Guitar at Arroyo Seco Golf Course where Brad Colerick’s Wine &
Song Americana music series features Ted Russell Kamp and Michael McNevin.
Kamp tours the world performing his country, roots and Americana sound. For most of this year, he’s been on the road
performing with Shooter Jennings. He’s released 10 critically acclaimed albums, and has collaborated on various albums
with top musicians in LA, Nashville and Austin. He’s known for his ability to step into and adapt to various musical situations.
His latest album is “Walkin’ Shoes,” most of which was recorded in his Highland Park home studio.
Visit tedrussellkamp.com.
McNevin, singer-songwriter and Bay Area native, began his career performing on the subways and streets of Greenwich
Village. The guitarist and veteran of the folk scene has performed at high-profi le gigs including the Kerrville, High
Sierra and Philadelphia music festivals. His seasoned voice is known for a storytelling style, and has recorded a long list of
CDs.
Visit michaelmcnevin.com. — John Sollenberger
Music starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wine & Song at the Blue Guitar, located at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course, 1055 Lohman Lane,
South Pasadena. Tickets are $10 general admission, $15 for table seating. Visit blueguitar.club.
22 PASADENA WEEKLY | 12.20.18