February 2012
Music and Comedy Menu of this month's listings, stories and columns
Tim Thompson — The winner of 2007’s “El Paso’ Got Talent” contest performs original music and covers 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Scottish Rite Temple Theatre, 301 W. Missouri, accompanied by members of PT and The Cruisers. Proceeds benefit the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. Admission: $15 ($10 students with valid ID). Information: (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday) 533-4409 or elpasoscottishrite.org.
Howling Coyote — The open mic for musicians, poets, writers, storytellers and performance artists is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces, as part of the monthly Downtown Ramble. Performer sign-up is 6:30 p.m. Coffee and light snacks provided. Admission is free, but donations welcome. Information: Bob Burns, (575) 525-9333, (575) 523-6403 or (915) 799-5684.
Literary Open Mic is 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Rio Grande Theatre auditorium.
Daniel Salazar & Tlaloc Polo — The duo performs Saturday, Feb. 11, at La Tierra Cafe, 1731 Montana. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner served at 6:45 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Seating limited; reservations required. Tickets: $32 for dinner and show. Information: 533-8890 or latierracafe.com.
The March dinner show is a performance by Hamsa-American Tribal Belly Dance Saturday, March 3, in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Sun City Singers — The chorus, directed by Dr. Carl Smith, rehearses at 7 p.m. Mondays at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1810 Elm. All voices needed. Next concert is at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at the church hall. Information: 261-3963 or drcarlwsmith@yahoo.com.
Digital Leather — The synth punk act performs Friday, Feb. 17, at M’s Lips Lounge, 510 N. Stanton, in promotion of the new CD “Modern Problems” with guest Boring Boyfriends. Showtime/ticket information: 566-0376.
The Iveys CD release party — The El Paso band announces the release of their second CD at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Scottish Rite Theater, 301 West Missouri. Tickets: $15 ($10 students with valid ID). Parking available next door at City Hall and behind Insights Museum after 5 p.m. Information/reservations: All That Music & Video, 594-9900 or the theater at 533-4409.
‘Every Other Tuesday’ — Doña Ana Arts Council hosts a variety of musical performances 6:30 p.m. every other Tuesday at the historic Rio Grande Theatre, 211 Downtown Mall, Las Cruces. Admission is free. Information: (575) 523-6403 or riograndetheatre.com.
• Feb. 21 — Las Cruces High School Theatre presents “Waiting For Lefty.”
• March 6 — Alma de Arte Theatre Students
• March 20 — Big Band on the Rio Grande.
‘Gospel Explosion’ — The annual Black History Month music event is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at UTEP’s Magoffin. The program will feature El Paso Choirs and Praise Dance Ministries. Admission: $3. Information: 747-8650.
Ten Plus One — The percussion group performs 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Azadeh Arts, 5206 Mescalero Trail in Las Cruces.
Hanks Jazz Festival — The festival runs all day March 1-3, in the Hanks High School auditorium, 2100 Lee Trevino Regional middle and high school students will perform throughout the festival, with a final performance on Saturday. Details to be announced. Information: 434-9700 or hanksband.com.
PT & The Cruisers — The area variety band performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Scottish Rite Theater, 301 West Missouri. Tickets: $15 ($10 students with valid ID). Parking available next door at City Hall and behind Insights Museum after 5 p.m. Information/reservations: All That Music & Video, 594-9900.
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino — 1249 Futurity Dr. (at and Sunland Park Drive), Sunland Park, N.M.
Live music is offered 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sundays in the Franklins Lounge. No cover. Information: (575) 874-5200.
Disco with local DJs is 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke offered with Rock The House 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday. Weekly winners receive gift bag with prizes.
• Friday, Jan. 27 — Inolvidable
• Sunday, Jan. 29 — Mariachi Los Galleros.
• Friday, Feb. 3 — Alex Martinez Band
• Saturday, Feb. 4 — Inolvidable
• Sunday, Feb. 5 — Mariachi El Zacatecano
• Friday, Feb. 10 — Exito
• Saturday, Feb. 11 — BJ Pando La Mezkla Show Band
• Sunday, Feb. 12 — Mariachi Raices de America
• Friday, Feb. 17 — Algo Nuevo
• Saturday, Feb. 18 — River City Band
• Sunday, Feb. 19 — Mariachi Femenil Las Caponeras
• Friday, Feb. 24 — The Starliners
• Saturday, Feb. 25 — BJ Pando La Mezkla Show Band
• Sunday, Feb. 26 — Mariachi Son de Mexico.
Railroad Blues — 504 W. Holland, Alpine, Texas. Performances begin at 10 p.m. Information: (432) 837-3103 or railroadblues.com.
• The O’s — The alternative country/indie band performs Friday, Feb. 3.
• Soul Track Mind — The 7-piece soul/rock band performs Friday, March 9.
Padre’s Marfa — 209 W. El Paso Street in Marfa, Texas. Shows begin at 9 p.m. Information: 432-729-4425 or padresmarfa.com.
• Fred Eaglesmith — The Fred Eaglesmith Traveling Show with the Fabulous Ginn Sisters is 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30. Admission: $8.
• The Tontons — The Houston band performs Friday, Feb. 10, with guest Laura Gibson. Admission: $6.
• Adrian and the Sickness — The rock band returns to Marfa Saturday, Feb. 11. Admission: $7.
Border Chorders — The El Paso men’s barbershop and a cappella group rehearses at 7:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at University Presbyterian Church, 244 N. Resler. Director is Anthony Bartholomew. Singers in all male vocal ranges welcome. Information: Gayle Hageman 822-3000 or barbershop.org.
The Border Chorders are the El Paso chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society and were established in 1947. Prior choral singing experience and voice lessons are not required.
Sungold Chorus — The El Paso Sungold Chorus of the Sweet Adelines rehearses 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at All Saints Church, 3500 McRae. All ladies interested in making good friends and good music are invited. All ages and levels of musical background welcome. Information: 309-8415.
The women’s chorus is dedicated to the performance of four-part barbershop harmony, musical education, and community involvement.
Wednesday Music Café — UTEP’s free weekly outdoor brown-bag concert series is noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at UTEP’s Student Union, featuring a variety of music. Information: 747-5481
Folk Fury — KTEP, 88.5 FM, features three hours of acoustic and folk music — with an emphasis on recordings by local musicians and occasional live appearances by them — from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Hosts are Dan Alloway and Gregg Carthy. Requests: 747-5153.
Comedy
El Paso Comic Strip — 1201 Airway. Shows are at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 and 10:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Military admitted free Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tickets: $6 Wednesday through Thursday; $12 Friday and Saturday, $8 Sunday, unless listed otherwise. Reserved tickets at ticketweb.com. Information/reservations: 779-LAFF (5233) or laff2nite.com.
• Jan. 25-29 — Jerrod Carmichael. Carmichael is a regular around some of Los Angeles’s favorite standup shows, including Meltdown, The Improv, Laugh Factory and many alternative rooms. Feature act is Ace Larson.
• Feb. 1-5 — Tom Rhodes. Rhodes, the “International Man of Comedy,” is a 20-year veteran of standup comedy. He starred of the ill-fated NBC series “Mr. Rhodes” — the failure of which led him to head overseas where he enjoyed huge success. Feature act is Mike James.
• Feb. 8-12 — Steve White. Listed among his numerous movie credits are roles in “Coming to America,” “Harlem Nights,” “Clockers,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Jungle Fever” and “Mo Better Blues.” Feature act is Danny Keaton.
• Feb. 15-19 — Doug Williams. Williams landed his first role in a major film “The Nutty Professor” starring Eddie Murphy. His offbeat style of stand-up comedy has made him a TV favorite from Comedy Central, including a special on BET. He was a regular on Mike Binder’s HBO series “The Mind of the Married Man.” Feature act is Justine Marino.
• Feb. 22-26 — Dwayne Perkins. Perkins, who appears often on Comedy Central and Conan, has been getting buzz for his recurring piece on the Jay Leno Show entitled “Great White Moments in Black History.” He also is part of The Bob & Tom Comedy Tour. Feature act is Eljaye Montenegro.
Gabriel Iglesias — The “fluffy” comedian and regional favorite “Stand-Up Revolution” Tour is 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, UTEP’S Don Haskins Center. Iglesias’ second one-hour special and DVD “I’m Not Fat…I’m Fluffy: Live from El Paso” premiered on Comedy Central in 2009 after being filmed in front of two sold-out crowds. Tickets: $40. (Ticketmaster).
Alpha’s Laugh Jam — Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Theta Delta Lambda Chapter, hosts the comedy night Saturday, Feb. 25, at the El Paso Comic Strip, 1201 Airway. Featured comics are Dwayne Perkins and Eljaye. Doors open for first show at 7:06 p.m. ($20 admission); second show at 9:20 p.m. ($35) and the After Party is at 11:30 p.m. ($25). Information on Facebook or call 276-9189, 803-354-6983 or 301-412-6447.
Border Beats
Recently added to the El Paso playlist:
Dan Lambert The Double Drum Trio (Coordinate Records) — Dan Lambert is a rare breed in El Paso, a musician who actually makes his living primarily as a performer (although he also does private lessons), and one who has been doing so for many years. He typically is found playing at casual but high-quality eateries such as the Magic Pan or Ripe, sometimes as a solo guitarist and sometimes with whatever ensemble he's currently assembled.
Dan is also a true musician in that he's always pursuing some new creative aspect of his art. He's best known as a finger-style guitarist and composer of music that a melting pot of various genres, such as jazz, blues, pop and world music. About 10 or 12 years ago he was on a recording streak, producing a series of CDs that included “The Clearing,” “Melodies/Improvisations,” “Plaids” and “The Blue Hand.” Then he stayed out of the studio for nearly a decade.
He returned in style this year, bringing his newfound oud, sarod and ruan as well as his familiar guitar and accompanied by percussionists Ricardo Amaya and Erik Hickerson to Tornillo's Sonic Ranch. Hidden among pecan orchards at the southeast edge of El Paso County, Sonic Ranch advertises itself as “the largest Residential Recording Studio complex in the world.”
The result is “Dan Lambert The Double Drum Trio,” a collection of Dan's original compositions that spans jazz and Middle Eastern styles. He'll officially release the CD with a dinner show Jan. 20 at the Magic Pan. His music also will be featured Jan. 29 as part of the local music mix for Dance Alive's Belly Dance Extravaganza at the Chamizal.
Pick up a copy at Collectibles, White’s Music Box, All That Music or Ripe.
‘Blood and Candle Smoke’ by Tom Russell (Shout Factory). Russell is another example of El Paso extreme talent, but in this case El Paso can’t take credit for his birth. It took Russell about 50 years to find his way here, making the Upper Valley his home base while touring around the world. Russell is a folk/country singer-songwriter best known for ballads such as “Outbound Plane” and “Gallo del Cielo” that were made into hits by other singers . His El Paso years have been particularly productive — his critically acclaimed folk cycle CD, “The Man from God Knows Where” came out in 1999 and his latest, “Blood and Candle Smoke” is the 10th album during the past 10 years. In this CD, his first set of original songs under the Shout label, Russell draws from some of his early years growing up in the turbulent 1960s “East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam,” studying criminology and teaching in Africa, as well as the influences of living on the border. Russell fans can catch some of these songs in person Nov. 6 and 7, when he performs in Silver City and Las Cruces.
— Randy Limbird
“Kivvunin,” Larry Bach. El Paso Rabbi Larry Bach’s new CD, translated as “directions” or “intentions,” is aptly named, as it carries a definite directive motive. The two most notable songs book-end the CD, including the bilingual, folksy opening track “Ki Eshm’ra Shabbat,” that leads off with Bach’s Dylan-inspired harmonica and lyrics reflecting the importance of the Shabbat (Sabbath). Most of the songs that follow have a consistent, easy-sounding rhythm, serving as mini-sermons based on Hebrew text and common sense values that could we well-heed by persons of all faiths, especially Jewish listeners and Christians who haven’t forgotten the importance of the Old Testament teachings.
One of the catchier songs is “Lullaby,” an English arrangement by Bach of a Hebrew-language song. The repetitive nature-inspired lyrics and flowing beat make it a nice sing-a-long for both youth and adults.
He saves his most personal work, however, for last in “Bob Dylan Came to Town.” In Bach’s reimagining of “The Night Hank Williams Came to Town,” his long-time music idol performs in concert a short distance from his home...on Erev Pesach, a sacred time that ushers in the Passover. Bach’s kind voice and clean guitar complements each other, and if this CD’s “intention” was to give to give the listener a sense of calm, it certainly did the trick.
-- Lisa Kay Tate
“Songs of Ascent,” Ellen M. Wilson. Wilson’s collection of Hebrew and English language songs, many inspired by verses from the Psalms and other books, sounds as home in the Southwest as it would in the mountainous Middle East. The easy-going instrumentals range from solemn piano and flute to jazzier saxophone, all accompanied by Wilson’s clear, silky voice (with accompaniment by guest vocalist Cantor Robbie Sherwin) to give an ethereal appeal. It would be hard not to sit though flowing melodies such as “Shir Chadash (A New Song)” or the closer “Oseah Shalom (Grant Peace)” and not feel at peace. It would be too easy to compare Wilson’s sound to that of the Celtic-based vocalists such as Enya or Loreena McKennitt, but Wilson adds a touch of the desert and her own, rich Jewish heritage to the mix giving “Songs of Ascent” both regional and global appeal.
-- “Thank You,” George Arriola. (Vyking Recordings). This local award-winning singer and composer has been celebrated for instrumental, vocal and writing capability. He new vocal CD is a precursor to his soon-to-be-released progressive instrumental rock CD “All I Wanna Do.” This laidback (albeit brief) EP reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s soft rock stylings. “For Love” in particular flows like a romantic walk on the beach. None of the songs struck me as stand-outs, but considering what we are listening to is all George, the musical ability is pretty darn impressive.
-- Glenn Leffler, “Acoustic Journey,” Adventures in Solo Guitar.” Leffler’s thoughtful nature and faith are evident selections from the flowing opener, “Pandora’s Box” to the slightly perkier “Pop’s Rag.” The songs are consistent and clean throughout. There are no surprises on this album, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, making this a good choice for the office or early morning back porch lounging.
-- La Guitarra presents Mario Otero, “Down at the Pass.” Otero has a great way of combining the gritty edge of the border with the disciplined sound of classical guitar. The clever narrative at throughout is a suitable tribute to Robert Rodriguez’s “El Mariachi” Trilogy, followed by a series of regionally inspired tunes like the grito-infused “Bandito Concierto” and the heart-breaking bilingual lament of “The Children of Juarez.” Although, honestly, I prefer the instrumentals on this offering, especially the brief “La Vienta” reunion featuring Otero and Stefan Schyga.
-- Stefan Schyga -- “A Winter Romance.” It has been far too long since Schyga has released a solo CD, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Packed with 15 instrumental flamenco-inspired tracks, standouts include the jazzy, mystical “Niko” (joined by Otero) the snaky rhythms of “Bossamenco” and the exotic, percussion-fused “Streets of Marrakech.”
-- Lisa Kay Tate
El Paso Scene MONTHLY
This month's listings,
stories and columnsFeature story
Copyright 2012 by Cristo Rey Communications.
Roundup
Music
Dance
Here's the Ticket
Program Notes
On Stage
Sports
Southwest Art Scene
At the Museum
History Lessons
Nature
Film Scene
Keep on Bookin'
Becoming Bicultural
Liner Notes
Stage Talk
Gallery Talk
Better Parenting