The great music continues in LA

The good music continued on Saturday as we moved to a motel in Burbank and spent a great evening at Joe's American Bar and Grill. The support act, Tom Kenny and the High Seas were terrific. I saw Tom, who was the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants, do a couple of numbers at the Ace Hotel in New Orleans with Los Straitjackets in 2017. This time he had a 12 piece band with three female singers and three sax players and he threw himself into his 60s style set with enormous enthusiasm. We had a taste with an excellent version of 'I Found a Love' at the sound check. The set itself rocked from start to finish with credible versions of a great mix of songs including 'Keep On Running', Mitch Ryder's 'Sock It To Me Baby', Alvin Robinson's 'Down Home Girl', Gene Pitney's 'It Hurts To Be In Love', Elvis's 'Like A Baby' (with great support from the girls), 'Don't Sign The Papers (I Want You Back), originally by Jimmy Delphs, Little Milton's 'We're Gonna Make It', Wayne Cochran's 'Some Of Your Sweet Love', 'Try To Find Yourself Another Man' ( recorded by the Righteous Brothers and Tommy McLain), Bobby Lewis's 'Tossin' and Turnin', and Frankie Ford's 'Roberta'. Tom may not have a great voice but in terms of energy he could not be faulted. The main act of the night were Los Straitjackets, wearing Mexican wrestling masks as ever, who provided some quality guitar instros. I didn't recognise all of them but among them were 'Casbah', 'Space Mosquito' (with a good solo from Eddie Angel), 'Woo Hoo' and 'Batman'. The set ended with cameo appearances by Johnny Ramos, son of Kid Ramos, on a Spanish language version of 'Tallahassee Lassie' and a sweet version of 'Angel Baby' by Jaalene, the 'Queen of the Teens'.
On Saturday we changed motels yet again, this time to one on Manchester Avenue near the airport and prepared ourselves for a night of blues. And what a night it proved to be. We started at Bell's Blues Workshop, a weekly blues jam in the converted garage of Franklin Bell's house in South LA. The band there was great and a succession of blues singers and guitarists came on stage to perform a few numbers, all of them highly entertaining. It's 10 dollars to get in and for that you get fantastic music and some fried chicken. It's an affair for locals with very few whites there and no pressure to give tips. Four of the singers were female including Shelley Gibbons, whose numbers included 'Down Home Blues'. Southside Slim provided some fine guitar backing for the next singer before Lester Lands came on stage to back Lady Renee, who excelled on 'Part Time Love' and 'Do It Again'. Also great was Sherry Pruit who has recorded several CDs including 'I've Been Bamboozled' which contains her self penned number 'Stay Away From My Man' which she sang. She played a pretty mean harmonica too.
From Bell's we went to the Pure Pleasure Blues Club for more great music. The band there, the New Soul Brothers led by veteran bluesman Joe Kincaid, were superb and we were treated to some amazing acts. Bobby Love performed some southern soul, including a good version of Al Green's 'Love and Happiness'. Next came a couple of numbers by Sir Stan Griggs, wearing a brown three piece suit and trilby, who was way over the top. John described him as the 'John McCririck of Soul' as he grabbed his crotch and attempted to woo the women on 'The Things That I Used To Do, 'I Need Someone To Love' and 'Dust My Blues'. Sonny Green, another veteran soul and blues singer who always goes down well appeared next but sang only one and a bit numbers before disappearing from the stage. His version of 'Who's Making Love' was a classic however. Sammy Lee, aka Harmonica Slim, did a super version of 'Sugar Momma' before a young guitarist and singer performed 'Polk Salad Annie' and an Elvis impersonation on 'Hound Dog'. Slightly out of place I thought. More in keeping with the soul theme was the next act, the attractive Sheryl
Monet who came across well on 'Fire' and 'Tonight Is The Night'. Sonny Green then reappeared, wearing a different but again very smart suit to launch into 'Let's Stay Together' and 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag,'. He was joined on stage by a lady with pink hair named Asia Raye who really set the place alight with a dynamic stage act which brought to mind some the great soul women of the past. Tremendous stuff and thanks to Allen 'Charmin' Larman for the heads up. A wonderful night, not to be forgotten.
There was more blues and soul on our final night at La Louisianne where Hank Carbo has a Monday night residency. Hank is the brother of New Orleans singers Chuck and Chick Carbo who were in the Spiders vocal group. He went to school with Irma Thomas but moved to LA where he recorded with another brother, Claude. Backed by Lester Lands, another New Orleans native, and the New Breed Band, Hank did an enjoyable two sets of Soul and blues covers including 'Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You', 'My Girl', 'Last Two Dollars', 'Down Home Blues and 'Use Me'. Lester himself did a good version of 'Baby Workout' and a deep voiced singer called Jay Jackson did a couple of numbers including one he wrote called 'Fool'. Having enjoyed an excellent oxtail dinner in this classy establishment, this was a great way to end our trip. It's home tomorrow and I will start putting some photos on the blog when I get back.