Tony's Takes Jan 6-13

Here are some current and upcoming local picks highlights for Long Beach!

New Music by Bearcoon

Bearcoon's long-awaited album, entitled Laminak, has been released, and let me be among the first to say how excellent it sounds. Recorded at Long Beach's famed The Compound studio, the album brings Andrea and Solange's chemistry to life in a way only paralleled by their live performance. Download or buy the album on CD Baby, Itunes, Amazon, or stream on Spotify to give it a listen!

First Fridays

The key to First Fridays is navigating the thousands of visitors to find the unique aspects to each month's edition, and soak up the novelty! Here's a few things that I recommend checking out. Public Bus Performances Local artists will perform music and poetry on the bus, starting at the Michelle Obama Library (5870 Atlantic Ave) at 5:30pm, and ending at Bixby Knolls' First Fridays art walk. For those who can't get enough poetry, there's going to be a solid spoken word show in the back room of the Expo as well. Somehow, it's also free to ride this particular Long Beach Public Transit bus for the special event - who doesn't love a free ride? Video Game Jazz DB Jazz Duo will be making a special appearance at First Fridays to play their jazz renditions of classic video game theme songs in the Historical Society space on Atlantic. Peep this OC Weekly write-up and listen to their Legend of Zelda rendition to see just how dope these guys are.

Mike Gustus Exhibit at The Expo

Local visual artist Mike Gustus will be exhibiting works in the front / South room of The Expo during First Fridays alongside the strange sounds of Toaster Music and the movements of Maha and Company. It's gonna be real surreal! Patrick Paige II at Fight Club LBC

Fight Club is bringing Patrick Paige II to our fine city for only $5. It's only been a few months since I became hip to The Internet (Patrick's band, not the thing Al Gore invented) - and I am hooked! Expect an energetic crowd, lots of improvisation and heavy grooves, and maximum sound (one of few events where Que Sera turns on their subwoofers).

Next Week ELOS at 4th St Vine

King Kang continues their residency at 4th St Vine this coming Monday with a very special guest - Los Angeles beat scene monster ELOS (Alpha Pup, New Los Angeles), and a new outfit called DreaMod. Local emcees will perform with King Kang, and I can't wait to hear their renditions of T'mon and Rahspect songs, and JSNMSK (Crimewave 5150) will be on the decks. Repeated Measures at GRN+GLD

Electronic producer Repeated Measures (New Los Angeles, Beat Cinema, Rootnote) is back in town from Japan, and ready to do bring new music to Grn+Gld's monthly at Que Sera on Thursday the 12th with Lord Pidgeon and residents Floods and Dirty Merlin. While calling this show "Long Beach's Low End Theory" may under-ride some of their uniqueness (like using the Korg Electribe, having video games and unique visuals, and keeping it really footwork friendly), this is a show you should get in on while it's sort of a secret. Though it's a weekday show, this one tends to crescendo until 1:30, so come ready to get down.