Alvas Showroom

Music, Music, I Hear Music

Wow. It’s been a heavy few weeks. Hurricanes. Fires. Earthquakes. More hurricanes. Another mass shooting. More fires. I haven’t been writing even though I had a bunch of blog ideas underway, including one on travel that I teased at earlier. I’ve been struggling with doing anything in light of recent events. My negative self asks me, “What good is writing about things when people are dying, being killed, homeless, devastated by events, both natural and man-made. What does one do?” As “hippy – dippy” as it may sound, the only way I can keep from going crazy in this world is to put something positive out there in it. This can take shape in the form of music, words, or any other expressive, artistic medium. That is my contribution. Sometimes it can be hard. Especially on social media. Everyone is right. Everyone has a cause or belief, but we don’t talk to each other anymore. We make “comments” and argue endlessly about a wide range of issues, including the ones that have impacted my depression. It came to me that I must write. Write about how I feel. Write about how I am choosing to use positivity and music to impact my immediate community.

Besides expressing myself thru writing, one of the things I have always turned to for support during times of anxiety and stress is music. It has always been there for me. It can inspire, enrage, sadden, inform, and make you fall in love, just to name a few effects. I love music. I recently saw a tweet that said “being obsessed with music is a full-time job” (@ThatEricAlper). I can attest to that. I love playing music and drumming, but the obsession with music began as a listener. It all started with the 45 rpm record and grew into the usual formats such as iPod, headphones, car or home stereo. Besides listening, I particularly enjoy seeing and hearing live performance. This is especially true when the music is of a high calibre, such as jazz, fusion, or progressive rock.

Since moving to Los Angeles, I have had the opportunity to see some amazing shows at some intimate performance spaces. Some of the venues are well known, such as the Baked Potato in Studio City and the Catalina Club in Hollywood. There are other lesser known clubs that also dot the area’s musical landscape such as The Mint in Los Angeles and the Jazz Bakery (currently in a “moveable feast” mode, but planning on a permanent space in Culver City). Another venue is Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. A historic, family owned facility that in addition to being a world class performance space, also houses a gymnastics and dance studio, music lesson school, and one of SoCals hidden gems of a music store (especially for guitarists). It’s an out of the way performance space conveniently located in my newly adopted hometown. I always tell the owner, Matt Lincir, that Alvas is the reason we moved to San Pedro. After living in downtown Los Angeles since 2006, we had decided to get out of the city, but still needed to stay close to our respective workplaces. We attended a show by one of my favorite drummers, Virgil Donati, at Alvas and as we drove around the area, we thought, “Hey, what if we could move here?” My wife Liz was looking up apartments the next day.

We moved to San Pedro and haven’t looked back. More stellar gigs at Alvas ensued, which included Jeff Hamilton, Peter Erskine, The Aristocrats, and Tony MacAlpine to name a few. At the MacAlpine gig, guitar great Allan Holdsworth was in attendance as a listener and after the show he chatted amicably on the sidewalk with the rest of the concertgoers. Where else but Alvas?

I recently attended a performance by avante-garde cellist Artyom Munukyan. During a pause between songs, an audience member asked about the effects pedals he uses in conjunction with his cello. He explained their different uses and proceeded to launch into an improvised jam with his band demonstrating their various sounds he uses in conjunction with his cello. Where else but Alvas?

At the recent show by fusion band OHM, the guitarist, Chris Poland, had major technical difficulties right when the show started. He uses a complex set of rack equipment for his guitar tones and after having to change tubes in his amp, had to re-program each effect at the beginning of each song. He handled the situation calmly and smoothly and the attending guitar aficionados received an up close lesson in keeping your cool when your gear goes down. Where else but Alvas?

I mentioned Allan Holdsworth earlier. Sadly, one of his last performances before he died was at Alvas. He was in rare form, talking with the audience and joking about his equipment. Virgil Donati was playing in his band at the time and the gig really stands out to me as one of those special performances. Where else but Alvas?

Fast forward to three years later. I’m ten months into retirement from my “day job” at the United States Postal Service and was looking for something to do to keep me out of trouble and make some extra money (man does not live by government pension alone). In my meanderings amongst my social media addictions, I happened upon an add on Facebook for “Lobby Host” at Alvas Showroom. I leapt at the opportunity to be involved somehow and after going thru a job application and interview process, I was chosen for the gig. I really love what Matt does with the Showroom and part of how I am dealing with my depression and anxiety concerning current events is to be involved in my neighborhood by being part of a local business that supports the arts. Being involved with giving the community the opportunity to hear and see high calibre music gives me great joy and satisfaction.

So, turn off your television, get off of your computer (except to read my blog), and go listen to some live music!

“The answer is love, you just need to decide what the questions are.” – Me

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Gandalf