In some regions fall means rustling leaves. In Laguna Beach, where deciduous trees are in shorter supply, fall arrives accompanied by the sound of music.
Three significant concerts are on the docket, and the Montage resort, redirecting its hospitality as an emerging music venue, is poised to welcome two of them.
Fans of Laguna Beach radio station KX 93.5 will be able to show their support by attending the KXClusive fundraising concert at the Montage Friday from 5-9 p.m. and hopefully chipping in $20,000 to match funds earmarked by the city for the station’s emergency broadcast services. Tickets are still available in the VIP section at $375 and at middle seating at $200. The rear section at $125 per ticket is sold out.
“This year we could not use the Irvine Bowl due to construction, but the Montage let’s us use their lawn,” said station founder Tyler Russell. “This is our big one, it will put us in the black,” he said.
Venue managers will work in partnership with FM station KX93.5 and with Laguna Beach Live. “We have done concerts for specific groups, but have not done that for the community,” said Bob Mitchell, director of resort sales and marketing.
“We are always looking for ways to expose the Montage to community members who might not come otherwise,” he said. “We will see if having a series of such (music) events here works.”
Founded by local impresario Clay Berryhill, the radio station concert’s headlining 133 Band includes Honk’s Steve Wood and Beth Fitchet Wood, Jason Feddy, Alan Deremo, Bob Hawkins, Drew Hester, Nick Hernandez and Missiles of October’s Poul Pederson.
Also featured are members of the former Painbirds, founded in San Francisco by Tom Luce and Charlie Colin. The band has now morphed into SideDeal, said its drummer Stan Frazier. It also features Colin and Luce, along with Gawain Matthew, Murphy Karges, Stan Scott, Joel Owen and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
“We are all orphans from other bands, Sugar Ray, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, but we feel like an emerging band,” said Frazier. “We’re in our mid-40s and starting over. It feels good to be back on the playing field.” They reside throughout the county; none are local residents.
Rita Rudner will emcee. “I need a low ceiling. Standing outside on a lawn and looking at the sky is not conducive to comedy routines,” she lamented with a laugh. “Still, it’s a great way to promote local artists and I’ll be as funny as I can be in an open air circumstance.” Rudner will introduce her daughter Molly Bergman, who at age 14 is an emerging guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Next up, the Laguna Concert Band will hold its first annual fundraiser concert to aid the band’s efforts to bring music programs into local schools in conjunction with the Max Bennett foundation.
Swing Set, a 16-piece off-shoot and Max Bennett, a bassist and composer, and his band Private Reserve, will perform from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at Seven-Degrees, 891 Laguna Canyon Road.
Trumpeter Greg Adams, founding member of Tower of Power, will also make a guest appearance as will singer Robin Adler, accompanied by guitarist Dave Blackburn and their band Mutts of the Planet.
During his 60-year experience, Bennett has played on more than 1,000 albums, 19 of which won Grammys. A San Clemente resident since 1981, he has played with luminaries such as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis. Nowadays, his love lies in composing music and sailing his 36-foot sloop. “I love solitude, doing things alone,” he said. He called his first composition “TCB in E,” meaning taking care of business in the key of e, he explained. “My heart lies in what I write; jazz has always been my love,” he said. When he first heard the Laguna Concert Band, he knew they would click, he said. “Swing Set reminds me of Stan Kenton,” he recalled.
Laguna Beach Live has also migrated to the Montage, showcasing trumpeter Greg Adams and East Bay Soul on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m.
Adams has recorded six solo albums, three releases with East Bay Soul and 14 with Tower of Power, making his marks on R&B, jazz, rock, soul, funk and pop music.
“We approached the Montage to see if they’d give us a chance. It’s great for Laguna Beach Live and for the community,” said LBL president Cindy Prewitt.
Ticket info:
KXClusive, Friday, Sept. 30, 5-9 p.m Montage Resort, 30801 S. Coast Hwy. ViP experience $375, Middle seating $200. 949-715-4859 www.kx935.com
Laguna Concert Band Benefit, Sunday, Oct. 2, 3-6 p.m. Seven-Degrees, 891 Laguna Canyon Rd. Adv.: $95, door: $125, VIP $50 www.lagunaconcertband.com
Greg Adams & East Bay Soul. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. Montage Resort, 30801 S. Coast Hwy. VIP $75, premium $45, standard $25. lagunabeachlive.org or 800-595-4849. Info: 949-715-9713
Food, Prizes Take Center Stage at Fundraiser
Laguna’s FM radio station KX 93.5 will hold their annual concert and fundraiser KXClusive, atop the bluff below the Montage resort from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.
Celebrity chefs Chris Tzorin, Kyle Powers, Alonso “Zo” Flores and Matthew Pike promise to wow guests with hand crafted food samplings, included in the price of admission.
Highlights will range from short rib mole tacos to pumpkin ravioli, pulled pork sliders to Hawaiian papaya coleslaw, and grilled hearth bread to fresh smoked figs.
Auction items include a weekend at Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, tickets to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and dining at Studio restaurant at the Montage.
Painbirds, featuring founding members of Sugar Ray and Train, along with Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Doobie Brothers/Steely Dan are concert headliners. Rita Rudner will emcee.
Reserved seating tickets, $125-$375 are available at www.KX935.com.
