Benmont Appearing In Hollywood

[Refugee]

Benmont Appearing In Hollywood

Benmont Tench will be playing with the Watkins Family Hour at Largo in Hollywood every Thursday this September.

Check out http://www.myspace.com/watkinsfamilyhour (http://www.myspace.com/watkinsfamilyhour) for band details.



Thank you C-Line for the heads up!

[C-line]

;):003:

[Magnolia]

WOW! I'd love to try to go! Wish it wasn't a Thursday. :095:

[Echosoftom]

Hey, I think I'm going to be down in L.A. the last Thursday of this month. :003:

[Refugee]

Wanna make it a date? :003:

[surfnburn]

Aw...I'd love to see one of these shows, but it's too far for me on a Thursday night.

Come back and tell us all about it, ladies. Have fun!

[Echosoftom]

Wanna make it a date? :003:
http://www.thedirtyknobs.com/forum/images/dark_smiles/woot2.gifYou bet! lol

[Marion]

You guys are so lucky!

[Echosoftom]

I know alot of people think it's easier to get to these gigs simply because we live in CA, which geographically it is, but there are times when I might as well be living in Florida because of all sorts of circumstances. Work schedules, high airline fares, finances, short notice of these shows, family obligations, long ass drive (6 hours), just plain run down and tired, bad weather (yes we do have that in CA, lol) so sometimes even though we're a little closer it can still seem so far away. Yep, sometimes we're lucky but sometimes we're not so lucky too.

But it just so happens that this time we might be lucky, lol. At least I hope so. :003:

[Athena]

I feel so spoiled to be only an hour to an hour and a half drive away (depending on traffic). It still means going to work the next day with only a couple of hours of sleep. The only Thursday I will be in town this month is tonight. And I really need some rest.

But......

Again, I feel spoiled because I have the privledge of going or not going. I want to be able to share it with everyone.

For anyone who has the opportunity, do it! We have been quite a few times now and it is so much fun!

[Athena]

For those who are thinking of going...

The place is small so reservations are recommended. Go to www.largo-la.com (http://www.largo-la.com). Reservations are for dinner. You must be there within 15 minutes of the doors opening or you lose your reservation.

If you don't have a reservation, still plan to be there when the doors open. You line up to the right side of the door if you don't have reservations, to the left if you do. We have been able to get a table without a reservation by being in the front of the no-reservation line.

If there are no tables, there is standing room in the back. Even then, the view is great.

[Refugee]

Thanks for all the info, Athena. It's greatly appreciated. :)

I think some people forget that CA is a BIG state. I mean LA for me is a 3 to 4 hour drive depending on time and traffic. Hell, took me 6 hours once to get to Long Beach! It's not that simple to get to these gigs.

But...I am a little luckier than Sharon, by at least 400 miles, lol.

[surfnburn]

^hell....you're almost 500 miles closer than I am...lol And I live in CA.

I agree sharon.... It takes me 2 1/2 hours to get to an airport. Jeezz....I wish I could fly down south on one of our local pot raid helicopters....LOL It's the only airport service we have...lol

[C-line]

I am one that forgets CA is a big state. I come from the land of little states, the northeast. But I sure hope some of you can go and see Benmont!

[Barnburner]

Let's see, if I start packing now ...



{Oh, and ten bucks says somebody's gonna try and sing an early 'Happy Birthday' to him tonight, lol.}

[Relic]

If you are able to go to this gig, and are 'on the edge' regarding going, I want to state that what you see and hear at Largo is likely to be some of the finest music available anywhere. The Watkins' Family Hour has always left us thrilled and amazed at the remarkable talents of these artists.

Good times, good cheer, and good music.

I promise that you wont be disappointed if you go.

Largo Rocks.

[Athena]

Great, I had resigned myself to not going tonight and then he had to post that.

[Echosoftom]

HAHA! Ref sometimes that is the longest 400 miles.

Athena, thank you so much for all the inside information. I'm coming down there on Thursday to leave for a cruise on Friday. I'm hoping we leave here early in the morning so I can have plenty of time to plan to go. I've been dying to go to one of these. Sounds like a blast. :)

[Echosoftom]

Okay, I'm sorry I missed the second page on this thread.

Ames, I'm LMAOO @ pot raid helicopters. That is too freakin' funny.

And I should say thank you to Relic and Athena! You guys have convinced me that I really need to make the effort to go. I just need to get my sister's asses in gear so we can leave Sacramento early enough.

[Refugee]

Get the whip out, girl! :079:

[KansasPettyFan]

Have fun, people! :)

[WildflowerNJ]

Yes, have fun everyone who can go...CA sure is a big state, I know!

[Athena]

. I'm coming down there on Thursday to leave for a cruise on Friday. I'm hoping we leave here early in the morning so I can have plenty of time to plan to go. I've been dying to go to one of these. Sounds like a blast. :)

Does this mean we have to wait until she gets back to find out if she went and all the details?? :confused: Bummer.

[Echosoftom]

Oh Athena, I'm sorry I don't think I made myself clear. I'm going down the weekend of the 28th. So I'm thinking of going the night of Sept. 27th. Believe me if I go, I'll find a computer somewhere, even on the ship, to post about the show, LOL!
:)

[Refugee]

Does this mean we have to wait until she gets back to find out if she went and all the details?? :confused: Bummer.

Not if I go down, I'll be home right that night, LOL!

[Athena]

So now I have something to look forward to after my 11 1/2 hr flight back from Italy on the 30th. I am expecting to see reviews from the both of you. Don't disappoint me!

[Echosoftom]

^ I will be reporting in at 0200 hours, LOL! :003:

[Marion]

:003:

[WildflowerNJ]

Can't wait to hear all about it! :003:

[LizzieB]

From a WFH MySpace bulletin. Good reading!!! Benmont sang a song! Man, I wish I had been there!!!

http://laist.com/2007/09/16/watkins_family.php

Thursday night's Watkins Family Hour performance at Largo was a humdinger. At one point, they must have broken some kind of a Largo record, because they fit NINE people on that tiny platform. Throughout the three-hour set, eight additional performers joined Sean and Sara Watkins on the stage. The lineup included Fiona Apple, Benmont Tench, Glen Phillips, Greg Leisz, Mike Elizondo, Willie Watson, Jay Bellerose and Dave Rawlings.

They performed more than 20 songs ranging from Nickel Creek to Bob Dylan to Patsy Cline material—in addition to “Happy Birthday” as sung by the audience in celebration of Fiona Apple’s 30th. Not bad for a $15 cover charge and the cost of dinner!

More after the jump...

The night started off with a spirited set by “Tractor Beam,” which is perhaps one of the best names for a country/bluegrass band ever, then Sean and Sara (of Nickel Creek) took the stage. Had the night been comprised of just the two of them, it still would have been a fantastic show. But they had much in store for this unsuspecting audience.

The siblings were joined by all of the aforementioned musicians at various points. Some of the musical standouts were the fiddle tunes, Nickel Creek’s “Somebody More Like You” (Sean's sweet-then-sarcastic vocals were spot-on), Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain” (Sara's angelic voice absolutely soared), and Jon Brion’s “Same Mistakes.”

Throughout most of the evening, Sean wrestled with some tuning and sound-related technical difficulties. But he handled it well by saying something along the lines of, “With all the extra tuning tonight, it’s like you’re getting what would be the deluxe edition of a DVD. Rather than paying $30, this would be the set that’d cost $45.”

The show was already hopping when Sean invited "Fiona" to the stage. As in Fiona Apple. She bounded up to the front, bursting with glee. She couldn’t help but tell everyone, “Today’s my 30th birthday!” It’s always fun to see Apple’s playful side. Though she’s known for being intense and sometimes angry in her music (which she demonstrated during a riveting performance of “Limp”) it’s fun to see her laughing and toying with lighter fare. She and the team on-stage started with Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which was followed by Apple’s own “Paper Bag,” “Extraordinary Machine” and others.

But the show didn’t end there. Apple left the stage for a while, then Benmont Tench moved from the piano to center stage and sang Bo Diddley’s “Mona.” After a couple more songs, Glen Philips joined the group for a few songs, including Paul Simon's "American Tune."

The show ended with a bang, and at one point nine of the 10 musicians took the stage and jammed for the final 4-5 songs. The highlight for me was when, at the request of an audience member, they performed an encore of last Saturday’s performance (during Jon Brion’s show) of the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back,” with Sara on lead vocals.

Upcoming Watkins Family Hours (http://www.myspace.com/watkinsfamilyhour) are scheduled for Sept. 20, 27 and Oct. 4. To learn more, visit the Largo (http://www.largo-la.com/) website. You’d be hard-pressed to find better entertainment on a Thursday evening. Or any other night for that matter.

[LizzieB]

I've never needed convincing to go to Largo. I've been wanting to go ever since Ref told me about a year ago that Benmont plays there sometimes. I love that you guys get to go and tell us about it. But, really, I won't be happy until I can go myself. Someday I'll make it.

Also, there was an article in Performing Songwriter about Benmont. Relic and Athena got a copy in their hotel room this weekend. Maybe Relic can post what Benmont said about Largo. It sounds really special to him. I ordered a copy online, so I'll post it if Relic doesn't. Just gotta wait for the magazine to arrive. (I looked for the article online, but couldn't find it.)

[Echosoftom]

That's a wonderful review! These shows sound amazing. Just imagine, looking up at the stage and there's Benmont singing, Mona. How cool would that be? I'm hoping to make it to the one on the 27th. Thanks Lizzie!

[Refugee]

Awesome review! Thanks for posting that LizzieB. :045:

[C-line]

Wow. Thanks Lizzie! Where's You Tube when you need it? :119:

[Refugee]

^ Caroline, Largo has a very strict electronic code. No cell phones, cameras or video cams.

[Relic]

Largo:

(Noun) A venue known for placing the Music first above all things.

Friendly, comfortable and full of good cheer, it could be described as a 'holy site' for the performing arts in Southern California.

I am sorry we missed Thursday's performance - We have seen many of these artists perform at Largo before, but this sounds like it was one heck of an evening, and I regret that we did not hear the 'joyful noise' that resulted.

Largo - you MUST check it out if you ever come to Southern California.

(And if you do go, pick up a few cookies for the band from Canters Deli across the street. They'll love you for it!)

Ill try to find and post what Benmont said about the club later on once I unpack the stuff from ACL. It was an amazing coincidence that our hotel room was stocked with the magazine :) One in a string of fantastic coincidences that permeated our Austin experience. I almost expected Bob Dylan to pop out of an elevator at our hotel the way things were going. Everywhere we turned was artistic greatness, good cheer, and celebration of all things musical! It is a good thing he didn't because I would have probably left this world right then and there.

[KansasPettyFan]

Wow, Benmont singing! Thanks for posting this!

[Marion]

Wonderful review. Thanks for posting Lizzie! Wow, Benmont sang Mona! That must have been so cool!

[surfnburn]

Thanks for posting this... It sounds wonderful.

[Mary Jane 49]

I would have liked to him ,sounds great