July 18 - the Church Committee would like to thank everyone on the island who played a role in both making improvements to the church and in the success of the concert this past year. To everyone who bought a raffle ticket for the church raffle that raised over $4000, or helped renovate and clean the church during the community work party to all of you who bought a ticket or played in the band, our sincere appreciation. The committee is looking at ways to encourage further use of the Church in 2016 and beyond and we have prepared a new brochure as a sales tool to help us in this capacity. Our goal is to have at least one concert, one art event and one religious service. Suggestions are welcome.
July 4 - Our summer potluck supper was well attended with lots of delicious food on the menu. The potluck raised $330. We traditionally donate proceeds from this potluck to a local charity, and this year it was decided to make a donation to the Pictou West Food Bank. Thanks to all who participated in this annual event.
A structure is currently in the process of being built to house the island hearse, which is culturally significant to our local history. The hearse was previously stored in a shed, and the new structure will do a much better job of displaying and protecting this important piece of our heritage.
In 2014 a new line of Pictou Island merchandise was released and sold at the local community centre. This included t-shirts, hoodies, hats, calendars, posters, cards, and more. Much of the merchandise, such as the cards photographed below, was oriented around the Pictou Island quilt that was recently completed by island women. Sales went incredibly well, earning a profit of $1874 by the end of the summer. All remaining goods are available for purchase at the Pictou Island market next to the wharf, and cards are being sold at the community centre.
The Pictou Island South Lighthouse will soon be coming under the ownership of PICA as part of the Dispersal of Surplus Lighthouses from under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. This process is now almost complete after three years of forms and procedures - the lighthouse should finish changing hands by mid October. It will be maintained as is with a grant from the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.
Vixen DeVille (Cat LaCohie) of Vixen DeVille Revealed at the Lounge Theatre, June 17, 2018. (Photos by Monique A. LeBleu)
Although Vixen DeVille aka Cat LaCohie is sexy, warm, welcoming, energetic and embarrassingly gifted in a wide variety of talents, she is also self-deprecating, tough-as-nails, and incredibly funny.
Winner of the 2018 Best International, Soaring Solo Artist and Encore Awards, as well as Nominated for Best of Cabaret & Variety, at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, LaCohie’s show “Vixen DeVille Revealed” is first and foremost definitely an adult show. But it’s also immensely entertaining, comical, and even educational, with occasional moments of heartbreaking truth.
Assisted with a “kitten” and audience participants, Vixen DeVille, combines glass walking, fire-eating, magic, aerial, video, comedy, body confidence, truth and burlesque into a mind-blowingly sexy-fun show. Continue reading →
Movies Till Dawn: The Saturday Morning Strange – “Godmonster of Indian Flats” (1973) Posted on July 7, 2018 by Paul Gaita
The irresistible force paradox – which asks us to consider what happens if an unstoppable object collides with an irresistible force – is put to the test in this bizarre hybrid of science fiction, experimental film and underground comedy. Virginia City, Nevada is the proving ground, and the forces in question are the town’s despotic mayor (exploitation veteran Stuart Lancaster), who fends off an Eastern investor by framing his representative for murder (of the sheriff’s dog), and a mutated sheep embryo, which grows, thanks to a local scientist (E. Kerrigan Prescott) and his dizzy assistant (Karen Ingenthron), into a colossal, awkward-looking and occasionally flatulent barnyard monstrosity. These elements eventually come together after much discussion about the town’s history, mystic seers, and endless scientific babble, with the expected explosive results, though that is probably the only thing about “Godmonster of Indian Flats” that viewers will see coming.
Fritzie Zimmer’s ‘What’s Left of Me’ Leaves Nothing to be Desired (or to the Imagination) all the While Leaving the Audience Wanting More! Posted on July 6, 2018 by Jennifer K. Hugus
OMG !– and all hail the “Fritzie Zimmer What’s Left of Me Show” starring Sam Pancake and Steven Wishnoff as Fritzie and Giacomo respectively; centering around the life and times of none other than Fritzie Zimmer the “World’s oldest openly gay stand up comedian” at “87 years fun”!!! Performing in a theatre described by Zimmer as “decorated like Bruce Villanche’s Womb”, Fritzie and his hearty ivory tickling (and quite possibly tickling something else under the ivories) sidekick Giacomo Schwartz, take us sidelong, headlong, and directly up the inseam of Fritzie’s sordid yet silly lifelong career!
Reminiscing hits, flops and near misses of appearances, voiceovers and cameos revolving around the likes of Peanuts Specials entitled Pigpen Takes a Bath, a short-lived sitcom surrounding the life of teenage girl gymnasts: Lickity Splitz, to speak nothing of Ding Dong Avenue the networks’ answer to Sesame Street, That’s not a Pickle, That’s my Finger, and of course all varying and sundry game shows on which Fritzie appeared: Puzzle Junkies, Pobody’s Nerfect (of the adult spelling bee variety), Bait and Snitch and the one and only exclusive to Florida, Gator in a Box, the showy-to-silent duo of Zimmer and Schwartz will keep you in rhinestone-studded stitches!!! Continue reading →
Get ‘Buzz’d’ and Splooshed in Hollywood at the Studio/Stage Posted on July 6, 2018 by Monique A. LeBleu
“Buzz’d Out! Live” at the Studio/Stage for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, June 10, 2018. Photo by Monique A. LeBleu
For fans of trivia games, games shows, colorful game show hosts, and perhaps even “splooshing” enthusiasts, “Buzz’d Out! Live!” at the Studio/Stage in Hollywood is definitely for you!
Although a family show, this immersive show is geared towards adult participants who willingly—if not enthusiastically—set themselves up for getting splashed on, dumped out, puddinged and generally “creamed” with an assortment of food and non-food related items in a competition that pits fours contestants against each other in a battle of wits, gooey projectiles, and/or other physical challenges.
With just a team of six, headed by co-creators Ben Benjamins and Roe Moore, Buzz’d Out! Live! is loaded with high production value set, props, and video animation, high tech lighting and sound, some well-hidden low tech, along with low brow splashing, sploshing, dumping, and spraying that makes for some pretty awesome high comedy. Continue reading →
The Troubadour Presents: Randy Bachman – Every Song Tells A Story Posted on July 6, 2018 by Ivor Levene
Coming up in just a few weeks, Canadian legend Randy Bachman will be appearing at one of Los Angeles’ most venerable and intimate clubs, The Troubadour on Saturday, July 21, 2018.
Bachman, who founded The Guess Who in 1965 and Bachman Turner Overdrive in 1972 will be performing hits from The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and other solo material. I can’t think of a more perfect setting for Randy, as The Troubadour has seen its share of star power for decades.
Hailed as one of Los Angeles’ most prized clubs, The Troubadour was the place that Elton John, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, Neil Young, and James Taylor all made their U.S. debuts, and that was just in the 1960’s. This is the place where Cheech and Chong were discovered by Lou Adler, and Janis Joplin played her last gig. Even Led Zeppelin have performed here. Can you even imagine that? I can!
Bachman, in addition to his success with The Guess Who, also founded his second super-group, Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) shortly after leaving The Guess Who in the early 1970’s. His current repertoire is filled with classics from both bands, music from his latest tribute album to George Harrison, “By George By Randy”, and some of the best guitar playing this side of the U.S./Canadian border.
I’ve heard that Randy also regales his audiences with stories and memories from his early days, so this isn’t just another show, it’s an intimate look back at his past. When you combine that with his unique style of guitar playing, you’re going to be in for a great show. If you’re here in Los Angeles, you don’t want to miss this one. I surely won’t!
Tickets for the show can be obtained here at ticketfly. More information on Randy can be found at randybachman.com
Reviewed: The Rolling Stones – From The Vault: No Security – San Jose 1999 Posted on July 5, 2018 by Ivor Levene
Reviewing a Stones concert film can either be a very hard thing to do, or it can be very easy. In my case, it’s definitely the latter. Not because I find no fault in their performance, but because I do, and I like it. After having been to countless Rolling Stones shows, the most recent four weeks ago, I can honestly watch these Stones films and differentiate between them, kind of like a connoisseur of fine wines. And we all know that wine and The Stones get better with age, but it’s always nice to have a look back. Perhaps it is hard after all, reviewing what’s essentially the same set list, but finding the things that make this film stand out. There’s plenty to go on there. I want desperately to be critical as so many others are but let’s face it, The Stones defy criticism in the face of age and adversity.
It’s funny to watch this film now and think “how young the Stones looked back then”, when back then, all most people did was make jokes about their age and wondered when they were going to call it quits. You can certainly see the difference in this film. Keith is animated and completely fluid, Charlie plays hard and fast, and the slide guitars meander from both Keith and Ronnie’s hands, back, forth, and back again. The film was shot in 1999 in San Jose and it was the first time the band had played there since 1965, so the local fans were hungry.
The music Prince made with the Revolution from roughly 1982 to 1987 is some of the most innovative, beloved and popular music ever produced. The band is now back in action, paying tribute to its creator and giving new life to its old material on stage. And there’s still a lot of life in that music, at witnessed by the band’s ability to transform a huge crowd into a single, boogieing mass.
Following a powerful and emotional performance on the Arroyo Seco’s Sycamore stage, keyboardist “Dr.” Matt Fink of the Revolution took a few minutes to talk with the LA Beat about what he’s been doing lately, who he’s been doing it with, and the pleasures of playing Prince music to young festival crowds.
That was a really exciting show today. I know you play a variety of different situations, do you approach a festival gig like this any different from the way you approach a headlining show where the whole crowd is there to see you?
We don’t really approach it differently, but normally the sets are a bit shorter. You know, we usually play for 90 minutes, maybe an hour-forty, and today was a fifty minute set. So you have to create a new set list for it.
What are some of the things you get into that we didn’t get to hear today, in case we have a chance to see you down the road?
We’re doing a song called “All Day All Night”, which was released on the Purple Rain special edition, that came out last year but (prior to that) unreleased, never really been out before. And we’re doing a couple more album tracks off of Around The World In A Day, you know, a few other things. Songs that weren’t hits but are deep cuts off of records. Continue reading →
Reggae On the Mountain – A Perfect Way to Celebrate Music & Summer Posted on July 4, 2018 by Joan Alperin
Even before I moved to Topanga Canyon some five years ago, I would always make it a point to attend the annual Reggae On The Mountain Festival. Besides being a nature paradise, Topanga is bursting with musical history. This festival, in my opinion, is one of the best. This is the ninth year that the festival is being put on by Label 27, happening Saturday, July 14, 2018 and Sunday, July 15, 2018 from 11 AM until- 8 PM, giving us two days of incredible music from international stars and heavy-hitting local bands.
Posted in Music, Upcoming Events, Weed | Tagged July 14 and 15th 2018, Reggae On The Mountain, Topanga Canyon | Leave a comment
‘Sweet Charity’ Brings Back the Reprise Company–and it’s Only the Beginning of the Fun Posted on July 3, 2018 by Joan Alperin
Reprise is back and now christened Reprise 2.0. The company, which presents musicals that are either lesser known or rarely revived locally, is producing a three-show season at its former home, UCLA’S Freud Playhouse in West Los Angeles
The inaugural show, “Sweet Charity,” starring the incredible Laura Bell Bundy (Broadway’s ‘Legally Blonde), directed and choreographed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall was absolutely incredible.
If this is any indicator of the type of shows they put on, Reprise will certainly do very well. Next on their agenda is “Victor/Victoria” directed by Richard Israel and choreographed by John Todd. The cast hasn’t been set yet, but it runs September 5-16, 2018. Continue reading →
Posted in Theater | Tagged 'Sweet Charity, musicals, reprise, UCLA'S Freud Playhouse | Leave a comment
Some people have been saying that they don’t feel patriotic this year. But I don’t see this holiday being about politics. it’s a day for barbecuing with your family, going to parades and blowing shit up. My only real problem with Independence Day is that horrible patriotic music. Especially Sousa. John Philip Sousa’s marches makes me crazy. As a result, I try to seek out places that aren’t advertising something like “A Salute to America” or “A Patriotic Jubilee.” For those of you who get off on that stuff, there is still plenty to be found in this holiday roundup.
The Dodger Stadium’s fireworks are one of the great Los Angeles traditions. If you don’t have a friend who lives in the hills overlooking Chavez Ravine, you can see them inside the stadium and catch an all-American baseball game too for as little as 25 bucks, including a special T-shirt. The cheap seats are going fast, though. The Dodgers will play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:10 p.m. This is the one game where you should not leave during the 7th inning. Stay late for the fantastic fireworks show. It is sponsored by the presented by 99 Cents Only Stores so let’s hope they aren’t weird off-brand fireworks. Tip: Leave an ice chest full of drinks and snacks in the car to enjoy while sitting in the inevitable traffic getting out of there.
- Please check your spelling - Please note that Reuters Pictures captions are written in British English