Sounding the 805
Releasin’ season, idolatry and the deaths of two DJs
By Chris Mastrovito 10/08/2009
The winners of Billy O’s Ventura Idol competition were chosen on Oct. 2, after five weeks of competing rounds in the local dive bar version of the popular vocal talent game show American Idol. At the finals, which packed the popular pub tighter than Simon Cowell’s T-shirts, first place and a $500 cash prize went to a guy named Trevor. Second place was claimed by Lara Britt of Camarillo, and Wyatt Hull of Cheetahsaurus took home third. After all was said and sung, the friendly competition was a welcome opportunity for some enthusiastic local singers to put years of karaoke practice into bold action toward the goal of winning some extra cash, bragging rights and surviving the “karaoke wheel of death.” While the requisite qualifications for voting (item receipts from the bar) admittedly made it more likely that popularity tipped the scales, it was clear that those who came out of the final round deserved the high honor for their dedication and talent (and ruthless campaigning).
The close-knit community of Ventura County DJs, with help from the local community, sprang to the task of raising money last week for the families of the two local DJs killed by a suspected drunk driver in the early hours of Sept. 27 on Highway 118. Among the many fundraising endeavors for the families of David Joseph Garcia (DJ Gorilla) and Alex Estrada (DJ Alex), was a nightclub event at Bombay Bar and Grill, where several fellow DJs, family and friends from the community came together and paid their respects with a night of music. Other events were held at Ruby’s Café, the Dirty Vinyl and a handful of other venues.
Lion I’s, the Ventura-based ska/reggae/funk group, that was once a regular in the early ’90s scene before reuniting for the 2008 “Rock the Cure” benefit at the Ventura Theater, will provide the jams once again, with special guests for this year’s incarnation at Bombay Bar and Grill on Saturday, Oct. 10. The all-ages show to benefit the Kristin Perry Cancer Foundation will kick off at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 with kids younger than 12 free. The show is one of several music events tied to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, including a Relay for Life at Camarillo High School last Saturday that featured the Situation and country/pop sister and brother duo Amanda and Travis Marsh.
Ojai’s Hindu Kush is back on the scene after a recording and writing break with a new stash of songs from its upcoming full-length debut, currently in the final mixing stages. Hindu Kush’s progressive brand of psychedelic rock has given them a reputation for cultivating some mind-expanding sounds. Catch the band performing its newest tunes at Movino’s in Ojai on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Watch for tour dates coming up soon in support of the debut CD.
Also releasing its debut album is Lovebird, the soulful alternative rock/indie five-piece from Ventura that formed in April but has already managed to put together a nine-song album on CD and 12-inch vinyl. Although its self-titled debut officially releases on Blackbird Records on Nov. 24, you can get a digital download of the entire release now from the band’s MySpace page. Lovebird will be playing again on Oct. 14 with Cheetahsaurus and We Govern We as part of Nicholby’s College Rock Night.
A musician’s worst nightmare came true last weekend for singer/songwriter Delaney Gibson when all of her equipment was stolen overnight from her parked car in downtown Ventura’s parking garage. The culprits broke the 25-year-old musician’s car window and made off with thousands of dollars worth of gear, including her keyboard, PA system, microphones, tuners, an amp and sadly, her store of her CDs and merchandise for sale. Gibson’s parking situation at her residence forces her to park her car at the nearby garage, and uneasy about unloading at night, her gear was a prime target for prowling thieves. Pre-orders for Gibson’s second album, Hurricanes and Forget Me Nots, are available through her official Web site and may be the devastated artist’s best chance to get back in the game.
Sounding the 805 is Ventura County’s only biweekly local music column. If you have a tip, a suggestion, a complaint, some dish or just a kind word, shoot Chris Mastrovito an e-mail.
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