Kingdom of Cool: JewMa's and Quiva
Sitting in the Jewish Mother I feel as though I'm in a different city,
though I've been here many times before. There's hipness absorbed in the
walls from years of jazz notes and thick smoke. The air is clear tonight
because of the non-smoking policy, an anachronistic move proving how hip the
newly refurbished restaurant has become. Although there are only about 30
people in the club, this place is the most swingin' and happenin' joint down
here at the sterilized sodium lit beachfront.
Like any good keeper of a threatened kingdom of cool, the Jewish Mother has
her allies among the gentiles- namely Quiva productions. The underground
American jam scene is passing through town, and it's being brought here by
the hard work and faith of Quiva.
I feel sorry for the bartenders, waitresses, and promoter, but I selfishly
relish in being able to observe the funk-jazz guitar of Melvin Sparks up
close in such an intimate setting. Melvin is aging in stride and his licks
are as funky and fast as ever, he's got regal stage presence and is a solid
bandleader. The drummer must have been a recent addition, Melvin had to
guide him through changes and there were a few tempo issues, but no one
noticed.
The night started to get really good once the guitarist from the opening
band, "The Breakfast", sat in with Melvin, closing the night on the last few
songs. He was known only as Tim and was beanpole skinny, wore glasses, and
shredded on a Gibson SG. The guy played with incredible phrasing and
technique, he was intimately comfortable with the guitar. He reminded me of
a super tastycakes Tre Anastasio- a geeky cool.
Although I was thoroughly entertained, I left feeling crappy about myself
and about this town. There were two of the best guitarists I've seen in a
while, in an empty nightclub on Cinco de Mayo. It was Friday, normally the
busiest night for any bar, but the denizens of the scene were nowhere to be
found. I felt bad about myself because I knew it would take alot of
practicing to keep up with guitarists like these, just jammin on a Friday
night. I felt bad about the town because no one was there to witness it.
But those negative emotions translate into transcendence, I need to
practice, and locals need to go out and support the scene. I've got the
practicing thing down, but its up to you to do the rest.
This town is at risk of becoming some kind of Or-blando: culturally shallow
and filthy rich. The Jewish Mother is a hip life preserver in an ocean of
corporate franchise and I hate to see it go. Quiva productions is
responsible for bringing the bubbling underground to the beach and I'm going
to catch as many shows as I can.
You don't need to leave town to get into a new vibe- just look up a show on
Quiva Productions' site and go. Good music depends on it...
www.jessechong.net