The Scene: Begin again

By Joy Michiel

January is ebbing out and we’re finally beginning to see some white stuff. For the snow play folks this is good news. For us entertainment junkies, it is business as usual.

JAN. 26
Cottonwood’s Fireplace Room welcomes in Paul Covarelli for the night. Covarelli is a driving force in the area’s musical community. He plays with many groups in the area covering jazz, swing, blues, Latin and many more styles.

JAN. 27
John Ayres and friends continue the action at Cottonwood. Ayres sings, plays guitar and harmonica and his influences are Van Morrison, Little Feat and a host of blues artists. Joining John is Nashville singer/songwriter Joe Gums, his son Josh on bass, and Blanca Lighthiser on vocals.

Jake’s keeps it cozy with Patrick Major. Known for a strong rhythmic style, Major plays a mix of original guitar and vocal songs mixed with rock classics from the last four decades.

The Robeys take the stage at the Tahoe Biltmore for the next two weekends. This variety music duo plays a mixture of everyone's favorite classic rock, oldies, top 40, blues, jazz, reggae and country songs, from the 30s to the present.

Four-piece Tahoe favorite Mama’s Cookin’ is ready to rock at the Crystal Bay Club. This group is famous for combining hip-hop beats, rock roots, guitar solos, strong vocals and lyrics and intense soul.

Aaron Lewis, founding member of Staind, continues his solo project at the Silver Legacy. Lewis goes back to his roots, delivering powerful and poignant songs that are personal, autobiographical and real. Along with Lewis’ unique voice and songs like “Massachusetts” and “Vicious Cycle,” the listener is given his tangible honesty and hypnotic, heartfelt tunes.

The Pioneer Underground offers up comedy for the weekend with headliner Rodger Lizaola. Weaving his ability to ad-lib and improv with tales from his childhood, life, loves and the pursuit of the almighty dollar, Lizaola tries to entertain and leave the audience with a positive message. Butch Escobar hosts the shows with comedy is based on his everyday life.

The Alley hosts an evening with The Chop Tops. As a band, they thrive on an up beat rockabilly sound with a unique blend of rebel music genres from rockabilly, teddy boy, psychobilly, (Western) surf, to old school punk all played with their own edge.

JAN. 28
Under the Radar further enhances the afternoon at Northstar. Coming together from a variety of local projects and backgrounds, the five members have created a composite tone that provides a niche sound influenced by bands like Tower of Power, The Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Santana, Hendrix and Miles Davis.

Sweatshop Union hip-hops it at the Pastime Club. In a time when hip-hop music is often soulless and simplistic in the eyes of the mainstream, this group remains driven to deliver a deeper, more meaningful sound into the conscience of the masses.

Music legend Ronnie Montrose heads in for a night at Cargo. Montrose has devoted himself to exploring instrumental guitar music and now he returns full force, playing the tunes that rocked a nation with heart-thumping, foot-stomping, fist-pumping energy.

Legendary rock group Styx returns to the Silver Legacy for one spectacular show. After more than three decades in the music business, Styx continues to strike a chord with fans by thrilling them with their live shows and pulling out all the stops for each performance.

JAN. 31
Crystal Bay Club sets the stage for Martin Sexton. Ripe with talent his songs are sweet, spirited and soulful. His repertoire is like a cross-country tour of the American musical. He is a soul shouter, a road poet, a folkie and a rocker.

FEB. 1
Prog rockers moe. take the stage next at the Crystal Bay Club. More than many groups in the jam-band genre, moe. builds its more meandering and indulgent live excursions from a solid foundation of strong songwriting, drawing on influences like Steely Dan, Frank Zappa and The Grateful Dead to shape its sophisticated fusion of rock, country, jazz, funk and bluegrass.

FEB. 3
Crystal Bay Club adds to its line-up with Poor Man’s Whiskey. The group delivers a musical tapestry influenced by American music. Rooted in acoustic music, PMW’s sound spills into rock, funk, pop, blues and even disco. Also on the bill is the groovin’, movin’ music of Groove Session.

More than 40 actors return to the stage for the 6th annual production of “Broadway Bits.” Incorporating an underlying theme of “Sing Happy,” the local thespians, singers and actors will showcase more than 20 of Broadway’s greatest songs. The show plays two weekends at UNR’s Redfield Proscenium Theatre.

Keeping it in the country vein, Clint Black takes the stage at the Silver Legacy. Black’s continued success can be attributed in part to his deep sense of country music history, and his humble gratitude in being an important part of it.

Super Bowl weekend is a time for laughs at the Pioneer Underground with headliner Tom McClain, best known as the larger than life, hard hitting funnyman out of Los Angeles. Also on the bill is Layla Baird, whose comedy is a mix of self-deprecating truths and life’s daily irony. Hosting the show is Hark Dulai.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget’s annual Brew HaHa features great brews and Del Castillo. This six-piece boasts a fantastic rhythm section and an urge to create music that crosses cultural boundaries blending flamenco, rock, blues and world music into a sound that is at times melodramatic, intense and rollicking.

FEB. 4
The Crystal Bay Club welcomes back Melvin Seals & JGB. The group brings an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity and remarkable chops to the table.

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts is in the house at the Pastime Club. The trio blends their love of grunge and experimental modern rock that gives a nod to their influences Muse, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead and Nirvana.

Tower of Power plays the evening at Harrah’s Tahoe. With 41 years of recording and touring experience behind them, TOP melds soul, jazz, funk and rock in a way no group ever has.

Political funny man Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. The no holds barred author and host, brings his comedic commentary to the Silver Legacy for a one-night show of acerbic commentary.

FEB. 7
Social Distortion keeps it loud and proud at The Knitting Factory for the night. These punk godfathers have all but trademarked their sound — a brand of hard rockabilly/punk that's cut with the melodic, road-tested lyrics of front man Mike Ness.

The hits just keep on coming. Don’t expect it to stop and don’t forget to look up.

Joy Michiel, a.k.a. Big Joy, is a local singer and comedienne. For more information and to see her current performing schedule, visit her Web site at www.bigjoy.com. Got an entertainment listing? E-mail it to entertainment@tahoethisweek.com.