by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Every now and then someone comes to town that just puts on a smile on my face and I’m all in on figuring out how to get tickets the day, nay, the minute they go on sale. Case in point, Elvis Costello and the Imposters with special guest Charlie Sexton was announced and I secured tickets two minutes after they went live. We’re talking about such iconic tunes as “Everyday I Write the Book,” “Pump it Up,” “Alison,” “Watching the Detectives” and “She” which was an integral part of the movie Notting Hill. Ah the memories…remember that time he interrupted the Beastie Boys on Saturday Night Live and they broke into “Radio Radio”? On the same bill, will be Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets. Lowe, by the way, produced Costello’s first five albums. Elvis has two Grammy Awards under his belt and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, and he plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Wednesday, June 14. Hope to see you there!
Creed Bratton performs at the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, April 8. Most people probably recognize Creed who played a fictional version of himself on nine seasons of NBC’s “The Office.” But know this, Creed is one heck of a musician having played lead guitar on the first four albums with the legendary Grass Roots. Soon after leaving the band, he continued to release solo records. His most recent record, While the Young Punks, was released in 2018 and he continued to write and record during the pandemic as did most artists with so much time on their hands.
Here now a quick public service announcement: Do your homework! I have found anywhere from three to six different ticket vendors selling tickets to the same event, but not at the same price. Case in point, after seeing several complaints about the cost of tickets for Costello, I went to four different vendors and researched general admission tickets. The range went from $132 to $184. The service fees from $15.14 to $40.07 for each ticket. So yeah, do your homework.
Quick Notes: Numbskull Productions bring Good Riddance, Swingin’ Utters and Sweat to the Ventura Room at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 7; Pato Baton returns to Mrs. Olson’s for a night of reggae with Jacob Marques & the Good Vibes opening on Saturday, April 8; Dave Cipriani plays Namba, Saturday, April 8, he’ll also host a workshop at 5 pm; Will Breman from the Voice returns to Winchesters Grill & Saloon on Thursday, April 13; Shaky Feelin’ plays Ojai Valley Brewing on Friday, April 14; and Los Amigos is the band of choice for this month’s Channel Cities Jazz Club Sunday afternoon dance on April 16.
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.
