The 29th annual Twilight Concert Series returns to the Santa Monica Pier at 7 pm this Thursday, July 11.
In its customary fashion – organizers have lined up a variety of local acts and world music to excite movement from all corners of the dock.
Last year’s line-up included headliners Best Coast and Amadou & Mariam. Also, an assortment of opening acts who have used their Santa Monica exposure to boost their way unto an international stage – see the three sisters of Haim.
This year, wonted co-producers Rum & Humble have partnered with Spaceland Presents, the company behind First Fridays (music and food events) at the Natural History Museum.
RH&S has written out a menu that goes beyond music – encompassing some gourmet food trucks which have become quite prominent in the past year.
Opening night will pay homage to a lifestyle that many of us embrace, or have simply become accustomed to on the Western low.
Hailing from West Palm Beach, FL, Surfer Blood is no immigrant to the coast.
Since its first performance on the stage in 2010, Surfer Blood has matured both individually, and as a group. They labored on their newest album “Pythons” for months before laying down any tracks in a studio. This “homework” – if you will – came after acquiring their first producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters).
“We had never worked with a producer before and I think Gil’s biggest strength was taking all of our ideas and helping us arrange them in a way that made sense,” guitarist/vocalist John Paul Pitts said.
Norton met up with the beach-side quartet in L.A., and has added an evident dynamic that was missing from their prior two albums.
In “Python’s” single Demon Dance, an energy respectful to The Beach Boys can’t be denied a foot-tap or two. But progressive sounds with Ska-ish and Punk undertones reminds listeners this is indeed a 21st century party.
Catch waves late next Thursday, because at 7 pm Terraplane Sun will open the night with a native West Coast sound likely to surprise. The Venice locals are no rookies when it comes to performing for a crowd – accolades include features for commercials, and TV shows.
The locals planted their European seed last spring, and have since performed with the likes of Youngblood Hawk, and Imagine Dragons.
An eerie sort of psychedelic trip with Folk undertones featured on their newest EP, “Ya Never Know” puts Terraplane Sun on a list of bands to keep your ears on.
With popularity growing for a once societally outcasted sub-culture, surfers rejoice – Thursday is your night. Thursday is our night.
For more information on the Twilight Concert Series, visit www.twilightseries.org.
2013 Line Up
• July 11: Surfer Blood, Terraplane Sun (Alt rock)
• July 18: Meshell Ndegeocello, The Record Company (Neo-soul)
• July 25: No Age, Tijuana Panthers (LA Art Punk)
• Aug. 1: Xavier Rudd (Australian singer/songwriter)
• Aug. 8: Hanni El Khatib,Bombino (World Rock)
• Aug. 15: The English Beat, Maxwell Smart & Rusty’s EAC (80s New Wave)
• Aug. 22: Nick Waterhouse, The Boogaloo Assasins (50s/60s R&B)
• Aug. 29: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dustbowl Revival (New Orleans sound)
• Sept. 5: Gardens & Villa, Mr. Little Jeans (Indie Rock/Pop)
• Sept. 12: Jimmy Cliff, The Delerians (Reggae)
