Kevin Brandon Quartet, September 8, 7pm
While you may not know him by name, bass guitar virtuoso Kevin Brandon, a.k.a. “The Bassmaster,” has either played or recorded with a seemingly infinite compilation of who’s who in the music industry. This includes artists such as Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Buddy Guy, Joe Henderson – the list goes on and on and on. He even won double Grammys for his performance on Outkast’s huge 2003 breakout CD, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
While the Compton native was self-taught at just four years old, he didn’t actually wind up picking up the bass ‘til the ripe old age of nine. Brandon credits Louis Armstrong as one of his earliest influences. Locally, he also played with the prestigious all-city Pico Rivera Stage Band as well as the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra. Treat yourself to an evening of soulful sweetness with an artist who truly knows how to bring it.
Santa Monica College Concert Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd., 310.434.4000, www.smc.edu, $10.
Writing for Laughs: A Conversation w/Chris Elliott and Alan Zweibel, September 12, 7:30pm
Ever since first catching him as “The Guy Under the Stairs” on Late Night with David Letterman, many moons ago, it was obvious this guy was very twisted – and more importantly, very funny! Yes, actor/writer/comic Chris Elliott is a uniquely gifted talent who can mine humor in most any situation. When experiencing Elliott, one is just happy to be along for the bumpy but always entertaining ride he takes you on.
As the son of famed comic Bob Elliott (of Bob and Ray fame), Chris had some sizable shoes to fill if he wanted to make his mark – and in turn, did just that by gracing both the big and small screens in a number of memorable comedic roles. One is apt to remember his performances in vehicles such as Something About Mary, the Scary Movie series, Groundhog Day, Everybody Loves Raymond, That ‘70s Show and According to Jim. Elliott is also the author of The Shroud and the Thwacker, a hilarious spoof of The Alienist and The Da Vinci Code. Joining Chris in conversation about the art of comedy will be award-winning Saturday Night Live and Curb Your Enthusiasm writer, Alan Zweibel, who is also the author of The Other Shulman: A Novel.
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500, www.skirball.org, $15 general/ $10 Skirball Members/ $8 students.
