The Toledo Show
Sunday, August 26, 9:30pm, $10
Harvelle’s, 1432 4th Street, 310.395.1676
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Every Sunday night, one raspy-voiced soul singer and his gang of “cats” and “dames” take over Harvelle’s and the ensuing Toledo Show is a local happening not to be missed. Leader Toledo is a man of many hats – a choreographer and dancer who worked with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr. and the Isley Brothers, a poet who has performed alongside Macy Gray and a singer and bandleader whose smoky sound is self-described as “Tom Waits meets Tricky.” For this project, Toledo mixes ’70s style funk with the tantalizingly sordid style of a 1920s speakeasy cabaret, which is all too fitting for Santa Monica’s oldest music venue.
Café Z featuring Klezmer Juice
Saturday, August 25, noon-2 pm, free
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500
If you saw Wedding Crashers, you might recognize Klezmer Juice as one of the artists providing the soundtrack for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn nuptial-hopping antics. But, this band isn’t just about prompting guests into joining in the Horah. Formed by Buenos Aires native Gustavo Bulgach, Klezmer Juice reinterprets traditional European Jewish pieces like “Freylach in D” and “Zemer Atik,” oftentimes with hints of an Argentine influence. This event is part of Skirball Cultural Center’s Café Z series, which highlights local artists with Saturday afternoon shows that are family-friendly.
