By CHARLES ANDREWS
R.I.P. ROB REINER, JUBILANT SYKES
What a loss to the art of storytelling, besides the human loss. No one, except the President of the United States, had anything less than great admiration and love to offer after the horrific murders of Rob and Michele Reiner. Trump, however, found yet another opportunity to sink even lower. You can read his post (just hours after the murders were discovered, by their daughter Ronny) and see his on-camera double-down, if you wish. He blamed their deaths on themselves, on their “hatred for Trump.” That’s why it happened. Please God, we are so tired of this. He drags us all through the mud. When will it end? We can’t take another three years.
What an astounding bouquet of films he left us. Extraordinary for both cinematic excellence and heart. AFTER helping profoundly change television, and culture and society at large through his years on “All in The Family” (five nominations, two Emmys for “Meathead”), he gave us – “This is Spinal Tap” (absolutely brilliant and hilarious send-up of the music biz, and documentaries), “The Sure Thing,” “Stand by Me,” the instant classic, so-quoted “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…” (the woman in the restaurant who famously deadpans, “I’ll have what she’s having,” was Rob’s mother, Carl Reiner’s wife, Estelle), “Misery,” “A Few Good Men,” “The American President,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “The Bucket List,” “LBJ” and finally, full circle, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
Sometime Ocean Park resident Harry Shearer, Tap bassist Derek Smalls, wrote, “He was a funny person in his own right, who welcomed and celebrated the funniness of others. He was a mensch.” High praise for the holy days.
JUBILANT SYKES
Mostly lost with the Reiner murders and the awful slaughter of Jewish celebrants in Australia, was another stabbing murder, right here in Santa Monica, Pico neighborhood. Sykes was a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated opera singer who performed all over the world, as well as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He also performed on the concert stage and in musicals, and was known for his sacred music, contemporary and spirituals, gospel, funk, and pop. Tragically, his son Micah has been charged and is being held without bail. He is almost the same age as Nick Reiner, and both have suffered from mental problems and have been homeless and sleeping on the street. Micah’s mother witnessed the murder, and Nick’s sister Romy was the one who found the bodies of their parents. This is all too much.
I was aware of Jubilant Sykes – what a great name to wear – but had no idea he lived blocks from me. Often, we discover this only after a stellar musician has died, like Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and The Nice, who lived for decades only six blocks from me. Don’t tell me Santa Monica isn’t a city of the arts. So many great artists have called SM home; someone should write that book (Not me, though.)
I SPENT A FEW YEARS IN ADVERTISING
Good money, but mostly wasted time on earth, selling other people’s stuff. But I did learn that you have to deliver a message over and over before people get it. So please indulge the two messages I slip in here every week:
Easiest way to find my two columns is to subscribe to my MUSIC, POLITICS, LIFE substack – free, no strings – and they will appear in your email. Go to:
And because Santa Monica is so worth saving from the destructive decisions of those whose philosophy is that more and more housing built here, denser and denser, is what we need above all else (note: that’s insane), I must continue to name the four City Council members who voted down the best proposal possible to restore our vaunted Civic Auditorium to performance life. Not because I, and many residents, disagree so strongly with that vote, but because it represents their philosophy that will be applied to all development here. Build, build, build.
NATALYA ZERNITSKYA – CAROLINE TOROSIS (our new Mayor) – JESSE Huge Conflict of Interest, must Resign, but doesn’t even Recuse himself on votes ZWICK
This is not just another venue. James Brown, Beatles, Ella, Duke, Louie, Frank, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, MLK Jr., Dalai Lama, not to mention The Oscars for eight years, and a much longer list. It would be a huge economic driver we so desperately need, and polish our tarnished reputation as an arts city.
It’s always a fallow time this time of year, but things will pick up some by mid-January.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
STEVIE WONDER! – Just noticed this, my gosh, sorry. Is this the holiday concert he usually does in LA? – Yes, it is. His Toys for Kids Who Wouldn’t Get Them benefits. Pricey as heck, but for a very good cause, and – it is the Wonder Man. New York and Albuquerque don’t get this chance. You don’t need to know anything more than I do: the man puts on a show that you will remember forever. Whether he’s solo or a 40-piece band. The Fonda Theatre is a great venue in Hollywood. Make this your Christmas present to yourself. Even if you’re a heathen. Stevie will take you to church. Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun 8 p.m., Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, $275-454.
HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES – You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30, free, for almost 14 years now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhardt-style ‘30s jazz. This amazing ensemble is a treasure. Mon 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, free.
RECOMMENDED:
TOLEDO DIAMOND – His decades-long Sunday night residency at Santa Monica’s Harvelle’s, the oldest blues bar in LA (almost a century!), is the stuff of myth. Toledo choreographs (literally) a truly unique show, a blend of ‘50s hipster jazz and his dancing dames and a most modern smokin’ hot band that gets better all the time. Sun 9 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $13.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (also recommend): ALLMAN BETTS FAMILY REVIVAL, Orpheum Theatre, 12/20; TOLEDO DIAMOND, Harvelle’s Santa Monica, 12/21, 28; HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, Cinema Bar, 12/22, 29; THE ROOTS, Disney Hall, 12/31.
DOWN THE ROAD (also recommended): SCRIABIN’s “PROMETHEUS,” SIBELIUS with ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, LA PHIL, Disney Hall, 1/9, 10, 11; MUSIC 101: THE SYMPHONY, Disney Hall, 1/14; SALONEN & LEVITT Scale BUSONI’s Masterpiece PIANO CONCERTO, Disney Hall, 1/17, 18;
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,500 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 39 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or hate mail to: therealmrmusic@gmail.com
