Hi, y’all.  How ya doin’?  Yes, I played hookie last week and didn’t write to you at all after procrastinating through the weekend .. no excuse.  It certainly wasn’t because I hadn’t heard any music because I did.  I was at Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill to hear The Mercury Agenda, a show I always love.  I was there again to hear Rick & Regina, another act I thoroughly enjoy.  Regina is an incredible vocalist; the only one I know who can sing up into that atmospheric register known as the ‘whistle tone.’  Then I had fun hearing the amazing talents of the players in the String Buzzards at Harborside.  AJ Fox is home for the summer (he now lives in Nashville) so it was an added treat to hear him on both mandolin and dobro, along with Darin Engh on banjo and guitar, Sean Loomis on guitar and Wilson Sawyer on upright bass.  Too cool!  It’s a once-a-month treat to hear these guys play Blue Grass on the last Sunday of every month; check it out next time on July 28th.

This past week I had the pleasure of hearing Lauren Glick play not once, but twice - first at the Taphouse West, then at Crabcake Factory West ... both venues so close to home for me, so yeah, avoiding the traffic.  Lauren is continuing to write new songs and has played a few for us at these last performances.  She tells me that she and her band are in rehearsals in preparation for a show at Sunset Park on Thursday, July 18.  I call it her recording band as they are different players than the ones she works with for her Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill shows - playing there Sunday, by the way.  Those musicians will again be Dane Williams on guitar, Ted Galinas on bass and Mike Beavan on drums.  Members of her all originals group are Scott Malaby on guitar, Sarah Robins on back-up vocals and flute, Bobby Malaby on drums, Will Davis on sax and Lauren on bass.  We’ll be hearing songs from her two latest albums, Lush and Maybe I’ll Run, as well as a few brand new tunes.  What an impressive talent we’re so fortunate to have right here in our own backyard (so to speak).  Lauren will also join Sarah to perform at Coconuts as the duo Endless Ember on Monday.  Speaking of Sarah, she has an incredibly busy schedule playing at the Caribbean Pool Bar right now, Saturday, the Bordeleau Winery on Sunday, Monday at Coconuts (as I said), with the full band at Caribbean Pool Bar on Tuesday, and every Wednesday at Saltwater 75.  Sarah keeps her shows fresh and exciting as she sings with different guitarists at different shows; so it’s always a surprise.  Here’s another songbird with an awesome voice.  Be sure to catch her shows.

I was so looking forward to hearing the Chest Pains at Coconuts yesterday but deferred due to impending rain.  And, sadly, I missed a performance from Randy Lee Ashcraft & the Saltwater Cowboys and Full Circle at Bourbon St. where all my pals from BJ’s days were on hand for the fun.  Sometimes I just run out of steam.  The Mercury Agenda will be playing at the Shaka Pool Bar today (Saturday) but I’ll have to miss them as I’m going to hear Tranzfusion at their annual fan appreciation party (you can hear them next Friday, July 19th, at Bourbon St.).  But I’m gonna try hard to hear them when they return to play Fast Eddie’s on Thursday, July 18th.  Gee, I haven’t been to Fast Eddie’s in a while.  I guess I’m a bit intimidated by summer traffic; but I’ll get there.  Here’s another act I want to catch: Lime Green Band at 38 Degrees on Wednesday, July 17.  This one will be a duo gig for Angeline and partner Terry.  I think it will be a treat to hear her wonderful voice without a full band, know what I mean?  They will, however, return to Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill on Friday, July 19th, with the full band - always a fun party.

Time for me to close here and get ready to party.  Rain, rain go away!  Remember you can check out music listings on Who’s Where When and notice at the bottom a direct link to Monique’s OC Beat for more.  Whatever you do, remember to always be kind and part safe.