Hey, hey, hey! What’s cookin’?  Lots of hot music this Memorial Day Weekend, right?  I started early last night, Thursday, with a visit to Coconuts for the first-of-the season performance of One Night Stand.  Although it was pretty chilly with that wind off the ocean, the music was hot from Mark on guitar, Eddie on bass and Frank on drums.  They are playing today at the Caribbean Pool Bar. Next stop was Fast Eddie’s where Identity Crisis was rocking the house.  Charlie on guitar/vocals adds to his musicality with his charismatic and friendly personality.  He loves coming out into the crowd and even getting up on a chair (pictures next week).  Keith, on bass, also has great vocals as does Jay on lead guitar.  Keeping the beat on drums is friendly Ray who also sings a few.  Last stop was Beach Barrels to hear The Chest Pains.  There has been a personnel change with this band: Ted Galinas is now the bass player; Jeff Davis is just too busy with other bands, mostly Full Circle.  Then there’s Andrew Foltz on lead guitar who also sometimes plays with Jimmy Charles.  Dean Haemel is still the most excellent drummer, and the amazing Byron Anthony is lead vocals and guitar.  I was so happy to hear him again; such a presence and a wonderful alternative rock voice.  You can hear them today at Coconuts.  Get on out there now.  Always great music at Coconuts.

Where am I going tonight?  I enjoyed Tranzfusion so much last week at Harpoon Hanna’s that I’m craving another dose of the best band around.  A little taste of last week’s show:  Santana, Doors, Petty, Stones, Beatles, U2, Who and so much more.  Each of the four players are fantastic singers performing songs from artists who are in their vocal lane.  For instance:  Bobby Malaby (drums) will sing Rolling Stones and Billy Idol (to name a few);  Hank Koenig (guitar) does some Petty and Beatles;  Bob Davis (keyboards) is great on Doors, The Who and U2; while Al Cook (bass) was great on Golden Earring (“When the Bullet Hits the Bone”), Jackson Brown and one I really love, “Still Get the Blues Over You.”  This just scratches the surface, my friends.  These are four consummate musicians who really care about the integrity of the music they play and strive to play it note for note true to the original - so impressive.  Every song ends with us saying to each other,  “that was just perfect!”  We’re also hoping to hear them again on Monday at M.R. Ducks, if that pesky rain will get out of the forecast.

The weather won’t bother us, however, at Coins on Monday when Teenage Rust & The Fabulous Rustettes return for another exciting show.  It’s always like old home week when they play, seeing all our friends from BJ’s who remain steadfast fans of this all-about-a-good time band.  For those who somehow don’t know them:  Billy Carder (guitar/vocals), Howard Wimbrow (guitar), Maddy Carder (vocals/tambourine and beautiful dancer), Crystal Grandel (keyboards and amazing vocals), Paul Grandel (bass/vocals) and T Lutz on drums.  Come on out and join the party Monday at Coins.  

I want to congratulate Lauren Glick again on being signed by Spectra Records to promote her album LUSH.  Their scouts for new artists listen to thousands each year and this year out of nearly 10,000, they chose Lauren to sign with their label.  This is so exciting for her as they will market her album and get her into bigger venues.  We all wish her all the best; she promises to always be around to perform for us too.  You can hear her tonight at the Skye Bar and check out her awesome new website for more at laurensings.com

Welcome back to the Coconut Times fold to The Mercury Agenda, Tranzfusion and The Lime Green Band.  You can now view their schedules in the Who’s Where When feature of my website.  Be sure to check there for their upcoming shows.  A point of interest:  Lime Green Band will perform Tuesday at Ashore Resort Resort and Beach Club.  This is what we all knew for years as The Clarion.  New ownership is shaking things up this year by renaming not just their hotel but also their restaurants.  Looking at their colorful website, all the spaces have been totally redecorated and with new names such as Tide Room, The Taproom, The Shore Deck and Wahoo, where I think the outdoor entertainment will be.  Now I’m so curious to take a look; how about you?

I’m going to sign off now by wishing you all a most pleasant holiday weekend.  Remember to always be kind, lead with love and party safe.