There are break dancers at the Mercury, as well as loads of music, upcoming:
“The Attractives and Big Boy Napoleon” tomorrow, the 13th -Dawn O’Brien (owner/ matriarch).
And, across the street, I see rumblings of life at the long-dormant Alex’s Cantina.

Got lured up to the infamous Chumash Casino last Friday night for a dose of “The Original Lowriders,” previously known, as “WAR.” With a hot opening and grand finale performance from the “Anthony Prieto Band,” it was well worth the effort. Predictably, “Lowrider” was the treat of the first set, pulling everyone’s chair out from under and packing the dance floor. Then they broke out. “Cisco Kid” was also well received, “Oye Como Va,” and “Why Can’t We Be Fiends” prompted an audience sing-a-long. Guitarist James Montgomery Baker was all riled up and in rare form. A constant highlight of both bands was the remarkable harmonics of living legend “Lee Oskar.” The only thing missing was Eric Burdon and “Spill the Wine.”

We were subjected to some weak house “House” music while the Anthony Prieto Band took the stage. They played mostly original numbers with a taste of Santana in the form of his recent hit “Smooth”. Later, one of the back-ups rendered a mean rendition of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly.”

Be on the lookout for the “Gypsy Kings”, Al Green, James Brown, Steve Miller Band, and even ZZ-Top to keep the fire burning at the Casino.

Fiesta offered an abundance of tribute bands and almost as many mariachi’s. I heard AC/DC, Who, Police and U2 cover bands all in one Fiasco! The U2 cover band, “Electric Storm”, seen at De La Guerra Plaza, did me the best.

Photo by Dwight McCann

Caption: “The Original Low Riders” supplied the FUNk at Casino.