Live Music: Still Working On The Blues
Eric Allen Live
Night Owl Coffee, Fullerton
Five scoops of Bosco (Out of five)
Reviewed by Allen Bacon, BOSCO Fullerton
Eric Allen, the quintessential Blues Traveler, has returned to American soil.
The good news is that he never stopped telling stories, and delivering his gritty, authentic style of blues. He has just been doing it in a different part of the world for the past few years.
To the delight of his fans, the Indiana-born and raised Allen performed at the Night Owl in Fullerton recently as he has been playing in small venues in Southern California.
In the latest live shows, Allen goes it alone without his band. The sets are a wonderful mix of songs from his first two albums, (2021's debut Eric Allen, and 2023's Prowlin' Lobo Blues) and a briefcase full of new stories accumulated from his recent travels.
In one of the new songs, Somewhere Beyond, Allen looks out the window of a high-speed rail in Shanghai and relates the stories of the people in the region.
In Really Blue, the story centers around the devastating Malibu fires in Southern California.
The latest shows also deliver a collection of tales from Allen's upbringing in Indiana and Kentucky, and living all over America during his over 60 years
Moonshining, Back Water Blues, and a new song Cranes Creek Road are observations of life, family and friends growing up in Kentucky while 14th Floor and In Me are from his time spent in New York City. There are songs and tales relating to his stay in Louisiana Bayou country. A couple are quite humorous.
One starts like this:
This is a tale of a guy, a woman...and another guy.....
So, to sum it up there are two guys, a woman...and an alligator...
All delivered with the grittiest, graveliest, honest voice. Along with his musical chops, this makes him one of the best living bluesmen and songwriters in America right now.
Allen told me he is honing, curating and releasing new single songs out on the platforms working toward his next album. He has no time frame and doesn't seem to be in a rush. But from what has been put out there so far and from the live performance I caught, it is going to be well worth the wait.
In the words of the title of one of my favorite Eric Allen songs, He's still Working on the Blues.
Thank God for that.
Books: David Jerome's America
iheartAmerica
An iPhone photographic tour of
the USA on her 250th birthday
Smack Books
Five Scoops of Bosco (out of five)
Reviewed by Allen Bacon, BOSCO Fullerton
One of the marks of a great photo centric "coffee table" book is when you can look through it multiple times and see something new, exciting, and interesting every trip through.
Life-long Fullerton Resident Humorist, Author, Columnist, Photographer David Jerome has created that book.
Jerome's second photographic (and seventh overall) book iheartAmerica An iPhone photographic tour of the USA on her 250th birthday was released the week of America's 250th Birthday.
It's an absolute gem.
Jerome, who among other things, has written the popular newspaper column "Mr. Bucket List" where he experiences America first hand and writes about it has also documented with photos his many stops. His wonderful photographic instincts are on par with his writing talent. I declare a tie.
To quote the prophet Rod Stewart, "Every picture tells a story, don't it?"
It's very hard to pick a favorite but Jerome's view from the stage at the Ryman Theater at the Grand Ole Opery (Nashville), "Breaking Bad Santas" (Albuquerque), "On Deck, Miller Park" (Milwaukee), "The Church of Fumigation" (Key West), "International UFO Museum" (Roswell), "Night Cactus" (Scottsdale) is a snap shot of the wonderful blend of the humorous, quirky, and beautiful contained in the close to 150 photographs in this book.
The best thing you can do is experience America on your own. The next best thing is to flip through this book.
I dare you to look at this book just once.
Jerome's book is available in Fullerton at the Fullerton Museum Center gift store. If purchased at the Fullerton Museum, all proceeds go to the Museum.
Food: Kalaveras Fullerton Is Muy Bueno
122 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton
Five Scoops of Bosco
Reviewed By Allen Bacon, BOSCO Fullerton
I have to admit, when I first passed the Mexican restaurant Kalaveras, I was a little intimidated by the El Dia De Muerto imagery.
As a wanna be Graphic Artist, I was intrigued, but a little scared at the same time. I think it is because when I was growing up, when you saw an image of a skull on anything, that was usually not a good thing.
That slight fear quickly went away the minute I stepped into Kalaveras. This is because you are suddenly immersed in the festive vibrant colors, music, sights and sounds of celebration of the traditional El Dia De Muerto.
That is all well and good, but would it pass the taste test?
My wife and I have a very simple test when we eat at a Mexican Restaurant for the first time. We order a Molcajete and for dessert we order a flan with a coffee.
Don't let the fact that the folks at Kalaveras call their Molcajete a Parrillada and serve it on a flat cast iron skillet as opposed to a cast iron bowl throw you off.
Their take on the Parrillada (Molcajete) is a wonderful mix of marinated steak, chicken breast, shrimp, chorizo, quesso fresco, and Toreado Pepper seasoned to near perfection.
The flan we had for dessert was also very well done. Great texture with caramel and strawberries, garnished with mint. The coffee? Folgers Classic.
We can't wait to go back and try the rest of the food on the Kalaveras menu.
FULLERTON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
ART: The Artistic License Fair returns to the Muckenthaler Cultural Center on Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1 10 AM-5 PM Daily....Celebration of Young Sun Kim opens at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Sun. Nov. 15. Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern, Fullerton Open daily at 10 AM. Info: www.themuck.org 714.738.6595
BOOKS: Fullerton Public Library Main Library Conference Center 353 W. Commonwealth in Fullerton. Open 7 Days a week
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: The Dia De Los Muertos Festival is at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern, Fullerton Sun. Nov. 1 12-4 PM. Info: www.themuck.org 714.738.6595
LIVE MUSIC/CONCERTS:
ACOUSTIC ROCK/FOLK/JAZZ: The Night Owl Saturday Acoustic Showcase features one hour-long sets from four different artists every Saturday night. First performance starts at 5 PM. Next show is Halloween Night Sat. Oct. 31 Night Owl , 200 N. Harbor Blvd. Admission is free. Buy a coffee. Tip your Barista.
LIVE THEATER:
Night of the Living Dead continues until Halloween Night Sat. Oct. 31. Maverick Theater 110 E. Walnut Ave, Unit B Fullerton. Show times are at 8 PM until Fri. Oct. 30 and 9 PM on Halloween Night Sat. Oct. 30. Info: www.mavericktheater.com 526-7070.
The Electric Company performs The Servant of Two Masters at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center 1201 W. Malvern, Fullerton. Sun. Nov. 1 through Tues. Nov. 17 7 PM shows. 9 PM closing night Tickets: www.our.show/ectservant or www.themuck.org 714.738.6595
MOVIES/FILM:
CLASSIC: The Sting (1973) screens at the Fullerton Public Library Conference Center 353 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton. Wed. Nov. 18. 4 PM. Admission is Free.
Send upcoming Arts and Entertainment Events in Fullerton for inclusion in this section to allenbacon1@gmail.com
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