Local Live Music Scene is Alive and Well in East Pasadena

Wednesday Jam Night is a Blast at Novel Café

By Terry Miller
Why they call it “sitting-in” probably harks back to the big band era where many musicians sat while playing their instruments. However, the only musician sitting down Wednesday night was drummer Mike Dubin, and he wasn’t exactly taking it easy. This is tough work!
Skip Heller, Wyatt Stone, and Mike Dubin are amazing musicians individually as well as collectively. But when a Blaster walked into the Novel Café last Wednesday night to “sit in”, the energy soared into the record books.
Phil Alvin, from the Blasters, casually walked into the popular Novel Café with his guitar, sat down for a couple of minutes and got up and played some incredible songs that literally mesmerized the audience for several numbers.
While growing up in the working-class Los Angeles suburb of Downey, Calif., the Alvin brothers snuck off to blues and country nightclubs, catching artists like Willie Dixon and T-Bone Walker, befriending Big Joe Turner, and educating themselves in the traditions that their band, the Blasters, would pay homage to on their 1980 debut album, American Music.
With Phil singing and Dave handling guitar and songwriting, the Blasters came roaring out of the L.A. punk scene with authentic rock ‘n roll.

It’s not uncommon to see some really big names just pop in for a set or even just one song.
Mike Dubin, for example, who has been sitting in on his beautiful vintage Leedy snare drum just released a cool CD named City Stops with Holly Kane. This is a major story in itself; we’ll get to that a later date.
Check back with www.pasadenaindependent.com for more details.

A regular at Novel on Saturday’s is up and coming singer Leila Avila whose dad John sat in with her a while ago. John is the bass player from Oingo Boingo.
Claire Costa and Carlos Guitaros also sat in with the band last Wednesday. If this past week is anything to go by, the music scene is alive and really cool in East Pasadena. Don’t miss your chance to see top musicians at Novel on Wednesdays for the Jam Night as well as Friday and Saturday evenings too.
The brainchild of Wisconsin Music Guru Dave Peterson and the live music at Novel Café had to get to the next level. What better way to do that than have a jam night where talented pros can get together and share their knowledge and ambitions with others as well as share the stage for a more than appreciative audience.
The music jam nights started some top local lads who know the business and it has grown exponentially in the first weeks.
If you’re interested in sitting in or just checking out the Jam Night, you’d be wise to do so early on Wednesdays as it fills up fast. Novel Café is located in the 1700 block of East Colorado Street just East of PCC. There is no cover charge, ever.

1713 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91106
Neighborhood: Pasadena
(626) 683-3309
novelcafe.com

More from Arcadia Weekly