Against The Current : CHALI 2NA

With his distinctive and widely beloved baritone voice, Chali 2na has established himself not only as one of hip-hop's preeminent and charismatic personalities, but has also garnered renowned praise as a highly respected artist across a myriad of mediums. 

Today, he has announced his latest project, Against The Current, a 5 EP installment that will be released throughout 2012.  Breathing new life into his musical history, the project's sound is heavily influenced by his history; from the blues music he was raised on and the hip-hop he produced as a member of Jurassic 5, to the urban-Latin music he created with Ozomatli and his love for performing live. Each EP will be a fusion of these experiences, and also include Chali's trademark spitfire rhymes. A trailer for Against The Current, featuring snippets from the project's first single and title-track, has been released today, and can be viewed here.

Fans can catch a preview of Against The Current this winter as Chali will be hitting the road for a nationwide tour (full routing below). Kicking off February 9th in Oakland, CA, the tour will encompass nearly 30 dates before wrapping in Austin, TX for a series of showcases at this years' SXSW Music and Film Conference.

• February 9, 2012 Oakland, CA The New Parish
• February 10, 2012 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley
• February 11, 2012 Reno, NV Cargo
• February 12, 2012 Boise, ID The Reef
• February 14, 2012 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom - Lola's Room
• February 15, 2012 Victoria, BC Club 9one9
• February 16, 2012 Tofino, BC Tofino Legion
• February 17, 2012 Cumberland, BC Waverly Hotel - The Bridge
• February 18, 2012 Vancouver, BC The Rio Theatre
• February 20, 2012 Whistler, BC Garibaldi Lift Co.
• February 22, 2012 Nelson, BC Hume Hotel - Spirit Bar
• February 23, 2012 Fernie, BC The Northern
• February 24, 2012 Golden, BC Rockwater Bar & Grill
• February 25, 2012 Calgary, AB Hifi Club
• February 27, 2012 Ketchum, ID Whiskey Jacques
• February 28, 2012 Victor, ID Knotty Pine
• March 1, 2012 Bozeman, MT Zebra Cocktail Lounge
• March 2, 2012 Missoula, MT Top Hat
• March 4, 2012 Avon, CO The Snowball Festival
• March 6, 2012 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
• March 7, 2012 St. Louis, MO 2720
• March 8, 2012 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
• March 9, 2012 Kallamazoo, MI Bell's Brewery
• March 10, 2012 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
• March 12, 2012 Asheville, NC Asheville Music Hall
• March 13, 2012 Nashville, TN Exit In
• March 14, 2012 Knoxville, TN Cider House
• March 16 & 17, 2012 Austin, TX SXSW *Shows to be announced soon!

We Get Down Like This Every Wednesday!!!

COME CELEBRATE WITH ME ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE I GO ON TOUR WITH CHALI2NA!!!

- BREW

Every Wednesday night we get down at Harvelle's

1432 4th St. between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd 

in downtown Santa Monica. 

Freewill

Deploi

 House Of Vibe All Stars

 Anon

 Shaunte Palmer

Brew

See you tonight!!

Q. When is a House not on land and not on water?

A. When it's on fire!

House Of Vibe mos def set the roof ablaze with fierce funk, rock & reggae, jazz, hip-hop and r&b. A night of some of the Westside's best players and rappers jam and celebrate music all night long!

Playing everything from Gregory Isaacs to Harbie Hancock to Led Zeppelin, they keep the styles varied and feature some of the dopest local rappers currently working including Deploi, Jon Swift, Freewill and Chali 2na - formerly of Jurassic 5 has even been known to drop by and throw down. Members of Freestyle Fellowship and De La Soul have even been known to come down and spit.

Come join us tonight at Harvelle's 1432 4th St. between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd in downtown Santa Monica. Plenty of parking in the parking structure just South of the club.

photos - top to bottom:

Deploi, Colin Wolfe & Brew
Phil aka Fish & Colin 

Greg Raymond & Kris Hawkins

LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE : Comes To Harvelle's

The current issue of Los Angeles Magazine ("Classic L.A." issue) features a glowing review of my favorite Westside bar. If you read this blog, then you are already aware of Harvelle's. 

If not, check out the write-up, and if it sounds good to you, come pay a visit.  

Besides the decor and the speakeasy vibe, besides the custom cocktails and authentic nightly blues & jazz, there's always plenty of parking in the structure adjacent to the club and there's a spot next door (West 4th/Jane) that serves great food (you can order and have it delivered to the bar) until about midnight. If you love live music, enjoy a night out dancing, or imbibing with like-minded people over delicious one-of-a-kind cocktails, check out Harvelle's (1432 4th St. between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd. in downtown Santa Monica) [Harvelle's Santa Monica]

Some other things you may not be aware of:

Harlow Gold - the spectacular underground burlesque revue that consistently sells out (It's the last 2 Thursdays of each month - reservations are highly suggested.) [Reservations link]

There's Westside Wednesdays - local Venice collective House Of Vibe All Stars mid-week massive that combines live hip-hop, reggae, jazz, funk and r&b played by some of the industry's most in-demand musicians. [House Of Vibe All-Stars]

Every Monday night is Ultralove - infamous local singer/songwriter who's faithful fan base makes a ritual of kicking the week off with a dose of the band's illest medicine. [Ultralove]

And there's The Toledo Show.

The longest running show of it's kind, having just celebrated it's 10 year anniversary at Harvelle's, it's a wild burlesque road trip to hell and back. The must-see spectacle is a Westside institution and you really should be indoctrinated. Every Sunday night, the tall, dark and handsome Toledo Diamond mounts his Show - his gravely baritone tells erotic stories of hard living in the back alleys of this grimy urban metropolis, while the impossibly funky band jams tirelessly. A bevy of dancing "Dames" gyrate electrically throughout the evening, enticing you with their bouncy bodices, ripped stockings, red lips and high heels. They're a thing of beauty. [The Toledo Show]

Last year, the up and coming Vintage Trouble left their sold-out year long Tuesday night residency at the club to launch their first European tour. They've been back twice since and are currently in Australia playing sold-out stadiums and festivals. They will be back in Europe this summer touring with Lenny Kravitz. Congrats to VT for being the next big thing. It's completely deserved. [Vintage Trouble]

Additionally, there is now a second Harvelle's in Long Beach.

Larger in size with the same attention to the light and sound systems, the venue is garnering accolades and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The bluegrass/ragtime of Capt Jeffrey & His Musical Chumbuckets have been packing 'em in on Sunday nights (Phil Alvin of The Blasters has stopped by and sat in a couple of times). The very cool The Vespertines take over on Monday nights. And on Feb 4, Sheila E. will be bringing her family (Pete, Juan, and Peter Michael Escovedo) for what promises to be an exciting night of incredible latin flavored funk!! That's what the Escovedo's do!! (the club is located at 201 E. BROADWAY beneath The Congregation Ale House)

[Harvelle's Long Beach]

The Return Of Dessy DiLauro

Dessy DiLauro's new track "You Won't Be The Boss"(featuring Deploi). Dessy plays Harvelle's this Friday; cast & crew members of both Cirque du Soleil shows in L.A. - Michael Jackson's Immortal Show and Ovo show - will be there!! 11:30pm



And yes! Today is a Westside Wednesday? So come out to Harvelle's and have a funky good time with House Of Vibe All Stars!!

A Great Day In Harvelles

House Of Vibe All Stars

Harvelle's • 1432 4th St. • Santa Monica • CA

Jan 18 2012

[click to enlarge]

In Case You Don't Know...

...the name of the band is House Of Vibe.

 Anthony Brewster aka "Brew"

 Kris Hawkins

 Brew

 Sebastian Leger

Shaunte Palmer

Amy Lou

_________________________________________________________

Welcome to 2012!

_________________________________

CHECK OUT WESTSIDE WEDNESDAY WITH THE HOUSE OF VIBE ALLSTARS AND DJ VICIOUS @ HARVELLE'S ...1432 4TH ST IN SANTA MONICA BETWEEN BROADWAY AND SM BLVD .....9:30 SHOWTIME.....CHEA !!!