I’m taking a short break from Long Beach Musical History to give an update on something upcoming and very live this week, which promises to become memorable in future histories – where you can say I was there, and saw and heard what went down.
Just when you thought a visit to downtown Long Beach might bust your food and fun budget, here comes a free admission concert. If you’re a fan of a variety of soul-rooted live music, maybe Soul Motion is your reason.
It’s free, but bring cash anyhow. I’ll tell you why. Downtown parking meters play late and always on Sundays. I learned that the hard way while teaching for free at University by the Sea two years ago, but that’s still another downtown event story. But a little parking hassle will be worth it.
Soul Motion at Pine Ave. and Broadway is scheduled for this Sunday – June 28 – and starts at 4 p.m. The four booked bands will entertain for over five hours. It’s a continuous music deal, because DJ Dennis Owens – who runs Goodfoot, a soul funk bar at the Que Sera – will be spinning actual vinyl between sets and some will probably show up to enjoy the records.
At 4 p.m., here comes local band New Fidelity, described by concert booker Rand Foster of Fingerprints as a “mod pop kind of band influenced by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers.” At about 5:30pm, it’ll be the funk-soul Boogaloo Assassins. At about 7:00pm, Money Mark, the keyboard player for the Beastie Boys brings a soulful sound “from a songwriter standpoint.” Maybe you have to be there to understand.
As Foster, who has been known to sell crazy rock and roll in his store – so he should know – phrases it, “it’s not crazy and loud rock and roll. It’s dancing in the streets kind of stuff.”
Free means you can check out the music from the sidewalk, the street corner or if you play into the clever DLBA cabal, you’ll discover an outdoor dining outpost in the area and order a snack, a drink or both. That’s where the cash part comes in.
After all, DLBA and downtown strives to be more than just late night parking meters.
Click here for samples of upcoming DLBA downtown events.
The lbpost.com is a proud co-sponsor of Soul Motion.