The New Year is always a special celebration where, despite the conflicts of the past, we celebrate renewal and look to the future with a positive energy. A perfect complement to the merrymaking has to be music—music that makes you smile, dance, and welcome the midnight hour.
While the New Year will be celebrated all over the community with countless events public and private, two such happenings are set to include rocking bands at historical local spots: the Historic Santa Maria Inn and the Historic Union Hotel in Los Alamos. Both locations, built more than a century ago, have seen their share of celebrations and will serve as a beautiful reminder of the past while partygoers welcome the future.
Set to perform at the Santa Maria Inn for New Years is the AJM Band. A self-described blues and rock group, the AJM Band performs up and down central California. The group performed at the Santa Maria Inn for the first time a couple weeks ago, and is looking forward to returning for the evening celebration.
“It’s a very nice place, I was very impressed,” said guitarist and leader of the group Andrew Jay Magnuson. “We have a great show for them this year.”
The AJM Band will be performing in the inn’s Tap Room, an old-fashioned pub-style bar that will be serving food and drinks and a champagne toast at midnight.
“New Year’s shows are great,” Magnuson said. “All those holidays where people try to have a good time, that’s what its all about.”
Another event, planned to take place at the Historic Union Hotel in Los Alamos, will feature dinner being served up until 9 p.m., with the live music starting at 9:30. Local group The Mighty Croon Dogs will be rocking the house with their music right up to the New Year.
“The hotel has a lot of history,” said Billy Foppiano, guitarist and singer for the group. “It was an old stagecoach stop in the 1800s, but I think one of the most interesting pieces of history is that Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney actually shot a video in one of the rooms.”
The Mighty Croon Dogs is a four-piece band that includes Foppiano on guitar and vocals as well as his son Charlie Foppiano also on guitar and vocals. The father-son duo is joined by bassist and vocalist Frank Paredes and drummer and vocalist Jerome Taylor, the former of whom DJs “The Universal Language” on local public radio KCBX.
Due to the diversity of taste among the members of the Mighty Croon Dogs, the group performs a wide variety of music. From standard classic rock and blues, funk, jazz, and even mariachi, the quartet covers all bases.
“Being able to play diverse forms makes and honors everybody that’s there,” Billy said, “because here on the Central Coast we have a wide variety of people.”
Both events include an admission price, and both have a limited amount of room, so the best bet is to call ahead early and reserve a ticket—because there’s no better way to celebrate the passing of the New Year than with some fun, down-to-earth music.
Join in the music
Lucia’s Wine Co. holds an open mic event on Wednesdays, including Dec. 26, featuring live music, poetry, and more starting at 6 p.m. at Lucia’s Wine Co. Tasting Room, 126 East Clark Ave., Orcutt.
Tropical sounds
The Lions Peak Tasting Room presents Jon Stephan and his Tropical Brazilian Guitar music on Sundays in December at 2:30 p.m. Come to Lions Peak Vineyards Solvang Tasting Room, 1659 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. More info: 693-5466.
Wine down at Addamo
The Addamo Tasting Room and Bistro presents “Wine Down Wednesdays” featuring live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 400 E. Clark, Old Orcutt. Free. More info: 937-6400 or Bethany@addamovineyards.com.
Keeping music live
The Radisson Hotel presents live music every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. with Juan Marquez and Sangria. Sunday brunch with guitarist Mike Tibault is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Jamming the Tap Room
The Santa Maria Inn presents live music by Juan Marquez on Dec. 21, 22, 28, and 29 from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Tap Room, Santa Maria Inn, 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More info: 928-7777 or santamariainn.com.
Kick off your boots
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including live music by Dubley Rogue on Dec. 21 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” with Owen Johnston is Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. Live country music by New Vibe is Dec. 22 at 8:45 p.m. followed by “Late Night with DJ Totem.” Classic rock by the Mean Gene Band is Dec. 28 at 8:45 p.m. followed by “Late Night with DJ Totem.” “Concert on the Deck” with Teresa Russell is Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. The Little Big Band performs live rock music Dec. 29 at 8:45 p.m. followed by “Late Night with DJ Totem.” A New Years Party featuring the Jimi Nelson Band starts at 9 p.m. and continues with DJ Totem starting at 12:01 a.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 20-27, 2012.