“Beauty school dropout/ No graduation day for you ...”
When it comes to generation gaps, Frankie Avalon’s performance as the guardian angel who encourages Frenchy to go back to high school in Grease knows no boundaries. Or do kids not grow up with Grease anymore? People still watch ABC Family, right? What’s that you say? Not a channel anymore? “Freeform”? ... Ruh-roh.
Whether you’re a baby boomer, millennial, Siri, Alexa, Skynet, or anything in between, be advised that Avalon is coming down from his malt shop in the sky to play at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez on Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. But he’s not alone—and lucky for me, I get to make a second Grease reference. Anyone know who Rydell High School is named after? None other than ’50s heartthrob Bobby Rydell, who joins Avalon and fellow former teen icon Fabian Forte to perform as The Golden Boys.
The three iconic singers will take turns singing some of their classic hits, including Forte’s “I’m a Man,” “Tiger,” and “Turn Me Loose”; Avalon’s “Bobby Sox to Stockings,” “Dede Dinah,” and “Venus”; and Rydell’s “Kissin’ Time,” “Volare,” and “Wild One.” The group will also pay tribute to material from other artists such as Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Bill Haley, and others.
Forte earned his title as a teen idol of the late ’50s and early ’60s through several appearances on American Bandstand and because 11 of his songs reached the Billboard Hot 100 listing. Avalon is also known for his various television appearances as well as film roles, many of them co-starring with former Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer Annette Funicello. One of Avalon’s biggest breaks was getting cast in 1963’s Beach Party, in a role that, coincidentally, was originally written for Forte.
As for Rydell, his musical ambitions started at age 9 when he took up drumming. At 19, he was a polished performer and the youngest artist to ever headline at the Copacabana in New York. Rydell might not have appeared in Grease—despite the name drop in the film’s primary setting—but he did have a starring role at age 21 in 1963’s Bye Bye Birdie, opposite Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke (in his feature film debut). The film is ranked as No. 38 in Entertainment Weekly’s top 50 high school movies.
Grease has it beat at No. 21, though. I just can’t stop talking about Grease can I? It must be the word of the day—if not every day. “Grease is the word/ Is the word/ Is the word.”
Admission to the May 17 concert ranges from $39 to $69. The Chumash Casino Resort is located at 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Call (800) 248-6274 or visit chumashcasino.com for tickets or to find out more.
When the lights go down
Carbon City Lights, an alternative/indie rock band based in San Luis Obispo, heads south to Orcutt for a concert at Naughty Oak Brewing Company on Friday, May 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. These local rockers will perform an eclectic assortment of original material that blends folk, pop, funk, country, and other genres. Most of the group’s live performances consist of extended jamming highlighted by dueling guitarists Michael Venia and Bret Heenan.
The band—which also includes Dan Hernandez on bass and Gerald Purify on drums—originally started as a solo project by Venia, who serves as the group’s principal singer and songwriter. Venia first picked up a guitar while growing up in Saudi Arabia, influenced by hits he heard on the radio from the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, and other acts.
Admission to the Naughty Oak performance is free, and food from AJ Catering will be available for purchase starting at 5:30 p.m. The brewery is located at 165 Broadway St., suite 102, Orcutt. Call (805) 287-9663 or visit naughtyoak.com to find out more.
More music
Acoustic artist Cheyenne Skye performs songs of humor and romance at the Cold Spring Tavern off Highway 154 on Friday, May 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Influences of this singer-songwriter include Patsy Cline, Nina Simone, and Janis Joplin. The tavern also hosts bluegrass group Salt Martians, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Americana, rock, and pop act The Mac Alley Trip, from 5 to 8 p.m., on Saturday, May 11. Blues and rags duo Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan take the stage on Sunday, May 12, from 1:15 to 4 p.m., followed by blues/rock band Teresa Russell and Cocobilli, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Vino et Amicis Wine Bar in Orcutt presents Santa Barbara-based artist Will Breman on Friday, May 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. Although mostly known for his soul music, there are few genres Breman hasn’t been caught performing, from metal to bluegrass. Also local to the Central Coast, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Sherell Jane will perform the following night, Saturday, May 18, from 7 to 10 p.m. The lyrics found in Jane’s songs cover themes of love, family, and dreams of the future, according to press materials. Admission to both concerts is complimentary.
Showcasing local talent continues with San Luis Obispo-based folk artist Kevin Graybill, who performs at Hangar 7 in Lompoc on Saturday, May 17, from 8 to 10 p.m. Graybill’s influences include Jack Johnson, Iron and Wine, and Michael Franti. According to his website, this acoustic singer-songwriter explores both his external surroundings as well as internal musings through the lyrics of his songs.
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Local Notes. Contact him at [email protected].
