Music television has definitely seen some radical transformation since reality TV took over. Channels like MTV and VH1 began humbly enough, showcasing music videos and programs that highlighted artists, but each began spawning offshoot channels as television programming changed.
One local music writer, the editor and owner of the online Xombiewoof Magazine, Joseph Timmons, is hoping to fill a gap in music entertainment television that he perceives opened up years ago. XombieVision is the name of a 24-hour streaming channel that Timmons hopes to begin in cyber space and operate in syndication with online music channels like BuzzTV and BlinkshowTV and local cable access.
“With XombieVision, I want to create a real music television channel that is about real artists,” Timmons said. “This is an opportunity to take the pacifier that is television and turn it into an inspiration for the masses.”
Timmons began an Indiegogo campaign to help support the initial equipment and crew costs, but the campaign hasn’t gained much steam yet. Crowd funding sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter allow small to large donations to be made for projects that are still in development, but raising awareness of a campaign can be tricky.
The Xombievision Indiegogo campaign will accept donations until Oct. 27. The stated goal of the campaign is $15,000, not an insurmountable amount for a crowd-funded project.
“I’m going to do it whether I raise the money or not,” Timmons said. “It may not be as grand as I hoped, but it is going to happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
Ideally, Timmons hopes to record several kinds of shows that feature local musicians, performances, music education, and other arts. The programming he creates will be supplemented by syndicated content from other outlets he will also share his content with. He also hopes to show his programming on local public access channels, keeping his spotlight on the local community accessible to as many viewers as possible.
Timmons also hopes that the channel will help support his outreach program “Heartbeat4Kids,” which he plans to use to create a foundation to support local music programs and scholarships. The program already has an instrument-gathering component, which connects deserving youth with lightly used instruments. Further down the line, he hopes to create a “Free Space” studio for locals to use for recording and broadcasting.
“Anybody that considers contributing to XombieVision or investing through the Indiegogo campaign, they should know they aren’t investing in me or the channel, they are investing in their community,” Timmons said. “Because I will be showing what is going on in the community, it will give a voice to the artists in the community and share them with a worldwide audience.
“We actually live in a very nice, vibrant community with a great music scene,” he added. “I’m just asking for people to give me the change in their pocket, or what they would spend on a cup of coffee.”
Chumash country
The Chumash Casino Resort offers a live concert featuring The Band Perry performing Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Neil Sedaka performs live Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Live at D’Vine
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro includes regular live entertainment with Kailey Stevens on Oct. 4. Kyle Reilly performs Oct. 7. Jacob Cole performs Oct. 8. Jerry Stickle performs Oct. 9. Cellar Roots performs Oct. 11. Dan Mally performs Oct. 15. Shows happen from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More information is available at 430-8356 or dvinewinebarandbistro.com.
Music of America
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians presents the 19th annual Intertribal Pow-Wow, which features music, dance, healing, and socializing on Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Live Oak Camp, Highway 154, Santa Ynez Valley. Cost is $5 for parking, $25 for camping. More information is available at 688-7997.
An elegant evening
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents An Elegant Evening of Dinner and Dancing, a fundraiser including a cocktail hour with live music by Mike Thibault and Bradford Lusk and dinner with live piano music by Jim Enos on Oct. 4 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Country Club, 505 W. Waller Lane, Santa Maria. Cost is $100. More information is available at 345-9750 or santamariaphilharmonic.org.
Right off the runway
The Radisson Hotel presents live music Fridays and Saturdays with Juan Marquez performing Oct. 3 and 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Sharing verses
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic event for musicians and poets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Lucia’s Wine Co. Tasting Room, 126 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 332-3080 or lucias-wine-co.com.
Spinning at the steakhouse
Shaw’s Steakhouse hosts live music on Saturdays with DJs on Thursdays and Fridays in the evening at the steakhouse, 714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-5862.
Pub life
Rooney’s Irish Pub offers This Bangs! with DJs Mr. Butter, DJ Flashback, DJ Sol, and Hurricane Worldwide on Fridays at 10 p.m. DJs and bands perform on Saturday nights. Karaoke night is Thursdays at Rooney’s Irish Pub, 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt. More information is available at 934-3777 or rooneysirishpub.net.
Cork and concerts
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, and grevino.com.
Maverick jams
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by J.D. Bernal on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Chase is Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. Just Dave and the Band perform live on Oct. 4 at 8 p.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 Oct 2-9, 2014.