Tuesday Tunes: Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers~The Van Sessions

For those of you werent one of the 15,750+ facebook members who got the video link below into your newsfeed this past weekend (It just hit mine today) you're in for a treat!  Its a P-R-E-T-T-Y awesome cover of Hall and Oates "I Cant go for That" tune from San Francisco's Nicki Blum and The Gramblers....recorded in their VAN!!

Appropriately dubbed "The Van sessions", the tune is part of a compilation of covers the band recorded on the road last summer while touring cross-country.  The 16 video playlist includes classic favorites from bands like The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. 

As everyone knows, the true test of how talented a singer is to hear them live on stage. Well, they pass with flying colors.  These recordings are one step better (in my book) because all the tracks are completely unfiltered. Hell, you can even hear the 'white noise' of the highway in the background! It totally reminds me of the slight "hiss" you hear when listening to music on vinyl.  Who doesnt love that? As I listened thru the sessions and other live recordings (the duet, "Unforgetaboutable" is a fave.) I could totally see myself getting addicted to her laid back, folky, 70s songstress voice.  Fabulous voice PLUS great vintage style? (think Jane Birkin or Allie McGraw) - This gal is the complete package!

Cher  Nicki

Doesnt she look EXACTLY like a young Cher from the 70s?

Currently on tour, Nicki and the gang will be comin thru the Los Angeles area next month on the 20th at The Hotel Cafe. Pre-sale tickets are just $12 bucks and you can purchase them online.

1623 1/2 North Cahuenga Boulevard - Los Angeles, CA

Fans can keep up to date thru their social networks (listed below) and the band newsletter. Members who subscribe to the mailing list will get a FREE Mp3 of the song "Carousel" from their latest CD, Driftwood available now on itunes

NICKI BLUHM ON:
FACEBOOK - MYSPACE - TWITTER - YOUTUBE

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Groovin on a Sunday Afternoon: Weekend event guide for 3.25.12

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(NYC) Lovers of pop culture will enjoy Brooklyn Museum's ‘Keith Haring: 1978-1982’ exhibit that runs thru July 8th. It focuses on the early works and career of the pop artist.  His namesake  foundation created the Keith Haring Tumblr page in conjunction with the exhibit that will feature a picture a day of scanned pages from the artists personal journals. {FREE} The Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Pkwy 

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(DFW) Check out the Texas Pinball Festival where the old school gamer can relive their childhood while basking in the glorious sight of vintage pinball machines, retro arcade games, and classic slot machines. Plus they're FREE to play!  Hourly prize drawings for pinball related memorabilia including the grand prize raffle: 'Transformers' Pinball Machine {$10 adult} Hilton DFW Lakes 1800 Hwy 26 Grapevine, TX

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 (LA) Calling all cops and sweet tooths: For Your Art will host the 1st ever 'round the clock' donut pop-up shop this weekend off Wilshire Blvd.  As many know, LA is a mecca for 24hour donut joints. Some of the metro's best bakeries and diners will offer foodies their confectioned toroids from noon on the 24th till noon on the 25th in 2 hour stints (click to see the full schedule).  I of course HAVE to try the Apple Fritter by Inglewood's historical landmark Randy's, but Nickle Diner's Bacon Maple sounds just too good to pass up as well! The event coincides with LACMA's free screening of Christian Marclay's 24 hour film: The Clock {FREE} For Your Art 6020 Wilshire Blvd.

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Movin' down a crowded avenue

Doing anything we like to do

There's always lots of things that we can see

You can be anyone we like to be

All those happy people we could meet

Just groovin' on a Sunday afternoon

~The Rascals: Groovin'~