REST IN PEACE LAVONE BARNETT-SEETAL

 

 

 

 

 

Above, Lavone Barnett-Seetal with Jeremy White in their band The Blessings; right: she said this was her favorite shot of herself by me. Rest in peace Lavonne Barnett-Seettal, who passed away in this terrible week of cancer. 

She was a gracious lady and a true blueswoman/gospel singer extraordinaire, same vocal league as Lisa Fisher/Merry Clayton/Lisa Kekaula, someone whose emotions and vocal talents are inseparable from their lives. I remember her staring down a violent drunk at The Tearaways show into submission. Our artistic world is always so fragile, as today has proven, it helps to remember the strong ones.

Above, gloriously singing with her band The Blessings, and jamming with Nashville's The Tip, immediately jumping onstage when they covered the Rolling Stones'  "Miss You."

Above, Lavone receiving her birthday cake onstage during a Blessings' gig. As a popular singer in the biz, one also found her backing John Fogerty in his 2019 tour, as member of a few side groups like the Malonettes, and as head choir director and Gospel choir director in a number of universities over the last two decades.  She was also a much loved vocal coach.  Below, so many great, memorable gigs with The Blessings.                                   

Above, last gig in 2020 before elected officials' civic laws silenced Los Angeles' music, (with too many clubs' signs inevitably changing from "temporarily closed" to "permanently closed") few with concern that it might be forever for personnel and businesses alike.

THE BLESSINGS and THE SLOTHS' DYNAMIC DOUBLE BILL live 7.19.17

Above, THE BLESSINGS; below, THE SLOTHS

 Monty Bar in a southwest corner of downtown Los Angeles, cool but slightly inaccessible via a public transportationless locale bereft of neither street nor public parking, proved the exact place one had to be to be earlier this summer. 7.19.17 sported a primo double bill of L.A.'s favorite blues/country/soul/rock THE BLESSINGS and half-century later surprise retro-resurgents THE SLOTHS.

One hopes readers aren't desensitized to frequent praises heaped upon THE BLESSINGS, because they remain every bit as deserving of any and all accolades. Their Exile on Main Street classic orchestration of singer, strong backing singer, 2 guitars, harmonica, keyboards, bass, drums sounds even better in today's climate of anemic band/faux pitch-bent vocalist, all dance/percussion chart hit formulae. The Blessings also remain every bit as deserving of fame and fortune for the high quality of their songwriting. When was the last time you left a gig with all of one band's repertoire as firmly imprinted in your brain as if it already was your alltime favorite album? I can't wait until their latest tunes "Meaning Of Sorry" and "Uptown Too Long" make it to current releases to the public.

The combination of brilliant original fare, lively onstage personalities and virtuoso performing continues to serve The Blessings, live or on their assorted cd/streaming releases Tomahawk Inn and Bare Bones. The Blessings are Jeremy White, lead vocals, harmonica, guitar; Lavone Seetal, vocals, percussion; Mike Gavigan lead guitar; Jason Upright drums; Jeffrey Howell Keyboards; Lights Out Levine, bass.

 

 

...and as for THE SLOTHS...

Between 1964 and '66, Beverly Hills/West L.A. born and bred The Sloths opened for The Doors, The Animals and Pink Floyd at vintage Riot on Sunset Strip venues like The Whisky A Gogo, The Trip, Pandora's Box, the Sea Witch, etc. Then...prolonged hibernation until a Back From the Grave garage band compilation resurrection, then 2011 clamorings for a reunion. Original member Jeff Briskin reunited the band via a private detective (!) minus its two deceased members and adding apropos new Sloths. After gigging 2011-13 he returned to his law practice but the band continued its momentum. No matter the hiatus: then as now they sound like The Chocolate Watch Band, Count Five and assorted better/lesser young bands I heard in the original era at assorted school exchange dances.
 



















 The current band: O.G. Sloth Michael Rummans, original Sloth guitarist who remained in music and helmed a cult band I once championed called Starz, an original glitter era glam band of similar NY Dolls-type promise. In place of deceased first vocalist Hank Daniels we have vintage Sloth school buddy and Rummans' bandmate in splinter groups from the 1960s on, lead singer Tom McLoughlin. 

The following transgression is mentioned in the official bio, but Tom must have been the second boy kicked out of Beverly Hills High School for having long hair, since I actually know the first one (Michael Verdick, still in the music biz as a multiple Grammy-nominated sound engineer/producer.)  Besides Slothdom, Tom remains a much in-demand television director (USA Network documentaries like D.C. Sniper,) film director of fare like Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI, also film professor/lecturer at Chapman University. Remaining 2017 Sloths are "Pooch" (Pat Di Puccio, beloved L.A. musician/scenester/writer at original punk's "Flipside,") Mark Weddington and Greg Rom.

  

HEATHER HARRIS PHOTO EXHIBIT AT POP OBSCURE GALLERY with THE BLESSINGS live, opening night reception 5.6.17

↑ Guest photographer © 2017 Kurt Ingham.

Pop Obscure Records & Gallery (LINK) of downtown Los Angeles threw a well-attended reception for their exhibition of my 50 years of music photography on May 6, 2017. Above, Sherry Lee, co-owner (with Dustin Lane) of Pop Obscure Records & Gallery, Jeremy White of The Blessings who performed, and yours truly. The exhibition runs through June 18th.

Downstairs gallery↓

              ↑ Upstairs gallery with Mr. Twister in front of photos of himself,                           and Jonathan Lea, guitarist of amazing band the Jigsaw Seen. ↓

 
Downstairs record store with celebrated guitarist Whitey Kirst posing with Inger Lorre of The Nymphs, whose original lineup included Whitey's brother Alex. (Whitey and Alex then backed Iggy Pop as The Trolls until a hit and run driver killed Alex.)

On a far cheerier note, Inger said she had been influenced by Mr. Twister and his nasty lyrics in his band Chainsaw's first single, "Polaroid Pictures," and happily posed with him (with half of Dennis Davison of Jigsaw Seen in the background.)

↑ Jeremy White, Inger Lorre and Whitey Kirst

↑ Michelle Melody Fair, all of Dennis Davison of the Jigsaw Seen, Inger Lorre, Mr. Twister

Lead singer of Little Caesar Ron Young and wife Renee, Mr. Twister ↓

 ↑ Above, phenomenal singer/songwriter Ruby Friedman with Mr. Twister.

Guest photographer © Donna Balancia.

One of my favorite shots of the evening, Mr. Twister and me as on the job  photojournalists. Guest photographer © Donna Balancia ↓

The Blessings (see LINK,) my band of choice, performed a characteristic great set in the latter half of the reception.

↓ The Peanut Gallery; i.e. the mezzanine, with enraptured audience. 

 In fact, a very full Pop Obscure Records event, both upstairs and down.

                                          ↓  Guest photographer © Carolyn Carradine

                Guest photographer © Leslie Knauer ↓

 

Guest photographer© Kurt Ingham ↓                                                            

The Blessings are Jeremy White, vocals, guitar, harmonica; Mike Gavigan, guitar; Lavonne Seetal, vocals, Jason Upright, drums; Jeffrey Howell, keyboards; Lights Out Levine, bass.

↑ Colleague Ellen Berman, self, Loren Molinare of The Dogs and Little Caesar. 

Guest photographer © Kurt Ingham

Below left, photographers Harrold Sherrick, Michael Eivaz, Shelley Mitchell and Ellen Berman. Right, Ruby Friedman's French Bulldog- "Get the lens, Clovis, get the lens!"

Whitey Kirst emerges from the shadows...

↓ Below left, Casey Niccoli with my shot of her with Perry Farrell and their dog Annie at a recording session for 1990 Hollyword spoken word compilation produced by Harvey Kubernik. Guest photographer © Ricky Biscuits;  Right, Paula Tiberius, Julie Scher Molinare,

 Guest photographer © Donna Balancia

Alex Stiletto of Modern Kicks and Leslie Knauer of Precious Metal.

 Guest photographer © Donna Balancia

Self with Marijke Koger-Dunham, (fine artist, designer, The Fool) 

Guest photographer © Donna Balancia

Guest photographer © Alyson Camus

Chris Carradine (architect, Disney Imagineer,) Marijke Koger-Dunham, Mr. Twister, self

Guest photographer © Donna Balancia

Chris Carradine found an album by his brother! Shhhh...don't spoil the future gift surprise!

↓ Left, I do not stand on top of subjects as a matter or course: it's a skillful composite.

Guest photographer © Vicki Whicker ;  

Right, self, Katrina Melendez, Leslie Morrison. Guest photographer © Ellen Berman ↓

                

 Ian O'Connor and Sherry O'Connor, 

Special Effects folks extraordinaire for films and television

 

↑ Ian, Sherry and an always dashing Mr. Twister

Guest photographer © Alyson Camus

↑ Sherry, Ian, self, Katrina Melendez, Crickette Oswald. Guest photographer © Alyson Camus

Lady and Lord Hailer, April Carson and Robert Mills of The Hailers.

Guest photographer © Donna Balancia.

↑ Emily Butler and Jeremy White

↓ Mr. Twister, self, Loren Molinaire

Guest photographer © Michael Eivaz

Photo ops of Whitey Kirst and Inger Lorre, Donna Balancia and Chris Carradine in background.

Guest photographer © Alyson Camus

  ↑ Holga Camera and her retinue; below, bits of exhibit ↓

 

Sherry Lee and Dustin Lane, co-owners of Pop Obscure Records & Gallery

Thank you for a swell reception, Pop Obscure Records & Gallery and everyone!

↑ One of my other fave pics of the evenings. Guest photographer © Leslie Morrison

 May 6th Prequel: Theatre date with Chris and Carolyn Carradine for Much Ado About Nothing performed by The Hobart Shakespeareans then dinner at Cole's, a vintage 1908 restaurant in downtown L.A. Vintage anything remains quite the rarity in L.A.  Selfies ensued.  Under the evening apparel I am sporting my naughty Klimt leggings with "the Hostile Powers" from his Beethoven Frieze.

Return to Forever Post Script: rock couturier Evita Corby, author Terry Moreland Henderson, musician/longtime friend Tripp Smythe and my mother were unable to attend the reception, so I gave them all a personal guided tour through the exhibit within the week afterwords.  Below, Evita stands nonchalantly next to my portrait of her with Rodney Bingenheimer taken at a 2011 art exhibit in the exact same building of the 1970s Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco, a favorite haunt of both subjects. (Seeing this shot, Mr. Twister remarked that Evita has mastered nonchalant...)

 

 ↑ My mother and Tripp share the same familial name of "Smythe"

guest photographer Terry Moreland Henderson ↓

Additional coverage of the opening night reception event via more objective P.O.V.s: 

California Rocker coverage: LINK*      

Rock NYC coverage: LINK*

Link to Pop Obscure Records & Gallery website: http://www.popobscurerecords.com/
Link to THE BLESSINGS:  http://fastfilm1.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Blessings

 *http://californiarocker.com/2017/05/08/blessings-heather-harris-balancia/

 **http://rocknycliveandrecorded.com/fast-film-50-years-of-music-photography-by-heather-harris-at-pop-obscure-records-saturday-may-6th-2017html.