The Santa Ana winds are in full effect this week and the warm weather they bring has all of Los Angeles celebrating. But, the Santa Ana's are more than just a warm wind, legend has it that when the Santa Ana's blow, anything can happen. With that theme in mind, we happily present this week's line-up at The Standard, Hollywood's Desert Nights.
Christian Lee Hutson: To call Christian Lee Hutson an old soul would fall short of proper description. According to the SF Bay Guardian, "Hutson writes foreboding, bluesy love ballads laden with longing nostalgia," but despite the maturity and commitment to tradition found in the 21-year-old singer-songwriter’s songs, they vibrate with a youthful energy as if a drunk and sedentary George Jones was being channeled through a drunk and animated Conor Oberst. Hutson’s debut solo E.P.Will Never Break Up marks his stylistic shift away from the dustbowl-era sound of the recently defunct Driftwood Singers in favor of a more recent tradition of country songwriting in the vein of Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam. Will Never Break Up, though recorded this year in Los Angeles, could just as easily have been recorded in the heart of Nashville in the mid-70s. Christian Lee Hutson still maintains the rigorous touring schedule that took the Driftwood Singers across the U.S. and back a number of tread-wearing times, so come out and join him for a sour drink of some sort and some songs so well-worn, weathered, and welcoming that they whimper and creak as they pull a stool out for you at the bar.
Nathan Xander: Nathan Xander writes songs that are steeped in the quiet, restrained tension of what Greil Marcus called the 'Old, Weird America'. "If you are looking for a candidate to join the forces of today’s Indie-Americana heroes, Nathan Xander should be on your radar, hell he should be in your ears!" - Slowcousticw2mn3
Jenny Luna: From an early age, Jenny Luna has been addicted to singing and it won’t go away. Born and raised in Pasadena, she sang for choirs and musicals then started studying jazz at Pasadena City College, where she sang for the school’s Jazz Big Band and joined several smaller combos around campus. It was here that she recruited her Moondogs to form a small combo of her own. Taking inspirations from classic greats like Billie Holiday and Astrud Gilberto, Jenny Luna & The Moondogs bring old standards to life in their own unique way. Local to Pasadena, this group will take you back in time with sounds of bossa, bolero, folk, and jazz.
What is Desert Nights?
Desert Nights is a weekly gathering at The Standard, Hollywood, hosted by KCRW’s DJ Valida. Every Wednesday, Valida curates three acoustic musical acts to perform a set in the Cactus Lounge. The vibe is warm and intimate, evoking an impromptu jam in a musician’s living room. The music begins at 7:30pm, it’s always free and always a good time. Guaranteed.
