Due to concern for pollution (and, admittedly, gas prices) I often take the bus to work. And while I enjoy being able to converse with the day laborers, gardeners, and housekeepers of Malibu today I had another, more fun, reason to appreciate public transportation: a band. As I was walking from one bus to another I almost walked past, but then stopped and listened and danced to a band that was playing on Santa Monica Blvd. right by 3rd Street. From the comments on their myspace page they seem to be regulars, but I'm trying to avoid consumer culture these days and am not a regular patron of the Promenade. Hence, if I'd been driving as opposed to taking the bus I would have completely missed them. They had a large crowd (probably about fifty people) that had stopped what they were doing and were listening to them and, in some cases, dancing.
The band, John David Rushton's Content Life, is made up of four people: John Rushton on guitar and vocals, a Salvadoran called Mauricio Hernandez playing a djembe and singing backup, and two guys that looked like they were homeless (I apologize if they aren't) and had been pulled off the street to play along: one was wearing chains around his angles that jingled when he stomped and held a chunk of chains in his hands which he used like a less precise shaker, and the other had a tambourine. I bought their album, which is good, although I think they're better in person. There's something especially about those chains that adds a unique sound, whereas the album is only John Rushton singing with his guitar.
But mainly I was just impressed that they drew such a crowd, that they got people to dance, and that people were continuously dropping cash into their jar and buying CDs. I've never seen a street band be that successful. It was pretty amazing. And they deserved it.
I seen them this past Sunday in Santa Monica before coming back to Houston. They were amazing. It caught me off guard. I actually turned back to find out who they were. I bought the CD and unfortunately, I had to jet. Haven't stopped playing the CD.
Posted by: kristian | July 09, 2008 at 09:25 PM
saw them play on the beach at glow saturday night around 4am. amazing. these guys need to get their promotions/management together and get more exposure. maybe they are "content" playing on the promenade, but i think more people should have the chance to hear them and enjoy their music.
Posted by: jason | July 21, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I saw this band in Huntington Beach during summer, i never stop to listen to bands, but i stopped for them. John's voice is amazing and they are great live. i bought their cd and met them, hes super cute!! :)
Posted by: alydia | December 15, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I saw this band in Huntington Beach during summer, i never stop to listen to bands, but i stopped for them. John's voice is amazing and they are great live. i bought their cd and met them, hes super cute!! :)
Posted by: alydia | December 15, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I saw this band in Huntington Beach during summer, i never stop to listen to bands, but i stopped for them. John's voice is amazing and they are great live. i bought their cd and met them, hes super cute!! :)
Posted by: alydia | December 15, 2008 at 03:31 PM