Hello UC Summer Concert fans. If you’re like most of us, you are missing the Sunday evening concerts at Standley Park. They’ve been a tradition in University City for years. While they may not be able to perform for large crowds this year, many local bands are managing to share their music with others. If you decide to hear some of our local musicians, please respect our neighbors and the neighborhood and please observe physical distancing guidelines and wear a mask when appropriate.
Here is what we know:
- Greg Pardue and his Front Porch Pandemic Jazz Jam continues every Thursday: This Thursday, 8/27, will be the 18th weekly edition of the Front Porch Pandemic Jazz Jam on Bloch St. in University City. People (family groups) are physically distanced and masks are everywhere plus it’s outside and there’s usually a nice breeze. Bring a picnic and your favorite beverage and enjoy an alfresco meal or happy hour with live music. Some people park on the street and listen from their car and many people bring chairs and sit out in the cooler coastal air. There’s plenty of room on the sidewalks, driveways and edge of the street. There’s even been a few dancers. We intend to continue doing this every Thursday until we fall back to standard time. We start around 4:30 PM and play for a couple of hours or so, always ending before 7:00.
- Here’s a link to a video sample of Porch Pandemic Jazz Jam featuring the last half of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train”.
- And here’s a link to a recent 10 News report on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuDWP9UCgVk
- Greg Zinser and his Invited Musicians: We play on select Saturdays (see below) starting at 4 PM on Willard Street in University City. We play a wide variety of easy listening music and there are lots of ways to enjoy it. Some set up chairs on the sidewalk near our house or in their own yard, some just stop to hear a song or two during their walk, and some stay in their homes and open the windows. All of that works well and there’s plenty of room to keep whatever distance makes you comfortable. The upcoming Saturday Driveway Concert schedule for September and October is as follows: September 5th, September 19th, October 3rd, October 17th, and October 31 (tentative depending on whether or not the kids are allowed to go trick or treating). To sample Greg Zinser’s Driveway Concerts, take a look at the music video posted on UCCA’s website at https://www.universitycitynews.org/2020/04/11/world-premier-pandemic-parody-by-university-citys-own-greg-zinser/
- Electric Waste Band (Bob Harvey) have been live-streaming both their Almost Acoustic Sunday Backyard Brunch and their Monday evening events from WinstonsOB on their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ElectricWasteBand
- Full Strength Funk Band (Pamela Gallo) has been performing remotely and posts music videos on their Facebook; take a look at https://www.facebook.com/fullstrengthband
If you know of any other local musicians who are finding a way to share their music this Summer, please let us know at UniversityCityNews@gmail.com
