By: Classical Geek Theatre
Written by: Mouse on April.04.09

Thursday night at The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock was the launch party for Sterling Andrews photo collection Gooseberries. It was a buzzing affair with writers, photogs, and (of course) musicians from all over Los Angeles attending to celebrate with Andrews, who has shot most all of the relevant bands in town.

I chatted with Sterling Andrews briefly about what’s next. “Another book,” she told me. Andrews was coy with the details, but she’s aiming for an adult-oriented photo story book in the same grounded fantasy style that defines her work.

As for the musical offerings…

Le Switch delivered a spirited soul performance, which is of course no surprise since they are a safe bet for a homerun set every time. Golden Gram (Gram LeBron of Rogue Wave) fared not so well, largely because he was playing solo acoustic songs for a chatty crowd more concerned with the free Red Stripe and Absinthe in the back of the room. I was too exhausted to stay for Afternoons, who had a late start after a power outage fried the monitors.

So as far as I am concerned, the night belonged to the folk-crooning One Trick Pony, who managed to play above the constant din of minglers, in part due to banjo-for-hire Todd McLaughlin being added to the lineup. Randolph Williams III (”Randy” to those who know him) has the silkiest, most soothing voice in town and it is a complete mystery to this writer why some major label hasn’t scooped him up and planted a One Trick Pony flag on the KCRW moon. At one point Williams was so immersed in singing his own words that I felt myself physically moved on the inside.

One Trick Pony