Rick Shea is well known to regulars at the Cinema Bar – he’s been performing there for years and he put out the Love and Desperation album in 2020. He’ll be bringing all of those songs and his experience to that same venue this week, when he performs with some special friends. Shea told the News about what he has in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing?
I’ve been at this a while, professionally since I was in my early 20’s. I fell in love with the guitar at a young age and have just continued. The band lineup changes from time to time, it’s sort of in the process of reforming right now, the lineup before this was together for 10 or 15 years. I’ve been tremendously fortunate in having wonderfully talented musicians playing with me in my bands.
Describe your sound/style?
I think the songs I write draw from a lot of different styles. I cut my teeth musically speaking in bars and honky-tonks so there’s always an element of country music, but I think a lot of my songs are more folk music based lyrically. I’m a big fan of narrative ballads, Saginaw Michigan and El Paso for example, and I often try to write in that form. I’m also a big fan of a lot of older rock and roll, blues and some Mexican and Norteño music and I think it all finds its way in.
What are your career highlights so far?
As an artist I’ve recorded and released 12 albums, all very well received, I’ve toured the US and Europe and made a living at this most of my life. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with some other great artists at times, Wanda Jackson, Dave Alvin and REM to name a few, with Dave Alvin I played on his Grammy winning album ‘Public Domain’ and I played Madison Square Garden with him touring with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
Most of my albums are available on streaming services, Spotify, Apple etc, and available for purchase at Amazon and other online retailers. My most recent album Love & Desperation (2020) is available at most online places, and all my albums are available from me at my website rickshea.com.
Have you performed at Cinema Bar before? Any memories?
I’ve been playing at the Cinema Bar for more than 20 years, it’s kind of a hometown gig for me. Memories – too many to name, everytime I walk through the door.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
The current lineup features Tony Gilkyson on guitar and Jeff Turmes on bass, both very fine artists on their own. The set will feature a fair number of songs from my last album; due to the pandemic I never had as much chance to play them, and also some songs from both Tony and Jeff.
What else do you have coming up?
I’ll be part of the Ronnie Mack celebration of Elvis Presley’s birthday Monday Jan 8at The Write Off Room in Studio City. I’ll be back at the Cinema Bar Thu Jan 25. I’ll be trading songs with Tony Gilkyson as an acoustic duo at the Folk Music Center in Claremont Sat March 23. I may be starting a Wednesday night residency at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana, still working out the details on that. Later in the spring I’m hoping to be on tour in Ireland and the UK.
Rick Shea performs with Losin End, Tony Gilkyson, Jeff Tourneo, and Dale Daniel at 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 28 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next show at Boulevard Music is Special Consensus at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 20. Visit boulevardmusic.com for more info.