Sunset Sessions: Artists We Saw

Michele Clark's Sunset Sessions are just jam packed with interesting industry peeps and fantastic musicians. The Empty Pockets not only had a chance to play but also see some really rippin' artists, such as the previously blogged about Eric Hutchinson [ blog ]. As we move through the year, we'll be recapping our favorite performances from said awesome artists. Today's positive post: Jason Mraz and Mona Tavakoli!

In the beautiful Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, there are many great places to see a show. Exquisite ballrooms, beautiful terraces and gorgeous vistas all serve as a perfect backdrop for wonderful music. We were lucky enough to experience just such a picturesque mini-concert experience when Jason Mraz performed for the Sunset Sessions crowd in the Santiago Courtyard, the very same place The Empty Pockets had played the day before! The lunch-time show featured a wickedly intimate performance by Jason Mraz and percussionist Mona Tavakoli along with tasty treats served up by Chipotle. Jason even informed us that his farm was supplying the local Chipotle with it's fresh avocados, which we were gobbling up in the burritos and guacamole whilst jamming out.

If you could extend this video out to the right about four feet, you would see The Empty Pockets sitting and rocking, front and center for the festivities. The video above was shot by one of the attendees of the Sunset Sessions and shows how supremely gorgeous the surroundings were and how excellent Jason and Mona both were, even though we can't see Mona's gorgeous face. The video below is a section of the same performance, but you get to see Mona jam out on the solo section. So freaking good!

Needless to say, it was a concert experience The Empty Pockets will never forget, and we have Michele Clark and the Sunset Sessions to thank. After the show, we even got a chance to chat with the talented Mona Tavakoli before her and Jason jetted off to Dubai for their next concert. She was super gracious and our very own lovely doll, Erika Brett, got a classy picture with her. Gear! Check out Mona's band, Raining Jane on the interwebs. [ link ]

We'll be featuring more awesome artists and positive people from Sunset Sessions all through the year. Enjoy!

Cheers!
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Sunset Sessions: People We Met

Whilst we were at Sunset Sessions, we got to meet some really excellent people and enjoy their prodigious company. The Sunset Sessions attract all manner of world-class people, including our new friend, the awesome Laura Curtin, a music industry and rock-and-roll titan as well as current El Capitan of Curtin Rises Music Promotion. (Editors Note: Link removed due to malware. Google this woman, it's worth it! -N.)

Laura's "About" page reads like a Who's-Who of modern rock and pop. She's been responsible for the success of such artists as Pearl Jam, the Spin Doctors (my favorites!), the Indigo Girls (Eri's favorites!) and Rage Against the Machine, to name only a scant few. On top of that, the company currently represents a huge cross-section of musical styles, from Keb' Mo' to the Backstreet Boys to Korn. She's the real deal, yo.

Laura and Chris Rock! Wooooah!

The Empty Pockets had the distinct pleasure of hanging with Laura several times throughout our stay at the Sunset Sessions. She's very nice and an excellent laugh-er, which made Erika's jokes actually funny.

Empty Pockets Manager David Spero, Laura Curtin
and Erika Brett chillin' at the Sunset Sessions.

Born into the Boogie,
-Nate Bellon(bass)