Mac McDonald: Where are all the decent music venues in Monterey County?

In the past month or so I've been asked by at least three out-of-town bands where they might play in the Monterey area.

My answer? "Uh, let me get back to you on that..."

Truth be told, there aren't a lot of suitable venues for bands (at least touring or out-of-town bands) to play in this area.

Sure, dozens of bands play around here every week, but for the most part this is more a case of what the venue owners want — local cover bands who bring in their own crowd, don't cost an arm and a leg (no hotels or travel expenses necessary) and play music audiences are familiar with.

And you can't blame them. Local bands are almost sure-fire draws, while out-of-town bands, especially those that play original music, may not have much of a following here, thus would be a big financial risk for the clubowner.

And, let's face it, many of our venues (and I won't name names here) just aren't set up for live music, with lousy acoustics, no or substandard stage, no stage lights, no sound person, and in some cases no liquor license (a huge deal if a venue wants to make money).

Plus many, if not most, of the venues don't charge a cover charge, which makes it harder for the owner to pay his or her expenses or to pay the band a decent wage. (The motto here is: Drink up, folks, we gotta make our nut.)

So, where do touring and out-of-town bands play in Monterey County? There aren't any Catalysts, Kuumbwas or even Moe's Alleys in Monterey like there are in Santa Cruz. The Golden State Theatre is available, but a band or promoter pretty much has to bring everything with them and may have problems filling a 1,000-seat venue in Monterey (unless they're a big name, and even then it's a crapshoot).

One of the few nightclubs that does host original-music bands from time to time is Planet Gemini on North Fremont in Monterey, as it did for the recent show by L.A. synth-rock band Fire in the Hamptons (FITH).

But in many cases, shows there are initiated by the bands or a local promoter such as Freeway Productions, which did the FITH show, not by the club itself.

Planet Gemini's problem, if you can call it that, is that it is identifed more as a dance and comedy club than as a live music venue, which is strange because it is a decent size (300 or so for live music), has two bars, is centrally located, has a solid stage and full-on stage lighting as well as a permanent sound board with an accomplished person manning said board.

And for the FITH show, the owners moved the weekly comedy show to the front room so the band could start at a decent time and not have to wait until the comedy show was over (usually about 10:30 p.m.). And the band drew a decent crowd (200 maybe?) at $10 a head. That is a big deal in Monterey (don't laugh, you know it's true).

And it's not as if people haven't tried around here. There are dozens of music venues that have come and gone and it seems like new ones are popping up all the time and often in the unlikeliest of places.

There's a venue at Chamisal Tennis Club (booked by musician/promoter Kiki Wow, who also books a hotel lounge, a Mexican restaurant and the back lot of a country store), Baja Cantina Mexican restaurant does well with cover bands on its deck, Pierce Ranch Winery's tasting room hosts live music from time to time, and Schooners at the Monterey Plaza Hotel has hosted local acoustic acts on a weekly basis this past summer.

Recently, Jose's Underground Lounge ceased doing shows in its tiny basement space and The Works in Pacific Grove has been sold so there will be no more music there.

But add the new and eclectic restaurant/bar Bay of Pines to your list of new venues. This upstairs venue (formerly India's Clay Oven in downtown Monterey) hosts a "Bowties & Bluegrass" show from 7-11 p.m. Saturday featuring Americana singer-songwriter Casey Frazier, singer-songwriter Dylan Aiello and songbird Lily Z?bler.

Cost is $25, although a promo code "dramaddox" knocks the ticket price to $5 at Pays to read this column, doesn't it?

Also the Wave Street Studios, which used to do more live music events even though it's essentially a recording studio, seems to be doing more shows, such as one this Sunday at 7 p.m. called "Peace Notes," a benefit concert for the Monterey Peace & Justice Center.

That concert featues Phillip Crawford on piano, flutist Kenny Stahl, bassist Steve Uccello, drummer Andy Weis, and special guest vocalists Julie Capili and Lee Durley, who will perform an eclectic mix of jazz, rock, R&B and Brazilian music. (That's a $30 donation, available at 899-7322, 869-2834 or

So, where does this leave us on this whole "suitable venues" conversation? Uh, can I get back to you on that? All I can say it's a work in progress and always has been.