I have been a fan of the band Venice for over 20 years.  I purchased their CD, Born and Raised, and have been enjoying their music, especially their live performances ever since.  By the way, my favorite song on that CD is “If I Were You”.  I love that song!  Anyway, fast forward, the band is still going strong.  They have recently released their latest CD, Jacaranda Street, which I also highly recommend.

Venice performs a Christmas show each year at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California and it’s always a special treat for locals.  I asked to cover this show last December, but unfortunately, my photographer wasn’t able to attend at the last minute, so I assumed there would be no article.  It was such a beautiful night of feel-good music.  Because Venice is a family band, they bring that feeling into their performances, especially for the Christmas show.  I didn’t know what to expect and was hoping it wasn’t going to be “traditional” with a bunch of burnt-out Christmas songs, but it was anything but that.  They sprinkled in family stories with new music as well as some favorite Christmas tunes.  It was a perfect balance and I can see why people look forward to this every year.  They also have a Christmas CD, “Waves of Christmas” which was great to play for my folks on Christmas day when I went to visit them, as I was still running on inspiration from their show.

Venice is known throughout the industry from their family lineage being related to the famous “Lennon sisters”, but they have truly made their own mark in the world with their originality and precision harmonies.  There is just something about them that is just so likable and trustworthy.  I’ve seen them here and there throughout the years, and more recently last summer at “Fiesta del Sol” where I live in Solana Beach.  In addition to their band Venice, they are also known as The Pine Mountain Logs.  Venice the Band is all original music and the Pine Mountain Logs perform all covers.  They are way too much FUN and GREAT!  When I saw them last summer I was so pulled in by Kipp, the lead singer.  He is so charismatic.  I was instantly attracted to him.  I was feeling “this is weird”, asking myself “why am I so attracted to this guy”?  After further investigation and confirming my suspicion, he is in fact, a Pisces (just like me) and exactly the same age.  Bingo.  I could so relate to him.  I still haven’t met him in person and have had some opportunities, but I become unusually “shy”.

Since I dropped the ball on covering the Christmas show in December and NAMM came along soon thereafter, I was given another opportunity to hear Venice perform.  They put on an awesome “warm-up” performance at the Hilton Hotel right before they were to perform upstairs for the TEC Awards Ceremony to honor Joni Mitchell for the Les Paul Lifetime Achievement Award.  They performed “Free Man in Paris” for Joni Mitchell!!! This truly must have been one of THE biggest honors of their career (and they have had many).  It was a spell-binding performance and magic was most certainly in the air! These guys are consummate professionals and you can tell they are tight –from their vocals, their work ethic, respect for one another, and their love for music, especially performing.  It all seemed to come together in the room at that moment.  It was a performance I will never forget.

Kipp has had such an amazing career, but that doesn’t take anything away from his brother, cousins, and other bandmates who are all accomplished musicians.  I felt his cousin “Marky” got a VERY bad rap when he didn’t make it though on The Voice (which I’m sure he’d rather forget), but even still, he too has an infectious personality and talent which goes way beyond “the business” of The Voice.

I have been following the band on Facebook and found out about this amazing interview with Kipp by the famous Southern California DJs, Rita Wilde and CJ West, on the Rock and Roll Confessional Podcast.  I like Kipp even more now. In Part 1 he opens up about his family, sharing some great stories of his adventures in his stellar career, as well as his Michael Jackson experience.  In Part 2 Kipp talks about his experience on THE WALL TOUR with Roger Waters.  My God, it doesn’t get any better or bigger than that. That is my favorite show of all shows!

As is the sign of the times, their European tour was postponed and all other performances are on hold for now.  I have no doubt they are keeping those creative juices flowing and are developing new ideas and writing more songs.  If there is ever a time for feel-good music this is it.  Venice delivers in spades on their new release, Jacaranda Street.  There are so many great songs on this CD–I especially like Lifeline and Middle Age Lullaby.  Please support these guys by purchasing their music, and be sure to catch them live when all systems are a “go”.  You are sure to fall in love with them as I have!  Check them out on social media and visit their website:  Venicetheband.com

Venice The Band:

Kip Lennon – Lead vocals, percussion

Mark Lennon – Lead vocals
Producer, Recording, and Mix

Michael Lennon – Electric and acoustic guitar, vocals

Pat Lennon – Electric and acoustic guitar, vocals

Mark Harris – Bass

Andre Kemp-  Drums and percussion

*** Images from NAMM 2020 TEC Awards by John Peresada

Dana Plant, Staff Writer BackStage360
~3rdEyeScribe