Every summertime Thursday in South Lake Tahoe feels like the Fourth of July.
Lake Tahoe shined in all its glory when Live at Lakeview kicked off its sixth season at the Lakeview Commons on June 22. Reveling in the perfect weather, people paddleboarded and swam in the water that’s filled to the rim for the first time in several years. Most of the dancers were barefoot on the strip of beach below the granite amphitheater. Children played on the grass and vendors were busy, as were all of the merchants on Harrison Avenue. Even the cops were smiling.
South Lake Tahoe’s redevelopment project, which came a decade after the facelift at the Casino Corridor, is an undisputed success, and Lakeview Commons and Live at Lakeview is the crown jewel. It’s become a scene for the local residents and the tourists, who have now fully gotten hip to the weekly get-together.
By the way, one of the hottest bands on the West Coast played two dynamic sets. It was the third Live at Lakeview appearance for Portland’s Scott Pemberton Band, which is led by the Bruce Lee of rock ‘n’ roll, timber rocker Scott Pemberton.
“The venue is incredible; there can’t be any other place like it anywhere,” Pemberton said before the show. “It’s a pleasure to be involved in such a cool community event that has all the locals coming out and hanging out together and checking out the music.”
Mescalito, a new collection of all-star players from South Lake Tahoe, opened the music with a cool, hour-long set of jammy tunes.
Organizers were stoked.
“We are so thrilled the way this community has embraced Live at Lakeview,” said Leslie Schultz of On Course Events. “From the support of the city and all of our sponsors, to the crowds who show up and bring good vibes, it’s a tribe!”
The Stacy Jones Band and Complicated Animals rocked the beach on June 29.
Tahoe Onstage photo by Pheonix Gruneich
Tahoe Onstage photo by Pheonix Gruneich
Diego’s Umbrella returns for the second straight year this Thursday, July 6. South Shore’s 4 Piece Puzzle will open.
Tim Parsons / Tahoe Onstage
San Francisco’s ambassadors of gypsy rock, Diego’s Umbrella, captures California’s cultural multiplicity with humor, enthusiasm and decadence. The band delivers a lively, unforgettable, heavy-hitting stage show that has visually and aurally captivated audiences from all walks of life. These urban, gringo mariachis have performed more than 1,000 shows across the United States and Europe.
Funky 4 Piece Puzzle offers up a combo sound of jazz, roots/rock/reggae and soul, featuring Chad Lawrence on keyboards bass and vocals, Seth Hall on alto and tenor saxophones, Ryan Cassidy on guitar, lap steel, bass and stylophone, and Martin Bush on drums, with Molly Taylor often adding her talents as a singer. “Blooming from Lake Tahoe’s blossoming music community, 4 Piece Puzzle was born funky and strong and has been lighting up dance floors since its conception in 2010.”
