Look for some Lavish love Thursday evening.
Lavish Green, a rock band born 20 years ago in South Lake Tahoe, will close down the Live at Lakeview summer music series after fellow South-Shore rockers Black Star Safari opens the show at 4:30 p.m.
It will be a birthday bash of sorts and a reunion, as well. The city of South of South Lake Tahoe, celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long, will capture a Community Birthday Photo at 6 p.m., with help from Tahoe Production House, which is launching a drone for the mission.
On July 3, Lavish Green held its own birthday party onstage at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s Vinyl showroom, playing with Los Angeles funk and soul band Fishbone. The Tahoe group’s current members are front-man and trumpet player Chris Sanchez, Rob Wheeler on bass, Joel Gruneich on guitar, and Danny Barnes on drums. But some players from the past, and a second-generation musician, will join in Thursday.
Saxophone player Seth Hall, who also accompanied Lavish at the Vinyl show, will be back this week, along with singer/songwriter Jeremy Usher, who will belt out two tunes he wrote in the the band’s early days, “Scare Crow” and “Trampero.” And then there’s Wheeler’s 14-year-old son, Robbie Jr., who will play “Minute” on trumpet as Sanchez sings that song.
Sanchez and Wheeler, buddies since attending California High School in San Ramon, both said they are psyched about playing the final Lakeview show this summer.
“This is home. It’s probably our most significant gig this summer,” Sanchez said. Along with the assembled locals crowd, friends and family members, including children, can join in the fun. Sanchez’s mom, Virginia, is particularly looking forward to the performance.
A beachfront stage, with the sun setting the background, can’t be beat, the band mates noted.
“We’re all excited. Our home turf is Tahoe” Sanchez said. “…We have a pretty healthy set. It will be cool.”
“We’re looking forward to sharing some Lavish love,” Wheeler added.
On Sept. 11, Lavish Green will headline a benefit concert at T.J.’s Corral, the outdoor venue at Carson Valley Inn. Proceeds from the event will help support Austin’s House, an emergency shelter for youngsters whose parents are unable to care for them.
On Oct. 3, Lavish will head to Beckwourth, California, to take part in the Summer Sessions Music Festival, sharing the stage with reggae band Indubious.
But this week, the hometown boys are “right in the heart of Tahoe, where Lavish Green was born,” Wheeler said.
