Solos Ready to Quietly Make Solana Beach Debut

Anew club opening Friday in Solana Beach will add an unusual wrinkle to the local music scene, but its premise is such a natural that the biggest surprise is that someone didn’t think of it sooner.

The 130-seat venue, called “Solos,” will operate from a corner of the Mandarin Coast Restaurant on Highway 101, a block west and a block north of the Belly Up Tavern.

As its name would imply, the purpose of the club is to provide an intimate venue for local, mostly solo acoustic musicians. But Solos is not a folk club, per se; most of the performers are members of local rock bands who otherwise must squeeze their unamplified alter egos into opening-act slots at rock clubs, where audiences are not necessarily receptive to quieter fare.

Solos is the brainchild of Mac Falk, whose duties as half of the Falk and Morrow Talent agency include booking the Belly Up and Winston’s locally, and the Palomino Club in North Hollywood. Fifteen years ago, Falk installed the sound system in the Mandarin, then was known as Ole Ole’s. It was during a recent visit to the restaurant that Falk stumbled onto the idea for the new venture.

“I was just sitting there looking at the stage area, and I asked the owner what he was doing at night for entertainment,” Falk said. “When he said ‘Nothing,’ I started to put together the concept, which is sort of a local version of MTV’s ‘Unplugged” show. The idea isn’t so much to create another acoustic venue as it is to focus on musicians who normally play rock--to have them lay their material out there naked so we can hear it for what it really is. It’s something I’ve actually wanted to do for some time.”

Friday’s debut program will feature local musicians Doug Randall, Jerry McCann (who usually fronts the Band of Giants), and Robin Henkel (Blues ‘90). Beginning next week, Solos will operate weekly on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Scheduled for this Saturday, are Joel Edelstein and a duo called the Rugburns. July 18 will feature Candye Kane, Robert Savery (Savery Brothers), and Shelly Windrum (Scary Mary and the Noose). July 19 brings Peter Calderwood and North County songwriter-laureate Jack Tempchin.

Solos will break somewhat from its not-yet-established tradition when a quartet, the Rebel Alliance Songwriting Consortium, plays the last four Thursdays in August. The quartet features Country Dick Montana and Joey Harris of the Beat Farmers, Paul Camansky of Comanche Moon and a well-known fourth member whose name could not be divulged at press time due to contractual obligations with another local club.

Falk will try to keep the cover charge for Solos at around $3, and there will be no drink minimum. Despite its full bar, the club will be an all-ages venue because it is operating out of a restaurant. Falk believes that, if the club succeeds, it will be good for all involved, including the North County coastal area itself.

“Years ago, there were 10 clubs up here going strong,” he said. “The Stingaree, Golden Rollin’ Belly, Old Time Cafe, the Distillery--there was a lot more night life in the area. Today, there’s just the Belly Up. If Solos catches on, it can only be good for the area because it will help to redefine North County as a place to hear music. I’m looking at the long-term with this club.”

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood performed six sets over three days at the Del Mar Fair. If the show I saw was an accurate index, this reformed Bay Area institution from the early ‘70s is ripe for a full-blown comeback. Pense’s leathery vocals kicked and punched the band’s horn-fired funk into high gear, and those on hand were very appreciative.

Unfortunately, the relatively low turnout of 50 or so spectators reflected the fact that the band played on the Infield Stage, at the far edge of the kiddie ride area of the fair and well off the beaten path. Here’s one vote for bringing the band back next year for a turn at the “main” Grandstand Stage, where crowds range from 4,000 to 20,000.

GRACE NOTES: Tickets are on sale for Robert Palmer’s July 29 concert at Theatre East. They can be purchased at the theater box office, 210 East Main St., El Cajon, or by phone, 440-2277. . . . The Lettermen will perform a benefit for the American Lupus Society at Theatre East on Aug. 31. . . .

A concert package called “A Night on the Town,” featuring Patti Austin, James Ingram, Keiko Matsui, George Howard and Alex Bunion, will be presented Aug. 21 at Symphony Hall (on sale 10 a.m. Friday at all TicketMaster outlets).

CRITIC’S CHOICE: GET LIBERATED WITH TABOU COMBO

Tabou Combo is a Haitian quintet whose specialty is compas , a dance music that features contrapuntal guitar lines and infectious rhythms punctuated by percussive horn parts. The band is just fine on record, but only in live performance is their music a truly liberating experience. Treat yourself to this soca -like sound when Tabou Combo is joined by Sol e Mar for a Thursday night show at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.