Best of Laguna

You know who they are.

They’re at the same bar, week after week, singing the same old tunes. And you love them for it.

A multitude of local musical talent is being honored by local business owner Billy Fried with a planned series of CDs highlighting the “Best of Laguna.”

The first CD in the series is now available, and a public release party is planned for 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sandpiper Lounge, 1183 S. Coast Highway. From restaurant regulars like the Missiles of October to frequent visitors from halfway around the globe like Just Jinger, the CD honors rock, reggae and pop legends that have graced the city’s meeting places.

Also included on the CD are Common Sense, World Anthem, the Rebel Rockers, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, Jason Feddy, Mike Hamilton, Massive McGreggor, David Holland Mack, Nick Hernandez and Jelani Jones.

The local artists receive a royalty percentage on each sold album.

“A lot of these bands have known success on a national or international level over the years, but they still play here regularly,” Fried said. Fried, who owns the La Vida Laguna adventure tour company, joined with the Laguna School of Music to produce the CD. “As a resident of Laguna and a big music fan, I was always impressed with the quality of musicianship in town,” Fried said.

“One day it occurred to me that Laguna has a real musical identity — a common thread.”

He said that the city’s location along the ocean and its inherent sensibility create a unique individuality.

“We should brand Laguna for its music. We should also be a music colony.”

He hopes the CD will be a jump-start to locals who take the weekly performers for granted.

“I think the Laguna music scene has some great live bands,” Fried said. “But I think quite frankly that a lot of the locals forget about them. Some people think, ‘I can see these guys anytime.’ They tend to forget what a treasure we have here.”

Jason Feddy, an artist featured on the album who teaches guitar and songwriting at the music school, believes that Laguna doesn’t offer enough venues — and that the venues that do exist often have a short lifespan before closing. This forces the artists to spend time searching for places to play.

“We’re kind of like gypsies, really,” he said.

Feddy’s popular song “Connected” is featured on the album.

Missiles of October singer Poul Pedersen recalled that he was immediately interested when he was approached by Fried.

“I’ve been in the music scene down here for the last 30 years, and there are some really talented people here,” Pedersen said.

Another staple in the Laguna scene is David Holland Mack; he has played guitar for the past four years on the street in front of the Fresh Produce store on Forest Ave. His song “Rebel without a Dime” was included on the album.

The CD is available at many local shops, and online at lavidalaguna.com