The Kona Kai Resort may not be hosting many music-related events at the moment, but thanks to promoter Shawn Balch, their Sunday concert series, Live ‘n’ Local, continues to be one of the city’s best bets for catching topnotch acoustic performances. Held weekly from 4 to 7 p.m. at the venue, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, the event features up to six performers who play short sets, giving audiences a chance to take a wide variety of offerings in one afternoon. Mix in the spectacular views from the Kona Kai and happy hour food and drink prices, and it’s easy to see why the crowds keep coming. Balch considers the success of his shindigs to the fact that the audience and musicians are having a great time; “All of the artists are enjoying the show,” Balch said. He noted the concerts have a reach beyond the Kona Kai itself. “Some artists,” he said, “have big shows coming up or CDs being released, and I always tell them if they do, I’ll get them a slot on my event to help promote it.”
Sunday, Jan. 25 has a terrific lineup, which includes country singer Sara Petite, indie rocker Rhythm Turner, balladeer Jeffrey Joe, singer-songwriter Greg Cyrus, Latin combo Cantua and newcomers Handmade Moments. As a bonus for the performers, Balch records the artist’s set right off the board. To date, it’s been a single-microphone recording, but that changes this week. “I’m trying to add value to the performances for the artists,” Balch says, “so I’m moving to multi-track recording.” He admits all that extra work to document the sessions are “not monetarily worth it, so to speak, but being able to stage so many local artists is priceless. It’s wonderful to be able to document what’s going on in our scene right now.”
He credits the Kona Kai staff for being a big part of the venue’s appeal. “I absolutely love all the staff,” he said. “They go out of their way to make people feel at home and truly enjoy the show.”
For their part, musicians who have played the Local ‘n’ Live event sing its praises. “Performing at the Kona Kai was a blast,” said Kendrick Dial of award-winning hip-hop group Lyrical Groove. “We love to perform wherever there is good sound and inviting energy. The Kona Kai is right there on the water, so the scenery is beautiful, and it has great ambiance – which I kind of think makes all the people even more receptive to the performers, along with the drinks of course.” Dial notes that the Kona Kai crowd is a bit more receptive to performers than the typical venue that mixes food, drink and music. “Typically, in bar-type establishments, you have a myriad of folks who are there to mingle, look at the game or get drinks, and the music acts are just atmosphere. But at the Kona Kai, whenever we ended a song, we could hear the crowd cheer in a way that lets us know they actually listened to us. “This was the same for most of the performers as well. This could just be saying a lot about the performers, but it definitely speaks volumes for venue.”
Show veteran Tim Flack points out that the outdoor setting and short set times present challenges in themselves. “The bar layout,” he said, “works really nice for playing, since the ‘stage’ is placed outdoors but within shot of the bar patrons. “Of course, the short sets are challenging from a performance perspective; just when you’re getting comfortable and have the audience engaged, you’re packing it up. “But that’s the nature of this type of gig, and [it] encourages you to hit the ground running from the first song.”
Tunesmith Tad Ryan concurs. “In terms of the brief showcase, it takes you back to open mic roots,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of the venture.”
For singer Gayle Skidmore, part of the appeal is the camaraderie among the performers. “What I enjoyed most was getting to hear a few other San Diego songwriters that I wasn’t yet familiar with,” she said. “The SD scene has grown a lot in the last few years, and it’s awesome to be a part of events that showcase such great talent.” She also points out the challenges of playing a brief set. “Those are definitely very different from a normal show,” she said. “I find they require a lot more energy to engage the audience and to give a memorable performance. “There isn’t time available to delve into deeper or more experimental songs, but it is a good chance for an artist to find out which of their songs are interesting to an audience who isn’t familiar with their music.”
Balch plans to continue the shows as long as possible. “I’m having a blast,” he said good- naturedly. He’s even planning on upgrading the experience for musicians. “I’m hoping to start doing videos too, soon as I can afford a camera.” Live ’n’ Local Acoustic Showcase: Sundays, 4-7 p.m. at the Kona Kai Resort, 1551 Shelter Island Drive. Free. Visit www.resortkonakai.com for more information.