Dishwalla - Alcazer Theatre, Carpinteria, 6/1/2018

by L. Paul Mann

published: 9 / 2 / 2018

Dishwalla - Alcazer Theatre, Carpinteria, 6/1/2018

L Paul Mann catches post-grunge rockers Dishwalla as they play a fun and crowd-pleasing set in their hometown

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In the wake of California’s largest wildfire in modern history, Carpinteria’s own Dishwalla played a sold-out concert at the Alcazar theatre in their home town. Formerly known as the Carpinteria Plaza Playhouse, the gem of a venue with accidental perfect acoustics has returned to its original name of Alcazar. The 200-seat theatre was initially opened in 1928 by Oliver Prickett and became a popular getaway destination for Hollywood elite, and it will celebrate its 90th anniversary in April 2018. Dishwalla made a national name for themselves in the mid-90s, beginning with their hit album, "Pet Your Friends". After a three-year hiatus, the band returned in 2008 with a new lead singer and since then they have been touring the world. The touring has been relentless over the last year, with the band promoting their new album - recorded in Joshua Tree, California - "Juniper Road", including opening for Tears For Fears at the Santa Barbara Bowl last summer. According to many fans in attendance, the hometown group stole the show, as the veteran English duo suffered from a shared case of laryngitis from their gruelling world tour. The concert at the Alcazar was one of many local efforts to raise money for victims of the devastating recent wildifres. The entire city of Carpinteria was in danger of burning to the ground and was only saved by an army of firefighters risking their lives to save the place. Nearby Ventura was not so lucky with over 500 homes destroyed on the first day of the fire. Dishwalla played a pleasing set full of their hit songs as well as some new material. The veteran rockers led by the phenomenal guitarist Rodney Browning Cravens tore through the blues-laden post-grunge rock that is their signature sound. The band's latest singer Justin Fox has been with the group long enough now that his vocals have become seamless with the music and this has allowed the band to move into new territory. They have had particular success in scoring music for television. In 1995 the song "Counting Blue Cars" was featured in the movie Empire Records, and "Pretty Babies" can be found on the "Blast From The Past" soundtrack. In 1998 "Truth Serum" appeared in the movie The Avengers, in 1999 the song "Stay Awake" was used in the movie Stir of Echoes and "Find Your Way Back Home" was featured in the movie American Pie, and in 2002 "Home" was in the movie The Banger Sisters. This time around at the Alcazar, Dishwalla played a near-two-hour set to the adoring fans in their hometown. Guitarist Cravens noted that the band had only played Carpinteria three times in their 22-year history: "The first time was at the city’s annual avocado festival”. The band also played an extended acoustic set employing some of their many local musician friends from the audience. It was a great start to 2018 both for Carpinteria's favourite sons and for the new old Alcazar theatre, and it was all for a noble cause.