December 5, 2014
Destination: Kulak’s Woodshed
Cost: $10.00 plus gas
It was Friday night, and I found myself sitting in
a very funky room which looked like a cross between a thrift shop and a garage
apartment, hidden behind an old storefront on Laurel Canyon Blvd in North
Hollywood. There was audio and video equipment everywhere and an assemblage of
old Topanga Canyon hippies. My childhood neighbor, Linda, turned me on to Kulaks’ Woodshed and I was there to check
out their monthly $10-by-donation First Friday event.
Linda’s been coming here for years, and knew most
of the audience members and performers. The room contained an assortment of
mismatched chairs, sofas and even a bed, to settle in comfortably to watch the
show, which is broadcast via a live, high quality webcast.
Besides the First Friday gigs, Kulak’s hosts Monday open mic nights, regular
performances and “Rent Club” when they need to raise money to keep the doors
open.
I came to hear Severin Browne and Friends and opening
act Janeen Rae Heller. Janeen was intriguing; a skilled guitar player with a
beautiful voice (“She sings like an angel,” remarked Linda). Janeen played musical saw accompanied by piano in one number, which could have been background music in Star
Trek heaven. Severin Browne (Jackson’s brother) and his group had that feel
good, folksy, bar band vibe. They weren’t pushing any limits, but the talented
musicians served up a satisfying show for their listening friends.
Kulak’s isn’t exactly a music venue; it’s more
like a community. It seemed like everyone knew each other and I was quickly
welcomed into the fold. Linda explained that after her third or fourth visit,
she was ceremoniously inducted into the “tribe.” I look forward to returning to
the Woodshed, to hear non-threatening music in a quirky, warm environment.
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