Tag Archive for: los angeles

GETTING DOWN WITH TOSHA JONES

From playing small, smokey bars in southern Indiana, to touring world wide with national music acts, Los Angeles based heavy hitting drummer, Tosha Jones, quickly made a name for herself throughout the world’s music scene. At just the ripe age of three, Tosha began expressing herself through music, song, and dance. In 1991 as a true drummer at heart, Tosha joined her jr. high school band and eventually begged her parents for a real drum kit instead of playing on various pots and pans and her mother’s Tupperware.

Stemming from numerous garage bands and many Battle of the Band competitions throughout the Midwest, Jones finally jumped ship from working multiple factory jobs in Indiana and saved up enough money to move to Los Angeles, California as she immediately landed the Vans Warped Tour in 2008 with then, all-female punk rockers, The Randies.

Respectfully, after years of rejected auditions and trudging the streets of the Sunset Strip along Hollywood, Jones found herself in various bands on the road opening for national rock acts such as Stone Sour, Halestorm, Seether, & Skid Row, while eventually landing a long tour stint playing drums for Grammy nominated rock band, Saliva in March of 2018. As one of her personal career favorites, Tosha was contacted by American Idol (2015) to play in an all-female drum line for contestant Tyanna Jones, performing the song “Run The World” by Beyoncé.

Fast forward to Covid-19’s protocols and cancellations in 2019/2020, and unfortunately like many other musicians finding themselves away from touring, Jones was part of numerous collaboration videos online which includes Sheltering Sky’s Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot) in their 2021 Björk’s cover “Army of Me”, and most recently “Throwin’ Stones”, which hit on the recent attack of Ukraine. Jones was also featured in artist/singer, Chloe Trujillo’s videos, “Mana” and “The Heaviest Sound is Silence”. You can also find Tosha playing drums online in the star-studded cast for the David Z Foundation covering “Zombie”, by Bad Wolves.

In December 2021, Jones was asked to play drums on a few tour dates for alt rockers Carolina Liar, best known for their hit songs “Show Me What I’m Looking For” and “I’m Not Over”.

In January of ‘22, Jones received a last-minute call to bash the skins for the fresh hard rockers, Black Satellite, as they were direct support for Nita Strauss’s (Alice Cooper, The Iron Maidens) 2022 Winter Wonderland Tour.

In Spring of ‘22, Jones was invited to be a camp counselor for the famous Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp where iconic musicians such as Melissa Etheridge, Nancy Wilson (Heart), and Kathy Valentine from The Go-Go’s were the special guests.

Sponsored by Five Star Guitars, Rhythm Traders and Music Millennium

ALL ACCESS LIVE with CHARLIE WADHAMS

In the early 2000’s Charlie fronted a band called Rex Aquarium. They made a couple records, toured the U.S., and then broke up for all the usual reasons. Around 2006, he went solo and made an album with film score composer Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko and Me You and Everyone Else We Know). While making the record Michael suggested that Charlie write songs for a movie he was working on called Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Two of Charlie’s songs made it in the film – “Let’s Duet” and “Guilty As Charged”.

In the next few years he released two EPs under his name and an EP with Priscilla Ahn under the band name Sweet Hearts. He’s also had songs placed in the movies Bad Teacher, Cyrus, and the t.v. show Men In Trees. He has played shows with Daniel Johnston, Jonathan Richman, and toured opening for Bird and the Bee, as well as David Lindley. On May 6th 2014, he released Out at the Bar. It was recorded, produced and mixed by Gus Seyffert (Black Keys, Norah Jones, Beck, Michael Kiwanuka). His latest album entitled Undying Light was released in August of 2016.

Sponsored by Five Star Guitars

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ALL ACCESS LIVE with JEFF BOWDERS

Something must be in the water in Salem, Oregon…Jeff Bowders is the incredible drummer behind some of the most talented artists on the planet from guitarists Paul Gilbert, John 5, George Lynch, Joe Satriani, Larry Mitchell, Richie Kotzen, Scott Ian, Phil Collen, Warren DeMartini, Kiko Loureiro, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Justin Derrico, Pat Travers, Brad Whitford, Kim SeHwang, Mike Keneally, Michelangelo along with artist Puddle of Mudd, Shakira, Stu Hamm, Nelson and Graham Bonnet/Alcatrazz; and … yeah, you get it. The boy has cred! He’s also written several books on drumming and has programs to make your efforts count!

Sponsored by Five Star Guitars

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ALL ACCESS LIVE with RIKI RACHTMAN AND LEA VENDETTA

The iconic Headbanger’s Ball MTV VJ and I shared a rare in-person live appearance on All Access Live from Happy Rock Inn in Portland, Oregon. Riki and Lea Vendetta (world-famous tattoo artist) are riding their motorcycle cross-country to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Disease (www.rikisride.com). Traveling more than 10,000 miles, their goal is to raise $20,000 through donations on their journey. We’re talked the history of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, Riki’s journey through the heyday of the Sunset Strip era, how the industry has changed and how he’s weathered the storm while bringing attention to worthy causes. Happy Rock Inn is THE stop for musicians traveling through Portland, and does a ton of charity work for the community.

Donate here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/rikisride20

Proudly sponsored by Five Star Guitars and Happy Rock Inn!