If you are old enough to remember that there once was a comedian named Jack Benny, I can assure you he has not risen from the dead to perform this show. Instead, twin brothers Jack and Benny Lipson have combined their first names and perform under the name of the previously-mentioned dead comedian. jackbenny will be performing It’s National See-a-Show Day at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday.
jackbenny finds Benny on bass and Jack on drums. They had pursued different careers in music before teaming up in 2016. They play music that inspired them, original songs and also serve as backing band for a wide range of musical artists. For their show at Luckman, they have as special guests baritone Jonnie Reinhart, singer Bella Hicks, violinist Miyuki Miyagi, guitarist Chili Corder and stage musical star Valerie Perri. Their regular drummer, Theo Sidman, will also be on the bill.
We first experienced jackbenny recently when they served as the house band at Tramp Stamp Granny’s Queer Cabaret night hosted by Anita Procedure. This was in celebration of Not My President’s Day. The music being performed ranged from American Idiot to original songs to music by Phil Ochs. (Not that it appeared too many people were familiar with Ochs.)
Through the evening jackbenny provided passion, good music and a clever approach to songs both familiar and new. The original songs I heard were very clever and seemed to be inspired by a wide range of artists and styles, but all of it making sense.
What you can probably expect from this show is originality and quirkiness. But not quirkiness just to be quirky, but rather a passion for all styles of music and a flair for having fun with it all.
