MidTones

Still going strong! midTones gives me that mid-​week hit of top-​shelf live music for FREE and you can order some late night chinese that delivers right to your table too! So good! and chill!

Ever wake up from a dream you’re not quite sure what you were dreaming but whatever it was it gave you that feeling like you want to fall back asleep and keep it going? Ever tried to recur it but couldn’t?
Shin Kawasaki recurs that dream at his MidTones Open Jam, every 1^st Wednesday of every month in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. While you’re awake. It’s the only way I can describe it, and it’s one of the things in LA makes me wish I could get out of Chicago more often.

I’ll be honest, I was kinda skeptical about ever comin here. Didn’t know if it’s be a drag, if I’d totally feel outta place, or if things would get super awkward in one fell swoop. But after my first visit, I’ve come to totally appreciate this place/​experience.
There’s not really much to say about this thang. Shady bar in Chinatown in which musicians convene twice a month to jam. The music genre isn’t limited either: funk, jazz, rock, yatch rock, «FREEBIRD!» Every musician here is extremely talented (they can read notes!) and are oh-​so humble about their abilities.
That’s it. If I weren’t sick during my first visit, I would’ve had a beer, sit back, and listen to the musical stylings of 10 strangers in harmony for 3 hours.
I’m glad spaces like this still exist, where ppl don’t gotta get all dressed up tryin to impress.

The best kept secret-​about-​to-​explode-​into-​public-​consciiousness thing that’s happening in LA right now, and you know that that’s saying A LOT. This is freakin’ INSANE, and it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, aka Chinatown on a Wednesday night after 9:30pm. but if you want to see some RAGIN’ ASIANS, jammin’ and dancin’ and creatin’ a scene with some musicianship beyond your understandin’ with some Japanese dude bossin’ everyone around as if he were Admiral Tojo leading a strike in the Pacific in the name of MUSIC and KEEPIN’ it goin’, then you’re in the right place.
Apparently, the musicians may change, but Shin Kawasaki, the man as crazy as his name, keeps all the knockout, crazy talented musicianship flowin’ from fusion, to pure jam, to songs that the vocalists can hang on to and sell. The energy builds til you have Madelines in blue hair, regular folk, and old dudes like me, dancin’ because you absolutely must, what with all that artistry playin’ and creatin’ and doin’ what they do, the vibes rippling through you…
First, there’ll be a late night commercial about how the Midtowns helped me lose weight and wrinkles. Then, the documentary about Shin Kawasaki, the man, the myth, and the militant conductor. Then, the reality show about the Madelines.
It’s all happening in Chinatown and every other Wednesday night, which means… plenty of parking.
It’s Hump Day. It’s the Midtones. It’s time to get a tune-​up.

Need a way to cap off hump day?
Grab a drink at Midtones Open Jam held at Grandstar held on the first and third Wednesdays each month.
What is it?: an eclectic gathering of musicians just jamming it out. I’ve seen violinists, sax, trumpets, and even this electromagnetic musical instrument whose name evades me.
The jam is open to anyone who just wants to hop in and join the fun! It does have some organization to it, as it is loosely conducted by Shin, the maestro and the one in charge of these evenings!
And, last but not least, you can’t miss the MADELEINES. If you don’t know what that is… come check it out!

MidTones is the best kept secret in Chinatown. A place were talented musicians come, play, and listen to other talented musicians play their multitude of instruments. Led by the talented and amazing Shin Kawasaki — MidTones is no holds barred a collection of eclectic beats, tight grooves, improvisational sounds that make your head move up and down as your feet slide to the lit up dance floor. Every MidTones jam is a gift to anyone that’s stuck in the monotony that sometimes comes with living in LA. One of the highlights is the MidTone Madeleines that dance to the music and hand out cookies — it doesn’t get better than this.

I’m not sure if I’m really allowed to review this night, for I’m the resident DJ. Biased opinion aside, this is one of the most fun nights that I do, the musicians are all amazing, the atmosphere is laid back, I’m able to play the most adventurous sets, and we are frequented by ladies in wigs that hand out snacks. Yea that sounds like 5 stars to me.

Go check it out. The site description says it all…
«MidTones is an eclectic/​experimental open jam that takes place @ Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown on 1^st and 3^rd Wednesdays of every month. if you play any musical instrument, use devices and machines that make noise, sing, rap, beatbox, write poems, dance, do stand-​up, or like to hang out and meet people, have conversation with people, AND you’re looking for something that is different, experimental, in the moment, no expectation, no categorization, no limitation (except for the midnight cut-​out time) — this is the venue for you.»