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Concert review of Les Lokey/Joe Puerta/Mike Keneally concert at The Coach House

in San Juan Capistrano, CA on April 1, 1999 by Robert  Mercer

Pictures By Roberta Mercer & Sandi Lee

When Les Is More

A breath of fresh air (rare in Southern California and in the world of music)
blew into San Juan Capistrano and the Coach House on Thursday night, a
talented whirlwind named Les Lokey in her first West Coast appearance. In
this case Les is definitely more and anything but low key. She turned in a
tight, energetic 45 minute set covering a wide range of emotions and musical
styles. With her dark hair pinned back and stylishly askew, she took the
stage in a black dress with matching boots, tights, and Takamine guitar.
Joining her was Joe Puerta (Ambrosia, Bruce Hornsby) on bass and backing
vocals, Mike Keneally  (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai) on guitar, Marc Ziegenhagen on
keyboards, and Jason Harrison Smith on drums (both from Keneally's group
“Beer for Dolphins”). And though she was virtually unknown to much of the
crowd, she quickly won them over with songs from her second CD: “Burned Up &
Shining.”

Les Displays Her New CD: Burned Up & Shining

Lokey opened up with a forceful rendition of “Right Now” and literally
bounced into the ska-influenced “Landmine”- an ode to the great state of
being dysfunctional. Next  came the title track with its vivid poetic
imagery.  Also included in the set were two very commercial (in the best
sense of the word) tunes: “Being Simple” and “Lullaby for Love” (even though
she swore she’d “never write a love song, but here goes...”) Both allowed
Lokey to demonstrate her softer, more vulnerable side as she moved gracefully
with the music. Among the highlights of the rest of the show were “Angels’
Envy” with a manic guitar solo by Mike Keneally on his bright green Fender,
the rocking “Dangerous World,” and “Good Day” which featured the magic
fingers of Joe Puerta. She ended her set with an emotional version of the
John Lennon song “Mother.” It captivated the audience with its pain and
melancholy.

Lokey/Puerta/Keneally-Mesmerize The Crowd

Les Lokey will draw the inevitable comparisons to other singer-songwriters,
but she has the potential to carve her own niche in the music industry. Her
talent is obvious and genuine. Like an actress, she convincingly adapts her
mood to her material. Her stage demeanor is variably shy, funny, bold, or
enigmatic. She can be a rocker, a coffeehouse poet, a folk singer, and
everything in between.

Lokey: Diverse, Adaptive & Talented

Born in Texas and most recently calling Wisconsin her home, Lokey has lived
is such diverse places as Santa Fe, Northern Africa, and San Francisco, to
name but a few. It was in Wisconsin that she won the 1997 WAMI award for Best
New Artist and met Joe Puerta, who both produced and played (guitar, bass,
synthesizer) on “Burned Up & Shining.” Signed to Puerta’s Firefly Records,
her career is certainly in good hands.

"The future looks bright becaue it's burning"

Bob Mercer Meets Les

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