FM Station Prepares to Launch TV Program Giving Local Bands a Chance to Sound Off

Beginning early next year, North Hollywood’s FM Station may play host to a weekly television show showcasing local bands, said owner Filthy McNasty.

McNasty would not say which network would broadcast the show--”FM Station Live.” He said each week would feature four bands, playing anything from hard rock to country.

“It will be an event each week,” McNasty said. “There will be no judging, no comments. We’ll just let them play.”

To make room for the show, McNasty said, the club is spending $25,000 on improvements, adding more lights and building a new stage. He said the club’s 500-seat capacity will not change. The work, which began Monday, is expected to be completed next month.

The show, he said, will air either Tuesday or Thursday nights. He said he doesn’t know exactly when it will begin, although the pilot is to be shot in November.

“I don’t want to say which network will do the show because I don’t want to jeopardize it,” McNasty said. “They haven’t made it definite yet, but it looks pretty good.”

Other club news: Hollywood’s Lhasaland Club, closed since Oct. 1, isn’t likely to open again till at least late December, according to owner Jean-Pierre Boccara.

Boccara said he has been too busy working out the purchase of a restaurant/bar in the Fairfax District to concentrate on his club.

He said the new place would be a hangout for jazz, poetry and comedy. “No rock n’ roll,” he said.

Tonight, J.D. Nicholson, a jazz pianist who played with Muddy Waters, will perform at the LOA club in Santa Monica.

The concert is part of a series sponsored by the Southern California Blues Society. Other featured artists have included Floyd Dixon and Willie Egan.

Nicholson also toured with Esther Phillips and Johnny Otis. He will do two sets, at 5 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 and can be obtained at the door.

On Nov. 12, Texas country and folk performers Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark will appear at McCabe’s in Santa Monica.

Van Zandt wrote “Pancho and Lefty,” which has been recorded by countless artists and was the title track of a recent Willie Nelson-Merle Haggard album. He also wrote “If I Needed You,” which has been recorded by Emmylou Harris and Doc Watson.

Guy Clark’s “L.A. Freeway” was brought to the mainstream by Jerry Jeff Walker. Among other Clark originals recorded are “Heartbroke” by Ricky Skaggs, and “Texas 1947” by Johnny Cash. Newcomer Michelle Shocked dedicated her recent album to Clark.

Van Zandt and Clark are both known for their heavy emphasis on details in their lyrics. More than anything else, they are storytellers.

Each will be performing solo in two separate shows beginning at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12.50 and can be obtained at the door.