Show to Honor Late Musician, Cafe Bartender

Caffeine and socializing attract many to Rock-N-Java cafes in Costa Mesa and Fullerton.

But for seven years, many also stopped in for friendly chats about the Orange County music scene with Tom Leonard, a longtime counter employee at both cafes and bass player for Slam & Tub who died in a November motorcycle crash on the Riverside Freeway.

“A lot of people came just to talk to Tom because he was such a cool guy,” said Kammarie McClain, 28, manager of the Fullerton cafe.

To help his family pay costs from his funeral, friends will play at a benefit tonight at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. Chiselhead, Dual County All Stars, Dynamo Hum and Unit F will perform.

Friends said that in addition to his musical knowledge, the 32-year-old Leonard stood out in many other ways.

“He was 6 foot 7--he was so tall,” McClain said. “He was the strangest, funniest guy in the world. He had big, long sideburns; he had long hair and had this cool tattoo on the back of his leg that said, ‘No problem.’ That’s what he was known for because he was one of the easiest-going guys in the world.”

“Tom was a very stable, very centered, sincere kind of guy,” Mel Schantz of Unit F said. “He was independent, into his music. He had this higher sense of being that was just rare among people in music, let alone the regular world.”

Friend Doug Metzgar of Dynamo Hum said Leonard “was like a sweet guy. Sweet’s a good word. He was mellow. He was there for you, very genuine.”

Tonight’s show begins at 8 at the Tiki Bar, 1700 Placentia Ave. The cover is $5, 21 and older only.

Information: (714) 548-3533.--JOHN CANALIS