FRIDAY...June 28th, Kat and the Blues Hounds will play our monthly gig at Sonny McLean's on Wilshire in Santa Monica.

Enjoy FREE blues every 4th Friday (NOT last Friday) from 9:15 pm until 12:30 am at this fun Irish Bar, located at 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica...The Food is really tasty and admission is FREE!

It's gonn be a hoppin' night of classic blues plus west coast swing. These musicians are truly incredible players.

Kat and the Blues Hounds includes musicians Nick Henry (guitar), Jon Derienzo (bass), and Rick Bryan (Drums), with special guest Lucky Wright on sax!

All the photos are shot by Steve DePena.

Here's some info on the band:

Kathy Leonardo, a native New Yorker, relocated to Venice, CA in 1999. A strong singer with a versatile voice she performs all over the Los Angeles area in various bands that feature Jazz, Blues and Country.

For years she worked as an actress on TV shows such as Cosby as well as on the Broadway stage. Leonardo also traveled the country with national touring companies singing and dancing in original musicals and revivals such as "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off" with the renowned actor/singer and composer Anthony Newley and Nightingale by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie).

Lead guitarist, Nick Henry is also a music arranger. This blues veteran has played in many bands over the years, doing time with R&B Sax man Chuck Higgins, Lucky Wright, Guitar Shorty, Joe Houston, and the Coasters, just to name a few.

Lucky Wright (Saxophonist) played saxophone in the band "The Peppermints." While on tour, they introduced the "Twist" to the world. He opened for and played behind Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and Del Shannon when they were American Idols, so to speak. Wright developed his skills by playing Rhythm and Blues, jump and swing in clubs throughout Southern California during the 50's and 60's. He is currently performing with a big band (Bay Cities Swing featuring Lynn McLaughlin) every third Sunday of the month at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. The band has been playing this gig for the last four years. Wright is an active member of the South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club that performs every week on Sunday afternoon. He is also a songwriter and a published author.

Bass player, Jon DeRienzo has played with the Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone band in the early 90's.

Jon has also played with Nick Henry's BlueZone from '94 to '06 and The Hightoppers '06 to present.

Rick Bryan (Drummer), was raised by feral cat's in the Jungles of Chicago. He began playing drums at 13 and was heavily influenced by the blues of Maxwell St. Bryan worked as part of Ray Charles blues lab with Gashouse Dave other Artists including, TW Henderson band, Joe Houston, Chris Bell.

The Pick of the Week takes place at one of my all time favorite galleries....The currentexhibition spotlights an important cause, near and dear to my heart.

This Saturday, June 15th, the G2 Gallery will premiere "Homeward Bound," Jennifer MaHarry's action-focused exhibit of Los Angeles rescue animals available for adoption.

Homeward Bound will feature photographs of cats and dogs rescued from the street or kill shelters in Los Angeles by Best Friends Animal Society and Animal Wellness Foundation. All of the featured animals will be available for adoption from these two organizations. Once a pet finds a home, a new animal's photograph will take its place to create a constantly evolving exhibit.

"Homeward Bound is an exciting and ambitious exhibition," says G2 Gallery Director Jolene Hanson. "We hope Jennifer's beautiful photography will compel people to save these vulnerable animals by adopting them."

Each photograph comes with an inscribed story about the pictured pet, telling the possible buyer the animal's life story. Anyone who adopts a cat or dog featured in the exhibit will receive a free print of his or her new adoptee.

Jennifer MaHarry, best known for her wild mustang photography recently featured in The Los Angeles Times, turned her artistic eye towards subjects equally close to her heart for Homeward Bound.

"I have two rescue dogs and two rescue cats of my own," says MaHarry. "I think what Best Friends and Animal Wellness are doing for animal welfare is so important. Working with them and photographing the pets they've rescued was an amazing experience."

The opening reception for Homeward Bound, along with The Sierra Light featuring Nolan Nitschke and Nature LA: Stuart Sperling, will be held on Saturday June 15 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

All proceeds from admissions will be donated directly to Animal Wellness Foundation and Best Friends Animal Society, two Los Angeles nonprofits dedicated to the welfare of cats and dogs. RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Admission is $10 at the door and includes wine, hors d'oeuvres and complimentary valet in front of the gallery.

What: Opening reception
Where: The G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice,90291
When: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 452-2842
Website: http://www.theg2gallery.com