I love live music, especially when I unexpectedly love the music!

Thursday night my friend Milisia accompanied me to my new favorite Long Beach lounge The Basement to check out the band BEATMO that Don Bleezy had recommended I see.

I’m all about free entrance and happy hours, so we got there around 9:30 p.m. to insure the two. The place wasn’t very lively, but two years ago I would hardly leave my house before 10 p.m. to go out at night, so I wasn’t judging the event at such an early time.

We settled in and both ordered a $3 well drink; not bad for those trying to ball on a budget. The DJ was playing great tunes, mixing up A Tribe Called Quest with some Barry White, and funk was floating in the air.

Social networking was taking place around us, as Milisia and I just chatted away. Around 10:30 p.m. I looked around and started noticing the place become very fashionable and hipster. I quickly asked Milisa if she wanted to go dance and we took to the floor and let loose to the jams.

Soon enough, others around us joined in and I smiled at the idea that I know how to get a party started (lol!) In due time, the band started setting up and I was left with a perfect position to see the band in close proximity.

BEATMO is a girl/guy band (which to me, always bring a level of coolness) with Alexis on lead vocals, Monica on keys, synth and trumpet, Luis on bass, Brian on drums and Milan handling the guitar, trumpet, keys and vocals.

They look great on stage together. Aside from their musical taste obviously meshing well, physically they all fit together very handsomely. They seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage as well, and I caught drummer Brian smiling to himself quite a few times.

Their musical vibe is electric and energetic; fusing sounds of funk, rock, and new wave on the stage. The music gets loud, trumpets appear and disappear and Alexis surely keeps the energy up with her stellar stage presence.

The crowd just loved BEATMO. Some were surely fans, but when speaking to those surrounding me I discovered many had never heard the band play. By everyone’s dancing language, you would have assumed the crowd composed of BEATMO groupies. We all danced together, hurled around the stage and smiled watching the individually inspired group all engage each other and their audience simultaneously.

It was a great night for me and an even better night for Long Beach because once again the city was able to represent local(Los Angeles) musicians with talent and taste, without tearing apart a checking account.

Check out BEATM at www.myspace.com/beatmo
Basement Lounge at www.basementloungelb.com