Venice Open Mic’s Isaac Irvin

Tell us about your music/band?
I recently started a new eclectic Latin guitar band we call it “Los Pochos” We are a cross between Latin and alternative acoustic music, I am the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Sitting to the right of me I have a seasoned professional guitarist | composer | producer and great friend Michael Jost who is the best flamenco guitarist I have ever heard. To the left of me I have Rick Boston musician | songwriter | producer and also great friend who is known for his roles in Low Pop Suicide and for producing the Rickie Lee Jones’ album, Ghostyhead. A recent addition to Los Pochos is female backup singer & flamenco guitarist Clarissa Cupero. Singing in both languages enables her to connect with people both culturally and emotionally and we are ecstatic to have her on board.

Genre:
Latin Rock / Alternative acoustic music

Your job in the band?
Lead Singer / Rhythm Guitarist / Percussion

What projects are you currently working on?
Los Pochos EP – May 2018

Past bands/ Albums recorded?
DEAN Challenger Lt. Dan

Influences?
Bob Dylan, Manu Chao, Buena Vista Social Club, Mana, Juanes, The Gotan Project, Luis Fonsi, Willie Nelson, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Alice IN Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Mettalica, Beck, Duran Duran, The Cure, Bob Marley, The Police, Neil Diamond, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Los Lobos just to name a few…

How did you get into it?
I cant remember a day I wasn’t listening to music. My Dad always had guitars laying around the house growing up and I remember him writing down chord charts on paper towels for my brother and I so we could learn how to play. My Moms side of the family lived in Mexico and when we would visit we got to hear my Grandfathers Mariachi band practice. I remember sitting there in awe listening to all the brass instruments thinking I wish I could play like that. My parents nicknamed me “Isaac Dean the Music Machine” and it stuck….cause now there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about making, singing or just listening to music. It is definitely my passion.

Upcoming Shows?
We have a show coming up 2/28 at Surfside Venice as Featured Artist for Venice Open Mic night at 10pm. But follow our facebook page below to find out about more places we will be playing around Los Angeles.

Best memory/show?
1997 Roswell New Mexico – 50th Anniversary UFO Incident. My band Lt. Dan packed a small warehouse building full of people and we had the Mayor stage diving & crowd surfing. I will never get that image out of my head.

Favorite book, band or movie?
My favorite movie of all time is Natural Born Killers. Directed By Oliver Stone this movie changed the way I viewed the media…and it was a great love story too.

What causes do you support?
I support all local music and musicians. I go to as many gigs as I can. Watching old friends play, meeting new ones and supporting in any way that I can is what I love to do.

Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote?
When things are good its “Pimp & Bomb!”

What’s one thing we can do to make the world a better place?
Stop and listen to each other.

List 1-2 things on your bucket list, and 1-2 on your VENICE bucket list?
Bucket List: 1) I would love to go on a mini tour outside of the United States. 2) Visit the Egyptian pyramids Venice Bucket List: 1) Party with Treeman 2) Play The Townhouse – Delmonte Speakeasy with my new band “Los Pochos.”

Venice Questions:

Describe Venice?
Venice allows artists and musicians a platform like no other to collaborate and grow. This is what I love about it. If you’re crazy cool. If you’re normal cool. Everyone is accepting & willing to listen to what you have to say. I love it.

Describe your perfect day in Venice? (start from morning to night)
Waking up right before the sun comes up taking a walk to Rose cafe, buying a dirty chai latte then head down to the boardwalk where nine times out of ten I have a great chat with Tonan Ruiz who usually has his shirt off and is enjoying his cup of joe while smoking a cigarette. Talk for a few minutes and catch up then continue to walk down the boardwalk heading towards Hinano for that amazing breakfast burrito. Drinking a few large Hinano beers and visiting with the bartender Melissa Monroe my twin. By that time a few locals will straggle in that I know and we will continue the journey back towards Westminster where there are always great musicians outside Groundworks congregating or simply just listening to another great musician Vinnie Caggiano jam guitar right outside their door. Then walk to Surfside at night where they have great Live music. Say hello to my favorite bartender Dakota, have a few pints and then head to The Townhouse downstairs to watch another live band rock out. That to me…is a perfect day in Venice. Music, Art and Love. The way Venice was meant to be.

List any of your favorite Venice businesses, event(s) or activities?
Here are my go-to Spots in Venice. Hinano, Surfside, Townhouse

Who has the best Venice nightlife? Favorite places to watch live music?
Surfside Venice.(Open Mic Wednesdays) Zinqué – Venice (2nd & 4th Thursdays)

Your favorite Venice bands?
Here are a few of my favorite local musicians not necessarily bands. Michael Jost, Cristina Vane, Drew Dolan, Sunny War, David Sparrow, Shine Delphi, Austin Charles, Lacey Cowden, Diego Garcia, Crosby Morgan, Jew-Panese Brothers, Mercury Slim, Courtland Zelle, Christopher Hazard, Molly Hanmer, Sky Willie.

What is your craziest or fondest Venice experience?
Seeing the sunrise with a polish man (such a funny story.)

Any shoutouts or thank you’s?
Shout out to Roy Edwards / Russel Lawless for believing in me. These two Gents are the reason I am actively playing music in Venice. Without them, I would have never started Venice Open Mic Night or met any of the people I know. So if you know them or see them…thank them.

Anything else about Venice that you would like to say?
I went through a rough patch in my life when I was scared to play in front of audiences and would sit in a garage and practice and play thinking to myself… wouldn’t it be great if one day I could play all these songs and people would listen to them and enjoy it? Venice has allowed me to break through my barrier. The community is what keeps me going. I tell a story about riding my beach cruiser down speedway. I had just lost my job and I was on my way to Dannys Deli (now Surfside) to have a beer and along the way I saw a good friend of mine Michael Jost and I told him about my Job and he continued talking to me and said “you know what for every day that you’re unemployed you should write a song.” That really hit home & inspired me so much that I actually turned my bike around and wrote one of my favorite songs “Walk Away”

Who should Venice Paparazzi cast the spotlight on next?
Cristina Vane