On Thursday, July 1, the Southern California folk-rock quartet Venice cast more than just a spark to an otherwise gloomy, overcast night on the Santa Monica Pier.  For all of their energy, professionalism, and showmanship, the local favorites may as well have lit off fireworks when they opened the Pier's 15th Annual Twilight Dance Series. Instead, bubbles filled the air as Michael, Mark, Kip and Pat Lennon treated fans new and old to a 70 minute set of songs, mostly from their forthcoming Vanguard CD, Spin Art.

Although generations of fans have become addicted to this band's music through their CD's, Venice is a group that must be seen live to truly be enjoyed and appreciated in the format the band most thrives in!

The momentum continued to build from the opening chords of "If I Were You," to the surprise encore appearance by longtime fan and friend Jackson Browne, as fans of all ages sang, danced and wondered to themselves: Could this be the year Venice finally makes it big?

Perhaps, if dedication has anything to do with it.  After all, they have been playing together for more than 20 years.

Their sound and materials have changed dramatically in that time, but the trademark harmonies have only improved with age.  From the sweet acoustic sound of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" (the first cover to appear on a Venice CD) to the ultra-mellow "Family Tree," passion and truth is evident in all of their lyrics.  I particularly enjoyed the chorus in another new song, "Always."  Mark sings "I just want to be loved, and to love, always," which expresses the most basic of human needs.

Early in the set, Venice treated fans to a sneak preview of "The Man You think I Am," the song most rumored to be their next new single for radio.  "Many people think the song's about new romance," Kipp said, durang a brief introduction.  "It's really about us relating to our new children."

(In the past year, Kipp, Michael, and cousin Kevin Lennon, the band's sound engineer, have all had new additions to their families.)

As usual, the crowd favorite was "For A Kiss," a quirky pop hit-that-never-was from the 1997 Born and Raised CD.  It's hard to top the crowd reaction to line like "If you were a vampire in a casket, I would love to meet you in the mist…"

Hard rocking sounds and meaningful ballads: the concert was full of them, which was fine by me.  This was the band's third time playing the Santa Monica Pier.  The experience, the energy --by both Venice and their fans -- will most certainly assure they will be invited back again.

Cousins Michael and Kipp first formed the band in 1977.  Their brothers, Mark and Pat, came aboard at separate times within the following three years.  Together the four have released two national CDs, and toured for thousands of miles spreading their words and music.

But their roots are solidly planted right here on LA's west side.  In 1917, their grandparents, Bert and Betty Lennon first moved to Venice, California.  The, rest, as they say, is still history in the making. - Debra L. Eckerling