caveman DOWNEY (via The Downey Patriot)—The company that received a $400,000 contract from the Downey City Council last November to operate the Downey Theatre this year has just announced its first four big bookings—the folk-rock duo America, the swing revival outfit Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Los Lobos members David Hildalgo & Louie Perez and three performances of Defending the Caveman.

All together now: Four hundred thousand dollars?

Well, clearly, that wasn’t all together. For example, Roger Brossmer didn’t join in. We understand, though—Brossmer is Downey’s Mayor Pro-Tem, and was part of the 4-1 City Council majority that awarded Venue Tech the $400,000 contract. Apparently, he doesn’t regret it. When asked about the stud-startling musical lineup, Brossmer acted as proud as a puffin.

“Coming out of the box we knew it was important to hit a home run,” Brossmer told Eric Pierce of The Downey Patriot.

All together now: A home run?

Again with the less-than-unanimity … although this time, my lips were among the sealed. Not because there’s a chance in hell—or one of America’s concerts—that the whiny guys who gave us “Sister Golden Hair” could ever jerk one out … not if we’re using that term to mean “hit a home run.”

It’s just that  Brossmer’s perspective—born of a terrible predicament—suddenly dawned on me. His seat on the Downey City Council has periodically obliged him to take a seat in the Downey Theatre and actually sit through the some of the stuff that is performed on its stage.  That’s why the place was losing so much money. That’s why the Council hired Venue Tech.

“We just had to broaden the field,” Brossmer told Pierce, and I didn’t actually hear him, so I can’t say for sure how weary he may have sounded, but damn, I can imagine. “The DCLO [Downey Civic Light Opera] is great, the symphony is great, but they don’t appeal to everyone.”

Roger that, Brossmer. When you put it that way, two of those shows actually look rather attendable—the Dec. 2 appearance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and the Jan. 21, 2012 performance by the Los Lobos guys. And the $400,000 wasn’t just for booking acts—Venue Tech spent much of this year completing renovations at the theater, installing a new box office and building a new website.

But America? Nope, never, not ever … although if somebody were to break an oath like that … well,  it’s interesting and kind of nice that  the Nov. 5 show in Downey does benefit Easter Seals. So disabled people are who you’d be going for.

There’s no such heartwarming wiggle room with March 9 and 10 performances of Defending the Caveman, although you gotta admit, those dudes were a freakin’ crackup back when they were on the GEICO commercials.

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