Noble Creatures

Ojai Celebrates New Libbey Bowl

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Ian James and Joan Englander dance as the first songs are played on Sunday. Photo by Logan Hall

By Logan Hall

Even rain and chilly temperatures couldn’t keep the community from celebrating the completion of the Libbey Bowl renovation project and all of the hard work and effort by everyone.Donning ponchos and umbrellas, people flocked to Libbey Park on Sunday to hear dozens of local musicians take the new bowl for a test drive. Ojai Valley legends like Alan Thornhill, Roger Kellaway, Jonathan McEuen and Rain Perry took to the stage throughout the day to entertain the gathered masses. Although the rain started to come down early in the afternoon, it didn’t seem to hamper the spirit and enthusiasm of the community or the performers. People danced and sang along as their favorite local acts performed.Prior to the performances, Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait and her family blessed the bowl and Ojai Mayor Carol Smith cut the ribbon, declaring the bowl open to the public. Also sharing the stage with Smith were past and present City Council members and former mayors of the city, who helped usher in a new era of performances at Libbey Bowl.”(Sunday) was a tribute to David Bury for all the hard work he put in to make this happen,” said former Ojai Mayor Steve Olsen, who was on stage to help kick off the bowl’s opening. “It’s just such a beautiful venue. I thought it was spectacular.”Rubén Salinas, saxophone player for the group Noble Creatures that was first to perform on Sunday, was proud to be part of the opening ceremonies. “I was very, very impressed with the general layout,” he said. “It was great to be up on that stage. It seemed like there were really good acoustics.”The weekend’s festivities began on Saturday night with the Ojai Music Festival’s “First Blast” gala and concert. According to Jeff Haydon, the festival’s executive director, about 1,000 people came out Saturday night to hear the new bowl in action for the first time. Performances by soprano Dawn Upshaw, accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman, pianist Octavio Brunetti, and classical guitarist Claudio Ragazzi showcased the bowl’s sound as people enjoyed the new but familiar surroundings.Tables and chairs were set up on the lawn above the bowl and dinner was served to about 400 people, most of whom had contributed to the funding of the project. “Our goals were to introduce the new bowl to the community,” said Haydon, “and thank everyone for all of the support, financial or otherwise. The weekend was a culmination of almost four years of work by a lot of people. This is Ojai’s Bowl.”
- Ojai Valley News

Noble Creatures showcase multiple influences at the Old Towne Pub

By John Sollenberger 01/14/2010

IT CAN BE TOUGH RELOCATING TO LA and making a name for oneself in the tangled web of the local music scene. But many take the plunge, like guitarist/songwriter and Kansas native Luis Nariño, who came to Los Angeles in 2005.

On Wednesday night at the Old Towne Pub, Nariño and his band, Noble Creatures, perform their brand of tropical rock — flavored with salsa, funk, calypso, hip-hop and a wide range of other influences in a multicultural musical blast.

Nariño hit the ground running when he got here, performing at open mic events and booking café gigs with other singer/
songwriters. He landed a musical residency at the Room 5 Lounge in LA in 2006, and while there formed Noble Creatures with musicians he’d met while performing.

The group soon recorded its first EP, “My Great Escape.” All the while, Nariño also worked scoring music for TV and films, among other projects­. The band too has kept a busy schedule, recording and playing clubs and festivals from Orange County to Santa Barbara. Their latest self-titled disc is available at myspace.com/luisnarino. - Pasadena Weekly

"Wow, “My Great Escape” is a great CD. When Mo Power and I played the title track on MisterB's Jukebox we were both dancing around the room like we had margaritas in our hands. And when the dj’s start dancing to your song, you know you’ve got a real winner."
- MisterB, MisterB's Jukebox WPMD.org

"Brilliant musician, I love the caribbean meets salsa and rock influence on My Great Escape, that has to be one of my favorite songs. Great job Luis!!" - Gus Osuna, musician

"...Luis Narino is an up-and-coming artist who will make a noticeable dent in the world of popular music. He has earned it. Luis Narino is truly a unique talent in today's musical world. This highly-trained, but goofy and spirited professional, has been spending nearly 15 years exploring a sound that is a combination of Latin, Rock, Funk, Blues, Pop, and even a bit of Gospel styles- all of which he can perform with exceptional authenticity. I firmly believe that "My Great Escape" is a recording that captures an artist who has truly begun to find an individual sound- one that teens and adults can both find rewarding..."

excerpt from www.cdbaby.com/cd/luisnarino - Jonathan Glawe, Conductor/Music Education

Luis Narino is defintely a singer/songwrtier who is destined for greatness. He has been performing with PRG/Acoustically Speaking music collective for nearly four years. I first met Luis when he signed up to read at an open mic/music night that I was hosting at Panera Bread in Studio City, CA, and from that very first time I heard him play, I knew that I wanted him to perform with PRG!

Luis is one of our resident singer/songwriters at Room 5 Lounge for our PRG/Acoustically Speaking night. He is a crowd favorite and he gets along very well with his fellow performers. The one thing I really admire about Luis as a performer, is that he is always on time and one of the most professional entertainers that I have worked with.

His lyrics are timeless and his classically inspired, musical background shines through with every strum of his guitar. His thought provoking words often take his listerners on an acoustic journey into his world of globally inspired stories that appeal to the masses. The way that Luis is able to blend fantasy and reality into a metaphor of memories is simply a testement to his lyrical skills.

I have been honored to have Luis also tour with the PRG/College colletive as it is very clear to see that his performance and style appeals to the college commuity as well.

In short, Luis Narino's music is defintely a must play on everyone's IPOD!!!

Peace and Blessings

Roni Walter
PoetRonigirl
Booker/Producer/PRG/Acoustically Speaking
323-338-2306 - POETRONIGIRL'S ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING ENT.

LUIS NARINO, TO CHILL OR JUST ROCK’N’ROLL-HE ROCKS!
Luis has a voice that's fun and upbeat, its great music to let your hair down too, my favorite is "The way we do", but check the other songs they all have a different flavor. I definitely dig this guy. Thumbs up for my "paisano" Check his page out, to see what he's all about! - Aligned Visions

"In my 7 years of booking almost every venue in Los Angeles, I've had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented, passionate and consummate music professionals in the world. And Luis Narino absolutely qualifies as one of these talents. With exemplary songwriting skills, performance and vocal ability, Luis Narino is truly a fine practitioner of his craft- a man who possesses substance over style, who treats his career and promotion with the same passion with which he treats his music, and whose combined qualities make him a formidable musical force to be reckoned with not only in Greater Los Angeles, but worldwide." - Troy "T-roy" Berry, Founder, Surge Event

"Ive seen Luis Narino perform solo and with the Noble Creatures and both shows are rockin'. The unique blending of rock, soul, tropical grooves & entertaining stage presence makes you wanna dance and makes this band a must see in my book."
-Dawn Alexander - Featured Night, Dawn Alexander

As far as up-and-coming acts go Noble Creatures, an L.A. outfit, has got it together. That is to say that they have a solid full sound and some excellent songwriting showcased in the three songs that were provided to me. Noble Creatures is an ensemble of Los Angeles transplants honing their craft and carving out an audience for their funk/rock/adult contemporary offerings.

To nail down a particular genre to classify these guys into would be difficult. From the selection of songs I heard they rather competently and effortlessly float from style to style without alienating the listener.

Checking out the tracks I was given the band throws it all into the gumbo and stirs until the flavor is just right; from the reggae infused down-tempo “Beautiful Mistake” right into the funky “Hard To Come By” with guitar riffs that sound like they were freshly ripped right from Carlos Santana’s fingertips against a Maroon 5-ish vibe. Then the Noble Creatures take an unexpected urban cowboy turn with the beautifully executed “Midwestern Child” evoking classic Americana and composing a song that fully engages you and ultimately leaves you wishing you had more then just three tracks to hit repeat and listen to again & again.

The Noble Creatures are constantly playing and apparently are a great live act to catch, judging from the musicianship and songwriting exhibited in this small collection I would have to assume that is true. Don’t you assume anything though (’cause you know what they say about that) go catch the Noble Creatures in action. If you do happen to see them live, stop back in here and leave a comment about what you saw. Until I get to see them for myself, I rely on you folks to be my eyes & ears. - The J, writer for littleratbastard.com