RANDY COLEMAN at the HOTEL CAFE

Randy Coleman has a show business legacy. His dad, Dabney Coleman, is one of Hollywood's premier actors, with credits in such films as 9 to 5, You've Got Mail, Cloak and Dagger and Inspector Gadget. His mother, Jean Hale, was also an actress, appearing in many TV shows, including Batman, McHale's Navy and The Fugitive. His sister, Quincy Coleman is an accomplished singer/songwriter with recent placements in Brothers and Sisters and Men in Trees. Her song, Give It Away was also featured in the recent movie Waitress. Randy has likewise had several placements, including Scrubs and the inspired soundtrack for the movie Crash.

Randy recently released his first self-titled solo project on 4^th Sun Records, which is distributed by EMI. He was originally a part of the band Zoo Story, which released an album on Universal and opened for Def Leppard. Randy is currently doing a mini-residency at the Hotel Café, which continues for the next two Fridays, December 4 and 11. I caught his act on the first night. I had wanted to see Randy ever since I met his sister Quincy while reviewing her for Music Connection Magazine. Randy did not disappoint .

Randy's performance was nothing short of spectacular as he skillfully moved from piano to acoustic guitar, and never missed a beat. Randy's band is tight, with a palpable chemistry that permeates the venue. Of special note were his lead guitarist and bass player, who not only provided incredible riffs, but also provided backing vocals to match. Randy's sound is very commercial, and his songs scream out for placement and radio airplay. One of my favorite songs was Love is Never Lost, which contained the line "Love is never lost, love is always on its way." His sound contains equal parts rock, folk and Americana. He even surprised me with his rendition of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry," which showed his diversity.

This is one act that is worthy of your time and money. Don't miss his next two shows at the Hotel Café on December 4 and 11.

For more info on Randy Coleman, you should check out his official websites at

www.myspace.com/randycoleman, www.randycoleman.net or find him on Facebook