Project Unicorn

Nick Motil reminds me of church on “praise band”—infectious melodies, simple vocals and guitar, cool harmonies and a hint of inspiration. His voice is very smooth and almost has a country twang to it, professing his thoughts on love and love-related issues (like not being in love and loves lost). While this topic seems overdone in the acoustic arena, Nick offers a fresh take with thoughtful and personal lyrics that catch the listener by surprise. My favorite is the ballad “Try Harder” from Nick’s Everything’s Alright EP, which plays on the children’s song “Momma’s Gonna Buy you a Mockingbird.” His guitar playing doesn’t necessarily strike me, but I love the songs he performs with the female singer—see “Home” from the aforementioned album. The addition of another singer really amps up Nick’s performance and adds another layer to the song. Nick seems like he’d be a pretty intimate performer, his whispery tones and use of piano drawing the listener into his love-fest. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s pretty good looking. Keep an eye out for Nick’s upcoming performances throughout Minnesota.

Meredith Treinen Music

During my time in Southern California I often found myself entertained by strolling performers, amazed by artists, intimidated by musclemen, in awe of the landscape and satiated at many outdoor restaurants and bars, while always convinced that just under the surface there was something very seamy on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Where else does normal daily life include a man juggling exhaust-belching chainsaws, a turbaned street-performer walking on charred glass, a grotesquely large body builder clad only in a tiny Speedo and accessorized by a King Cobra around his neck, Hari Krishnas clapping and singing in a procession like a marching band, and an omnipresent need to dodge the DogTown teenaged skateboarders who slice through the crowds of tourists?

A new Internet series portrays this stealthy, gritty undercurrent of life: The Venice Walk.

The Venice Walk is rich with faces both familiar and new. The series reunites Cagney & Lacey co-stars Robert Hegyes and Martin Kove (who played Detectives Manny Esposito and Victor Isbecki) and Welcome Back, Kotter co-star Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie “Boob-Boom” Washington). A cast of talented young newcomers uses the bohemian and kinetic underbelly of Venice Beach as their home-turf.

Billed as the “Anti-OC,” the series follows the trials and tribulations of probation officer Paco Santana (Hegyes). Paco, a former NYPD Gang Cop who lived through a near-fatal shooting while undercover, comes out of retirement at the urging of his former NYPD partner and love interest, Samantha Collins (played by the stunning Tiffany Moretti). Sam now runs Juvenile Probation Venice. Desperately needing help, she convinces Paco to join her by suggesting, “Why don’t you try saving kids instead of capping em’?” She assigns Paco a group of her most troubled Venice High School teens on probation, who are introduced to the audience over the first five short-form webisodes.

Hegyes, who originally gained fame as Juan Epstein on TV’s Welcome Back, Kotter, (and served as one of its directors) was inspired to create the series after spending three years teaching kids at Venice High School and being a stay-at-home “Mr. Mom” to his four teenagers. Hegyes creates an entertainment alloy by blending his turns as a juvenile delinquent on Kotter and street-smart detective on C&L together with his real life experiences in the classroom at Venice High School and managing his own hormone-riddled, teen-angst-filled home in Venice. His alchemy produces an engaging cast of very troubled yet very believable characters, juxtaposed against the blissful chaos of one of California’s most famous tourist destinations.

Joining Hegyes in producing Walk is co-creator Craig Titley , who wrote the stories for such movies as Cheaper by the Dozen, the live-action version of Scooby Doo, Sam Paimi’s new remake of 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and is now writing for George Lucas’ new “Star Warsesque Series.”

Watch episodes of The Venice Walk on UnicornMedia.com.

Meredith Treinen Musings