RON’S GARAGE FINDS NEW HOME AT McP’S IRISH PUB
Joins Joey Harris For Summer Music Schedule
CORONADO – If Haight Ashbury and Greenwich Village were the centers of the universe for music in the 60s, McP’s Irish Pub most certainly is the Rock n’ Roll center of the universe for Coronado.
McP’s has, for 33-years, been a bastion of fine food and good music. The iconic restaurant has just announced Ron’s Garage will perform three Sundays a month throughout the summer season.
The locals turn out when Ron’s Garage performs. Here, along the wall of McP’s outdoor patio are, from left, Dan Hershberger, Margo Tresner, Jody Esquer, Kim and Jaime Diaz, Tommy and Kathleen Harrris, Charlie Clardy, Brant Sarber and (in front) Mel Rogers. Photo by Joe Ditler.
The band will perform three Sundays a month – June through August. They play on the dog-friendly patio of the Irish Pub where close to 100 people gather to eat, drink, dance and listen to their favorite songs from the 60s and 70s.
They will perform every Sunday except June 22, July 20, August 10 and 31. On those Sundays, another favorite McP’s band will perform Joey Harris and Paul Kamanski.
Paul Kamanski (left) and Joey Harris perform once a month at McP’s as part of a rock ‘n’ roll summer of music.
Musical afternoons on the patio are from 2-6 p.m., Sundays. A special Ron’s Garage concert will take place Friday, July 4, from 2-6 p.m. following the July Fourth Parade.
Ron’s Garage has been a regular weekend band at the Hotel del Coronado for 19 years, performing on the Sun Deck at the famous hotel. They recently ended their arrangement at the Del and have been picked up by McP’s as the restaurant’s new house band.
The outdoor patio of McP’s is a popular place to hang out all year long, but especially during the summer. It’s also dog-friendly. Photo by Joe Ditler.
“We got word in January that the Hotel Del wouldn’t be renewing our contract,” said Ron Wheeler, leader of the band. “So we were very happy to to accommodate McP’s. We’ve played some of our best music there, and the crowd is always really great.”
When McP’s heard about their sudden availability, they wasted no time in signing the band up. “I think they are, hands down, the best band in San Diego,” said Ted Taylor, manager at McP’s. “We are very excited to give Ron’s Garage more of a presence here at the pub. Ron’s been performing on and off here at McP’s for 24 years since he was a chief in the Navy,” said Taylor.
A favorite at McP’s is the hot, corned beef sandwich.
Ron’s Garage has been playing to sell out crowds for a long time, on both sides of the bridge. On Coronado they’ve performed at McP’s and the Del, at the Boathouse, Island Spirits, Nicky Rottens, the Firehouse and at both yacht clubs.
Ron’s Garage is made up of four very fine musicians. Ron Wheeler plays acoustical guitar and vocals; Claudio Martin handles lead guitar and vocals; Phil Lean lays down the mean bass bottom and provides vocals; and Gary Taylor completes the package on drums.
McP’s has been serving up great food, drink and music for more than three decades. Photo by Joe Ditler.
“This really is an incredible group of musicians,” said Taylor. They do music covers like they owned them. They play Steve Miller, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Crosby Stills and Nash, Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, the Police, Dire Straits, the Beatles. You really can’t believe how pure and true their renditions are to this great era of music, until you’ve experienced them.”
One of the reasons the band is so tight is that individual members live the life of music. Phil Lean, for example, teaches music at Francis Parker School. Claudio leads classical and rock n’ roll classes there.
The new house band at McP’s Irish Pub, Ron’s Garage. The band plays covers from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Rock ‘n’ roll is a summer staple on the menu at McP’s Irish Pub.
For more information on Ron’s Garage and McP’s Irish Pub visit www.mcpspub.com, or call (619) 435-5280. McP’s is open Mon-Sun, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. They are located on Coronado’s main street at 1107 Orange Avenue.
This item brought to you by Joe Ditler and Part-Time PR, serving all of Coronado’s PR needs. To find out how your business can benefit from greater exposure write or call, [email protected] or (619) 435-0767.
