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Arts & Entertainment

Cabaret Sets the Mood for Valentine's Day in Weho

"A Touch of Class – And Then Some" entertains West Hollywood residents and raises money for AALA.

Residents of West Hollywood were treated to a pre=Valentine’s Day cabaret titled “A Touch of Class – And Then Some” on Saturday night. The event, which took place at the auditorium, featured performances by a talented group of singers who entertained the crowd for a $10 admission fee. Proceeds were donated to AALA to assist people toward a sober recovery.

The event was full of cupid, hearts, and romance. A centerpiece table was dressed with red and white rose petals, heart shaped crystals and candles. Guests sat at tables clad with red cloths and a DJ spun preshow from a booth under dim red lights in the corner of the room. People danced, enjoyed complimentary appetizers, and mingled while the performers warmed up backstage. Around 7:15 p.m., the first act took the stage and the night progressed with an ever changing line up of solo and duet vocalists doing their best versions of romantic tunes such as “Crazy” (Patsy Cline), “L-O-V-E” (Nat King Cole), “Sentimental Journey” (Doris Day). A piano player accompanied each act as they took the mic in front of a painted heart backdrop.

Among the entertainers, was neo soul/avant R&B singer, Christina Simos. Simos, who has been singing since she was five years old, moved to West Hollywood in 1999 to advance her musical career. Aside from performing all over Los Angeles and San Francisco, Simos makes it a point to perform regularly at benefit shows and fundraisers and has performed the last two years at “A Touch of Class – And Then Some.”

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“I do fundraisers and benefit shows because it's important to give back. If someone had not reached their hand out to me when I was younger and told me that I had "it," that I was special and worth more than I thought I was," Simos said.

"I don't think I would have made it here today. Everything we do matters and you never know who will be helped because of your service work."  

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Often compared to the likes of Tina Turner, Simos exudes a saucy stage personality, soulful voice, and honest lyrics. “Being compared to Tina Turner makes me really work harder at being the best artist, performer I can be. Tina Turner is a legend and I want to be worthy of such comparisons. We do have the fantastic legs, outrageous hot hair and sass for days. I am carrying on her legacy of sexy, soulfulness,”  Simos said.

Simos dazzled in a floor-length teal dress with jewels cascading down the front as she performed her single, “So Many Times” and captivated fans with lyrics such as:

So many times I throw my hands up, so many times I feel like giving up. So many times it only gets better. When I remember I gotta surrender.

Simos says her song "So Many Times" came out of her need to express her faith and frustration. 

"Bills were due, checks hadn't cleared, my phone wasn't ringing and I just felt like I was working hard and going nowhere fast," Simos said.

"I wanted to give up. I firmly believe that it is in those moments where I just throw my hands up and surrender to the powers that be that the phone rings, checks clear, things suddenly get better. Somehow the path gets easier. I guess I call that faith and getting the hell out of my own way,” says Simos of her inspiration behind the song.

Simos is currently working with producer, Eddie Hedges (co-founder of Blessed Union of Souls) who has co-written several songs on her album, as well as singer and songwriter Michael Patrick Coughlin. As an advocate for charity, she mentors at-risk youth, produces elementary musical showcases, and helps to raise money for Aids treatment and research.

As the evening progressed, the audience was put further and further into a Valentine’s Day mood; couples scooted closer together and people swayed back and forth in their seats. “A Touch of Class – And Then Some” succeeded in prepping the crowd for Feb. 14 while simultaneously supporting a great cause.

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