Summer 2023

Carmel Rocks 170 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 Steve Vagnini Br ings Live Music to the Forest Theater B Y M I CHA E L CHAT F I E LD S teve Vagnini has some talented friends. His name is familiar to Monterey County property owners as the recently retired county assessor, but to the arts community he’s known as a guy with decades of experience in music promotion and management. Even while ably performing his assessor duties, Steve was actively curating concerts around the Monterey Bay. He’s been managing Sand City’s popular West End Celebration almost since its inception, and has managed several local acts as well. Upon retirement, many choose to work on their golf game, but Vagnini is opting to put more energy into what was formerly his side hustle. Among other endeavors, he’s negotiated the use of Carmel’s Outdoor Forest Theater to stage concerts. For two shows Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, Vagnini has tapped some of those gifted pals. LA-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Rusty Anderson has recorded and performed with a dizzying—and eclectic—list of top-tier artists.A par- tial list includes Elton John, Little Richard, Lisa Marie Presley, Joe Cocker, StevieWonder, Ringo Starr, Miley Cyrus, Regina Spektor, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Krall, Dave Grohl, Belinda Carlisle and the Bangles. He’s even played the national anthem on guitar at Dodger Stadium. Can he top that? Sure. He’s been the lead guitarist for Sir Paul McCartney’s band since 2001. When not playing with the elites, Anderson performs his own thoughtful and masterful original music. “Firefly," his most recent release, features the legendary drummer from The Police and past Rusty Anderson bandmate, Stewart Copeland. A diverse mixture of rock, Photo: Stephen Moorer One of the oldest outdoor theaters west of the Rockies, the Forest Theater has been the site of live theater productions since 1910. Managed by Carmel’s PacRep Theatre, it’s also become a venue for live music.