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CARLTONE'S CORNER
September 15, 2008
The demise of larryc is now official. Some months back the Carltone email address changed from larryc@carltone.com to carlin AT carltone.com, and just like that incoming Spam mail has ceased. Since the change the larryc email was being forwarded to the new address, but not longer. So if you have not done so before now, please change the Carltone address in you address book. And also please do not give out this address to others unless it is to someone that wants to be part of the Carltone blogosphere…
Stand up and be counted! You’ve been hearing a lot about elections lately, and there is a good reason for that. The North Bay Music Awards are being voted on this week and the presidential campaign is in full swing, and now is the time to make your voice heard. For the former, simply go here and cast your vote on line before the 19th. While we won’t tell you who to vote for, some of the Carltone favorites are Maria Muldaur, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Solid Air and Audrey Auld Mezera. As for the other election, this one is not as easy to do. In the state of California you must be registered by October 20th in order to be able to vote on November 4th. Don’t let your cretin neighbor across the way make the decision for you. For more information about this process, simply go to this site here. Hats off to Rita. Congratulations to the bluegrass community’s Rita Hosking, who won the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest up at the Sisters Folk Festival in Sisters, Oregon, recently. She competed against finalists from different parts of the country that were all deserving of the award. Find out what all of the fuss is about when Rita and her band play at Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills this weekend.
Good read. Check out the book “The Soloist” by Steve Lopez, based on a true story about a Los Angeles Times columnist and a homeless violinist who had studied at Julliard. The movie version of the book will be out in November starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, and you can watch the trailer here.
A breath of fresh air. The National Public Radio show Fresh Air With Terry Gross is by far the best arts radio interview show anywhere. It is a nationally broadcast show that can be heard on most NPR stations, and in the SF area you can hear it three times a day (KQED and KALW). Even better, if you miss a show you can always listen to archived interviews on your computer. Here are some recent examples: Maurice Sendak, B.B. King, 50 Years of Gospel, vibraphone jazz, and Theo Bleckmann.
Fishwrap roundup. Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ had stories about Maria Muldaur and The Grateful Dead. Joel Selvin in the SF Chronicle wrote about the Jefferson Starship, Metallica and Guitar Player magazine’s guitar contest. Life’s railway to heaven. Richard Wright of the Pink Floyd died of cancer in London. He was 65. He wrote and sang some of the band's key songs, such as "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them." Read his bio here.
Coming attractions. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10/3-5; Chipfest 10/11 in Sebastopol (Sherry Jones, The Mighty Chiplings, Westside, Ted Dutcher & Ellen Silver, Sara Winge & Friends, Riggy Rackin, Chips Off the Old Block, Under the Radar); Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton at Petaluma Church Concerts 10/17; David Grisman and John Sebastian at the JCC in SF on 11/15.
Additions
Rocking the vote. On Tuesday the 16th there will be a huge benefit concert called Music for Democracy in Oakland featuring Maria Muldaur and The Free Radicals, Hot Buttered Rum, Tuck & Patti, Tommy Castro, John Densmore (of The Doors), Blame Sally, Hani Naser, and Marga Gomez. It will be held at the Malonga Casquelourd Center and it starts at 7 p.m.
Pink Sabbath will be playing at Nick’s Cove in Marshall on the 16th from 7-9 p.m.
Marin guitarist Paul Robinson has three different gigs of note coming up. On the 18th at 9 p.m. at the Bay View Boat Club in SF he’ll be playing burning lead guitar with Michael Ward's Dogs and Fishes; on the 20th at 7:30 p.m. see him at Saylor's in Sausalito, see Robinson's Carusos, an amalgam of consummate rockers covering tunes you will know; and on the 21st from 3-6 p.m. he’ll be at the 142 Throckmorton Theater playing with Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks.
The Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker in Sausalito at 8:30 p.m. will be presenting The Eugene Huggins Band on the 19th (and 26th), Dead Set and The Pat Echols Experience on the 20th, and The New Rising Sons on the 27th.
Twang Ditty has some gigs of note left this month. On the 19th see them at Jasper O'Farrell’s in Sebastopol and then on the 20th and 27th it will be the Blackthorn Tavern in SF starting at 10 p.m.
The WTJ2 rockin’ boogie band can be seen playing at the Two Bird Café in San Geronimo on the 20th starting at 7:30 p.m., and then at Nick’s Cove on the 30th.
Crooked Roads will be playing at The Aquarium in Petaluma on the 20th and then at Peri's in Fairfax on the 26th, sharing a bill with Dave Gleason.
The Treasure Island Music Festival takes place on the 20th and 21st in San Francisco Bay featuring lots of rock bands that the staff here at Caltone World Headquarters is entirely unfamiliar with. Go to the site for more info.
The Celebrating Songwriters series at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley will take place on the 20th, hosted by Caren Armstrong. Originally the lineup was to be Peter Gallway and Tom Payne, but Payne had to cancel, so in his stead it will be renowned San Anselmo singer/songwriter John Haley-Walker. Show time is 8 p.m.
See piano player Wendy Fitz play most Saturdays at the Sorella Café in Fairfax from 7-10 p.m. She will be there on the 20th and 27th, and on the 26th it will be the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon.
Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts will be playing a fundraising event on the 21st at 5 p.m. at the Petaluma Veteran's Memorial Hall to precede Phil Donohue's showing of his documentary Body of War. He’ll be singing a few of his own tunes such at "Since Then," "Snake Oil," "Against the Grain," "I'm American Too," and "Close to Home.”
On Sunday the 21st there will be a benefit hike on Mt. Tam in Mill Valley to support breast cancer research. Afterwards there will be a celebration of organic food, and there will be live music.
George Kahumoku Jr. & Keoki Kahumoku can be seen playing slack key guitar at the Napa Valley Opera House on the 19th and then out at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st starting at 7:30 p.m.
The Hobbs Grove Bluegrass Festival will be taking place in Sanger (near Fresno) on the 26th-28th. Some of the bands you can see there are The Del Williams Band, The Kathy Kallick Band, Eric Uglum & Sons, The GrassKickers, Dalton Mountain Gang and Country Grass.
The 36th Annual SF Blues Festival will be taking place on the 26th-28th at the Great Meadow at Fort Mason. Hot Tuna, The Delta Groove All Star Blues Revue, Barbara Lynn, Michael Burks, Ruthie Foster, Elmore James Jr., Johnny Winter, Buckwheat Zydeco and countless other greats.
Barbwyre, featuring Marin’s Jon Mitguard and Dana Rath, are traveling across the bay to McGrath’s Pub on the 27th starting at 8 p.m.
Reminders
The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see Cyril Pahinui on the 17th, Los Pingous on the 20th, Dan Hicks on the 21st, Catie Ryan on the 27th, and more.
Good things are happening at Peri’s in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Billy D of The Billy Boys. See Sacred Profanities on the 17th, Diamond Ortiz on the 19th, Family Lines on the 23rd, Jeb's TwangFest on the 24th, Gentry Bronson Songwriters in the Round on the 25th, Dave Gleason's Wasted Days w/Crooked Roads on the 26th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th and more.
Sonoma guitarist Adam Traum on the 17th will be at Iron Springs as part of Fretter’s Hot Strings, and then on the 28th he’ll be at the Vintage Festival 1-1:45 p.m. in Sonoma then later at Cato’s Ale House in Oakland from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See the aforementioned Fretter’s Hot Strings on the 17th, and on the 24th it will be owner/brewmaster Mike Altman’s birthday bash.
Marin bluegrass jam. On the 18th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m.
See Mill Valley’s Dore Coller with the Hot Club of Marin on the 18th at the Royal Oak in Point Richmond, on the 25th at 33 Revolutions in El Cerrito, and on the 29th at 142 Throckmorton for the club jam; and on the 21st he will be part of the Gram Parsons Tribute in Novato (see details below).
Schaef-Abel Productions at Studio E in Sebastopol will be hosting Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin and Chuck Jones on the 18th and then on the 24th see Slaid Cleaves with Michael O'Connor.
Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for a good time in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are John Kelley on the 19th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 26th, Under the Radar on the 27th, Blue House on the 28th, and lots more good stuff.
Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station are the 2 AM Club on the 19th, Danny Click on the 20th, and Chrome Johnson on the 26th.
Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. See Macy Blackman on the 19th, Paul Robinson on the 20th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 26th, and Wendy DeWitt on the 27th.
The Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael has a good mix of music on the menu. See The Royal Deuces on the 19th, The Eldorados on the 25th, Culann's Hounds on the 27th, and others.
Murphy Productions has Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums at the Stage Dor in Sausalito on the 19th, and on the 25th they will be hosting Ray Bonneville at The Acoustic Vortex house concert series in Larkspur. This is a wonderful venue to see acts perform up close and personal. Go to the site and make reservations now!
Some acts to see at 19 Broadway in Fairfax are Workingman’s Ed and Jelly on the 20th, The Lonestar Retrobates on the 21st, Pride & Joy on the 26th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 28th, and Danny Uzilevsky every Tuesday.
Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills. L&S Promotions has booked another powerful line-up for the Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills Festival in Plymouth on the 19th-21st. Make plans now to see Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Gibson Brothers, The Bluegrass Brothers, New Found Road, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Sawmill Road, Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack, and The Anderson Family Bluegrass Band. The Emerging Artists will be Natural Drift, Nell Robinson & Red Level, Gritchy MaGrally and The Four Fingered String Band along with the late night dance band Rick Barnes & Silvermoon.
At the Alpha House Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito on the 19th see Caren Armstrong with Joshua Zucker on bass. The show starts at 8 p.m. Snacks/drinks welcome. Make reservations at danfontes@yahoo.com, or call (415) 289-0490. You can also read Caren’s recent On Songwriting interview with Rick Jamison.
Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved can be seen and heard on the 19th at the Ace in the Hole in Gratan and on the 20th at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival.
The Marin Civic Center has two shows of note this month. See Etta James on the 20th and Kenny G on the 27th.
The 52nd Annual Mill Valley Arts Festival will be taking place in Old Mill Park on the 20th and 21st. Some of the acts you can see are Jeanie & Chuck, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco, Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved, The Shut Ins, and Tim Hockenberry.
Mill Valley artist and musician Kimrea plays with her band Dreamdogs every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band. She and Joe LoCoco will also be at the above art fest on the 20th and at Murphy’s on the 26th.
Don’t miss the 2008 KWMR/Far West Fest on the 20th in Point Reyes Station. See Poor Man’s Whiskey, Vinyl & Friends, HoneyDust, Jerry Hannan, The Wronglers, Marquis Melody Reggae from Jamaica, Sweet Baby J and many others. There will also be sculpture art exhibits and great local food, too. EAC and Green Girl Events are helping to keep the festival sustainable.
Friendly benefit. On the 21st at 3 p.m. in Novato check out the Friendly Lane Yard Concert Benefit for the Boys & Girls Club. Jan White, Scott Gerber and Cori Wood will perform along with Dave Zirbel (pedal steel) and Pat Campbell (upright bass). Closing the concert there will be a special tribute to Gram Parsons featuring Pat Nevins (Workingman's Ed) and Dore Coller. Donations are $15 advance, $20 at the door at 11 Friendly Lane in Novato. Bring your favorite low back chair or blanket & food if desired. Beverages will be available for a donation to help pay for concert expenses. To reserve a yard spot send a check paid to Pat Campbell noted "yard concert" with your email address. He will send you a confirmation email. For more email friendlylaneinfo@comcast.net.
Ain't Misbehavin' returns to the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes on the 21st from 5-8 pm. Enjoy acoustic swing, vintage and Western, sweet harmonies, and hot fiddlin'.
West Marin singer/songwriter Brindl will be appearing on the 25th at Peri's in Fairfax for the songwriters in the round series along with Gentry Bronson.
Jenny Kerr and her band will be playing the 26th at 8 p.m. at the Napa City Nights event at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in downtown Napa.
At the Mystic in Petaluma you can see Devil Makes Three and The Whoreshoes on the 26th, Hot Tuna on the 28th and others.
Sebastopol guitarist Kevin Russell on the 27th will be with his band Under the Radar will play Murphy's in Sonoma and on the 28th at The Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes.
The Rock and Blues By The Lake Festival will take place out at Stafford Lake in Novato on the 27th, and you can see The Alameda All-Stars, Luv Planet, The Lonely Hearts, Tim Cain, Barry Ernst, and lots more.
Doug Adamz & Bravo will be playing both country and western on the 27th at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin.
Earle Fest, a benefit for the Earle Baum Center for the Blind, will be taking place in Santa Rosa on the 27th, and you can see Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, Blue & Lonesome, Corinne West, and The Otis Taylor Band.
Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place for bluegrass pickin' on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave, from 2-5 p.m.
The Marin Celticgrass band The Shots will be playing at Albany’s Centennial Celebration on the on the 27th from 7-9 p.m.
There will be pickin’ of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, and the date is the 28th. It takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing.
Andrew Freeman, besides performing solo on the first Saturday of every month at Murphy’s in Sonoma, continues to play Tuesday evenings at Giordano's (Columbus and Broadway) in SF at 7 p.m.
Ed Neff and Friends are playing bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There is no cover, and you get to hear some of the finest traditional bluegrass in the North Bay. The regular pickers are Ed Neff on fiddle, Mike Wilhoyte on guitar, Jeff King on bass, Paul Shelasky on fiddle, and Larry Cohea on banjo. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info.
Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area:
BROADWAY'S LOST TREASURES 9/16 1 a.m.: “The costs of going into a Broadway theatre and recording a play for television are unfortunately, prohibitively expensive. As a result, very few major theatrical works ever find their way to television and home video. However, during the telecasts of the Tony Awards, individual, nominated song and dance numbers are performed specially for the awards presentations by the original star. These numbers are not repeated as the Tonys themselves are only telecast once. This special looks for the first time into the archive of the Tony Awards during a 20-year period from when the awards were first televised in 1967 up to 1986.”
PAVAROTTI – A LIFE IN SEVEN ARIAS 9/17 10 p.m.: “When Luciano Pavarotti died in September, 2007, the world lost one of the greatest voices in all of music. In celebration of Pavarotti's peerless vocal talent and extraordinary international impact, this performance documentary looks back over his legendary career, utilizing the arias with which he was most closely associated as a narrative framework. From his humble origins in Modena, Italy, it follows 'the King of the High C's' meteoric rise, spanning through his London debut in La Boheme, his triumph in La fille du regiment, and his iconic rendition of 'Nessun Dorma.'" In addition to a treasure trove of classic Pavarotti performances, also featured are new and archival interviews with many of the tenor's friends and colleagues, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and Juan Diego Florez.”
PETE SEEGER – THE POWER OF SONG 9/18 1 p.m.: “This first authorized film poetically documents Seeger's unique experience and contributions. The man who introduced America to its own folk heritage, he got a whole generation passionate about playing the guitar and picking the banjo, got them singing together and using music as a force for social change. He deeply believes in the power of song and is convinced that individuals can make a difference. Largely misunderstood by his critics, including the US government, for his views on peace, civil rights and ecology, Seeger went from the top of the hit parade to the top of the blacklist - banned from commercial television for more than 17 years. Now almost 90-years old, his inspiring, but not always easy, story is told by everyone from Bob Dylan to the Dixie Chicks and through a remarkable historical archive - a history that Seeger himself helped create.”
LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER – NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC OPENING NIGHT GALA WITH SIR JAMES GALWAY 9/18 8 p.m.: “Flutist James Galway joins conductor Lorin Maazel and the New York Philharmonic in a colorful program featuring Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony.”
LOS LONELY BOYS – COTTONFIELDS AND CROSSROADS 9/18 9:30 p.m.: “After a childhood of playing cantinas and honky-tonks from Texas to Tennessee, Los Lonely Boys have rocked their way to the top of the American music industry, determined to fulfill their father's long held dream. Using live performances and intimate personal stories, the film tells the story of three Mexican American brothers from San Angelo, Texas, who are creating a unique sound that melds the core of the early San Angelo music scene of the 1950s and 60s with a signature style they call ‘Texican.’"
PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 9/19 1 p.m.: “Ever wish you could sit down at a piano and just play a tune? Have you taken lessons at some point in your life, but can't play a thing? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, Scott ‘The Piano Guy’ Houston wants to change all that. His ‘Play Piano in a Flash’ program teaches you to play the way the pros play - in a style enormously simpler than traditional classical piano lessons. Ever better, it takes an absolute minimum amount of note reading ability. Best of all, Scott Houston makes it fun along the way.”
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS SUFJAN STEVENS/CALEXICO 9/21 11 p.m.: “Two of the underground rock scene's most creative artists perform. Critical darling and indie rock sensation Sufjan Stevens brings his orchestral folk/pop to the stage in support of his latest album The Avalanche. Highlighting its latest record, Garden Ruin, Arizona's Calexico dazzles with a unique blend of traditional song craft and southwestern roots music.”
SPARK! – THE ARK, MAULEON, AND GRISMAN 9/24 7:30pm, 9/29 3 a.m.: “Spark goes on a musical adventure, exploring Latin Jazz, Bluegrass, and music from the Jewish diaspora. First, climb aboard The Ark, a project created by the Jewish Music Festival. In the basement of a divinity school, nine musicians from the US, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East have six days to compose a groundbreaking new piece of Jewish music. Next, meet pianist and bandleader Rebeca Mauleon, one of the leading ladies of Latin Jazz. Then visit with mandolin master, David Grisman, who blends new jazz and traditional bluegrass to create a thoroughly original sound.”
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974) 9/25 9 p.m.: “MGM stars from yesterday including Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Clark Gable, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, and Elizabeth Taylor, present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history. Written and directed by Jack Haley, Jr.”
FIESTA MEXICANA 9/27 2:30 p.m.: “This performance special hosted by Hispanic singing icon Vikki Carr celebrates the music and dance of the different regions of Mexico. It is anchored by a gala concert at the historic Teatro Juarez in the ancient mining city of Guanajuato. In addition to the gala, it showcases Mariachi and Jarocho (the music of the Vera Cruz region) performances at locations around the city and state of Guanajuato. Joining Vikki Carr at the gala and on location are Mexican singing legends Eugenia Leon and Alberto Angel ‘El Cuervo,’ Vera Cruz jarocho group Tlen Huicani and the world-famous Los Angeles-based mariachi group Los Camperos de Nati Cano. Joining all these artists on stage at the Teatro Juarez in Guanajuato is the Orquesta Sinfonica of the University of Guanajuato, one of Mexico's leading regional orchestras, and the full company of the Ballet Folklorico of the University of Guanajuato, fresh from their triumphant 2007 European tour. Mexican music is positive, energetic, emotional, and full of stories and history. Each of the four acts weaves location and gala performance into an overall theme.”
JUDY GARLAND – BY MYSELF 9/28 12:30 a.m.: “For the first time on film, Judy Garland tells her own story, in her own words. Using recordings Garland made in preparation for writing her autobiography - a book that was never published – ‘Judy’ reveals Garland as she saw herself. In an exclusive - and unprecedented -arrangement, Turner Entertainment granted American Masters unlimited access to the MGM archives. This special arrangement means that ‘Judy’ includes extensive material from A Star Is Born, as well as never-before-seen rehearsal footage, rare outtakes and alternate takes of Garland's numerous performances.”
COMPANERAS 9/28 1 p.m.: “Profiles America's first all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Founded in 1994, the 12 members of Reyna shatter age-old stereotypes while expanding the popularity of mariachi music. In a culture and a musical tradition that has always been male-dominated, these women are true pioneers, literally giving voice to Latinas.”
SANTANA – HYMNS FOR PEACE LIVE AT MONTREUX 2004 9/28 11 p.m.: “In 2004, guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana augmented the Santana band with a stellar group of musicians for an evening billed as ‘Hymns for Peace’ at the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival. The all-star event included Ravi Coltrane (sax), Chick Corea (keyboards), Herbie Hancock (grand piano), John McLaughlin (guitar), Wayne Shorter (sax), Stevie Winwood (vocals, organ), and guest vocalists Patti Austin, Indrissa Diop, and Angelique Kidjo. The result - a one-of-a-kind musical experience and a reminder of the unifying force of music.” ***************************************************************************** September 4, 2008 Welcome to the 93rd edition of Carltone's Corner! This edition of the newsletter is not only much later than usual, it also doesn’t contain all of the usual links and formatting. And due to the beyond-deadline pressure there has been some hasty editing. Apparently some of the staff here around Carltone World Headquarters thought it was Labor Week, so others have had to pickup the slack from the slackers. Most of us were also at the Strawberry Music Festival for five days, and it is always hard to get back in front of a computer after having such a great time in the mountains. Fortunately, not much has been missed this early in the month, and, as always, there is a lot of good stuff still to come. Bluegrass Gold. The Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater Station in downtown Larkspur is now on hiatus for the time being. 151 bluegrass shows have taken place with over 10,000 people in attendance over the past nine and a half years either at this location or at the Sweetwater Saloon in downtown Mill Valley . The Saloon closed last September, but the good news is that a new Mill Valley location is being built and it will open sometime soon. The original plan was for September, but now the hope is for October. With any luck the Bluegrass Gold series will move back to Mill Valley when the time comes. Stay tuned for details. Del in the news. There was a story last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer about The Del McCoury Band’s new Moneyland recording and appearance at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival over the holiday weekend that has stirred up some dust on a certain bluegrass discussion list. Former West Marin singer/songwriter Joe New co-wrote the song “40 Acres and a Fool” that is on the CD. Also, by going to their site you can now join the McCoury Music Club where you will be able to download recent live performances. Slow jam class in Berkeley. There is a new slow jam class beginning soon at the 5th String. Starting on Tuesday the 16th and running eight weeks until Tuesday the 4th of November, it is open to beginning and intermediate bluegrass and old-time players, or anyone that wants experience playing and singing at a moderately slow tempo in a supportive, fun jam setting. The main instructors will be Ran Bush and Bill Evans, with guest instructors Megan Lynch, Evie Ladin, Keith Little, Jim Nunally and Kathy Kallick. Class size will be limited to allow for individual attention, with 2-3 instructors on hand each night to demonstrate topics and join in the music. The class will run from 7-9:30 p.m., and will cost $20 per player, per session. You will be encouraged to attend for at least the first four sessions, as the instructors will be teaching as well as playing. A class syllabus will be provided, along with a song list, practice tips, and ideas on how to improve your playing and singing. Please note: the folks in the store cannot answer questions about the class. If you're interested or have questions reply directly to Ran Bush at (510) 525-8156 or via email at ranbush@gmail.com. Heavy metal fencing. There has been a dustup in Terra Linda over an 8-10 foot high corrugated metal property fence that was erected on a 500 acre property owner by singer/guitarist James Hetfield of Metallica. Musician in need. Richard Linley, guitarist, singer and writer for The Palm Wine Boys, has contracted cancer around the throat area and is now receiving treatments to rid himself of the disease. He cannot work, and needs funds for living expenses, as well as treatments and medicines not covered by his insurance. Richard is a great songwriter, whose songs are reflective, humorous, and soulful. A website here has been setup where people can make donations via credit card to help support him. There are pictures and information, and there will be updates with news and announcements often. Four heads are better than one. The TV game show American Idol will be adding a fourth judge to its panel of evaluators starting next January. For some reason, this made huge headlines in the fishwraps. It must have been a slow new month for news. Heck, where has Amy Winehouse been? A breath of fresh air. The National Public Radio show Fresh Air With Terry Gross is by far the best arts radio interview show anywhere. It is a nationally broadcast show that can be heard on most NPR stations, and in the SF area you can hear it three times a day (KQED and KALW). Even better, if you miss a show you can always listen to archived interviews on your computer. Here are some recent examples: a great interview from 1993 with the late record producer Jerry Wexler and a piece about The Staples Singers. The doctor was in! If you missed Ray Edlund’s Pig in a Pen radio show on KPFA (94.1 FM) in Berkeley on August 17th to hear him chat with Dr. Elmo about the halcyon bluegrass days of yore three decades back as well as the upcoming Brown Barn Festival in San Martin, you can listen anytime on your computer by going to this link here. Besides being known for his Christmas classic “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” Elmo has also been playing traditional bluegrass on the five-string banjo since the early 70s when he was in the band The Homestead Act. Since 1991 Elmo has been leading Wild Blue, Marin County ’s longest running bluegrass band. Fishwrap roundup. The SF Chronicle had stories about The Shirelles, amazing-to-be-alive-while-his-two-brothers-are-dead Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and Oakland singer Linda Tillery; in the Marin IJ there were pieces on the young Marin trio The Jazztronauts as well as memories of the old Sleeping Lady in Fairfax. Life’s railway to heaven. LeRoi Moore, sax player in the Dave Matthews Band, died in Los Angeles on August 19th from complications from injuries he suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident. He was 46. Pervis Jackson, who sang bass in the R&B/soul act The Spinners, died in his sleep on August 18th. He was 70. Famed Nashville guitar picker Jerry Reed died on the 1st from emphysema. He was 71. His hits include “When You’re Hot You’re Hot,” “East Bound and Down,” and “She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft).” Police log. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum: Shawntae Harris, a.k.a. rapper Da Brat, will be spending the next three years in the slammer after whacking a hostess in the face with a bottle of rum at a party last fall. The two women bumped into one another, and the next thing anyone knew, sparks were flying…Fan club meeting: hip-hop artist Akon will be going to trial in December for allegedly tossing a fan from the stage into the crowd. The tossee landed on another fan, causing injuries to both probable now ex-fans… Get out your handkerchiefs. As one door shuts, another door opens: Two former members of The Doors – Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger – will have to pay former drummer Robby Densmore and descendants of long-dead lead singer Jim Morrison for using the Doors name without asking permission or paying these others. The price? A cool $5 million…Don’t upstage the star! Rapper R. Kelly has to pay fellow rapper Ne-Yo $700,000 for dropping him as the opening act on a tour last year. Rumor has it that Ne-Yo was getting more attention than Kelly…Stop him before he marries again! Pop singer Phil Collins will be paying a wee bit of cash ($46 million)(more than “Silly Love Song” singer Paul McCartney recently had to pay his ex) to sever his marriage to wife number three. After infamously dumping wife No. 2, Jill Tavelman, by Fax back in 1994, he was forced to pay $34 million. Hey Phil, why not just live with the next one instead of tying the knot? Uh, ever heard of a pre-nup? On the mend. Alan Dreyfuss, the guitarist and vocalist extraordinaire in the East Bay bluegrass band Redwing, was injured last month in a violent carjacking in Emeryville. He was hit in the head, spent some time in the hospital, is now back at home but is still in tremendous pain. His car was totaled, and fortunately the creep that did this to him was caught and, as it turns out, was out of prison on parole. With any luck the guy will be going back to where he came from for a long time. If you would like to send a get-well card to Alan you can do so at 4600 Adeline Street , Emeryville , CA , 94608 , or email him at ardreyfuss@yahoo.com. Singer Annie Lennox had to have spinal surgery last month in London to release an impinged nerve Coming attractions. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10/3-5. Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton at Petaluma Church Concerts 10/17; David Grisman and John Sebastian at the JCC in SF on 11/15. Onward to the calendar… The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see George Kuo, Martin Pahinui and Aaron Mahi on the 4th, Maria Muldaur & The Free Radicals on the 6th, Cyril Pahinui on the 17th, Los Pingous on the 20th, Catie Ryan on the 27th, and more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 4th and 18th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. See Mill Valley’s Dore Coller with the Hot Club of Marin on the 4th and 18th at the Royal Oak in Point Richmond, on the 7th and 11th at 19 Broadway, on the 25th at 33 Revolutions in El Cerrito, and on the 29th at 142 Throckmorton for the club jam; on the 6th his band Bermudagrass will play at the Ft. Hamilton Amphitheatre for a benefit for Shakespeare at Stinson; and on the 11th his bluegrass band Savannah Blu will be at the Atlas Café in SF. Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for a good time in Sonoma County , and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are the Sonoma Mountain Band on the 5th, Andrew Freeman on the 6th, the Celtic jam on the 7th, Solid Air on the 11th, Carolina Special on the 13th, Shades of Green on the 14th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 26th, Under the Radar on the 27th, and lots more good stuff. The Acoustic Vortex house concert series in Larkspur will be featuring Blame Sally on the 5th and Ray Bonneville on the 25th. This is a wonderful venue to see acts perform up close and personal. Go to the site and make reservations now! Good things are happening at Peri’s in Fairfax . Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Billy D of The Billy Boys. See the Craig Caffal Band on the 5th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 6th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 10th (and 24th), Highway Robbers on the 12th, Danny Montana & The Bar Association on the 13th, Sacred Profanities on the 17th, Diamond Ortiz on the 19th, Family Lines on the 23rd, Gentry Bronson Songwriters in the Round on the 25th, Dave Gleason's Wasted Days w/Crooked Roads on the 26th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th and more. Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station are Gentry Bronson & Elliott Randall on the 5th, New West Guitar Quartet on the 9th, Curtis Lawson on the 12th, Culann's Hounds and the Whoreshoes on the 12th. Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. See Dick Conte Duo on the 5th, Ken Husbands & Suzanna Smith on the 6th, Eugene Huggins on the 12th, The Andoni Trio on the 13th, Macy Blackman on the 19th, Paul Robinson on the 20th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 26th, and Wendy DeWitt on the 27th. The Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael has a good mix of music on the menu. See The Marones on the 5th, Diamond Ortiz on the 6th, The Hold Outs on the 12th, The Royal Deuces on the 19th, The Eldorados on the 25th, Culann's Hounds on the 27th, and others. Strings and things. The first annual Tiburon Guitar Festival is coming to Old St. Hilary's Landmark on the 5th-7th, featuring The New West Guitar Quartet, Andrew York, Teja Gerken, and Eric Schoenberg & Jeff Titus. Murphy Productions has Tito Gonzalez on the 5th at the Stage Dor in Sausalito, Aram Danesh & The Super Human Crew on the 5th at the Masonic in Mill Valley, Wendy DeWitt Blues Band at the Stage Dor on the 12th, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums there on the 19th, and on the 25th they will be hosting Ray Bonneville at the Acoustic Vortex concert series in Larkspur. The Brown Barn Festival, while not a North Bay event, will be presenting two of the finest bluegrass bands from up this way. The festival will be happening in San Martin (south of Morgan Hill) on the 6th and 7th, and two of the featured acts will be Blue & Lonesome and Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. Others on the bill are The Mighty Crows, Dark Hollow, Matt & George and Their Pleasant Valley Boys, Rosebud Blue, High Country, Highway One, The Mount Diablo String Band, Hyperbole Mountain and Angelic Grim & Friends. The Sebastopol Cajun/Zydeco Festival will be taking place on the 6th featuring Wings of Glory, The Wild Catahoulas, The Zydeco Flames, Mark St. Mary & His Louisiana Blues and Zydeco Band, and more. Some acts to see at 19 Broadway in Fairfax are Big Brother & The Holding Company on the 6th, Buckethead on the 12th, Workingman’s Ed and Jelly on the 20th, The Lonestar Retrobates on the 21st, Pride & Joy on the 26th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 28th, and Danny Uzilevsky every Tuesday. Sonoma guitarist Adam Traum will be at the Bella Winery and Vineyards in Healdsburg on the 6th from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., on the 12th at Smiley’s Schooner Saloon in Bolinas, on the 17th at Iron Springs as part of Fretter’s Hot Strings, and a double-header on 28th at the Vintage Festival 1-1:45 p.m. in Sonoma then later at Cato’s Ale House in Oakland from 4:30-7:30 p.m. San Rafael guitarist/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget on the 6th will be up in Petaluma playing solo show at the Aqus Cafe. He'll join fellow bandmates in the Namely Us group for jazz at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo on the 13th. Sebastopol guitarist Kevin Russell has three gigs with three different bands this month. On the 6th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Laughing Gravy plays The Heirloom Tomato Festival at the Kendal-Jackson Winery in Santa Rosa ; on the 13th, 8:30-11 p.m. The Rhythm Rangers will be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa ; on the 27th Under the Radar will play Murphy's in Sonoma ; and on the 28th Under the Radar will be at The Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes. Jenny Kerr and her band will be playing at the Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur on the 7th starting at 1 p.m. Then on the 26th see them play at 8 p.m. at Napa City Nights event at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in downtown Napa. Out at Rancho Nicasio on the 7th there will be a smokin’ jamgrass twin bill featuring Hot Buttered Rum and Poor Man’s Whiskey. Make sure you bring a designated driver for this show! Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax . Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See Mucho Axe on the 10th, Fretter’s Hot Strings on the 17th, and it will be owner/brewmaster Mike Altman’s birthday on the 24th. As of this date, old-time is still not a crime in Berkeley , so head on over there on the 11th-14th for the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention. You can see The Stairwell Sisters, Evo Bluestein, The Foghorn String Band, Sheila Kay Adams, The Brandy Snifters, The Squirrelly String Band, and lots more. At the Mystic in Petaluma you can see Ivan Neville on the 11th, Devil Makes Three and The Whoreshoes on the 26th, Hot Tuna on the 28th and others. Marin singer/songwriter Forest Sun will be playing a house concert on the 13th at 5514 Doyle Street in Emeryville along with The Adrian West Trio. Lindalou & Michael & The 3 D's (Dan Brunetti, Duncan Draper and David Chapman) will be playing at The Calistoga Farmer's Market on the 13th from 9 a.m.-noon on Washington Street . From there they'll be heading over to the Calistoga High School on Lake Street to play for Calistoga's Relay For Life event that afternoon and early evening. The Marin Civic Center has three shows of note this month. See Judy Collins on the 13th, Etta James on the 20th, and Kenny G on the 27th. Schoenberg Guitars. Besides being a wonderful acoustic guitar shop on Ark Row in Tiburon, Eric Schoenberg also has concerts and workshops there from time to time. See Steve Baughman, Paul Kotapish and Scott Nygaard on the 13th at 8:30 p.m. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. The Anderson Marsh Old-Time Bluegrass Festival will be taking place on the 13th-14th in Clearlake. See/hear Sidesaddle, The Mighty Crows, Mountain Laurel, Alhambra Valley Band, Bound To Ride, The Mighty Chiplings, and lots more. Schaef-Abel Productions at Studio E in Sebastopol will be hosting Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin and Chuck Jones on the 18th and then on the 24th see Slaid Cleaves with Michael O'Connor. Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills. L&S Promotions has booked another powerful line-up for the Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills Festival in Plymouth on the 19th-21st. Make plans now to see Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Gibson Brothers, The Bluegrass Brothers, New Found Road, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Sawmill Road, Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack, and The Anderson Family Bluegrass Band. The Emerging Artists will be Natural Drift, Nell Robinson & Red Level, Gritchy MaGrally and The Four Fingered String Band along with the late night dance band Rick Barnes & Silvermoon. At the Alpha House Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito on the 19th see Caren Armstrong with Joshua Zucker on bass. The show starts at 8 p.m. Snacks/drinks welcome. Make reservations at danfontes@yahoo.com , or call (415) 289-0490. You can also read Caren’s recent On Songwriting interview with Rick Jamison. Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved can be seen and heard on the 19th at the Ace in the Hole in Gratan and on the 20th at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival in Old Mill Park . The 52nd Annual Mill Valley Arts Festival will be taking place in Old Mill Park on the 20th and 21st. Some of the acts you can see are Jeanie & Chuck, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco, Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved, The Shut Ins, and Tim Hockenberry. Mill Valley artist and musician Kimrea plays with her band Dreamdogs every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito , and players are invited to sit in with the band. She and Joe LoCoco will also be at the above art fest on the 20th and at Murphy’s on the 26th. The Celebrating Songwriters series at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley on the 20th, hosted by Caren Armstrong, will feature Peter Gallway and Tom Payne. Show time is 8 p.m. Don’t miss the 2008 KWMR/Far West Fest on the 20th in Point Reyes Station. See Poor Man’s Whiskey, Vinyl & Friends, HoneyDust, Jerry Hannan, The Wronglers, Marquis Melody Reggae from Jamaica , Sweet Baby J and many others. There will also be sculpture art exhibits and great local food, too. EAC and Green Girl Events are helping to keep the festival sustainable. Friendly benefit. On the 21st at 3 p.m. in Novato check out the Friendly Lane Yard Concert Benefit for the Boys & Girls Club. Jan White, Scott Gerber and Cori Wood will perform along with Dave Zirbel (pedal steel) and Pat Campbell (upright bass). Closing the concert there will be a special tribute to Gram Parsons featuring Pat Nevins (Workingman's Ed) and Dore Coller. Donations are $15 advance, $20 at the door at 11 Friendly Lane in Novato . Bring your favorite low back chair or blanket & food if desired. Beverages will be available for a donation to help pay for concert expenses. To reserve a yard spot send a check paid to Pat Campbell noted "yard concert" with your email address. He will send you a confirmation email. For more email friendlylaneinfo@comcast.net. Jan will also be on the radio on the 17th on KGGV, 95.1 FM, from 6-8 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' returns to the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes on the 21st from 5-8 pm. Enjoy acoustic swing, vintage and Western, sweet harmonies, and hot fiddlin'. West Marin singer/songwriter Brindl will be appearing on the 25th at Peri's in Fairfax for the songwriters in the round series along with Gentry Bronson. The Rock and Blues By The Lake Festival will take place out at Stafford Lake in Novato on the 27th, and you can see The Alameda All-Stars (what, no all stars in Marin County ?), Luv Planet, The Lonely Hearts, Tim Cain, Barry Ernst, and lots more. Doug Adamz & Bravo will be playing both country and western on the 27th at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin. Earle Fest, a benefit for the Earle Baum Center for the Blind, will be taking place in Santa Rosa on the 27th, and you can see Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, Blue & Lonesome, Corinne West, and The Otis Taylor Band. There will be pickin’ of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, and the date is the 27th. It takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue , in Sebastopol . Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The Marin Celticgrass band The Shots will be playing at Albany’s Centennial Celebration on the on the 27th from 7-9 p.m. Details at: http://www.albanyca.org/Index.aspx?page=664 Jammin’ in Sebastopol . The place for bluegrass pickin' on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave , from 2-5 p.m. Andrew Freeman, besides performing solo on the first Saturday of every month at Murphy’s in Sonoma , continues to play Tuesday evenings at Giordano's (Columbus and Broadway) in SF at 7 p.m. Ed Neff and Friends are playing bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There is no cover, and you get to hear some of the finest traditional bluegrass in the North Bay . The regular pickers are Ed Neff on fiddle, Mike Wilhoyte on guitar, Jeff King on bass, Paul Shelasky on fiddle, and Larry Cohea on banjo. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North . Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: BROADWAY'S LOST TREASURES 9/03 8 p.m., 9/08 1 p.m., 9/14 8 p.m.: “The costs of going into a Broadway theatre and recording a play for television are unfortunately, prohibitively expensive. As a result, very few major theatrical works ever find their way to television and home video. However, during the telecasts of the Tony Awards, individual, nominated song and dance numbers are performed specially for the awards presentations by the original star. These numbers are not repeated as the Tonys themselves are only telecast once. This special looks for the first time into the archive of the Tony Awards during a 20-year period from when the awards were first televised in 1967 up to 1986. The legendary showman, Alexander H. Cohen, produced the shows.” DOO WOP LOVE SONGS 9/05 1 a.m., 9/07 3 p.m., 9/11 7:30 p.m.: “The 1950s and Doo Wop love songs go hand in hand like two straws and a shake. And now America 's favorite malt shop memories are back with this Doo Wop collection for lovers only. Its Doo Wop's biggest and best hits assembled into a collection featuring all romance and teenage love songs for sweethearts. Hosts Jerry Butler and Cousin Brucie Morrow bring back the backseat ballads in this celebration of great vocal groups - recorded the weekend of May 16, 2007 at The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth , New Jersey .” JOHN DENVER – A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 9/05 8:30 p.m., 9/08 9:30 p.m.: “This program celebrates the late singer/songwriter's legacy of classic performances. It includes his popular 1970s television specials plus rare footage from his Sing Australia! (1984 and 1994) and Red Rocks concerts (1973 and 1982), and interviews with the people closest to him, including ex-wife Annie, producer and arranger Milt Okun, manager Hal Thau, conductor and composer Lee Holdridge, and band members Pete Huttlinger and John Somers." SANTANA – HYMNS FOR PEACE LIVE AT MONTREUX 2004 9/06 1 a.m., 9/06 10 p.m.: “In 2004, guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana augmented the Santana band with a stellar group of musicians for an evening billed as ‘Hymns for Peace’ at the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival. The all-star event included Ravi Coltrane (sax), Chick Corea (keyboards), Herbie Hancock (grand piano), John McLaughlin (guitar), Wayne Shorter (sax), Stevie Winwood (vocals, organ), and guest vocalists Patti Austin, Indrissa Diop, and Angelique Kidjo. The result – a one-of-a-kind musical experience and a reminder of the unifying force of music.” MY MUSIC – THE BRITISH BEAT 9/06 2:30 a.m.: “This special travels on location to London and around the UK to the place where the British Beat was born. It features rare archival full-length performance films mixed with new live performances recorded throughout the UK , including introductions and performances from various legendary clubs and hot performance spots that inspired the Mersey Beat.” THAT'S AMORE – ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAVORITES 9/06 4 p.m., 9/15 9:30 p.m.: “This special brings together the greatest archival performances with America 's most loved Italian-American singers and classic pop songs from the 50s and 60s. The program features original recordings from Perry Como, Julius LaRosa, Frankie Laine, Eddie Fisher, Dean Martin, Jerry Vale and more. Danny Aiello hosts.” PAVAROTTI – A LIFE IN SEVEN ARIAS 9/06 8 p.m., 9/09 1 p.m., 9/10 7:30 p.m., 9/14 10:30 a.m.: “When Luciano Pavarotti died in September, 2007, the world lost one of the greatest voices in all of music. In celebration of Pavarotti's peerless vocal talent and extraordinary international impact, this performance documentary looks back over his legendary career, utilizing the arias with which he was most closely associated as a narrative framework.” THE WHO AT KILBURN 1977 9/06 11:30 p.m., 9/08 3:30 a.m.: “On December 15, 1977, after a hiatus of over a year, The Who assembled at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn, North London to record a concert for Jeff Stein's documentary film The Kids Are Alright. Shot before a select invited audience, it would turn out to be Keith Moon's penultimate live performance. This concert has never been released, and has since been digitally restored and remastered.” GREAT MOMENTS AT THE MET – VIEWER'S CHOICE 9/10 9:30 p.m.: “Join opera diva Renee Fleming as she hosts a special countdown of Great Moments at the Met. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Met's first PBS telecast, viewers cast their votes for their favorite televised Met opera moments. This dazzling retrospective will span 30 years of show-stopping performances by Met opera legends. Or other unforgettable performances by opera icons like Placido Domingo, Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson, Jose Carreras, Samuel Ramey, and Kiri Te Kanawa, as well as stars of today like Cecilia Bartoli, Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko and Juan Diego Florez.” MOODY BLUES AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 9/13 1 a.m.: “The music of the Moody Blues has spanned many generations - touching people's emotions with songs about life experiences. This enduring quality and their continued popularity with their fans is truly evident in this concert special taped live at Royal Albert Hall. The Moody Blues partnered once again with Musical Director Larry Baird -conducting the World Festival Orchestra - and performed many of their classic hits.” QUEEN ROCK MONTREAL 9/13 3 a.m.: “This special was recorded at the Montreal Forum on November 24th and 25th 1981; the first show exactly 10 years to the day of Mercury's death.”
**************************************************************************************** August 15, 2008
As August rushes to its all too sudden end you have to get out and make the best of it before it is over. Sure, you could be staying indoors watching the Olympics at odd hours on numerous channels, be riveted by the alleged discovery of Bigfoot, or be having an anxiety attack because Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson are all turning 50 soon. But if you’d rather be enjoying what’s left of the summer, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is here to guide your in you pursuits of entertainment and pleasure.
Since Labor Day falls on the Monday holiday on September 1st the next edition of this newsletter will not be sent out until the 2nd or 3rd as the staff will be at Strawberry. As a result some September 1st shows are listed in this edition.
Strawberry Fields Forever. Well, maybe not forever, but at least for the next five years the Strawberry Music Festival will continue to exist at its longtime site, Camp Mather by Yosemite. There was a lot of consternation on the part of the fest staff and attendees that they might lose their lease, yet as of the 8th of this month everyone can rest easy until 2013. As for the fest coming up at month’s end on the 28th-31st (SteelDrivers, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, Homespun Rowdy, Sam Bush, Ramblin’ Jack, Old 97s, Patty Griffin, Riders in the Sky), it is sold out, but tickets will start to become available any day now. Go to the ticket exchange list, sign on and check it out. As always, if you do go to the fest, stop by some morning to The Breakfast Club in the mess hall, where yours truly will be doing emcee duties in government issued strawberry pajamas and bathrobe…
The doctor is in! Tune into Ray Edlund’s Pig in a Pen radio show on KPFA (94.1 FM) in Berkeley on the 17th from 3-5 p.m. to hear him chat with Dr. Elmo about the halcyon bluegrass days of yore three decades back as well as the upcoming Brown Barn Festival in San Martin in early September. Besides being known for his Christmas classic “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” Elmo has also been playing traditional bluegrass on the five-string banjo since the early 70s when he was in the band The Homestead Act. Since 1991 Elmo has been leading Wild Blue, Marin County’s longest running bluegrass band. Wild Blue will be playing at the Brown Barn Festival on September 6th.
The long and winding road. After 23 years, the KRON-TV show Bay Area Backroads ceased production on July 31st. KRON may resume production at some point, but in the meantime, it will air in reruns with a few new shows still to be broadcast in the coming weeks. Host Doug McConnell and his crew will continue exploring northern California and the West and you can follow them at their web site Open Road TV. You'll see many of their stories and lots of related information including interactive maps, photos and helpful links. You can also sign-up to receive their free newsletter to keep you up-to-date on all the places they’re visiting. They are also working closely with KQED to get the show on national Public Television this fall. Thanks to Tim Van Raam for this item.
IBMA nominations. The IBMA has officially announced their 2008 finalists for their award nominations for this year and you can look at the list at the link above. If you are an IBMA member you are eligible to vote for the winners. Since there is the usual dearth of nominees west of the Mississippi please consider San Diego’s Chris Stuart for Print Artist of the Year, Loren Witcher of Los Angeles for Best Graphic Design for Recorded Project, The River City Bluegrass Festival of Portland, OR, for Bluegrass Event of the Year, and of course, native northern Californian Rob Ickes for Dobro Player of the Year.
Chinese bluegrass. Banjo player Abigail Washburn, from the bands Uncle Earl and the Sparrow Quartet (with Bela Fleck), not only picks the five-string, she also speaks fluent Mandarin and was featured recently in Newsweek magazine.
Hardly Strictly in the morning fishwrap. There was a story in a recent SF Chronicle about the free upcoming Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival that will take place in Golden Gate Park on October 3rd-5th. You can read the story here. Some of the acts that will be there are Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Earl Scruggs, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Dry Branch Fire Squad, The Bill Evans String Summit w/Megan Lynch, and lots more. Before you start complaining about all of the non-bluegrass bands on the bill please bear in mind that it is a free event, the word “Hardly” is in the title, and it is not mandatory that you attend.
Music and cinema. Two new music movies documentaries to look forward to if they ever make it to your neighborhood octoplex: Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer and Patti Smith: Dream of a Life.
Mafia goes mainstream. A new TV show titled Outsider’s Inn debuted on Country Music Television on the 15th and some members of the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band were seen in the first episode. One critic has described it as “Newhart meets Curb Your Enthusiasm." Watch the trailer for the show here. Thanks to our “Man on the Street in Nashville” Randy Pitts for this tip.
Take the stage. There is a new bluegrass pickin’ workshop titled Take the Stage that will be starting in September at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. It is an eight-session program designed to give amateur musicians a chance to participate in a band of their peers, and it culminates in a live performance at the Freight in November. In two-hour sessions each week, band participants will develop a set of songs by learning singing, harmony vocals, soloing, playing backup, band dynamics and more. Nell Robinson is the program director and David Zimmerman of Homespun Rowdy will lead the workshops. Guest instructors include Kathy Kallick, Megan Lynch and Jim Nunally. There is an advanced track for existing bands coached by Laurie Lewis. Signups are happening now so get your applications in ASAP. There is also a welcome party and jam for participants on August 17th. One man band. Hey, with an instrument like this who needs sidemen? You wouldn’t have to arrange band rehearsals, worry if the banjo player will show for the gig, wonder whose turn it is for the next solo, etc. Thanks to Bluegrass Ambassador Darby Brandli for passing along this link.
More Grass Valley photos. Photographer extraordinaire Mike Melnyk has posted hundreds of more photos on his site of the recent California Bluegrass Association’s Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley. Go here for Music Camp shots and here for Festival ones. Also, on the National Public Radio show All Things Considered on August 5th there was a nice piece about Club Passim, the legendary folk club in Cambridge. You can either read or listen to the story here. On the 12th there was a story about music producer Van Dyke Parks and his project he produced for Inara George, the daughter of the late Little Feat guitarist Lowell George. Read or listen here.
Police log. Singing the jailhouse blues: erstwhile SF blues musician Bruce Brooks was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and band mate Juliette Williamson by beating her in the head with a hammer in 2002. That sort of puts the kibosh on any reunion tour down the road… And throw away the key: convicted murder Mark David Chapman, who altered rock and roll history by shooting to death former Beatle John Lennon in 1980, was refused parole for the fifth time last week…Throw away his key too: John A. Brown, who 34 years ago murdered Opry legend Stringbean and his wife during a robbery (there were rumors of cash hidden in a mattress!), was also denied parole…Keep the kids at home: twice-convicted-for-sexual-misconduct (once for child porn and once for child molestation) erstwhile glam-rock guitarist Gary Glitter is due to be released from jail in Viet Nam on August 19th and will be deported to England after serving a three-year sentence. “Gary who?” you ask? Well, you may not know him by name but your favorite football team plays his instrumental song “Rock and Roll Part 2” every time they score a touchdown. And he continues to make untold royalties from such. What, you still don’t know the song? Well, then listen to a snippet here. He says he “intends to continue his singing career.” Yikes!
Get out your handkerchiefs. Sweet and sour: the country band Sugarland is being sued by one of its former members for a cool $1.5 million due to a breach of contract. Looks like the solo career didn’t take off as well as hoped…More bad vibes: The Allman Brothers Band has sued a record company for $13 million to demand a bigger cut of recordings sold through third parties such as Apple's iTunes music service… Royally mad: singer Jackson Browne is angry at one of the presidential candidates for using his song “Running On Empty” in a TV commercial without getting his permission first. So much so that he has filed a law suit. Browne claims that “his reputation has already been damaged and is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.” Uh, note to anyone that wants to use someone’s song to sell a product – you have to get their okay first and then pay them for doing such. Otherwise it is, like, stealing…What have you done for us lately? Virgin Records is suing Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds To Mars for not recording any albums |
