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CARLTONE'S CORNER May 1, 2008
Welcome to the 89th edition of Carltone's Corner!
Idle Americans. Let’s face it, this is what most of us are. After working all day we sit on the couch at night in front of the idiot box watching shows like “American Idol” and “Access Hollywood,” both of which are all about other people who are out there having a good time. Instead of living vicariously through others (complete with endless commercials every ten minutes), it is way beyond time to get out of the house and experience some entertainment live and in person. True, you won’t get to vote on what you see, nor will you find out the latest wacky thing that Paula Abdul or Tom Cruise has to say. But you will feel better about yourself while also supporting artists at the same time. It’s a win/win situation no matter how you look at it. And fortunately, the interns here at Carltone World Headquarters (none of which, as far as we know, ever had an affair with Barbara Walters) (at least, not one that they are admitting to at this time) (Mindy McCready or Lindsay Lohan maybe, but not Walters) for years have been chained to their computer terminals in the basement of the compound so that they can search out and report the latest music news in and around the North Bay!
Mission (almost) accomplished. You may have noticed that the email address from which this newsletter was sent has been changed. For months now we’ve been threatening to kill off larryc@carltone.com, as we receive hundreds of pieces of garbage mail every day – for products such as Cialis, Viagra, and Rolex watches, for anatomical enhancement and free credit, and countless emails in Russian and other unreadable script – and frankly, we can’t take it any more. So from here on out the new address will be this carlin@carltone.com one, and larryc is on life support for the next couple of weeks until the plug is pulled for good. Long live larryc!
For those of you hoping to go to the Strawberry Music Festival by Yosemite over Memorial Day Weekend, start hanging out on the ticket exchange list, as the fest, as always, sold out weeks ago. Ricky Skaggs, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien, Emmylou Harris, Cadillac Sky and many others will be there.
Ailing musicians benefits. On the 1st at The Red Devil Lounge in SF there was a benefit for drummer Andrew Griffin. In September of 2006 Andrew was diagnosed with stage four metastatic colon cancer at the age of 36. He has since had two major surgeries as well as several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Griffin is the founder of the East Bay Drummers Studio, a rigorous teaching studio that has trained hundreds of rock and jazz drummers of all ages since 1998. He has performed, recorded, and toured as an in-demand session drummer with many influential bands and artists, including a summer 2007 tour of Europe with CAKE. Performing at the benefit were Paul Manousos, Jesse DeNatale, Paul Olguin, Duff Ferguson, Victor Krummenacher, Jeff Rolka, and The Viv All-Stars, with proceeds going to help offset Griffin's ongoing medical expenses. Go to his web site for more details. At the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on the 6th at 8 p.m. there will be a benefit for ailing folksinger extraordinaire Utah Phillips, with performers Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Larry Hanks, Faith Petric, and Ray Bierl. Join them for an evening dedicated to honoring the artistry of Utah, the national treasure of wit and wisdom who is currently recovering from congestive heart failure. Proceeds from the show will go to help defray Utah's medical expenses.
Golden suds. Congratulations to the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax, who received a Gold Medal at the 2008 Brewers Association World Beer Cup in San Diego, a global competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers being produced in the world today. Iron Springs received the medal in the Oatmeal Stout category for their Sless’ Stimulating Stout, named after pedal steel player Barry Sless. The World Beer Cup 2008 winners were selected by an international panel of 129 beer judges from 22 countries. An impressive field of 2,930 entries from 646 breweries in 58 countries made up the competition. The pub has been having free (and mostly acoustic) music on Wednesday nights for the past few years.
The Dead live on. The archives of the Grateful Dead – more than 30 years of memorabilia including the band's first recording contract, life-size skeletons of band members and artwork hand-made by its fans – are headed to UC Santa Cruz, where they will be displayed at McHenry Library. Read the story here.
Once is not enough. Irish singer/songwriter Glen Bransard, who won an Oscar last month for his song “Falling Slowly” from the wonderful film Once (hear the song there) in which he starred, also in real life has won the affections of his co-star/writer/singer Marketa Irglova. Striking while the iron is hot, they are on tour now performing together as The Swell Season. They played a show in Oakland last weekend, and there was a story about them in the SF Chronicle. And, there was a real nice interview with them on the 1st on NPR’s Fresh Air With Teri Gross show that you can listen to here. If you have not seen this film, rent it now.
News update. In the previous issue there was a segment about former longtime West Marin singer/songwriter Joe New, whose song “She Can’t Burn Me Now” was recorded a couple of years back the Del McCoury Band. Joe has another song, “40 Acres and a Fool,” which was co-written by Del and friend Ron Rogers, and it will be on the McCoury Band’s new album titled Moneyland that will hit the stores in June. What was not mentioned last time is that the title song “Moneyland” was written by the late John Herald.
Bluegrass theatre. How often do you get a chance to see/hear live bluegrass and country music played in a theatre setting? Well, now you can. The Contra Costa Civic Theatre in El Cerrito is currently staging a production of the play called Foxfire, and the house band features Bay Area pickers Chuck Ervin on bass, Polly Frizzell and Tony Phillips on fiddle and George Martin on banjo. You can read a review of the show in the Berkeley Daily Planet. The production runs through May 11th, so buy tickets now!
Fishwrap roundup. There was more Marin Music Hall of Fame stuff from Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ. He also wrote a story about Doobie Brother daughter and singer Lara Johnston.
Get out your handkerchiefs. Former baseball pitcher (and alleged steroid user) Roger Clemens has more than his possible perjury trial to worry about now that he is retired from the game. Earlier this week there were allegations of an affair with failed-and-recently-freed-from-jail country singer Mindy McCready (a Carltone “Police Log” regular). The latter does not deny any of the allegations. Of course, she is looking for anything to now to boost her stalled career. Hey, maybe Roger can recommend something?
Police log. Fox on the run: rap singer Foxy Brown is out of prison after serving eight months of a one-year sentence stemming from an assault of two nail salon stylists over a $20 manicure...Bad country song: The father of TV comic and former Saturday Night Live alumnus Cheri Oteri was murdered in Nashville last week allegedly by a country songwriter named Richard Fagan, who also happened to be the roommate of the deceased…Something to look forward to: After being convicted a second time for child molestation in Viet Nam in 2005, Paul Francis Gadd, a.k.a. musician Gary Glitter, will be getting out of jail this August. Most people have no idea who he his, but his song “Rock and Roll Part Two,” contrary to announced bans by some sports venues, continues to be played at many athletic events every time a goal, touchdown or major score happens. Think you don’t know the song? No way you’d ever partake in singing along? Well, think again. You can listen to a snippet of the song by scrolling down here. While you are at, check out the ominous title of the second song, which is “Do You Want to Touch Me? (Oh Yeah!).” Yikes…
Life’s railway to heaven. Bluegrass musician and enthusiastic CBA member Allen Light succumbed to colon cancer on April 17th in Chico. He was in his early 60s. There are postings on the Message Board that you can read here. On the same day, legendary saw player Charlie Blacklock passed after an illness. He was in his 90s, and many in the Bay Area music community knew or at some time played with Charlie. His grandson Kenny Blacklock is a music teacher in Marin County, and he also plays fiddle in the bands Keystone Station, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, and Bluegrass Contraption. Keyboard player Danny Federici, who played for decades with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, died on April 17th from melanoma. He was 58. Chris Gaffney, lead singer of the Hacienda Brothers and longtime member of Dave Alvin’s band, died on April 17th in Newport Beach, CA, from liver cancer. He was 57. Jose Simon, a comedian and former musician who established the annual Comedy Day Celebration in SF’s Golden Gate Park, died of lung cancer in late April in SF. He was 63. Avant-garde composer Henry Brant died on April 30th in Santa Barbara. He was 94. Jim Hager, one of the country singing Hager Twins from the Hee Haw show a few decades back, died of an apparent heart attack on the 1st in Nashville. He was 66.
Coming attractions. Houston Jones at Rancho Nicasio on 6/8; CBA’s Father’s Day Festival 6/12-15; Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue at Sweetwater Station in late June; SF Outside Lands Festival in SF 8/22-24; Strawberry Music Festival 8/28-31;
Onward to the calendar…
Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts is in Tucson for the Tucson Folk Festival competition on the 1st-4th, as he is one of the top ten finalists from around the country. His songs "The Ballad of Poker Alice" and "Home to Oregon" got him in. He has also had his songs “I'm American Too", “Since Then" and "Snake Oil" played on Thom Hartmann's Air America radio show in April.
Marin bluegrass jam. On the 1st and the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m.
Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the open mic every Tuesday with the New Rising Sons and the Bluegrass Gold show (see below), are Firewheel on the 1st, Ben Taylor & David Saw on the 9th, Vinyl on the 10th, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps on the 15th, Larkin Gayl, Lansdale Station and Moonlight Rodeo on the 17th, James Moseley Band R & B Dance Party on the 18th, and Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 29th.
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 Dr. Mojo on the 1st, Kehoe Nation on the 3rd, Peri's Blues Jam on the 4th, Friends of the River on the 6th, Danny Montana and Bar Association on the 9th, Jinx Jones on the 10th, Sexy Sunday on the 11th, Magrane Hill on the 13th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 14th (and 28th), Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 15th, Diamond Ortiz on the 21st, Pocket Party on the 22nd, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, Kevin McCarthy on the 27th, Sacred Profanities on the 29th, Swamp Thang on the 30th, and Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 31st.
The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see and other fine shows. See Oregon on the 1st and 2nd, Butch Wax & The Glass Packs on the 3rd, The House Jacks on the 9th, Wavy Gravy Birthday on the 15th, Nicolas, Glover and Wray on the 16th, The Acoustic Vortex/Bread & Roses Benefit on the 23rd, DjangoFest on the 29th-June 1st, and lots more.
O brother! The legendary Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys will be playing on the 2nd and 3rd at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley.
Go the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa where there are Celtic jams on the second and third Wednesdays and a bluegrass/old-timey jam on the fourth Wednesdays. See Greenhouse on the 2nd, The Carrtunes on the 3rd, The Rhythm Rangers on the 10th, Amber Lee & The Anomolies on the 15th, The Farallons on the 16th, The Mitguards on the 24th, The Tonewoods on the 31st, and others.
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 Rick Ruskin on the 2nd at 8:30 p.m., and Del Rey on the 15th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info.
Songwriters and Film. The Bard of Marin, John Haley-Walker, will be performing on the 2nd at 7:30 p.m. along with Caren Armstrong and Michael McNevin at the The Sandlot Concert & Picture Show in Fremont. See a comedy film short and three songwriters, all for the price of one!
San Rafael singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Huget is out and about as usual this month. Most Tuesdays he's in the house band, The New Rising Sons, at Sweetwater Station for open mic night. The Kurt Huget Trio (with Lisa Kindred and Jesse Lee Kincaid) will be appearing on the 2nd at the "Marin Makes Music" fundraiser for the new music wing of the Marin History Museum. This event takes place at the Mill Valley Community Center. The 3rd finds Kurt performing solo in the morning at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma. That evening, The New Rising Sons will be holding court at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito. Lastly, at Sweetwater Station on the 17th, his country band Moonlight Rodeo will be headlining a triple talent lineup, along with friends Lansdale Station and Larkin Gayl.
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 2nd, Andrew Freeman on the 3rd, the Celtic jam on the 4th, Mike Lounibos on the 8th, Carolina Special on the 10th, The David Thom Band on the 23rd, The Moonshiners on the 30th, The Carrtunes on the 26th, and lots more good stuff.
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. On the 2nd see Tom Duarte & Diamante, Jazz Philosophy on the 3rd, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 9th, Macy Blackman on the 10th, Mindy Canter on the 16th, Wendy DeWitt on the 17th, Andoni with Neck & Neck on the 23rd, on the 24th the Songwriters Showcase with Savio Rego, Matt Lax and Lauralee Brown, Eugene Huggins on the 30th, and Lady D. & Alex Makels on the 31st.
Murphy Productions is presenting multiple shows this month at different venues. See Terry Haggerty on the 3rd at the Masonic in Mill Valley, Roy Zimmerman, Charlie King, and The Prince Myshkins on the 8th at Falkirk in San Rafael, Pamela Joy at the Club Restaurant in San Rafael on the 9th, Tamra Engle at Falkirk on the 10th, The Best Intentions at the Masonic on the 16th, Zadell - Zoe & Dave Ellis Band on the Sausalito Empress cruise on the 18th, Wendy De Witt's Blues Orgy on the 30th at the Belrose in San Rafael, and Fito Reinoso on the 31st at the Masonic.
The Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol is the place to see Heavy Petty on the 3rd, Julia Francis & Friends on the 8th, The Pyrotones on the 9th, The Thugz on the 11th, Walter Strauss Band on the 15th, Jesse Brewster Band on the 17th, Like Mother Like Sun on the 21st, West County Jazz on the 25th, Gentry Bronson Band on the 29th, Blind Willies on the 30th, and more.
Sisters in the stairwell. And no, we aren’t talking about the Austrian kids that were kept in a basement for many years by their cretin father. We’re talking about the Bay Area’s popular old-time band The Stairwell Sisters. They are all over the place this month, as they have a new CD coming out. See them on the 3rd at Down Home Music on Fourth Street in Berkeley from noon-1p.m.; hear them also on the 3rd on the Bluegrass Signal with Peter Thompson on KALW (91.7 FM) from 6:30-8 p.m.; on the 11th hear them on the show America’s Back Forty with Mary Tilson on KPFA (94.1 FM) 1-3 p.m.; and on the 16th the CD release show will be at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley at 8 p.m.
Finnegan’s in Novato has an open mic every Monday hosted by KC Turner. On the 3rd see Petty Theft, Damir Stosic on the 7th (and 21st), Crooked Roads on the 10th, Drew Gasparini on the 14th, Snappy Dave and Dan on the 17th, Revolver on the 24th, Welcome Matt on the 28th, and Ignitor on the 31st.
Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriter Jim Photoglo for an evening of music and dining on the 3rd. Widely recorded by others including Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill and Alabama, Jim’s music combines a broad musical background with an equally broad range of emotions, and the result is a unique artistry that transcends stylistic boundaries and appeals to a universal audience. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@monitor.net.
Festival in Windsor. On the 3rd from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. there will be the new (and free!) Foggy Mountain Bluegrass Festival in the town of Windsor, just north of Santa Rosa, with Blue & Lonesome, Kids on Bluegrass, The Mighty Chiplings, The OMG Band, A.J. Lee, and lots more.
The Alpha 2008 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Deborah Winters (with special guest percussionist Owen Davis) on the 3rd at 8 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged, call (415) 289-0490. Deborah, from Marin, is a vibrant performer who combines the elegance and sophistication of her extensive jazz background with total command of a wide variety of popular music styles. With an emotionally captivating vocal quality and exquisite songwriting skills, her music is both spellbinding and uplifting.
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. They will also be playing the People Paddle Benefit for Aids 4th from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Pier 40 in San Francisco.
The Marin Country band The Shots will be playing Irish, bluegrass, old-time and originals at The Albany Spring Art & Music Festival Memorial Park on the 4th from 12:30-2 p.m. Go by and welcome their newest member, drummer Rob Ahlers, to the line-up. There’ll be food, music and flowers too.
Novato’s Doug Adamz & Trio Bravo will be playing at the Station House on the 4th and 29th; Doug will be part of the Acoustic Vortex show at the Throckmorton Theatre on the 23rd; and his full band Bravo will be at Rancho Nicasio on the 30th.
Steve Smith will be performing some original and tradition acoustic music shows around the bay on mandolin, mandola, guitar and vocals that blend his eastern Appalachian roots and his adopted southwest home New Mexico. He will be sharing the stage with longtime musical friend and banjoist extraordinaire Bill Evans at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 7th, and then Steve will perform at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts on the 9th, (contact Kevin at 707-824-1858 or krussellmft@aol.com for info), conduct a mandolin workshop at Gryphon Music in Palo Alto on the 10th, and perform a house concert in the Santa Cruz area Sunday on the afternoon the 11th.
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 Lorin Rowan & The Rubber Souldiers on the 7th, Brown Bag Banquet on the 14th, the Papermill Creek Rounders on the 21st, and The David Thom Band on the 28th.
Jeanie & Chuck Poling’s bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 7th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness.
On Thursday the 8th at 8 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater Station in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music. Old-time meets bluegrass when The Roadoilers and The Barefoot Nellies share the stage. The Roadoilers are an old-time string band from Marin County who play square dance and contra dance music, traditional country singing, ragtime, and Irish traditional tunes. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass and bagpipes are the instruments. John Pedersen, Perry Fly, Chuck Wiley and Mike Drayton have played together in various combinations for over 25 years. Taken together, the band has over 160 years of experience playing old-time and bluegrass music. John is a luthier and he owns Amazing Grace Music in San Anselmo. The Bay Area's finest all-gal bluegrass band, The Barefoot Nellies, blend driving, high lonesome vocals, soaring sister duo and trio harmonies, and tasteful picking inspired by traditional bluegrass musicians like Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, and the Stanley Brothers. Although firmly rooted in the traditional sounds, the Nellies subtly bring together their diverse musical influences, from Balkan singing to Texas fiddling and hot swing to honky-tonk, bringing a drive and energy to their playing that takes them far beyond the "girl group" label. On this show they will be celebrating the release of their new CD titled Let Me Down Easy. The members are Jess Beebe on bass, Nicole Solis on mandolin, Erika Walther on guitar, Prentiss Sellers on banjo, and Betsy Maudlin on fiddle. Sweetwater Station is Marin County's premier nightclub as well as the home for bluegrass music in the North Bay. For more information call the club at (415) 924-6107.
The 10th Annual Parkfield Bluegrass Festival will be taking place down south on the 8th-11th. Some bands on the bill are The James King Band, Bean Creek, Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice, Eric Uglam & Sons, The Brombies, Wild River Ramblers, and a whole lot more.
Mill Valley’s Dore Coller wins the Busiest Player of the Month Award. On the 8th it will be the Tiki Room at 19 Broadway in Fairfax with Pat Nevins & Ragged Glory from 6-8 p.m.; the 9th McGrath's in Alameda with Savanna Blu; on the 10th The Backyard Concert at Pat Campbell’s in Novato backing up Willow Van den Hoek; on the 11th at 19 Broadway with Hot Club of Marin from 5-8 p.m.; on the 15th at the Tiki Room with the Charlie Christian Clinic from 6-8 p.m.; on the 16th at The Jupiter in Berkeley with Savanna Blu; on the 22nd at the Tiki Room with HCM 6-8 p.m.; on the 29th at the Tiki Room with BermudaGrass; and on June 1st at DjangoFest with Bo Jango, featuring David La Flamme and Dan Hicks at 7 p.m.
The San Geronimo Valley Community Center celebrates the 17th Annual Spring Art Show featuring nearly 100 San Geronimo Valley artists. A wide variety of mediums will be represented including watercolor, mixed media, photography, oil, pastels, woodblock prints, acrylics, metal, clay, metalwork and more. Art lovers are welcomed to attend the free opening reception at the Community Center on the 9th from 6:30-9pm to enjoy food and drink whilst meeting the artists.
Schaef-Abel Productions presents Adam Carroll and Michael O'Connor at Studio E, near Sebastopol on the 9th starting at 8 p.m.
Lauralee Brown is a busy singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. At Saylor's Restaurant on the 9th her LLB & Company band will be playing jazz & beyond, and on the 25th at the Caledonia Street Fair see them kicking off the festivities on the main stage from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Caledonia and Bee Streets.
The Marin duo Keystone Crossing will be playing a free show on the 10th at 3 p.m. at the South San Francisco Library, 840 West Orange Avenue. Their angelic harmonies hearken back to the early days of country and bluegrass music, as they sing songs of the famous brother duos of that era – The Delmore, Louvin, and Everly Brothers – as well as songs from contemporary duos such as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, and Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. Sittin’ in with them on this show will be mandolin player Dave Earl.
Sebastopol guitarist Kevin Russell has three gigs with three different bands this month. On the 10th The Rhythm Rangers will play Western swing, alt-country and rockin' blues at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m., with no cover; in the 17th Jayne Russell (a.k.a. Doug Jayne, Kevin Russell, Dean Wilson, & Dan Ransford) play great originals and cover tunes at the Toad in the Hole in Santa Rosa at 9 p.m.; and on the 22nd Kevin will be with Mark McLay & the Dustdevils when they open for Poco at The Mystic in Petaluma.
Novato bass player Pat Campbell occasionally has concerts in his back yard. On the 10th he will have his first show of the summer season with a very special guest, and there will be a limited amount of tickets available. For information send him an email at friendlylaneinfo@comcast.net.
Calistoga performers Michael and Lindalou will be playing at the Calistoga Farmer’s Market on the 10th from 9 a.m. to noon; they will play opening day of the Windsor Farmer's Market on 11th from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; and on the 17th starting at 5 p.m. for “A Trail Lovers Event,” a benefit for Volunteers for Outdoor America. This is a weekend campout event to clean up one of their favorite places in Calistoga, The Oat Hill Mine Trail, at the intersection of Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail. They’ll be playing during dinner and off and on throughout the evening.
Mother’s Day with Kathy Kallick. On Sunday the 11th East Bay bluegrass singer Kathy Kallick & Friends will be playing their 19th Annual Mother’s Day Celebration at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley starting at 1 p.m. The performance spotlights Kathy's wonderful original songs for children and families, including "Use a Napkin (Not Your Mom)," the title track from an album that USA Today praised for its "lively, humorous, thoughtful, historical, merry music." Accompanying Kathy will be two members of Rustler's Moon, the red-hot bluegrass band she co-leads with banjo ace Bill Evans: Bill and Tom Bekeny (mandolin, vocals). They will be joined by Bay Area stalwarts Suzy Thompson (fiddle, vocals) and Steve Pottier (bass).
Rocker Oysterfeller’s in the West Marin town of Valley Ford will present the band Hillside Fire on the 11th.
Mill Valley’s Matt Lax is at Wildplum studios all this month working on a new album with The Palm Wine Boys. On the 11th he’ll play with Three Mile Grade at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach; on the 24th he plays solo in the Cabo Room at Saylor's in Sausalito; on the 22nd Matt & Erik play at Soluna Restaraunt in SF for happy hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; and on the 31st Matt and his band Nearly Beloved are back at the Riptide in SF at 9 p.m.
Sonoma County’s rootsy bluegrass band Poor Man’s Whiskey will be at the Starry Plough in Berkeley on the 15th, Don Quixote’s in Felton on the 16th, the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa on the 21st, and at the Sebastopol Community Center on the 31st.
North Bay guitarist Walter Strauss and his trio will be playing on the 15th from 6-9 p.m. at the Ace in the Hole Pub in Graton, and on the 17th at 7:30 p.m. Walter and special guest Mamadou Sidibe (kamal'ngoni player from Mali) will be playing a house concert in Half Moon Bay. Email Erin Tormey at beachmeeting@earthlink.net for info and reservations.
At the Mystic in Petaluma you can see the Marshall Tucker Band on the 16th, Poco on the 22nd, and Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force and The South Austin Jug Band on the 23rd.
We’re off to see the wizard! The Mountain Play on Mt. Tam this season will be a production of The Wizard of Oz, and it will run on Sundays (and one Saturday) from May 18th-June 15th. There is also music played after the show, and if you go you will see The Rowan Brothers on the 18th, June 1st and June 8th.
Renowned picker and teacher Orrin Star returns to northern California in mid-May for a workshop and concert tour. Once described as “Arlo Guthrie-meets-Doc Watson,” Star was the 1976 National Flatpicking Champion, has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, and is the author of "Hot Licks for Bluegrass Guitar," a popular flatpicking guide. On the 20th he will be holding a flatpicking workshop from 7:30-9:45 p.m. at Steve Swan Guitars in Burlingame; on the 21st it will be a bluegrass rhythm guitar workshop at The 5th String in Berkeley from 7:30-9:45 p.m., with a mandolin workshop there on the 22nd from 6:30-8 p.m. followed by a concert at 8:30; on the 24th a bluegrass rhythm guitar workshop from noon-2:15 p.m. at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, and on the 24th a house concert in Corte Madera at 8 p.m. (email gassman55@yahoo.com for info).
Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place for bluegrass pickin' on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave, from 2-5 p.m.
Kleptograss. Eric Thompson leads an all-star band called Kleptograss that will be playing eclectic music at the Petaluma Church Concerts Series in Petaluma on the 17th. In the band are Jody Stecher, Paul Shelasky, Paul Knight and usually Scott Nygaard, but for this show special guest David Nelson will be on guitar. The band’s expanding repertoire borrows freely from American mountain music, Puerto Rican jibaro, Western Swing, Greek rembetika, Irish reels, Southern blues, the music of Django Reinhardt, and other places. Tickets are available at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. For more info contact Lance Walker at eclecticstage@yahoo.com.
On the 17th at the First Street Cafe Upstairs in Benicia Jim Nunally& Judy Forrest will be joined by Tomas Enguidanos on dobro, vocals, quatro, and maybe more, from 8-11:15 p.m. No cover.
At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Foreigner on the 23rd, and Crosby, Stills & Nash on the 31st.
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 25th. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info.
Moose open mic. There is an open mic every fourth Thursday of the month at the Petaluma Moose, 300 English Street. Signups are at 6:30 p.m., and the MOM runs from 7-10. The event has been running regularly now for two years.
Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area:
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT II 5/03 10 p.m.: “Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire host this inevitable sequel of MGM classic movie musical magic. This time, comedy and drama are introduced along with musical numbers – Tracy & Hepburn, Marx Brothers, etc. Most imaginative segment of all is the wonderful title sequence by Saul Bass.”
SPARK – YOSHI'S, HIJOS DEL SOL, DIAMANO COURA 5/14 7:30 p.m., 5/16 11:30 p.m., 5/18 6:30 a.m., 5/19 3 a.m.: “Spark visits Yoshi's new venue in San Francisco's historic Fillmore district, and explores efforts to reinvigorate the jazz scene with shows dubbed ‘Local Legends,’ featuring artists like Sugar Pie de Santo. Next, meet painter Jose Ortiz whose Salinas after-school program, Hijos del Sol, is turning young kids from tough neighborhoods onto art. Then join Dr. Zak Diouf and Naomi Washington Diouf and their Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in the weeks leading up to their annual repertoire concert.”
MARVIN GAYE – WHAT'S GOING ON 5/07 10 p.m., 5/11 1:30 a.m.: “One of the great, enduring figures of American music, Marvin Gaye combined gospel, rhythm and blues, soul and jazz to create his own intimate style – one that reflected his ‘path of the heart’ and, essentially, gave the world his autobiography in lyrics and melody. He was a huge, glamorous and sometime flamboyant performer, he was a Motown star who challenged and changed the face of popular music with records such as his ‘What's Going On’ in 1971 – full of honesty, vulnerability and, above all, integrity. Yet, his life was also tainted by the bizarre – full of torment, bitter-sweet success, constant battling with demons and, ultimately, death at the hand of his own father.”
HELLO, DOLLY! (1969) 5/10 8 p.m.: “This colorful treatment of the smash Broadway play stars Barbra Streisand as matchmaker Dolly Levi. She travels to New York and matches up everyone in sight, including refocusing the woman millionaire Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) has been courting, since Dolly has plans of her own for him. Directed by Gene Kelly, with music and Oscar-winning score by Jerry Herman, Lennie Hayton and Lionel Newman. Based on Thornton Wilder's ‘The Matchmaker.’ The film also won Oscars for Best Sound and Best Art Direction, and was nominated in four other categories, including Best Picture.”
PAUL SIMON 5/11 12:32 a.m.: “A rare insight into one of popular music's most prolific and diverse songwriters. This special interview includes a wealth of archive footage and live, spur-of-the-moment renditions by Paul Simon.”
CAMELOT 5/11 noon: “The New York Philharmonic performs a semi-staged version of the Lerner & Loewe classic ‘Camelot.’ It's one of the most endearing musicals of all time telling the unforgettable tale of the legendary King Arthur, whose idealized kingdom meets a tragic end, as well as the wake of the disastrous affair between Sir Lancelot, the King's most trusted knight, and Guinevere, his beautiful Queen."
********************************************************************************************** April 15, 2008 Here we are halfway through the month of April, and earlier this week auditors at Carltone World Headquarters besieged the staff here after the Carltone stock took it in the shorts in the latest stock market roller coaster ride. Fortunately we got all of our taxes done by midnight on the 15th and now we can concentrate on the more important things….
Good news from Joe. Former longtime West Marin singer/songwriter Joe New relocated to the Portland, OR, two years ago, but this hasn’t kept him from working the Nashville scene. A couple of years back the Del McCoury Band recorded his song titled “She Can’t Burn Me Now.” Now comes the news that Joe’s song “40 Acres and a Fool,” which was co-written by Del and friend Ron Rogers, will be on the McCoury Band’s new album titled Moneyland that will hit the stores in June. Joe is in good company here. Other contributors to the recording are Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Marty Stuart, Mac Wiseman, Patty Loveless, Dan Tyminski, Bruce Hornsby, Tim O'Brien, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Its theme is the state of the rural economy with a view to the current downtown in the economy, which is causing problems with the lives of ordinary people to an extent not seen since the 1930s. Joe’s song looks at the phenomenon of rich city folks buying into the "country" lifestyle.
Mill Valley singer/songwriter Jamie Clark is recording now in Toronto for three weeks with a renowned producer/songwriter. More details coming soon!
Setting the stage. There is a new workshop called Take the Stage that is a nine-week program designed to give musicians a chance to participate in a band developing a sound of its own, culminating in a live performance at the Freight and Salvage. In two-hour workshops each week, band participants will develop a set of songs for their concert, working singing, harmonizing, soloing, playing backup, band dynamics and more. Professional musicians, led by bluegrass greats such as Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, who have been teaching bluegrass at workshops, festivals, and camps for many years, will mentor bands each week. While workshops have been centered on bluegrass in the past, other genres (country, western swing, old-time) are welcome, provided there are a sufficient number of participants to form a band. The spring session will start the week of April 21st with the concert at the Freight scheduled around in late June. Tuition is $350 per person. For more details, or to register, contact Ran Bush at (510) 525-8156.
Calling all banjers! The only room left at CBA Music Camp in June is for beginning banjo players, both old-time and bluegrass. All other classes are currently full. Some waiting lists are longer than others, and there will be cancellations, so a few opportunities may open up between now and June, but interested campers are advised to check about availability before sending in registrations.
The keyboard player just turned a whiter shade of pale. Gary Brooker, the writer and singer of the song “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by the band Procol Harum in the 60s, won an appeals court judgment over royalty rights to the song. He had previously lost the first round of the case to keyboard player Matthew Fisher, who had claimed that he was owed royalties since he played the signature organ part on the recording.
Fishwrap Roundup. Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ wrote a story about Arne Frager, who for 20 years operated the legendary Plant Studios in Sausalito, who has been let go by the new owners. Paul recently wrote a story about the West Marin African drumming band Rhythm Village, one of whose members is Gabe Harris, none other than the son of Joan Baez and her ex-husband David Harris. And Paul also wrote again about the fledgling Marin Rock & Roll Hall of Fame idea, which you can read here.
Police log. Life in shambles: Pete Doherty, the oft-arrested lead singer of the band Babyshambles, has finally landed in jail in London for 3.5 months for violations of his probation. Look for his incarceration to do wonders for the sale of his next album, and he’ll probably win Grammys next year… Tough poison to swallow: Richard Ream, a.k.a. drummer “Rikki Rockett” from the metal band Poison, was arrested in LA in late March on a rape charge that was filed in Mississippi last fall.
Get out your handkerchiefs. Rapper Remy Ma, who recently was featured in the police log segment of this newsletter for shooting a friend of hers in a dispute over money, is not letting her new home in Rikers Island get in the way of her wedding plans. She will soon be marrying her fiancé there, rapper Papoose. She may want to seal the deal ASAP. While being held without bail, she faces up to 25 years for her conviction. If given a long sentence the odds are that old Papoose will vamoose before too long…
Life’s railway to heaven. Darian O'Toole, a one-time morning deejay on KSAN radio in SF in the late 90s, died in Oakland on April 5th after complications from a broken leg. She was only 40. Doug Pledger, a decades-long broadcaster on classical station KKHI in SF, died on April 7th. He was 89. Eugene Crabtree, banjo player with The James King Band, passed away last week from an apparent heart attack. He had reportedly told his wife he was feeling some pains in his chest but had not gone to see the doctor. This is sad news any way you look at. While it is not known whether or not Eugene had health insurance, there are way too many musicians that do not because they don’t have the income to pay for it. For a related story about musicians that can’t afford to get sick, read this one here from last weekend’s Nashville Tennessean newspaper. Coming attractions. Marshall Tucker Band at The Mystic in Petaluma on 5/16; Eric Thompson's Kleptograss with special guest David Nelson at the Petaluma Church Concerts on 5/17; Poco at The Mystic on 5/22; Strawberry Music Festivals 5/22-25, 8/28-31; Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force and The South Austin Jug Band at The Mystic on 5/23; CBA’s Father’s Day Festival 6/12-15; SF Outside Lands Festival in SF 8/22-24.
Additions
Okay, the nine-year anniversary Bluegrass Gold show on Thursday the 17th at 8 p.m. at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur. featuring Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands as the headliner and Nell Robinson & Red Level as the opener was mentioned here in detail last time. What was not mentioned, because the news just came in, is that Laurie’s brand new live CD just arrived, so this will be the first official CD release show. So you can literally be the first one on your block to have this disc.
Bluegrass in Fairfax. Gather up the herd and hoof on out to Fairfax on the 17th to see Hoarse Chorus playing up-tempo, hard driving bluegrass tunes and instrumentals starting at 6 p.m. at the Tiki Lounge at 19 Broadway. The band is Ted Silverman, Steve Kallai, Joe Kenny and Gary Kaye.
Roundup time with The Wronglers. The Atlas Cafe in San Francisco presents the best in live bluegrass and old-time music every Thursday night from 8-10 p.m. On the 17th as part of the Bluegrass Tonic Series you can see Jeannie & Chuck's Country Roundup and The Wronglers. No cover charge. That’s two bands for the price of none!
Award winning singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong skillfully combines dynamic, multi-colored vocals and a highly accomplished guitar style with intelligent, at times hysterical lyrics. On the 18th she will be featuring several songs from her latest CD, Everything, which is currently charting in the top 20 on the FolkDJ chart. See her at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael at 8 p.m. Playing with Caren on this show will be Josh Zucker on bass, and special guest John Haley-Walker.
On the 20th at 5 p.m. at the Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker (outside of Sausalito) see the Redlegs reunion show featuring the singing of Maggie Catfish.
Novato bass player Pat Campbell occasionally has concerts in his back yard. On May 10th he will have his first show of the summer season with a very special guest, and there will be a limited amount of tickets available. For information send him an email at friendlylaneinfo@comcast.net.
Reminders
Marin bluegrass jam. On the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m.
Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the open mic every Tuesday and the Bluegrass Gold show on the 17th, are Mike Gibbons Band on the 18th, SoVoSo on the 19th, James Moseley Band on the 20th, Zoo Station on the 25th, Blues Fundraiser on the 26th, and much more.
Mill Valley artist and musician Kimrea plays with her band Dreamdogs play every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band. You can also see them play at Murphy’s on the 17th.
Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are the aforementioned Kimrea on the 17th, Blue & Lonesome on the 18th, Solid Air on the 24th, The Dry Creek Drifters on the 25th, High Country on the 26th, Greenhouse on the 27th, and others.
The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see A Charred Slipper Drama on the 17th, The Standup Sisters on the 18th, and much more.
At the Ace in the Hole in Graton you can see The Courtney Janes on the 17th, Nick Jaina on the 22nd, West County Outlaws on the 24th, Art Frengel’s Tribute to the Grateful Dead on the 29th, and more.
Murphy Productions as usual is presenting a host of excellent shows this month at different venues. On the 18th it is the Caren Armstrong show at Falkirk; on the 25th Lavay Smith at The Stage Dor; and on the 26th Turbodrive at The Masonic in Mill Valley.
Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito has live music in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. On the 18th see Chris Planas, Mike Angel on the 19th, Lisa Kindred on the 25th, and Madeline Sheron on the 26th.
At the Sweet Spot Pub in Santa Rosa enjoy Jill Cohn Trio on the 18th, singer/songwriter night on the 24th, and lots more.
The Mystic in Petaluma has David Wilcox on the 18th, Greensky and The Bluebellies on the 19th, Leon Redbone on the 20th, and The Four Bitchin’ Babes on the 26th.
See Sonoma’s Poor Man’s Whiskey on the 19th at the Fillmore in SF with Hot Buttered Rum. On the 24th PMW will be at Humboldt Brews in Arcata, and on the 27th at the Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol.
At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa see The Farallons on the 19th, Under the Radar on the 25th, and others.
See The James Moseley Jazz Quartet on the 19th at 9 p.m. at the No Name Bar in Sausalito; see The James Moseley Band on the 20th at 5 p.m. at Sweetwater Station, and on the 25th at 9 p.m. at Servino’s Bar & Grill in Tiburon.
Finnegan’s is the happening place in Novato. See Revolver on the 19th, Damir Stosic on the 23rd (and 30th), and on the 26th Snappy Dave & Dan.
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 Craig Caffal Band on the 19th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 23rd, Highway Robbers on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 27th, The Courtney Janes on the 29th, and lots more.
Mill Valley singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey and her trio Big Wide Grin will be singing and smiling at the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City on the 19th at 7 p.m. Also on that bill are The St. Andrew Sisters.
Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 19th it will be swing music, and on the 26th it will be pickers’ choice.
Savannah Blu, a Marin bluegrass band featuring Gary Kaye on banjo, Dore Coller on guitar, Steve Kallai on fiddle and Dave Hanks on mandolin, will be playing at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 20th.
Out at Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen & Saloon in Valley Ford you can see The Bluebellies on the 20th, and Jason Bodlovich on the 27th.
Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts Local's Night every Tuesday, with dinner and beer specials and live music. See Doug Adamz & Trio Bravo on the 22nd, and the Cathleen Riddley Trio on the 29th.
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 Full Soul Jackets on the 23rd, and Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 30th.
At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Ballet Folklorico on the 23rd.
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 Duck Baker on the 24th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info.
Mill Valley’s Dore Coller, besides playing the gig mentioned above with Savanna Blu will also on the 24th be with the Hot Club of Marin at the Tiki Room at 19 Broadway in Fairfax from 6-8 p.m.; and on the 28th the Hot Club Club will be at 142 Throckmorton from 7-9:30 p.m.
Sonoma’s Adam Traum can be seen around the bay this month on the 25th at La Barca in SF with his four-piece band, and with a trio on the 27th at Cato’s Alehouse in Oakland.
San Rafael singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Huget is busy this month. Most Tuesdays he's in the house band The New Rising Sons (Kurt, Jesse Kincaid, Jon Lovitt, and Jake Baker) at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur for open mic night. This band will also be appearing there on the 26th. On the 25th he’ll be at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo playing jazz with Namely Us; and on the 26th he’ll solo in the morning at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma, followed by the evening show at Sweetwater Station.
Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell and his band Under The Radar on the 25th will play at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa, and on the 27th his band The Rhythm Rangers will be at Sebastopol's Apple Blossom Festival in Ives Park, 2-3 p.m.
Mill Valley’s Matt Lax will play with Three Mile Grade at 9 p.m. on the 26th at Riptide in SF.
Lauralee Brown can be found on Tuesdays at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 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.
Celebrating Songwriters. This is the name of Caren Armstrong’s long running singer/songwriter series that she has hosted at a number of venues over the years. The location now is Left Coast Cyclery, 2928 Domingo Avenue, in Berkeley. On the 26th at 8 p.m. you can see Joel Rafael and Gypsy Soul.
Houston Jones will be playing their high-octane America music all around the bay this month, and you can also see them headline a show at the Noe Valley Ministry in SF on the 26th. This special night of acoustic music in a warm, intimate atmosphere will benefit Music in Schools Today (MuST). Answering the crisis in music education, MuST provides programs that reach more than 10,000 Bay Area children in under served public schools and communities. Also, the band’s song “Coward’s Game” can still be heard on Neil Young's web site. The songs there are ranked by number of plays, and “Coward’s Game” is currently ranked at number 112. The band would be most grateful if you would go to Neil’s site here and click on the tune.
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.
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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info.
Moose open mic. There is an open mic every fourth Thursday of the month at the Petaluma Moose, 300 English Street. Signups are at 6:30 p.m., and the MOM runs from 7-10. The event has been running regularly now for two years.
Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area:
SOUNDSTAGE – DAUGHTRY 4/17 11 p.m.: “Soundstage welcomes three-time American Music Award winner Daughtry to its stage. Formed by ‘American Idol’ contestant Chris Daughtry in 2006, this band is a recipe for success. Daughtry, the self-titled release, was listed as the fastest-selling rock debut in Soundscan history. Truly revitalizing the rock genre, Daughtry's triple-platinum album features Chris' rugged voice and the band's heavy, polished sound. On this episode, Daughtry performs fan favorites with passionate intensity.”
SF BALLET'S NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 4/18 11:30 p.m., 4/20 6:30 a.m., 4/21 7:30 p.m.: “In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the San Francisco Ballet is mounting an ambitious festival of new works, ten world premieres by ten choreographers. This show follows the creation of three of these works by some of the country's most renowned choreographers - Mark Morris, Margaret Jenkins, and Christopher Wheeldon – exploring the new directions they are taking this centuries-old art form. Morris has enlisted longtime friend Isaac Mizrahi to design the costumes and John Adams to compose the music for his ballet, both collaborators stellar figures in their own fields. Margaret Jenkins, the highly respected Bay Area choreographer, has members of the Ballet Company working in an entirely new way - within her modern dance tradition. Christopher Wheeldon, heralded as the next Balanchine, blends elements of traditional and classical ballet.”
ARTIST'S TABLE – JACQUES PEPIN AND ITZHAK PERLMAN 4/19 10 a.m.: “Acclaimed chef, author and television personality Jacques Pepin and violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman explore the nature of creativity at the intersection of the culinary and non-culinary arts. Filmed on location in Perlman's Manhattan residence and his summer home in East Hampton, the men discuss their mutual appreciation for music, food and wine. The two raconteurs delight in lively conversation while they plan, present and share a meal comprised of their favorite dishes. The program intersperses cooking and conversation about food, the arts and the common threads linking the creative processes of each, punctuated with Perlman's intelligence and wit and Pepin's warmth and graciousness.”
DANCE IN AMERICA – WOLF TRAP'S FACE OF AMERICA 4/21 10 p.m.: “‘Face of America’, an initiative of the non-profit Wolf Trap Foundation, celebrates the diversity of America's cultural and natural landscapes by commissioning new works by the country's top choreographers and musicians, with the ultimate goal of fostering a commitment to preserve our national parks. This DIA special features highlights from Wolf Trap's Face of America commissions –Project Bandaloop at Yosemite National Park, featuring the work of choreographer Amelia Rudolph and Native American composer Robert Mirabal; the work of jazz composer Steve Turre and choreographer Donald Byrd at Virgin Islands National Park, featuring members of Byrd's troupe at the site of an early sugar cane plantation; members of the US Olympic Synchronized Swim Team performing underwater in the Coral Reef National Monument; choreographer Doug Varone at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park; a celebration of flight by choreographer Elizabeth Streb, set to the songs of country music singer Patti Loveless at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk; and the dancers and musicians of Halau O Kekuhi at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.”
JOHN FOGERTY 4/24 11 p.m.: “Best known as the lead singer/songwriter and guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival, rock legend and Grammy winner John Fogerty has made a phenomenal contribution to American music for decades. CCR released 13 hit singles in just five years and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. On his newest solo release, Revival, Fogerty incorporates all the best elements of an unforgettable career of authentic rock and roll. Revival features Fogerty's signature southern growl and blistering guitar work. On this episode of Soundstage, Fogerty delivers the timeless essence of his music with an electrifying stage presence and resonating energy. A genuine showman, Fogerty weaves new songs ‘Don't You Wish It Was True’ and ‘River is Waiting,’ with classics ‘Born on the Bayou,’ ‘Fortunate Son,’ ‘Centerfield,’ ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and show-closer ‘Proud Mary,’ resulting in an unbelievable performance you will not want to miss.”
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971) 4/26 8 p.m.: “Norman Jewison's adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical received 8 Oscar nominations, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Sound. The story is set in the Ukranian ghetto village of Anatevka. Israeli actor Topol (Best Actor nominee) reprises his London stage role as Tevye the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters.”
MANON LESCAUT 4/27 noon: “Finnish phenomenon Karita Mattila ventures into the Italian repertory, incandescent in a role that fits her like a perfumed glove: tragic courtesan. Rarely has Puccini's pleasure-loving, 18th-century heroine looked or sounded more lovely than in this soprano's portrayal. The opera is conducted by Met music director James Levine and topped with Italian tenor Marcello Giordani's ardent performance as Manon's headstrong young lover, Chevalier des Grieux. American baritone Dwayne Croft is the roguish brother Lescaut; bass-baritone Dale Travis sings Manon's foppish ‘protector,’ the repugnant Geronte di Ravoir.” **************************************************************************************************** April 1, 2008 Welcome to the 88th edition of Carltone's Corner! Marching into April and spring. We made it through the winter, and save for a few rainstorms between now and May the nice weather is here to stay. And, this means outdoor festivals are about to begin. It is time for some spring-cleaning of that camping gear. With the CBA Spring Campout in Turlock next week (details below), it is high time that you aired out those tarps and tents, opened up the coolers and cooking gear, and changed the oil in your road vehicle. The outdoor fun is about to begin so don’t get caught unprepared! Speaking of the fest, if you haven’t checked it out yet, take a look at the brand spanking new CBA’s Father’s Day Festival web site. Not only does it include everything you need to know about the upcoming fest in June, you can also look at festival bands and photos from the past. Thanks to webdude David Zimmerman of Homespun Rowdy, a web geek in remission, for putting this site together. Viagragrass? If you haven’t seen it yet, there is a commercial on TV for the “erectile dysfunction” product Viagra that uses bluegrass pickers singing a song called “Viva Viagra.” You can watch the ad here. Click on the “Nashville” choice. Identifiable players in the ad are amazing singer Terry Eldridge (who, ironically, sings a bluegrass version of the song “Viva Las Vegas” in his band The Grascals but here is relegated to playing the bass) and fiddler Kenny Kossek. Thanks to Randy Pitts for this tip. Slow jam class in Berkeley. There is a new slow jam class about to begin at the 5th String music store in Berkeley. Starting on Tuesday the 8th and running eight weeks until Tuesday the 27th of May, 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. Instructors will include Bill Evans, Evie Ladin, Keith Little, Jim Nunally, Kathy Kallick, and others each week. Megan Lynch will be back, schedule permitting. Class size will be limited to allow for individual attention, with 2-3 instructors on hand each night to join in the music and coach the players. The class will run from 7-9 p.m., and will cost $20 per player, per session. You will be encouraged to attend for at least the first four sessions, as they 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. Strawberry alarm clock. The Strawberry Music Festival up by Yosemite on Memorial Day Weekend is now sold out. If you have any intention of seeing Ricky Skaggs, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien, Emmylou Harris, Cadillac Sky and a whole lot more, check out the ticket exchange site, be patient, and tickets will start coming available about ten days before the festival starts. New sounds. The Barefoot Nellies recently released their first-ever CD titled Let Me Down Easy at a show at Amnesia in San Francisco. It is a live recording from a show there last May, recorded by Marin’s own Lou Judson, one of the finest acoustic soundmen around. (Lou is a recording and live sound engineer with many years of acoustic music and recording experience. He can capture anything from a quiet natural environment to a full band with exquisite accuracy on state of the art equipment, simple stereo to 24 tracks, and provide the sound for any venue large or small. Contact him at loujudson@mac.com.) The Earl Brothers also have a new CD out titled Moonshine, and while the official CD release show will not be until May 3rd at Café du Nord in SF, you can be the first one on your block to have the new disc by going here. Last month songwriter Bill Cutler released Crossing The Line on Manacarta Records, a CD that was recorded over many years. Novato bass player Pat Campbell was part of the project, along with David Nelson, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Austin deLone, Barry Sless, and many more. West Marin singer/songwriter Brindl will be celebrating the release of her new CD titled Acoustic Heart at 9 p.m. on the 13th at Peri’s in Fairfax. The CD is a collection of 12 new intimate and acoustic songs that range from hopeful to heartbreaking with gently strummed guitar, layered harmonies and evocative piano solos. Techno foibles, continued. We still haven’t gotten around to officially changing our email address here at Carltone World Headquarters, but the plan is to do so real soon. The new address will eventually be carlin@carltone.com, so please add this to your safe list. Fishwrap Roundup. Can’t we all just get along? Two of the original Beach Boys settled a lawsuit about who has the rights to the group name. You figure out who won here. Marin Independent Journal music writer Paul Liberatore has been beating the drums to get a Marin Rock and Roll Hall of Fame started. While the staff here are Carltone World Headquarters thinks this a noble idea, we’re more in favor of leaving out the words “Rock and Roll” in any such venture, since longtime Marin artists such as Ramblin’ Jack, Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur and Dr. Elmo are hardly rockers. Read Paul’s stories here and here, and then email him your opinions. Police log. Hum, baby! Richie Sambora, lead guitarist for the band Bon Jovi, was arrested for DUI in Laguna Beach on March 25th while driving his Humvee a bit too erratically…Bad rap: rapper Remy Ma was convicted of assault in a New York court last week for shooting a friend of hers last year in a dispute over money. Ma says it was an accident, the victim claims otherwise…Club men: Esequiel "Paul" Garcia and three others were arrested in San Jose this week for the murder of Mark Achilli, the former owner of the Mountain Charley’s nightclub in Los Gatos. Garcia had recently purchased the venue from the prematurely deceased Achilli, and now it looks like the place will soon be looking for another new owner… Get out your handkerchiefs. Country singer Sara Evans is engaged to marry Jay Barker, a former quarterback at the University of Alabama. According to People Magazine, “Evans, 37, filed for divorce from former political candidate Craig Schelske in 2006 while she was a contestant on the TV series, Dancing With the Stars. A bitter and widely publicized divorce was finalized in September 2007. Barker, who hosts a morning radio show on WJOX-FM in Birmingham, Ala., helped lead Alabama to a national championship in 1992.” Ailing. Reader Dirk Weiss reports that, “Chris Gaffney of The Hacienda Brothers has been diagnosed with invasive liver cancer. He's going through intensive chemotherapy the rest of this year, and though he has some health insurance, friends are trying to raise $60,000 more to cover this expensive treatment. Folks can donate at www.helpgaff.com.” Tejano singer Emilio Navaira was gravely injured while driving his band’s tour bus in late March, and has been in a coma ever since. Jazz singer Nancy Wilson, 71 years of age, is in a southern CA hospital suffering from a collapsed lung, and is expected to recover. She won Grammys for best jazz vocal album in 2007 and 2005. Life’s railway to heaven. Ola Brunkert, the drummer from the Swedish pop band ABBA, died in an accident at his home in Mallorca on March 16th. He was 62. He apparently hit his head and fell on some broken glass. Israel "Cachao" Lopez, renowned Cuban bass player credited with pioneering the mambo style of music, died on March 22nd. He was 89. Coming attractions. Strawberry Music Festivals 5/22-25, 8/28-31; Marshall Tucker Band at The Mystic in Petaluma on 5/16; Poco at The Mystic on 5/22; Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force and The South Austin Jug Band at The Mystic on 5/22; CBA’s Father’s Day Festival 6/12-15; SF Outside Lands Festival in SF 8/22-24. Onward to the calendar… The fundraiser for the 2008 Larkspur Flower and Food Festival, presented by the Larkspur Community Association, will take place on the 2nd from 6-10 p.m. at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and music provided by Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue and Pierre Joseph's Quartet. Tickets cost $30. Call (415) 924-3803 for more information. Finnegan’s is the happening place in Novato. See Damir Stosic on the 2nd (and on 23rd and 30th), Jerry Hannan on the 5th, Drew Gasparini on the 9th, Whotoo on the 12th, Revolver on the 19th, and on the 26th Snappy Dave & Dan. 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 Jenny Kerr on the 2nd, Hoarse Chorus on the 9th, Tom Finch Group on the 16th, Full Soul Jackets on the 23rd, and Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 30th. 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 Diamond Ortiz on the 2nd (and 16th), Honey Dust on the 4th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 5th, Peri's Blues Jam on the 6th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 9th (and 23rd), Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 10th, Bon Tempe Reunion on the 11th and 12th, Brindl on the 13th, Craig Caffal Band on the 19th, Highway Robbers on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 27th, The Courtney Janes on the 29th, and lots more. Singer/songwriter Lee Rockwell will be performing at The Book Beat in Fairfax on the 2nd. Gary Bauman, guitarist for the Sons of Emperor Norton and The Jeb Brady Band, will accompany her. Mill Valley singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey can be found singing at the No Name in Sausalito on the 2nd at 8 p.m., and then with her trio Big Wide Grin at the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City on the 19th at 7 p.m. Also on that bill are The St. Andrew Sisters. At the Ace in the Hole in Graton you can see Brianna Lee on the 2nd, The Glass Beads on the 3rd, Jarred O’Connell on the 8th, Chris Bramble Band on the 13th, The Courtney Janes on the 17th, Nick Jaina on the 22nd, West County Outlaws on the 24th, Art Frengel’s Tribute to the Grateful Dead on the 29th, and more. San Rafael singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Huget crosses the country for gigs this month. Most Tuesdays he's in the house band The New Rising Sons (Kurt, Jesse Kincaid, Jon Lovitt, and Jake Baker) at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur for open mic night. This band will also be appearing on Pacifica's "Bruce Latimer TV Show" on the 2nd, at Caffe Trieste in San Rafael on the 12th at 6:30 p.m. and at Sweetwater Station on the 26th; he's off to NYC to play a gig with David Freiberg & Friends (from Jefferson Starship); on the 25th he’ll be at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo playing jazz with Namely Us; and on the 26th he’ll solo in the morning at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma, followed by the evening show at Sweetwater Station. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Merle Haggard on the 2nd, Ani DiFranco on the 11th, Jackson Browne on the 16th, and Ballet Folklorico on the 23rd. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 3rd and the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the open mic every Tuesday and the Bluegrass Gold show (see below), see Vicki Lee & The Pine Cones and Mars Arizona on the 3rd, Kidney Disease Benefit on the 5th with Jerry Hannan and Jesse Brewster, Queens of Boogie Woogie on the 12th, Mike Gibbons Band on the 18th, SoVoSo on the 19th, James Moseley Band on the 20th, Zoo Station on the 25th, Blues Fundraiser on the 26th, and much more. Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Tonewoods on the 3rd, Sonoma Mountain Band on the 4th, Andrew Freeman on the 5th, the Celtic jam on the 6th, Adam Traum on the 10th, Savannah Blu on the 11th, The Whutknotts on the 12th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 17th, Blue & Lonesome on the 18th, Solid Air on the 24th, The Dry Creek Drifters on the 25th, High Country on the 26th, Greenhouse on the 27th, and others. On the 5th at the Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker (outside of Sausalito) see Michael Skinner’s Final Touch Band featuring special guest Joe Tate sittin’ in on some vocals. Murphy Productions as usual is presenting a host of excellent shows this month at different venues. On the 4th see Kat Parra at The Stage Dor in Sausalito; Jenna Mammina on the 5th at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael; on the 11th Calvin Keys Trio with Dima at The Club Restaurant in San Rafael; on the 18th Caren Armstrong at Falkirk; on the 25th Lavay Smith at The Stage Dor; and on the 26th Turbodrive at The Masonic in Mill Valley. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa see The Moonshiners on the 4th, Kevin Russell & Friends on the 5th, Sonoma Mountain Band on the 11th, The Tonewoods on the 12th, The Farallons on the 19th, Under the Radar on the 25th, and others. Marin guitarist James Moseley is one busy guy. See The James Moseley Band on the 4th (and 25th) at 9 p.m. at Servino’s Bar & Grill in Tiburon and on the 5th at 9 p.m. at EAT (formerly Ted's) in San Anselmo; on the 6th at 7:30 p.m. The James Moseley Jazz Trio will play at Caffe DiVino Sausalito; on the 19th see The James Moseley Jazz Quartet at 9 p.m. at the No Name Bar in Sausalito; and on the 20th at 5 p.m. the full band will be at Sweetwater Station. Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito has live music in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. On the 4th see Mad & Eddie Duran, Jazz Philosophy on the 5th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 11th, Eugene Huggins on the 12th, Chris Planas on the 18th, Mike Angel on the 19th, Lisa Kindred on the 25th, and Madeline Sheron on the 26th. Mill Valley’s Dore Coller has some cool gigs. He will play with on the 4th with Ned Ripple as part of the Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival in Gualala at St. Orre's Restaurant from 6:30-9 p.m.; on the 5th in Redwood City with Steve Farzan from 6-9 p.m.; on the 10th (and 24th) the Hot Club of Marin will be at the Tiki Room at 19 Broadway in Fairfax from 6-8 p.m.; he’ll play with Savanna Blu on the 11th at Murphy’s in Sonoma 8 p.m.; on the 13th see him with Bo Django at the Djangofest Benefit at 142 Throckmorton; on the 20th Savanna Blu will play at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach from noon to 3 p.m.; and on the 28th the Hot Club Club will be at 142 Throckmorton from 7-9:30 p.m. Mill Valley’s Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will appear on the 5th at 9 p.m. at Riptide in SF, and on the 26th Matt will play there with Three Mile Grade. The North Bay trio The Mild Colonial Boys (John Caulfield, Kyle Thayer and Rory McNamara) has two shows of note this month. See them on the 5th down the coast at the San Gregorio Store from 2:30-5:30 p.m., and on the 12th at 8 p.m. at the Noe Valley Ministry in SF for a benefit for the Makindu Program to help them build an orphanage in Kenya. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see Mark Pitta’s Saturday Night Special on the 5th, Manring, Kassin & Darter on the 12th, Djangofest Benefit on the 13th, A Charred Slipper Drama on the 16th and 17th, The Standup Sisters on the 18th, and much more. Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 5th and the 12th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 19th it will be swing music; and on the 26th it will be pickers’ choice. Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell has another busy month playing with three different acts. On the 5th it will be Kevin, Doug Wilcox & Don Watanabe playing swing standards at The Black Rose at 8:30 p.m. in Santa Rosa; on the 6th his band Under the Radar will be at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station from 5-8 p.m.; on the 25th Radar will play at The Black Rose; and on the 27th his band The Rhythm Rangers will be at Sebastopol's Apple Blossom Festival in Ives Park, 2-3 p.m. Out at Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen & Saloon in Valley Ford you can see Mikie Lee Prasad on the 6th, Pink Sabbath on the 13th, The Bluebellies on the 20th, and Jason Bodlovich on the 27th. The CBA Spring Campout will be taking place next week at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock (near Modesto), and the gates open on Tuesday the 8th at 3 p.m. The event runs through the weekend, and it is a lot of fun. Go to the site for complete details. Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts Local's Night every Tuesday, with dinner and beer specials and live music. See Ain't Misbehavin' perform vintage and western swing, jazzy ballads on the 8th, WTJ2 (Wendy Fitz and crew) on the 15th, Doug Adamz & Trio Bravo on the 22nd, and the Cathleen Riddley Trio on the 29th. The Mystic in Petaluma has The Eric McFadden Trio on the 9th, Dirty Dozen Brass Band on the 11th, David Wilcox on the 18th, Greensky and The Bluebellies on the 19th, Leon Redbone on the 20th, and The Four Bitchin’ Babes on the 26th. Sonoma’s Poor Man’s Whiskey is doing some roadwork this month. On the 10th they’ll be at the Blue Lamp in Sacramento, on the 11th at Divided Sky in Tahoe, on the 19th at the Fillmore in SF with Hot Buttered Rum, on the 24th at Humboldt Brews in Arcata, and on the 27th at the Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol. 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 Geoff Muldaur on the 10th at 8 p.m., and Duck Baker on the 24th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. At the Sweet Spot Pub in Santa Rosa enjoy singer/songwriter night on the 10th and 24th, Pion 2 Zion on the 11th, Jill Cohn Trio on the 18th, and lots more. Savannah Blu, a Marin bluegrass band featuring Gary Kaye on banjo, Dore Coller on guitar, Steve Kallai on fiddle and Dave Hanks on mandolin, will be playing at Murphy’s on the 11th and at the Sand Dollar on the 20th. Lauralee Brown can be found on Tuesdays at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. Lauralee and her Jazz & Beyond band will be at Saylor’s on the 11th, and on Sunday the 13th Acoustic Sounds will play at Rancho Nicasio from 5-7 p.m. Novato’s Doug Adamz will be with The Whutknotts at Murphy's the 12th, and with his band Trio Bravo at The Station House in Point Reyes Station on the 17th and at Nick's Cove on the 22nd. 35th Annual Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival will be taking place on the 12th and 13th, and some of the bands you can see there are Julie Faye Dance Troupe, Plum Crazy, Tomales High School Rock Band, The Trevor Kinsel Bohemian Trio, Deadly Zins, The Sky Band, Swing Street, and Bo Django. Nationally known folk trio Rebecca Riots will perform on the 12th at 8 p.m. at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center. The popular band is known for upbeat, energized folk music, three part harmonies, and guitar, mandolin and harmonica chops. Their passionate political and spiritual concerns are expressed in the music and engaging and often humorous between song banter. Advance tickets recommended. Join the KWMR cast and crew on the 12th from noon-4 p.m. for their Pledge Drive Hootenanny with barbecue, live music, and an open house to support local radio in West Marin. It will happen in front of the KWMR studios in Point Reyes Station at 11431 Highway One at Mesa Road. Though attendance is free for all ages, this is a great time to join KWMR. To say “thanks” the station is offering a free lunch plate with every new membership. Jerry Hannan, The Bluebellies, Solid Air, Rebecca Riots and more. Petaluma Folk Music Concerts presents a house concert featuring singer/songwriter Steve Seskin (“Don’t Laugh at Me”) on the 12th at 8 p.m. in Petaluma. There will be a potluck dinner before the show from 6-8. For more info call Barbara Ahron at (707) 781-3272. Do so quickly, as there will be limited seating. Mill Valley artist and musician Kimrea plays with her band Dreamdogs play every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band. You can also see them play at Murphy’s on the 17th. Finbar Devine’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma, is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. As of press time their schedule for April was not on their calendar. Bluegrass Gold. On Thursday the 17th at 8 p.m. the nine-year anniversary edition of the Bluegrass Gold series will take place at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur. The show is produced by Carltone Music. Bluegrass Gold is the longest running monthly bluegrass series in the San Francisco Bay Area. The show started in April of 1999 at Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley, 145 shows have taken place since the series began, and over 12,500 people have attended. The show features both local and nationally touring acts, with such notables as Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Maria Muldaur, The Reeltime Travelers, Kathy Kallick, Bill Evans, Hot Buttered Rum, The Laurel Canyon Ramblers, and King Wilkie having played. The show on the 17th will feature Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands as the headliner and Nell Robinson & Red Level as the opener. Laurie Lewis and her band, The Right Hands, will be showcasing songs new and old, including fabulous fiddling, and the awesome talents of her band: longtime partner Tom Rozum on mandolin, Todd Phillips on bass, Craig Smith on banjo and Scott Huffman on guitar. Laurie’s songwriting, fiddling, and singing have brought her national recognition, a Grammy, and two International Bluegrass Music Association Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. She has become a key figure in bluegrass, traditional, and folk music circles. Opening the show will be Nell Robinson & Red Level. They are one of the hottest new bands on the Bay Area bluegrass scene. Named after the bandleader’s grandmother and the little red clay crossroads town in southern Alabama where Nell’s family hails from, the band’s music is an entertaining mix of traditional bluegrass, country and alternative-folk as well as some original compositions. Singer Nell leads the band, Jacob Groopman adds guitar and vocals, Brian Judd plays mandolin and sings, Jonathan Schiele picks the banjo and adds vocals, and Andrew Conklin plays standup bass. 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. Celebrating Songwriters. This is the name of Caren Armstrong’s long running singer/songwriter series that she has hosted at a number of venues over the years. The location now is Left Coast Cyclery, 2928 Domingo Avenue, in Berkeley. On the 26th at 8 p.m. you can see Joel Rafael and Gypsy Soul. Houston Jones will be playing their high-octane America music all around the bay this month, and you can also see them headline a show at the Noe Valley Ministry in SF on the 26th. This special night of acoustic music in a warm, intimate atmosphere will benefit Music in Schools Today (MuST). Answering the crisis in music education, MuST provides programs that reach more than 10,000 Bay Area children in under served public schools and communities. Also, the band’s song “Coward’s Game” can still be heard on Neil Young's web site. The songs there are ranked by number of plays, and “Coward’s Game” is currently ranked at number 112. The band would be most grateful if you would go to Neil’s site here and click on the tune. 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. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Moose open mic. There is an open mic every fourth Thursday of the month at the Petaluma Moose, 300 English Street. Signups are at 6:30 p.m., and the MOM runs from 7-10. The event has been running regularly now for two years. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: COMPANERAS 4/01 11 p.m.: “This show 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.” TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS LIVE FROM GATORVILLE 4/03 11 p.m.: “For Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and fans alike, ‘Live from Gatorville’ is an emotional and electrifying evening. The band performs songs from their three-decade career, including rarely played gems, influential covers, and songs from Petty's recent solo album, Highway Companion. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are just getting warmed up at the beginning of the second hour as the barrage of hits keep coming." LIFEHOUSE 4/10 11 p.m.: “Chart topping is an understatement for pop-rock band Lifehouse. Since their first album, they have appeared on Billboard and Top 40 Charts numerous times. Best known for their top single ‘Hanging by a Moment,’ and ballad ‘You and Me,’ which spent a record 60 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart, Lifehouse has gone back to the basics with Who We Are. Jason Wade's lyrics address a diverse range of topics audiences can relate with and melodies they can rock to.” BEATLES IN HELP! 4/05 10:07 p.m.: “A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie.” HELP! (1965) 4/05 10:32 p.m., 4/15 9:29 p.m., 4/16 1 a.m.: “The Beatles' second movie spoofs James Bond movies, as The Fab Four try to protect Ringo from a religious cult which has declared him to be their next human sacrifice because of the new ring on his finger.” JOHN LENNON'S JUKEBOX 4/06 12:05 a.m.: “This program serves up a fresh take on one of the 20th century's greatest songwriting talents. An in-depth performance documentary that celebrates the songwriter's craft, ‘John Lennon's Jukebox’ explores the influences behind one of music's most inspirational figures by revealing the secrets of his private record collection. Stacked with the tracks that inspired Lennon to tune up, turn on and rock out, the program explores the impact of those songs on the former Fab One's life and the times in which he lived, and evokes the spirit that propelled a rock'n'roll delinquent to become an icon. Authorized by Yoko Ono and featuring comments by Sting, this unique documentary puts a delicious new spin on a classic tale, recreating the sound of a revolution in the making.” BEST OF THE BEATLES 4/06 1 a.m.: “This program tells the untold story of the world's most famous band's formative years, as seen through the eyes of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. Viewers learn the truth about events in Liverpool and Hamburg at the time when the band was in the vanguard of popular music, and how it all went horribly wrong for Best, just as the Fab Four grasped the golden apple. For the first time, audiences hear of Best's pivotal role in forming the Beatles and his survival of a very public nightmare.” PAUL MCCARTNEY – CHAOS AND CREATION AT ABBEY ROAD 4/06 2 a.m.: “Sir Paul McCartney returns to Studio 2 at London's Abbey Road studios, where most of the Beatles's recordings were made, for an intimate journey through his songwriting history, from his very first Beatles song to the work on his new album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Using a selection of vintage instruments from his own collection – including the bass played by Bill Black on Elvis Presley's original recording of ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ and the Mellotron and mixing desk used by the Beatles – McCartney re-visits his back catalog in new and revealing ways in front of an intimate studio audience. McCartney re-interprets old songs, reveals new ones, plays cover versions and enlists the audience's help in a demonstration of ‘in the moment’ songwriting and arranging.” ROMEO ET JULIETTE 4/06 noon: “The tragic tale of lovers thwarted by their warring families has long served opera composers, few rendering it more faithfully than French composer Charles Gounod (1818-93). That interpretation comes thrillingly alive when Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna ignite this production. Placido Domingo, who himself sang the role of Romeo at the Met in 1974, leads the orchestra and chorus; Donald Palumbo is chorus master. Baritone Nathan Gunn portrays Romeo's friend Mercutio; mezzo soprano Isabel Leonard is Stephano, a trouser role created just for the opera by librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carre; and bass Robert Leonard is the kindly Frere Laurent, who marries the lovers.” JACQUES PEPIN AND ITZHAK PERLMAN 4/12 6 p.m., 4/19 10 a.m.: “Acclaimed chef, author and television personality Jacques Pepin and violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman explore the nature of creativity at the intersection of the culinary and non-culinary arts. Filmed on location in Perlman's Manhattan residence and his summer home in East Hampton, the men discuss their mutual appreciation for music, food and wine. The two raconteurs delight in lively conversation while they plan, present and share a meal comprised of their favorite dishes. The program intersperses cooking and conversation about food, the arts and the common threads linking the creative processes of each, punctuated with Perlman's intelligence and wit and Pepin's warmth and graciousness.” END OF THE CENTURY – THE RAMONES/JOE STRUMMER ROCKS 4/13 midnight: “In 1974, a new sound hit New York City's underground music scene: a band of misfits called The Ramones. This film follows this quartet of unlikely rock stars, known as the progenitors of punk, through more than two decades of touring, recording and bickering – from a shared Queens childhood to their 2002 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rock icon and former legendary front man for The Clash, Joe Strummer, is hot on the comeback trail, touring America and Japan via concert footage and interviews before his untimely death in 2002.” CLASH LIVE – REVOLUTION ROCK 4/13 2 a.m.: “This performance documentary will take us through the short but highly influential and prolific reign of the band from the mid-70's through the early 80's, drawing from never before seen and rare live concerts throughout their career. The show will make use of never-used interviews with The Clash band members drawn from interview sessions made by Grammy Award documentary producer, Don Letts, maker of the award winning ‘Westway to the World’ Clash documentary and the film ‘Punk Attitude.’” MACBETH 4/13 noon: “Zeljko Lucic and Maria Guleghina portray the Thane and his Lady in Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece. Joining the Serbian baritone and the Ukrainian soprano are American tenor Dimitri Pittas as Macduff and Canadian bass John Relyea as Banquo. James Levine conducts the new production, conceived and directed by Adrian Noble, former leader of Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company. Reset by Noble in a bleak, post-World War II ravaged landscape, the proceedings present a major twist on the play's three witches, here expanding them into an enormous coven of modern-day bag ladies, twirling purses and uttering prophesies.” **************************************************************************************************** March 15, 2008 Ah, the Ides of March. For some folks (especially a dude named Julius Caesar) the 15th of March has been a bad day. But heck, around Carltone World Headquarters blossoms are in bloom, birds are singing, and there is a heck of a lot of great music going this weekend. So what is there to beware? Get out of the house and see some live music, and stay away from any place that offers green beer… The staff here at CWH is headed off to Pahrump (west of Vegas), NV, this weekend to play some shows with Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue at the town’s 1st Annual Bluegrass Festival. It should be a fun time. What is way too bad is that the soon-to-be-former governor of New York, had he been the governor of Nevada, could have had all kinds of good times in places like Pahrump because certain activities which he liked to partake in are legal there. And, as the saying goes, “What goes on in Pahrump stays in Pahrump.” Do you know when St. Patrick’s Day is in 2008? With the big day falling on a Monday and during the “holy season” this year, celebrations have been moved to other days depending on which part of the world you happen to live. There are many events taking place this weekend before the 17th in and around Marin, and for a list of things to do and see, read these stories here and here from the Marin Independent Journal. The Waybacks have a new CD titled Loaded on Compass Records, and while the official release date is not until March 25th they will have the discs on hand when they play a Murphy Productions show on the 22nd at the Lark Theatre in Larkspur (the movie theatre, not the former Larkspur Café Theatre). Be the first one on your block to own this new recording. They make wonderful Easter gifts as well. Wanted: a life. Do you ever think you go out too much to see live music? Well, if so, you have nothing on a guy in the St. Louis area known as “Beatle Bob.” Since late 1996 he has gone out to shows every night. “All the world’s a stage,” according to a passage from old Willie Shakespeare’s play As You Like It. And this is how it felt for a few hours on the 8th at The Sonoma County Bluegrass & Folk Festival. If you missed all of the fun, you can experience it now visually by going here to photographer Mike Melnyk’s site. While you are on his site, take a look at all of the other shows and fests that he has photographed. He is quite the talent, and also one busy guy! Hands across the water. East Bay banjo player Bill Evans and California-in-her-heart fiddler Megan Lynch left this week for a nine-day tour of Scotland, Ireland and England, followed by a week of instruction at England's premiere bluegrass camp, Sore Fingers Bluegrass Week. The duo's new My Space page features new live cuts and will be updated with new pictures as the tour progresses. Bill also has a new You Tube channel with six short video clips of him playing African banjo music, 19th century minstrel banjo, early 20th century classic banjo and bluegrass and original music. In other developments, Bill's book Banjo For Dummies is now the most popular banjo instructional manual in the world. Jam class at Grass Valley. A cool addition to the CBA Music Camp this June will be Sid Lewis’s Jamming 101 Class. Sid has been teaching the class at various venues and festivals for many years (including the Strawberry Music Festivals), and he is looking forward to holding the class in Grass Valley for the first time. If you have not signed up for camp yet, you’d better get to it, as many classes are already filling up. Happy birthday, Martin Guitars! Just about every bluegrass or folk guitar player either plays or has owned a CF Martin acoustic guitar at one time or another. This year the company from Nazareth, PA, is celebrating its 175-year anniversary, and their guitars are the subject of the cover story in this month’s Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, which you can read here. Bass players needed. Isn’t this often the case? There are countless guitars and more than a fair share of mandolins, fiddles and banjos. But not that many bass players. And it is time that someone did something to correct this situation! If you live in the SF Bay Area, and you’ve been thinking about getting started on the old doghouse bass but weren’t sure who to turn to for lessons, veteran bass player extraordinaire Markie Sanders is now living in the East Bay and accepting students. She is well-known to veteran California bluegrass pickers, having played with Vern & Ray, High Country, Good Ol' Persons, Laurie Lewis & Grant Street, and many others back in the day. She also was a member of Queen Ida's Zydeco band for many years, and played with several jazz groups. After moving to Nashville in the early 90s, Markie continued playing swing and country music, but she was also part of bluegrass bands led by Claire Lynch, Chris Jones, Harley Allen, and others. She's a master of both acoustic and electric bass, and is a fabulous harmony singer as well, should you need some tips on vocalizing. In addition to currently playing with Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds and Ray Bierl, Markie is also booking bass students at all levels. Give her a call at (510) 638-9908 if you're interested in learning from the best. Thile considered. There was an interesting piece on the 7th on the National Public Radio news show All Things Considered about mandolin player Chris Thile and his new band The Punch Brothers that you can listen to here. Chris has composed a suite using bluegrass instruments, and as anyone that has ever heard his former band Nickel Creek can attest, it is not traditional bluegrass. Very interesting music though. The Bay Area Americana band Houston Jones has a song called “Coward's Game” that is making some serious noise over at Neil Young's web site. Over 2,000 musicians have posted songs there, and they are ranked by number of plays. “Coward's Game” entered the chart at the bottom, and made it as far as 120. The band would be most grateful if you would go to Neil’s site here and click on the tune. Band scramble. According to the Bluegrass Blog, Mike Bub and Ricky Simpkins are the new members of The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet. Mike plays bass and for years was with the Del McCoury Band. Ricky was a longtime member of The Tony Rice Unit. Fishwrap Roundup. You can read about the SF Celtic band The Gas Men in the Chronicle on March 2nd. Paul Liberatore, the music writer for the Marin IJ, wrote a recent story here about a connection between the Grateful Dead and the SF Opera. Get out your handkerchiefs. The long and winding road: Paul and Heather Mills McCartney have apparently reached a financial divorce agreement in London. She will get a cool $50 million in the split, which sounds like a heck of a lot of money. Unless, of course, you are a professional baseball player, a CEO, or you are, say, Paul McCartney, who is worth an estimated $1.6 billion. Now that’s a lot of silly love songs… Police log. Waffling Kid: Robert James Ritchie, also known as rap rocker Kid Rock, (and known in some circles as being a recent boytoy/husband of Pamela Anderson), earlier this month pleaded not guilty to causing a riot in a Waffle House in Atlanta last October. Life’s railway to heaven. Fairfax singer and guitarist Chuck Day died on March 10th in a Healdsburg hospital after a long illness. He was 65. Back in the day he played with Johnny Rivers and The Mamas and Papas, before moving to Marin in 1969. He hosted the Monday night jam at 19 Broadway for 15 years. There will be a memorial march for him in Fairfax on the 22nd at 4 p.m. Longtime Marin sax player Martin Fierro died from cancer on March 12th. He was 66. He played in Mother Earth with Tracy Nelson, recorded with Jerry Garcia, and founded the band Zero. Bolinas Americana guitar player Buddy Craig died on February 29th from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 50. Legendary blues/rock drummer Buddy Miles passed away on February 26th in Austin, TX. He was 60. He had been suffering from heart problems, and the official cause of death is unknown at this time. Blind rock and jazz guitarist Jeff Healey succumbed to cancer in Toronto on March 2nd. He was 41. Nashville guitarist Barry “Byrd” Burton, who played in The Amazing Rhythm Aces (whose hit song a few decades back was “Third Rate Romance”), died in Nashville on the 10th from leukemia. He was 61. Bill Bolick, who, with his brother Earl was one-half of the famed Blue Sky Boys bluegrass duo from the 1930s/40s, died in North Carolina on the 13th. He was 90 years old. This act predated the Louvin and Everly Brothers brother duos, and if you have never heard the Bolick brothers sing, search them out now! Coming attractions. Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue at Sweetwater Station on 4/2; The Whutknotts at Murphy’s in Sonoma on 4/12; Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and Nell Robinson & Red Level at Sweetwater Station on 4/17; Caren Armstrong at Falkirk in San Rafael on 4/18; Strawberry Music Festivals 5/22-25, 8/28-31; CBA’s Father’s Day Festival 6/12-15. Additions Give a hoot. Jeanie & Chuck’s Give a Hoot will be taking place on the 14th at the Velo Rouge Café, on the corner of Arguello and McAllister, in SF from 7-9 p.m. Musical guests include Misisipi Mike Wolf, Tom Drohan, Gayle Schmitt and Chickwagon. No cover, and all ages are welcome. Dust off those strings! One of the hottest young bands on the bluegrass scene these days is The Infamous Stringdusters. At the IBMA Award show in October they won three big awards: Emerging Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and they tied for Album of the Year (“Fork In The Road,” which is both the song and album title), becoming the first band in IBMA history to win these three coveted awards in one year. They are in the area this weekend for a few shows, so check them out if you can. On the 14th it will be the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne, the 15th at the RBA show at the First Presbyterian Church in Mountain View, on the 16th at the Blue Goose in Loomis, and on the 17th at the Sawtooth Ridge Café in Tahoe City. On the 15th don't miss the 13th Annual Fairfax Beer Festival at the Pavilion. There will be about 50 ales poured from local microbreweries, corned beef and cabbage sandwiches, and music by The Tom Finch Group. Tickets are $20 in advance at the Iron Springs Brewery, or $25 at the door. Iron Springs will be pouring their honey blonde ale infused with Marshall Farms honey, as well as a dry hopped version of the Iron Springs IPA. For the next six weeks they are renaming their honey blonde as “Golden Hammer Honey Blonde,” and donating fifty cents from each pint to Habitat for Humanity for a project this spring in Bolivia. Drink up and support a great cause. Swingin’ in Sonoma. You can see the Western swing band Lost Weekend, featuring the lead singing of Pam Brandon (aka Belle Monroe), when they play on the 15th at 8 p.m. at Little Switzerland in the town of Sonoma. CalAmericana is a new organization dedicated to music, musicians, and music fans that enjoy all types of music that fit under the “Americana” label. Check out the site, and considering joining. On the 15th at Café Royale in SF at 8 p.m. see The Rock Soup Ramblers (Doug Blumer, Kurt Stevenson, Steve Owen, David Reidy, Mike Romanowski), who will be headlining a benefit show for the organization, and opening will be Annie Staninec & John Kael. The Marin County band The Shots will be playing Irish, bluegrass, old-time and originals as part of Mahoney Vineyard’s St Patrick’s Day Celebrations at Taste at Oxbow, 708 First Street, in downtown Napa on the 15th from 1-4 p.m. Celebrating Songwriters. This is the name of Caren Armstrong’s long running singer/songwriter series that she has hosted at a number of venues over the years. The location now is Left Coast Cyclery, 2928 Domingo Avenue, in Berkeley. Yes, that’s right, a bike shop. On the 15th at 8 p.m. you can see David Gans, Claudia Russell with Bruce Kaplan, and Caren perform. Kith & Kin, a Celtic band from Napa Valley, will be playing shows at The White Barn in St. Helena on the 15th at 8 p.m. and on the 16th at 4 p.m. The 15th Annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival is going on through the 29th of this month, and on the 15th & 16th at The Marketplace you can see acts such as Maria Muldaur, Norton Buffalo, Pride & Joy, Free Peoples, and lots more. The Hot Club of San Francisco will be appearing at the Marin Osher JCC on the 15th. Ray Bierl World Tour. East Bay picker Ray Bierl, who was featured in the CBA’s Bluegrass Breakdown last month in a story by Chuck Poling, is busy these next few days. On the 16th from 11a.m.-1 p.m. Ray and Doug Wilcox will appear at the DiBartolo Café in Oakland; on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. it will be Swing Farm (Ray, Charlie Hancock, Steven Strauss) at Caffe Trieste in Berkeley; and on the 19th at 7:30 p.m. see Hillbillies From Mars (Ray, Kevin Carr, Paul Kotapish, Daniel Steinberg) when they play at Strings in Emeryville. Turn your radio on. On Sunday the 16th tune into Ray Edlund’s Pig In A Pen radio show on KPFA (94.1 FM) in Berkeley from 3-5 p.m. and hear Matt Dudman and Richard Brandenburg play. They will be singing and promoting their show at the Freight & Salvage on March 22nd, opening for Nell Robinson & Red Level. You can also listen on line, and if you can’t listen in real time, you can hear the show later on as it is archived on KPFA’s web site. Hear The Lonestar Retrobates play some cowboy jazz on the 16th from 3-6 p.m. at 19 Broadway in Fairfax. Celtic duo. ‘Tis that time of year for finding a plethora of Celtic music at your neighborhood pub, and the good news is that the dynamic duo of Andrew MacNamara and Rory McNamara will be playing a series of shows well beyond St. Patrick’s Day. Andrew is from Tulla in County Clare in the Irish Republic, and he has played the accordion with the Tulla Céilí band as a youth, later became a member of Skylark, and in 1996 he formed his own band The Lahawns. Rory is well known on the Bay Area music scene, having played solo, as part of The Frontmen, with his Ring of Truth Trio, and with The Mild Colonial Boys. The two of them will be playing at the Plough & Stars in SF on the 17th at 8 p.m., on the 20th at 8:30 p.m., the 22nd at 9:30 p.m., and on the 28th. Also, they will be playing the Acoustic Vortex House Concert Series in Larkspur on the 29th. For reservations and more info about this last show, send an email to Bruce at bvictormd@gmail.com. Old-time is not a crime! At least, it isn’t the North Bay. On the 21st there will be a dance at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa with Figments starting at 8 p.m., and on the 22nd see Marin’s finest (and only) old-time band The Roadoilers when they play a contra dance at Wischemann Hall, 499 Morris Street, in Sebastopol. For more info, go to the North Bay County Dance Society site. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents Bay-Area singer-songwriters Michael McNevin and Jamie Byrd for an evening of music and dining on the 22nd. Winner of numerous awards, singer-songwriter Michael McNevin plays clubs and festivals across the U.S., highlighting a seasoned voice and innovative guitar work. His songs read like short stories, full of humor, heart, and a keen eye for Americana. Jamie Byrd is a San Francisco-based singer/songwriter who writes imaginative songs with a master painter’s eye, in an intelligent, intuitive language uniquely her own. She has been awarded a CLIO and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, show starts 7. Admission is $25.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. The Marin traditional bluegrass band Keystone Station will be playing vintage bluegrass on the 29th at Murphy’s from 8-10 p.m. There is no cover, and sittin’ in with band this night will be Ed Neff on fiddle. Reminders Larkspur’s own Corinne West & The Posse (with Walter Strauss on guitar) will be playing on the 14th at 8 p.m. at the Petaluma Church Concerts Series, First Church of Christ Scientist, 522 B Street, in Petaluma. Corinne honed her craft traveling around the country busking for tips while developing her signature sound – a heady mix with the intensity of rock, the sincerity of country the storytelling of bluegrass and the wide-openness of Americana. She’s touring in support of her recent album Second Sight, produced by acoustic music master Mike Marshall. Tickets are available at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. For more info contact Lance Walker at eclecticstage@yahoo.com. All aboard to see the band Lansdale Station when they play at Rancho Nicasio on the 14th, starting at 8 p.m. This Marin bawdy Americana band features the lead singing of husband/wife Judge and Lauren Murphy, and they will be debuting some new material for their upcoming recording sessions at Hyde Street Studios in April. Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the open mic every Tuesday with the New Rising Sons and the Bluegrass Gold show (see below), are the Vagina Monologues on the 14th and 15th, Jerry Hannan on the 17th, The Beautiful Losers and HoneyDust on the 21st (see below), Bobby G Posse on the 22nd, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 27th, and much more. Murphy Productions is presenting multiple shows this month at different venues. See Linda Kosut "Jukebox Cabaret" at McInnis Park in San Rafael on the 14th, Kofi Baker's Tribute to the Cream at the Masonic Center in Mill Valley on the 15th, The Matt Eakle Band on 21st at 333 Caledonia, The Waybacks at the Lark Theater on 22nd, and Ray Obiedo at 333 Caledonia on the 28th. Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell will be playing on the 14th with Under the Radar at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts Casual Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Studio, and on the 15th The Rhythm Rangers are at Ace in the Hole in Gratan. 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 Vinyl on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Danny Montana & Bar Association on the 22nd, Jeb's TwangFest on the 26th, Billy Boys on the 29th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see a stage production of Peter Pan on the 14th-16th, Los Pinguos on the 21st, Bill Kirchen on the 28th, Hot Club on Marin on the 31st, and other fine shows. Mill Valley’s Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will appear at the Ace In the Hole Pub in Gratan on the 14th at 8 p.m., and at Saylor’s on the 29th. Matt also will appear with The Palm Wine Boys on the 16th at Rancho Nicasio in the afternoon. Houston Jones will play at the Black Oak Casino on the 14th (opening for the Stringdusters), on the 15th at the Old Stan in Sonora, at the San Gregorio General Store on the 22nd, and other shows. Go to their site for details. Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito (different food and location than the late Saylor’s Landing) now has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. On the 14th see Eugene Huggins, Mindy Canter & Dennis Geyer on the 15th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 21st, Steve Malerbi on the 22nd, Triton Trio on the 28th, and Matt Lax on the 29th. Finbar Devine’s Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are Valerie Jay Band on the 14th, Quinn Band on the 15th, Linda Wiggins Band on the 21st, The Buckshot Boys on the 22nd, and Caliban on the 28th. You can find Marin singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Huget working his way around the county this month. Every Tuesday he's in the house band, The New Rising Sons, at Sweetwater Station for open mic night. On the 14th, at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo, he'll be jamming with legendary jazz pianist Si Perkoff. The 22nd finds him playing with Jesse Lee Kincaid at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito, and he'll return to the Two Bird Cafe on the 29th for jazz with Namely Us. 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 Poor Man’s Whiskey on the 15th, John Kelly & Greengrass on the 16th, Spiral Mystics on the 17th, Elaine Dempsey on the 23rd, The David Thom Band on the 28th, Keystone Station on the 29th, and others. Lauralee Brown is a busy singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 15th Acoustic Sounds performs unplugged at the Bazaar Cafe in SF 7-9:30 p.m., and on the 21st she’ll be with her band Jazz & Beyond at Saylor's. Novato’s Doug Adamz & Bravo will be singing both country and western at Rancho Nicasio on the 15th. Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 15th it will be swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers’ choice. Paul and Friends. Sound engineer and bass player extraordinaire Paul Knight & Friends will be pickin’ out at the Station House Cafe, located in downtown Pt. Reyes Station in West Marin, on the 16th from 5-8:30 p.m. His friends for this show will be Eric Thompson, Paul Shelasky, Scott Nygaard and Jody Stecher. Mill Valley’s Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 17th he’ll be at Pete's 881 in San Rafael with the Yard Dogs, and then he will be playing with Hot Club of Marin on the 20th at the Left Bank in Larkspur, on the 27th in the Tiki Lounge at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, and on the 31st at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley. Hot pickin’. Amazing acoustic guitarist Jim Hurst, who has won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Guitarist of the Year award twice (2001 & 2002) and toured/recorded with Claire Lynch, Doc Watson, Tim O'Brien, David Grisman, Sam Bush, and Bill Monroe, is all over the Bay Area next week. On the 18th he will be holding a guitar workshop from 5:30-7 p.m. at the 5th String music store in Berkeley before playing a show at 8; he will play a house concert in Sebastopol on the 19th at 7:30 p.m. (info call Kevin at 707-824-1858 or krussellmft@aol.com); he’ll play at Schoenberg Guitars on Ark Row in Tiburon on the 20th, info at (415) 789-0846; he’ll do a workshop and house concert in Santa Cruz on the 21st; on the 22nd he’ll hold a workshop at Gryphon Guitars in Palo Alto at noon and then play a Fiddling Cricket show in Santa Clara; and on the 25th he will hold a workshop and play a show at the Fifth String in Sacramento. 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 Jack Pribble's Living Room on the 19th and The Bluebellies on the 26th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. On Thursday the 20th at 8 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater Station in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern. The Itchy Mountain Men will headline the show. The IMM formed in 2005 while high school sophomores in Marin County. It started with casual jamming, but it was just too spicy to leave at that. Soon enough, they were making musical love. Their repertoire includes old-time bluegrass, jazz, funk, rock and blues, all blended into a new and unique style of music they call “kickgrass.” They’ve rocked numerous engagements in Northern California, including benefits for Bread & Roses of Marin, Project Sanctuary in Mendocino, the Sausalito Arts Festival, and the Amador County Bluegrass Festival. The band received recognition for “Best Emerging Band” at the Berkeley Old-Time String Festival & Contest in September 2006, and received highest rankings at the 2007 Santa Cruz Jazz Festival. The band members are: Ricky “Slick Rick” Mier, banjo; Joel "Snuffy" Morais, mandolin and vocals; Ben “String Bean” Margolin, upright bass; Roger “Stretch” Krakow on guitar; and Christine “Sweet Pea” Donaldson, vocals. Sweetwater Station (formerly known as the Larkspur Café Theater) is Marin County's premier nightclub as well as the home for bluegrass music in the North Bay. For more information call the club at (415) 924-6107. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see The Robert Cray Band on the 21st. The Beautiful Losers and HoneyDust will be playing the Equinox Extravaganza on the 21st at the Sweetwater Station. The Beautiful Losers are a Marin/Tokyo based band fronted by Brett Boyd and Raj Ramayya with Darren Nelson on bass and special guest drummer/percussionist Barbara Borden. They have two CD releases, licensing credits on MTV, major TV spots in Japan, have performed at the Fuji Rock Festival, are frequent guests at Anime conventions and have a recent spin on S.F. radio station KFOG. HoneyDust hails from West Marin and is fronted by artist extraordinaire Darren Nelson. Now with the addition of Danny Uzilevsky (Chrome Johnson/Ring of Fire) on lead guitar, and Mike Weiss (Billy Boys) on upright bass, HoneyDust promise to get your feet moving and your booty shakin'! JimBo Trout & the Fishpeople have some shows of note this month. You can hear them live on KPIG radio's Saturday Ham Jam on the 22nd from 1-3 p.m.: on the 27th the 10th Anniversary of The Atlas Cafe Bluegrass & Old-Time Jam (3049-20th St./Alabama in S.F.) will be happening from 8-10 p.m.; and on the 29th see them at The Rio Nido Roadhouse on the Russian River near Guerneville from 6-10 p.m. Schaef-Abel Productions has two shows coming up this month at Studio E in Sebastopol. On the 23rd former Marin resident (now living in Nashville) Audrey Auld Mezera with Andrew Hardin, and on the 28th see Jeffrey Foucault. 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 23rd. 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. 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. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Moose open mic. There is an open mic every fourth Thursday of the month at the Petaluma Moose, 300 English Street. Signups are at 6:30 p.m., and the MOM runs from 7-10. The event has been running regularly now for two years. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: NEW YORK CITY OPERA – MADAMA BUTTERFLY 3/20 8 p.m.: “This poignant story of a disastrous clash of cultures is elegant in its simplicity, making Puccini's luscious score downright transcendental. When an American navy officer abandons his geisha bride after his tour of duty, he takes her love, her honor and her dreams for the future. But when he returns to claim their son, she takes matters into her own hands.” CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' – THE SONGS OF THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS 3/23 5:59 p.m.: “This special celebrating the harmonious pop-rock group highlights a wealth of classic TV performances that have not been seen for more than 35 years. It blends full-performance clips, rare home movies, exclusive interviews with members Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty, and vintage footage of the late Mama Cass Elliot. Family, friends, colleagues and admirers - including Chynna Phillips (of Wilson-Phillips fame), Mama Cass's daughter Owen, legendary record producer Lou Adler, and contemporary performing colleagues John Sebastian and Barry McGuire - offer colorful commentary.” PETER AND THE WOLF 3/26 8 p.m.: “Originally composed in 1936, the piece famously uses personified instruments in the orchestra to tell the story of young Peter and his animal friends the Duck, the Bird and even a mischievous Cat – represented by an oboe, flute and clarinet. Peter, represented by the string section, becomes an unsuspecting hero and frees his small Russian village from the Wolf (played by French horns) intent on menacing the whole town. Conceived and directed by award-winning animator Suzie Templeton, the program uses stop-frame model animation a la Wallace and Gromie, puppets and digital photography to re-tell this enduring classic.” GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET – HANSEL AND GRETEL 3/26 9 p.m.: “Recorded in high definition with initial live transmissions to theaters around the world, the second season launches with the family favorite, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. Alice Coote and Christine Schafer play the siblings lost in a shadowy world of unknown menace, pursued by the Witch (tenor Philip Langridge) who seeks to devour them.” TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS – LIVE FROM GATORVILLE 3/27 11 p.m.: “Catch Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in this special two-part Soundstage performance as they return to Gainesville, Florida where it all started, to play their first hometown show in 13 years. In this jam-packed hour, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform with a seasoned stage presence and swagger that is a testament to their 30 years as rockers. And just when you think it can't get any better, the legendary, honorary heartbreaker, Stevie Nicks joins Petty on stage for a duet of ‘Stop Draggin' My Heart Around.’ Other highlights include ‘Listen to Your Heart’ and the Traveling Wilbury's classic ‘Handle With Care.’” COLOR ME BARBRA 3/28 9pm, 3/30 2pm.: “Barbra Streisand's second solo television special, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim to 1965's My Name Is Barbra, and still dazzles with even further musical and visual innovation. Videotaped in color, the special opens with a dreamy interlude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and then segues to a charming, animal-filled circus sequence before concluding with a bravura concert performance. Recapturing the electrifying early years of the Streisand sensation, the showcase shines a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer.” ELLA FITZGERALD – SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR 3/29 11:35 p.m.: “American Masters presents the first comprehensive documentary portrait of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, featuring never-before-seen performance footage as well as interviews with many of the great musicians who worked with her. Tony Bennett narrates. From that night in 1934, when she wowed the crowd at Amateur Night at the Harlem Opera House, Ella Fitzgerald went on to dazzle audiences for decades; the bell-like clarity of her voice and her superior musicianship brought them to their feet around the world. Ella recorded more than 2000 songs, sold more than 40 million records and won 13 Grammy Awards in her lifetime.” LIVE AID – THE DAY THE MUSIC CHANGED THE WORLD 3/30 1:54 a.m.: “Live Aid, the unforgettable global event staged in London and Philadelphia on Saturday, July 13, 1985, was watched on television by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide. These concerts led to pledge donations and royalties of over $140 million toward the devastating famine in Africa. Billed as ‘The Global Jukebox,’ Live Aid was described by the world's media as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth,’ ‘The Day Rock and Roll Changed the World,’ and ‘The Greatest Live Show Ever.’ This one-hour special features some of the most memorable performances of Live Aid.” SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK – RAISE YOUR VOICE 3/30 noon: “American Masters celebrates the power and beauty of song. The Grammy Award-winning group takes its name from a religious parable about a land that was so rich, when you cracked the rocks, honey flowed. The sextet of African- American women raises voices against injustice with music born of spirituals, slavery and the civil rights movement. This program effectively captures the tremendous energy unleashed on stage and explores the dramatic departure of Reagon, an original member. Directed by award-winning Stanley Nelson.” ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 3/30 1:04 a.m.: “This time capsule will transport you to another age: swinging London in the late 1960s. This is the Stones as you have hardly ever seen them - up close and intimate. This show was broadcast once in the US, on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault.” ELVIS LIVES – THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 3/31 1 a.m.: “In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of his death, Elvis is reunited with his original TCB Band, back-up singers and musical director through the magic of modern technology. The result is a unique concert special, featuring Elvis from selected concerts, including the Hawaii performance that remains one of the biggest satellite concerts ever. Staged at the Pyramid Arena in his hometown of Memphis, TN, just as if Elvis was appearing live in concert, the limousine arrives at the stage to a thunderous ovation, the lights go down, and suddenly Elvis appears center stage, only this time, it's on a video screen and the young, vibrant King of Rock 'n' Roll appears 20 times larger than life. On stage with him, playing and singing live are his beloved band members and members of the Imperials, the Stamps and the Sweet Inspirations, all led by band leader, Joe Guercio. Performance footage from the live concert is punctuated with interviews with these supporting members.” RICKY NELSON SINGS 3/31 2 a.m.: “This program celebrates the unique and remarkable musical career of Ricky Nelson. It showcases his greatest performances from the classic TV series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1957-1966). Full-length musical numbers are seamlessly blended with new interviews with Ricky's children (Tracy, Sam and twins Matthew and Gunnar), friend Kris Kristofferson, band mate and guitar legend James Burton and others. The show will be packed with warmth, emotion, fun, and of course, a lot of great rock `n' roll. Musical performances will be chosen from among his 60 chart hits as well as covers of Ricky's favorite rock era classics.”
**************************************************************************************************** March 1, 2008 Welcome to the 87th edition of Carltone's Corner! The month of March is, to mix metaphors, roaring in like a lamb here in the Bay Area. It feels like spring has sprung for good, but don’t take off the snow tires or put the screens in yet. Enjoy the nice weather while it is here, as it can turn back to winter at any time this month. And get out of the house to see some good and live music while you are at it! Techno foibles. The problems with computers and mailing lists continue here at Carltone World Headquarters, but some headway is being made on all fronts. A new notebook computer was purchased recently and soon we’ll be able to get back to updating the way out of date Carltone website. Also, during the last newsletter mailer 185 Yahoo addresses got kicked back here for reasons still unknown. And plans are underway to kill off this larryc@carltone.com email address that you have been seeing here since the inception of this publication. We receive about 200 pieces of garbage each day hawking Cialis, Viagra, Rolex watchers, anatomy enhancement, free credit cards, etc., and, quite frankly, we’re mad as hell and we can’t take it anymore. The new address next time will be carlin@carltone.com, so please add this to your safe list. A man and his banjo. If you missed it the other night, the recent documentary Pete Seeger –The Power of Song will be broadcast many times over the next few days on KQED (Channel 9)(see listing below) in the SF area. There is also a movement to have Pete nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his lifetime of work promoting peace. Please go to this website to sign the petition, and tell others about it as well. Email family and friends in Minnesota! Northern California favorites Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans headed to a colder climate on the weekend of the 1st to headline the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association's Winter Bluegrass Weekend in Plymouth, Minnesota (outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area). Sitting in with the band will be legendary California bassist Bill Amatneek and fiddler Brian Wicklund. You can also download several songs from the band for free by visiting Rustler’s website. Bluegrass Breakdown. Anyone that has heard one-time Blue Grass Boy Peter Rowan do his introduction to the song “Walls of Time” from the stage has heard his story about how Monroe’s bus, called “The Bluegrass Breakdown,” lived up to its name one night on the way back to Bean Blossom, and Peter got inspired to write the lyrics to the melody that Bill started humming while standing there by the bus on the side of the road in the early morning hours. Well, now you can own a piece of bluegrass history by purchasing the Bluegrass Breakdown from its current owner in Bowling Green, KY. You would certainly be the most popular person at any bluegrass festival if you were to pull into the campgrounds with this vehicle this June! Driving steel. The word on the street from the Folk Alliance gathering in Memphis last weekend is that The SteelDrivers tore up the joint with a hot showcase performance. This past week there was a story about them in that great bluegrass publication called The Wall Street Journal. With any luck this link will open for you on your screen. You can also watch some videos of them from Country Music Television here. The band will be at Strawberry in August and Grass Valley in 2009. Kudos to Uncle Earl. Congratulations to the old-time band Uncle Earl for winning Album of the Year honors at Folk Alliance for their recording titled Waterloo. Bluegrass in the Big Apple. A few days ago it was a bluegrass story in the Wall Street Journal. Today, it is a bluegrass story in the New York Times. Read it here. Turn your radio on. There is a new radio station in the North Bay in Occidental, KOWS (107.3 FM), a local very low-power service licensed last year but just recently getting programming organized. So far there is a strong folk presence, but the schedule not fully developed yet. Read a story about the new station here. The Bay Area Americana band Houston Jones has a song called “Coward's Game” that is making some serious noise over at Neil Young's web site. Over 2,000 musicians have posted songs there, and they are ranked by number of plays. “Coward's Game” entered the chart at the bottom, and made it as far as 120. The band would be most grateful if you would go to Neil’s site here and click on the tune. Fishwrap Roundup. Maxim Magazine had to apologize for its review of the new Black Crowes CD in its March issue because the reviewer gave it 2.5 stars based on hearing just one song! Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ had a nice story last week about The Moonlighters, a Marin band from the 80s featuring Bill Kirchen, Austin deLone, Tim Eschliman and Tony Johnson that will soon be releasing a new CD of newfound material. Paul also had a story about Marin photographer Ethan Russell, who took photos of the Rolling Stones during their Let It Bleed Tour in 1969. Life’s railway to heaven. Mike Smith, lead singer of the British band The Dave Clark Five back in the 60s, died on February 28th of pneumonia in London. He was 64. The band had hits such as "Glad All Over" and "Bits and Pieces." Smith just missed the band being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in two weeks. Coming attractions. Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and Nell Robinson & Red Level at Sweetwater Station on 4/17; Strawberry Music Festivals 5/22-25, 8/28-31; CBA’s Father’s Day Festival 6/12-15. Onward to the calendar… Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Andrew Freeman on the 1t, the Celtic jam on the 2nd, Carolina Special on the 8th, Doug Adamz & Rusty Gauthier on the 13th, Poor Man’s Whiskey on the 15th, John Kelly & Greengrass on the 16th, Spiral Mystics on the 17th, Elaine Dempsey on the 23rd, The David Thom Band on the 28th, Keystone Station on the 29th, and others. Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the open mic every Tuesday with the Rising Sons and the Bluegrass Gold show (see below), are the Forest Sun CD release show on the 1st, Norton Buffalo on the 7th, Dave Gleason on the 13th, Vagina Monologues on the 14th and 15th, Jerry Hannan on the 17th, The Beautiful Losers and HoneyDust on the 21st (see below), Bobby G Posse on the 22nd, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 27th, and much 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 Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 1st, Peri's Blues Jam on the 2nd, Jinx Jones on the 7th, Sexy Sunday on the 9th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 12th (and 26th), Vinyl on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Danny Montana and Bar Association on the 22nd, Billy Boys on the 29th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see Dick Gregory & Mort Sahl on the 1st, Dan Licks & His Hot Licks on the 8th, Los Pinguos on the 21st, Bill Kirchen on the 28th, and other fine shows. Poor Man’s Whiskey has quite a few gigs in the North Bay this month. See them at the Bella Winery in Healdsburg from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on the 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th; on the 15th they will return to Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma for the first time since 2006; and on the 29th it will be The Mystic in Petaluma. Mild Colonial Boys. Original band member Fergus Feely will join the present line-up of North Bay players John Caulfield, Kyle Thayer and Rory McNamara for two shows only, but on the same day. On the 1st at 2:30 p.m. see them down the coast at The San Gregorio Store and then that evening at 9 p.m. at The Plough and the Stars in SF. Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito (different food and location than the late Saylor’s Landing) now has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. On the 1st see Macy Blackman, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 7th, Tina Marzell on the 8th, Eugene Huggins on the 14th, Mindy Canter & Dennis Geyer on the 15th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 21st, Steve Malerbi on the 22nd, Triton Trio on the 28th, and Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved on the 29th. Finbar Devine’s Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are Heavy Petty on the 1st, Mike Prasad Band on the 7th, Smokehouse Gamblers Band on the 8th, Valerie Jay Band on the 14th, Quinn Band on the 15th, Linda Wiggins Band on the 21st, The Buckshot Boys on the 22nd, and Caliban on the 28th. Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and the 8th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 15th it will be swing music; and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers’ choice. Will pick for food. Pink Sabbath will be playing for your dancing pleasure and for the West Marin Food Bank on the 1st starting at 9 p.m. at Smiley’s in Bolinas. There will be a discount at the door with a non-perishable food item, protein preferred. Join the recently reunited siren folk/metal kids of Pink Sabbath (aka “The Pinks”) Diana Lerwick, Cindy Giuliani (Flyover States), Marisa Martinez (Eric McFadden) Adrienne Pfeiffer (Snakeoil Saviors, ManPurse) and Lex Razon (Vinyl, Calmodee). Pink Sabbath entertains with their unique blend of Klezmer, crunk-grass and gypsy folk. Murphy Productions is presenting multiple shows this month at different venues. Sunday March 2nd it is Russian Folk Music, Wake The Dead at the Lark Theater in Larkspur on 7th, Deborah Winters Band on the 8th at 333 Caledonia in Sausalito, Linda Kosut "Jukebox Cabaret" at McInnis Park in San Rafael on the 14th, Kofi Baker's Tribute to the Cream Paul and Friends. Sound engineer and bass player extraordinaire Paul Knight & Friends will be pickin’ out at the Station House Cafe, located in downtown Pt. Reyes Station in West Marin, on the 2nd from 5-8:30 p.m. His friends for this show will be Tom Rozum, Keith Little and a surprise guest fiddler. Dancing for a cause. Everyone is headed to the Contra Dance Benefit for the Petaluma Trolley Project on the 2nd from 3-5:30 p.m. at the Trolley Bar, located at 110 Bayliss in Petaluma. Players will be Ingrid Noyes, Michael Harmon and Erik Hoffman. For info call (707) 778-7878. Houston Jones will play at Rancho Nicasio on the 2nd, McGrath’s in Alameda on the 8th, Black Oak Casino on the 14th, San Gregorio General Store on the 22nd, and more. 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 Django Obscura on the 5th, Rubber Souldiers (featuring Lorin Rowan, Chris Rowan, David Gans, Paul Knight) on the 12th, Jack Pribble's Living Room on the 19th, and The Bluebellies on the 26th. Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell has another busy month playing with four bands. On the 5th The Rhythm Rangers open for Marcia Ball at The Mystic in Petaluma 8 p.m., on the 8th The Rhythm Rangers tear it up at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa, on the 14th Under the Radar will be at Sebastopol Center for the Arts Casual Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Studio, and on the 15th The Rhythm Rangers are at Ace in the Hole in Gratan. Jeanie & Chuck Poling’s bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 5th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 6th and the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Mill Valley’s Dore Coller has some cool gigs. He will play with Hot Club of Marin on the 6th (and 27th) in the Tiki Lounge at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, on the 9th at 19 Broadway, on the 20th at the Left Bank in Larkspur, and on the 31st at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley. On the 17th he’ll be at Pete's 881 in San Rafael with the Yard Dogs. The Mill Valley band Wagon can be seen at Ashkenaz in Berkeley 6th, at 8 p.m. Also playing that night are Old Agora and Sean Hodge w/ High Heat. Mill Valley’s Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will appear at Caffe Trieste in Berkeley on the 7th starting at 8 p.m., at the Ace In the Hole Pub in Gratan on the 14th at 8 p.m., and at Saylor’s on the 29th. Matt also will appear with The Palm Wine Boys on the 16th at Rancho Nicasio in the afternoon. 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 Nina Gerber & Kenny Edwards on the 7th, and Jim Hurst on the 20th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. V-Day in San Geronimo. There will be a production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues to celebrate V-Day’s Ten Year Anniversary of raising awareness of and ending violence against women. The location is the San Geronimo Valley Community Center on the 7th and 8th. This will also be a benefit to raise funds for Community Violence Solutions. The Center is located at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., five miles west of Fairfax. Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival will be taking place on the 8th at the Sebastopol Community Center from 1-9 p.m. The band lineup features Nina Gerber& Kenny Edwards, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Sol Flamenco, The Roadoilers, The Mighty Crows, Alhambra Valley Band, and Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds. This festival is co-sponsored by CBA and the Sonoma County Folk Society. Tickets for CBA members are $25 advance and $30 at the door, 11 and under free. Order your tickets today online here. For more info, call Mark Hogan at (707) 829-8012. Inverness Mandolin Gathering. On the 9th the annual gathering of mandolin players will be taking place in the West Marin town of Inverness. From 1-3 p.m. for only $25 there will be a workshop with Ed Neff, and after that the picking will go on into the night. The address is 55 Via Del Vista, Inverness, and if you want to attend contact David Crummey at (530) 739-3183 or dcrummey@snowcrest.net. The Gathering is open to everyone who owns a mandolin, plays a mandolin or just enjoys mandolin music. There will be lots of mandolins to sample and they’ll be a potluck so bring your favorite dish. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see The Moody Blues on the 9th, Magic on Ireland on the 13th, and The Robert Cray Band on the 21st. Lauralee Brown is one in-demand singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 12th it's Jazz & Beyond at the No Name in Sausalito, on the 15th Acoustic Sounds performs unplugged at the Bazaar Cafe in SF 7-9:30 p.m., and on the 21st it's Jazz & Beyond at Saylor's. Novato’s Doug Adamz will be playing as a duo with Russ Gauthier at Murphy’s on the 13th and then his full country band Bravo! will be appearing at Rancho Nicasio on the 15th. Larkspur’s own Corinne West & The Posse will be playing on the 14th at 8 p.m. at the Petaluma Church Concerts Series, First Church of Christ Scientist, 522 B Street, in Petaluma. Corinne honed her craft traveling around the country busking for tips while developing her signature sound – a heady mix with the intensity of rock, the sincerity of country the storytelling of bluegrass and the wide-openness of Americana. She’s touring in support of her recent album Second Sight, produced by acoustic music master Mike Marshall. Tickets are available at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. For more info contact Lance Walker at eclecticstage@yahoo.com. All aboard to see the band Lansdale Station when they play at Rancho Nicasio on the 14th, starting at 8 p.m. This Marin bawdy Americana band features the lead singing of husband/wife Judge and Lauren Murphy, and they will be debuting some new material for their upcoming recording sessions at Hyde Street Studios in April. You can find Marin singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Huget working his way around the county this month. Every Tuesday he's in the house band, The New Rising Sons, at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur for open mic night. On the 14th, at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo, he'll be jamming with legendary jazz pianist Si Perkoff. The 22nd finds him playing with Jesse Lee Kincaid at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito, and he'll return to the Two Bird Cafe on the 29th for jazz with Namely Us. Jim Hurst in Sebastopol. Amazing acoustic guitarist Jim Hurst will be putting on a solo performance at a house concert in Sebastopol on the 19th at 7:30 p.m. Jim has won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Guitarist of the Year award twice (2001 & 2002), he has toured and recorded with Claire Lynch, Doc Watson, Tim O'Brien, David Grisman, Sam Bush, and Bill Monroe. For info call Kevin at (707) 824-1858 or krussellmft@aol.com. On Thursday the 20th at 8 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater Station in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern. The Itchy Mountain Men will headline the show. Formed in 2005 while high school sophomores in Marin County. It started with casual jamming, but it was just too spicy to leave at that. Soon enough, they were making musical love. Their repertoire includes old-time bluegrass, jazz, funk, rock and blues, all blended into a new and unique style of music they call “kickgrass.” They’ve rocked numerous engagements in Northern California, including benefits for Bread & Roses of Marin, Project Sanctuary in Mendocino, the Sausalito Arts Festival, and the Amador County Bluegrass Festival. The band received recognition for “Best Emerging Band” at the Berkeley Old-Time String Festival & Contest in September 2006, and received highest rankings at the 2007 Santa Cruz Jazz Festival. The band members are: Ricky “Slick Rick” Mier, banjo; Joel "Snuffy" Morais, mandolin and vocals; Ben “String Bean” Margolin, upright bass; Roger “Stretch” Krakow on guitar; and Christine “Sweet Pea” Donaldson, vocals. Sweetwater Station (formerly known as the Larkspur Café Theater) is Marin County's premier nightclub as well as the home for bluegrass music in the North Bay. For more information call the club at (415) 924-6107. The Beautiful Losers and HoneyDust will be playing the Equinox Extravaganza on the 21st at the Sweetwater Station. The Beautiful Losers are a Marin/Tokyo based band fronted by Brett Boyd and Raj Ramayya with Darren Nelson on bass and special guest drummer/percussionist Barbara Borden. They have two CD releases, licensing credits on MTV, major TV spots in Japan, have performed at the Fuji Rock Festival, are frequent guests at Anime conventions and have a recent spin on S.F. radio station KFOG. HoneyDust hails from West Marin and is fronted by artist extraordinaire Darren Nelson. Now with the addition of Danny Uzilevsky (Chrome Johnson/Ring of Fire) on lead guitar, and Mike Weiss (Billy Boys) on upright bass, HoneyDust promise to get your feet moving and your booty shakin'! JimBo Trout & the Fishpeople have some shows of note this month. You can hear them live on KPIG radio's Saturday Ham Jam on the 22nd from 1-3 p.m.: on the 27th the 10th Anniversary of The Atlas Cafe Bluegrass & Old-Time Jam (3049-20th St./Alabama in S.F.) will be happening from 8-10 p.m.; and on the 29th see them at The Rio Nido Roadhouse on the Russian River near Guerneville from 6-10 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 23rd. 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. 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. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Moose open mic. There is an open mic every fourth Thursday of the month at the Petaluma Moose, 300 English Street. Signups are at 6:30 p.m., and the MOM runs from 7-10. The event has been running regularly now for two years. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: MY GENERATION – THE 60S 3/01 8:30 p.m., 3/03 12:02 a.m., 3/05 7:30 p.m., 3/09 9:30 p.m.: “Following up on the same audience as ‘The 60s Experience” and ‘This Land Is Your Land’ this special appeals to the sixties generation of baby boomers. The program focuses on the years 1965-1969 and includes essential 60s folk rock, R&B and pop. The 8-CD set features the biggest hits by the original 1960's artists in this celebration and collection of folks that lived through the decade of change, peace, love and protest music.” CLASH LIVE – REVOLUTION ROCK 3/01 10:30 p.m., 3/08 1 a.m., 3/08 2:30 p.m.: “This performance documentary will take us through the short but highly influential and prolific reign of the band from the mid-70s through the early 80s, drawing from never before seen and rare live concerts throughout their career. The show will make use of never-used interviews with The Clash band members drawn from interview sessions made by Grammy Award documentary producer, Don Letts, maker of the award winning ‘Westway to the World’ Clash documentary and the film ‘Punk Attitude.’ This will enable The Clash themselves to tell an abbreviated story using totally different statements from those in used in the ‘Westway’ documentary.” MONTEREY POP – THE SUMMER OF LOVE 3/02 1:30 a.m.: “During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the three-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled ‘Monterey Pop’ and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 40 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary.” CHRIS BOTTI LIVE 3/02 6 a.m., 3/05 11 p.m.: “Since his premiere solo album in 1995, the acclaimed trumpeter, gifted instrumentalist and talented composer has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. His recent album, ‘To Love Again,’ is the inspiration for this exciting concert, a magical evening with Chris Botti's sensual trumpet playing and the show's star studded line-up.” PETE SEEGER – THE POWER OF SONG 3/02 1 p.m., 3/03 7:30 p.m., 3/07 1p.m., 3/08 10 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.” JAMES TAYLOR – ONE MAN BAND 3/03 9:30 p.m., 3/04 1 p.m., 3/09 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., 3/11 1 a.m.: “Nearly 40 years after the release of his first single, beloved singer-songwriter James Taylor continues to captivate legions of fans with his characteristic, folks-inspired sound. The recipient of five Grammy awards - and both Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee - Taylor has enjoyed an illustrious career, and is widely acknowledged as a premier musician and storyteller.” BOB DYLAN - LIVE IN NEWPORT 1963-1965 3/05 9:30 p.m., 3/09 5:30 p.m.: “This program includes unreleased performances filmed by Academy Award-winning director Murray Lerner. It captures full performances of some of Bob Dylan's greatest songs. The Newport Folk Festival takes place in Newport, Rhode Island and is best known for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars. Bob Dylan's first Newport appearance in 1963 is generally regarded as his premiere national performance. Dylan became the artist most notably associated with this festival. His 1963 and 1964 performances made him popular with the Newport crowd, but in 1965, while headlining the music festival, he decided to plug in, resulting in a mixed response of cheers and boos. Dylan left the stage after only three songs, only to reemerge and sing two solo acoustic numbers. Many of Dylan's folk fans felt he was abandoning his folk roots - and we have it all captured live on film. For the first time ever, the complete electric set is available. This shift marked his changing artistic direction, making his move from leading contemporary song-writer of the folk scene to rock n' roll star.” COPLAND AND THE AMERICAN SOUND 3/06 7:30 p.m.: “In the early 20th century, the sounds of America burst upon the world with jazz, blues, spirituals, folk, Latin and the sounds of Tin Pan Alley - each of them defining a different musical experience of being American. Aaron Copland listened and absorbed everything around him. Filmed in New York, Brooklyn and Prague, this episode visits the places and explores the ideas that shaped Aaron Copland's life and music.” DAVID BROZA AT MASADA – THE SUNRISE CONCERT 3/07 9 p.m.: “This historic special features international composer, guitarist and singer David Broza. With his flamenco-tinged, folk- rock melodies and keen talent for breathing musical life into sensual snippets of poetry, Broza is a formidable musical force of nature. He commands and captivates the audience's heart, mind and soul. The concert is performed at the site of the ancient fortress of Masada in the southern Israeli desert, and David is joined on stage by legendary singer/ songwriter Jackson Browne, and Grammy Award-winner Shawn Colvin. Broza's concert begins in the early morning hours, concluding with the sun rising over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, revealing one of the most spiritual and ancient scenes in the world. David is also joined by an Arab musician Ebrahim Eid to perform his international hit song ‘In My Heart.’ Accompanied by a Palestinian and Israeli children's choir, they sing about peace, their love of life and the land they share together. The program creates poetry for the eyes, the ears and the heart.” ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 3/08 2:30 a.m., 3/09 11:30 p.m., 3/30 1:04 a.m.: “This time capsule will transport you to another age: swinging London in the late 1960s. This is the Stones as you have hardly ever seen them - up close and intimate. This show was broadcast once in the US; on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault.” AUSTIN CITY LIMITS PRESENTS – HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 3/12 9 p.m.: “A special presentation of a unique San Francisco music festival. Co-produced by KQED and ACL, this program captures the music, spirit and community of this treasured annual event. The festival celebrates the current resurgence of bluegrass music with fans of all ages. Yet as its name suggests, the festival includes music and performers that go far beyond bluegrass. Every summer since 2001, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, which is free to the public, draws hundreds of thousands of music-lovers to the meadows of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to hear music that includes traditional bluegrass, alternative country, and many performers who cross the standard genre lines. The 2007 festival drew an estimated 500,000 fans. Shot entirely in high definition, the production features 20 acts on multiple stages, from musical legends to a whole new generation of bluegrass performers and more.”
January 3, 2008 Welcome to the 85th edition of Carltone's Corner! And a happy New Year to you! It was one heck of a holiday season for the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters. Shows, gigs, and parties…the holiday spirit was definitely in the air for a long time. And the celebrating continues, as with this issue we are notching year number seven of this esteemed publication. Thanks for all of your years of support, and as with the previous years, we'll just keep on bringing you all of the pertinent North Bay music news that we can find. This issue is a couple of days late due to all of the holiday festivities and the fact that New Year's Day fell on a Tuesday. To sort of make up for this, the next issue will be sent out earlier than usual. The staff here is in dire need of a vacation, and we will be leaving town on the 13th for some mandatory rest and relaxation. Carltone Productions will once again be stringing together its virtual 5th Annual North Bay Bluegrass Festival (shows at different venues over the course of two weeks) sometime soon, and more will appear here in the next edition. Fond farewell. Matt Kramer, the main music writer for the Marin weekly paper the Pacific Sun for the past three years, has decided to move on to other ventures. He has been the best music writer at that publication since we began following it closely in the early 90s. He defied all of the odds by writing solely about shows that took place either in Marin County or, on occasion, in Sonoma County. Which is what a writer for a local weekly should do. The previous scribes often wrote about shows at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View and the Concord Pavilion while they were "auditioning" for better writing jobs or suffering from delusions of grandeur. One such writer was a recluse who hardly ever left his house to see live music, often just writing about new CD releases from the comfort of his own home. The Sun is now looking for a new writer, and with any luck they will hire someone who will do as good a job as Matt. The Belle of San Francisco. These past few months have been heady times for Pam Brandon, a.k.a. Belle Monroe of Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys. Last summer the band released their first CD to critical acclaim, in December they were selected to play at the CBA's Father's Day Festival as one of the California bands, and on the 2nd she was prominently featured in a story in the San Francisco Chronicle. By day she is a structural engineer for a prominent firm in SF, and at night she is either fronting her bluegrass band or singing lead in the 12-piece Western swing band called Lost Weekend. You can see her sing with Lost Weekend on the 4th at the Black Oak Casino near Sonora, and see her play with the Brewglass Boys on the 9th at the Hotel Utah in SF. Laurie Schaeffer and Greg Abel, of Schaef-Abel Productions, celebrated ten years of producing shows in the North Bay, and they were also in the news recently, in a story from the Sonoma West Times. Sight for sore eyes. Last weekend at a pickin' party in Novato it was a pleasure to see Patti Garber come walking up the stairs. Patti and her husband Ted have been leading the Bay Area bluegrass band Grizzly Peak for many years. As most of you know, Patti has been battling cancer for some time now, and while she had a tough period this fall, she is getting back out again. In a few weeks she will be celebrating her birthday, and then in February Grizzly Peak will be playing at the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival. Strawberry alarm clock. Tickets to the 2008 Strawberry Music Festivals on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are going fast. The fest has been selling out way in advance for years, and you have until January 11th to get the cheapest rate on an all-festival ticket. So if you are thinking about going, buy now and don't worry later. Good read. There is a new book soon to be released about bluegrass singer Red Allen, and the title is Teardrops in My Eyes: The Music of Harley "Red" Allen by Dennis Satterlee. Pleasant Valley Music is the exclusive Western U.S. distributor of the book. For more information go the PV web site. Red memory: We only saw Red play one time, and it was at the Strawberry Music Festival in 1991, with David Grisman, Herb Pedersen, Jimmy Buchanan and Jim Kerwin. In the middle of the set, Red said, "I don't know if I have ever been here before or not, but if I have, it's been a long time…" More good reads. Here are some other books of note. There is a new one out called Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City by Craig Havighurst that is about country music radio station WSM and its success with hosting the Grand Ole Opry. There are two books about the Cash Family, one about Johnny and the other about June Carter Cash. Johnny's first wife Vivian Cash and writer Ann Sharpsteen put together I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, and Johnny and June's son John Carter Cash, wrote Anchored In Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash. There are two books about famed guitar player Eric Clapton. One, by the artist himself, is titled Clapton: The Autobiography, and the other is by his ex-wife Patti Boyd and writer Penny Junor titled Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me. And there is yet another biography of the late, hard-partying, country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons, titled Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music by David Meyer. Bluegrass radio shows on the web. Radio Bluegrass International is
airing three new shows that can be listened to on your computer. The
Internet stream is accessed from and is generated from the 22,000
square foot International Bluegrass Music Museum facility in Owensboro,
KY. One show is called Banks of the Ohio, a three-hour show on the
history of bluegrass hosted by Fred Bartenstein that airs Thursday
mornings from 8-11 a.m. CST (archived episodes from the show's earliest
years will air Sunday mornings from 6-9 a.m. CST); another is The
Bluegrass Review, an hour of bluegrass from host Phil Nusbaum that
streams every Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. CST; and finally there
is the Dan Crary Classic Bluegrass show that airs every third Sunday
at 3 p.m. More award nominations. Some weeks back it was the Grammy nominations that made headlines. Soon after it was the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) nominations that made waves. The 34th Annual SPBGMA National Convention will be held in Nashville on January 31st-Feb 3rd.. As for West Coast names on the list, dobro wizard Rob Ickes (native Californian) may be the only person… The Amazing Mr. Ed. If you tuned into Ray Edlund's Pig In A Pen bluegrass and old-time radio show a few weeks back on KPFA-FM (94.1) in Berkeley you may have heard longtime Bay Area bluegrass musician Ed Neff and his wife Brijet talking about Ed's new mandolin instructional DVD. Ray also played some cuts from the demo recording by Ed's new band Blue and Lonesome. Go to Ed's site to find out how to get your own copy of the DVD. Police log. Fit, rested and (McC)ready. Country singer Mindy McCready was recently released from jail after violating terms of her parole from a prior drug arrest. People will flock to her comeback shows just to see if she goes bonkers again on the stage… Enough whining! Whacky singer Amy Winehouse is going to renew her wedding vows with her husband while he is jail in London awaiting trial for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Of course, sales of her Grammy nominated album have been going through the roof after the happy couple's recent multiple drug and battery arrests… Fiddlesticks! After the strains of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 had faded from Beall Concert Hall in Eugene, OR, on December 21st, and the orchestra had begun packing its instruments, violinist Joseph Hokai Tang was arrested on federal fraud charges for allegedly bilking several Bay Area violin collectors and dealers out of thousands of dollars in the sale of fine instruments from April 2002 through December 2006. Life's railway to heaven. Legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson died on December 23rd in his home near Toronto, Canada, of kidney failure. He was 82. Coming attractions. Walter Strauss on a co-bill with Artie Traum & Adam Traum the 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley on 2/7; San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival on 2/1-9; Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band at the Larkspur Café Theater on 2/21; The Chieftains at the Marin Center 2/22; Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival on 3/8; Strawberry Music Festivals 5/22-25, 8/28-31; CBA's Father's Day Festival 6/12-15. Onward to the calendar… Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 3rd Dore & Friends kick off the New Year and the TNT music series at the Tiki Lounge at 19 Broadway in Fairfax from 7-9 p.m.; then it's the Hot Club of Marin at the Left Bank in Larkspur on the 17th; he'll pick bluegrass with Savanna Blu at Murphy's on the 18th; his Bermuda Grass band will play Finbar's on the 19th; the Hot Club will play the Tiki Lounge on the 24th, and then Bermuda Grass is will be there on the 31st. And don't forget the next meeting of the Hot Club Club at the 142 Throckmorton on the 28th. This event is a chance for all players interested in Parisian Swing to get a chance to play together, exchange ideas, information, trade secrets etc at the premier venue for all things Django in the Bay Area. Mill Valley songwriter Jesse Lee Kincaid and his band appear on the 3rd at Peri's in Fairfax at 9:30 p.m., on the 8th as the house band for the open mic at the Larkspur Café Theater, and on the 11th at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito at 6:30 p.m. Jesse was a founding member of The Rising Sons, with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Bay Area singer, guitarist and fiddler Ray Bierl celebrates the release of his new CD Any Place I Hang My Hat on the 3rd at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Ray's talents as a singer, guitarist and fiddler are well known in California music circles and his new album, produced by Berkeley bluegrass luminary Laurie Lewis, is a perfect showcase of his versatility and depth. Bierl draws upon rockabilly, old-time, country, and bluegrass for material. The songs on the CD come from a variety of sources including Elvis and Hank Williams. Most of the songs share the common theme of about journeys. Joining Ray on his show will be some of the musicians who recorded with him including Lewis and local talents Bill Evans, Markie Sanders, Mayne Smith, Tom Rozum, as well as other special guests. Santa Rosa singer/songwriter Joni Davis can be heard playing on KRSH (95.9 FM) radio on the 3rd at 8 p.m. on the Thursday Night Live with Andre De Channes, and on the 9th hear her on KRCB (91.1 FM) on Doug Jayne's Connections show at 8 p.m. You can also see her play live at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa on the 10th at 6 p.m. for her CD release show. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 3rd and the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. 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 Jesse Kincaid Band on the 3rd, Swamp Thang on the 4th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 5th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 9th (and 23rd), Billy Boys on the 12th, Sexy Sunday on the 13th, Diamond Ortiz on the 16th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 17th, Gail Mojo Blues Band on the 19th, Twang Ditty on the 24th, Johnny Vegas and the High Rollers on the 25th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 27th, The Craig Caffall Band on the 31st, and others. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa there are Celtic jams on the second and third Wednesdays and a bluegrass/old-timey jam on the 4th Wednesdays. See Paddy Fields on the 3rd, Raisin Cain on the 4th, The Farallons on the 5th, Blues Coupe on the 11th, Barbwyre on the 12th, Amber Lee & The Anomalies on the 17th, Leeza Gomez & The Blues Breakers on the 25th, The Tonewoods on the 26th, and more. The Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol is the place to see Camille Bloom & David Carrol on the 3rd, Jesse Brewster Band on the 5th, Canal St. Jazz Band on the 8th, Dr. Dave's Blues Revue on the 10th, Songwriters in the Round w/Scott Pinckert on the 15th, Moonshiners on the 16th, Windshield Cowboys on the 17th, The Accidentals on the 20th, Sky Nelson Band on the 24th, Linda Ferro Band on the 27th, Tim Williams on the 29th, Tabla Rasa on the 30th, and others. First bluegrass festival of the year. What better way is there to start off the New Year than by going to the Fourth Annual River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland, OR, on the 4th-6th? Some of the acts you can see there are the David Grisman Quintet, Tim O'Brien, The Dan Tyminski Band, Bryan Bowers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Seldom Scene, The Del McCoury Band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Dry Branch Fire Squad, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, The Flatlanders, David Grier, and Darol Anger & The Republic of Strings. Hardly a man of constant sorrow. The Dan Tyminski Band, featuring Dan on guitar, Ron Stewart on banjo, Justin Moses on fiddle, Barry Bales on bass, and Adam Steffey on mandolin show, will be playing at the Independent on Divisadero Street in SF on the 4th. This show was originally scheduled for the Palace of Fine Arts, but it was moved some weeks back. Opening will be Marin County's own Hot Buttered Rum. Dan has been a longtime member of Alison Krauss & Union Station, and he was the singing voice of George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Dan's band will also be playing at The River City Festival and at the CBA's Father's Day Festival in June. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 4th, Andrew Freeman on the 5th, the Celtic jam on 6th, Carolina Special on the 12th, Shades of Green on the 13th, Kimrea and Joe LoCoco on the 17th, Savannah Blu on the 18th, The David Thom Band on the 25th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 26th, Solid Air on the 27th, Amber Lee & The Anomalies on the 31st, and others. Saylor's Restaurant in Sausalito (different food and location than the late Saylor's Landing) now has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. On the 4th it will be Eugene Huggins, Ken Husbands & Rebecca Griffin on the 5th, Mindy Canter& Dennis Geyer on the11th, Macy Blackman on the 12th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 18th, Mike Angel on the 19th, Steve Malerbi on the 26th, and Lauralee Brown & Company on the 25th. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are The Total Eclipse Band on the 4th, Bluebellies the 5th, Mikie Prasad Band on the 11th, Lucky Dog Band on the 12th, The Jenny Kerr Band the 18th, Dore Coller's Bermuda Grass on the 19th, Paul & Margie of Golden Bough on the 25th, and The Rhythm Rangers on the 26th. The Black Oak Casino out near Sonora is a bit of drive from the North Bay but well worth the trip, especially with the huge Marin connection there this month. You can see the Western swing band Lost Weekend (featuring the aforementioned Pam Brandon) on the 4th, Norton Buffalo on the 5th, Maria Muldaur on the 26th, and Dan Hicks on the 30th. The joint is jumpin' at the Toad in the Hole pub in Santa Rosa. See Greenhouse on the 4th, Chris Rovetti & The Experience on the 5th, Amber Lee & The Anomalies on the 11th, The Rosetown Ramblers on the 13th, Crooked Roads on the 19th, Doug Jayne on the 24th, The Pyrotones on the 27th, and more. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater, besides the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, are Norton Buffalo on the 4th, Wagon on the 9th, Vinyl on the 19th, James Moseley Band R & B Dance Party on the 20th, Fred Eaglesmith on the 23rd, Rustler's Moon on the 24th (details below), Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 31st, and others. The North Bay band Mild Colonial Boys is headed south. Take a drive down the coast to see them play at the San Gregorio Store on the 5th starting at 3 p.m. The band is Rory McNamara, Kyle Alden, and John Caulfield. The Wild Catahoulas will be playing on the 5th at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa. Dance lessons are at 7 p.m., and then live music from 8-11. On the 26th they will be playing at show at the Cloverdale Old-Time Fiddle Contest from 8-11 p.m. Popular Bay Area singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong will be headlining a show at the Freight & Salvage on the 5th starting at 8 p.m. She'll be joined by Marin's busiest bass player, Joshua Zucker, as well as other special guests including John Haley-Walker. The Old Western in Point Reyes Station offers the best music from northern California and beyond most every Friday and Saturday nights. Cover charge is usually $5 and the shows start at 9:30 p.m. See Little Sister on the 5th, Twang Ditty on the 11th, Buckaroo Band on the 12th, The NiteCaps on the 19th, and Thick Soup on the 26th. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Adrian Legg and Peppino D'Agostino on the 5th, Henry Butler & His West Coast All Stars plus Lady Bianca on the 10th, Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra on the 12th, Janiva Magness and Red Meat on the 19th, Malo on the 25th, and Brian Auger's Oblivion Express on the 26th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 5th and the 12th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 19th it will be swing music; and on the 26th it will be pickers' choice. Mill Valley's Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will appear at The Riptide in SF on the 5th starting at 9 p.m., on the 13th from 4-6 p.m. at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin, and on the 26th at Farley's Café in SF. The Station House Café in Point Reyes Station has music every weekend. Some of the acts you can see are Paul Knight & Friends on the 6th from 5-8:30 p.m. with David Gans, Chris & Lorin Rowan, on the 17th Doug Adamz & Rusty Gauthier from 6-8 p.m., and Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic vintage and Western swing, jazzy ballads, originals, and more on the 18th at 7 p.m. Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts "Local's Night" every Tuesday. Go and check out a great music lineup this month. On the 8th Tony Magee plays some swampy Delta blues, on the 15th Darren Nelson original rock and alt country, on the 22nd it will be eclectic classic pop and rock from the Cathleen Riddley Trio, and on the 29th Americana from the Bluebellies. On Local's Nights, Nick's offers features specials on dinners and Lagunitas beers, all designed to keep you coming back for more. Music is from 7-9 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. On the 9th see A.K.A. Hot Buttered Rum, High Country on the 16th, The Tom Finch Group on the 23rd, and The Lady Pinks on the 30th. Every Saturday afternoon this month there is music as well from 2-4 p.m. On Tuesday the 15th see the first-ever Kids Night of Music (kids eat free!) with Gayle Schmitt and Friends from 5:30-7 p.m. For more info, go to the pub's web site. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday you can see Steve Seskin, Craig Carothers and Don Henry on the 10th, Those Darn Accordions on the 11th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 19th, Ascension of the Blues from the 23rd-26th, A Special Evening with Liz Kennedy on the 27th, Odetta on the 30th, and other great shows. At the Marin Civic Center you can see B. B. King on the 11th, The California World Guitar Show (put on by Texas Style Guitar Show), which will be returning on the 13th and 14th. Instrument experts from all over the world will be there, along with dealers, artists, collectors, foreign buyers, authors and celebrities. The show will also feature exhibits of old, rare, celebrity-owned, new and used guitars, amps, banjos, effects, memorabilia and equipment. And Ryan Adams will be at the center on the 23rd. At the Napa Valley Opera House you can see The Nigerian Spam Scam Scam comedy show on the 11th, BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet on the 18th, Idol Instrumental 2008! on the 19th and 25th, and Los Lobos on the 26th. Schaef-Abel Productions is presenting Nashville Songwriters in the Round with Steve Seskin, Craig Carothers and Don Henry at Studio E in Sebastopol on the 11th, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are now available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa as well as by mail order. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget is starting off the New Year with a trio of gigs on the local cafe circuit. Catch him on the 11th with Jesse Lee Kincaid at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito and then with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 13th and 27th. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be performing their bluegrass interpretation of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon on the 11th in SF at the Great American Music Hall. They're bringing the lights, fog, and the lasers, and they are encouraging all to go dressed as your favorite Wizard of Oz character to participate in the show. Stevie Coyle, recently former front man of The Waybacks, will take the briefest break from recording his first solo CD to play a show for Murphy Productions at The Falkirk Center in San Rafael on the night of the 12th. The concert will be held in the front parlor of this hugely cool Victorian mansion. Speaking of Stevie's CD, the word on the street is that guest artists for the several band-oriented selections on this album might well include Kendrick Freeman from Alison Brown's band on drums and Sam Bevan - frequent co-conspirator of Joe Craven's - on bass. Other guests TBA. Murphy Productions is presenting four shows this month at four different venues. Besides Stevie Coyle on the 12th, on the 18th see Tito Gonzales at Studio 333 in Sausalito, jazz saxophonist John Mattern at The Belrose Theatre in San Rafael on the 25th, and on the 26th see Houston Jones at the Lark Movie Theatre in Larkspur. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents award-winning Arkansas-based folk/grass duo Still on the Hill for an evening of music and dining on the 12th. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, show starts 7. Admission $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. House concerts in Marin. Drew Pearce will be hosting Megan Slankard, Jeff Pehrson (Box Set) and Joel Ackerson when they will be performing in the round at a house concert in Mill Valley on the 12th at 7:30 p.m. To attend, RSVP to Drew at trovemusic@gmail.com or call (415) 706-3800. See the Marin-based acoustic trio Barbwyre when they play on the 12th at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m. At any point you may hear combinations of two and three-part harmonies, mandolin, mandola, fiddle, pedal steel, dobro, electric and acoustic guitar. The members are Dana Rath, Jon Mitguard, and Mike Stadler. Singer/songwriter John McCutcheon will be making his annual winter pilgrimage to Northern California this month, and you can see him at the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma on the 14th. Another festival of note up north is the Portland Old-Time Music Gathering on the 16th-20th. 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. 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. Kimrea & Joe LoCoco will also be at Murphy's on the 17th. On Thursday the 24th at 8 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at the Larkspur Café Theater in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music. Headlining the bill will be Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans. Rustler's Moon brings together veterans of such esteemed bands as the Good Ol' Persons, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Kathy Kallick Band, Bill Evans String Summit, Bluegrass Intentions, High Country, Due West, Wake the Dead, and 3 Fox Drive. Kathy Kallick (guitar, vocals) and Bill Evans (banjo, vocals) have been making significant contributions to bluegrass for many years. They've toured the country and the world with their music, collaborated with some of the top contemporary acoustic musicians, and released a number of influential recordings. Their current music with Tom Bekeny (mandolin, vocals) and Cindy Browne (acoustic bass) is rooted in traditional bluegrass, based on their original compositions, and influenced by the breadth of styles encompassed by these musicians. For this show, the band also includes (former Bay Area resident now living in Nashville) fiddler/vocalist Megan Lynch. Rustler's Moon provides soulful music that's innovative and in the pocket, and performances that are exciting, compelling - and fun. 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 bottleneck slide guitarist Catfish Keith on the 24th. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell, besides playing with his band The Rhythm Rangers at Finbar's on the 26th, will be hosting Grammy-winning guitarist Mike Dowling on the 25th at the New College in Santa Rosa at 8 p.m. Dowling draws inspiration from deep in the musical bag of American roots guitar. He's firmly grounded in authenticity and possessed of a musical soul as old as the vintage music he favors. Fluent in several styles and difficult to pigeonhole, Mike has captured the hearts of acoustic music fans throughout the world with his engaging voice, self-deprecating wit, and elegant interpretations of an arsenal of old blues, swing, ragtime, and original compositions. Contact Kevin at krussellmft@aol.com for more info. Hot duo. Enjoy Grammy Award-winning musician and vocalist Laurie Lewis together with renowned acoustic guitarist Nina Gerber on the 25th at 8 p.m. when they play the Petaluma Church Concerts Series, First Church of Christ Scientist, 522 B Street, in Petaluma. Tickets are available at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. For more info contact Lance Walker at eclecticstage@yahoo.com. Lauralee Brown can be seen/heard on Tuesdays at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 25th at Saylor's Restaurant & Bar in Sausalito it she'll be with her band Jazz & Beyond. Resin up that bow! The 33rd Annual Cloverdale Old-Time Fiddle Contest will take place on the 26th-27th in the town of Cloverdale. The Skiffle Symphony and The Wild Catahoulas will perform on the night of the 26th, and the Hot Frittatas will play on the 27th. 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. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: MY MUSIC - DOO WOP LOVE SONGS 1/03 1 p.m., 1/04 3 a.m., 1/05 9 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. It's 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, NJ. The program features performances from The Tokens, The Dubs, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Larry Chance and the Earls, and a once-in-a-lifetime reunion of The Original Drifters (Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, Bobby Hendricks, and Bill Pinkney)." BOB DYLAN - LIVE IN NEWPORT 1963-1965 1/03 7:30 p.m.: "This program includes unreleased performances filmed by Academy Award-winning director Murray Lerner. It captures full performances of some of Bob Dylan's greatest songs. The Newport Folk Festival takes place in Newport, Rhode Island and is best known for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars. Bob Dylan's first Newport appearance in 1963 is generally regarded as his premiere national performance. Dylan became the artist most notably associated with this festival. His 1963 and 1964 performances made him popular with the Newport crowd, but in 1965, while headlining the music festival, he decided to "plug in" resulting in a mixed response of cheers and boos. Dylan left the stage after only three songs, only to reemerge and sing two solo acoustic numbers. Many of Dylan's folk fans felt he was abandoning his folk roots - and it is all captured live on film. For the first time ever, the complete electric set is available. This shift marked his changing artistic direction, making his move from leading contemporary songwriter of the folk scene to rock n' roll star." DAVID BROZA AT MASADA - THE SUNRISE CONCERT 1/05 1 a.m. & 7 a.m., 1/06 6:30 p.m.: "This historic special features international composer, guitarist and singer David Broza. With his flamenco-tinged, folk- rock melodies and keen talent for breathing musical life into sensual snippets of poetry, Broza is a formidable musical force of nature. He commands and captivates the audience's heart, mind and soul. The concert is performed at the site of the ancient fortress of Masada in the southern Israeli desert, and David is joined on stage by legendary singer/ songwriter Jackson Browne, and Grammy Award-winner Shawn Colvin. Broza's concert begins in the early morning hours, concluding with the sun rising over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, revealing one of the most spiritual and ancient scenes in the world. David is also joined by an Arab musician Ebrahim Eid to perform his international hit song 'In My Heart.' Accompanied by a Palestinian and Israeli children's choir, they sing about peace, their love of life and the land they share together. The program creates poetry for the eyes, the ears and the heart." ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO 1/05 8:30 a.m.: "Eric Clapton and his buddies know how to put on a show. Emulating their famed Cotton Bowl concert in June 2004, Clapton and the world's leading guitar gods return to the stage for a new gathering, this time from Chicago, America's Blues Capital. Some performers include Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Albert Lee and B.B. King." JOHN DENVER - A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 1/05 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., 1/06 5:30 a.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." MONTEREY POP - THE SUMMER OF LOVE 1/06 12:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.: "During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the three-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled Monterey Pop and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 40 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary." BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS LIVE 1/06 4 a.m. & 2 p.m.: "This program features one of the Jamaican superstar's best live performances and showcased a new Wailers line-up: Carlton Barrett on drums, Barrett's brother Aston on bass, Junior Marvin on lead guitar, and backing trio Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths. The concert was recorded on June 2, 1977, and has been digitally remastered to mark the 30th anniversary of this performance." ANDREA BOCELLI LIVE IN TUSCANY 1/06 10 a.m. & 8 p.m.: "For the first time since the advent of his spectacular international popularity, superstar Andrea Bocelli returns to his native Italy for a concert of his greatest hits along with the debut of some new songs. Taped at the glorious Teatro di Silenzio, nestled in the beautiful, rolling countryside near the ancient Tuscan village of Volterra, Bocelli is joined by special guests trumpeter Chris Botti, Heather Headley, Kenny G., David Foster, Lang Lang, and Sarah Brightman for an evening of romantic favorites." GREAT MOMENTS AT THE MET 1/06 noon: "Join opera diva Renee Fleming as she hosts a special countdown of Great Moments at the Met: Viewer's Choice, where you call the tune. 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. Will it be Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto performing together in La Boheme for the inaugural Live from the Met broadcast in 1977? Leontyne Price taking the stage in her farewell performance of Aida? The incomparable Wagnerians James Morris and Hildegard Behrens in the Met's thrilling production of Die Walkure? 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." CARNEGIE HALL CELEBRATES BERLIN 1/07 10 p.m., 1/09 3 a.m.: "Great Performances returns to Carnegie Hall's famed stage for a celebration with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Featuring the orchestra under the baton of music director and conductor Sir Simon Rattle, the program includes highlights from the Hall's two-week 'Berlin in Lights' festival in November 2007." FROM SHTETL TO SWING 1/09 11 p.m.: "Between 1880 and 1924, 2.5 million Jews had reached the breaking point. Fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe, they kissed their small-town shtetls goodbye and migrated to America. America, in turn, would completely reshape Jewish identity, and Jewish popular entertainment would take 20th-century American music on a joy ride to beat the band. That toe-tapping, two-stepping, rug-cutting odyssey is the subject of this program, a delightful musical spritz. Hosted by Broadway's latest Tevye, Harvey Fierstein, and written and directed by Fabienne Rousso-Lenoir, the evening features such legendary performers as Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, Molly Picon, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman. The music isn't too shabby either, with Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Harold Arlen keeping things moving." I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S SCHOENBERG 1/13 noon: "Rob Kapilow, creator and host of Lincoln Center's 'What Makes It Great?' series, provides lively commentary about the origins and place in music history of Arnold Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht, performed by members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including violinists Erin Keefe and Arnaud Sussmann, violists David Kim and Teng Li, and cellists David Finckel and Priscilla Lee. In the first half of the program, Kapilow works onstage with the musicians to showcase important elements of the piece so that the audience will have a greater understanding of it during the complete performance in the second half of the program." ********************************************************************************************* December 15, 2007 The holidays are coming on strong, and the weary elves here at Carltone World Headquarters have been busy decking the halls while partaking in way too many parties and such, hence the lateness of this edition. There is still lots more great music to see and hear this month, and if you want to take a break from shopping or watching the latest edition of "Survivor" on the idiot box, well, starting making a list of things to do and check it twice… As the year winds down, you'll be happy to know that there are "no year-end best of" lists included here, no New Year's Eve party lists (we'll leave this to the big guys), and best of all, no endorsements of candidates in the Iowa or New Hampshire primaries. It has been another fine year at CWH, and as always, we want to thank you for reading this publication and supporting acoustic music in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Last minute shopping. Last issue we suggested that you shop at the California Bluegrass Association web site for memberships, concert and festival tickets, etc. It is not too late to do such. Also, how about the Best of the Flatt & Scruggs TV Show DVD Set? "Filmed against a painted backdrop and interrupted at regular intervals by folksy commercials for Martha White's self-rising flour, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys just stand there in front of a mike in their string ties and straw cowboy hats and play unparalleled bluegrass, song after song, with just a bit of country patter in between." Gift book ideas. Here are a couple of more holiday gift ideas. There is a new book out called Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City by Craig Havighurst that is about country music radio station WSM and its success with hosting the Grand Ole Opry. Also, there are two books about the Cash Family, one about Johnny and the other about June Carter Cash. Johnny's first wife Vivian Cash and writer Ann Sharpsteen put together I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, and Johnny and June's son John Carter Cash wrote Anchored In Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash. The 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees include John Mellencamp, Madonna, The Ventures, The Dave Clark Five and Leonard Cohen. The induction ceremony takes place March 10th in New York. Sweetwater update. Santa came early for Thom and Becky Steere, owners of the Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley. On December 10th they went before the Mill Valley Planning Commission and had their use permit approved to move Sweetwater to the new location at 32 Miller Avenue, near D'Angelo restaurant. They hope to open sometime in the spring. Thanks to everyone that sent letters of support! The return of the mouth that roared. Schlock-jock Don Imus is back on the air after being fired eight months ago for making racial slurs about a college women's basketball team. He was fired, threatened to sue his employer for unlawful termination and got a settlement out of it, and now has a contract that pays him even more money than he was making before. Is this a great country or what? There is a new organization being started that covers all music in the Americana vein throughout the entire state, and it is called CalAmericana. Check out their site and get involved. And rest assured, you probably won't be hearing about this in the SF Chronicle Datebook section anytime soon… Holiday humor. Marin's Dr. Elmo, of course, is known for his song "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," and details about his shows coming up this weekend at the Larkspur Café Theater can be found below. Just about everyone knows the song, but unless you are a dedicated MTV watcher (something tells me that less than 1% of Carltone readers are in this category), you have probably never seen the video of the song that was made in 1983. Now, through the wonders of modern technology, you can watch it on YouTube. Take a close look at the guy in the red bathrobe and see if he looks familiar… Tom Tworek Memorial. Mark your calendars now for Sunday, January 13th, from 2-6 p.m. for the memorial celebration for the late Bay Area bluegrass player/photographer Tom Tworek. It will be held at the Unity Palo Alto Community Church. Slow jam class. Starting on the 8th of January at The 5th String music store in Berkeley you can join a new slow jam series from 7:30-9 p.m. The class will be open to beginning and intermediate bluegrass and old-time players, or anyone that wants experience playing and singing at a moderate tempo in a comfortable jam setting. Instructors will include Bill Evans, Evie Ladin, Megan Lynch, Jim Nunally, Eric Thompson and others each week. Class size will be limited to allow for individual attention, with 2-3 teachers on hand each night to join in the music and coach the players. The class will be eight weeks long on Tuesday nights. Cost will be $20 per player each session. For more info email Ran Bush at ranbush@gmail.com. Laying tracks. North Bay bluegrass singer/songwriter Rick Jamison is back in the studio working on his fourth CD project. The upcoming CD, tentatively titled "Skies Wide Open," will feature a collection of his newest original songs plus a fresh cut of "Somewhere Bound," a song he wrote and recorded with Copper Canyon a few years back. The project is being recorded and co-produced in Southern California by banjo player/vocalist/sound engineer Dave Richardson. Anticipated release date is mid-2008. Change of venue. The Dan Tyminski Band show that was scheduled for the Palace of Fine Arts in SF on January 4th has now been moved to the Independent on Divisadero Street. Opening will be Marin County's own Hot Buttered Rum. Dan's band will also be playing at the CBA's Father's Day Festival in June. Break time. Nickel Creek concluded their Farewell (For Now) tour recently with two shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The band (Chris Thile, Sara and Sean Watkins) were joined on stage by bassist Mark Schatz, as well as several musical friends, including Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Nickel Creek is going on hiatus for an undisclosed amount of time. All hail Clarence! There is a real nice story in the current edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine about the late trailblazing flatpicking guitarist Clarence White that you can read here. The story was written by the Bay Area's own hot picker Scott Nygaard. Older than dirt. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Poco and Jim Messina will be touring together next year with the Party in the Dirt tour. The Dirt Band and Poco will be celebrating their 40th anniversary as bands in 2008. Messina, a founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco, has also enjoyed success with singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins in Loggins & Messina. Messina left Poco in 1970 and was replaced by guitarist Paul Cotton. Poco's current lineup includes Cotton, multi-instrumentalist Rusty Young, bassist Jack Sundrud and drummer George Lawrence. No tour dates have been announced yet. A rolling stone gathering moss. The dinosaur of all pop music publications, Rolling Stone, is in legal trouble over deceptive cigarette ads in the November edition of the fishwrap. Seems like they worked up a clever deal with Joe Camel to sneak some cartoon ads into the rag after the tobacco industry's nine-year-old promise not to use cartoons to sell cigarettes went into effect in 1998. Of course, lawyers for the paper deny knowing anything about it. Police log. This segment should perhaps just be renamed the "Amy Winehouse Arrest Record." The British singer has been arrested countless times over the past few months, and once again she was popped in London, this time for interfering with her husband's court appearance (he was there for assaulting a bartender in June). Of course, this most recent infraction just means more people will rush out and by her Grammy nominated album… Get out your handkerchiefs. Bianca Jagger, who was married to Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger for five minutes a few decades ago, was evicted out of her Upper East Side NY City apartment last week after a dispute with her landlord. This is not a case of a poor person in need. She also has a luxury apartment in London. Pamela Anderson, who was once married to Motley Crue's Tommy Lee as well as singer Kid Rock, is now on the prowl again, as she has split from her most recent husband of two months, Rick Salomon, who is best known for making the sex video that made Paris Hilton a household name. Shouldn't the three-strikes-and-your-out-law apply to poor Pammy? Celine Dion played her final show at Caesar's in Las Vegas this past weekend. After five years and millions of dollars earned, she has decided to go back on the road. Hey, what about that slogan "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"? Shouldn't she be forced to stay there? Life's railway to heaven. Ike Turner died in San Diego on December 12th. He was 76. Chad Butler, a.k.a. Pimp C, was found dead from unknown causes in a hotel in LA on December 4th. He was 33. San Francisco drummer John L. Petersen, a member of the Beau Brummels and Harpers' Bizarre, passed away on November 11th. The Beau Brummels were originally signed by local deejays Tom Donahue and Bob Mitchell to their Autumn label. The band's two major hits were "Laugh, Laugh" (produced by Sly Stone) and "Just a Little." Petersen also worked with Harper's Bizarre, who had a hit with a remake of Simon & Garfunkle's "59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." Ralph Ezell, bassist and founding member of the country band Shenandoah, died on November 30th in South Dakota of an apparent heart attack. He was 54. Blues guitarist Jerry Ricks died recently in Croatia, where he was living. He had had a stroke in August. He was 67. Dan Fogelberg, a singer/songwriter who had huge hits in the 70s/80s with "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne," died on the 16th from prostate cancer. He was 56. Coming attractions. River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-6 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminksi, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others; Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans and special guest Megan Lynch at the Larkspur Café Theater on 1/24; Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber at the Petaluma Church Concerts series on 1/25. Additions Bill DeCarli will be playing at Infusions Tea House in Sebastopol on the 18th from 7-9 p.m. No cover. See Dana Couey & Doug Harman at the Petaluma Church Concerts series on the 20th starting at 7 p.m. The location is the First Church of Christ Scientist, 522 B Street (corner of B and 6th) in Petaluma. Doug Harman adds his cello and piano skills to several Bay Area bands and is perhaps best known for his recent work with Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox. He and guitarist/vocalist Dana Couey perform a series of annual holiday concerts throughout the North Bay featuring a beautiful and uplifting blend of cello, piano and guitar. The duo has recorded five CDs of Christian music and performs both vocal and instrumental music to celebrate the Advent/Christmas season. The concert will run approximately 90 minutes, and there is no admission, but the musicians will accept donations. There will be a Very Shut-Ins Xmas Special show at 9 p.m. at Amnesia in SF on the 20th. Humbug Hoedown. Join Jeanie & Chuck Poling and friends (Pat Campbell on bass and Will Fourt on dobro as well as a little help from Misisipi Mike Wolf) for another little soiree at the Velo Rouge Café in SF on the 21st. Time is 7-9 p.m., no cover, and no X-Mas songs! Celebrate the holidays bluegrass style with The Earl Brothers, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, and Blue & Lonesome on the 21st for a Bluegrass Christmas at Cafe du Nord in S.F. starting at 8:30 p.m. Cool yule. Tune into Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal radio show in SF on the 22nd when he will be playing all instrumental Christmas songs on KALW (91.7 FM) from 6:30-8 p.m. and also broadcast on www.bluegrasscountry.org on the 22nd-25th. The Old Western in Point Reyes Station offers the best music from northern California and beyond most every Friday and Saturday nights. Cover charge is usually $5 and the shows start at 9:30 p.m. See the Buckaroo Band on the 22nd and The Bluebellies on the 31st.They have a new lead singer that is knocking the socks off audiences everywhere. Tickets are $15 in advance at the Old Western and $20 on New Years Eve. Reminders Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts "Local's Night" every Tuesday. Go and check out a great music lineup this month. On the 18th, perennial favorite Doug Adamz will get things sizzling with his arsenal of instruments and an eclectic selection of Irish and American fiddle tunes, subtle fingerstyle guitar pieces, blues, country and folk. Nick's offers features specials on dinners and Lagunitas beers, all designed to keep you coming back for more. Music is from 7-9 p.m. It is December, and this means that The Christmas Jug Band is back again. See them on the 18th at the Freight in Berkeley, on the 21st at the Larkspur Café Theater, and on the 22nd at the Mill Valley Masonic Auditorium. Doug Adamz, besides playing at Nick's on the 18th, can be seen with Trio Bravo at the Station House on the 21st, with Dr. Elmo on the 22nd and 23rd in Larkspur, and solo at the Toad in the Hole in Santa Rosa on the 28th. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Charlie Hunter on the 18th, Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven on the 29th, and Tommy Castro on the 31st 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. On the 19th it will be the Papermill Creek Rounders. Starting on the 29th the pub will begin its Saturday afternoon Casual & Cozy music Series from 2-4 p.m. with Ted Silverman & the Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Marin guitarist Gary Bauman on the 19th will play with The Beat Meters
at Rafters in San Rafael as well on the 31st, and you can also see him
with The Sons of Emperor Norton at EAT (formerly Ted's) in San Anselmo
on the 22nd The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night most Tuesdays, they have Roy Zimmerman on the 20th, Narada Michael Walden's Holiday Jam on the 22nd, and more. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 20th the Hot Club of Marin will play at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; on the 27th his Bermuda Grass band will be at 19 Broadway from 7-9 p.m.; and on the 31st it will be a Rock n Roll New Years' Eve at Pete's 881 Club in San Rafael Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Billy D. See Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Gail Muldrow Blues Band on the 21st, Juan Boulder on the 23rd, Peri's Dysfunctional Family X-Mas on the 25th, Spinout on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, Jeb's Twangin New Year's Party on the 31st, and lots more. Lauralee Brown stays busy. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 20th she'll be at The Seafood Peddler in San Rafael from 5:30-8:30 p.m. as guest vocalist with the Alex Markel's Rent Party Rythym Section, and on the 28th see her at Saylor's Restaurant & Bar 7:30-10:30pm with her band Jazz & Beyond with Jay Stapleton on guitar and Mark Armenta on bass. Concert Carnival. On the 20th, Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum will be producing his second annual Concert Carnival. This is a multi-media, cabaret-style variety show with amazing artists from across the country. The program this year will be almost all-new material and will feature a different cast of characters from many artistic disciplines. However, the values of the Concert Carnival remain the same - this is an opportunity for performers to step outside of their normal performing context and try new stuff in new ways. Some of the performers are: Zach Gill (ALO/Jack Johnson), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Patch (Heavyweight Dub Champion), Evie Ladin (Stairwell Sisters), Keith Terry (body percussionist from Crosspulse), Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), Rodney & Helen, the Sweet Snacks, and all the guys from Hot Buttered Rum. The show will take place at The Independent in SF. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, X-Mas Jug Band on the 21st, Dr. Elmo on the 22nd and 23rd, ukulele master Jake Shimabukoro on the 27th, Bonnie Hayes on the 29th and, of course, lots more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are the Spiral Mystics on the 21st, High Country on the 22nd, Pete Olson on the 23rd, Dockside on the 28th, Blue & Lonesome on the 29th, Kurt Huget on the 30th, Greenhouse and The Carrtunes on the 31st, and much more. Murphy Productions is presenting some cool shows this month. See The Beautiful Losers "Peace, Love, & Xmas Concert" on the 21st at The Belrose Theatre in San Rafael, and The Christmas Jug Band at Mill Valley Masonic Hall in Mill Valley on the 22nd. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are West Boulevard Band 21st, David Thom Band on the 22nd, Linda Wiggins Band on the 28th, and Majestic Swing Band on the 29th. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa to see Late Harvest on the 21st, The Tonewoods on the 28th, Blacktop Moon on the 29th, The Spindles on the 31st, and more. Saylor's in Sausalito now has live music. On the 21st see Lisa Kindred, Mad & Eddie Duran on the 22nd, Lauralee Brown on the 28th, and Lisa Madison & Ron Romero on the 29th. Go to the Sweetspot in Santa Rosa to see the Pat Jordan Band on the 21st, Tommy Heath on the 27th, Juan Bolder on the 28th, and others. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. 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. 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. At the Bluegrass Gold show you will have two chances to see Marin County's
own Dr. Elmo & The Reindeer Band when they appear at the Larkspur
Café Theater in Larkspur. There will be a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday
the 22nd and a 4 p.m. matinee show on Sunday the 23rd. Since 1991 Dr.
Elmo has been fronting the Marin County traditional bluegrass band Wild
Blue. Every December the band morphs into The Reindeer Band for the
holiday season, playing a mixture of bluegrass, traditional holiday
songs and Elmo's original novelty tunes. The band for these shows will
be John Pierson on guitar, Doug Adamz on guitar and fiddle, Dana Rath
on mandolin, Girls Night Out on vocals, and yours truly on bass. So
get your holiday shopping done early and come on out and treat yourself
to one of the Bay Area's hidden treasures. Make sure you pick up one
of Elmo's new Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer CD/DVD collector's
set. 'Tis the season to be jolly, so don't miss these special Dr. Elmo
Christmas shows. The Larkspur Café Theater is Marin County's
home for bluegrass music in the North Bay. The venue serves food and
drink, so people of all ages are welcome. For more information call
the club at (415) 924-6107. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be making the musical rounds again this month. It will be jazz with the Namely Us band happens on the 23rd at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. The new jazz/rock/jam band Tres Mojo can be seen and heard at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 30th. And catch his solo show at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma on the 30th. Mill Valley songwriter Jesse Lee Kincaid and his band will perform on the 29th at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito. Sonoma's Adam Traum will be playing on the 30th at Cato's Alehouse in Oakland. Kevin Russell will be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 30th his band Under the Radar. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING SISSEL 12/19 9 p.m.: "European singing sensation Sissel joins the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square for an annual holiday concert. A national institution in Norway, Sissel has sung all over the world, selling six million solo albums. The program also features traditional Christmas songs and Norwegian folk tunes performed on an alpine village set, with stained-glass church windows, snow-covered rooftops and brightly lit trees." CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF - WHERE PEACE AND LOVE AND HONOR ABIDE 12/19 10 p.m.: "This choral concert features the distinguished 460-student choir of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, as it performs a rich repertoire of traditional Christmas carols and hymns from around the world." NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL (2007) 12/19 11 p.m., 12/22 3 a.m.: "Highlights of performances from the world's longest-running jazz festival, now in its 53rd year. Taped August 11, 2007, on three seaside stages at historic Fort Adams State Park, this annual special features an all-star roster of jazz greats, contemporary R&B stylists and up-and-coming artists. It captures the sights and sounds of the festival - from the music to scenes of the audience, food, vendors and backstage life. This year, performers include: Paquito D'Rivera's Panamericana Ensemble; The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band featuring Slide Hampton; Bruce Hornsby with Jack DeJohnette & Christian McBride; BB King; Marcus Miller; Susan Tedeschi." ANDRE RIEU - CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD 12/20 7:30 p.m.: "Dutch conductor and violinist Andre Rieu offers holiday songs from around the world. Taped in Trier, Germany, the concert features the Japanese Children's Choir from Nagasaki, Japan. The children, ranging in age from 5 to 14, sing such traditional Christmas songs as 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' and 'Deck the Halls.'" THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY 12/20 9 p.m.: "From composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht, four-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald stars in a new production of one of the great 20th-century operas. It's every man for himself in the newly founded city of Mahagonny, devoted to life's illicit pleasures, where anything goes and the only crime is to run out of money. The savage and lyrical satire is told in a highly entertaining blend of opera and raucous music hall songs conducted by music director James Conlon. Tony Award-winners Patti LuPone and John Doyle re-team with acclaimed tenor Anthony Dean Griffey. The brilliant score, featuring the classic song 'Moon of Alabama,' masterfully creates a vivid picture of determination, desperation and debauchery." MICHAEL BUBLE - CAUGHT IN THE ACT12/21 9 p.m., 12/23 11 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.: "Inspired by the swinging big band sound of his grandfather's generation, 29-year-old Canadian phenomenon Michael Buble has won the hearts of a new generation of fans with his charisma, stage presence, and superbly seductive voice. Inviting inevitable comparisons to a young Frank Sinatra, Buble's unique approach to an eclectic array of popular standards reveals a keen musical intuitiveness that has rapidly distinguished him." ANGEL VOICES - LIBERA IN CONCERT12/22 4 a.m.: "Libera, a South London choral group of boys aged 9 to 15, brings a uniquely mystical and transcendent sound to their first public television concert special. Robert Prizeman, founder, arranger and director of Libera, has taken the simple purity of boys' voices and, with great care and respect for classical vocal tradition, has created a new sound. This program was recorded with an orchestra at the historical St. Peter's Church in Leiden." POPS HOLIDAY PARTY12/22 6 p.m., 12/24 1 a.m.: "Come celebrate the holidays with the Boston Pops Orchestra. This special will feature festive holiday music culled from over 35 years of programming. It will include musical archives and clips from the best of the best from Arthur Fiedler and John Williams, along with new selections from current Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. From festive holiday standards to your favorite sing-alongs, it's a holiday party primed for the whole family." KITKA AND DAVKA IN CONCERT 12/23 12:30 p.m.: "A one-hour concert of old and new world Jewish music performed by Kitka, Oakland's acclaimed female a cappella ensemble and Davka, the sensational instrumental Jewish music quartet. The program also features vocalist Stephen Saxon. Recorded in July 2006 before a sold out audience at the Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA." SAN FRANCISCO BOYS CHORUS 12/23 1:30 p.m., 12/24 7:30 p.m.: "The San Francisco Boys Chorus performs Marc-Antoine Charpentier's glorious 'Te Deum' with full orchestra, including the royal additions of trumpets and drums, as part of its Holiday Concert. Maestro Ian Robertson, conducting. The work's brilliant, powerfully dramatic impact suggests that it must have been written in celebration of some special occasion, such as the August 1692 French victory at Steinkerque. SFBC's Concert Chorus and Men's Chorale join forces for this splendid performance." HOLLY JOLLY POPS HOLIDAY WITH BARENAKED LADIES 12/23 2 p.m.: "Get into the spirit of the Christmas season with conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops Orchestra and special guests. The incomparable, irreverent, upbeat hitmakers Barenaked Ladies put their own special twist on seasonal tunes. Started in 1973, Boston Pops Holiday concerts are an annual tradition for families and music lovers young and old. Festive decorations enhance the rich ambience of Boston's Symphony Hall and the performances offer something for everyone, from stirring choruses to lighthearted numbers. The five-piece Toronto-based Barenaked Ladies mixes socially conscious observations with clever lyrics." CHRISTMAS AT THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE 12/24 midnight: "A compilation
of memorable moments from the holiday specials of the series The Hollywood
Palace, a lavish variety show from the 1960s. It features full performances
by Bing Crosby and his family, Perry Como, as well as guests such as
Bob Newhart, The Lennon Sisters, and the charming puppet act of Kukla,
Fran and Ollie. In various interview segments, Hollywood Palace producer
William Harbach and members of the Crosby family reminisce about the
original Christmas at the Hollywood Palace programs." RENEE FLEMING - SACRED SONGS AND CAROLS 12/24 10 p.m.: "Hailed by the press as 'one of the truly magnificent voices of our time,' opera superstar Renee Fleming has consistently wowed critics and audiences alike with her keen musicianship, artistic versatility and, of course, a voice considered 'the gold standard of soprano sound.' Recorded at Germany's Mainz Cathedral, Fleming performs a lush selection of sacred Christmas music, backed by a full orchestra and boys choir." ST. OLAF CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY12/24 11 p.m.: "This holiday special features the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir in concert in the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, one of the oldest and grandest gothic churches in the world, first begun in 1070. The special is an evening of traditional Christmas hymns sung in both Norwegian and English." JOSH GROBAN LIVE AT THE GREEK 12/26 9 p.m.: "Following 2002's Josh Groban in Concert, the first primetime special showcasing the young vocal phenomenon, Great Performances presents a concert featuring Groban at Los Angeles' spectacular outdoor Greek Theatre, performing selections from his critically acclaimed second album, Closer." CARLY SIMON - MOONLIGHT SERENADE ON THE QUEEN MARY 12/26 10:30 p.m., 12/28 3 a.m., 12/30 1 p.m.: "Pop music legend Carly Simon has enjoyed an unparalleled career since first appearing on the musical landscape in the early 1970s as a solo artist. Today, Simon is back on the nation's Top 10 with a breathtaking new album of standards. This new special, taped in September 2005 on the Queen Mary II during a voyage between New York and England, showcases these romantic songs in a perfectly matched venue - the vast ballroom and majestic deck of the Queen Mary II. Simon also performs new acoustic interpretations of her best known classics." MAGIC OF BING CROSBY 12/27 8 p.m., 12/28 4 a.m., 12/29 6 p.m.: "A moving celebration of the great crooner through the years, giving an insight into his life and loves through exclusive interviews with his most respected friends and colleagues, including Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, and his widow Kathryn Crosby. Harry Lillis 'Bing' Crosby (1903-1977) was one of the most popular and influential American singers and actors of the 20th century, rivaled in popularity only by Elvis and The Beatles. Known for his deep, rich baritone and vibrant enunciation, 'Der Bingle' is considered one of the finest vocalists ever, having inspired the likes of Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin and others." ANDREA BOCELLI - TRIBUTE ON ICE 12/28 9 p.m., 12/30 2 p.m. & 11 p.m.: "When the world's greatest skaters choreograph routines for competition or entertainment, they search for music that allows them to perform at their best. Quite often, they choose the music of Andrea Bocelli. In conjunction with the release of a new recording of popular music from the internationally acclaimed tenor, a group of champion skaters from around the world gathered to perform together with Andrea. Led by Olympic Gold Medalists Brian Boitano and Ekaterina Gordeeva. The program will consist of solo performances by Bocelli and skating routines performed with his live performances. In addition to Bocelli's greatest hits, the program features song from the recently released album Andrea with special musical guests Mario Reyes (Gipsy Kings) and Holly Stell." MY NAME IS BARBRA 12/29 8 p.m.: "Great Performances is proud to present the two historic musical showcases that brought Barbra Streisand the same unprecedented triumph on television that she had already achieved on Broadway and in recordings. My Name is Barbra, her first pioneering special from 1965, garnered five Emmys, including the first of several for Streisand personally, as well as her first Peabody Award. Her second outing, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim and filled with further musical and visual innovation. Together, the programs shine a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." COLOR ME BARBRA 12/29 9 p.m.: "Barbra Streisand's second solo television special, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim to 1965's My Name Is Barbra, and still dazzles with even further musical and visual innovation. Videotaped in color, the special opens with a dreamy interlude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and then segues to a charming, animal-filled circus sequence before concluding with a bravura concert performance. Recapturing the electrifying early years of the Streisand sensation, the showcase shines a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." LES GIRLS (1957) 12/30 12:02 a.m.: "When showgirl Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) publishes her tell-all memoirs, she is sued for libel by the other two members of her troupe, Joy Denderson (Mitzi Gaynor) and Angele Ducros (Taina Elg). Told from each woman's point of view, the three hoofers tell the story of their relationship with the great Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly). Directed by George Cukor. Music by Cole Porter." NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC NEW YEAR'S EVE - JOSHUA BELL 12/31 8 p.m.: "New York Philharmonic music director Lorin Maazel conducts the orchestra in a program of romantic violin showpieces featuring Joshua Bell. The annual New Year's Eve gala concert was recorded live from Avery Fisher Hall." MOZART AT 250 - THE SALZBURG FESTIVAL CELEBRATION 12/31 10 p.m.: "In celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday in 2006, the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival will present all 22 of the composer's operas and other major compositions throughout the course of its summer schedule. Featuring some of Mozart's most memorable music from Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni, and other classic works, the concert will include performances from several leading young stars in opera, including Magdalena Kozena, Patricia Petibon, Anna Netrebko, Rene Pape, Michael Schade, Ekaterina Siurina and Thomas Hampson. The concert is conducted by 29-year old Daniel Harding, who has received international acclaim for his work at Covent Garden, La Scala, and other esteemed venues." IL DIVO - LIVE AT THE GREEK 12/31 11:30 p.m.: "The wildly popular 'popera' quartet offers its sophisticated vocal stylings and cross-continental flair in a showcase of romantic, rich harmonies and heart-breaking ballads. These four charming, sexy, talented young men take well-known hits - both old and new - and turn them into masterpieces, transforming hit pop songs with a refined classical twist of new arrangements. Their well-trained operatic voices and the addition of lyrics in the Romance languages - French, Spanish and Italian - produce a sophisticated classical piece recognizable in its roots, but incomparable in its result. This special was taped in June 2006 during Il Divo's first World Tour at the stunning Greek Theater in Los Angeles before a capacity audience of 5000." ************************************************************************************************** December 1, 2007 Welcome to the 84th edition of Carltone's Corner! In case you hadn't heard, Christmas is already here! Or, at least this is the way it feels here high atop the Carltone World Headquarters building in downtown SF. There has been the usual full-court press by the media to guilt you into buying the usual pedestrian items such as luxury cars, diamonds, Rolexes, etc. And if you are anything like the staff here at CWH, you are burnt out on it all already. And it is only December 1st! Knowing full well that you are in need of a break from the shopping madness, the elves here have been working overtime to bring you all the good music news you need to know. If you are loath to go to the local mega mall at anytime in the next four weeks, here are some simple solutions for you. Shop online! What, at Amazon? No, not at all. Shop at the California Bluegrass Association web site. We can think of few better gifts than giving memberships to the CBA (the gift that keeps on giving all year), or tickets to the Father's Day Festival. Or, how about tickets to concerts? You can even get CDs direct from local bands. To do this, go to the California Bands page on the site, then go to the web sites for the bands to see what recordings they have to offer. Want to teach someone to learn how to play the banjo? Then buy the new book Banjo For Dummies by Bay Area banjo player/teacher Bill Evans. You can shop without leaving your house, and support the local music scene at the same time. What a concept! Sweetwater update. As everyone knows by now, the Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley closed at its longtime site on Throckmorton Street in September. There are plans to move to a new location around the corner on Miller Avenue. A long-term lease has been signed, but permits still need to be obtained. The hearing to discuss the situation that was mentioned in the previous newsletter was postponed from November 26th until December 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Mill Valley City Hall. If you would like to attend to support the club, this would be great. If not, you can still help out by writing a letter of support that is addressed to The City of Mill Valley Planning Commission, 26 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, CA, 94941. Tell the powers-that-be why Sweetwater would be good for the town. Playing the banjo is not a crime! But in some cases it can lead to murder. There is a "Banjo-playing gunman on the run" in England (gotta love the British and their headlines!), as unkindly neighbor Stanley Maguire shot Steve Holmes, the guy who was living next door, after Holmes complained about Maguire's loud music. It wasn't Maguire's banjo playing directly that led to Holmes' death, but neighbors "told of Maguire's penchant for sitting out in the rain playing a banjo or ukulele into the early hours of the morning." If you look at Maguire's photo you'd swear you might have seen him 35 years ago in a movie about a river rafting trip gone bad. There have probably been times at 3 a.m. at bluegrass festivals where incidents like this one have crossed the minds of the sleepless. Thanks to Don Koc for this item. Reindeer games. Novato's Dr. Elmo has been in the news recently, and not just because you may have heard his seasonal hit song "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" on the radio. He is being sued for breach of contract by a company that claims he interfered in a $1 million-plus deal to sell musical trucks, bobble head dolls, snow globes and cookie jars featuring characters from an animated show based on the novelty song. Elmo will be playing some Christmas shows in Larkspur later this month, and the details lie below. Angels we have heard on high. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey and her trio Big Wide Grin have a brand new seasonal CD out titled Holiday. The three singers teamed up with world class players and arrangers from both coasts, including Old Dominion University's jazz professor John Toomey, saxophonist Eddie Williams, bassist Dana Silvercloud and many more to bring you a new holiday collection of your favorite classics done with a fresh new approach. They are on tour in the south and east this month, so if you want a copy please go to their web site. Or go see Elaine when she plays solo at Murphy's on the 13th. Merlefest roster announced. Tickets are now on sale for Merlefest 2008 next April in North Carolina, and some of the acts that will play are Doc and Merle's son Richard Watson, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen, & Ben Sollee, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, The Waybacks, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Dan Tyminski Band, Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven, Blue Highway; The Claire Lynch Band, Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Sally Van Meter, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and Pete Wernick & Flexigrass. Make those travel plans now! The music lives on! There is a new used record store in Mill Valley called Mill Valley Music, and to the surprise of no one, Gary Scheuenstuhl, who worked at the now closed Village Music for 25 years, is running it. The new store is located at 320 Miller Avenue, down near the Shell Station. The store specializes in new and used vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, posters and guitar strings. Band scramble. Darrell Webb is the new guitar player in Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, replacing Josh Williams. There is a new traditional bluegrass band from Dixon called Matt Dudman, George Goodell and Their Pleasant Valley Boys. Also in the band are Jenny Lynn, Jim Allison, and Mark Eagleton. The PV Boys are a contemporary country music outfit inspired by the exciting acoustic country music of the late 1940s that has come to be known as bluegrass. Get out your handkerchiefs. Amy Winehouse, under a bit of stress these days (she and husband were arrested after a nasty fight some months back, and then they were popped for drugs), so she has decided to take a break from touring. Life's railway to heaven. Steel guitarist John Hughey, who played with Conway Twitty and Vince Gill, died in Arkansas on November 18th. He was 73. Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow was found dead in Las Vegas on November 25th. He was 52. Noted Bay Area bluegrass photographer and musician Tom Tworek passed away from cancer in Palo Alto on November 21st. He was 58. Coming attractions. River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-6/08 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminksi, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others. Onward to the calendar… The San Geronimo Valley Community Center presents its Holiday Arts Faire and Silent Auction on the 1st from 1-7 p.m. at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in San Geronimo. This is a free event, and all ages are welcome. Entertainment includes a rare West Marin appearance by The Festival Consort, known for spirited and technically outstanding renaissance music and cool period costumes and instruments. There will also be talented local youth performers. For the kids, rock out with "the Mick Jagger of the milk & cookies set," Tim Cain (formerly of Sons of Champlin). Check out the exciting auction geared toward your holiday shopping. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, Daria on the 1st, the James Moseley Band R & B Dance Party on the 2nd, Billy C. Farlow on the 5th, David Jacobs-Strain on the 6th, Crash Landing on the 14th, Jug Band on the 21st, Dr. Elmo on the 22nd and 23rd, ukulele master Jake Shimabukoro on the 27th, Bonnie Hayes on the 29th and, of course, lots more. 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. On the 1st, from 2:30-4 p.m., Kenny Sultan will be there to perform, talk, socialize, etc., with Joe McNamara, the store's Martin representative. They'll have all kinds of Martin related goodies and info, along with the brand new Martin 000-18 Kenny Sultan, a beautiful sunburst recreation of the mid-30s 000-18, plus a whole lineup of Martins. Kenny is an engaging master of blues, rags and good-time music, a noted Santa Barbara-area teacher and author of a number of great books on playing the blues. Admission for this is free, with door prizes and giveaways. Otherwise, see Stevie Coyle & Walter Strauss play there on the 14th. Stevie, one of the founders of The Waybacks, has just launched his solo career. Walter, who has a new CD, Pulling Shadows, layers melody and harmony into a deep groove. His influences are American roots, world beat, and jazz. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Murphy Productions is presenting some cool shows this month. See Corinne West at the Lark Theatre in Larkspur on the 1st, Jamie Clark in Walnut Creek on the 7th and at the Top of the Hill Concert in Tiburon on the 9th, the Rhythms of the World Dance Party with Vinyl on the 8th at Studio 333 in Sausalito, the Meshugga Beach Party on the 14th at the Mill Valley Masonic Hall, the Holiday Dance Party with Nicolas Bearde & the Right Groove on the 15th at Studio 333, The Beautiful Losers Peace, Love, & Xmas Concert on the 21st at The Belrose Theatre in San Rafael, and The Christmas Jug Band at Mill Valley Masonic Hall in Mill Valley on the 22nd. AVB in Petaluma. You can see The Alhambra Valley Band play at Finbar Devine's on the 1st in Petaluma starting at 8 p.m. The AVB features a special segment at Finbar shows called "bluegrass karaoke," where those who have always dreamed of singing bluegrass at an Irish pub can get their big break, backed by one of the region's finest bluegrass bands. Bluegrass by the beach. The Four Finger String Band will be playing in San Francisco on the 1st at The Riptide out at 47th and Taraval from 9 p.m.-midnight, and then on the 2nd see Dark Hollow play with Annie Staninec sittin' in on fiddle. Drive on down the coast to see Marin guitarists Kyle Alden and John Caulfield when they play at the San Gregorio General Store in San Gregorio on the 1st from 3-6 p.m. On the 5th guitarist Robert Powell will join Kyle when he hosts a songwriter showcase at BookBeat in Fairfax from 7-10 p.m. Then on the 8th Kyle and Friends will be at the San Gregorio General Store from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Novato's own Ain't Misbehavin' acoustic trio performs vintage and western swing, jazzy ballads, and more on the 1st from 7-9 p.m. at the Creekside Bakery, 1719 Grant Ave., in Novato. No cover charge. Menu includes salads, hot and cold sandwiches, foccacia, quiches, and an incredible assortment of delicious desserts. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and the 8th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 15th it will be swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are (as noted above) The Alhambra Valley Band on the 1st, Farlow & Kirch Duo on the 6th, The Heavy Petty Band on the 7th, Royal Deuces on the 8th, David Manning on the 13th, Grant Langston on the 14th, Jenny Kerr Band on the 15th, West Boulevard Band 21st, David Thom Band on the 22nd, Linda Wiggins Band on the 28th, and Majestic Swing Band on the 29th. You can see The Rowan Brothers (Lorin & Chris) on the 1st in SF from 9-11 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Center. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Andrew Freeman on the 1st, the Celtic jam on the 2nd, Adam Traum on the 6th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 7th, Keystone Station on the 8th (details below), Elaine Dempsey on the 13th, The Moonshiners on the 14th, Spiral Mystics on the 21st, High Country on the 22nd, Pete Olson on the 23rd, Holiday Sing-Along w/David Thom, Bill Houston & Friends on the 24th, Dockside on the 28th, Blue & Lonesome on the 29th, Kurt Huget on the 30th, Greenhouse and The Carrtunes on the 31st, and much more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Billy D. See the Trailer Park Rangers on the 1st, Jeremy Mendonca on the 4th, Sister Soul on the 6th, Sexy Sunday on the 9th, Zacharia on the 11th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 15th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Gail Muldrow Blues Band on the 21st, Juan Boulder on the 23rd, Peri's Dysfunctional Family X-Mas on the 25th, Spinout on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, Jeb's Twangin New Year's Party on the 31st, and lots more. Sebastopol guitarist Walter Strauss and his trio will be at the Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 1st along with special guest Mamadou Sidibe from Mali on kamal'ngoni (8-stringed West African hunter's harp). Then on the 14th he will play at Schoenberg's Guitars, as noted above. Hop on board the Chickwagon on the 2nd at 7 p.m. at the Twang Café at Epic Arts in Berkeley for an evening of fun and music. Joining them will be Pam Brandon & Maurice Tani's Dirty Duets (a collection of some of Pam and Maurice's favorite songs by other artists, as well as some of Maurice's originals) and Doug Blumer & The Beerhunters. Please note that this artsy venue has a small seating capacity, so be sure to snag a seat by coming early. Paul Knight & Friends have a couple of dates this month at the
Station House in Pt. Reyes Station. On the 2nd from 5-8:30 p.m. the
friends will be Scott Nygaard, Chad Manning and Frankie Nagel, and on
the 16th there will be a show with friends yet to be determined. There will be a benefit fundraiser for the 2008 San Francisco Bluegrass
& Old-Time Festival (SFBOT) Lauralee Brown stays busy. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 20th she'll be at The Seafood Peddler in San Rafael from 5:30-8:30 p.m. as guest vocalist with the Alex Markel's Rent Party Rythym Section, and on the 28th see her at Saylor's Restaurant & Bar 7:30-10:30pm with her band Jazz & Beyond with Jay Stapleton on guitar and Mark Armenta on bass. Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts "Local's Night" every Tuesday. Go and check out a great music lineup this month. On the 4th, hear swampy blues from Tony Magee; on the 11th, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Philip Claypool shows why USA Today named his debut album #3 Country Album of the Year; on the 18th, perennial favorite Doug Adamz will get things sizzling with his arsenal of instruments and an eclectic selection of Irish and American fiddle tunes, subtle fingerstyle guitar pieces, blues, country and folk. Nick's offers features specials on dinners and Lagunitas beers, all designed to keep you coming back for more. Music is from 7-9 p.m. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 5th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Hot Nashville grass. The Claire Lynch Band is coming to the Bay Area soon and you will have ample opportunity to see them. On the 5th it will be the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne City, the 6th at the Freight in Berkeley, the 7th at the Palms in Winters, and on the 8th at the Redwood Bluegrass Associates show in Mountain View. The band is Claire Lynch, Jim Hurst, Missy Raines, and Jason Thomas. 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. On the 5th see Jack Pribble's Living Room, on the 12th
it will be Bryan Horne, Aaron Redner, & Erik Yates joined by local
guitarist Adam Roscewicz, and on the 19th it will be the Papermill Creek
Rounders. Starting on the 29th the pub will begin its Saturday afternoon
Casual & Cozy music Series from 2-4 p.m. with Ted Silverman &
the Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 6th the Hot Club of Marin TNT will be at 19 Broadway in Fairfax from 7-9 p.m. and on the 9th from 5-8 p.m.; on the 20th they'll be at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; on the 27th his Bermuda Grass band will be at 19 Broadway from 7-9 p.m.; and on the 31st it will be a Rock n Roll New Years' Eve at Pete's 881 Club in San Rafael Marin guitarist Gary Bauman wins the monthly award for playing with the most bands in one month, acing out past winners Kevin Russell, Dore Coller, and Kurt Huget. Gary will be with The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 6th at The Toad in the Hole Pub in Santa Rosa, at EAT (formerly Ted's) in San Anselmo on the 8th and 22nd, and at The Old Western in Pt. Reyes on the 14th; on the 12th he will be playing the blues with The Jeb Brady Band will be playing at 19 Broadway in Fairfax; on the 19th see him with The Beat Meters at Rafters in San Rafael on the 19th as well on the 31st; on the 5th he be in Jack Pribble's Living Room at Iron Springs. Go to the Sweetspot in Santo Rosa to see Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 6th, Pat Jordan, Callie, Watts & Simon on the 13th, JED on the 15th, the Pat Jordan Band on the 21st, Tommy Heath on the 27th, Juan Bolder on the 28th, and others. Sonoma's Adam Traum will be playing on the 6th at Murphy's from 7:30-9:30 p.m., on the 14th at the Landmark Winery in Kenwood 5-7:30 p.m., and on the 30th at Cato's Alehouse in Oakland. Joe New & The Crowhoppers (Joe, Blackie, Farrell, Pat Campbell, Chris Goddard and Stu Schecter) will be appearing at Cafe Amsterdam on the 7th and then on the 9th in the Cabo Wabo Room at Saylor's in Sausalito. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa to see Greenhouse on the 7th, Rhythm Rangers on the 8th, The Farallons on the 15th, Late Harvest on the 21st, The Tonewoods on the 28th, Blacktop Moon on the 29th, The Spindles on the 31st, and more. Saylor's in Sausalito now has live music. On the 7th see Connie Ducey & Randy Strom, Joe New on the 9th, Eugene Huggins on the 14th, Wendy DeWitt on the 15th, Lisa Kindred on the 21st, Mad & Eddie Duran on the 22nd, Lauralee Brown on the 28th, and Lisa Madison & Ron Romero on the 29th. Howdy! has one more gig in 2007 and they'd love to see you there. It's at the Blackthorn Tavern in SF on the 7th. You'll also be able to pick up their new live release- Howdy! Live at Mystic Theatre. Peppermint Twisted! A Holiday Cabaret Party and Comedy Dance Review featuring Pink Sabbath (AKA The Pinks) and the Twist My Balloons Comedy Burlesque Troupe with Bombshell Betty and Miss Coconuts Scream on the 7th at 9 p.m. at the Old Western Saloon on Main Street in Point Reyes Station. Attendees will be entertained by San Francisco's finest comedy burlesque. Between numbers, Pink Sabbath will get you off your seat and onto the dance with their irresistible brand of Gypsy rock Americana, complimented by guest drummer Adam "Bagel Fresh" Berkowitz and former "Pink" Sharron Drake, with her fiddle on fire. The saloon will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland and there will be plenty of candy canes for all. Kevin Russell's band The Rhythm Rangers will be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 8th and on the 30th his band Under the Radar will be there. The Marin traditional bluegrass band Keystone Station will be playing vintage bluegrass on the 8th at Murphy's from 8-10 p.m. There is no cover, and this will be the band's second performance with their new banjo player, Petaluma's own Chris Caputo. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night most Tuesdays, they have The House Jacks and 'Til Dawn on the 8th, Jug Band on the 9th, Who Too & The Sun Kings on the 13th, Roy Zimmerman on the 20th, Narada Michael Walden's Holiday Jam on the 22nd, and more. Barbwyre, a Marin trio featuring three part harmonies, mandolin, mandola, fiddle, pedal steel, dobro, electric and acoustic guitar, will play at The BookBeat in Fairfax on the 8th starting at 8 p.m. The band is Dana Rath, Jon Mitguard, and Michael Stadler. House concerts in Marin. Drew Pearce will be hosting Jerry Hannan and Shannon Moore in San Rafael on the 8th Dead Set will be testifyin' the gospel of Jerry at the Black Cat in Penngrove on the 9th from 5-7 p.m. Go hear their special blend of acoustic Americana jam music. No cover. Good food and drinks available. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be making the musical rounds again this month. It will be jazz with the Namely Us band happens on the 9th and 23rd at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. The new jazz/rock/jam band Tres Mojo can be seen and heard at Rafters in San Rafael on the 14th, and at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 30th. And catch his solo show at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma on the 30th. It is December, and this means that The Christmas Jug Band is back again. See them on the 9th at the Throckmorton, on the 11th at the 2 AM Club in Mill Valley, on the 12th at The Palms in Winters, on the 14th at the Mystic in Petaluma, on the 15th in Sunnyvale, on the 18th at the Freight in Berkeley, on the 21st at the Larkspur Café Theater, and on the 22nd at the Mill Valley Masonic Auditorium. Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts and Scott O'Brien can be seen/heard at the Two Crows restaurant in Sebastapol on the 14th, starting at 7 p.m., playing original folk, Americana, jazz and pop. Call for reservations. Savannah Blu will be pickin' bluegrass on the 14th at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax starting at 8 p.m. The band is Gary Kaye on banjo, Dore Coller on guitar, Dave Hanks on mandolin, and Steve Kallai on fiddle. Doug Adamz is almost as busy as Gary Bauman. See him with his full band Bravo on the 14th at Rancho Nicasio; with Trio Bravo at the Station House on the 21st; with Stevie Coyle at the Pass The Buck Coffeehouse in Half Moon Bay on the 15th; playing solo at Nick's Cove in Marshall on the 18th; with Dr. Elmo on the 22nd and 23rd in Larkspur; and solo at the Toad in the Hole in Santa Rosa on the 28th. Hot ticket. There will be a black tie-dye ball benefit for the Rex Foundation titled "The Music Never Stops" on the 15th at the Warfield in SF featuring Bob Weir & Ratdog, Little Feat and The Waybacks. Premium seating tickets include reception, dinner, and mingling with the artists from 6-7 pm. At The Mystic in Petaluma there are no doubt many shows of note besides Hot Buttered Rum on the 15th. However, at press time we could not access their web calendar. 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. 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. Concert Carnival. On the 20th, Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum will be producing his second annual Concert Carnival. This is a multi-media, cabaret-style variety show with amazing artists from across the country. The program this year will be almost all-new material and will feature a different cast of characters from many artistic disciplines. However, the values of the Concert Carnival remain the same - this is an opportunity for performers to step outside of their normal performing context and try new stuff in new ways. Some of the performers are: Zach Gill (ALO/Jack Johnson), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Patch (Heavyweight Dub Champion), Evie Ladin (Stairwell Sisters), Keith Terry (body percussionist from Crosspulse), Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), Rodney & Helen, the Sweet Snacks, and all the guys from Hot Buttered Rum. The show will take place at The Independent in SF. At the Bluegrass Gold show you will have two chances to see Marin County's
own Dr. Elmo & The Reindeer Band when they appear at the Larkspur
Café Theater in Larkspur. There will be a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday
the 22nd and a 4 p.m. matinee show on Sunday the 23rd. Since 1991 Dr.
Elmo has been fronting the Marin County traditional bluegrass band Wild
Blue. Every December the band morphs into The Reindeer Band for the
holiday season, playing a mixture of bluegrass, traditional holiday
songs and Elmo's original novelty tunes. The band for these shows will
be John Pierson on guitar, Doug Adamz on guitar and fiddle, Dana Rath
on mandolin, Girls Night Out on vocals, and yours truly on bass. So
get your holiday shopping done early and come on out and treat yourself
to one of the Bay Area's hidden treasures. Make sure you pick up one
of Elmo's new Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer CD/DVD collector's
set. 'Tis the season to be jolly, so don't miss these special Dr. Elmo
Christmas shows. The Larkspur Café Theater is Marin County's
home for bluegrass music in the North Bay. The venue serves food and
drink, so people of all ages are welcome. For more information call
the club at (415) 927-6107. 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 23rd. 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. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: AFRICAN FOOTPRINT 12/01 5 a.m., 12/02 2 p.m.: "In post apartheid South Africa, Richard Loring, the country's foremost producer, decided to start a school for black young people interested in the performing arts. The project led to the creation of African Footprint, a vibrant show combining different forms of African song and dance. Their big break occurred when they had a chance to perform before Nelson Mandela and a global television audience on Robben Island as part of Millennial celebrations. That in turn led to the creation of South Africa's longest running production." CELTIC WOMAN - A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 12/01 8:30 a.m., 12/02 3:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., 12/15 5:30 p.m.: "This beautiful program includes popular Christmas classics such as 'White Christmas,' 'Carol of the Bells,' 'Little Drummer Boy,' 'O Holy Night' and 'Let it Snow,' to embody the beautiful, pure, ethereal and angelic harmonies and voices that is Celtic Woman. This special was filmed in the Helix, Dublin, and a venue very close to Celtic Woman's heart because it was where it all began. The special also features several original pieces: 'Green The Whole Year Round,' a fiddle solo called 'In the Bleak Midwinter,' and 'Christmas Pipes' with music by David Downes and lyrics from Brendan Graham. Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha, Orla Fallon and Mairead Nesbitt inspire in this powerful production, hoping to cross all divides and touch all people around the globe." MY MUSIC - DOO WOP LOVE SONGS 12/01 noon, 12/02 8 p.m., 12/05 1 p.m., 12/08 11 a.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. It's 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." ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO 12/01 10 p.m., 12/08 7 p.m., 12/09 12:30 p.m.: "Eric Clapton and his buddies know how to put on a show. Emulating their famed Cotton Bowl concert in June 2004, Clapton and the world's leading guitar Gods return to the stage for a new gathering, this time from Chicago, America's Blues Capital. Some performers include Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Albert Lee and B.B. King." BARRY MANILOW - SONGS FROM THE SEVENTIES 12/02 10:30 a.m., 12/08 1 p.m.: "This special not only features Manilow in concert, but also sharing his personal experiences with the audience at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York - a return to the city where Manilow was born and raised. Manilow's music is synonymous with the 70s. His songs helped define the era, and this program revisits some of those songs, as well as some of his own favorites from the decade." VIVERE - ANDREA BOCELLI LIVE IN TUSCANY 12/02 noon, 12/09 8:30 p.m., 12/15 11 a.m.: "For the first time since the advent of his spectacular international popularity, superstar Andrea Bocelli returns to his native Italy for a concert of his greatest hits along with the debut of some new songs. Taped at the glorious Teatro di Silenzio, nestled in the beautiful, rolling countryside near the ancient Tuscan village of Volterra, Bocelli is joined by special guests trumpeter Chris Botti, Heather Headley, Kenny G., David Foster, Lang Lang, and Sarah Brightman for an evening of romantic favorites." MARIO LANZA SINGING TO THE GODS 12/02 6:30 p.m., 12/05 9 p.m., 12/07 1 p.m.: "This special chronicles the remarkable life and times of one of the twentieth century's most beloved singing stars. It contains a selection of rare photographs, interviews and footage from movies that made him famous throughout the world. Blessed with one of the great tenor voices of all time, Mario Lanza rose to spectacular heights in a singing career that spanned little more than a decade. Groomed from the outset for a career on the opera stage, Lanza instead flourished in Hollywood where his films, most notably, 'The Great Caruso,' broke box office records. Split between the desire to establish himself as a serious opera singer and the temptations of Hollywood, Lanza was tormented by self-doubt and resorted to alcohol and over-eating. This program celebrates Lanza's incomparable talents as well as the torments that led to his untimely death at age 38." MONTEREY POP - THE SUMMER OF LOVE 12/03 1 a.m., 12/06 2:30 a.m., 12/15 11:30 p.m.: "During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the 3-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled 'Monterey Pop' and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 4 0 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary." CHRIS BOTTI LIVE 12/03 11 p.m., 12/09 6 p.m., 12/15 3 p.m.: "Since his premiere solo album in 1995, the acclaimed trumpeter, gifted instrumentalist and talented composer has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. His recent album, To Love Again, is the inspiration for this exciting concert, a magical evening with Chris Botti's sensual trumpet playing and the show's star studded line-up." BOB DYLAN - LIVE IN NEWPORT 1963-1965 12/04 7:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., 12/08 5:30 p.m., 12/09 7 p.m., 12/15 10 p.m.: "This program includes unreleased performances filmed by Academy Award-winning director Murray Lerner. It captures full performances of some of Bob Dylan's greatest songs. The Newport Folk Festival takes place in Newport, Rhode Island and is best known for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars. Bob Dylan's first Newport appearance in 1963 is generally regarded as his premiere national performance. Dylan became the artist most notably associated with this festival. His 1963 and 1964 performances made him popular with the Newport crowd, but in 1965, while headlining the music festival, he decided to plug in, resulting in a mixed response of cheers and boos. Dylan left the stage after only three songs, only to reemerge and sing two solo acoustic numbers. Many of Dylan's folk fans felt he was abandoning his folk roots - and we have it all captured live on film. For the first time ever, the complete electric set is available. This shift marked his changing artistic direction, making his move from leading contemporary songwriter of the folk scene to rock n' roll star." BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS LIVE 12/04 9 p.m., 12/08 11 p.m.: "This program features one of the Jamaican superstar's best live performances and showcased a new Wailers line-up: Carlton Barrett on drums, Barrett's brother Aston on bass, Junior Marvin on lead guitar, and backing trio Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths. Filmed soon after the release of the Exodus album, concert highlights include 'Shot The Sheriff,' 'Lively Up Yourself,' 'No Woman No Cry,' and 'Jammin.' The concert was recorded on June 2, 1977 and has been digitally re-mastered to mark the 30th anniversary of this performance." ANDREA BOCELLI - A NIGHT IN TUSCANY 12/05 10:30 p.m.: "On a warm September night in 1997, Andrea Bocelli came home to Tuscany to sing to the people of the ancient city of Pisa. The Piazza dei Cavalieri was the historic setting for this momentous outdoor event. This program finds the popular Italian tenor singing an assortment of classical and popular ballads, many of them from the Romanza album." DAVID BROZA AT MASADA - THE SUNRISE CONCERT 12/06 7:30 p.m., 12/08 9:30 p.m., 12/09 10:30 p.m., 12/14 1 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., 12/15 9:30 a.m.: "This historic special features international composer, guitarist and singer David Broza. With his flamenco-tinged, folk- rock melodies and keen talent for breathing musical life into sensual snippets of poetry, Broza is a formidable musical force of nature. He commands and captivates the audience's heart, mind and soul. The concert is performed at the site of the ancient fortress of Masada in the southern Israeli desert, and David is joined on stage by legendary singer/ songwriter Jackson Browne, and Grammy Award-winner Shawn Colvin. Broza's concert begins in the early morning hours, concluding with the sun rising over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, revealing one of the most spiritual and ancient scenes in the world. David is also joined by an Arab musician Ebrahim Eid to perform his international hit song 'In My Heart."' Accompanied by a Palestinian and Israeli children's choir, they sing about peace, their love of life and the land they share together. The program creates poetry for the eyes, the ears and the heart." ANGEL VOICES - LIBERA IN CONCERT 12/08 2:30 p.m.: Libera, a South London choral group of boys aged 9 to 15, brings a uniquely mystical and transcendent sound to their first public television concert special. Robert Prizeman, founder, arranger and director of Libera, has taken the simple purity of boys' voices and, with great care and respect for classical vocal tradition, has created a new sound. this program was recorded with an orchestra at the historical St. Peter's Church in Leiden, Holland." JAZZ AT THE LINCOLN CENTER - RED HOT HOLIDAY STOMP 12/10 8pm.: "Wynton Marsalis, special guests and the Lincoln center Jazz Orchestra ring in the holiday spirit with a 'Red Hot Holiday Stomp.'" L.A. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2007 12/10 11p.m.: "This one-hour music and dance special showcases a cultural mosaic of performers of African, Asian, European and Latino backgrounds who come together to express the holiday spirit. Some performers include the Salvation Army Tabernacle Choir, Los Pinquos and the Angahara Dance Ensemble." *************************************************************************************************** November 15, 2007 It is getting on to that time of year when you will once again be roasting those chestnuts on the proverbial open fire. At the least, you will be hearing the famous song on the radio, in stores or while you are gassing up at your neighborhood Mini-Mart any day now, if you haven't heard it already. With the Bay Area football teams already done for the season, there is plenty of time for you to get out and see/hear some live music in your area. That is, when you're not glued to the OJ Channel or busy researching Paris Hilton's plan to save drunken elephants (we wish we were making this stuff up)(and even if this story is false, it is a story that the media is going bananas over)(which is why the story is out there anyway) The staff here are Carltone World Headquarters has no time for such frivolity and is, as always, here to help you decide when and where to go. As always at this special time of year, thanks again for reading and for all of your support. Things recently just got a lot busier around here. As mentioned in the previous newsletter we took on another project, the writing of the Almost Daily News column on the California Bluegrass Association website. Work began a week ago, and the pedal has been to the metal ever since. Rather than produce some news twice a month, we're punching it out every other day. The upside of the endeavor is that now we have more information than ever to share with you. The downside is that now we have more information than ever to share with you…as if these newsletters weren't long enough already. If twice a month is not enough news for you, check us out almost daily on the CBA site. Correction and addition. The Wronglers show at the Larkspur Café Theater on the 29th (see details below) has been moved up to a 7:30 p.m. start time instead of 8. And, as an added bonus, sitting in with the band for this show will be special guests Ron Thomason (Dry Branch Fire Squad) and fiddler Heidi Clare (Reeltime Travelers). Tickets should be purchased ASAP. Sweetwater update. As reported here over the past two months, Sweetwater in Mill Valley closed at its longtime site on Throckmorton Street in September and there are now plays to move to a new location around the corner on Miller Avenue. A long-term lease has been signed, but permits still need to be obtained. There will be a hearing to discuss the situation on the 26th at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Mill Valley City Hall. If you would like to attend to support the club, this would be great. If not, you can still help out by writing a letter of support (remember how to do this?) that is addressed to The City of Mill Valley Planning Commission, 26 Corte Madera Avenue MV, 94941. Tell the powers-that-be why Sweetwater would be good for the town. Still thinking about dusting off the strings on that old Martin guitar that has been sitting under the bed since 1972 but you just don't know how to get started? Well, think no more, as noted Bay Area banjo player Avram Siegel wants to let you know that the new eight-week session of his Bluegrass Jam Class is starting and there are still some openings. These classes are a lot of fun and are a great way to further develop your bluegrass abilities. If you're interested, please email him at avramnallison@sbcglobal.net or you can get more information on his website. Congratulations to bluegrass dobro great Jerry Douglas for winning for the third time the Best Musician award at County Music Association Awards last week. No, this isn't for Best Dobro Player. It is for Best Musician, period! He'll start recording a new album with Alison Krauss & Union Station sometime next year and he'll release a solo album in April. Just added to the 33rd Annual CBA's 2008 Father's Day Festival roster is The Dan Tyminski Band, featuring Dan on guitar, Ron Stewart on banjo, Justin Moses on fiddle, Barry Bales on bass, and Adam Steffey on mandolin. They will be playing on Thursday and Friday at the fest. For ticket info, go here. Strawberry Music Festival. It is never too early to be thinking about getting tickets to the 2008 Strawberry Music Festivals on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The fest has been selling out way in advance for years, and last year they began selling the tickets in November. So if you are thinking about going, buy now and don't worry later. For information about prices, go to their web site for details. Oh, who is playing? Too early to tell. But for the faithful, this is not an issue. Women in bluegrass. Bluegrass Music Profiles has their second annual "Women In Bluegrass" issue out, and Roni Stoneman is on the cover. In this November/December edition you can also read about Rhonda Vincent, Donna Hughes, Amanda Smith, Laurie Lewis, Uncle Earl, Ola Belle Reed, Cia Cherryholmes, Carrie Hassler, Gracie Muldoon, Shorty Jobe, and Louisa Branscomb. Music and money. What's the old saying? "Want to know how to make a million dollars in music? Start out with two." Well, now according to one study, it looks like there may be some correlation between playing music and making money in life. The poll by Harris Interactive showed that "88 percent of people with a post-graduate education were involved in music while in school, and 83 percent of people earning $150,000 or more had a music education. And, "part of it is the discipline itself in learning music, it's a rigorous discipline, and in an ensemble situation, there's a great deal of working with others. Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life," said John Mahlmann, of the National Association for Music Education in Reston, Virginia, which assisted in the survey. So keep on pickin', and get those younguns some music lessons! Turn off the boob tube! As you may have heard by now the television writers have been on strike for about two weeks, so just about every TV series has gone into reruns or will real soon. So now is as good a time as any to get out of the house to go see some live music. The one exception we'll take here is the show The Next Great American Band which you should watch on the 16th so that you can vote for the California bluegrass band Cliff Wagner & The Old #7. Woebegone grass. Lots of great bluegrass on Garrison Keillor's radio show A Prairie Home Companion these days. On Saturday the 17th at 6 p.m. Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands will perform on the show. And on Saturday the 24th the Del McCoury Band will be on. Look for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver on 12/15. You can also go to the Prairie Home site and listen to archived shows. New sounds. Just in time to beat the pre-holiday rush, here is the start of a list of Carltone recommendations of local acts with recent new CDs. Buy direct from the artist, cut out the middleman, and support your local musicians: -- East Bay acoustic guitarist Michael Irwin has a new CD titled Backroads featuring both original and traditional tunes. Some of Michael's friends on the recording include Radim Zenkl, Will Scarlett, Gene Tortora, Annie Staninec and Bob Blanshard. Together they travel down the scenic and less traveled musical roads and byways that have defined this country's musical heritage. It's a celebration of America's unique, rural, genuine folk music. Check it out. -- Larkspur's Corinne West has a new album out titled Second Sight, and it showcases her as a singer and songwriter who is really got it all going. Produced by Mike Marshall, the new CD features Mike, Jerry Douglas, Darol Anger, and Tony Furtado. Best news of all? She will be playing a Murphy Productions show on December 1st at the Lark Theatre (as in movie, not café theatre) in Larkspur, where you will be able to get your own copy of the CD direct from the artist. Playing with her on this show will be Joe Kyle and James Nash of The Waybacks. -- Petaluma's mandolin master David Grisman and Lovin' Spoonful lead singer John Sebastian released a new CD titled Satisfied last week, and it is a collection of acoustic duets featuring traditional folk tunes, blues, classy instrumentals and originals by these two legendary masters. Their musical history dates back to their days at New York University in 1963 during the Greenwich Village folk scare. -- Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell's newest band (he is in about five) is called The Rhythm Rangers, and their new recording is titled Not Out of the Woods Yet. This is a five piece acoustic-electric band that plays Western swing, alt-country, blues and rock music. -- Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys are a fine bluegrass band from San Francisco, and their new self-titled CD was released a few months back. On the 16th at 9 p.m. they will be pickin' at the Plough and Stars in SF, and on the 19th they will play at Amnesia. Fishwrap Roundup. Mill Valley keyboardist Austin deLone put on quite a benefit show recently at the Great American Music Hall in SF featuring Elvis Costello, Clover, and Bill Kirchen. The show benefited those, including deLone's son Richard, afflicted with Prader-Willi syndrome. Read the story from the Marin IJ and the one from the Chronicle. Blues great James Cotton was featured in the Marin IJ last week, and he will be at the Larkspur Café Theater on the 15th. Grateful Dead soundman Dennis Healy was featured in the Marin IJ as well. Ailing. Tom Tworek, noted Bay Area bluegrass photographer, is having a tough time in the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, battling cancer. Here is the most recent posting on the CBA Message Board. Country singer Rosanne Cash will undergo brain surgery to remedy a benign condition, forcing her to cancel four dates remaining on her current tour. Roseanne, 52, is the daughter of the late country legend Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian, and she expects to make a full recovery. She has been diagnosed with chiari I malformation, a congenital deformation of the skull affecting the brain and spinal cord. Her handlers are saying that it's not life threatening. Get out your handkerchiefs. He couldn't change his evil ways: Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana and his wife of 34 years, Deborah, have split, citing irreconcilable differences. Life's railway to heaven. Honky-tonk and Western swing singer Hank Thompson died on November 7th in Dallas from lung cancer. He was 82. "A Six Pack to Go" and "The Wild Side of Life" were two of his hits. He had retired from performing just days earlier. Coming attractions. The Festival Consort and Tim Cain at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center on 12/1; Claire Lynch at the Freight 12/6, The Palms 12/7, and at Redwood Bluegrass Associates in Mt. View on 12/8; Stevie Coyle & Walter Strauss at Schoenberg Guitars on 12/14; Rex Foundation benefit with Bob Weir & Ratdog, Little Feat and The Waybacks on the 12/15 at the Warfield in SF; Hot Buttered Rum at the Mystic in Petaluma on 12/15; The Dr. Elmo Christmas Show at the Larkspur Café Theater on 12/22 and 12/23: Dan Tyminski at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF on 1/4; River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-8 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminski, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others; Portland Old-Time Music Gathering 1/16-20. Additions The North Bay band Plum Crazy has a new CD out and they are only playing one show this month, so head on out The Forestville Club on the 16th to get your copy. Also on the bill is The Al Howard Orchestra. PC will be going on first so get there early. Sonoma singer Natasha James will be performing at KSVY 91.3 FM in Sonoma at 9 p.m. on the 16th. With her will be Pat Campbell on bass and dobro, Herman Eberitzsch on keys, and Chris Casselli on lead guitar. On the 23rd and 24th see them Finbar Devine's from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Blame Sally is on a mini-Bay Area tour this month, and you can see them at the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne on the16th, at the West Side Theater in Newman on the 17th, at the 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley on the 30th, and in Monterey on December 1st. The Black Oak Casino is a bit of drive from the North Bay but well worth the trip. Besides Blame Sally on the 29th you can see Coyote Hill (Richard Scholer, Julie Schmidt, Dick Todd and Clinton Day) play some bluegrass. Coming in December are Claire Lynch on the 5th, Mike Marshall & Darol Anger on the 14th, and Lacy J. Dalton on the 21st. Lollipopalooza! Here is a show for all of your readers 10 years old and under: Join Christopher Smith, Tim Cain, Cindy Cohen and Miss Kitty on the 17th for shows at 10 a.m. and noon (two separate shows) at 240 Tiburon Blvd. in Tiburon. $15 adults/$10 kids. Call (415) 461-1066 for info Smiley's Saloon in Bolinas will be the happenin' place on the 17th starting at 9 p.m. when Big B & The Snakeoil Saviors take the stage. The band is an eight-piece Western swing and boogie band featuring a hard-swinging rhythm section, hard-working horns, pedal steel legend David Phillips, Southern chanteuse Adrienne Pfeiffer, and Ben Buettner as yodeler-in-chief. Jenn Courtney and Maurice Tani and their band 77 El Deora, which includes Mill Valley's Steve Kallai on fiddle, examine the battle of the sexes from the streets of Bakersfield to the South of Market Street with intelligent, original, neo-noir honky-tonk in the classic rhythms and themes of Western America: cheatin', lyin', drinkin', dyin', broken hearts, shattered dreams, bright, twangy guitars and the Ray Price shuffle. See them at the El Rio in SF on the 17th at 9:30 p.m. along with Crowsong (with Mill Valley's Josh Zucker on bass) and Tom Armstrong. The Divine Miss Double M, Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur, will be playing a CD release show on the 18th at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. It will be her East Bay release for her new CD Naughty, Bawdy and Blue, and she will be backed by her smokin' band The Syncopatin' Papas. Don't miss this show! Purple haze. Jimi Hendrix fans will want to stay up late from midnight on Friday the 23rd until 7 a.m. on Saturday the 24th to listen to Tom McCarter's annual tribute show on KUSP-FM in Santa Cruz at 88.9 FM. You can also listen online. Everyone is invited out to Stinson on the 24th from 9 p.m.-midnight for the 46th Annual Stinson Beach Fireman's Ball to see The Rowan Brothers (Lorin and Chris) with special guests Dave Jenkins and Steve Price (of Pablo Cruise) along with Eric McCann and Austin deLone. Ross Valley Roots is a Marin Americana trio (Christopher Smith, Ken Frankel and Susan Neilsen) that will be playing at the Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo on the 24th from 2:30-5:30 p.m. No cover. The five-piece North Bay acoustic band Bottle Shock is playing on the 24th at the Ace in the Hole in Graton. Kenny Blacklock, the fiddler in the Marin bluegrass bands Keystone Station, Wild Blue and Bluegrass Contraption, just got busier. He has a gig at the Larkspur Café on the 28th with a new group that he's been working with, The Greg Loiacono Trio. This is an acoustic trio consisting of fiddle, guitar and bass, performing original songs by Greg Loiacono of The Mother Hips. Reminders Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are JL Stiles on the 15th, The David Thom Band on the 23rd, The Tonewoods on the 24th, Peter Lamson on the 25th, The Carrtunes on the 29th, and others. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Deirdre Donovan will be the host. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater, besides the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, are James Cotton on the 15th, Larkin Gayl and Jerry Hannan on the 24th, The Wronglers on the 29th (see below), and more. Mill Valley's Dore Coller will play with the Hot Club of Marin on the 15th at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and on the 26th at the 142 Throckmorton. 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 Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 15th, Lansdale Station on the 17th, Jinx Jones on the 21st, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, The Beat Meters on the 29th, The Tom Finch Group on the 30th, and lots more. At the Napa Valley Opera House you can see Larry Vuckovich on the 15th, and American Tap Masterpieces on the 17th. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are Blues Barn Burners on the 16th, High Country on the 17th, Natasha James on the 23rd and 24th, and Caliban on the 30th. The joint is jumpin' at the Toad in the Hole pub in Santa Rosa. See Solid Air on the 16th, American Winter on the 21st, and many more fine acts. Saylor's Restaurant in Sausalito now has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. It will be Lauralee Brown & Company on the 16th, Steve Malerbi on the 17th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 23rd, Lisa Kindred on the 24th, and Acoustic Sounds on the 30th. Lauralee Brown stays busy. Besides the Saylor's gigs mentioned above, on Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. All of her previously mentioned shows at The Waterfront Grill in Petaluma have been cancelled as the venue has either closed or is closing soon. Out at Rancho Nicasio see The Trailer Park Rangers on the 16th, Gary Vogensen & Bobby Black on the 18th, Chrome Johnson on the 23rd, and others. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday you can see Tito LaRosa & Friends on the 16th, David Nelson & Friends Benefit for Bill Laymon on the 18th, Austin deLone on the 23rd, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings on the 24th, Blame Sally on the 30th, and other great shows. At The Mystic in Petaluma see The Feud Reunion on the 16th, The Roches on the 17th, New Riders of the Purple Sage on the 24th, and more. 19 Broadway in Fairfax has the usual mix of music on their schedule. On the 16th it will be The Young Dubliners, the 17th see Norrisman, Jah Thunder, and D.U.S.T., Pride & Joy on Friday the 23rd., Hot Buttered Rum on the 24th, and Myloekoe on Friday the 30th. Sebastopol guitarist Walter Strauss and his trio (with Sam Bevan and Kendrick Freeman) will be playing a transcultural night of celebration and collaboration on the 16th at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on a bill with Mamadou & Vanessa (Wassoulou music from Mali) and Stephen Kent (Didjeridu maestro and MC). Then on the 20th at 8 p.m. Walter will play solo at Infusions Teahouse in Sebastopol. Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox w/Barry Sless (steel guitar), Doug Harman (cello) and Paul Cicco (percussion) will be opening for David Nelson & Friends at 9 p.m. on the 16th at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa. Sonoma's Adam Traum will be playing at the Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood on the 17th. Put on your dancing shows and head to the Petaluma Veterans' Memorial Building on the 17th at 7 p.m. for the "Singin' and Swingin' on a Star" benefit for the Pacific Empire Chorus. Dance to Swing and A Miss, a local 16-piece swing band. There will be dance lessons and a contest. There will also be performances by Confetti and by Petaluma's Pacific Empire Chorus, an award-winning women's a capella chorus. This performance will feature swing songs from the 40s. $25 includes dancing, appetizers and soft drinks. Murphy Productions is presenting two more shows this month. On the 17th at the Lark Theater in Larkspur jazz great Jackie Ryan is having a CD release party of her new album You and the Night and the Music; and on the 30th it will be pianist and singer Josh Gronner at the Belrose Theatre in San Rafael at 7:30 p.m. The Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol is the place to see Sonny Lowe & SweetHarp Santana on the 17th, The Thugz on the 18th, Bottle Shock on the 24th, Chris Kelly on the 27th, and Pladdohg on the 29th. Go the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa where there are Celtic jams on the second and third Wednesdays and a bluegrass/old-timey jam on the 4th Wednesdays. See Blacktop Moon on the 17th, Spindles on the 23rd, The Farallons on the 24th, The Tonewoods on the 29th, Under the Radar on the 30th, and more. Schaef-Abel Productions at Studio E in Sebastopol is presenting The Larry Hosford Band on the 17th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 17th it will be swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is also an open mic every Monday starting at 8:30 p.m. See Snappy Dave & Dan on the 17th, Damir Stosic on the 21st, and Josh Gibson on the 28th. 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. 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. The fabulously redone Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts "Local's Night" every Tuesday. See Danny Montana solo (eclectic country, folk & blues) on the 20th and Jeb Brady (blues and R&B) on the 27th. Enjoy great food and a stunning view. In addition to music on Tuesdays, Nick's offers features specials on dinners and Lagunitas beers, all designed to keep you coming back for more. Music is from 7-9 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 Pat Echols Experience on the 21st and The Tom Finch Group on the 28th. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will playing with the new jazz/rock band Tres Mojo at Ireland's 32 in SF on the 23rd and at Rafters in San Rafael in the 29th, and he'll be joining friends from the Jefferson Starship, featuring David Freiberg, for a special performance at the Ledson Hotel in Sonoma on the 24th. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Queen Latifah on the 24th. See Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell on the 24th with Jayne Russell & Wilson at The Toad in the Hole, 9 p.m., and on the 30th Under the Radar will be at The Black Rose. This newly re-organized band features Kevin, Layne Bowen and Ted Dutcher (all from Modern Hicks) along with Michael Capella, playing bluegrass, swing, blues and country music. Kyle Alden and Friends will be at the San Gregorio General Store in San Gregorio on the 25th from 11:15 a.m. to 1 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 25th. 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. On Thursday the 29th at 7:30 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at the Larkspur Café Theater in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Headlining the bill will be The Wronglers. The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Chris Hellman, Nate Levine, Bill Martin, Krista Martin, and Colleen Browne) made their stage debut in October of 2006 at Warren's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, and they played there again last month. The band combines bluegrass, folk, and old-time techniques, producing an intelligent, intimate sound with an abundance of twang. Warren's love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction. He describes the band's repertoire as "simple songs played by complicated people." Go to the Sweetspot in Santa Rosa to see Johnny Beige on the 29th, and Steve Pile Band on the 30th. 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 Laurence Juber on the 29th. Coming on December 14th are Stevie Coyle & Walter Strauss. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is a lot of good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK - THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 11/16 1 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." MONTEREY POP - THE SUMMER OF LOVE 11/16 9 p.m., 11/29 9 p.m.: "During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the three-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled 'Monterey Pop' and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 40 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary." MUSIC AND DANCE OF POLAND - MAZOWZSE 11/17 6:30 a.m.: "Mazowsze is internationally recognized as Poland's cultural ambassadors, having performed over 6000 shows in cities around the world, including tours to the US. Their symphonic arrangements and dances have been created from traditional performance styles that represent more than 30 regions in Poland. The music varies from Chopin to simple folk melodies beloved by the Poles for centuries. Recorded live in the Polish National Opera House in Warsaw, and narrated by Bobby Vinton." DAVE KOZ AT THE MOVIES 11/17 8 a.m., 11/27 10:30 p.m.: "World-renowned adult pop artist Dave Koz turns to one of his favorite pastimes for inspiration. This television event captures a lush, inspired collection of timeless movie themes, featuring guest vocalists Anita Baker, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis and Vanessa Williams." LES GIRLS (1957) 11/17 8 p.m.: "When showgirl Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) publishes her tell-all memoirs, she is sued for libel by the other two members of her troupe, Joy Denderson (Mitzi Gaynor) and Angele Ducros (Taina Elg). Told from each woman's point of view, the three hoofers tell the story of their relationship with the great Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly). Directed by George Cukor. Music by Cole Porter." BRIGADOON (1954) 11/17 9:56 p.m.: "Two American hunters (Gene Kelly and Van Johnson) become lost in the Scottish highlands, only to discover love in a magical village in this entertaining film rendition of Lerner and Loewe's Broadway hit. Also stars Cyd Charisse, Elaine Stewart, Barry Jones, Dodie Heath and Hugh Laing. Directed by Vincente Minnelli." THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC 70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT 11/21 9 p.m.: "Travel to Tel Aviv to take part in the gala concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Founded in 1936 by Polish violinist and Zionist Bronislaw Huberman, the organization was established to save Jewish musicians in Europe from the imminent Holocaust. The Israel Philharmonic boasts a long list of accomplished composers, conductors and guest soloists who have contributed to its rich history and critical acclaim. The program features Maestro Zubin Mehta and the orchestra." HIGH SOCIETY (1956) 11/22 1 p.m.: "This film is the musical remake of 'The Philadelphia Story,' about the efforts of a wealthy man to win back his ex-wife, who's about to be remarried, and the reporters who became entangled in the romantic complications. Stars Bing Crosby in the Cary Grant ex-husband role, Grace Kelly in her last film role as Tracy Lord and Frank Sinatra as the reporter who also falls in love with her. Crosby also gets an assist from Louis Armstrong, playing himself. A stellar Cole Porter score includes the songs 'True Love,' 'Did Ya Evah?' 'You're Sensational,' plus Bing and Satchmo's 'Now You Has Jazz.'" MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 11/23 1 p.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world. Placido Domingo hosts." DOO WOP'S BEST ON PBS 11/24 9 p.m.: "In December 1999, the most successful fundraising program in the history of PBS took the nation by storm with the premiere release of 'Doo Wop 50,' the first ever celebration from 20 of the greatest vocal groups and their biggest hit recordings. This success gave birth to 2 follow-up sequels, 'Doo Wop 51,' which united an additional 30 Doo Wop legends, and 'Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop' which historically preserved and presented even more legends from rock and roll's Golden Age of the 1950s and early 1960s. This program presents the most incredible, emotional and memorable full length performances from each of these three original programs." JOHN DENVER - A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 11/25 4 p.m., 11/26 3:30 a.m., 11/28 10 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." CARRERAS DOMINGO PAVAROTTI IN CONCERT 11/26 7:30 p.m., 11/29 1 p.m., 11/30 1 a.m.: "On July 7, 1990, among the ancient ruins of an outdoor moonlit arena, Terme Di Caracalla in Rome, three world-class tenors took the stage to sing for the closing concert of the 1990 World Cup. This recording of the historic event was taped before an international audience, and features conductor Zubin Mehta and his two supporting orchestras (from the Rome Opera and the Florence May Festival) as they join the trio for what is truly a memorable production. With music ranging from 'Memor' to 'O Sole Mio,' the compilation bridges the gap between classical and popular tastes." ANDREA BOCELLI - A NIGHT IN TUSCANY 11/26 9:30 p.m.: "On a warm September night in 1997, Andrea Bocelli came home to Tuscany to sing to the people of the ancient city of Pisa. The Piazza dei Cavalieri was the historic setting for this momentous outdoor event. This program finds the popular Italian tenor singing an assortment of classical and popular ballads, many of them from the Romanza album." CELTIC WOMAN - A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 11/27 9 p.m., 11/28 1 p.m., 11/29 1 a.m.: "This beautiful program includes popular Christmas classics such as 'White Christmas,' 'Carol of the Bells,' 'Little Drummer Boy,' 'O Holy Night' and 'Let it Snow,' to embody the beautiful, pure, ethereal and angelic harmonies and voices that is Celtic Woman. This special was filmed in the Helix, Dublin, and a venue very close to Celtic Woman's heart because it was where it all began. The special also features several original pieces: 'Green The Whole Year Round,' a fiddle solo called 'In the Bleak Midwinter,' and 'Christmas Pipes' with music by David Downes and lyrics from Brendan Graham. Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha, Orla Fallon and Mairead Nesbitt inspire in this powerful production, hoping to cross all divides and touch all people around the globe." ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO 11/28 7:30 p.m.: "Credited throughout his career with creating super sounds in super groups, Eric Clapton offers his ultimate collaboration in Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago. A follow-up to his groundbreaking, all-star Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the event drew nearly 28,000 fans to Chicago's Toyota Park July 28. On tap for the historic afternoon: Jeff Beck, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, B. B. King, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Los Lobos, John Mayer, John McLaughlin, Willie Nelson, Robert Randolph, Robbie Robertson, Hubert Sumlin, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Steve Winwood, and host Bill Murray." PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 11/30 3 a.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." *************************************************************************************************** November 1, 2007 Welcome to the 83rd edition of Carltone's Corner! Halloween has come and gone and just like that the sounds of Christmas are once again in the air! Even though it is now November, here in the SF Bay Area is still feels like summer. All of the tents and sleeping bags have been stashed away until next spring, as outdoor music festivals are pretty much done for the year. But this hardly means that there are less shows and concerts to see. This is why the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been feverishly working overtime (well, when we're not attending Hanna Montana concerts!) to bring you all the music news you need to know. Strictly bluegrass. Not just content to be producing this "little" newsletter twice a month, Carltone and company are about to take on another new project. After turning down big buck offers from Rupert Murdoch, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider and The View, we have decided to go where the good music and good folks are, and that is the California Bluegrass Association. There is a column on their main page called The Almost Daily News, where the latest local, state and national bluegrass info can be found. Starting on November 9th we'll be spreading the bluegrass gospel there every other day. Check it out when you can, as you do not have to be a member of the CBA to take advantage of their wonderful site. However, if you do have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, they'd be glad to share it with you, as they gladly welcome new members. And, do not fear - we'll still be bringing you all the North Bay music news here on a regular basis. We'll just have less time to be a Hanna Montana groupie… Giving thanks. If you still want to thank Warren Hellman for giving the Bay Area the 7th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival but just haven't gotten around to writing to him yet (Hellman & Friedman, 1 Maritime Plaza, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA, 94111), you can go one step better by attending his band's (The Wronglers) show at the Larkspur Café Theater on the 29th (details lie below). The band does not play out much, and this will give you a chance to see Warren play a bit more up close and personal than some of the shows are at Hardly Strictly. Trading picks for paintbrushes. Petaluma blues guitarist Dan Hayes has traded his guitar stand for an easel. Instead of beating the bushes trying to find gigs in bars, he has been spending his days with watercolors and canvasses. No p.a. systems to haul, no late nights, and no beaten eardrums… Another Mill Valley institution is gone. First it was Sweetwater, then Village Music, and now Charlie Deal. The unofficial "Mayor of Mill Valley" and the inventor of the toilet seat guitar, Charlie was a fixture at Sweetwater and he played every year on a float in the Memorial Day Parade. Marty Balin, Craig Chaquico, Jorma Kaukonen and many others own a custom made Deal guitar. Charlie was 72, and had been dealing with various health issues over the past few years. A private service will be held soon, and a public event will take place in January. Unplugged. The recently noted singer/songwriter series at Café Neto in Windsor has already be canceled along with other evening shows and open mics. And The Brookdale Bluegrass Festival that was mentioned in the previous newsletter has also been canceled due to problems with the venue. Got a melody in your head that just won't go away? Do songs from your youth take you back to days gone by when you hear them on the radio? Well, there are reasons for these things. Noted neurologist Oliver Sacks (he wrote the book that the film Awakenings with Robin Williams was based on) has a new book out titled "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain" that explores the relationship between music and the mind. "He said what?" Sam Allred, renowned Austin, TX, country music deejay and founding member of the band The Geezinslaws, was fired from his job on October 30th for making inappropriate comments on the air. He was co-host of the popular "Sammy and Bob Show" since 1990, and had been on the air at the station since 1969. No one is saying what he said, but rest assured that in the recent great American tradition (can you say Don Imus?), since he is now more famous than he ever was, he will be hired by either a competing Austin station for more money or he will get a syndicated show on satellite radio… Losin' Lousiania in the broad daylight. Country music singer Sammy Kershaw recently lost in his bid to become Louisiana's lieutenant governor, winning but 30 percent of the vote. He is married to singer Lorrie Morgan. New concept in live shows. Can't make it to the Garth Brooks concerts
in Kansas City on the 5th-14th? Well, heck, if you are lucky enough
to live near one of the 300 movie theatres that will be broadcasting
the show on the 14th you can go and pay ten bucks to watch him play
live on the screen! Something tells us that no theatres in the North
Bay will be partaking in this event… Back from the brink. Drummer and singer for The Band, Levon Helm, has a new album out after going through 28 radiation treatments for cancer of the vocal chords and feeling about half-past dead. A one-time three-pack-a-day smoker, his voice was completely gone for sometime. With his voice now back to about 70% of what it once was, he is singing on his new album is titled Dirt Farmer. Fishwrap Roundup. Chuck Poling wrote about The Stairwell Sisters in the Old-Time Herald. Stacy the Banjo Man with the beanie propeller hat was featured on the front page of the Marin Independent Journal on October 28th. KQED radio host and one-time KTIM rock and roll deejay Michael Krasny has a new book out titled "Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio and Literary Life." He was featured in the IJ last month. There was an interesting story in the Marin IJ recently about a recently retired 30-year policeman who is now swapping one beat for another. Instead of the regular routine of police work, Jim Laveroni will be playing drums in jazz and R&B bands.. The SF Chronicle had a story about the trials of tribulations of bands trying to "make it" on the road without major record deals, much airplay or big-time management. Band scramble. John McKelvy, lead singer and guitarist for the SF bluegrass band The Earl Brothers, has left the group after seven years. He was one of two original members. Police log. Bad rap: Clifford Harris, a.k.a. rapper T.I., was arrested on October 13th in Atlanta, GA, on weapons charges the day he was supposed to appear at the BET hip hop awards (where he won two awards). He apparently took delivery of some machine guns that were purchased on his behalf by a bodyguard. Due to a prior drug offense conviction he is prohibited from owning guns…Bad rap name: Corey Miller, a.k.a. rapper C-Murder, will be tried again for the murder of a guy in a New Orleans nightclub in 2002. His first conviction was tossed when it was discovered that prosecutors withheld criminal background information on witnesses. Old C might also want to consider a name change…Between a rock and a hard place: Robert Richie, a.k.a. Kid Rock, and his entourage were arrested on October 21st after getting into an altercation with a guy in a waffle shop in Atlanta…One mad fox: rapper Foxy Brown is, sigh, once again in the news. Already in jail for beating a manicurist and violating her parole, she has now received 76 days in punitive segregation after she scuffled with another inmate at Rikers Island jail. Again, this will just help sell more copies of the new CD that is due out any day now…House whine: British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse and her hubby were arrested in Norway for marijuana possession. One of her hits is a song titled "Rehab" in which the refrain is "They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said no, no, no." Life's railway to heaven. Country singer Porter Wagoner died on October 28th in Nashville from lung cancer. He was 80. With his trademark rhinestone suits and pompadour hairstyle, he had hits such as "Carroll County Accident," "A Satisfied Mind," "Company's Comin'," "Skid Row Joe," and "Misery Loves Company." He is also known for giving Dolly Parton her start as a singing partner back in the 60s. Broadway star and Las Vegas casino singer Robert Goulet died on October 30th in LA while waiting for a lung transplant after suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. He was 73. Clarence "Tater" Tate, who played fiddle and bass with Bill Monroe in two stints two decades apart, passed away on October 17th in TN from lung cancer. He was 76. Teresa Brewer, whose song "Music! Music! Music!" (with the famous line "Put another nickel in, in the Nickelodeon") put her on the pop charts in 1950, died on October 17th in New York from a brain disorder. She was 76. Lucky Dube, a South African reggae star, was gunned down in Johannesburg last month in an apparent carjacking. Coming attractions. Corinne West & The Posse at the Lark Theatre in Larkspur on 12/1; The Festival Consort and Tim Cain at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center on 12/1; Claire Lynch at the Freight 12/6, The Palms 12/7, and at Redwood Bluegrass Associates in Mt. View on 12/8; Stevie Coyle & Walter Strauss at Schoenberg Guitars on 12/14; Rex Foundation benefit with Bob Weir & Ratdog, Little Feat and The Waybacks on the 12/15 at the Warfield in SF; Hot Buttered Rum at the Mystic in Petaluma on 12/15; Dan Tyminski at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF on 1/4; River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-8 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminski, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others; Portland Old-Time Music Gathering 1/16-20. Onward to the calendar… Murphy Productions is presenting four shows this month at four different venues. On the 1st at 8 p.m. see Ray Bonneville, the one-man band of roots and country blues, at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael. Bonneville is a singer-songwriter with a percussive blues guitar style that makes a rhythm section redundant. His arch-top guitar and footboard percussion are augmented by smoky vocals mixed with outstanding rack harmonica playing. Dance to Tandamanzi at Studio 333 in Sausalito on the 10th at 8 p.m.; on the 17th at the Lark Theater in Larkspur jazz great Jackie Ryan is having a CD release party of her new album You and the Night and the Music; and on the 30th it will be pianist and singer Josh Gronner at the Belrose Theatre in San Rafael at 7:30 p.m. The joint is jumpin' at the Toad in the Hole pub in Santa Rosa. See Dave Gleason on the 1st, The Sofa Kings on the 3rd, The Spindles on the 9th, The Hellhounds on the 10th, Solid Air on the 16th, American Winter on the 21st, and many more fine acts. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Jenny Kerr on the 1st, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 2nd, Andrew Freeman on the 3rd, the Celtic jam on 4th, Carolina Special on the 10th, Shades of Green on the 11th, JL Stiles on the 15th, The David Thom Band on the 23rd, The Tonewoods on the 24th, Peter Lamson on the 25th, The Carrtunes on the 29th, and others. Go to the Sweetspot in Santa Rosa to see Green Chair on the 1st, Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 3rd, Jed on the 9th, Four Guys On A Couch on the 10th, Johnny Beige on the 29th, and Steve Pile Band on the 30th. Lauralee Brown is one in-demand singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 1st from 5:30-8:30 p.m. see her at The Seafood Peddler in San Rafael as guest vocalist for Alex Markel's Rent Party Rhythm Section; on the 3rd from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Corte Madera Rec Center it will be the Lauralee Brown & Company Dance Band performing for The Mayflower Choral Society's Annual Fall Frolic, a fundraiser which provides musical scholarships to students yearly; on Saturdays the 10th, 17th, and 24th from 6:30-9 p.m. it will be The Intimate Sounds of Lauralee Brown & Company at The Waterfront Grill in Petaluma with special guest musicians; on the 16th from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at Saylor's Restaurant & Bar in Sausalito it will be Lauralee and Jazz & Beyond, and on the 30th there you can see LLB and Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh & Greg Punkar. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 1st and the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Dave Hanks will host on the 1st, and Deirdre Donovan and David Zimmerman will be there on the 15th. The Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol is the place to see Juan Boulder on the 1st, Chris Bramble Band and Mountaindawg on the 3rd, Canal St. Jazz Band on the 6th, Happy Hour w/Buckshot Boys on the 9th, Tabla Rasa on the 13th, The Good Life Crises on the 14th, Sonny Lowe & SweetHarp Santana on the 17th, The Thugz on the 18th, Bottle Shock on the 24th, Chris Kelly on the 27th, and Pladdohg on the 29th. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Al Jarreau on the 1st, Billy Ray Cyrus on the 2nd, Diana Ross on the 3rd, and Queen Latifah on the 24th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater, besides the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, are Cole Tate on the 2nd, the Duo-Tones on the 3rd, Gratful Dead on the 7th, Jelly on the 19th, Michael LaMacchia's Organic Jive Collective on the 10th, Blues Legend Francis Clay's Birthday Bash on the 13th, James Cotton on the 15th, Larkin Gayl and Jerry Hannan on the 24th, The Wronglers on the 29th (see below), 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 Frobeck on the 2nd, Johnny Vegas and the High Rollers on the 3rd, PBJ Peri's Blues Jam on the 4th, Dr. Mojo on the 8th, Swamp Thang on the 10th, Sexy Sunday on the 11th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 15th, Lansdale Station on the 17th, Jinx Jones on the 21st, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, The Beat Meters on the 29th, The Tom Finch Group on the 30th, and lots more. The five-piece acoustic band Bottle Shock is playing on the 2nd, the Day of the Dead, at the Sebastopol Community Center. The show starts at 8, and also on the bill are the Trailer Park Rangers, and an old Sonoma County favorite, Uncle Wiggly. Advance tickets are available at Peoples Music in Sebastopol, The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, Artisans in Sebastopol, and at the Community Center. Costumes are encouraged. The Station House Café in Point Reyes Station presents a dance party benefit on the 2nd at 7:30 p.m. for West Marin's public radio station KWMR featuring The Artifacts, masters of folk, swing and blues. Reservations are recommended. Call (415) 663-1515. Go the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa where there are Celtic jams on the second and third Wednesdays and a bluegrass/old-timey jam on the 4th Wednesdays. See Greenhouse on the 2nd, Rhythm Rangers on the 3rd, Late Harvest on the 10th, Blacktop Moon on the 17th, Spindles on the 23rd, The Farallons on the 24th, The Tonewoods on the 29th, Under the Radar on the 30th, and more. Schaef-Abel Productions has three shows coming up in November at Studio E in Sebastopol. On the 3rd it will be Lucy Kaplansky, Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines on the 9th, and The Larry Hosford Band on the 17th. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Poor Man's Whiskey and Blue Turtle Seduction on the 2nd, Junior Reid on the 11th, Ozomatli on the 14th, The Feud Reunion on the 16th, The Roches on the 17th, New Riders of the Purple Sage on the 24th, and more. Cascada de Flores will present a special Day of the Dead concert of Mexican music, dance and story for all ages at the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station on the 2nd starting at 7:30 p.m. Cascada de Flores tells the story of traditional music and dance of Mexico. The band is a professional folkloric ensemble dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and dissemination of Mexican and Cuban regional music and dance through national and international performances, educational programs, and recordings. The event will feature an altar created by the Dance Palace Afterschool Art Program kids, and people are invited to bring items to add to the altar. Saylor's Restaurant in Sausalito (different food and location than the late Saylor's Landing) now has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. (except for the special show on Friday the 9th, which starts at 8). On the 2nd it will be Ken Husbands & Rebecca Griffin, Mindy Cantor on the 3rd, Amy Wigton in the upstairs Cabo Wabo Room on the 9th, Eugene Huggins on the 10th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 16th, Steve Malerbi on the 17th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 23rd, Lisa Kindred on the 24th, and Lauralee & Acoustic Favorites on the 29th. Santa Rosa guitarist Kevin Russell has another busy month playing with four bands. On the 2nd his band Laughing Gravy and Dave Gleason will be playing a Gram Parsons Tribute Show at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa starting at 8:30 p.m.; on the 3rd his band The Rhythm Rangers is at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m., playing a wild mix of Western swing, alt-country and rockin' blues; on the 24th Jayne Russell & Wilson will be at The Toad in the Hole, 9 p.m.; and on the 30th Under the Radar will be at The Black Rose. This newly re-organized band features Kevin, Layne Bowen and Ted Dutcher (all from Modern Hicks) along with Michael Capella, playing bluegrass, swing, blues and country music. At the Napa Valley Opera House you can see CéU on the 2nd, the Django Reinhardt Festival Band on the 3rd, Theatreworks USA In Seussical on the 4th, ukulele phenomenon Jake Shimabukuro on the 9th, Richie Havens on the 10th, Larry Vuckovich on the 15th, and American Tap Masterpieces on the 17th. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are The Royal Deuces on the 2nd, The Alhambra Valley Band on the 3rd, Stadler-Gibbons on the 9th, Jimbo Trout on the 10th, Blues Barn Burners on the 16th, High Country on the 17th, Natasha James on the 23rd and 24th, and Caliban on the 30th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 3rd and the 10th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 17th it will be swing music; and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. Out at Rancho Nicasio see The Sun Kings on the 3rd, John Stewart on the 4th, Vinyl on the 10th, Colin Gilmore on the 11th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 16th, Gary Vogensen & Bobby Black on the 18th, Chrome Johnson on the 23rd, and others. See the Marin-based acoustic trio Barbwyre when they play on the 3rd at the Coffee Roastery in San Anselmo from 5-7 p.m. At any point you may hear combinations of two and three-part harmonies, mandolin, mandola, fiddle, pedal steel, dobro, electric and acoustic guitar. The members are Dana Rath, Jon Mitguard, and Mike Stadler. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is also an open mic every Monday starting at 8:30 p.m. See Matt Thompson & Jimmie O on the 3rd, Damir Stosic on the 7th (and 21st), Revolver on the 10th, Dave Manning on the 14th, Snappy Dave & Dan on the 17th, and Josh Gibson on the 28th. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 3rd at 7 p.m. he'll play with Savanna Blu (Dore, Gary Kaye, Dave Hanks, Steve Kallai) at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. On the 11th the Hot Club of Marin will be at 19 Broadway at 5 p.m., on the 15th at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and on the 26th at the 142 Throckmorton. Live from West Marin. Tune into the West Coast Live radio show on the 3rd at 10 a.m. (KALW-FM 91.7) when they broadcast live from Rancho Nicasio. It is a variety show that features music, writers, actors and more. You can also listen on line or even attend in person. Some of the guests on the show will be East Bay banjo sage Bill Evans (he has a new book out called Banjos for Dummies)(isn't this title an oxymoron?), guitarist Peter Kaukonen (brother of Jorma), writer Henry Petroski, and naturalist Claire Peaselee. 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. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday you can see Jonathan Poretz on the 3rd, the Wine Women & Song Breast Cancer Benefit on the 4th, David Frishberg on the 9th, Tito LaRosa & Friends on the 16th, David Nelson & Friends Benefit for Bill Laymon on the 18th, Austin deLone on the 23rd, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings on the 24th, Blame Sally on the 30th, and other great shows. The North Bay band Ring of Truth Trio is headed south. Take a drive down the coast to see them play at the San Gregorio Store on the 3rd from 2-5:30 p.m. The Trio is Henry Nagle (vocals, pedal steel and lead guitar), Rory McNamara (vocals and guitar), and Muir Houghton (bass). Joining the trio for the day will be Michael Messer (The Goldbrickers and Those Darned Accordions) on drums and percussion. The special surprise guest this month will be the delightful singer and songwriter Lisa Redfern who will be singing at the store for the first time. Mill Valley's Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will appear at The Riptide in SF on the 3rd starting at 9 p.m. You will be encouraged to put some money in the tip boot. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be making music in four different counties this month. On the 4th he'll be appearing at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley with SF Mime Troupe composer Bruce Barthol. Sausalito is the next stop, with Jesse Lee Kincaid at Caffe Trieste on the 9th. At the Larkspur Cafe Theatre on the 11th he'll be performing at the 84th birthday celebration concert for legendary blues drummer Francis Clay. The new jazz/rock band Tres Mojo can be heard at Ireland's 32 in SF on the 23rd and at Rafters in San Rafael in the 29th. Finally, he'll be joining friends from the Jefferson Starship, featuring David Freiberg, for a special performance at the Ledson Hotel in Sonoma on the 24th. 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. The fabulously redone Nick's Cove in Marshall hosts "Local's Night" every Tuesday. Go and check out a great music lineup this month: Tony Magee (Delta blues) on the 6th, Leon Bristow (twangy Americana) on the 13th, Danny Montana solo (eclectic country, folk & blues) on the 20th and Jeb Brady (blues and R&B) on the 27th. Enjoy great food and a stunning view. In addition to music on Tuesdays, Nick's offers features specials on dinners and Lagunitas beers, all designed to keep you coming back for more. Music is from 7-9 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. On the 7th see The Bluebellies, the Jazz Roots Trio on the 14th, the Pat Echols Experience on the 21st, and The Tom Finch Group on the 28th. Kyle Alden will be hosting a songwriter showcase at BookBeat in Fairfax on the 7th from 7-10 p.m. See Kyle and other songwriters sing original songs in an intimate setting. Kyle will be joined by Big Value guitarist Rick Meissner. Then on the 25th Kyle and Friends will be at the San Gregorio General Store in San Gregorio from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 7th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. The Marin County bluegrass String Break on the 8th will be playing at the Atlas Café in SF from 8-10 p.m. This is at the corner of 20th St. and Alabama in the Mission district. Go listen to Auburn Bluegrass Fiddle Champ Joe Osborn and the band, featuring Gary Kaye on banjo, Dave Hanks on mandolin, Mike Staninec on guitar, and Duncan Draper on bass. Special guest Karen Grace will sing a few songs. 19 Broadway in Fairfax has the usual mix of music on their schedule. On the 9th see Peakseason and Chopper 5 (details below, on the 10th it will be Pato Banton and Mystic Roots, Second Sunday Salsa Night falls on the 11th with Mucho Axe and Terroritmo, the 16th it will be The Young Dubliners, the 17th see Norrisman, Jah Thunder, and D.U.S.T., Pride & Joy on Friday the 23rd., Hot Buttered Rum on the 24th, and Myloekoe on Friday the 30th. Futuregrass. On the 9th, starting at 8 p.m., the young Marin bluegrass band The Itchy Mountain Men will be performing at Old St. Hilary's Church in Tiburon. The pre-show will include Christine Donaldson, Bromo Kru, and Molly Tuttle, who will be performing with her two younger brothers, Michael and Sullivan. This show is planned, produced, performed, and promoted largely by the teenage performers, and will be entertaining for all ages. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. There is a shuttle from the Boardwalk in downtown Tiburon to Old St. Hilary's. Please join bands Peakseason and Chopper 5 on the 9th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax for a show to support the Marin County based organization Search for the Cause. The show starts at 9 p.m. and a $15 donation is encouraged. Search for the Cause's purpose is to investigate how exposures in our daily lives increase the risk of cancer, reduce harmful environmental conditions and educate communities on healthy lifestyle choices. House concerts in Marin. Drew Pearce will be hosting ambeR rubarth (sic) and David Peters in Novato on the 9th. Mill Valley songwriter Jesse Lee Kincaid and his band (Kurt Huget and Spike Klein) will play at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 9th starting at 7 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic vintage and western swing, jazzy ballads, originals, and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes on the 9th at 7 p.m. Maybe even some magic tricks! Standup guys. 77 El Deora and The Saints Car Club will be playing a benefit on the 10th in San Rafael. This is a benefit for Rotaplast International, a non-profit humanitarian organization providing free reconstructive surgery and treatment of cleft lips and palates for underprivileged children worldwide. Since 1993, Rotaplast has been flying surgical teams into Latin America (and now Asia) to perform corrective procedures on over 10,000 underprivileged children. Teams are made up of 30 or so volunteers: plastic surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, operating room nurses, recovery room nurses, orthodontists, dentists, and speech pathologists. Rotaplast pays their airfare and supplies, and organizes the trips. Typically, they run three or four operating rooms and an average of 100 children are treated during a six-day period. The bands will play a set of their finest hillbilly noir/oblique Americana a little after noon, and it's happening at Country Club Bowl. Sunday jazz. Schuster, Draper and Bay will be at Cafe Amsterdam playing jazz on the 11th from 6-10 p.m. The multi-instrumentalist Duncan Draper will be playing drums for this gig. Sebastopol guitarist Walter Strauss and his trio (with Sam Bevan and Kendrick Freeman) will be playing a transcultural night of celebration and collaboration on the 16th at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on a bill with Mamadou & Vanessa (Wassoulou music from Mali) and Stephen Kent (Didjeridu maestro and MC). Then on the 20th at 8 p.m. Walter will play solo at Infusions Teahouse in Sebastopol. Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox w/Barry Sless (steel guitar), Doug Harman (cello) and Paul Cicco (percussion) will be opening for David Nelson & Friends at 9 p.m. on the 16th at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa. Sonoma's Adam Traum will be playing at the Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood on the 17th. Woebegone Laurie. Tune into Garrison Keillor's radio show A Prairie Home Companion on the 17th to hear Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum perform. In the Bay Area, that is KQED-FM (88.5) at 6 p.m., and then the show is replayed on Sunday the 18th at 11 a.m. For show times in your area go here. Put on your dancing shows and head to the Petaluma Veterans' Memorial Building on the 17th at 7 p.m. for the "Singin' and Swingin' on a Star" benefit for the Pacific Empire Chorus. Dance to Swing and A Miss, a local 16-piece swing band. There will be dance lessons and a contest. There will also be performances by Confetti and by Petaluma's Pacific Empire Chorus, an award-winning women's a capella chorus. This performance will feature swing songs from the 40s. $25 includes dancing, appetizers and soft drinks. 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 25th. 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. On Thursday the 29th at 8 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at the Larkspur Café Theater in downtown Larkspur. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Headlining the bill will be The Wronglers. The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Chris Hellman, Nate Levine, Bill Martin, Krista Martin, and Colleen Browne) made their stage debut in October of 2006 at Warren's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, and they played there again last month. The band combines bluegrass, folk, and old-time techniques, producing an intelligent, intimate sound with an abundance of twang. Warren's love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction. He describes the band's repertoire as "simple songs played by complicated people." 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 Laurence Juber on the 29th. Coming on December 14th are Stevie Coyle & Walter Strauss. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is usually some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area, but as of press time the station had not sent out their schedule for November. *************************************************************************************************** October 15, 2007 Midway through the suddenly wet month of October, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is still in recovery from the great time at the free 7th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park two weekends back. It was quite the event, and the weather could not have been more beautiful. Thanks to all of you who signed the Carltone mailing list at the fest. As for the event itself, sure, there has been the usual complaint or two on chat sites about "too much of this kind of music, not enough of that, the fest was too crowded, blah blah blah," but here is a simple solution to all of those naysayers who think that, just because they have access to a computer, the world wants/needs to hear their unsolicited opinions: Don't go next time! Everyone else will have a much better time without you, and you will be happier as well. So everybody wins! Hardly Warren. As mentioned in the previous edition of this newsletter, Hardly Strictly benefactor Warren Hellman was interviewed in the Pacific Sun two weeks back, and you can now read this story here. For those of you who attended the festival and want to thank Warren, do it the old fashioned way. Send a short note to him at Hellman & Friedman, 1 Maritime Plaza, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA, 94111. It will cost you 41 cents and about five minutes of your time. Not a bad price to pay for two and a half days of amazing music… Check out East Bay photographer Mike Melnyk's fabulous Hardly Strictly photos here. This is just a small sample of the total amount. While you are at it, look at Mike's other photos and instruments as well. Corrections. Saylor's Restaurant and Bar in Sausalito is now called simply that. Heretofore the joint at 2009 Bridgeway (it was listed as 2000 in the previous edition) was called "Saylor's South of the Border"; the community jam that was mentioned at the 142 Theatre on October 24th has now been moved to December 2nd; the usual mention of the pickin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music jam in Sebastopol on the 28th may have been premature. Turns out that there may be no jam this month, as the arranger of the event could not find a host. It is possible that someone may step forward at the last minute, so you are welcome to drop by and see; and Doug Adamz will be performing solo at the Toad in the Hole in Santa Rosa on the 27th, not the 20th, as previously noted. Ever wonder how those big music festivals first got started? Well, wonder no more by checking out a documentary called The Trips Festival. It took place in 1966 at the Longshoreman's Hall at Fisherman's Wharf, and Marin filmmaker Eric Christensen's film just premiered at the recently concluded Mill Valley Film Festival. While no web site can be found about the film, you can read about it here in Paul Liberatore's story in the Marin IJ. Let's see a show of hands of all of you that we there 41 years ago… Strawberry Music Festival photos are now up on their site. Tickets go on sale in November for the 2008 festivals. Not your ordinary Joe. Congratulations to Marin County fiddler Joe Osborn, who won the fiddle contest at the recent Auburn Bluegrass Festival. Joe plays in the Marin band String Break. The International Bluegrass Music Association held its big hoedown in Nashville two weeks back, and they handed out the awards for best this, that and the other instrument. If you want to find out who won what, go here. The Bluegrass Unlimited story about The Infamous Stringdusters (not to be confused with just your Ordinary Stringdusters) by Chris Stuart that was mentioned here last time is finally up on the magazine's site. The Dusters won a few awards at IBMA, and they are headed to the Bay Area in November. Alas, not to Marin or Sonoma though. The San Francisco Jazz Festival runs from October 17th-November 30th. This is a lot of time to see some of your jazz favorites in various venues in the city. Band scramble. Stevie Coyle, founding member of the popular Bay Area band The Waybacks, has left the band to pursue a solo career. Go to his newly revamped web site to find out what he is up to. The band will continue on without him. Josh Williams is no longer the guitar player in Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Randy Graham has left David Parmley & Continental Divide, and Ron Spears is playing mandolin in his place. Fishwrap Roundup. Paul Liberatore also wrote about another movie at the film festival, a Dylan biopic titled I'm Not There; Jill Kramer, besides writing the Warren Hellman story mentioned above, also wrote the cover story for last week's Pacific Sun, and it is about Marin rocker Sammy Hagar; in the SF Chron there was a story by Jesse Hamlin about a Harriet Tubman tribute show at the SF Jazz Fest. In rehab. Joe Nichols, a studly country singer who had a hit titled "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," recently entered a facility in Nashville for substance abuse. Police log. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime: Foxy Brown just can't stay out of the news. Already in jail for a year for violating terms of her probation (for fighting with a manicurist), she made headlines again last week for refusing to get into a correction department bus for a court appearance. Of course, the more she makes headlines, the more records she will sell when the new CD comes out next month…No cream puff: Sean Combs, once known as "Puff Daddy," and now known as "P Diddy," is under investigation in New York City for allegedly punching out a patron at a nightclub last weekend. Earlier this month a guy filed a $5 million suit against the Didster for because his bodyguards beat the dude at another nightclub. Get out your handkerchiefs. Silence is golden: There is a report out of London that former Beatle Paul McCartney is offering his soon-to-be-ex-wife Heather Mills a paltry $51 million divorce settlement to go away and never talk about their four-year marriage. One can only wonder what he fears she will say… Ailing. Tom Tworek, noted Bay Area bluegrass photographer, has been in the hospital in Palo Alto for some time now, battling cancer. Go to the link, get his address and send him a card. Life's railway to heaven. Robert "Red" Shipley, longtime host of the Stained Glass Bluegrass radio show on WAMU back east, died in Virginia on October 6th from cancer. He was 70. He won the Broadcaster of the Year Award at the IBMA in 2006. Enrico Banducci, legendary proprietor at Enrico's in SF's North Beach back in the 50s and 60s (where up and coming acts such as Lenny Bruce, Barbra Streisand, Dick Gregory, Bob Newhart and folk groups like the Kingston Trio got some early gigs), died in South SF on the 9th from natural causes. He was 85. Coming attractions. Ray Bonneville at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael on 11/1; Lucy Kaplansky in Sebastopol on 11/9; Warren Hellman's band The Wronglers at the Larkspur Café Theater on 11/29; Laurence Juber on 11/29 at Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon; Claire Lynch at the Freight 12/6, The Palms 12/7, and at Redwood Bluegrass Associates in Mt. View on 12/8; Dan Tyminski at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF on 1/4; River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-8 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminski, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others; Portland Old-Time Music Gathering 1/16-20. Additions The Marin Civic Center often has some events of interest. The Bioneers Conference takes place on the 19th-21st, The Crooked Road show is there on the 26th (details below), and on 28th you can come alive with Peter Frampton. Local boys make good. Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue will be bringing their bluegrass show to Saylor's in Sausalito on the 20th from 8-11 p.m. Three out of the four band members live in Sausalito. The venue just started having music this month, and this show was not yet posted on their web site as of press time. There is no cover, but dinner reservations are strongly recommended. Call (415) 332-1512 for info. On the 20th see the band Lee Highway (veterans of Kentucky Rose and the Sawtooth Mountain Boys) plus The MacRae Brothers' Tribute to Jake Quesenberry at the Redwood Bluegrass Associates show in Mountain View. Sausalito House Boat Concerts will be presenting another show at their temporary location in El Cerrito on the 20th at 8 p.m. featuring Caroline Aiken. This will also be Julie's birthday bash. The address is 2417 Edwards Avenue. For more info call (415) 289-0490. The Wild Catahoulas will be playing at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on the 20th. Dance lessons start at 7 p.m., live music from 8-11. Monroe is located at 1400 W. College Avenue. Out at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th at 8 p.m. see "Noh: Angels, Demons & Dreamers," original adaptations of Japanese theater with Fred Curchack and Laura Jorgensen. And on the 21st at 4 p.m. it will be the Piano Concert Series with Lisa Spector performing works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin. Music from the Crooked Road: Mountain Music of Virginia is headed to this way for a 15-city tour through five states. This nationally acclaimed tour is named after Highway 58, a route known as the Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, which winds for over 200 miles across the ridges and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains, from the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the coalfields of southwestern Virginia. The trail connects major heritage music venues in the Appalachian region. The traditional mountain gospel, bluegrass, and old-time music heard today has been passed down from generation to generation and lives on through a wealth of musicians and instrument makers along the trail. The tour features National Heritage Award Fellow and Appalachian guitar master Wayne Henderson, bluegrass banjo virtuoso Sammy Shelor, family old-time string band The Whitetop Mountain Band, old-time fiddle and banjo masters Kirk Sutphin and Eddie Bond, the up-and-coming bluegrass band No Speed Limit, and a young keeper of ancient mountain ballads and songs, 19-year-old Elizabeth LaPrelle. You can see the show on the 25th in Santa Cruz at the Rio Theatre, on the 26th at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, and on the 28th in Yountville at the Lincoln Theater. Down Home Music and Arhoolie Records presents a free in-store concert of the authentic mountain music performed by members of the Crooked Road Tour on the 26th at 12 noon in their nearly new Down Home Music Store located in Berkeley on Fourth Street. For information call (510) 204-9595. The Murphy Productions show on the 27th, where they will be hosting Django Obscura and The Matt Eakle Quartet at Studio 333, located at 333 Caledonia, in Sausalito at 8 p.m., has been turned into a benefit for Marin sax player Martin Fierro. Go to the site for more details. Reminders At the Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol see Justin Upshaw on the 17th, Beat Meters on the 20th, West County Jazz on the 21st, Foolish Creatures on the 25th, Loose Gravel on the 28th, and Zinful Minds on the 31st. 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. On the 17th see Banana & Friends, Jelly on the 24th, and The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 31st. On the 28th it will be the Iron Springs Anniversary Party and KWMR Benefit from 2-10 p.m. They have a full day and night of events planned, including food and beer specials, and great music featuring The White Hill Jazz Band in the afternoon and D'lilah Monroe & Her Fat Cats at 7 p.m. A percentage of the evening's proceeds will go to support KWMR, West Marin Community Radio, keeping the airwaves filled with local programming and music. This will also be a membership drive: everyone who signs up as a new KWMR member will receive a very special premium from the pub. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is also an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m. See Josh Gibson on the 17th, Damir Stosic on the 24th, and Petty Theft on the 24th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 18th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 19th, Twang Ditty on the 23rd, 35R and 5 Minute Orgy Halloween Bash on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th, Harbor Rats on the 30th, Sabbath Lives on the 31st, and others. 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. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 18th, John Kelley on the 19th, Rick Hardin on the 25th,Dockside on the 26th,High Country on the 27th, Greenhouse on the 28th, and much more. Besides playing at Murphy's on the 18th, 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. At The Mystic in Petaluma see The Avett Brothers on the 18th, The Sun Kings and The Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 19th, New Monsoon on the 20th, and more. Lauralee Brown can be found on Tuesdays at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 19th see Lauralee Brown & Company at Saylor's in Sausalito w/Chris Planas on guitar and Mark Armenta on bass, and on the 27th she will be singing a variety of styles in Petaluma at the Waterfront Grill from 6:30-9 p.m., accompanied by various talented players. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see the Ascension of the Blues show on the 19th and 20th, the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble on the 25th, Robert Dubac's "Male Intellect: The Second Coming!" on the 26th and 27th, and other great shows. Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are Caliban on the 19th, High Country on the 20th, Flatt Lonesome on the 26th and Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 27th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rhythm Rangers on the 19th, Maria Muldaur on the 20th, Kelly Willis on the 28th, and others. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 19th beginning at 7 p.m. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, Wine Women & Song Breast Cancer Benefit on the 20th, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 25th (details below), SambadA on the 27th, and, of course, lots more. Café Royale presents Postcards from El Deora: As Lurid As Mom and Apple Pie, an exhibit of show posters by Maurice Tani for 77 El Deora performances, 2003-2007. The imagery, like the music of 77 El Deora, is a bubbling stew of hillbilly noir: fast cars, faster women, guitars, western wear, hand guns and other hyper-romantic symbolism celebrating American popular culture. The exhibit will hang now through October 28th. 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. The joint is jumpin' at the Toad in the Hole pub in Santa Rosa. See Kunkel & Harris on the 20th, North of Malibu on the 17th, The Rosetown Ramblers on the 21st, Doug Adamz on the 27th, and more. Twang radio. Hicks with Sticks newsletter writer Jose Segue will be back on KALW as a guest host on Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal show airing on Saturday the 20th, from 6:30-8 p.m. KALW broadcasts on 91.7 FM and on the web. Bluegrass will take the day off as Peter and Jose present Bay Area twang music released in 2006-2007 by bands like Red Meat, Axton Kinkaid, Loretta Lynch, Joe Goldmark & The Seducers, the Pine Box Boys, Rhythm Rangers, Big B & His Snakeoil Saviors and Jinx Jones. Go the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa to see the Tonewoods on the 20th, Ring of Truth Trio on the 25th, the Moonshiners on the 26th, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 20th it will be swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. The Hot Club of Marin will play on the 20th at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; and on the 29th at 7:30 p.m. it will be the first ever Hot Club of Marin Club Meeting and Gypsy Swing Jam at 142 Throckmorton Theater. All musicians who come and join will break up into groups, there'll be a featured artist, HCM will start things out, and then every group will get to play a few tunes on stage for a recital, not necessarily in that order. Membership will have its privileges with a newsletter, discounts and goodies, etc. Schaef-Abel Productions has one fine show coming up at Studio E in Sebastopol. On the 20th don't miss Reilly & Maloney. From the mid-1970s through the late 1980s, the voices-and-guitars duo of Ginny Reilly and David Maloney made delightful harmonies together. In 2003, they started performing together again after a decade-plus pursuing their solo careers. Old fans will be happy to hear that they've lost none of their vocal magic. Reilly still has one of the sweetest voices in folk music, an ethereal soprano that dances lightly around Maloney's grittier baritone, and the contrast in their voices and their unique sense of harmony makes for some wonderful duets. Lindalou and Michael have a lot going on this month. On the 20th and 28th from 1-4 p.m. you can see them in Petaluma at the Adobe Pumpkin Farm. On the 21st they'll be playing at the memorial celebration in Sebastopol for their dear friend, Diane Bodach, a beautiful poet and singer who died recently after a long struggle with cancer. And on the 27th see them at The Calistoga Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. until noon on Washington Street by the Community Center. Dan Brunetti and David Chapman will accompany them. Just him and Bobby McGee. Kris Kristofferson will be playing a show at the Lincoln Theatre in Napa on the 21st, and then he'll be in Carmel By The Sea on the 24th. Danny Montana and the Bar Association have two fun shows this month, with special guest David Phillips on pedal steel. On the 21st, from 4-8 p.m., it's all aboard the Sausalito Empress for an evening dinner cruise on the bay. Contact Empress Events for tix and more info. Then on the 27th it's out to Smiley's in Bolinas for some big fun at the beach...and a birthday celebration for Danny Montana and bassist Tim Bush. Bring your party hats! Music starts at 9 p.m. with the Dogtown Ramblers playing some swampy blues. Join Mill Valley artist Jesse Lee Kincaid on the 21st when he will be the DJ at the Park School's walkathon. Out in West Marin Paul Knight & Friends will be at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st from 5-8:30 p.m. with Mark Silber, Chojo Jacques and Banana. The Bluegrass Gold show, which ran for 8.5 years at Sweetwater and is produced by Carltone Music, will move for the time being to the Larkspur Café Theater on the 25th. The premiere show at the LCT, starting at 8 p.m., will feature the North Bay band Poor Man's Whiskey. They are the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the wine country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. Their most recent CD is titled Roadside Attraction. Go to the Sweetspot in Santo Rosa to see Johnny Beig on the 25th, The Steve Pyle Band on the 26th, and others. John Brite & Paul Robinson will be singing for diners at Saylor's on the 26th. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Kathy Griffin on the 26th, and the Camerata Beriloche Orchestra on the 30th. The Hicktones will be entertaining at the Healdsburg Pumpkin Festival on the 27th, in downtown Healdsburg, from 9 a.m. until noon. Their bluegrass harmonies will take place after the pumpkin race. On the 27th Tom Richardson will play a gig with singer/songwriter colleague Lisa Redfern at Cafe Noto in Windsor from 8-10 p.m. If you are up in Reno on the 27th working the slots take a break to attend the Bluegrass Dinner Show at 6 p.m. at the Great Basin Brewing Company in Sparks. Fans of bluegrass and Americana music won't want to miss this show, as Reno's own hard-driving bluegrass band, Straight Ahead Bluegrass, will open, followed by National Champion Bluegrass Guitarist Steve Kaufman. Reservations required. House concerts in Marin. Drew Pearce will be hosting another concert on the 27th in San Rafael with Isul Kim and Javier Montiel. On the 28th in Cotati at 3 p.m. check out the Songs of Sonoma Songwriters in the Round with Lisa Nemzo, John Haley-Walker, Caren Armstrong and Elaine Dempsey. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be with his band Namely
Us on the 28th at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: SPARK! DEL SOL STRING QUARTET, DAVID HEVEL, LA FAMILIA PENA-GOVEA 10/17 7:30 p.m., 10/21 6:30 a.m., 10/22 midnight, 10/22 3 a.m., 10/23 2:30 a.m.: "Hear the Del Sol String Quartet rehearse and debut the work of contemporary chamber composers; laugh with sculptor David Hevel as he makes fun of pop culture celebrities with his outrageous animal creations; join La Familia Pena-Govea, the family band where everyone has a part to play in this musical dynasty in the making." BROADWAY - THE AMERICAN MUSICAL 10/17 9 p.m., 10/20 11 p.m.: "Tradition (1957-1979) - West Side Story not only brings untraditional subject matter to the musical stage, it ushers in a new breed of director/choreographer who insists on performers who can dance, sing and act. But by the time Jerome Robbins' last original musical, Fiddler on the Roof, closes after a record run of 3242 performances in 1972, the world of Broadway has changed forever. Rock'n'roll, civil rights and Vietnam usher in new talents, many trained by the retiring masters, taking musical theater in daring new directions with innovative productions like Hair, the first Broadway musical with an entire score of rock music. By the end of the 1970s, Broadway becomes the centerpiece of a remarkably successful public relations campaign that will lure tourists to New York for years to come. Putting It Together (1980-present) - Legendary as the 'Abominable Showman,' notorious producer David Merrick re-conquers Broadway in 1980 with a smash adaptation of the movie musical 42nd Street. But soon the biggest hits are arriving from an unexpected source - London. Producer Cameron Mackintosh redefines the business of show business as Cats, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon become international blockbusters. Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George defies categorization, while Jerry Herman's crowd-pleasing La Cage aux Folles has two men sing a love song to each other for the first time on Broadway - a breakthrough soon overshadowed by the rising decimation of the AIDS crisis on Broadway. Yet with Julie Taymor's triumphant re-imagining of The Lion King, Disney leads an astonishing resurrection of 42nd Street. After 9/11, Broadway - like the rest of America - emerges from the darkness." AMERICA IN THE 40'S - COMING HOME 10/20 6 p.m.: "The country never looked back as troops returned from the war, and the reunion of American families began a boom that changed the country forever. A burst of growth in jobs, technology, suburban sprawl, the middle class, and even babies created a new consumerism that continues today. Through music, interviews, film clips and historic footage, this final episode recalls the last years of one of America's most idealistic eras." DAVID HOCKNEY - THE COLORS OF MUSIC 10/21 2 p.m.: "Poetic and narrative, David Hockney progressed from pop to naturalism to photo collage - always with a unique, powerful use of light and color. Now, his inventive stage designs have transformed opera into a magical experience - one to watch as well as to hear. Ironically, as he reaches the height of his craft, Hockney is, in private, racing against time as he is slowly becoming deaf." OUR STATE, OUR STORIES - THE KEY OF G 10/21 6 p.m., 10/27 4 a.m.: "An intimate documentary about a disabled man's transition into adulthood. This charming and insightful film tells the story of Gannet, a 22-year-old with a rare disability, as he moves out of his mother's home and into an apartment with three musicians as primary caregivers. Cobbling together funding from an array of state programs, Gannet's new roommates attempt to form a household together, creating an extraordinary world of interdependence and survival." GUYS AND DOLLS (1955) 10/21 1 a.m.: "Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons star as high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson and Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown. Frank Sinatra plays Nathan Detroit, while Stubby Kaye reprises his Broadway role as Nicely Nicely, and practically steals the show with his show-stopping solo 'Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat.' Directed by Joseph Mankiewicz." ANDREA BOCELLI - AMORE UNDER THE DESERT SKY 10/28 10 p.m.: "The Tuscan-born Andrea Bocelli continues to seduce audiences everywhere with the moving melodies and passionate performances that have enthralled American viewers. Setting the standard for 'crossover' classical tenors, Bocelli has become one of the most famous and beloved singers in the world. This special was recorded in Lake Las Vegas from a concert venue that literally floats in the resort's signature 320-acre lake. With sweeping views of the area's Ponte Vecchio-style bridge and Mediterranean-themed village as a backdrop, Bocelli performs songs from his Amore album, such as 'Autumn Leaves' and 'It's Impossible.' Also featured are duets with 2001 Tony-award winner Heather Headley, David Foster, and others." SPARK! SAXOPHONIST HOWARD WILEY 10/24 7:30 p.m., 10/28 6:30 a.m., 10/30 2:30 a.m.: "Saxophonist Howard Wiley explores the tradition of spiritual music found at a plantation prison in the Deep South, and other stories." FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971) 10/28 midnight: "Norman Jewison's adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical received eight Oscar nominations, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Sound. The story is set in the Ukrainian ghetto village of Anatevka. Israeli actor Topol (Best Actor nominee) reprises his London stage role as Tevye the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Based on the book by Shalom Aleichem." PEANUTS GALLERY 10/31 4:30 a.m.: "In 1990, Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and beloved cartoonist Charles M. Schulz began an extraordinary friendship that would ultimately unite their creative talents in one masterwork. Through interviews with Zwilich and Mrs. Schulz, along with character clips and rarely seen footage of Charles Schulz himself, this program tells the story of how the Peanuts characters went from the daily comics to Carnegie Hall. It culminates with a performance of Zwilich's 'Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Orchestra' by the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra." SPARK! PLAYWRIGHT PHILIP KAN GOTANDA, AND OTHER STORIES 10/31 7:30 p.m.: "Explore the relationship between jazz and the Japanese American internment with playwright Philip Kan Gotanda and A.C. T.; see why choreographer and dance educator Janice Garrett is attracting the best local dancers and critical acclaim in the Bay Area dance scene; meet Jess Curtis and his company Gravity as they work on 'Under the Radar.'" *************************************************************************************************** October 1, 2007 Welcome to the 82nd edition of Carltone's Corner! The quidnuncs here at Carltone World Headquarters, when not glued to CNN 24/7 for the latest news about OJ/Britney/Lindsay, are busy scouring the back roads of Marin and Sonoma counties looking for all the pertinent music news that you really need to hear about but generally gets ignored by the five or so major media chains that own all the newspapers in this country. And even though all roads lead to Golden Gate Park on the weekend of the 6th and 7th for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, there is a heck of a lot of great stuff going on the rest of the month as well. Speaking of Hardly Strictly, an interview by longtime award-winning staff writer Jill Kramer with fest benefactor Warren Hellman will be the cover story of the Pacific Sun on Friday the 5th. Pick one up or read it on line. The death and rebirth of Sweetwater. On September 23rd the venerable Sweetwater nightclub in downtown Mill Valley closed its doors for good to the public in its longtime location. On Monday the 24th there was a private farewell party hosted by owners Thom and Becky Steere that featured performances by Bob Weir, Sammy Hagar, Austin deLone, The Rowan Brothers, Heather Combs, Ramlin' Jack, Lisa Kindred, Narada Michael Walden, Dan Hicks, and many others. During the show, in the midst of tearful farewells by the owners, some great news was forthcoming: Sweetwater hopes to move to a new venue in town by January of 2008. The location is the old Greenwood Furniture store around the corner on Miller Avenue, next to D'Angelo. They are still trying to shore up financial backing, so if you have a huge chunk of spare change that it just burning a hole in your pocket, contact Becky (becky@sweetwatersaloon.com) to get in on the ground floor of the new venue. You can read all about the night and the new venture in Paul Liberatore's story in the Marin IJ and also in Matt Kramer's fine story in The Pacific Sun. Say what? Are you hovering around age 50 and starting to realize that you don't hear as well as you used to? I SAID ARE YOU HARD OF HEARING? Right, just what we thought. All of those youthful years of going to loud rock concerts are now catching up with the boomers, and you can read the sordid details in a story reprinted recently in the Marin IJ. Peaceful, easy feeling. The Eagles will make their first appearance at the Country Music Association Awards on November 7th. Later this year, they will release Long Road Out of Eden, a double-CD featuring 20 new recordings. The Eagles have been recognized at the CMA Awards before, when Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles was named album of the year in 1994. Americana artist Marty Stuart will begin hosting an hour-long weekly show on XM Satellite Radio starting on the 5th of this month. Airing on Fridays, Marty Stuart's American Odyssey will offer a range of American music, such as traditional country, blues, rockabilly, bluegrass, gospel and rock. New release. Congratulations to Mill Valley singer/songwriter Jamie Clark and his wife Cheryl. They had a baby girl named Eden Sophia on September 23rd. All indications have it that little Eden has pipes at least as powerful as her proud singing papa… All hail Merle! After months of anticipation, country great Merle Haggard's new bluegrass CD has finally been released. It is called The Bluegrass Sessions, and it features Marty Stuart on mandolin, Rob Ickes on dobro, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, and Carl Jackson played guitar and sang two-part harmonies. Alison Krauss also adds harmony vocals on a couple of tunes. Ronnie Reno produced the disc. Spectator sport. While the media tried dang hard to get the unwashed masses interested in defamed record producer and whacky-wigged Phil Spector's murder trial, there were just too many "reality" and game shows to chose from to pique the fickle public's interest. After five months and a gazillion dollars of taxpayer money spent, the spectacle ended in a mistrial last week. He was accused of murdering a B-movie actress in his foyer after meeting her just hours before in a nightclub… San Diego bluegrass picker Chris Stuart has written another cover story for Bluegrass Unlimited, this time on the young band The Infamous Stringdusters. But as of press time here the magazine still has their September cover story posted. Chris has also been nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for Print Media Person of the Year. For full details on award winners this year, on Friday the 5th go to the IBMA web site. Local guys in the movies. North Bay singer-songwriter Jerry Hannan has a song titled "Society" with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder in Sean Penn's film Into the Wild, which opened last week at a theatre near you. And SF banjo player Erik Pearson wrote and played a song called "Fork and File" that is also on the Crooked Jades record World's on Fire. You hear it in a scene when the main character is kayaking. Sailing with the Rowans. Plan ahead to join Chris and Lorin Rowan on a sea cruise next January 21st-26th. Kerrville and Falcon Ridge in association with Fan Club Cruises invite you to a Festival At Sea, featuring the Rowan Brothers, Susan Werner and Eric Schwartz. It will be a five-night concert cruise from New Orleans to Mexico on the Carnival Fantasy. Prices start at $429 per person and include five nights accommodations, all meals, private cocktail party with the performers, two concert events, duty free shopping on board, full range of shipboard activities, onboard casino and much, much more. For complete info and brochure, go to the web site. The Wolf Mountain Bluegrass Festival that normally takes place in October has been canceled due to a conflict with the fairgrounds. What is really too bad is that this year the fest had finally gotten smart and actually had a weekend booked that was not up against Hardly Strictly in SF. Something smells rotten. The Sex Pistols (minus long-dead bassist Sid Vicious), led by lead singer Johnny Rotten, will be reuniting for a couple of shows. They will play one at the Roxy in LA on the 25th of this month, then play four in London in November to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their controversial album Never Mind the B*llocks. Unconfirmed rumors have the ageing lads using hair dye and Geritol to get ready for the big shows… Twang radio. Hicks with Sticks newsletter writer Jose Segue will be back on KALW as a guest host on Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal show airing on Saturday the 20th, from 6:30-8 p.m. KALW broadcasts on 91.7 FM and on the web. Bluegrass will take the day off as Peter and Jose present Bay Area twang music released in 2006-2007 by bands like Red Meat, Axton Kinkaid, Loretta Lynch, Joe Goldmark & The Seducers, the Pine Box Boys, Rhythm Rangers, Big B & His Snakeoil Saviors and Jinx Jones. Band scramble. There is yet another new bluegrass band in the North Bay led by ubiquitous fiddler/mandolinist Ed Neff. It is called Blue & Lonesome, and also in the band are Larry Cohea on banjo, Jeff King on bass, Mike Wilhoyte on the guitar, and Paul Shelasky on fiddle. Ryan Carter, longtime bass player in the SF bluegrass band Homespun Rowdy, moved back to Philly just in time to see the Phillies play in the baseball playoffs. There is a new acoustic trio of songwriters/players based in Marin called Barbwyre. The members are Dana Rath, Jon Mitguard, and Michael Stadler. See them play on the 13h in Sebastopol at the Toad in the Hole. Butch Waller is the new mandolin player in the Bay Area bluegrass ensemble known as The David Thom Band. Fishwrap Roundup. There was a story by Paul Liberatore about Donna Jean Godchaux in the Marin IJ last month that you can read here. She was the only female member of the Grateful Dead. Liberatore also wrote about the singing Bacon Brothers, a Kate Wolf tribute album, Sammy Hagar, the Joy of Cooking band, and rockabilly guitarist Bill Kirchen. Rick Polito in the Marin IJ wrote a story about the Marin rock clubs of yore that you can read here. In the SF Chronicle there was a story about long-dead British musician Nick Drake, who has put out more albums since his demise than he did while he was alive. And much to the surprise of Bay Area musicians of all ages, dinosaur rock writer Joel Selvin, amazingly so, wrote a story in the Chronicle about a young up and coming SF band called Crowsong. Police log. Mill Valley's Most Wanted: Before closing last month some
cretins broke into Sweetwater and stole off the stage wall the large
mandala quilt that had been hanging on there since the 1970s. If anyone
has any information about who did this, please contact the Mill Valley
police to let them know…. Spare the rod and spoil the child: Pop
singer Rod Stewart's son Sean will have to stand trial in an assault
case in Los Angeles. Punches were thrown and Sean's Rolls Royce was
involved as well…Passing the baton: rapper Snoop pleaded guilty
in Santa Ana, CA, for trying to carry a concealed weapon onto an airplane
- at baton. He was sentenced to probation and community service…
Cracked in the head: Uncle Kracker pleaded guilty to assault in Raleigh,
NC, last month, after he was arrested for reaching his hand underneath
a woman's skirt in a bar. She slapped him, so big man that he is (and
we do mean big), he slapped her back. He first gained notoriety as a
deejay for Kid Rock. This must be all it takes these days to become
famous these days…Notorious and big: the late rapper Notorious
B.I.G. was in the news again, even though he has been dead for ten years.
His murder has never been solved, and one Waymond Anderson, a former
R&B artist now serving a life sentence for murder in a separate
case, has now he admitted that he lied in a deposition when he claimed
that a policeman was involve in B.I.G.'s demise. Ailing. George Grantham, who was the drummer in the trailblazing country/rock band Poco three decades back, recently suffered a severe stroke. Banjo player John McEuen and George's daughter Gracie are trying raise money to defray medical costs and living expenses for George and his family. Go here for more info. Life's railway to heaven. Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime who put the art of mime back on the map for the past 60 years, died on September 22nd in Paris at age 84. Patrick Bourque, former bassist for the band Emerson Drive, died suddenly on September 25th at his home in Montreal. The 29-year-old musician replaced Emerson Drive's original bass player, Jeff Loberg, in 2003. Bourque had been living and working in Canada since resigning from the band in August. Robert W. "Bob" McLean, a Tennessee businessman who donated Bill Monroe's renovated 1923 Gibson F-5 mandolin and Mother Maybelle Carter's 1928 Gibson L-5 guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, was found dead in Shelbyville, TN, on September 25th of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 60. At the time of his death, the former stockbroker was involved in multiple lawsuits for allegedly cheating investors out of $20 million and was due to appear in court on September 26th for a bankruptcy case. Jerry Dean, a Bay Area jazz DJ for some 50 years, died September 5th of a heart attack. He was 75. Dean was a versatile DJ on KJAZ for 35 years, where he worked every time slot, including the popular "Dinner Jazz" show. He also emceed the Russian River Jazz Festival for 26 years. Coming attractions. Ray Bonneville at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael on 11/1; Lucy Kaplansky in Sebastopol on 11/9; Laurence Juber on 11/29 at Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon; River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-6/08 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminksi, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others. Onward to the calendar… At the Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol see Shawn Snyder on the 2nd, Taylor Brown on the 3rd, Feisty Females (Kim Trypsmith & friends) on the 4th, Sofa Kings on the 7th, Seraphin on the 11th, Mike Gibbons Band on the 13th, Honey Rose on the 16th, Justin Upshaw on the 17th, Beat Meters on the 20th, West County Jazz on the 21th, Foolish Creatures on the 25th, Loose Gravel on the 28th, Zinful Minds on the 31st. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See WTJ Trio on the 3rd, Trailer Park Rangers on the 6th, PBJ Peri's Blues Jam on the 7th, Jesse Lee Kincaid on the 9th, Blue Note Cats on the 11th, Billy Boys and Honey Dust on the 12th, Sexy Sunday on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 18th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 19th, Twang Ditty on the 23rd, 35R and 5 Minute Orgy Halloween Bash on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th, Harbor Rats on the 30th, Sabbath Lives on the 31st, and others. 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. On the 3rd see The David Thom Band, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 10th, Banana & Friends on the 17th, Jelly on the 24th, and The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 31st. On the 28th it will be the Iron Springs Anniversary Party and KWMR Benefit from 2-10 p.m. They have a full day and night of events planned, including food and beer specials, and great music featuring The White Hill Jazz Band in the afternoon and D'lilah Monroe & Her Fat Cats at 7 p.m. A percentage of the evening's proceeds will go to support KWMR, West Marin Community Radio, keeping the airwaves filled with great local programming and music. This will also be a membership drive: everyone who signs up as a new KWMR member will receive a very special premium from the pub. Iron Springs, working with the Marin County Community Development Agency, has now become a certified green business. What does this mean? Green businesses practice resource efficiency and focus their operations on limiting their impact on the earth and its resources. A green business not only conserves resources but also educates employees and customers about resource conservation. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget is making the rounds as usual this month. His roots-rock/Americana band, Moonlight Rodeo will be featured live on the Bruce Latimer TV show in Pacifica on the 3rd, and they will be making a return engagement at Rancho Nicasio on the 12th to celebrate the release of their new CD. Kurt makes a solo appearance on the 13th at the Aqus Cafe in Petaluma, and his jazz group Namely Us can be found at the Mill Valley Film Festival on the 13th as well as at their regular Sunday night gigs on the 14th and 28th at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. South Bay singer/songwriter Mick Overman will be playing at the Tradewinds in Cotati on the 3rd starting at 8 p.m. and then on the 4h see him at The Shanachie Pub in Willits from 8-11 p.m. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 3rd. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is also an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m. See Josh Gibson on the 3rd (and 17th), Matt Thompson & Jimmie O on the 6th, Damir Stosic on the 10th (and 24th), Scallywags on the 13th, and Petty Theft on the 24th. Café Royale presents Postcards from El Deora: As Lurid As Mom and Apple Pie, an exhibit of show posters by Maurice Tani for 77 El Deora performances, 2003-2007. The imagery, like the music of 77 El Deora, is a bubbling stew of hillbilly noir: fast cars, faster women, guitars, western wear, hand guns and other hyper-romantic symbolism celebrating American popular culture. The exhibit will hang now through October 28th. 77 El Deora is a San Francisco-based, five-piece, alt-country/Americana outfit fronted by vocalist Jenn Courtney and songwriter Maurice Tani. Opening reception, including musical performance, is on the 4th at 8 p.m. at Café Royale, 800 Post St. @ Leavenworth in SF. Go to the Sweetspot in Santo Rosa to see Green Chair on the 4th, Juan Bolder on the 6th, Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 11th, Johnny Beig on the 25th, The Steve Pyle Band on the 26th, and others. 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. The joint is jumpin' at the Toad in the Hole pub in Santa Rosa. See Amber Lee & Anomalies on the 4th, The Bluebellies on the 5th, Doug Jayne & Dean Wilson on the 6h, Kirk Keeler on the 12th, Barbwyre on the 13th, Kunkel & Harris on the 20th, North of Malibu on the 17th, Doug Adamz on the 20th, The Rosetown Ramblers on the 21st, and more. So many movies, so little time! The 30th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival runs from the 4th through the 14th. Go to the site for details. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Pete Olson on the 4th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 5th, Andrew Freeman on the 6th, the Celtic jam on the 7th, Blue & Lonesome on the 12th, Spiral Mystics on the 13th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 18th, Dockside on the 26th,High Country on the 27th, Greenhouse on the 28th, and much more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 4th and the 18th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Lauralee Brown is one in-demand singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 4th she will be guest vocalist at the Seafood Peddler in San Rafael with Alex Markel's Rent Party Rhythm Section from 5:30-8:30 p.m.; on the 6th, 13th and 27th she will be singing a variety of styles in Petaluma at the Waterfront Grill from 6:30-9 p.m., accompanied by various talented players; and on the 19th see Lauralee Brown & Company at Saylor's in Sausalito w/Chris Planas on guitar and Mark Armenta on bass. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, they are hosting many events for the Mill Valley Film Festival, as well as the Ascension of the Blues show on the 19th and 20th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are the open mic every Tuesday with Michael LaMacchia, Rebecca Riots on the 5th, The Pine Needles and Adam Traum on the 6th, the James Mosely Band on the 7th, Jesse Brewster and Gentry Bronson on the 11th, Asher & LaMacchia on the 13th, Wine Women & Song Breast Cancer Benefit on the 20th, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 25th (details below), SambadA on the 27th, and, of course, lots more. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you could see Jethro Tull on the 4th, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons on the 5th, Emmylou Harris on the 9th, Kathy Griffin on the 26th, and others. Dead Set will be playing a concert along with the Chris Bramble Band as part of Sebastopol's Mr. Music Series at Subud Hall on the 5th. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Saylor's South of the Border restaurant in Sausalito (different food and location than the late Saylor's Landing) is having music on Fridays from 8-11 p.m. starting this month. On the 5th see Jump To It, Eugene Huggins on the 6th, Lisa Kindred on the 12th, Tom Bowers Duo on the 13th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 19th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 20th, and John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 26th. Saylor's is located at 2000 Bridgeway near the Seven-Eleven. See the North Bay Celtic fusion band Greenhouse on the 5th at the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa, on the 19th at the Toad in the Hole in Santa Rosa, and on the 28th at Murphy's in Sonoma. Pre-hardly. See Jeanie & Chuck and friends as they take over the Velo Rouge Café in SF from 7 to 10 p.m. on the 5th for a pre-fest pep rally, and everyone is invited for a lovely evening of music and mirth. Some of their friends will be Pam Brandon, Doug Blumer, Maurice Tani, Misisipi Mike Wolfe, Steve Swan, Denise Funari, Gayle Schmitt, Matt Lax, The Cowlicks and a special appearance by Chickwagon. The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival will be happening is SF's Golden Gate Park on the 5th-7th. Be there! Bill Callahan, Bill Kirchen, Charlie Louvin, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience w/ special guest Curly Seckler, The Del McCoury Band, Doc Watson, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, The Hacienda Brothers, Hazel Dickens, Heartless Bastards, Hot Buttered Rum, Jim Lauderdale, Jody Stecher & Bill Evans / The Secret Life of Banjos, Jorma Kaukonen, Marley's Ghost, Poor Man's Whiskey, The Wronglers, The Cash Magnets, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys and oh, a few more bands… Finbar Devine's Irish Pub & Restaurant located in the Old Opera House in downtown Petaluma is staying true to its roots, offering live music every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Enjoy the best Celtic, Americana and roots bands while eating great food and sipping a pint of ale or spirits with new and old friends. Featured bands this month are the Linda Wiggins Band on the 5th, Quin Band on the 6th, The Bluebellies on the 12th, Alhambra Valley Band on the 13th, Caliban on the 19th, High Country on the 20th, Flatt Lonesome on the 26th and Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 27th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rancho All-Stars on the 5th, The Hacienda Brothers on the 6th, Three Guys Named Mo on the 7th, Moonlight Rodeo on the 12th, It's A Beautiful Day on the 13th, Rhythm Rangers on the 19th, Maria Muldaur on the 20th, Kelly Willis on the 28th, and others. Marin County's favorite (and only) old-time band The Roadoilers will be playing a contra dance in Petaluma on the 5th at Hermann Sons Hall from 8-11 p.m. There's a big ol' fingerstyle guitar night coming up at 8 p.m. on the 5th at BookBeat in Fairfax. Stevie Coyle (of The Waybacks) will share the evening with Acoustic Guitar Magazine gear editor Teja Gerken, host Jack Irving and overseas guest Detlef Bunk. The Sonoma County 2007 Harvest Fair will be held at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds on the 5th-7th, and it will feature more than 500 wines, a bounty of crisp, fresh produce, and aromatic cuisine prepared by some of California's most talented chefs, as well as entertainment and activities for all ages. Live jazz, pumpkin carving contests, hayrides, art, photography, magic shows, llama and potbellied pigs promise to showcase the talents and lifestyle that is uniquely Sonoma County. You can see Lee Waterman & Jazz Caliente, Milagro, The Eric Muhler Trio, Dream Door, and The Susan Comstock Swingtet. Wagon, down to a duo for now with Brian Lamoreaux (banjo and guitar) and Adam Bowers (dobro), will play two shows this month. On the 5th at 8 p.m. they will open at Hotel Utah in San Francisco with other local bluegrass acts during Hardly Strictly, and on the 12th see them at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach starting at 7 p.m. If you can't make it down to SF from the foothills area for the fest, go instead to the Auburn Bluegrass Festival on the 6th to see Sidesaddle, Keith Little & Friends, and Mountain Laurel. Sonoma's Adam Traum will be playing on the 6th at the Larkspur Café Theater, opening for the Pine Needles. He will have a driving rhythm section featuring Tony Robinson on the bass and George Schmeltz (Poor Man's Whiskey) on drums. This will be a great night of Americana roots music. There will be a Wine Country Cajun Festival on the 6th in downtown Napa featuring the Zydeco Flames and The Bayou Boys. Go the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa to see Greenhouse on the 5th, The Carrtunes on the 6th, Ring of Truth Trio on the 11th (and 25th), The Farallons on the 13th, the Tonewoods on the 20th, the Moonshiners on the 26th, and more. House concerts in Marin. Drew Pearce will be hosting two house concerts in Marin this month. On the 6th in Fairfax enjoy Amie Penwell and Kym Tuvim, and then on the 27th in San Rafael it will be Isul Kim and Javier Montiel. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Jorma Kaukonen on the 6th, The Avett Brothers on the 18th, The Sun Kings and The Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 19th, New Monsoon on the 20th, and more. Jenny Kerr will be out with a full band for the first time in quite a while on the 6th. After exploiting the joys of the acoustic duo for the last year, they will be rockin' and rollin' with bassist Mike Anderson (of The Cowlicks) and drumming force of nature Tony Vito. They will be making an in-store appearance at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa for one acoustic set at 4 p.m., and then the band goes electric and rocks for Breast Cancer Awareness at The Russian River Brewery in town. Show starts at 9 and goes until midnight. Mill Valley artist Jesse Lee Kincaid performs with his band at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 6th at 7 p.m. Jesse then will play solo at Peri's in Fairfax on the 9th at 9:30 p.m., and on the 21st he will be the DJ at Park School's walkathon. Show me the money! The 20th Anniversary of the Carousel Fund Casino Night will take place on the 6th at the Petaluma Veteran's Building. The event raises money for local families who have children who suffer from a catastrophic illness. This year the house will rock with Eddie Money. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center's second annual gala, "Under the Stars," will take place on the 6th in Forest Knolls. The event features top zydeco dance band, The Zydeco Flames, as well as the Valley Jazz Quartet, fine foods, wines and beer from top local venues, and a silent auction. A shuttle will ferry guests from the Community Center parking lot at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in San Geronimo from 5-7 p.m. and back again from 9-11 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 6th and the 13th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 20th it will be swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. The first hundred years. On the 6th from noon until 6 p.m. the town of San Anselmo presents The Centennial Picnic, its final event of the year in honor of the town's 100th birthday. This old-fashioned community event features free live music by San Anselmo artist and musician Jeb Brady as he leads his band, The Jeb Brady Band, through a musical tour highlighting 100 years of music. Brady brings in special musical guests from the community to add to the celebration, including San Anselmo sixth grader Zachary Mathe who is opening on piano with "The Entertainer," the singing sensation of Drake High School junior Lily Housh, and delightful authentic jazz from Fairfax legend Dore Green, who once toured with Frank Sinatra and is now in her 80s, still plays music regularly around Marin. Some of the activities will be free kids' crafts and games including lawn bowling, bocce ball, milk can toss, horseshoes, ring toss, bean bag tic-tac-toe, and prizes, and good old-fashioned community activities including a watermelon eating contest, sack race, three-legged race, balloon toss, egg and spoon contest, and the ever popular tug-of-war. Local restaurants and clubs will be selling food at the picnic, or you can bring your own. The snack shack will be open for soft drinks, and the Log Cabin is the site for buying beverages as well as viewing a display provided by the town's historical commission. This free event will be held at Memorial Park located behind San Anselmo's Recreation Department at 1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., adjacent to Redhill Shopping Center. Livin', lovin', Louvin. Don't miss Charlie Louvin when he does an in-store appearance at Amoeba Music in SF on the 6th at 2 p.m. Charlie was one-half of The Louvin Brothers, the popular country/bluegrass duo from the 1950s. He is in town to play the Hardly Strictly Fest, and you can see him up close and personal at the Amoeba store located at 1855 Haight Street. David Zasloff, house concert master musician and comedian, will play five instruments, sing some terrific jazz tunes and tell some hilarious stories on the 6th at 7:30 p.m. at Daniel Oberti's Art Studio in Sebastopol, and he will also be playing somewhere in Napa on the 7th. For reservations and info call (818) 566-1442. Novato singer/songwriter Amy Wigton will be singing at the Mill Valley Film Festival on the 8th from 6-8 p.m. at the Outdoor Arts Club located at 1 West Blithedale Avenue, in downtown Mill Valley (across from the Sequoia theater). This is a free and public event. Happy hour is from 5-6 and the café will be open until 8. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. The Hot Club of Marin will play at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 14th at 5 p.m. as part of Ned Ripple's Jumpin Jive show; on the 20th they will be at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; and on the 29th at 7:30 p.m. it will be the first ever Hot Club of Marin Club Meeting and Gypsy Swing Jam at 142 Throckmorton Theater. All musicians who come and join will break up into groups, there'll be a featured artist, HCM will start things out, and then every group will get to play a few tunes on stage for a recital, not necessarily in that order. Membership will have its privileges with a newsletter, discounts and goodies, etc. Schaef-Abel Productions has two shows coming up in October at Studio E in Sebastopol. On the 12th you can see Girlyman, and on the 20th don't miss Reilly & Maloney. Girlyman, the multiple award winning, indie-folk trio is known for its lush, seductive and complex three-part harmonies and modern bluegrass/folk sound, equal parts Alison Krauss & Union Station and REM. The members of Girlyman switch off songwriting duties, lead vocals, and play a range of instruments, including the acoustic and baritone guitar, djembe, banjo and mandolin. From the mid-1970s through the late 1980s, the voices-and-guitars duo of Ginny Reilly and David Maloney made delightful harmonies together. In 2003, they started performing together again after a decade-plus pursuing their solo careers. Old fans will be happy to hear that they've lost none of their vocal magic. Reilly still has one of the sweetest voices in folk music, an ethereal soprano that dances lightly around Maloney's grittier baritone, and the contrast in their voices and their unique sense of harmony makes for some wonderful duets. Chipfest 2007. A musical celebration of the master musician and mandolin maestro, Chip Dunbar, will take place on the 13th at the New College of California in Santa Rosa at 8 p.m. Like the Kate Wolf Festival, this event is intended to honor the memory of Chip Dunbar by holding a mini-folk festival that presents the folk, bluegrass, blues, swing, country and rock music that Chip loved. When Chip passed away last November, Sonoma County lost one its very finest music teachers. Among the performers will be many of Chip's former students and band mates. The Eclecti-cats, HiJinks, Terra Nova and Under the Radar are some of the bands that served as a vehicle for Chip's immense talent as a singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist. Some of the performers for this show will be The Mighty Chiplings, Ted Dutcher & Ellen Silver, Chips Off the Old Block, Lisa Redfern, The Hot Fritattas, All Strings Considered, Sara Winge & Friends, Solid Air and Under the Radar. Tickets are $15 general public ($13 for Sonoma Folk Society members) and they are available at The Last Record Store or by contacting Kevin Russell via email krussellmft@aol.com or by calling (707) 824-1858. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents award-winning singer-songwriter Michael McNevin for an evening of music and dining on the 13th. Seasoned and accomplished, Michael's talent lies in his ability to extract juicy bits of life from his surroundings and let a tale unravel from each one. His voice is one that stays with you after a show, his guitar playing is superb, and the scenes he paints in his songs are as vivid as his Etch-a-Sketch drawings, which are noteworthy in their own right. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, show starts 7. Reservations are required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Murphy Productions is presenting three shows this month. On the 13th see Christopher Smith & Friends, with Doug Adamz opening, at The Sanctuary (Mt Tamalpais United Methodist Church), 410 Sycamore Avenue in Mill Valley. On the 14th see Heriberto "Tito" Gonzalez cruising on the bay on the Sausalito Empress on the 14th from 4-8 p.m. And on the 27th they will be hosting Django Obscura and The Matt Eakle Quartet at Studio 333, located at 333 Caledonia, in Sausalito at 8 p.m. Lindalou and Michael have a lot going on this month. On the 13th and 27th see them at The Calistoga Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. until noon on Washington Street by the Community Center. Dan Brunetti and David Chapman will accompany them. Later on that evening they will join Christopher Smith in Mill Valley. On the 20th and 28th from 1-4 p.m. you can see them in Petaluma at the Adobe Pumpkin Farm. On the 21st they'll be playing at the memorial celebration in Sebastopol for their dear friend, Diane Bodach, a beautiful poet and singer who died recently after a long struggle with cancer. The Marin County bluegrass band String Break will play at the Jupiter Brewpub in Berkeley on the 14th from 5-8 p.m. Fiddling Joe Osborn will be featured, demonstrating his finely honed chops as he prepares to compete in the Western Open Fiddle Contest the following week in Red Bluff. Also, String Break welcomes Mill Valley banjo player Gary Kaye, who will join the band for the first time on stage. The North Bay songwriting trio The Farallons will be singing in harmony at The Black Rose on the 13th. Then, on the 27th, Farallon Tom Richardson will play a solo gig with singer/songwriter colleague Lisa Redfern at Cafe Noto in Windsor from 8-10 p.m. Michael Capella will release his second CD of original music, Test of Time, with a house concert at 2 p.m. on the 14th at Karraker House in Forestville. Weather permitting the concert will be outside under the oak trees. The CD offers 14 new original songs crafted and recorded with Michael's special touch. In the tradition of house concerts, a $15 donation is requested, and reservations are needed in advance. To make reservations call (707) 544-5974 or email kcapella633@sbcglobal.net. The Rhythm Rangers ride into Rancho Nicasio for their debut show on the 19th. Showtime is 8:30 and reservations are recommended. The Rangers play western swing music, mixed with alt-country and a dash of rockin' blues. Go on out and bring your dancing shoes! Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 19th beginning at 7 p.m. Just him and Bobby McGee. Kris Kristofferson will be playing a show at the Lincoln Theatre in Napa on the 21st, and then he'll be in Carmel By The Sea (as opposed to Carmel By Fresno) on the 24th. Danny Montana and the Bar Association have two fun shows in October, with special guest David Phillips on pedal steel. On the 21st, from 4-8 p.m., it's all aboard the Sausalito Empress for an evening dinner cruise on the bay. Contact Empress Events for tix and more info. Then on the 27th it's out to Smiley's in Bolinas for some big fun at the beach...and a birthday celebration for Danny Montana and bassist Tim Bush. Bring your party hats! Music starts at 9 p.m. with the Dogtown Ramblers playing some swampy blues. Out in West Marin Paul Knight & Friends will be at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st. from 5-8:30 p.m. with Mark Silber, Chojo Jacques and Banana. 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. Also, she will be doing a community jam benefit for the 142 Throckmorton Theatre on the 24th. The 142 is a non-profit theatre and community support and donations are what keep such a wonderful venue alive. The Bluegrass Gold show, which ran for 8.5 years at Sweetwater and is produced by Carltone Music, will move for the time being to the Larkspur Café Theater on the 25th. The premiere show at the LCT, starting at 8 p.m., will feature the North Bay band Poor Man's Whiskey. They are the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the wine country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. Their most recent CD is titled Roadside Attraction.The Hicktones will be entertaining at the Healdsburg Pumpkin Festival on the 27th, in downtown Healdsburg, from 9 a.m. until noon. Their bluegrass harmonies will take place after the pumpkin race. If you are up in Reno on the 27th working the slots take a break to attend the Bluegrass Dinner Show at 6 p.m. at the Great Basin Brewing Company in Sparks. Fans of bluegrass and Americana music won't want to miss this show, as Reno's own hard-driving bluegrass band, Straight Ahead Bluegrass, will open, followed by National Champion Bluegrass Guitarist Steve Kaufman. Reservations required. On the 28th in Cotati at 3 p.m. check out the Songs of Sonoma Songwriters in the Round with Lisa Nemzo, John Haley-Walker, Caren Armstrong and Elaine Dempsey. 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. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: BROADWAY - THE AMERICAN MUSICAL 10/03 9 p.m., 10/07 1 a.m.: "This six-part series chronicles the history of this uniquely American art form. Hosted by Julie Andrews, it tells two stories: the 100-year history of musical theater, and the story of its relationship to 20th-century American life, from the immigrant experience at the turn of the century to today's Broadway, where big budget new productions and revivals of classic favorites compete side by side for box office success. Peppered throughout are legendary moments in Broadway history and first-person accounts from dozens of theater luminaries." YOU'RE THE TOP - THE COLE PORTER STORY 10/03 11 p.m., 10/07 3 a.m.: "'Night and Day,' I Get a Kick You of You,' 'You're the Top,' 'Begin the Beguine,' 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' - some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written came from the pen of Cole Porter. Outwardly a sophisticated bon vivant and international partygoer, he was also a dedicated musical professional who routinely spent hours agonizing over a single rhyme or musical transition. The life and legacy of America's most sophisticated songwriter is the subject of this documentary, which features interviews with the performers and artists who knew Porter best and more than 20 classic performances from his movie musicals." AMERICA IN THE 40'S - ON BORROWED TIME 10/04 8 p.m., 10/06 6 p.m., 10/08 midnight: "This three-part series celebrates the culture and vitality of one of America's most influential and nostalgic eras. Part 1: This 'nonfiction musical' recalls a time when good music was popular and popular music was good. Crafted from the moods, memories and mysteries of a generation of Americans whose childhood was shaped by the Great Depression and whose character was forged in the fires and chaos of World War II, the special celebrates those unforgettable years of triumph and tragedy, heartache and heroics, humor and hope in a moving, memorable chronology. Charles Durning hosts." AMERICA IN THE 40'S - WAR STORIES 10/04 9 p.m., 10/08 1 a.m., 10/13 6 p.m.: "This episode celebrates the culture and vitality of one of America's most influential and nostalgic eras. This episode focuses on WWII, when men went to war and women went to work; the country fought for a common cause; and the jitterbug and big band music reigned. With first-hand accounts, letters, historic footage and recordings, host Charles Durning takes a sentimental journey through the war years. . AMERICA IN THE 40'S - COMING HOME 10/04 10 p.m., 10/08 2 a.m., 10/20 6 p.m.: "In the conclusion, America comes home. The country never looked back as troops returned from the war, and the reunion of American families began a boom that changed the country forever. A burst of growth in jobs, technology, suburban sprawl, the middle class, and even babies created a new consumerism that continues today. Through music, interviews, film clips and historic footage, this final episode recalls the last years of one of America's most idealistic eras. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971) 10/06 8pm, 10/28 midnight: "Norman Jewison's adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical received 8 Oscar nominations, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Sound. The story is set in the Ukrainian ghetto village of Anatevka. Israeli actor Topol (Best Actor nominee) reprises his London stage role as Tevye the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Based on the book by Shalom Aleichem." HEART AND SOUL - THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF FRANK LOESSER 10/07 noon; "This documentary profile features of one of America's most accomplished composer/lyricists. Frank Loesser wrote the words and music for Broadway's 'Guys & Dolls,' 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' and 'The Most Happy Fella,' along with lyrics for motion pictures from the golden age of Hollywood musicals. His song titles - from 'Luck Be a Lady' to 'Heart and Soul,' 'Praise the Lord and Pass The Ammunition,' and 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' - are part of our everyday language. This documentary tells the story of an extraordinary artist from his early days in Hollywood to his triumphs on Broadway to his eventual decline and untimely death at age 59. It's the story of a man once described as being a tough-talking New Yorker with a generous heart, a volatile temper, and a passion for living that came through in his music. Fascinating subject, great behind the scenes stories, and performance clips of favorite songs from the golden days of Hollywood and Broadway - music that has a special place in American's hearts." BROADWAY - THE AMERICAN MUSICAL 10/10 9 p.m., 10/14 1 a.m.: "'I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' (1929-1942).' The Great Depression proves to be a dynamic period of creative growth on Broadway, and a dichotomy in the musical theater emerges. Productions like Cole Porter's Anything Goes offer glamour and high times as an escape, while others - such as Of Thee I Sing, which satirizes the American political system, and the remarkable WPA production of The Cradle Will Rock, about a steel strike - deal directly with the era's social and political concerns. When Bing Crosby records 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,' the doleful Broadway ballad takes the hit parade by surprise. The onset of World War II galvanizes the country, and America's troubadour, Irving Berlin, rallies the troops with 'This Is the Army.' 'Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (1943-1960)' - The new partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II changes the face of Broadway forever, beginning with the record-breaking Oklahoma! in 1943, featuring a landmark ballet by Agnes De Mille. Carousel and South Pacific then set the standard for decades to come by pioneering a musical in which story is all-important. For challenging the country to confront its deep-seated racial bigotry, South Pacific wins the Pulitzer Prize. Irving Berlin triumphs again with Annie Get Your Gun, featuring Ethel Merman and the unofficial anthem of the American musical theater, 'There's No Business Like Show Business.' TV's The Ed Sullivan Show becomes the most important showcase for Broadway musicals. Yet with the death of Oscar Hammerstein II soon after the premiere of The Sound of Music in 1959, the curtain begins to lower on a golden age." KITTY CARLISLE HART - MY BROADWAY MEMORIES 10/10 11 p.m., 10/14 3 a.m.: "Taped before a life audience at the New Victory Theater, this enchanting special features an entertaining and moving treasury of Hart's personal anecdotes from her extraordinary life among theater world royalty. She also performs classic songs from Broadway's most renowned composers, many of whom were her personal friends." GUYS AND DOLLS (1955) 10/13 8 p.m., 10/21 1 a.m.: "Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons star as high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson and Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown. Frank Sinatra plays Nathan Detroit, while Stubby Kaye reprises his Broadway role as Nicely Nicely, and practically steals the show with his show-stopping solo 'Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat.' Directed by Joseph Mankiewicz." *************************************************************************************************** September 15, 2007 Carltone-by-the-Sea! In the previous edition we stated that this edition would not be sent out until at least the 17th (we are out of town on a day-job-related assignment) (What? You think money is being made while writing this thing?). But diligent publisher that we are, we brought along our staff and notebook computers to get the work done while being "stuck" here for a few days in Carmel-by-the-Sea (not to be confused with Carmel-by-Fresno, Carmel-by-Baghdad and other such Carmels). Instead of being outside enjoying high-end trinket shops, gazing at the Lone Cypress, searching for the glimpses of former mayor "Go-Ahead-Make-My-Day" and actress Doris Day, and playing the back nine at Pebble Beach, we're hold up in a motel room with a surge of energy trying to bring you all the hot music news from the North Bay that is yet to come this month. The result is the longest mid-month update on record… Stand up and be counted! The folks at the Bohemian newspaper are tabulating votes for the third annual North Bay Music Awards, and you can cast your ballots for your favorite categories. Go here to see the nominees and make your choices. Some Carltone favorites are Kevin Russell, Hot Buttered Rum, Poor Man's Whiskey, Solid Air, The Hot Frittatas, The Santa Rosa Symphony, Trailer Park Rangers, David Grisman, and Vinyl. Unfortunately, some of these acts are up against one another. Ever thought about going to a bluegrass jam but you don't know if you could cut it? Ever gone to one and been intimidated by the regular players? Well, banjo teacher Avram Siegel has just the class for you! The new edition of his eight-week jam class session is starting soon and there are some openings for a banjo, a bass and fiddles and dobros. The classes are a lot of fun and a great way to further develop your bluegrass abilities. If you're interested, email him at avramnallison@sbcglobal.net or find more information on his website at www.avramsiegel.com. Tell him Carltone sent you. Never too old to rock and roll? Well, time will tell soon enough. Led Zeppelin will be reuniting, minus hard drinking and late drummer John Bonham (who climbed his "stairway to heaven" in 1980)(his son Jason will drum in his dad's place) to play a concert in London on November 26th. Tickets will cost $254.30, and are available by ballot only with winners' names chosen at random. The artist formerly known as Prince, who then became a symbol that is not on this keyboard, and then became Prince again, is suing YouTube and eBay for unauthorized use of his music. His legal action is the latest bid by the music industry to take back control over content in an age where file sharing, mobile phones and video sites make enforcing copyright virtually impossible. East Bay photographer Michael Melnyk has three recent wonderful sets of music photos that you can look at on line. The first is of the Jug Band Festival at the Great American Music Hall in SF on August 26th, and the other two are from the Strawberry Music Festival, with an entire set just from the Chickwagon show at Camp Cowlick. Pamela's exes go to the mat! Two ex-husbands of TV personality-babe Pamela Anderson - rockers Tommy Lee and Kid Rock - duked it out backstage at the MTV Awards last week. Lee claims he was bitched-slapped by "Kid Pebble," and he apologized not for the fight itself, but for causing a commotion while the show was in progress. Maybe it is time for a new "reality" show. What the heck, Anna Nicole is now gone, and there has been a huge void of ditsy buxom bird-brained bottle blondes on the tube ever since… And the winner is…As reported here recently rappers Kanye West and 50 Cent both released CDs on 9/11, and West said that if Cent outsold him in the first week of the releases that he would retire from recording. Isn't it great that mainstream publications like Rolling Stone put these guys on the cover in a publicity stunt that only encourages more moronic stunts like this to happen? Do the world a favor and pub neither record… Celebrating the uke. There is a ukulele exhibit going on now through October 21st at the Museum of Craft and Folk in SF. The day the music dies. The legendary Sweetwater nightclub in Mill Valley, talked about at length in the previous newsletters, will indeed be closing soon. The official date for the public is now September 23rd. On the last night there will be special guests along with lots of tears. As of today info about the show is not up on the site, but sources tell us it will cost $100 to attend the party that will start at 2 p.m. and go until 2 a.m. Speaking of the club, there was yet another Marin IJ Paul Liberatore story about Sweetwater here. And the Pacific Sun had a cover story about the club by Greg Cahill that you can read here. Also reported earlier, another Mill Valley institution is going to be disappearing for good on September 30th. Village Music, the vintage record store that has been run by John Goddard for over 40 years, will be closing its doors. Get on over there to buy some records, posters, CDs, memorabilia, etc. There is a massive sale going on from now until the end. Don't say you weren't warned. There were two more stories about John in the SF Chronicle by dinosaur rock writer Joel Selvin. New songwriter showcase. Some of you may remember the Celebrating Songwriters series, hosted by Caren Armstrong, at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre. Well, the popular showcase for local and nationally touring songwriters moves this month to a new venue in Berkeley starting on the 29th where the generous folks at the Left Coast Concert Series will be hosting the show on a monthly basis. The address is 2928 Domingo Avenue. Street theatre. Pastime, the dance piece by Chris Black that was inspired by baseball with music from Erik Pearson, begins this weekend at Justin Herman Plaza, just north of the Ferry Building. The time is 1:05 p.m. The music will be transmitted over a radio station being created in the park, so bring a radio if you want, or just go by. The piece runs Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 for the next three weekends. Next weekend is at Precita Park in the Mission (just south of Cesar Chavez), and the final weekend is in Golden Gate Park, just inside along JFK. The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival roster of performers for the October fest is now up on their web site. Bill Callahan, Bill Kirchen, Charlie Louvin, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience w/ special guest Curly Seckler, The Del McCoury Band, Doc Watson, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, The Hacienda Brothers, Hazel Dickens, Heartless Bastards, Hot Buttered Rum, Jim Lauderdale, Jody Stecher & Bill Evans / The Secret Life of Banjos, Jorma Kaukonen, Marley's Ghost, Poor Man's Whiskey, The Wronglers, The Cash Magnets, and oh, a few more bands… The 2007 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were recently announced, and they will be Flatt & Scruggs, Hank Williams Jr., Bob DiPiero, Mac McAnally and Dottie Rambo. They will be inducted on October 14th. Flatt & Scruggs first hooked up as part of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1945. Three years later, they left Monroe to start their own act. They joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1956 and expanded their audience in 1962 when they recorded the theme song to "The Beverly Hillbillies" TV show. Their instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was used in the film "Bonnie & Clyde," and they were among the first bluegrass groups to perform at Carnegie Hall. Williams, the son of Hank Williams Sr., began his career performing his legendary father's songs but in the 1970s forged his own musical identity. Some of his hits were "Texas Women," "Born to Boogie," "Family Tradition" and "All My Rowdy Friends (Are Coming Over Tonight)." DiPiero has penned hits for Reba McEntire ("Little Rock"), George Strait ("Blue Clear Sky"), Faith Hill ("Take Me As I Am"), Vince Gill ("Worlds Apart") and many others. McAnally has written hits for Alabama ("Old Flame"), Shenandoah ("Two Dozen Roses"), Steve Wariner ("Precious Things") and Ricky Van Shelton ("Crime Heart"). Rambo has had more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, "We Shall Behold Him." Music and the movies. There are two new movies of note that have a lot to do with music history. One is a documentary of the legendary folksinger/activist Pete Seeger titled Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, and the other is called Across the Universe, and it features a soundtrack by the Beatles. Fishwrap Roundup. There was a story in the SF Chronicle about the "coming out" of Styx bass player Chuck Panozzo. Paul Liberatore featured Mill Valley hip-hop DJ Shadow in the Marin IJ recently, who will be spinning records at Village Music from now until the end on the 30th. Police log. New piano player needed: Carter Albrecht, keyboard player in the band Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians, is no longer. He was killed on the 4th in Texas when, after allegedly beating up his girlfriend, he began banging on the next-door neighbor's door. The neighbor thought someone was trying to break in, and after repeated warnings, fired his gun. Brickell is married to singer/songwriter Paul Simon…"They came at me with sharpened nail files!" Rapper Foxy Brown was sentenced to a year in jail for violating terms of her parole from her fight with two manicurists…I feel a new country song coming on: Country singer Mindy McCready was sentenced to one year in jail for violating her parole - for getting into a fight with her mother and scuffling with police while on probation from other offenses. Hey TV producers, get these two fightin' babes together in the same cell and turn on the cameras! Talk about "must see TV"… Life's railway to heaven. Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti died on the 6th after a long illness. He was 71. He was the voice and face of opera for much of the past four decades. Jazz drummer Joe Zawinul died on September 11th in Vienna, Austria, from a rare form of skin cancer. He was 75. He is credited with bringing the electric piano and synthesizer into the jazz mainstream, and he played with Miles Davis some as well as being a co-founder of the influential jazz-fusion band Weather Report. Phil Frank, the longtime writer of the SF Chronicle comic strip "Farley," died on the 13th in Marin County from a brain tumor. He was 64. While not a musician, he was a true artist in every sense of the word, and a longtime resident of Sausalito. He also combined with writer Joe Troise to produce "Elderberries," a syndicated daily strip about life in a retirement home. In this latter strip he occasionally poked fun at the much-maligned banjo. Janis Martin, who was billed as the "Female Elvis" in the 1950s, died on the 3rd from complications of cancer. She was 67. Regarded as the first female rockabilly singer, RCA executive Steve Sholes discovered Martin as a teenager, and in 1956 she recorded in Nashville with Chet Atkins. Her first single, "Will You, Willyum," launched her pop music career and led to several high-profile TV appearances. Hilly Kristal, who founded the legendary CBGB club, died on August 28th in New York at age 75 after battling lung cancer. Kristal opened the club in New York's Bowery area in 1973 and it gained its ultimate reputation as a punk club following early performances by the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith and others. Coming attractions. Roadoilers playing a contra dance in Petaluma on 10/5; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10/5-7; Jorma Kaukonen at the Mystic in Petaluma on 10/6; Emmylou Harris at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa on 10/9; Auburn Bluegrass Festival on 10/6 with Sidesaddle, Keith Little & Friends, Mountain Laurel; Christopher Smith in Mill Valley on 10/13; Reilly & Maloney at Studio E in Sebastopol on 10/20; Kris Kristofferson in Yountville on 10/21 and Carmel on 10/24; River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland 1/4-6/08 with the David Grisman Quintet, Dan Tyminksi, Seldom Scene, Marty Stuart, and many others. Additions KWMR public radio in Point Reyes Station will be holding a Block Party BBQ Hootenanny on the 15th from noon-3 p.m. They'll be serving up live music and BBQ. The Blue Plate Special is BBQ Oysters - there's a free plate with every membership! Bring your friends and family. The party is free for all and it all happens in front of the KWMR studios, at 11431 Highway One at Mesa Road, Point Reyes. The bands include The Pine Needles, Kelly Peterson, Jenny Kerr, and The Rhythm Rangers. See/hear Sonoma singer/songwriter Adam Traum on the 15th from 12-4 p.m. at Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood. He'll be kicking off the afternoon by having his friend Sara Furrer join him. Later on, Tony Robinson will be on the standup bass and singing a few of his own tunes. This is a family friendly location that offers wine tasting, grassy picnic areas and bocce courts. There is no charge to just hang out and listen. On the 23rd Adam will be at Cato's Ale House in Oakland from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sausalito Houseboat Concerts has moved their show temporarily to the home of their friend Kristina Peterson in El Cerrito on the 15th. Singer/songwriters Jill Knight and Irina Rivkin will play at 8 p.m. at 2417 Edwards Avenue (in the El Cerrito hills). Reservations are required as space is limited. Send an email to Dan Fontes at danfontes@yahoo.com for more info. Lindalou and Michael will be singing on the 15th from noon until 1 p.m. at Calistoga's Relay for Life to benefit The American Cancer Society. This event will be at the Calistoga High School track on Lake Street. They'll play the first set as a duo at noon and then another one from 3-4 accompanied by pals Dan and David. Poor Man's Whiskey will be pickin' bluegrass and other genres at the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa on the 15th starting at 9 p.m. The Hoss Project will be riding into SF on the 16th at the 21st Amendment Brew Pub, just up the street from PacBell Ballpark. They'll be playing bluegrass inflected tunes and more from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you're a picker, a singer, or a grinner, you're invited to join the band on stage for a tune or two during the second and third sets. Handcrafted beers are $3.00 if you do. HP is Steve Cohen on guitar, Deirdre Donovan on bass, Ron Esparza on fiddle, Jeff Kaplan on banjo, Richard Mooreon mandolin, and Alec Oyung on dobro. On the 16th Mill Valley's Jesse Lee Kincaid will be singing in the Beatles tribute at the Fairfax baseball field, starting at 2 p.m. The band includes strings and horns and does the Beatles to the max. On the 18th he will perform solo acoustic at Peri's in Fairfax at 9:30 p.m. Paul Knight & Friends will be jammin' some bluegrass on the 16th from 5-8:30 p.m. at The Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station. The friends will be Kathy Kallick, Tom Bekeney and Megan Lynch. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to KWMR. Not just another hole in the wall. There is a new pub in downtown Santa Rosa that opened in July, and it is called The Toad in the Hole (not to be confused with the Ace in the Hole in Graton). It is located at 116 Fifth Street near Railroad Square. They serve the best beer, the most delicious wine, local cider and cask beer, as well as the finest fish and chips, English bangers and Cornish Pasties along with live music about four nights a week, with a normal budget-busting cover charge of $2 a show. Heck, for this price you can afford to put the remote switch down and get out and see live music again. What a concept! See the Wayward Angels on the 15th, Moss Henry on the 16th, The Smilin' Iguanas on the 19th, Open Hearts Trio on the 22nd, The Spindles on the 28th, Peter Tracy & The Left Coast Troubadours, and many other fine acts. The North Bay band The Bluebellies will be playing at the Riptide in SF on the 16th, at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on the 22nd, and then at Rocker's Oysterfellas on the 23rd, the latter two times at 8 p.m. The Farallons' Tom Richardson will join excellent local singer/songwriters Michael Capella and Sherry Lea Jones in a new original music series called Friday Nite Live on the 21st at 7:30 p.m. at The Subud Hall in Sebastopol. Subud is a comfortable venue with warmth and intimacy, perfect for live music. There will be water, soda and snacks available, and you can bring your own wine or beer to be opened and served. For more info on this or any of the other upcoming Friday Nite Live performances, call 707-823-5849. On the 21st Wagon will play at the Presidio Yacht Club from 8-11 p.m., right below the Golden Gate Bridge on the Marin side. This will be one of their last performances (for a while) with Brendan Neagle & Nick Martin, as Brendan is moving east soon. Big Wide Grin has two hot shows of note coming up. On Saturday the 22nd tune into the West Coast Live show on KALW (91.7 FM in SF) to hear the band play on the radio (or attend the show in person at the Ferry Building in SF), and then dash on over to the Larkspur Café Theater that evening at 8 p.m. to see them and the St. Andrews Sisters sing. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey is in both acts, and she will be wearing a big smile on this night, especially if you show up to see her play. As part of the national promotion for his new book Banjo For Dummies, Bay Area banjo master Bill Evans will be in Sebastopol for an in-store mini-concert and book signing event on the 25th at 7 p.m. at Copperfield' s Books. This is a free event. Bill will also be playing a series of duet shows in the next two weeks with fiddle Megan Lynch. Go to his site for details. 1/4 Mile Combo will be rockin' the Fourth St. Tavern in San Rafael with rockabilly on the 27th along with Lil' Bit & the Customatics starting at 9 p.m. Petaluma Church Concerts is presenting Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox featuring Barry Sless & Doug Harman on the 28th at 8 p.m. Songwriter and guitarist Lorin Rowan joins up with pedal steel master Barry Sless (of Phil Lesh & Friends) and highly respected cellist Doug Harman. The trio plays a combination of Lorin's original material mixed with a few covers. Each member of the group is a master musician, capable of playing concise folk/pop classics one moment but able to draw on extensive improvisational skills to dive into the realm of the acoustic jam band when the time is right. The 35th Annual SF Blues Festival will be taking place on the 28th-30th at the Great Meadow at Fort Mason. Curtis Lawson, Joe Louis Walker, Harvey Mandel, Fillmore Slim, Tommy Castro, Robert Randolf, The Carter Brothers, Eric Bibb, and countless other greats. The 110th Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is happening in downtown Sonoma on the 28th-30th, and some of the acts you can see are Jamie Clark & The Players, Roy Rogers, The David Thom Band, Tommy Castro, The Hellhounds, and The Whiskey Thieves. All of the music is free! The Marin traditional bluegrass band Keystone Station, while not part of the Vintage Festival, will be playing vintage bluegrass on the 29th at Murphy's in the town of Sonoma from 8-10 p.m. There is no cover, and this will be the band's first performance with their new banjo player, Petaluma's own Chris Caputo. Come out and see what all the fuss is about. Redwood Bluegrass Associates is presenting The Billy Pilgrims and Chuck & Jeanie's Country Roundup on the 29th at the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View at 8 p.m. The Billy Pilgrims feature members from two popular yet now disbanded acts from Colorado - Open Road and Hit & Run Bluegrass. They have formed a new group to play the vintage bluegrass of The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Vern Williams, Bill Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs, plus classic country with a couple of electric instruments to play the music of Buck Owens, Hank Williams, George Jones, Ray Price, and Lefty Frizzell. Jeanie & Chuck play a bit of the same on a regular basis in the SF area. Reminders Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Before they close up shop see Michael LaMacchia's Organic Jive Collective on the 15th, Rhythmtown Jive on the 16th, the final open mic with Austin deLone on the 17th, Donna Jean & The Tricksters on the 20th, and Mother Hips on the 21st and 22nd. At the Ace in the Hole Pub in Graton see Heavy Petty on the 15th, Country Songwriters Competition on the 19th with Kim Trypsmith, Pete Olsen, Jan White and others, The Accidentals on the 22nd, West County Outlaws on the 27th, and lots more. 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. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are Steve Bruton on the 15th, open mic with Michael LaMacchia on the 18th (and 25th), The Summer of Love Comedy Show on the 19th, Big Wide Grin on the 22nd, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 28th, Calvin Cooke & The Family Band on the 29th, and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Perfect Crime on the 15th, Spiral Mystics on the 22nd, The David Thom Band on the 28th, Keystone Station on the 29th, and much more. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is now featuring a lot of bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. You can see The Courtney Janes Band on the 15th, Lost Highway on the 21st, The Mercury Dimes on the 22nd, the David Thom Band on the 29th, and others. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 15th it will be swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell has some cool gigs coming up. On the 15th the Rhythm Rangers are at the outdoor concert for KWMR in Pt. Reyes Station at 2 p.m., and on the 22nd Under the Radar will play the Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Lansdale Station on the 15th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 21st, Danny Montana and the Bar Association on the 22nd, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, and more. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Sons of Champlain on the 15th, Dick Dale on the 21st, Mindy Smith on the 26th, and more. The San Geronimo Cultural Center presents "Acoustic Ninja" Trace Bundy on the 15th at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first Marin appearance for the indie guitar star that sells out halls nationally. The 1st place Guitars on the River winner uses hammering, slapping and other unique techniques. Youth County Fair Star Search winner Cullen Gray, whose guitar style is influenced by Bundy, will open. At the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention through the 16th see Tom Sauber, Brad Leftwich & Alice Gerrard, Heidi Clare, The Tallboys, Donna Ray Norton, Rich Hartness & Friends, Todalo Shakers and more. There will be Bluegrassin' In The Foothills out in Amador County through the 16th with Marty Raybon, Nothin' Fancy, The F-150's, Mighty Crows, Rita Hosking, Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds, Barefoot Nellies, and others. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Kimrea's 50th Birthday Show (details below) on the 16th, Bill Kirchen on the 22nd, Earl Thomas on the 29th, Jules Broussard on the 30th, and others. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be covering the musical map this month. You can hear him with his band Moonlight Rodeo at the Fairfax Picnic on the 16th, and at the Unitarian Fellowship in Terra Linda on the 29th. His jazz band, Namely Us, will be holding down their regular Sunday nightspot at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 23rd. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Elvin Bishop on the 16th, The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience on the 23rd, Stompy Jones on the 29th, Pablo Cruise on the 30th and more. 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. On the 16th she will be celebrating her art, music and 50th birthday at a show at the 142 Throckmorton starting at 8 p.m. Mill Valley's Dore Coller lives to pick. On the 17th he'll be sitting in the dobro chair at the Taco Invitational Bluegrass Jam in Oakland, and on the 20th see him play guitar with Hot Club of Marin at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See Jack Pribble & Gary Bauman on the 19th and join the Harvest Moon Celebration on the 26th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. 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 Alex DeGrassi on the 20th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. The North Bay duo Solid Air has a new CD out, and you can see them play a KRSH backyard concert in Santa Rosa on the 20th starting at 6 p.m. Lauralee Brown is one busy singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 22nd and 29th she will be singing a variety of styles in Petaluma at the Waterfront Grill from 6:30-9 p.m., accompanied by various talented players. Drew Pearce has one house concert left this month in Marin. On the 22nd see Teja Gerken and Joe Rathbone in Novato. Doors open at 7:30, and the music begins at 8 p.m. Open mic follows the featured acts. To attend, email Drew at drew@drewpearce.com, call (415) 706-3800, or go to his web site. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents Sonoma County singer-songwriter Michael Capella for an evening of music and dining on the 22nd. With songs ranging from touching folk ballads to spirited country rockers with insights on life's joy and challenges, Michael's tasteful arrangement and production draw on his years as a sideman in various folk and country bands. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Don't miss the Anderson Marsh Old-Time Bluegrass Festival in Clear Lake on the 22nd and 23rd. Some of the bands to see are Adobe Creek, Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds, Bluegrass Contraption, Barefoot Nellies, and Bound To Ride. If you happen to be in Sebastopol from 9 a.m. until noon on the 23rd, The Hicktones, America's Sweethearts, will be providing honest-to-goodness bluegrass twang at the Farmer's Market in the town square. It'll be terrifHick! 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 23rd. 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. Marin Civic Center has a couple of shows of note this month. See Garrison Keillor on the 25th and Kiri Te Kanawa on the 29th. Schaef-Abel Productions will feature Bob Livingston and Mark Viator & Susan Maxey on the 28th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Murphy Productions will be producing Barry Linder and Peter Kaukonen at the Larks Movie Theatre on the 29th. On the 29th the Mateel Community Center presents The 3rd Annual Humboldt Hills Bluegrass & Beyond with The David Grisman Quintet, Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Airforce, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and many more. Plus workshops, vendors, jamming opportunities, stuff for the kids, and food by local non-profits. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center, Congregation Gan Halev and KlezCalifornia present a Yiddish Folk Fest - an interactive day of art, food, storytelling, dancing and outstanding Klezmer music on the 30th from 3-7 p.m. There will be performances by Petaluma's Jubilee Klezmer, featuring members of the Santa Rosa Symphony at 3 p.m. followed by The Freilachmakers, a Jewish-Irish-Appalachian hybrid at 4 p.m. Also there will be in-depth workshops offered by talented and engaging instructors, including dance, singing, storytelling and music. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments. The event will culminate at the main stage with a dynamic concert set with the Red Hot Chachkas from 5-6 p.m. followed by a festive dance party led by Bruce Bierman. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is always some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: BENISE - NIGHTS OF FIRE 9/16 12:30 a.m.: "An unprecedented and spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance that pushes the bar of tradition and raises the standards of live performance to a fresh new level of originality, cultural fusion, and passion. Roni Benise is our master of ceremonies, as he takes us on a romantic and exotic voyage through the wild and beautiful sounds of his Spanish guitar." NOCHE DE MARIACHIS 9/16 noon: "Filmed live in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts, Noche de Mariachis is a colorful celebration of Mexico's national day of independence. During the special, the best entertainers and musicians from Mexico, Venezuela and the United States perform the world's most recognized forms of music, Mariachi. Guests include: Grammy-winner Vicky Carr, Jose Luis Rodriguez, 'E'l Puma,' Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano and the San Juan Folkloric Ballet." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 9/17 1:30 a.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world. Placido Domingo hosts." NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC OPENING NIGHT GALA CONCERT 9/18 8 p.m.: "Hosted by Beverly Sills, the program joins the New York Philharmonic and Maestro Lorin Maazel for their 2007-2008 season opening night gala concert and features Yo-Yo Ma as the guest artist for Dvorak's Cello Concerto. Dvorak's Seventh Symphony and Carnival Overture are also on the program." MUSIC AND DANCE OF POLAND - MAZOWZSE 9/22 1 a.m.: "Mazowsze is internationally recognized as Poland's cultural ambassadors, having performed over 6000 shows in cities around the world, including tours to the US. Their symphonic arrangements and dances have been created from traditional performance styles that represent more than 30 regions in Poland. The music varies from Chopin to simple folk melodies beloved by the Poles for centuries. Recorded live in the Polish National Opera House in Warsaw, and narrated by Bobby Vinton." ANUNA - CELTIC ORIGINS 9/22 2:30 a.m.: "Anuna - the original vocal group in Riverdance - has bridged the gap between classical and popular music with its pure, haunting, emotional and mystical sound. This program spans over 1000 years of music history as 16 Anuna singers perform an ethereal blend of Irish, British, Middle English, Scots Gaelic, Medieval Irish, Latin and Greek choral music. The Gothic beauty of Cleveland's Trinity Cathedral provides an atmospheric setting for the concert. During the program, Anuna founders Michael McGlynn and his twin brother John offer entertaining explanations about the origins and meanings of the group's music." ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 9/23 midnight, 9/26 3:31 a.m.: "This time capsule will transport you to another age: swinging London in the late 1960s. The show also includes guests: The Who singing 'A Quick One While's He's Away,' Jethro Tull and a great performance by John Lennon. This show was broadcast once in the US, on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault." MONTEREY POP - THE SUMMER OF LOVE 9/23 3:30 a.m.: "During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the three-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled "Monterey Pop" and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 40 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary." MY MUSIC - THE 70'S EXPERIENCE 9/26 1:29 a.m.: "Bell bottoms, 8-Tracks, pet rocks and more - all part of the 'Have a Nice Decade.' This program brings back the 70s, mixing soft rock, pop, soul and disco for the ultimate 70s party. Hosted by the Brady Bunch's Barry Williams. It includes new live and classic archival performances with some of the most loves tunes from the 1970s." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 9/29 midnight: "A celebration of the 60s folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." HIGH SOCIETY (1956) 9/29 8 p.m.: "This film is the musical remake of 'The Philadelphia Story,' about the efforts of a wealthy man to win back his ex-wife, who's about to be remarried, and the reporters who became entangled in the romantic complications. Stars Bing Crosby in the Cary Grant ex-husband role, Grace Kelly in her last film role as Tracy Lord (originated by Katharine Hepburn), and Frank Sinatra as the reporter who also falls in love with her (Jimmy Stewart in the non-musical version). Crosby also gets an assist from Louis Armstrong, playing himself. A stellar Cole Porter score includes the songs 'True Love,' 'Did Ya Evah?' 'You're Sensational,' plus Bing and Satchmo's 'Now You Has Jazz.'" ROYAL WEDDING (1951) 9/29 9:50 p.m.: "Tom and Ellen Bowen, a brother and sister dance team (Fred Astaire and Jane Powell), travel to London to perform at the same time Queen Elizabeth II is getting married. Aboard ship, Ellen meets the dashing Lord John Brindale (Peter Lawford), causing her to miss rehearsal. Tom uses the delay to partner with a hat rack and other equipment. Arriving in London, Tom holds auditions, and meets the lovely Anne Ashmond (Sarah Churchill). The love affairs of both siblings lead to indecision and angst, which Tom works out by dancing on the walls and ceiling. The story was loosely based on the real life partnership of Fred Astaire and his sister Adele, including their ship voyage to London in 1923. Burton Lane's and Alan Jay Lerner's song, 'Too Late Now,' was nominated for an Oscar (losing out to 'In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening' by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer)." MY MUSIC - THE BRITISH BEAT 9/30 1:30 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." *************************************************************************************************** August 29, 2007 Welcome to the 81st edition of Carltone's Corner! Early and late. This September edition of the newsletter is earlier than usual, as the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is packing up the van and heading to the Strawberry Music Festival for a weekend of music and general debauchery. The September mid-month update will arrive later than usual, as the staff will also be out of town from the 11th until the 17th. It is a busy time of year, and as the saying goes, we need to make some hay while the sun is still shining…. Yeah, all summer long people have been crying for Strawberry tickets. As predicted, there are now many tickets available for sale, so if you had given up on the idea, go to the ticket exchange list, buy one and head on up. A guaranteed good time will be had if you do. As always, if you do go to the fest, stop on by the mess hall some morning for the live broadcast of the Breakfast Club radio show. Carltone is the host wearing the strawberry pajamas and seersucker bathrobe. One must look good for radio, you know… Burnt man. The Burning Man Festival that takes place over Labor Day Weekend in the Nevada desert got quite a shock on August 28th when the "Man" himself/itself was set ablaze days early by an unemployed SF actor (who shall remain nameless here) looking to make a name for himself. He succeeded in doing such, as his photo, name and big smile have been plastered all over the media. You can't buy publicity like this! Look for him to be on Larry King, Leno, Letterman, etc., before too long. Now hear this! Down Home Music of El Cerrito has opened a second retail store at 1809 Fourth Street in Berkeley at the site of the former Hear Music. Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records founded the store in 1976, and it has been the home of roots music from the Americas and around the world for over 30 years. The new store will continue the tradition of Hear's comfortable listening experience with many long-time staff staying on, while adding the extra richness of Down Home's deeper and broader selections from the world's musical traditions. The day the music dies. The legendary Sweetwater nightclub in Mill Valley, talked about at length in the previous newsletter, will indeed be closing soon. Just not on August 31st, as previously noted. The official date now is September 22nd. The owners of the club are still looking for a new venue, but the end of a three-decade run of great music at the current location is coming on soon. Go see a show there one last time before it is gone from Throckmorton Street forever. It will be a sad day indeed… Saylor's crash landing. Saylor's Landing, a restaurant in Sausalito that for many years featured live jazz and blues, is no longer. Like Sweetwater, the owner of the restaurant had battles with the owner of the building, and he lost. And as a result, the live music scene in Marin (not to mention all of the employees that worked at the place) loses as well. Ah, what the heck! We can still stay home and idly watch American Idol on the Magnavox… As reported earlier, another Mill Valley institution is going to be disappearing for good on September 30th. Village Music, the vintage record store that has been run by John Goddard for over 40 years, will be closing its doors. Get on over there to buy some records, posters, CDs, memorabilia, etc. There is a massive sale going on from now until the end. Don't say you weren't warned. There was a wonderful cover story in a recent Pacific Sun about Goddard by writer Jill Kramer.. New songwriter showcase. Some of you may remember the Celebrating Songwriters series, hosted by Caren Armstrong, at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre. Well, the popular showcase for local and nationally touring songwriters moves this month to a new venue in Berkeley starting on the 29th where the generous folks at the Left Coast Concert Series will be hosting the show on a monthly basis. The address is 2928 Domingo Avenue. Congratulations to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival benefactor Warren Hellman, who will be receiving an International Bluegrass Music Association "Distinguished Achievement Award" at their big wing ding in October. Other recipients include Mike Auldridge, The CBA's Bluegrass Breakdown, Marko Cermak, and Happy & Jane Traum. Speaking of Hardly Strictly, the roster of performers for the October fest is now up on their web site. A man of constant sorrow. Dan Tyminski, longtime guitarist in Alison Krauss & Union Station and the singing voice of George Clooney in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? will tour in early '08 with his own band, and he may even play the Palace of Fine Arts in SF in January. The oblique Americana band 77 El Deora has a CD currently in production featuring new songs and guest performances by pedal steel player David Phillips, fiddlers Diana Greenberg (Bell Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, The Whoreshoes) and Katie Rexford (Burning Embers, Misisipi Rider), and more. Release date to be announced soon. Fishwrap Roundup. 78 year-old jazz singer Ed Reed has a new CD and he was featured in the SF Chronicle recently. Santa Rosa's Motown singer Chris Clark was written up as well. There was a nice story in the Tennessean about Ron Block, the banjo player in Alison Krauss & Union Station. In the Wall Street Journal read about so-called "relic" guitars that are new instruments made to look old. The Cotati Accordion Festival took place last weekend, and if you want to find out what you missed and get ready for next year, read the story here. And in the Marin IJ Paul Liberatore wrote about Mill Valley jazz singer Jackie Ryan. Band scramble. Brendan Neagle, the mandolin, guitar player and singer of the Marin band Wagon, is moving to Boston at the end of the month, where he will be getting married. Savannah Blue is a new bluegrass band in Marin consisting of Gary Kaye on banjo, Dave Hanks on mandolin, and Dore Coller on guitar. Pat Campbell will be playing bass on some gigs with them Police log. Life in shambles: One of Carltone's favorite performers (he helps fill this section of the newsletter on a semi-regular basis), Pete Doherty, lead singer of the band Babyshambles, is in trouble again. He was arrested in London for breaching his bail terms, but was let go because he was not officially charged within 24 hours. However, his cat Dinger barely fared much better, after eating cocaine that was probably left around the apartment by, oh, accident. The good news here is that Doherty's band has a new album due out in October, and he'll probably make a ton of money from it, enough to keep him and Dinger happy for eons… More animals and drugs: Earl Simmons, known in some quarters as rapper DMX, not to be outdone by Michael Vick, is being investigated for animal cruelty in Arizona and, during an investigation, police found about a half-pound of suspected illegal narcotics… Oops, wrong number! Rapper Foxy Brown was arrested again on a parole violation - for allegedly whacking her neighbor with her cell phone. She also skipped her anger management classes and traveled out of the city without permission… Hot relationship: British pop singer Amy Winehouse was bruised and bloodied recently in a fight with her husband, who apparently did not fare too well either in the melee. Ailing. Rock and roll trailblazer Bo Diddley, age 78, suffered a heart attack on August 28th in a most fortuitous location - a medical center, where he was undergoing a check-up. The great tenor Pavarotti, contrary to what was reported here in the last issue, has only recently gone home after being in the hospital for an extended time while suffering from a fever. Life's railway to heaven. Bebop jazz drummer Max Roach died in New York on August 15th. He was 83. Opera singer Rose Bampton died in Wayne, PA, on August 21st. She was 99. Coming attractions. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10/5-7; Jorma Kaukonen at the Mystic in Petaluma on 10/6; Kris Kristofferson in Yountville on 10/21 and Carmel on 10/24; Onward to the calendar… Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 6th, you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Commander Cody on the 1st, Motown singer Chris Clark on the 2nd, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 7th, James Moseley Band on the 9th, Vinyl on the 14th, and Mother Hips on the 21st and 22nd. At the Ace in the Hole Pub in Graton see Bottle Shock on the 1st, The Moonbeams on the 2nd, Uncle Wiggly on the 8th, Orjazzm on the 9th, Heavy Petty on the 15th, Country Songwriters Competition on the 19th with Kim Trypsmith, Dan Hayes, Pete Olsen, Jan White & others, The Accidentals on the 22nd, West County Outlaws on the 27th, and lots more. 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. On the 1st at Murphy's the excellent Sean Leahy on guitar and vocals will join him. He plays in 4 Year Bender and Guitarmageddon, and has played some with Tea Leaf Green. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are Tia McGriff on the 1st, open mic with Michael LaMacchia on the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th, Plum Crazy on the 7th, John Cross on the 8th, Steve Bruton on the 15th, and more. The Rowan Brothers (Lorin & Chris) have a busy Labor Day Weekend. See them at the Sausalito Art & Wine Festival on 1st from 2:30-4 p.m., and then on the 2nd they will be at the Summer of Love fest in GG Park from 10:25-10:40 a.m. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Andrew Freeman on the 1st, the Celtic jam on 2nd, Elaine Dempsey on the 6th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 7th, Carolina Special on the 8th, Shades of Green on the 9th, Adam Traum on the 13th, Spiral Mystics on the 22nd, The David Thom Band on the 28th, Keystone Station on the 29th, and much more. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is now featuring a lot of bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. You can see The Dore Coller Band on the 1st, The Mountain Boys on the 8th, Jimbo Trout on the 14th, Lost Highway on the 21st, The Mercury Dimes on the 22nd, and others. Lauralee Brown is one busy singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th she will be singing a variety of styles in Petaluma at the Waterfront Grill from 6:30-9 p.m., accompanied by various talented players; on the 2nd she will be singing acoustic favorites at the Sausalito Art Festival in the VIP tent from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; on the 3rd she'll be doing her Jazz & Beyond show at The Sausalito Art Festival on the Artists Stage from 11 a.m. -12 p.m., accompanied by Ken Husbands on guitar, Jack Prendergast on bass and Steve Malerbi on drums; and on the 6th she'll be back at The Seafood Peddler in San Rafael as guest vocalist with Alex Markel's Rent Party Rhythm Section from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and the 8th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 15th it will be swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. Drew Pearce has a busy month with his house concerts in Marin. On the 1st in Mill Valley see Keith Greeninger and Paul Manousos, on the 7th in Sausalito it is Megan Slankard and Elliot Randall, and on the 22nd see Teja Gerken and Joe Rathbone in Novato. Doors open at 7:30, and the music begins at 8 p.m. Open mic follows the featured acts. To attend, email Drew at drew@drewpearce.com, call (415) 706-3800, or go to his web site. Mill Valley's Dore Coller lives to pick. His Bermuda Grass band will be playing at Finbar Devine's Irish Pub on the 1st from 8:30 p.m.-midnight. On the 5th he'll be with Savannah Blue at Iron Springs, on the 9th with Hot Club of Marin at 19 Broadway at 5 p.m., on the 11th and 25th with HCM at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30, and on the 17th on dobro at the Taco Jam in Oakland. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell has some cool gigs coming up. On the 1st Under the Radar will play the Sausalito Arts Festival at 1 p.m., on the 8th Laughing Gravy is at Kendal Jackson's Tomato Festival in Santa Rosa at 11 a.m., on the 13th the Rhythm Rangers play a KRSH backyard concert opening for Stephen Bruton, 6 p.m., on the 14th Under the Radar plays the Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes 7 p.m., on the 15th the Rhythm Rangers are at an outdoor concert for KWMR in Pt. Reyes Station at 2 p.m., and on the 22nd Under the Radar will play the Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget will be covering the musical map this month. You can hear him once again with the "6th Annual Salute to the Beatles" at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival on the 2nd, with his band Moonlight Rodeo appearing at the Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association picnic in the afternoon, at the Fairfax Picnic on the 16th, and at the Unitarian Fellowship in Terra Linda on the 29th. His jazz band, Namely Us, will be holding down their regular Sunday nightspot at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 23rd. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Tazmanian Devils on the 2nd, Mitch Woods on the 3rd, Jenny Kerr on the 7th, The Persuasions on the 9th, Led Kaapana on the 11th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 14th, Elvin Bishop on the 16th, The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience on the 23rd, Stompy Jones on the 29th, Pablo Cruise on the 30th and more. The Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert will be taking place on
the 2nd, at Speedway Meadow in SF's Golden Gate Park, and this is an
event not to be missed. Some of the acts you can see are Moby Grape,
Country Joe McDonald, Taj Mahal, Canned Heat, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood,
New Riders of the Purple Sage. Jessie Collin Young, Chris and Lorin
Rowan, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, George Michalski & Pete Sears,
The Charlatans, Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Peri's Blues Jam on the 2nd, Blue Note Cats on the 4th, The Billy Boys on the 7th, Sexy Sunday Women Who Rock Showcase on the 9th, Kate Russell on the 11th, Buxter Hoot'n CD Release Party on the 14th, Lansdale Station on the 15th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 20th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 21st, Danny Montana and the Bar Association on the 22nd, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, and more. Cowgirlpalooza. The big Labor Day show will be at the El Rio in SF on the 3rd featuring the finest in female-fronted country. 77 El Deora is headlining this year. Other bands on the bill are 4 Year Bender (actually not female-fronted but certainly the finest female rhythm section in the area), Burning Embers (banjo basher Eric Embry, fiddler Katie Rexford and company explore the murky gray area between honky-tonk and bluegrass), Axton Kincaid playing drinking songs, Starlene (featuring 3/4 of the old Calamity & Main line-up backing a fantastic, rediscovered singer, Catherine Foreman), and Kitty Rose opening solo. The Marin City Blues and Soul Festival will take place on the 3rd featuring Pride and Joy, The Spiritual Keys, Ladies of the Blues, Booker T. Jones, and others. 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. Schaef-Abel Productions will feature Jimmy LaFave (sold out) on the 4th, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands on the 7th, and Bob Livingston and Mark Viator & Susan Maxey on the 28th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 5th see Savannah Blue, Jazz Roots Trio on the 12th, and Jack Pribble & Gary Bauman on the 19th. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 5th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Richard Thompson will be covering the Bay Area early this month. On the 6th Kane Productions will be hosting him in Carmel at the Sunset Center, on the 7th see him at the Fillmore in SF, and on the 8th he'll play the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Thompson has been touring the country with his dynamic band and receiving rave reviews for his most recent recording titled Sweet Warrior. On Thursday the 6th at 8:30 p.m., the final Sweetwater edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. The bands Homespun Rowdy and Town Mountain will be sharing the bill. Homespun Rowdy is a hard-driving, straight-ahead bluegrass band making its home in San Francisco. Young and energetic but traditionally minded, they perform classic vocal trios around a single microphone, creating powerfully raw harmonies, and a visually dynamic stage show. Each set is full of many of the original songs featured on their self-titled debut CD, Homespun Rowdy, and seasoned with little known bluegrass gems and honky-tonk nuggets. In addition to their performances at the CBA Fathers Day Bluegrass Festival and the Strawberry Music Festival, the band has also played at the past three San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festivals. HSR is Richard Wagner on guitar, Dave Zimmerman on mandolin, Ryan Carter on bass, Dave Walker on banjo, and Alisa Rose on fiddle. Town Mountain is a bluegrass band based in Asheville, NC. This young quintet bridges the gap between bluegrass, roots country and modern music. What really defines TM's sound is their repertoire of original music that seamlessly fuses the styles of music that influenced them most. Masters such as Jimmy Martin, The Stanley Brothers and Merle Haggard are apparent in the band's sound. TM has enthralled audiences all across the country, and this will be their Marin County debut. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 6th and the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Will Durst on the 7th, Maria Muldaur on the 8th, Austin deLone on the 13th, Bill Kirchen on the 22nd, Earl Thomas on the 29th, Jules Broussard on the 30th, and others. Ray Riddle's music was featured in the PBS documentary "Country Boys," which is a documentary about two youths growing up in a poverty stricken region of the Appalachia Mountains in Eastern Kentucky. There will be two shows coming up this month, which will be a special treat for the folks of the Bay area country/rockabilly music scene. Ray will have a CD release party on the 7th at the 4th Street Tavern in San Rafael and on the 8th at The 23 Club In Brisbane. The band will consist of Ray on lead vocals, Tyler Terrell female backing vocals, Rick Quisol on drums, Maurice Tani lead guitar, Dave Anderson on bass, and Brad Peterson on keys. This group of seasoned musicians is extremely talented and dynamic, and they have a very unique sound. The B-Stars will open on the 7th and Texas Steve & The Git Gone Trio on the 8th. Celebrating the uke. There is a ukulele exhibit going on now through October 21st at the Museum of Craft and Folk in SF, and on the 7th and 8th don't miss the Uke Fest at the Herbst Theatre. Just back from playing the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, sometime Marin county singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong will be opening two shows in Berkeley for Iris Dement on the 7th and 8th. The shows are hosted by the Freight and Salvage at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Devil Makes Three on the 7th, Loudon Wainwright and Victoria George on the 8th, Sons of Champlain on the 15th, Dick Dale on the 21st, Mindy Smith on the 26th, and more. The 2nd Annual Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival will take place in San Martin (near Gilroy) on the 8th and 9th. See Bean Creek, Diana Donnelly & the Yes Ma'ams, Earthquake Country, Lone Prairie, MacRae Brothers, Rosebud Blue, Sidesaddle & Company and more. Murphy Productions has some cool events on the calendar. They will be producing cabaret singer Barry Lloyd at a house concert in Tiburon on the 8th, the musical "Gideon's Dream" in San Rafael on the 14th, and Barry Linder and Peter Kaukonen at the Larks Movie Theatre on the 29th. On the 8th Michael Franti with Guerrilla Management present the free 9th Annual 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park, with Franti's band Spearhead, Hot Buttered Rum, Indigo Girls, and much more. The 2nd Annual Sonoma County Salsa Dance Festival will take place on the 8th at the Finley Community Center in Santa Rosa. Workshops and performers will make this year's festival better than ever. Plus the Bay Area's hottest salsa band, Avance, will play. 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 Mark Hanson on the 8th and Alex DeGrassi on the 20th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. The Bluegrass for the Greenbelt festival will take place on the 9th in Kensington with Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, and Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans. Set in a small outdoor amphitheatre in a scenic redwood grove, this event is intimate, relaxed, and fun. It also includes a local farmer's market, with organic snacks, fruit, and wine. The festival supports Greenbelt Alliance's work to create vibrant places and protect open spaces throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Marin Civic Center has a few shows of note this month. See (what's left of) The Temptations and The Four Tops on the 9th, Garrison Keillor on the 25th, and Kiri Te Kanawa on the 29th. At the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention on the 13th-16th see Tom Sauber, Brad Leftwich & Alice Gerrard, Heidi Clare, The Tallboys, Donna Ray Norton, Rich Hartness & Friends, Todalo Shakers and more. There will be Bluegrassin' In The Foothills out in Amador County on the 14th-16th with Marty Raybon, Nothin' Fancy, The F-150's, Mighty Crows, Rita Hosking, Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds, Barefoot Nellies, and others. Wagon, the three-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing the downtown San Rafael farmer's market on the 13th from 6-9 p.m., and on the 14th at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach starting at 7 p.m. The San Geronimo Cultural Center presents "Acoustic Ninja" Trace Bundy on the 15th at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first Marin appearance for the indie guitar star that sells out halls nationally. The 1st place Guitars on the River winner uses hammering, slapping and other unique techniques. Youth County Fair Star Search winner Cullen Gray, whose guitar style is influenced by Bundy, will open. The North Bay duo Solid Air has a new CD out, and you can see them play a KRSH backyard concert in Santa Rosa on the 20th starting at 6 p.m. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents Sonoma County singer-songwriter Michael Capella for an evening of music and dining on the 22nd. With songs ranging from touching folk ballads to spirited country rockers with insights on life's joy and challenges, Michael's tasteful arrangement and production draw on his years as a sideman in various folk and country bands. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Don't miss the Anderson Marsh Old-Time Bluegrass Festival in Clear Lake on the 22nd and 23rd. Some of the bands to see are Adobe Creek, Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds, Bluegrass Contraption, Barefoot Nellies, and Bound To Ride. If you happen to be in Sebastopol from 9 a.m. until noon on the 23rd, The Hicktones, America's Sweethearts, will be providing honest-to-goodness bluegrass twang at the Farmer's Market in the town square. It'll be terrifHick! 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 23rd. 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. On the 29th the Mateel Community Center presents The 3rd Annual Humboldt Hills Bluegrass & Beyond with The David Grisman Quintet, Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Airforce, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and many more. Plus workshops, vendors, jamming opportunities, stuff for the kids, and food by local non-profits. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center, Congregation Gan Halev and KlezCalifornia present a Yiddish Folk Fest - an interactive day of art, food, storytelling, dancing and outstanding Klezmer music on the 30th from 3-7 p.m. There will be performances by Petaluma's Jubilee Klezmer, featuring members of the Santa Rosa Symphony at 3 p.m. followed by The Freilachmakers, a Jewish-Irish-Appalachian hybrid at 4 p.m. Also there will be in-depth workshops offered by talented and engaging instructors, including dance, singing, storytelling and music. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments. The event will culminate at the main stage with a dynamic concert set with the Red Hot Chachkas from 5-6 p.m. followed by a festive dance party led by Bruce Bierman. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is always some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area, but as of press time information for September was not available. *************************************************************************************************** August 15, 2007 The summer is on the wane, the kids are getting ready for school, folks are gearing up for the Strawberry Music Festival (those with tickets, that is), and love is in the air. At least, 40 year-old memories of the so-called "Summer of Love" are. There are two festivals in SF's Golden Gate Park soon that will celebrate that fateful summer of 1967, and details lie below. Tie-dye is required, and the smell of patchouli oil can almost be smelled from here, high atop Carltone World Headquarters. Wear some flowers in your hair if you go… Strawberry Music Festival tickets have already started to become available on the ticket exchange site. Go here for details. Carltone no longer needs tickets to sell to others. Sweet and sour news. The venerable Sweetwater in Mill Valley is on the brink of closing once again. Three and a half years ago the owners of the building refused to grant the Sweetwater folks another long-term lease, and the club has been operating on a month-to-month lease ever since. And now they have been told that their lease is up at the end of this month. The building owners have said that "modifications are needed to the building" and that Sweetwater has to move out so these can be done. Plus, Sweetwater was told that if and when they want to come back that the rent would be increased dramatically once again, thereby making it virtually impossible for the club to return. This is a most unfortunate situation. Sweetwater is a national icon, as everyone from Jerry Garcia, Elvis Costello and Bonnie Raitt to Peter Rowan, David Grisman and Ralph Stanley have played there numerous times over the 30+ years of its existence. The loss of the venue would mean no more live music in a bar in Mill Valley, and it would greatly enhance the "yuppification" of the town. To some there can never be enough boutiques, java joints or high-end trinket shops where you can buy $150 hand-carved wine bottle openers… You can read the Paul Liberatore stories from the Marin Independent Journal here and here. There is a last-ditch effort under way to try and save the club, and you can go here www.savethesweetwater.com to find out about sending emails and letters. This is easy to do, and needs to be done pronto! The only silver lining here is that the Sweetwater owners now run the Larkspur Cafe Theater in the town of Larkspur, just two towns away from Mill Valley. The monthly Bluegrass Gold series, which has been running for over eight years and has seen over 12,000 people come through the doors for the bluegrass shows at Sweetwater, will move to this venue. On September 6th, barring any last minute miracle, the show that was scheduled for Sweetwater - the North Carolina band Town Mountain and the Bay Area's own Homespun Rowdy - will be moved to Larkspur. However, the LCT has a much different atmosphere than Sweetwater, and it remains to be seen if bluegrass can survive there on a monthly basis. Another Mill Valley institution is going to be disappearing for good on September 30th. Village Music, the vintage record store that has been run by John Goddard for over 40 years, will be closing its doors. Read John's farewell letter here. High rents in the town are forcing him into early retirement, but at the same time, John says "it is time." And it is high time for you to get on over there to buy some records, posters, CD, memorabilia, etc. There is a massive sale going on from now until the end. Don't say you weren't warned. Buy something, and don't forget to say goodbye and to thank John for all of his years of great service to the music community. There will also be a special event at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre on the 25th in John's honor. Go here for details. Sweetwater will be hosting him as well that night, but this is a private affair. The mouth that roared. Wizened shock-jock Don Imus, who was fired a few months back for making racist and sexist comments ("nappy-headed hos") on the air about the Rutgers women's basketball team, is making moves to return to the airwaves, and will probably make more money than he did before. Ain't this county great or what? Stairway to Nashville. As reported here many months back, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant (yes, the Led Zeppelin guy) have teamed up in Nashville to record an album of duets titled Raising Sand that will be released in October. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the album finds the two singing blues, R&B, country and folk, including songs from Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Doc Watson, Little Milton Campbell and the Everly Brothers. Half-buck challenge. Rapper 50 Cent has come up with a novel way to test his popularity: He says that if his new CD titled Curtis does not outsell Kanye West's Graduation (both are coming out on September 11thh) on the day they recordings are released, he will end his solo performing career. Be-bop-a-luba. In 1959 three legends of rock and roll history were killed in a plane crash in Iowa: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and JP "Big Bopper" Richardson. The first two are in the Hall of Fame and they had movies made about their lives. Soon there will be a new movie about the Bopper titled The Day The Music Died (based on a book of the same name by Johnette Duff) that will be produced by his son Jay. The singer's big hit was "Chantilly Lace." Honoring the Pig. A benefit to celebrate the life of Laura Ellen Hopper, the KPIG co-owner, program director and DJ who died in May, is set for the 15th in Santa Cruz. Todd Snider will perform at the Rio Theatre, with proceeds going to Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Association. Hopper's midday DJ spot has been taken over by her daughter, Ellie Mae, a 10-year KPIG vet who'd been doing evenings. Smoke screen: Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel were among the performers who played in Austin, TX, recently for Austin Freedom Fest, a benefit concert for four pro-marijuana groups, including the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Marijuana Policy Project. Nelson said, "We would like to see [marijuana] put in the same category as cigarettes and alcohol ... where we can take it out of the hands of the illegal drug dealers. Empty the cells of all the pot smokers and get them out of jail so you'll have more room for the child molesters and pedophiles out there who they keep releasing to throw pot smokers in. ... The law needs to be changed." Nelson is co-chairman of NORML's advisory board. Flying united. The Dixie Chicks and the Eagles will headline two concerts inaugurating the new Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on October 18th and 20th. The concerts are the only U.S. concerts either band has scheduled together for this year. The Eagles' new CD, Long Road Out of Eden, will be released in October. The 7,100-seat theatre was constructed within the L.A. Live entertainment and retail complex located adjacent to Staples Center. The other Hank. Eighteen of Hank Thompson's albums for Capitol Records were released digitally recently. Selections include the first-ever live album recorded by a country artist, 1961's Live at the Golden Nugget. One of the most popular Western swing musicians of the 1950s and 1960s, Thompson recorded for the label from 1947 to 1965 and scored his first Top 10 single in 1948 with "Humpty Dumpty Heart." In 1952, his recording of "The Wild Side of Life" spent 15 weeks at the top of country charts. Other hits include "Rub-a-Dub-Dub" and "A Six Pack to Go." It takes a village. In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans from two years ago there is a section of town that is being rebuilt for musicians to live in. It is called Musicians' Village, and it is the inspiration of two New Orleans-born luminaries - singer-pianist Harry Connick Jr. and saxophonist Branford Marsalis - who decided that something was needed to help musicians stay and play in the city. Banjo…it's not just for hillbillies anymore! The long awaited "Banjo For Dummies" book is now available directly from the author, the one and only East Bay banjo impresario Bill Evans. It is the latest book in the seemingly endless series of how-to books published by Wiley Publishing, the famous yellow-and-black book folks. "Banjo For Dummies" is a 300-page book and CD set offering instruction in clawhammer, bluegrass (including Scruggs, single-string and melodic styles), minstrel and classic banjo. There's also a buyer's guide, a guide to accessories and info about teachers, camps, festivals and workshops. The book has 120 great photos and the CD has 94 tracks of music. Fishwrap roundup. There was a nice Paul Liberatore story in the Marin Independent Journal on the 2nd about Marin singer/songwriter Jesse DeNatale; there was a piece in the SF Chron about a blues jam that happens every Wednesday at the Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City. Police log. Don't run with knives or scissors in your hands (and vice versa!): Yolanda Davis pleaded guilty in Indiana to involuntary manslaughter of Johnny Jackson, a one-time drummer in the Jackson 5. She apparently had a knife in her hands when he lunged at her during a fight. Jackson was not related to the singing family that has begat Michael, Janet, LaToya, etc. No Vegas wedding for these two: A truckload of country singer Tanya Tucker's wardrobe and jewelry has been recovered after it was stolen by her former fiancé on July 22. Tucker and her entourage were traveling from Nashville to Malibu, CA, where she is moving, when the truck driven by Jerry Laseter left the caravan. The U-Haul was recovered in Las Vegas with only a threatening note inside. However, the wardrobe and jewelry were ultimately found and returned to Tucker. Laseter was arrested and charged with felony theft in Las Vegas. In the "Don't you know who I am?" department: Country crooner John Michael Montgomery is being sued by the police officer who arrested him on a drunken-driving charge in Kentucky in 2006. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper, Joshua Cromer filed a slander lawsuit alleging the singer lied to the police department's internal affairs unit, saying the singer made several false allegations after his case was settled, including a claim that he stole Montgomery's cowboy hat and that Montgomery was targeted for arrest because he is a celebrity. Montgomery entered a plea on the DUI charge, acknowledging there was sufficient evidence for a conviction. He was fined and ordered to take an alcohol-education course. Ailing. Mark Karan, of Bob Weirs' Ratdog, is battling throat cancer. Go to his site to find out his progress. Jazz keyboardist Joe Zawinul was hospitalized in Austria with an undisclosed illness. Pavarotti has been in the hospital in Rome for over a week, suffering from a high fever. He is expected to be released soon. Artie Rose, Marin County dobro player who works (with his wife Harriet) for David Grisman's Acoustic Disc label, is recovering at home from a broken leg. And Patti Garber, bass player in the Bay Area band Grizzly Peak, is being treated for an illness. You can send get-well wishes to her at 895 Rockawaybeach Avenue, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Life's railway to heaven. Renowned Irish singer Tommy Makem, who was part of the The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, died from lung cancer on July 31st in New Hampshire. He was 74. Lee Hazelwood, the producer and songwriter of the Nancy Sinatra hit song "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" died on August 4th of kidney cancer in Las Vegas. He was 78. Tony Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records, died last week of a heart attack in a Manchester, England, hospital at age 57. He was responsible for signing British bands such as Joy Division and New Order. San Anselmo blues pianist Rob Robinson died on August 6th after a brief illness. He was 64. He spent many years as road manager for Van Morrison, and also made a living playing music at venues in Marin such as Rafter's in San Rafael and at farmers markets around the bay. Band scramble. Fiddler Kenny Blacklock, already a longtime member of the Bay Area bluegrass band Keystone Station, is also now a permanent member of Marin County's longest running bluegrass band, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. Coming attractions. Sausalito Art & Wine Festival September 1st-3rd; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd; Motown singer Chris Clark on the 2nd at either Sweetwater or LCT; Town Mountain and Homespun Rowdy at Sweetwater or LCT on September 6th; Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention on September 13th-16th; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass October 5th-7th. Additions Belvedere fiddle wunderkind Griffin Stoller will be performing a rock/blues/fiddle show on the 15th at the Mill Valley Concerts-on-the-Plaza series with accompanist Kenny Blacklock. He is opening for Tom Rigney & Flambeau. The show starts promptly at 6 p.m. at the Depot in downtown Mill Valley. It is outdoors, 40 seats are provided, it is free and lots of fun. The North Bay Celtic band Greenhouse will perform a very special World Music concert in the Backyard at The Krush Wine Country Radio (KRSH 95.9) on the 16th at 6 p.m. Also appearing will be local Latin band David Correa and Cascada. The Backyard is located at the Station House off Todd Road in Santa Rosa. It's a very nice spot for live music, with one of the North Bay's best professional sound systems. The Backyard opens at 5:30 p.m., and Greenhouse plays at 6, with Cascada at 7. Low lawn chairs only, please. Kids are welcome. Lagunitas beer, Sonoma Vineyards wine and Larry Vito's Smokehouse BBQ available will be for sale. Homespun Rowdy will make its Great American Music Hall in SF debut on the 16th at 7:30 p.m. as part of a night of four bands on the bill, benefiting The Twinkle Foundation (breast cancer research and education programs). Also appearing will be The Dilettantes, Highway Robbers, and Mike Therieau. The show is put on by West Coast Wines. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center and the Himalayan Resource Center welcome you to see, hear, taste and experience the dynamic cultures of the Himalayan region at the West Marin Himalayan Festival on the 18th. Spend the day at this extensive outdoor family friendly festival featuring music, dance, art, and interactive activities for all ages plus an exciting marketplace full of unique finds. Purchase a delicious, affordable lunch or just a snack and drink from high quality vendors. The exciting roster of talent includes Kathak dance from Vandhana Dance Company, North Indian Karnatic Flute by Michael Davis, and traditional Tibetan music and dance from the Tibetan Association of Northern California children's performing group. There are two more hot shows at the Great American Music Hall this month. On the 19th see The Richie Furay Band (he was a founding member of Poco back in the day) and Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, and then on the 26th it will be the Jug Band Extravaganza with John Sebastian, David Grisman, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, and others. Kimberleye Gold, Jo D'Anna, Larry Gallagher and Michael Bloch will be playing the Drew Pearce house concert series in Sausalito at 8 p.m. on the 19th. Go to his site for details. 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 Paul Asbell on the 21st. Paul, who plays the shop regularly, was last there two years ago, with his blues and roots styles firing on all cylinders. He is a consummate entertainer with a large following of guitarists who know the best from all the rest. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Every week you can attend the free Thursday Noon Concerts series in Santa Rosa at Courthouse Square at the corner of 4th and Mendocino. See Trad Jass play Dixieland on the 23rd and on the 30th it will be Nate Lopez playing jazz guitar. Lawrence Ball and Marin's Lisa Sangita Moskow will be playing improvisation piano and sarod on the 24th at 8 p.m. at the Unity of Berkeley, and then on the 25th they will be at the Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz at 8 p.m. Reminders Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 16th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See John Corbett on the 15th, Kimrea on the 21st, Victoria George on the 23rd, Shana Morrison on the 24th, James Moseley Band on the 26th, Chuck Prophet on the 31st, and lots more. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On Wednesday the 15th see the Pat Echols Experience, and the Jeb Brady Band on the 29th. At the Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol see Jethro Jeremiah on the 15th, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 16th, Christopher James on the 21st, Five Eyed Hand on the 26th, Beat Meters on the 30th, and many others. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music. There is an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m., and every Wednesday you can see Jerry Hannan on the patio at 9 p.m., and there is music every Saturday, including Wagon, the three-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa there is a Celtic jam on the 15th, and a bluegrass jam on the 22nd. You can see The Carrtunes on the 17th, The Moonshiners on the 25th, Laughing Gravy on the 31st, and others. Marin's Gary Bauman stays busy. He'll pick vintage rockabilly with The Sons of Emperor Norton at The Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 16th from 6-9 p.m., and you can see him with The Jeb Brady Band, playing the blues at Iron Springs in Fairfax on the 29th from 8-10:30. Gary was the guitarist in the Rob Robinson Band, and he is obviously really saddened at Rob's untimely passing. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Rahman's Songwriters in the Round, which showcases the talents of local songsters on the 16th; Jonathan Korty, of Vinyl fame, teams up with Monophonics drummer Austin Bohlman to bring some funky blues to town on the 17th; Ruckus is back by popular demand and ready to rock your world on the 18th; it's bluegrass on the 21st with the Czech band Fragment; Frobeck on the 22nd plays funky rock; Tom Finch plays on the 25th with his side project when he's not playing with Big Brother and the Holding Company; Jesse Lee Kincaid and Erik Howlin' Houndog on the 28th; Swampaholics on the 29th,; and Spinout on the 31st is rock-a-billy at it's finest. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is George Kuo/Martin Pahinui/Aaron Mahi slack key guitar on the 16th, Mostly Dylan on the 17th, Richie Havens on the 24th, John Goddard Party on the 25th, Jules Broussard on the 26th, and more. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. He'll be sitting in with noted player and guitar maker Paul Gruen's Combo, with David La Flamme on violin, on the 16th from 6-9 p.m. at The Bluewater Bistro in Bodega; Dore & Friends will be jamming on the 19th at Sweetwater from 5-8 p.m.; and he'll be with the Hot Club of Marin on the 28th at the Left Bank in Larkspur. On Thursday the 16th at 8:30 p.m. the next, and possible final Sweetwater edition, of the monthly bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. This show will be North Bay CD release party and Sweetwater grand debut for the San Francisco band The Deciders, and opening will be String Break. The Deciders are an unprecedented amalgamation of stylistically diverse performers that weave the intricacy of hard-driving bluegrass music with a self-proclaimed post-modern lyrical cynicism into a sound the likes of which you pretty much definitely have never heard, unless it was The Deciders who were making it. The Deciders, in other words, are the Wikipedia of contemporary performers of hybrid musical styles rooted in, but not limited to, American folk and bluegrass traditions. The band is David Wurzburg on mandolin, Andy Gass on guitar, Jordan Klein on banjo, Margaret Mug on bass, and Andy Lentz on fiddle. String Break is a new bluegrass band based in Marin County. They play mostly traditional material in the style of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, with vocal trios and the usual bluegrass instruments of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and bass. The members are Dave Hanks, Joe Osborn, "Buffalo" Bob Davis, Mike Staninec, and Deirdre Donovan sittin' in on bass for Duncan Draper. Lauralee Brown is one in-demand singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 16th she will be guest vocalist at Seafood Peddler in San Rafael with Alex Markels and the Rent Party Rhythm Section from 5:30-8:30 p.m.; on the17th is the usual Jazz & Beyond at Saylor's Landing with Ken Husbands on guitar, Jack Prendergast on bass and Tom "Pep" Peplinski on drums; on the 18th the band will be playing at the Napa Valley's Sustainable Wine & Food Festival; she'll be singing at the Waterfront Grill in Petaluma every Saturday except the 18th from 6:30-9 p.m.; and on the 30th she'll be a guest vocalist at the Octavia Lounge in San Francisco for Anne O'Brien's show. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The David Thom Band on the 17th, WayBlonde on the 23rd, Dockside on the 24th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 25th, Lisa Redfern on the 30th, Adobe Creek Bluegrass on the 31st, and much more. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Hot Buttered Rum and The Wayward Sons on the 17th, Pride & Joy on the 24th, and more. Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire besides playing the songs of Johnny Cash at the Blackthorn Tavern in S.F. on the 17th. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is now featuring a lot of bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. You can see Flatt Lonesome on the 17th, Under The Radar on the 18th, Caliban on the 24th, and Culann's Hounds on the 25th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Lauralee Brown & Company on the 17th, Jazz Philosophy on the 18th, Chris Cosbey Trio on the 24th, Mike Angel & Tim Cleary on the 25th, and Jump To It on the 31st. Go to the Sweetspot in Santo Rosa to see Fortunate Sons on the 17th, Robert Herrera and Ian Scherer on the 23rd, join the Pirate Party on the 25th, and Soul Shine on the 31st. The Healdsburg Guitar Festival is back on the 17th-19th, and you can see dozens of topnotch luthiers, workshops, demonstrations, etc. Former Tasmanian/Stinsonian singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera moved to Nashville in June, but she'll be coming back this month to play some local gigs. On the 17th at 8 p.m. see her, Nina Gerber and Kenny Edwards at he French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, and then on the 18th Audrey will be playing solo at the Casa d'Olivier House Concert in Berkeley. For info contact Linda oliverlinda@comcast.net. 19 Broadway in Fairfax is a hopping joint. On the 17th see Black Dog, Wonderbread 5 on the 18th, Prezident Brown on the 24th and Junior Reid on the 25th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th and 30th it will be pickers' choice. Marin's own Kurt Huget, singer/songwriter/musician, still has some shows of note left this month. On the 18th you will find his alt-country/roots rock/Americana band, Moonlight Rodeo, celebrating the release of their new CD with a concert at Larkspur Cafe Theater, featuring special guests. His jazz group, Namely Us, will be at Cafe Amsterdam on the 26th. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell needs a Palm Pilot just to remember what band and style of music he'll be playing. On the 18th his band Under the Radar will play Finbar's in Petaluma 8 p.m., on the 25th it will be a double CD release party on the Jackalope label for The Rhythm Rangers and Solid Air at New College of California in Santa Rosa, and on the 31st see Kevin with Laughing Gravy at the Black Rose. 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. The 5th Annual Russian River Beer Revival is the place to be on the 18th in Guerneville. Lots for brewpubs will be on hand, and you can groove to the music of 1/4 Mile Combo and The Phenix Band. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents New York-based singer-songwriter Marci Geller for an evening of music and dining on the 18th. Marci is an intense performer whose beautifully poignant music will sweep you away to a land beyond the edge. With music ranging from sublime to bittersweet, weaving beautiful, intimate verses with infectious choruses, Geller opens up her emotional diary and invites listeners to find their own voice in her songs. Doors open 6 p.m., potluck dinner at 6:30, and the show starts 7:30. Admission $20. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Be on hand for The Napa Sustainable Wine and Food Festival on the 18th at the Silverado Resort in Napa. Lauralee Brown & Company will provide the music. The mission of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group is to identify and promote winegrowing practices that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sound. The KWMR Far West Fest will take place on the 18th from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at Love Field in Point Reyes. It will feature two stages of great music, including Camper Van Beethoven, SambaDa', Chrome Johnson, Sage, The Bluebellies, Bo Carper (from New Monsoon), Tim Cain, The Wronglers Axton Kincaid and more. They'll also be serving up the best in local food, arts and crafts, and a kids' zone. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the gate, with discounts and freebies for little ones. They need volunteers, and the hosts are accepting applications from artisans, vendors and crafty folk. For a vending form, advance tickets, volunteer contact and more information about the fest, go to the web site. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Erika Luckett on the18th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are Moonlight Rodeo on the 18th, Albino on the 23rd, Peter Rowan solo on the 24th, and Sila & The Afrofunk Experience on the 25th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Luau on the Lawn on the 19th, Maria Ball on the 26th, and others. The 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love Festival is a free event that is coming to Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park in SF on the 19th. Some of the acts to see there are Narada Michael Walden, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Stairwell Sisters, George Michalski, Kimrea & Dreamdogs, and the Psychedelic Saints. The Keith Little Trio (Keith, Jody Stecher and Paul Knight) will play at the Station House on 19th from 5-8:30 p.m., and then at the Bowers Mansion Festival in Carson City on the 25th. 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. On the 19th the band will perform for the 40th Anniversary Summer of Love Concert in Golden Gate Park, and on the 21st Dreamdogs will have their Big Time CD release party at Sweetwater. The new album, recorded and engineered by Jim Reitzel at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, features guest performances by Norton Buffalo and Narada Michael Walden. Murphy Productions is teaming up with the Lark Theater in Larkspur
on the 22nd at 8:30 p.m. for their first show since leaving the Larkspur
Cafe Theatre at the end of June. They are pleased to be presenting The
Waybacks, one of the finest acoustic Americana bands in the country
today, in the newly remodeled art deco theater. The Lark's acoustics
are excellent, the seats are comfortable and the concessions include
gourmet nibbles, beer and wine. The Waybacks are Stevie Coyle, James
Nash, Warren Hood, Chuck Hamilton, and Joe Kyle Jr. Fleet-fingered and
muddy-booted, they can play like nobody's business. Use an accordion, go to jail! The Cotati Accordion Festival is always one fun fest. On the 25th and 26th see The Pickpocket, Ensemble, The Truccos, Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Great Morgani, Brave Combo, Motor Dude Zydeco, Sourdough Slim, Lady of Spain, Culann's Hounds, Those Darn Accordions and many others. The Tiburon Art Festival runs on the 25th and 26th on Ark Row in downtown, and it will feature visual art, food, music and a festive atmosphere. The music acts were not listed on the site as of press time. 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 26th. 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. Doug Adamz & Bravo will play on the 31st Trio Bravo at the Station House in Point Reyes Station. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: ANDRE RIEU - RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE IN NEW YORK 8/15 9:30 p.m.: "Andre performs at Radio City Music Hall and is joined by the Harlem Gospel Choir and five-year-old violinist Akim Camara." MY MUSIC - 50'S POP PARADE 8/16 1 a.m.: "This special brings back more 1950s pop crooners, featuring performers that define the pop musical soundtrack from the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s. Robert Goulet headlines and co-hosts the music and memories with Jerry Vale, Kay Starr, The Mills Brothers, Ed Ames, The Four Lads, The Four Aces, Patti Page, The Ink Spots, Tony Martin, Margaret Whiting, and more. The program features the usual My Music mix of new live performances and archival classics from the vaults including rare footage from Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, Andy Williams and more." ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 8/16 10 p.m., 8/19 2 a.m. and 3 p.m.: "This time capsule will transport you to another age - swinging London in the late 1960s. This is the Stones as you have hardly ever seen them - up close and intimate. The show also includes guests such as The Who, Jethro Tull and a great performance by John Lennon. This show was broadcast once in the US, on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault." ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 8/17 8:30 p.m., 8/19 8:30 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W. On stage - Roy Orbison with guests Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Soles, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes." BROADWAY - THE GOLDEN AGE 8/16 1 p.m., 8/17 8:30 p.m.: "An important, ambitious and comprehensive film about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway. He soon learned that great films can be restored, fine literature can be kept in print - but historic Broadway performances of the past are the most endangered. They leave only memories that, while more vivid, are more difficult to preserve. In their own words - and not a moment too soon - this program tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 8/17 1 a.m., 8/19 1 p.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world." ANUNA - CELTIC ORIGINS 8/17 1 p.m., 8/18 6:30 a.m.: "Anuna - the original vocal group in Riverdance - has bridged the gap between classical and popular music with its pure, haunting, emotional and mystical sound. This program spans over 1000 years of music history as 16 Anuna singers perform an ethereal blend of Irish, British, Middle English, Scots Gaelic, Medieval Irish, Latin and Greek choral music. The Gothic beauty of Cleveland's Trinity Cathedral provides an atmospheric setting for the concert. During the program, Anuna founders Michael McGlynn and his twin brother John offer entertaining explanations about the origins and meanings of the group's music." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 8/18 6:30 a.m., 8/19 4:30 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60s folk rock music hosted by Tom & Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 8/18 1:30 p.m.: "Patti Page returns to co-host all new performances and archival classics from the vault with co-hosts Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale, and Mary Lou Metzger. This program features many more legends of the late 50s and early 1960s pop era. Frankie Laine comes out of retirement to 'spend one more night in our old rendezvous' singing his sentimental 'That's My Desire.' Italian crooner Julius LaRosa takes stage to perform his classic 'Eh Compari' and 'Domani.' The Four Lads, Four Aces, Four Freshmen, Roger Williams, Lenny Welch, The Platters, The DeCastro Sisters (and more), also return to the stage to sing their greatest hits. Archival performances from Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and Nat King Cole round out this amazing special." TONY BENNETT DUETS - THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC 8/18 5:30 p.m., 8/19 10:30 a.m.: "This program takes a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of Tony Bennett's 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. Among the musical artists who join Bennett in the studio are Bono, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Sting. In addition to musical selections, there are interviews with Bennett, the duet artists, and Phil Ramone, producer of the Duets CD." MY MUSIC - THE 70'S EXPERIENCE 8/18 4:28 a.m.: "Bell bottoms, 8-Tracks, pet rocks and more - all part of the 'Have a Nice Decade.' This program brings back 'the 70s,' mixing soft rock, pop, soul and disco for the ultimate 70s party. Hosted by the Brady Bunch's Barry Williams. It includes new live and classic archival performances with some of the most loves tunes from the 1970s." GREAT PERFORMANCES BROADWAY'S LOST TREASURES II 8/24 9 p.m.: "Great news for musical-theater fans: PBS has unearthed more jewels from classic Tony Awards telecasts. This program features classic Broadway star turns by such beloved performers as Angela Lansbury, Zero Mostel, Gregory Hines, and Julie Andrews. Highlighting the collection of signature show tunes performed by the original cast members are Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur pledging lifetime affection as "Bosom Buddies" from Mame; Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in highlights from The Phantom of the Opera, and Jerry Ohrbach, in and out of costume as Chicago's original Billy Flynn, affirming 'All I Care About Is Love.'" CHICAGO / EARTH, WIND & FIRE - LIVE AT THE GREEK 8/26 1:30 a.m.: "Legendary groups Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire join forces in this concert special taped in Los Angeles in 2004. The Grammy-winning artists perform their numerous No. 1 and Top 10 hits to rapturous response, including Earth Wind & Fire's 'Fantasy' and 'Let's Groove' and Chicago's 'Make Me Smile' and 'Saturday in the Park.' The two bands (complete with horn sections) often share the stage and generate a huge, infectious sound with 'September,' '25 or 6 to 4,' 'Shining Star' and more." EVENING WITH THE DIXIE CHICKS 8/26 12:30 a.m.: "The biggest-selling
female band in history performs hits from their multi-platinum albums
Wide Open Spaces (1998), Fly (1999) and Home (2002) at the Kodak Theatre
in Los Angeles. Filmed in August 2002 just before the release of Home,
this concert showcases the Dixie Chicks' stellar musicianship, unique
vocal sound, engaging spirit and extraordinary ability to connect with
an audience. Natalie Maines (lead vocals/guitar/papoose), Martie Maguire
(harmony vocals/fiddle/mandolin/ viola) and Emily Robison (harmony vocals/banjo/dobro/papoose)
sing 'Landslide,' 'Long Time Gone,' 'Wide Open Spaces,' 'Goodbye Earl'
and more." GLENN MILLER SPECTACULAR 8/31 8:59 p.m.: "Dance until your feet hurt! All the great 'big band' hits of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of Larry O'Brien. This special was shot at the world-renown Manhattan Center Ballroom with hundreds of music-loving fans 'cutting up the rug.' Even after 60 years, Glenn Miller's musical arrangements are heard around the world; icons of American culture such as 'In the Mood' and 'A String of Pearls.' In just 4 years, Glenn Miller scored 23 #1 hits, more than Elvis or the Beatles. Join us as we enjoy Miller's timeless songs and unique style." On the A&E Biography Channel: ARETHA FRANKLIN 8/16 9:00 p.m., 8/171 a.m.: "Chronicles the life of one of the true giants of soul music and American culture. Called by Time magazine 'one of the most influential people of the last century,' Franklin continues to finds ways to inspire and amaze after more than 40 years of performing. Franklin became the first woman to be elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and songs such as 'Respect,' 'Baby I Love You,' 'I Say a Little Prayer,' and 'The House That Jack Built' have earned her the title, 'Lady Soul'." On the History Channel: HILLBILLY - THE REAL STORY 8/26 8-10 p.m.: "The two-hour special, hosted by celebrity Billy Ray Cyrus, brings these mythic people to life through stories that span 300 years. Outcast immigrants, war heroes, isolated backwoodsmen, hard working miners, fast moving moonshiners, religious warriors, musicians and statesmen make up the rugged cast of characters. *************************************************************************************************** August 1, 2007 Welcome to the 80th edition of Carltone's Corner! Where does the summer go? Is it just the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters or does the time just fly on by when the weather is nice and there are so many musical things to do outdoors? How can it possibly be that the season is almost over already? How come January crawls on by and August comes and goes in the wink of an eye? It hardly seems fair. So the thing is, get out and enjoy things while you can, because by month's end we'll all be singing the summertime blues… Girls gone wild! Before we get to all of the pertinent North Bay music news, there has been so much attention paid in the real media to the foibles of Britney/Lindsay/Nicole that Paris has hardly gotten a mention lately. However, now her Hollywood Hills crib is for sale, and just by coincidence the staff here at CWH is taking a junket down to LA this weekend for a few days in the hopes of witnessing the stars live and in person. Maybe we'll check out her pad! With any luck we'll be involved in some high-speed chases or, at the least, get invited to some drunken wingdings. Maybe we'll go to a baseball game and try to catch a homerun ball… Speaking of the summertime blues, the Strawberry Music Festival is coming up starting on the 30th of this month, and tons of readers are in need of tickets. If you will have some for sale before the final few days leading up to the fest (when lots of tickets become available), beat the rush by contacting us here as soon as possible. You will make some other Strawberrians very happy… Anniversary time. This summer marks 40 years since the Summer of Love, and there will be at least festivals in Golden Gate Park, one in August and one in September. It has been 30 years since Elvis Presley went on to that Graceland Mansion in the sky. 40 years have passed since the Monterey Pop Festival, and you can watch the original famous D.A. Pennebaker documentary concert Monterey Pop on KQED-TV four times in the next two weeks (details lie below); and Stax Records is celebrating 50 years since it put out its first record, and you can watch the KQED show about the label on the 1st. Change in venue. As reported here some weeks back, Thom and Becky Steere, the owners of Sweetwater, have taken over the running of the Larkspur Café Theatre. The folks that ran the theatre for the previous few years, Daniel and Erma of Murphy Productions, will now be producing shows at various locations around the county. The new web site (which is still under construction) for the Larkspur Café Theater features a different spelling of the word "theatre," is a ".net" instead of ".com," and the address is www.larkspurcafetheater.net. Murphy Productions has a newly revamped web site at www.murphyproductions.com. Both sites have some shows of interest coming up this month, and you can read the listings below. Bluegrass wedding. Hot Rize performed at actor Steve Martin's wedding on July 28th in Los Angeles. The guests initially thought they were attending a dinner party but instead found themselves watching Martin marry journalist Anne Stringfield. Original Hot Rize members Tim O'Brien, Pete Wernick and Nick Forrester, as well as guitarist David Grier, started the ceremony with "Romance Is a Slow Dance." O'Brien then offered an Irish jig for a processional, followed by the band's "Cripple Creek" for the recessional. A banjo player and bluegrass fan, Martin sat in with the band after dinner. Dwight Yoakam will release Dwight Sings Buck, a tribute to Buck Owens in October. "After his death, it was the clearest way I could express my love for him and acknowledge the depth of our friendship," Yoakam said. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Buck Owens American Music Foundation, a charity that helps preserve the Bakersfield sound and Owens' legacy. The first single will be "Close Up the Honky Tonks," and other cuts include "My Heart Skips a Beat," "Act Naturally," "Cryin' Time" and "Love's Gonna Live Here." Best of luck to alt-country rocker Dave Gleason, who is following the examples of the Mother Truckers and Lloyd Tripp & The Zipguns by leaving the Bay Area to further his music career. He's bound for LA this month. He'll be reuniting with his SF band Wasted Days for a few shows here, but will likely form a new band down there. Fishwrap Roundup. There was a real nice story about bluesy folk singer Barbara Dane in the Chronicle last month. If you are a reader of Ms. Magazine, their summer issue has a story in it titled "Women In Bluegrass." Paul Liberatore wrote a story in the Marin IJ about former Huey Lewis bassman Mario Cipollina, who is now clean and sober. Matt Kramer wrote about Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars in the Pacific Sun. Ben Fong-Torres wrote a nice piece about longtime Bay Area deejay Don Bleu. And while Rupert Murdoch - who already owns the Fox network, the New York Post, and myspace.com - just bought the Wall Street Journal, there is no truth to the rumor that he is also in the midst of a hostile takeover of Carltone's Corner… Coming attractions. Sausalito Art & Wine Festival September 1st-3rd; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd; Town Mountain and Homespun Rowdy at Sweetwater September 6th; Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention on September 13th-16th; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass October 5th-7th. Police log. There was lots of action in the country music crime scene in July. Mommy dearest: Country singer Mindy McCready is in trouble again. She was arrested on July 25th in Nashville for violating the terms of her probation after getting into a fight with her mother and resisting arrest. In the past few years she has been arrested for DUI, driving without a license, and she was on probation for obtaining the painkiller OxyContin fraudulently at a pharmacy in 2004. The man in the moon is still in tears: Country singer/songwriter Mark Collie was arrested and charged with DUI in Nashville on July 19th. He was not driving at the time but was found slumped over the steering wheel of a car with the engine running near Music Row. He reached the Top 5 in 1992 with "Even the Man in the Moon Is Crying." Show me the money! Robert W. McLean, a TN businessman who bankrolled the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's acquisitions of historic musical instruments once owned by Bill Monroe and Maybelle Carter, is facing lawsuits from several investors who collectively claim he defrauded them of more than $10 million, according to The Tennessean newspaper. Court documents indicated he was also hospitalized on July 15th at a mental health institute in Nashville. Although the purchase prices were not disclosed, Monroe's 1923 Gibson F-5 mandolin had once been priced at $1.25 million and Carter's 1928 Gibson L-5 guitar at $575,000. Amazingly so, Britney/Lindsay/Nicole were not there: Forty-four people were arrested in Canada during a four-day country music festival in mid-July that featured Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and several other major acts. Some 23,000 people showed up for the final day of the Craven Country Music Jamboree, which took place in Saskatchewan. Ten people were arrested for impaired driving, there were five assaults, two assaults with a weapon, four sexual assaults and seven thefts. Idol wild: Former American Idol game show contestant Corey Clark was arrested on drug charges in Arkansas and also had an outstanding warrant from Arizona. Get out your handkerchiefs. As sad is may seem to believe, Britney and K-Fed are finally officially divorced as of July 30th. R&B singer Usher was supposed to get married last weekend, but the ceremony was called off just hours before the pair were due to get married, allegedly due to a string of differences in opinion between the couple and Usher's mother's disapproval of the impending nuptials. Life's railway to heaven. Renowned Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman died on July 30th in Faro, Sweden. He was 89. Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, whose films include Blow-Up, Red Desert and The Passenger, died in Italy at age 94 on July 31st. Singer-songwriter Lawton Williams, whose Top 10 compositions include Bobby Helms' "Fraulein" and Gene Watson's "Farewell Party," died on July 26th in Fort Worth, TX, after battling a respiratory illness. He was 85. Onward to the calendar… Bay Area singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong will be celebrating her birthday (the number of years are of no consequence anymore) on the 1st at Strings in Emeryville starting at 8 p.m. Special guests include members of Houston Jones (Glenn Houston and Peter Tucker), Joshua Zucker, Henry Salvia and John Haley-Walker on harmonies. Caren will be performing songs of her new CD titled Everything. Dead Set, with new bass player, Enrique Salmon, will be kicking off Jerry's Birthday Bash with the Adam Stein Band on the 1st at 19 Broadway in Fairfax. No cover. Novato bassman Pat Campbell will be joining a fine group of musicians on the 1st at 9 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe at Pier 39 in San Francisco for Jerry Garcia's Birthday Tribute 40th Anniversary of Summer of Love, benefiting the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On Wednesday the 1st it is Jerry's Birthday with the David Nelson Trio, Banana & Friends on the 8th, the Pat Echols Experience on the 15th, Grizzly Peak on the 22nd, and the Jeb Brady Band on the 29th. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 16th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Mojo Deluxe on the 1st, Marvin Gaye Tribute on the 2nd, John Cleary & His Absolute Monster on the 3rd, Joe Louis Walker and The Boss Talkers on the 4th, Colin Hay on the 8th, Jerry Hannan on the 9th, the Leo Bash on the 10th, James Moseley Band on the 12th (and 26th), John Corbett on the 14th and 15th, Kimrea on the 21st, Victoria George on the 23rd, Shana Morrison on the 24th, Chuck Prophet on the 31st, and lots more. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 1st. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. At the Ace in the Hole Pub outside of Sebastopol see American Winter on the 1st, Bottle Shock on the 2nd, Jan White & Scott Gerber on the 4th, South Bend on the 8th, Naavacaine on the 12th, Jethro Jeremiah on the 15th, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 16th, Christopher James on the 21st, Five Eyed Hand on the 26th, Beat Meters on the 30th, and many others. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music. There is an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m., and every Wednesday you can see Jerry Hannan on the patio at 9 p.m., and there is music every Saturday, but as of press time the acts were not listed on the web calendar. Marin's Gary Bauman stays busy. See him with The Jeb Brady Band, playing the blues at Music in the Park in San Anselmo's Creekside Park on the 5th from 2-4 p.m. and at Iron Springs in Fairfax on the 29th from 8-10:30; and he'll pick vintage rockabilly with The Sons of Emperor Norton at Music in the Park on the 12th from 2-4 p.m. and then at The Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 16th from 6-9 p.m. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 2nd and the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. At the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa you can see the Gilmartin Potter Band on the 2nd, The Rhythm Rangers on the 4th, Ring of Truth Trio on the 9th (and 23rd), The Farallons on the 11th, The Carrtunes on the 17th, The Moonshiners on the 25th, Laughing Gravy on the 31st, and others. There are Celtic jams on the 8th and 15th, and a bluegrass jam on the 22nd. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire play on the 3rd, Call Me Bwana plays great rock and blues on the 8th, Eric McFadden's Acid Pork Ensemble will amaze you on the 10th, Katie Garibaldi is a songstress to savor on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round showcases the talents of local songsters on the 16th, Jonathan Korty, of Vinyl fame, teams up with Monophonics drummer Austin Bohlman and a cast of talent to bring some funky blues to town on the 17th, Ruckus is back by popular demand and ready to rock your world on the 18th, it's bluegrass on the 21st with Fragment, Frobeck on the 22nd plays funky rock, Tom Finch on the 25th with his side project when he's not playing with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Swampaholics on the 29th, and Spinout on the 31st is rock-a-billy at it's finest. At The Mystic in Petaluma see Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars on the 3rd, Hot Buttered Rum and The Wayward Sons on the 17th, Pride & Joy on the 24th, and more. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 3rd, beginning at 7 p.m., with special guest Chris Goddard on guitar. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Mort Sahl on the 3rd and 4th, Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre on the 8th-11th, George Kuo/Martin Pahinui/Aaron Mahi slack key guitar on the 16th, Mostly Dylan on the 17th, Richie Havens on the 24th, Jules Broussard on the 26th, and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 3rd, Andrew Freeman on the 4th, the Celtic jam on the 5th, The Tonewoods on the 9th, High Country on the 11th, Shades of Green on the 12th, The David Thom Band on the 17th, WayBlonde on the 23rd, Dockside on the 24th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 25th, Lisa Redfern on the 30th, Adobe Creek Bluegrass on the 31st, and much more. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Chrome Johnson on the 3rd, Rancho All-Stars on the 4th, The Kingdom Travelers on the 5th, Commander Cody on the 9th, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 10th, Paul Thorn and The Hacienda Brothers on the 12th, Luau on the Lawn on the 19th, Maria Ball on the 26th, and others. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theater are The James Moseley Band on the 3rd, Heather Combs Songwriters-in-the-Round on the 4th, Jimmy Dillon & Friends benefit on the 10th, Sun Kings Beatle Tribute on the 11th, Moonlight Rodeo on the 18th, Peter Rowan solo on the 24th, and Sila & The Afrofunk Experience on the 25th. The Billy Boys will be playing both country and western music at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station on the 3rd. Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire besides playing the songs of Johnny Cash and more at Peri's in Fairfax on the 3rd, will also be at the Irish Cultural Center is S.F. on the 4th, on the Bay Delta Charters out of Sausalito the 5th, and at the Blackthorn Tavern in S.F. on the 17th. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is now featuring a lot of bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. In August you can see Gayle Lynn & The Hired Hands on the 3rd, Bluegrass Revolution on the 4th, Five Dollar Suit on the 10th, Flatt Lonesome on the 17th, Under The Radar on the 18th, Caliban on the 24th, and Culann's Hounds on the 25th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 3rd, Ralph Woodson on the 4th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 10th, Noel Jewkes on the 11th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 17th, Jazz Philosophy on the 18th, Chris Cosbey Trio on the 24th, Mike Angel & Tim Cleary on the 25th, and Jump To It on the 31st. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 4th and the 11th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th and 30th it will be pickers' choice. Go to the Sweetspot in Santo Rosa to see Juan Bolder on the 4th, Robert Herrera and Ian Scherer on the 9th and 23rd, Soul Shine on the 10th and 31st, Fortunate Sons on the 17th, and join the Pirate Party on the 25th. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell needs a Palm Pilot just to remember what band and style of music he'll be playing. On the 4th his new band The Rhythm Rangers will be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m., on the 11th he'll be with Mark McLay & The Dustdevils at Studio E in Sebastopol 8 p.m., on the 18th his band Under the Radar will play Finbar's in Petaluma 8 p.m., on the 25th it will be a double CD release party on the Jackalope label for The Rhythm Rangers and Solid Air at New College of California in Santa Rosa, and on the 31st see Kevin with Laughing Gravy at the Black Rose. The Audrey Shimkas Quartet will be playing a free show on the 12th from 2-4 p.m. at the Corte Madera Town Center. The Spiral Mystics will be taking the stage at the Salute to the Arts on the 4th at 10:30 a.m. on Sonoma Square in the amphitheater. Bring a picnic basket and go on out to check out the artwork, music, and good food. The oblique Americana band 77 El Deora will be opening for The Gourds at Slim's in SF on the 4th. Cellist Zoe Keating can be seen on the 4th at 8 p.m. at an outdoor performance at Camp Meeker in Sonoma County. A recent transplant from San Francisco to Camp Meeker, Zoe takes her classical training on the cello to new and innovative terrain. Describing herself as a one-woman string quartet, she constructs her songs live by layering in parts into a sampler and becoming a solo jazz band. Intense and melodic, her music is an entirely unique experience. Two other musicians for this special concert will join her. The West Coast Songwriters Association open mic playoffs will take place at Sweetwater on the 7th. All of the winners of the previous 11 months of open mics will vie for one grand prize. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, Marin County's longest running bluegrass band, has two shows of note this month. On the 10th you can see them for the first time at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito, starting at 7:15 p.m. Saylor's usually has jazz and blues, so this will be an interesting experiment. On Saturday the 25th they'll be playing at Murphy's in Sonoma from 8-10 p.m. Both venues have no cover, they serve excellent food, and children are welcome. Wagon, the three-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing on the 10th at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach starting at 7 p.m., and on the 25th see them at Finnegan's in Novato. The Dead on the Creek festival is happening again in Willits on the 10th-12th. See Marley's Ghost, Wake the Dead, The Stairwell Sisters, Bill Evan's String Summit, Hot Buttered Rum, Workingman's Ed, and others. Mill Valley's Dore Coller has some cool gigs. On the 10th his Bermuda Grass ensemble will be at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, he'll play with the Hot Club of Marin on the 12th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, on the 14th and 28th with them at the Left Bank in Larkspur, and then Dore & Friends will be jamming on the 19th at Sweetwater from 5-8 p.m. 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 Jimmy Dillon & Danny Click on the 11th at 8:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. The Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sebastopol on the 11th and 12th showcases the best in arts, crafts, food, wines and brews, games, entertainment and farm life activities. Brimming with tradition, visitors go every year to experience the unique flavor of an old-time country get-together and to celebrate the Gravenstein apple. Some of the acts you can see are Poor Man's Whiskey, Scott Gerber, Solid Air, The Farallons, The Trailer Park Rangers, and Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88's. All fans of the pedal steel guitar are headed south to Felton on the 11th at 8 p.m. for the In The Steel of the Night show featuring over 100 years of steel guitar experience on one stage with Joe Goldmark & The Seducers, Big Lou's Polka Casserole w/David Phillips, and The Saddle Cats w/Bobby Black. Don Quixote's International Music Hall. Schaef-Abel Productions is breaking with their normal routine of presenting only acoustic music in order to host Mark McLay & The Dustdevils on the 11th at Studio E in Sebastopol at 8 p.m. Hailing from Wine Country, they have been stomping out original rock & roll for over a decade. Youthful enthusiasm, coupled with seasoned musicianship, makes them one hot band to watch. 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. Don't even think about missing the Saw Players Festival on the 11th and 12th in Roaring Camp down in Felton by Santa Cruz. Workshops, performances, jamming, contests and more. Cutting edge music all weekend! Doug Adamz & Bravo will play on the 11th at Rancho Nicasio, and on the 31st Trio Bravo will be at the Station House in Point Reyes Station. Marin's own Kurt Huget, singer/songwriter/musician, will have plenty opportunities to be heard this month. On the morning of the 12th, he'll be performing live on KPIG radio. Saturday the 18th will find his alt-country/roots rock/Americana band, Moonlight Rodeo, celebrating the release of their new CD with a concert at Larkspur Cafe Theater, featuring special guests. His jazz group, Namely Us, will be at Cafe Amsterdam on the 12th and 26th. On Thursday the 16th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the monthly bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. This show will be North Bay CD release party and Sweetwater grand debut for the San Francisco band The Deciders, and opening will be String Break. The Deciders are an unprecedented amalgamation of stylistically diverse performers that weave the intricacy of hard-driving bluegrass music with a self-proclaimed post-modern lyrical cynicism into a sound the likes of which you pretty much definitely have never heard, unless it was The Deciders who were making it. The Deciders, in other words, are the Wikipedia of contemporary performers of hybrid musical styles rooted in, but not limited to, American folk and bluegrass traditions. The band is David Wurzburg on mandolin, Andy Gass on guitar, Jordan Klein on banjo, Margaret Mug on bass, and Andy Lentz on fiddle. String Break is a new bluegrass band based in Marin County. They play mostly traditional material in the style of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, with vocal trios and the usual bluegrass instruments of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and bass. The members are Dave Hanks, Joe Osborn, "Buffalo" Bob Davis, Mike Staninec, Karen Grace, and Duncan Draper. Lauralee Brown is one in-demand singer. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. On the 16th she will be guest vocalist at Seafood Peddler in San Rafael with Alex Markels and the Rent Party Rhythm Section from 5:30-8:30 p.m.; on the17th is the usual Jazz & Beyond at Saylor's Landing with Ken Husbands on guitar, Jack Prendergast on bass and Tom "Pep" Peplinski on drums; on the 18th the band will be playing at the Napa Valley's Sustainable Wine & Food Festival; she'll be singing at the Waterfront Grill in Petaluma every Saturday except the 18th from 6:30-9 p.m.; and on the 30th she'll be a guest vocalist at the Octavia Lounge in San Francisco for Anne O'Brien's show. The Healdsburg Guitar Festival is back on the 17th-19th, and you can see dozens of topnotch luthiers, workshops, demonstrations, etc. How can we miss you if you won't stay away? Former Tasmanian/Stinsonian singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera moved to Nashville in June, but she'll be coming back this month to play some local gigs. On the 17th at 8 p.m. see her, Nina Gerber and Kenny Edwards at he French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, and then on the 18th Audrey will be playing solo at the Casa d'Olivier House Concert in Berkeley. For info contact Linda oliverlinda@comcast.net. The 5th Annual Russian River Beer Revival is the place to be on the 18th in Guerneville. Lots for brewpubs will be on hand, and you can groove to the music of 1/4 Mile Combo and The Phenix Band. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents New York-based singer-songwriter Marci Geller for an evening of music and dining on the 18th. Marci is an intense performer whose beautifully poignant music will sweep you away to a land beyond the edge. With music ranging from sublime to bittersweet, weaving beautiful, intimate verses with infectious choruses, Geller opens up her emotional diary and invites listeners to find their own voice in her songs. Doors open 6 p.m., potluck dinner at 6:30, and the show starts 7:30. Admission $20. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Be on hand for The Napa Sustainable Wine and Food Festival on the 18th at the Silverado Resort in Napa. Lauralee Brown & Company will provide the music. The mission of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group is to identify and promote winegrowing practices that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sound. The 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love Festival is coming to Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park in SF on the weekend of the 18th and 19th, but as of press time their web site was lacking in information about what bands will be performing. The KWMR Far West Fest will take place on the 18th from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at Love Field in Point Reyes. It will feature two stages of great music, including Camper Van Beethoven, SambaDa', Chrome Johnson, Sage, The Bluebellies, Bo Carper (from New Monsoon), Tim Cain, The Wronglers Axton Kincaid and more. They'll also be serving up the best in local food, arts and crafts, and a kids' zone. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the gate, with discounts and freebies for little ones. They need volunteers, and the hosts are accepting applications from artisans, vendors and crafty folk. For a vending form, advance tickets, volunteer contact and more information about the fest, go to the web site. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Erika Luckett on the18th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The Keith Little Trio (Keith, Jody Stecher and Paul Knight) will play at the Station House on 19th from 5-8:30 p.m., and then at the Bowers Mansion Festival in Carson City on the 25th. 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. On the 19th the band will perform for the 40th Anniversary Summer of Love Concert in Golden Gate Park, and on the 21st Dreamdogs will have their Big Time CD release party at Sweetwater. The new album, recorded and engineered by Jim Reitzel at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, features guest performances by Norton Buffalo and Narada Michael Walden. Murphy Productions is teaming up with the Lark Theater in Larkspur
on the 22nd at 8:30 p.m. for their first show since leaving the Larkspur
Cafe Theatre at the end of June. They are pleased to be presenting The
Waybacks, one of the finest acoustic Americana bands in the country
today, in the newly remodeled art deco theater. The Lark's acoustics
are excellent, the seats are comfortable and the concessions include
gourmet nibbles, beer and wine. The Waybacks are Stevie Coyle, James
Nash, Warren Hood, Chuck Hamilton, and Joe Kyle Jr. Fleet-fingered and
muddy-booted, they can play like nobody's business. Use an accordion, go to jail! The Cotati Accordion Festival is always one fun fest. On the 25th and 26th see The Pickpocket, Ensemble, The Truccos, Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Great Morgani, Brave Combo, Motor Dude Zydeco, Sourdough Slim, Lady of Spain, Culann's Hounds, Those Darn Accordions and many others. The Tiburon Art Festival runs on the 25th and 26th on Ark Row in downtown, and it will feature visual art, food, music and a festive atmosphere. The music acts were not listed on the site as of press time. 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 26th. 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. Mill Valley musician Jesse Lee Kincaid and his band, with Kurt Huget on bass and Spike Klein on drums, will play an opening set for Erik Howlin' Houndog and his band at 9 p.m. on the 28th at Peri's in Fairfax. Jesse will be playing his Rickenbacker electric twelve-string guitar and singing a batch of new songs. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: LEGENDARY VICTOR BORGE 08/01 9 p.m.: "Victor Borge began his performing career with a piano debut in 1926 at the age of seventeen. For eight decades he'd been in the spotlight. 'The Great Dane,' as the beloved international humorist and musician is known, died just a few days before his 92nd birthday on January 3, 2001. This program is a fitting tribute, a smorgasbord of comedy and music from the Victor Borge archives, including never-before-broadcast Borge routines." RESPECT YOURSELF - THE STAX RECORDS STORY 08/01 10 p.m.: "Between 1959 and 1975, Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, released international chart-topping hits such as 'Soul Man,' 'Dock of the Bay,' 'Green Onions,' 'Midnight Hour,' 'Respect Yourself' and the theme from Shaft. The label's artists included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Booker T. & The MGs, Wilson Pickett, Isaac Hayes - even Richard Pryor and Jesse Jackson. Founded by a conservative white bank teller who played country fiddle music, Stax became the pre-eminent soul music label in America. Its story is entwined with the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the rise of Black Nationalism in the 1970s. This program documents the Stax label, its visionaries and most of all, its music." PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 08/02 3 a.m., 1 p.m., 8/04 5 a.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." TONY BENNETT DUETS - THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC 08/04 11:30 a.m., 8/05 7:30 p.m., 8/08 9:30 p.m.: "This program takes a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of Tony Bennett's 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. Among the musical artists who join Bennett in the studio are Bono, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Sting. In addition to musical selections, there are interviews with Bennett, the duet artists, and Phil Ramone, producer of the Duets CD." MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 08/04 4:30 p.m., 8/18 1:30 p.m.: "Patti Page returns to co-host all new performances and archival classics from the vault with co-hosts Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale, and Mary Lou Metzger. This program features many more legends of the late 50s and early 1960s pop era. Frankie Laine comes out of retirement to 'spend one more night in our old rendezvous' singing his sentimental 'That's My Desire.' Italian crooner Julius LaRosa takes stage to perform his classic 'Eh Compari' and 'Domani.' The Four Lads, Four Aces, Four Freshmen, Roger Williams, Lenny Welch, The Platters, The DeCastro Sisters (and more), also return to the stage to sing their greatest hits. Archival performances from Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and Nat King Cole round out this amazing special." MY MUSIC - 50'S POP PARADE 08/04 7 p.m., 8/09 7:30 p.m., 8/11 2 p.m., 8/14 1 p.m., 8/16 1 a.m.: "This special brings back more 1950s pop crooners, featuring performers that define the pop musical soundtrack from the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s. Robert Goulet headlines and co-hosts the music and memories with Jerry Vale, Kay Starr, The Mills Brothers, Ed Ames, The Four Lads, The Four Aces, Patti Page, The Ink Spots, Tony Martin, Margaret Whiting, and more. The program features the usual My Music mix of new live performances and archival classics from the vaults including rare footage from Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, Andy Williams and more." MY MUSIC - THE 70'S EXPERIENCE 08/04 9 p.m., 8/11 12:58 a.m., 8/12 11:28 p.m., 8/14 2:29 a.m., 8/18 4:28 a.m.: "Bell bottoms, 8-Tracks, pet rocks and more - all part of the 'Have a Nice Decade.' This program brings back 'the 70s,' mixing soft rock, pop, soul and disco for the ultimate 70s party. Hosted by the Brady Bunch's Barry Williams. It includes new live and classic archival performances with some of the most loves tunes from the 1970s." JOHNNY MATHIS - WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL 08/05 4 p.m., 8/08 1 p.m.: "Ever popular recording star Johnny Mathis celebrates his 50th anniversary in show business with a hit-filled concert recorded in Atlantic City in late October, 2006. The program also includes new interview footage taped at his home in the Hollywood Hills." THE BRITISH BEAT 08/05 5:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., 8/09 1 a.m., 8/10 3 a.m., 8/13 2 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." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 8/06 1p.m., 8/11 10:30 a.m., 8/17 1 a.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world." ANUNA - CELTIC ORIGINS 08/07 7:30 p.m., 8/17 1 p.m., 8/18 6:30 a.m.: "Anuna - the original vocal group in Riverdance - has bridged the gap between classical and popular music with its pure, haunting, emotional and mystical sound. This program spans over 1000 years of music history as 16 Anuna singers perform an ethereal blend of Irish, British, Middle English, Scots Gaelic, Medieval Irish, Latin and Greek choral music. The Gothic beauty of Cleveland's Trinity Cathedral provides an atmospheric setting for the concert. During the program, Anuna founders Michael McGlynn and his twin brother John offer entertaining explanations about the origins and meanings of the group's music." MONTEREY POP - THE SUMMER OF LOVE 08/07 9:30 p.m., 8/09 3 a.m., 8/11 11 p.m., 8/14 1 a.m.: "During the Summer of Love, 1967, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival ushered in a new era of rock and roll. The festival would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden and the Animals, and The Who. Director D.A. Pennebaker captured the decade's spirit during the three-day festival in his acclaimed documentary entitled Monterey Pop and immortalized moments that have become legend. And now 40 years later, this program presents the best of Pennebaker's documentary." ANDRE RIEU - RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE IN NEW YORK 08/08 7:30 p.m., 8/09 1 p.m., 8/12 10:30 a.m., 8/13 1 p.m., 8/15 9:30 p.m.: "Andre performs at Radio City Music Hall and is joined by the Harlem Gospel Choir and five-year-old violinist Akim Camara." MUSIC AND DANCE OF POLAND - MAZOWZSE 08/11 6:30 p.m.: "Mazowsze is internationally recognized as Poland's cultural ambassadors, having performed over 6000 shows in cities around the world, including tours to the US. Their symphonic arrangements and dances have been created from traditional performance styles that represent more than 30 regions in Poland. The music varies from Chopin to simple folk melodies beloved by the Poles for centuries. Recorded live in the Polish National Opera House in Warsaw, and narrated by Bobby Vinton." ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 08/12 12:30 a.m., 8/16 10 p.m.: "This time capsule will transport you to another age - swinging London in the late 1960s. This is the Stones as you have hardly ever seen them - up close and intimate. The show also includes guests such as The Who, Jethro Tull and a great performance by John Lennon. This show was broadcast once in the US, on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 08/12 12:30 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60s folk rock music hosted by Tom & Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 08/13 7:30 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W. On stage with Roy are guests Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Soles, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes." BROADWAY - THE GOLDEN AGE 08/13 9 p.m., 8/16 1 p.m., 8/17 8:30 p.m.: "An important, ambitious and comprehensive film about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway. He soon learned that great films can be restored, fine literature can be kept in print - but historic Broadway performances of the past are the most endangered. They leave only memories that, while more vivid, are more difficult to preserve. In their own words - and not a moment too soon - this program tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre." BENISE - NIGHTS OF FIRE 08/14 7:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., 8/15 1 a.m.: "An unprecedented and spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance that pushes the bar of tradition and raises the standards of live performance to a fresh new level of originality, cultural fusion, and passion. Roni Benise is our master of ceremonies, as he takes us on a romantic and exotic voyage through the wild and beautiful sounds of his Spanish guitar. Collaborating his innovative vision with the creative minds of director Amy Tinkham and Brazilian born choreographer Alex Magno, the team unfolds a new tapestry of Spanish music and dance." DAVE KOZ AT THE MOVIES 08/14 9 p.m.: "World-renowned adult pop artist Dave Koz turns to one of his favorite pastimes for inspiration. This television event captures a lush, inspired collection of timeless movie themes, featuring guest vocalists Anita Baker, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, and Vanessa Williams." *************************************************************************************************** July 18, 2007 The staff here at Carltone World Headquarters just got back from a trip east so this edition is a few days late. Contrary to rumors, we did not go east just so we could be the first in line to see the new Harry Potter movie, to watch the dogfights at football player Michael Vick's house, or to celebrate 10,000 losses by the Philadelphia Phillies. But we're fit, rested and ready to bring you all the North Bay music news that you'd have a hard time finding in the real media. Merlegrass. Merle Haggard will be releasing his first bluegrass album in October, titled The Bluegrass Sessions. It will feature Alison Krauss on a duet of "Mama's Hungry Eyes." The album includes reworked versions of Haggard's classics, some new songs, a medley of Jimmie Rodgers songs and a cover of the Delmore Brothers' "Blues Stay Away From Me." Are you YouTubed? The video outlet wants to find out what the YouTube experience is like for musicians who post their videos or who have their own channels. They're planning a brown bag lunch meeting on the 20th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at their office in San Bruno, CA, at which time they hope to talk with local musicians about their experiences and get ideas for improvements. Contact Michele Flannery at mflannery@youtube.com for more info. Fishwrap roundup. There was a great story about The Roadoilers and The Whoreshoes in the July 13th edition of the Pacific Sun by Matt Kramer.. The bands play Sweetwater on the 18th (see info below). Matt also recently wrote about the monthly Krickie's Songwriter Night at Peri's in Fairfax. An SF drummer lost her finger to fireworks on the 4th of July in Dolores Park. Some cretin threw firecrackers where she was sitting. There was also a story in the Chron recently about Owsley Stanley, longtime Deadhead and engineer on the Old & In the Way albums. There was a story in the San Jose Mercury about the 40th anniversary of the "Summer of Love" recently by Jim Harrington, and he lists the top songs of that era. Erstwhile country singer Doug Supernaw was committed to a mental institution on July 2nd. He was ordered by a judge to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after making several unusual claims in court in April in Bryan, Texas. He had been in court to answer to a misdemeanor charge for avoiding arrest after a confrontation with a police officer. His hits include "Reno" and "I Don't Call Him Daddy." Police log. Expensive meals: Pop singer Sting and his wife have been ordered to pay their ex-cook $51,000 in compensation for firing her when she got pregnant. Bad rap: rap artist Remy Ma was arrested in New York on charges of attempted murder in a shooting outside a Manhattan nightspot on the 14th. Good love gone bad: a country singer named Robin Munis was shot and killed while singing on stage in Cheyenne, WY, by her sharpshooter husband, who later committed suicide when he was surrounded by police. Life's railway to heaven. Co-founder of the California Bluegrass Association and longtime bluegrass player Jake Quesenberry died of heart failure on July 3rd in Palo Alto. He was 77. Opera singer Jerry Hadley died in New York on July 18th a week after he tried to commit suicide. He was 55. Longtime Bay Area radio personality Frank Terry died of colon cancer on June 30th near Sonora. He was 68. Ray Goins, a bluegrass music pioneer who played in the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and the Goins Brothers, died on July 2nd in Kentucky following a lengthy illness. He was 71. Coming attractions. Dead on the Creek Festival on August 10th-12th; The Deciders at Sweetwater on August 16th; the Strawberry Music Festival Labor Day Weekend; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Additions The Rob Robinson Band (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will play at Rafters on the 18th in San Rafael from 7-10 p.m. Good food, drink, and the blues. Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds have three shows of note this month. On the 19th they will be playing bluegrass at The Atlas Café in SF from 8-10 p.m., on the 20th at Murphy's in Sonoma from 8-10 p.m., and on the 27th at McGrath's Pub in Alameda from 8-11 p.m. The North Bay trio The Farallons will be singing at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 21st. On the 21st at 7 p.m. at Creek Park in Corte Madera don't miss the Annual Beatles Show with a cast (including Jesse Lee Kincaid) of 30 performing Beatles songs with chorus, horns, and strings. The String Cheese Incident is playing two nights at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. On the 21st see them and Sound Tribe Sector 9 and The Disco Biscuits, and on the 22nd it will be the Cheese plus Hot Buttered Rum and Railroad Earth. Tie-dye optional. The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa is hosting Patty Griffin on the 23rd and John Hiatt and Shawn Colvin on the 27th. Dore Coller & Bermuda Grass will be playing a concert at the Larkspur Theater Cafe on the 25th at 8 p.m. Adam Traum will be the opening act. On the 27th catch Danny Montana & the Bar Association at Peri's in Fairfax. Show starts 9:30 p.m. Then on the 29th they play a free show for the "Music in the Park" series in Creek Park in San Anselmo. The Lynn Bobby Band opens at noon. Bring a picnic. What the heck. Go see what all the fuss is about when The Whutknotts take the stage at Murphy's on the 28th at 8 p.m. They are a North Bay trio of singers and pickers that play an eclectic mix of traditional country, bluegrass and old-time rock & roll. The band is Doug Adamz on fiddle and guitar, Don Rich on guitar, and Carltone on bass. Reminders On the 18th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the monthly bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Old-time meets honky-tonk when The Roadoilers and The Whoreshoes share the stage. The Roadoilers are an old-time string band from Marin County who play square dance and contra dance music, traditional country singing, ragtime, and Irish traditional tunes. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass and bagpipes are the instruments. John Pedersen, Perry Fly, Chuck Wiley and Mike Drayton have played together in various combinations for over 25 years. The band has a new eponymous CD out, and they will be freely releasing them during and after their show. The Whoreshoes come from varied backgrounds of music, but their mutual love for the time-honored songs of American old-time music and early honky-tonk country brings them together. Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved will play at Strings in Emeryville on the 18th from 8-10 p.m. Then on the 19th Matt will play as a duo with Erik Pearson at Murphy's from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See the RiffRiders on the 18th, and Ed Neff & Friends on the 25th. On Saturday the 21st join the pub at the 7th Annual Micro Breweries Battling Breast Cancer Brewfest at Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur. The Mendocino Music Festival runs until the 21st, and besides art there are concerts at night featuring big band, chamber music ensembles, dance, blues, jazz, world, and folk music. Days include lectures and recitals, performances by the young musicians, and chamber concerts at beautiful venues throughout Mendocino Village. The Sonoma County Fair goes until the 30th. See Eddie Money, The Jonas Brothers, Kimberley Locke, Pride & Joy, Melissa Manchester, Batalla de Grupos, David Jacobs-Strain, John Lee Hooker Jr., Solid Air, The Rhythm Rangers, Trailer Park Rangers, Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Wild Catahoulas, and Mark McLay & The Dust Devils. The Humboldt Folklife Festival takes place until the 21st in the town of Arcata, and there are lots of workshops, performances and jamming going on, featuring mostly north coast musicians. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music. There is an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m., and you can see Jerry Hannan on the 18th and 25th on the patio at 9 p.m., Stage Fright and Friends on the 21st, and Don Forbes on the 28th. The Ace in the Hole in Sebastopol has some good stuff. See Trailer Park Rangers on the 19th, The Moonshiners on the 22nd, Panhandle on the 26th, and lots more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned above on the 18th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See David Lindley on the 19th, Luce on the 20th and 21st, James Moseley Band R & B Dance Party on the 21st, Victoria George on the 26th, Nick Gravenites on the 28th, and more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is Matt Lax & Erik Pearson on the 19th, Julay Brooks & The Nightbirds on the 20th, Peter Lamson on the 22nd, The David Thom Band on the 27th, The Whutknotts on the 28th, and Kurt Huget on the 29th, and others. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Chris Goddard and Eugene Huggins on the 20th, Asleep at the Wheel on the 21st and 22nd, and The Zydeco Flames on the 29th. 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. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See The Jeb Brady Band on the 20th, Swampaholics on the 25th, Danny Montana and the Bar Association on the 27th, Spinout on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 29th, and more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Jump To It on the 27th, and David Jeffery Jazz Trio on the 28th. Lauralee Brown can also be found on Tuesdays at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is a new home for mostly live bluegrass music on the weekends. See Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup on the 20th, Alhambra Valley Band on the 21st, Carolina Special on the 27th, and High Country on the 28th. Out at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station you can see the Hawaiian slack key with George Kahumoku Jr. and Keoki Kahumoku on the 20th at 8 p.m., and Big B & His Snake Oil Saviors on the 21st at 8 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th, beginning at 7 p.m. Marin Civic Center has two shows of note this month. See (what's left of)(both literally and mentally) The Beach Boys on the 21st, and then go to the Texas Guitar Show on the 28th and 29th. Instrument experts from all over the world will be there, along with dealers, artists, collectors, foreign buyers, authors and celebrities. The show will also feature exhibits of old, rare, celebrity-owned, new and used guitars, amps, banjos, effects, memorabilia and equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring items to sell, trade, or to have appraised. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Corte Madera's Corinne West on the 21st at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax see Working Man's Ed on the 20th, Planet Asia and BoRat & Friends on the 21st, Eric McFadden Trio on the 27th and Pigeon John on the 28th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 21st it will be swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are the John Courage Trio on the 21st, Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 26th, and Blueshift on the 28th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Buckwheat Zydeco on the 21st, Jules Broussard on the 29th, and other great shows. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget on the 21st will find him performing with the 5th Annual Salute To The Beatles in Creek Park in San Anselmo. His jazz band, Namely Us, performs at Cafe Amsterdam on the 22nd, and you can catch his solo show at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma on the 29th. Schaef-Abel Productions is presenting Chip Taylor, Kendel Carson & John Platania on the 21st at 8 p.m. at Studio E House Concerts in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa or can be purchased through the mail. The Grass Cutters will be picking the grass on the 22nd at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach. There will be jammin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, and the date is the 22nd. 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. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell and his new band The Rhythm Rangers (Kevin, Dave Zirbel, Blair Hardman, Ric Cutler & Kirby Pierce) can be seen on the 23rd at the Sonoma County Fair from 1:15-4:30 p.m., and on the 25th Kevin will play with Mark McLay & the Dust Devils at the fair. Mill Valley's Dore Coller will play with the Hot Club of Marin on the 24th at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m. 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 Alec Stone Sweet on the 27th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. After the thrilling success of their sold-out performance at the fabulous Station House Café last month, Trio Bravo (led by the incendiary Doug Adamz on fiddle) has been asked to return on the 27th at 7 p.m. Lindalou and Michael can be seen and heard on the 28th at the Calistoga Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. until noon. 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. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: DAVID HOCKNEY - THE COLORS OF MUSIC 7/18 10 p.m.: "Poetic and
narrative, David Hockney progressed from pop to naturalism to photo
collage, always with a unique, powerful use of light and color. Now,
his inventive stage designs have transformed opera into a magical experience
- one to watch as well as to hear. Ironically, as he reaches the height
of his craft, Hockney is, in private, racing against time as he is slowly
becoming deaf." KISS ME KATE (1953) 7/21 9:55 p.m.: "Film version of Cole Porter's Broadway musical, adapted from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew stars Kathryn Grayson stars as Lillie Vanessi (Katherine), and Howard Keel as Fred Graham (Petruchio), a married couple whose off- stage and on-stage lives are highly intermingled. The cast also features Ann Miller as Lois Lane (Bianca), and Keenan Wynn as Lippy." JEWEL FROM THE RIALTO SQUARE THEATRE PART ONE 7/21 11:45 p.m.: "Three-time Grammy-nominated performer Jewel is best known for her charismatic live performances. In this episode, Jewel performs at the historic Rialto Theatre with an ethereal backdrop and, at times, is accompanied by a chamber orchestra. In part one of this two-part special, Jewel performs her well-known hits and showcases her vast vocal styling by performing standard classics such as Cole Porter's 'Anything Goes' and the aria 'Per la gloria d'adorari.'" LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - GOSPEL & JAZZ 7/22 1 p.m.: "Host Christopher O'Riley welcomes the Bone Rangers, a teenage trombone quartet from Chicago, and Roderick Demmings, 13, a pianist from Dallas, Texas, who also is director of his church choir. The Bone Rangers perform selections from Hornoff's Suite for Four Trombones, Roderick plays Chopin's 'Black Key Etude' and then all join forces for the jazzy 'Harlem Express.'" LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR 7/22 1:30 p.m.: "The Chicago Children's Choir, under their dynamic director Josephine Lee, offers stirring renditions of the spiritual 'Elijah Rock' and the South African 'Lizela.' Drew Peterson, a 12-year-old pianist and aspiring conductor from Oradell, New Jersey, performs Chopin's 'Grande Valse' and takes on host Christopher O'Riley in a left-handed 'Name That Tune' challenge." DEAN MARTIN - THE ONE & ONLY 7/26 8 p.m., 7/29 1 p.m.: "He was a beloved American icon - the coolest, the most debonair, the smoothest entertainer of the 1960s and 70s. This special is a loving and moving tribute to one of the most admired and multi-talented performers the world has ever known. While one of America's top vocalists, Dino was also an accomplished, serious film actor. Dean's NBC variety hour, The Dean Martin Show, ran for nine highly-rated years and spawned his equally well-watched Celebrity Roast specials." SAMMY DAVIS, JR. - ONE COOL CAT 7/26 9 p.m.: "This program is a detailed and thoroughly entertaining look at the life and career of this American entertainment icon through the use of rarely seen archival performance footage and photos." RAT PACK - LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS 7/26 10:58 p.m.: "Filmed live in London in August 2005, this program recreates a night at The Sands Hotel and Casino with the world's favorite crooners, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin, as performed by actors/singers, Stephen Triffitt, George Long and Mark Adams. It's a trip back in time to the glamorous, hot, glitzy nights of Las Vegas." LILI (1953) 7/28 8 p.m.: "In this musical, Leslie Caron stars as French orphan who attaches herself to a carnival and a self-pitying puppeteer (Mel Ferrer). The Oscar-winning score by Bronislau Kaper includes 'Hi Lili, Hi Lo.'" SOUNDSTAGE - TRAIN 7/28 11:15 p.m.: "San Francisco's Train is one of the most successful bands stemming from the late 90s, having sold millions of records and producing solid hit after hit with each album it releases. Singer Patrick Monahan, singer/guitarist Rob Hotchkiss, guitarist Jim Stafford, bassist Charlie Colin and drummer Scott Underwood know how to craft thoughtful ballads to anthemic rock 'n' roll - fans and radio cannot get enough of them. Soundstage welcomes the group, who deliver a rousing performance packed with sing-along choruses and hook-filled melodies." SOUNDSTAGE - JEWEL FROM THE RIALTO SQUARE THEATRE PART TWO 7/29 12:15 a.m.: "The conclusion of Jewel's two-part performance. Whether she is yodeling or singing an aria, Jewel puts her own unique blended style into her music. Performing 'Foolish Games,' 'Satellite' and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' Jewel has managed to put her life's retrospective into her well-crafted songs, which are influenced by many music genres including rock, pop, country, jazz and classical." SOUNDSTAGE - AMERICA 7/29 1:12 a.m.: "The early 70s light folk sound that became popular in America was defined by the very band that shared a name with the country that embraced them. America ruled the Top 10 charts of that era, with their evocative harmonies and acoustic- styled musicianship. With their reflective, peaceful sounds, America's songs and albums shot up the charts and landed in the hearts and welcoming ears of the country." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - TRIPLE THREAT AND CLARINET 7/29 12:30 p.m.: "Host Christopher O'Riley welcomes 17-year-old clarinetist Nicholas Graham, from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and roller- coaster-loving Conrad Tao, a 12-year-old "triple threat" from New York, who not only plays the violin and piano, but is also an award-winning composer." *************************************************************************************************** July 1, 2007 Welcome to the 79th edition of Carltone's Corner! The staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been so busy waiting in line for iPhones, making bids to buy Paris Hilton's garbage on eBay, and trying to get tickets to see "Die Hard XXXVII" that is amazing that there has been any time to get this newsletter done and sent. As a result of all these extra-curricular activities, the dictatorial Rupert Murdoch-like editor, taking a cue from that wacky "astronut" that was in the news last fall (for trying to kidnap a co-worker in a love triangle gone wrong)(are there ever love triangles that go well?), has forced many of the staff to wear adult diapers while sitting at their keyboards. Complaints would be filed with the human resources department, but due to Murdoch-like staff cutbacks and outsourcing, the same editor mentioned above is also the head of the HR department… Instead of going on strike, the staff is going on vacation for a couple of weeks. The mid-month update edition will not go out until July 17th at the earliest. Unless, of course, "replacement workers" can be found to work for "exposure"… Anyway, the summer season is in full bloom, and there are festivals going on seemingly every day in this jolly month of July. Put on some sunscreen, grab your shades, hat and cooler and get on out and have some fun, while the living is easy! Changing of the guard. Two weeks back it was reported here that Murphy Productions had lost their lease at the Larkspur Café Theatre, and some "anonymous" new owners were going to take over on July 1st. Anonymous no more, it turns out the Thom and Becky Steere, owners of the venerable Sweetwater in Mill Valley, are the new proprietors. They will now operate both venues, with food being served at the new one. Daniel and Erma of Murphy Productions will continue to produce shows at other locations, so go to their web site for more info. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma officially changed hands at the stroke of midnight on June 30th as well. Founder and owner Larry Murphy and his wife Rose decided to retire after 14 years. The good news is that the Murphys aren't necessarily going anywhere, as they still live in town and will be regulars at the pub. The better news is that Larry sold the pub to longtime friend Bob Smith, so few changes are in order. Larry is without a doubt one of the nicest guys ever to run such an establishment, and the music community jealously wishes him well in his golden years. Lovin' the Louvins. Charlie Louvin, the remaining sibling of the Louvin Brothers from the 50s and 60s, will perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Ford Theater on the 8th, the weekend he turns 80. He will also be interviewed and premiere a music video for "Ira," a song featured on Charlie's new self-titled album. He wrote the song as a tribute to his late brother, Ira, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1965. Known for their distinctive harmonies, the brothers were a major influence on many artists, including Emmylou Harris, the late Gram Parsons, and the Bay Area duo Keystone Crossing. Honoring her elders. Lucinda Williams has invited Charlie Louvin to open a series of concerts beginning on the 14th in Kansas City, and the 13-city tour will conclude August 1st. Get out your handkerchiefs. Angry that he has not won enough awards during his career, country singer Toby Keith will not attend the Country Music Awards, according to an interview in The Tennessean, Nashville's major daily newspaper. "I'm done with it, but I tried to keep that quiet," he said. "I don't want this to be sour grapes. ... It never worked for me. I gave it a full shot." Despite 27 nominations, Keith has only won two CMA awards. Wah wah wah! All Johnny all the time. JohnnyCash.com Radio, an Internet program featuring interviews with Cash family members, associates, friends and fans, has been launched. The weekly shows stream from the official Cash web site and will be archived for later listening. Each one-hour broadcast will also include discussions of Johnny Cash's nearly five-decade-long career, music, sound bites from Cash and interactive contests. Are you YouTubed? The video outlet wants to find out what the YouTube experience is like for musicians who post their videos or who have their own channels. They're planning a brown bag lunch meeting on the 20th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at their office in San Bruno, CA, at which time they hope to talk with local musicians about their experiences and get ideas for improvements. Contact Michele Flannery at mflannery@youtube.com for more info. The Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse was supposed to present Iris Dement on June 22nd at Berkeley Repertory's Roda Theatre with Bay Area singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong. The show was postponed and changed to September 7th and 8th. Fishwrap roundup. The San Francisco Examiner, the free daily tabloid in SF, has sunken to new lows never before seen in these parts. Three times in the past week the entire front and back pages of the worthless rag has been one full-page ad for some corporate monolith. It is no wonder why most people don't even know that this worthless rag is still in existence. The SF Chronicle's "96 Hours" so-called Thursday entertainment section is not much better, as often it is hard to find the music information among the ads. Meanwhile The Marin Independent Journal had some real good stories recently by Paul Liberatore. He scooped everyone (including the crack reporting team here at Carltone World Headquarters!) with the news about the Steeres taking over the Larkspur Café Theatre. You can read that story here. He also wrote about the Kate Wolf Festival, Carlene Carter (Johnny Cash's step-daughter who now lives up north in Covelo), Ry Cooder, and The New Riders. Matt Kramer of the Pacific Sun wrote a touching tribute to the Larkspur Café Theatre and also about the Marin County Fair. And Bay Area bluegrass gal Nicole Solis (of The Barefoot Nellies) had a story on the Country Music Television web site about the SF club Amnesia and its tribute to bluegrass picker Doyle Lawson. Thanks to Randy Pitts for this tip. The Marin County Old-Time Fiddle Contest took place on June 30th at the County Fair, and here are the winners: 1st Megan Lynch, 2nd Griffin Stoller, 3rd Paul Shelasky, 4th Katy Bridges, and 5th Joe Osborn. Congratulations to all! Maverick Bay Area sound engineer Allen Lam wishes to congratulate Michael LaMacchia's Organic Jive Collective on the release of their new CD Pure 100% Jive which Mr. Lam recorded live at Sweetwater. Previous releases, which were both recorded live and mixed by the well respected Allen, include Kimrea & Dreamdogs Pre-Platinum and Monday Nights at the No Name. Allen, who has also recorded live performances for notable musicians such as Austin deLone and Lisa Kindred, wants the Bay Area musical community to know that his skills and the resources of his 16-track digital mobile unit, as well as 24 track 2" analog recording, are now also available at Wildlife Studio in Montara at special introductory rates. He continues to offer live mobile recording and sound reinforcement at musician-friendly prices. He can be reached at allenears@allenlam.com, and at (650) 557-9750. Go take a hike! Ilana Monkoff, a San Franciscan and true Strawberrian if there ever was one, was diagnosed with Stage Two breast cancer in January just before her 37th birthday. She has gone through a mastectomy and is undergoing chemo treatments. But she is determined to join the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Fundraiser in SF on July 7th and 8th. Please consider going to the web site to either register, volunteer or donate to this most worthy of causes. Ilana's team is trying to help raise $20,000. Band scramble. The Marin County traditional bluegrass band Keystone Station welcomes new banjo player Chris Caputo to the quintet. Band members are Dave Earl on mandolin, Kenny Blacklock on fiddle, Claudia Hampe on guitar, and Carltone on the doghouse bass. Police log. Hangin' with the boys: boy-band (Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync) creator Lou Pearlman, 53, was indicted on June 27th by a federal grand jury on charges he defrauded a bank out of $20 million. He was indicted on three counts of bank fraud, and single counts of mail and wire fraud. Future song material: country singer Sara Evans is seeking a trial date in her divorce from husband Craig Schelske. In court documents, Evans' attorneys allege Schelske and his attorneys have not honored last month's mediation agreement that outlined certain terms of the divorce. Evans filed for divorce in October 2006 and simultaneously withdrew as a contestant on the Dancing With the Stars TV series. Both Evans and Schelske have alleged adultery as one of the grounds for divorce. Schelske claims she lied about her financial worth in legal documents her attorneys submitted in May, and he alleges that Evans underreported the value of their home as well as her copyrights, royalties and other sources of income for artists. The divorce case could go to trial as early as December 2007. Life's railway to heaven. World-renowned opera singer Beverly Sills died on July 1st in New York from lung cancer at age 78. Lyricist Hy Zaret, who wrote the words to "Unchained Melody," one of the most frequently recorded songs of the 20th century, died on July 1st at age 99, about a month shy of his 100th birthday. Frank Nicolas Werber, bon vivant and original manager of The Kingston Trio back in the 60s, died on May 19th in New Mexico from heart failure. He was 77. Hank Medress, who sang lead with The Tokens on their hit song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961, died of lung cancer in New York at age 68 on June 18th. Legendary sax player Boots Randolph, who had a big hit in 1963 with the song "Yakety Sax," died on July 3rd in Nashville after suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage in late June. He was 80. Coming attractions. Dead on the Creek Festival on August 10th-12th; The Deciders at Sweetwater on August 16th; the Strawberry Music Festival Labor Day Weekend; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Onward to the calendar… The Marin County Fair at the civic center in San Rafael runs until July 4th. Some of the acts you can see with the price of admission are The Wailers, Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox, Keystone Crossing, Jamie Clark, The Hot Frittatas, Salvador Santana, The Goldbrickers, The Healy Irish Dancers, and much more. The Napa Country Fair started on June 30th and it runs until July 4th. Some of the bands playing are Caravanserai Tribute to Santana, Mark McLay and the Dust Devils, Wonder Bread 5, Jay Blue, Michael Thomason Band, Salvador, The Buckshot Boys, and Kristen McNamara. Lauralee Brown on Tuesdays can be found at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. She can also be seen on the 5th at Seafood Peddler sittin' in with Alex Markels from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and fronting her own band Lauralee Brown & Company at Saylor's in Sausalito on the 20th. YaY Productions is presenting "A Celebration Of Life" on the 3rd, an all-ages music show with Madera Humana and Kan'Nal at Subud Hall at 6:30 p.m. in Sebastopol. This special event is celebrating the child inside, and the intention of this event is to invite stability, strength and connection amidst healing and entertaining sonic resonance. Madera Humana will be releasing tracks from their upcoming CD and Kan'Nal will preview their new DVD. There will be an outdoors, supervised kids area, so moms and dads can have a good time, while their children play in a great environment without loud music. Bring friends, family, inspiration, soul, your dance shoes, creative genius, any fun loving freaks you meet on the way and carpool to the show. The Ace in the Hole in Sebastopol has some good stuff. The Accidentals on the 3rd, Psychedelic River Chickens and Amber Lee & the Anomolies on the 4th, Soul Sessions on the 7th, Skiffle Symphony on the 11th, Sofa Kings on the 14th, Ace 9th Anniversary BBQ w/Trailer Park Rangers on the 19th, The Moonshiners on the 22nd, Panhandle on the 26th, and lots more. 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. Poor Man's Whiskey will be warming up for the fireworks celebration on the 3rd at Analy High School in Sebastopol. Gates open at 5:30 and PMW plays around 8 p.m. Come on out and bring your blankets and family. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget is all over the map this month. On the 3rd he'll be performing with Kimberlye Gold on the Ben & Jerry's Stage at the Marin County Fair, and then again on the 25th this duo will be at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. Kurt plays solo at the Aqus Cafe in Petaluma on the 7th. The 21st will find him performing with the 5th Annual Salute To The Beatles in Creek Park in San Anselmo. His jazz band, Namely Us, performs at Cafe Amsterdam on the 8th and 22nd. Finally, you can catch his solo show at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma on the 29th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See WTJ Trio on the 4th, Glen Earl Brown and the Dickens on the 5th, Tom Finch Group on the 7th, Sexy Sunday on the 8th, Panhandle on the 12th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 13th, Jeb Brady Band on the 20th, Swampaholics on the 25th, Danny Montana and the Bar Association on the 27th, Spinout on the 28th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 29th, and more. Keystone Crossing will be performing on the Marin Arts stage at the Marin County Fair on the 4th at 5:20 p.m. The duo of Carltone and Claudia Hampe sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass music - The Delmore, Louvin, and Everly Brothers - as well as songs from contemporary duos such as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. Come to the fair for the entertainment and cotton candy, and stay for the fireworks! The price of admission ($13 for adults) includes all exhibits, carnival rides and the music that runs from noon until 9 p.m. On the 4th you can also see Jesse Colin Young, The Savoy Doucet Cajun Band, Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox, and lots more. Lindalou and Michael can be seen and heard on the 4th at the Yountville Veterans Home from 12-1:30 p.m. and on the 28th at the Calistoga Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. until noon. Finnegan's in Novato is the happening place in town for live music. There is an open mic every Monday starting at 8 p.m., and most Wednesdays, including the 4th, you can see Jerry Hannan on the patio at 9 p.m. (except for the 11th, when Dennis Hagerty & Friend will play); Snappy Dan & Dave at on the 7th at 10 p.m., Damir Stosic on the 14th, Stage Fright and Friends on the 21st, and Don Forbes on the 28th. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 4th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. On the 7th hear them play live on Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal radio show on KALW (91.7 FM) or on the web at 6:30 p.m. Then they will dash over to the Riptide in SF to play live from 9-12 midnight. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Tommy Castro on the 4th, The Kingdom Travelers on the 7th, Corinne West & The Posse on the 8th, Albert Lee on the 14th, Wine, Women & Song on the 15th, Chris Goddard and Eugene Huggins on the 20th, Asleep at the Wheel on the 21st and 22nd, and The Zydeco Flames on the 29th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 5th and the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is Solid Air on the 5th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 6th, Andrew Freeman on the 7th, Shades of Green on the 8th, Kimrea and Joe LoCoco on the 12th, John Kelley on the 14th, Matt Lax & Erik Pearson on the 19th, Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds on the 20th, Peter Lamson on the 22nd, The David Thom Band on the 27th, The Whutknotts on the 28th, Kurt Huget on the 29th, and others. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are the John Courage Trio on the 5th (and 21st), Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 7th (and 12th & 26th), Steve Pile on the 13th, and Blueshift on the 28th. The High Sierra Music Festival runs from the 5th-8th in Quincy. You can see the Yonder Mountain String Band, The Waybacks, Leftover Salmon Reunion, Drive-By Truckers, Del McCoury Band, Chris Thile, Hot Buttered Rum, Tea Leaf Green, and lots more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 18th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See The Mother Truckers on the 5th, Michael LaMacchia on the 10th, Aram Danesh on the 13th, Vinyl on the 14th, David Lindley on the 19th, Luce on the 20th and 21st, James Moseley Band R & B Dance Party on the 21st, Victoria George on the 26th, Nick Gravenites on the 28th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Scott Capurro on the 6th, Geoff Bolt and Friends on the 13th, French Cabaret on the 14th, and other great shows. Finbar Devine's in Petaluma is a new home for mostly live bluegrass music on the weekends. See The David Thom Band on the 6th, Bermuda Grass on the 6th, Jimbo Trout on the 13th, Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup on the 20th, Alhambra Valley Band on the 21st, Carolina Special on the 27th, and High Country on the 28th. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell has a full schedule this month. See him on the 6th with Laughing Gravy (featuring Kevin, Doug Jayne, Allegra Broughton, Dean Wilson & others) at The Sebastopol Community Center as part of a benefit for the organization Farms Not Arms; on the 7th his new band The Rhythm Rangers (Kevin, Dave Zirbel, Blair Hardman, Ric Cutler & Kirby Pierce) make their debut at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m.; on the 12th The Rangers will play a free event at the Sebastopol Plaza from 6:30-8 p.m. across the street from Whole Foods; on the 23rd see them at the Sonoma County Fair from 1:15-4:30 p.m.; and on the 25th Kevin will play with Mark McLay & the Dust Devils at the Sonoma County Fair. Sebastopol guitarist Walter Strauss can be seen and heard on the 6th at 8 p.m. at the Woodland Barn Concert with bassist Sam Bevan, and on the 14th he will play solo at the Los Gatos House Concerts. 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. Orrin Starr on the 6th, Pierre Bensusan on the 11th, and Alec Stone Sweet on the 27th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkin on the 6th, Wendy De Witt on the 7th, Steve Malerbi & Harmonica Jazz on the 13th, Madeline Sheron on the 14th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Jump To It on the 27th, and David Jeffery Jazz Trio on the 28th. Out at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station you can see the Brass Menazeri Balkan brass band on the 7th at 8 p.m., Clockwork on the 8th at 5 p.m., Hawaiian slack key with George Kahumoku Jr. and Keoki Kahumoku on the 20th at 8 p.m., and Big B & His Snake Oil Saviors on the 21st at 8 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 7th and the 14th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 21st it will be swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. Mill Valley's Dore Coller is almost as busy as Kevin Russell. On the 7th his band Bermuda Grass will play at Finbar Devine's in Petaluma from 8-midnight, he will play with the Hot Club of Marin on the 8th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax at 5 p.m., on then on the 10th and 24th with the band at the Left Bank in Larkspur from 7:30-9:30 p.m. We are the world! Check out the Live Earth Concerts that are planned for various cities around the world on the 7th. Lots of bands and activities all taking place on one day. 129 countries and in 50 states. If you missed his CD release show at the Larkspur Café Theatre last month, you can see Christopher Smith at a small house concert at his home in San Anselmo on the 7th. Christopher will share the stage with his dear friend and soulful singer/songwriter Sarah Sample. They will play round robin style, passing songs back and forth. There is a $15 suggested donation. The show starts at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30. They only have 30 seats available for this intimate show. The Rowan Brothers Band will play a boat/dinner cruise on the 8th aboard the yacht The Empress from 4-8 p.m. out of Sausalito. All aboard! The Mendocino Music Festival runs from the 10th-21st, and besides art there are concerts at night featuring big band, chamber music ensembles, dance, blues, jazz, world, and folk music. Days include lectures and recitals, performances by the young musicians, and chamber concerts at beautiful venues throughout Mendocino Village. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On Wednesday the 11th see The Sons of Emperor Norton, the RiffRiders on the 18th, and Ed Neff & Friends on the 25th. On Saturday the 21st join the pub at the 7th Annual Micro Breweries Battling Breast Cancer Brewfest at Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur. On the 11th Yvette O'Tannenbaum and her band St. Timothy's Ghost will play at the Second Wednesday Art Walk in Sausalito from 5-8:30 p.m. in the courtyard on Caledonia Street across the street from Sushi Ran. They'll be playing traditional Celtic and swing with a few eclectic tunes thrown in. Band members are Ann McChessney Young on regular and button accordion, Deanne Donnellan on silver flute and Irish whistle, Susan Mashiyama on fiddle, Dave Sahn on guitar and Yvette on mandolin, keyboard, guitar and vocals. 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, and she will also be with Joe LoCoco at Murphy's on the 12th. The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is the place to be on the 13th-15th in Bolado Park at the San Benito County Fairgrounds. See the Circle R Boys, Alhambra Valley Band, MacRae Brothers, Barefoot Nellies, The Wronglers, Houston Jones, Grizzly Peak, Carolina Special, Harmony Grits, and many others. Wagon, the three-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing on the 13th at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach starting at 7 p.m. Heartlanguage will present a concert series on the 14th at Gaylord's of India in Sausalito. The evening features a special 16-piece band playing the original songs of songwriter Steven Bernard. There will be three concert seatings at 4:15, 7 and 9:45 p.m., and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Bread & Roses. The San Anselmo Art & Design Festival will take place on the weekend of the 14th and 15th, with lots of art and food for sale. There will be live music as well, but as of this date the web site has not been updated. Schaef-Abel Productions is presenting Kenny White on the 14th at 8 p.m. at Studio E House Concerts in Sebastopol. On the 21st see Chip Taylor, Kendel Carson & John Platania. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa or can be purchased through the mail. The Hicktones will be providing their high, lonesome harmonies at the Sebastopol Farmer's Market in the Sebastopol town square on the 15th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Petaluma Art & Garden Festival will be happening on Sunday the 15th from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., with art, food, music, etc., but like the festival mentioned above, the entertainment is not listed on the web site. The Humboldt Folklife Festival takes place from the 15th-21st in the town of Arcata, and there are lots of workshops, performances and jamming going on, featuring mostly north coast musicians. The Grass Cutters have two outdoor gigs coming up in Marin this month. See them on the 15th at the Corte Madera Piccolo Pavilion, and on the 22nd at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach. The hot bluegrass band Blue Highway is headed to the Bay Area for a few shows this month. See them at Don Quixote's in Felton on the 15th, at the Mendocino Music Festival on the 16th, and on the 17th at the Sacramento Zoo. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 16th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. The Sonoma County Fair runs from the 17th until the 30th. See Eddie Money, The Jonas Brothers, Kimberley Locke, Pride & Joy, Melissa Manchester, Batalla de Grupos, David Jacobs-Strain, John Lee Hooker Jr., Solid Air, The Rhythm Rangers, Trailer Park Rangers, Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Wild Catahoulas, and Mark McLay & The Dust Devils. Bluegrass Gold. On Wednesday the 18th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the monthly bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Old-time meets honky-tonk when The Roadoilers and The Whoreshoes share the stage. The Roadoilers are an old-time string band from Marin County who play square dance and contra dance music, traditional country singing, ragtime, and Irish traditional tunes. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass and bagpipes are the instruments. John Pedersen, Perry Fly, Chuck Wiley and Mike Drayton have played together in various combinations for over 25 years. Taken together, the band has over 160 years of experience playing old-time and bluegrass music. John is a luthier and he owns Amazing Grace Music in San Anselmo. The band has a new eponymous CD out, and they will be freely releasing them during and after their show. The Whoreshoes come from varied backgrounds of music, but their mutual love for the time-honored songs of American old-time music and early honky-tonk country brings them together. Multi-instrumentalism is a trademark of the band: banjo, fiddle, guitar, upright bass, lap steel, dobro, mandolin, ukulele, honky-tonk piano, accordion, washboard and even spoons are featured in their music. Add in their sweet harmonies and infectious original tunes, and the Shoes evoke the best of a bygone era and bring that boot stomping, hollering spirit direct to you. Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved will play at Strings in Emeryville on the 18th from 8-10 p.m. Then on the 19th Matt will play as a duo with Erik Pearson at Murphy's in Sonoma from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th, beginning at 7 p.m. Marin Civic Center has two shows of note this month. See (what's left of)(both literally and mentally) The Beach Boys on the 21st, and then go to the Texas Guitar Show on the 28th and 29th. Instrument experts from all over the world will be there, along with dealers, artists, collectors, foreign buyers, authors and celebrities. The show will also feature exhibits of old, rare, celebrity-owned, new and used guitars, amps, banjos, effects, memorabilia and equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring items to sell, trade, or to have appraised. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Corinne West on the 21st at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. 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 24th. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and 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. After the thrilling success of their sold-out performance at the fabulous Station House Café last month, Trio Bravo (led by the incendiary Doug Adamz on fiddle!) has been asked to return on the 27th at 7 p.m. Doug will also be leading his incomparable new trio The Whutknotts at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 28th. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: JOHNNY CASH - A CONCERT BEHIND PRISON WALLS 7/01 12:42 a.m.: "Johnny Cash was one of the most imposing and influential figures in post-World War II country music. With his deep, resonant baritone and spare, percussive guitar, he had a basic and distinctive sound. During the 1970's, Cash was at the pinnacle of his country music popularity, having kicked his drug and alcohol problems. His albums and live concerts reinforced his image as the icon of outlaw rock and made him appear larger than life. This concert, performed in the gymnasium of the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, was one of the best. It was one of only two concerts that Cash ever shot for television. It also stars Linda Ronstadt." PAUL SIMON - THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR MUSIC 7/01 1:30 a.m.: "In recognition of the enormous impact of American popular music on the cultural heritage of this nation and the world, The Library of Congress has created a Medal for Popular Song to be awarded annually to a composer and/or interpreter of song whose lifetime body of work represents a singular contribution. This year, the Library of Congress salutes singer and songwriter Paul Simon. The special features highlights from the evening's celebration, including moving performances and tributes from a star-studded cast of Simon's friends and colleagues." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - JOSHUA BELL AND COMPANY 7/01 1 p.m.: "Famed violinist Joshua Bell takes to the stage, where he is joined by 13-year-old classical guitarist and bobble-head collector Timothy Callobre from Pasadena, California, and the La Campana Trio, three teenagers who study violin and viola in Chicago. Host Christopher O'Riley and the young musicians team up to 'punk' Bell, but nothing stands in the way of their outstanding rendition of the Scherzo from Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major." A CAPITOL FOURTH (2007) 7/04 8 p.m.: "The concert includes performances by some of the country's best-known and award-winning artists and features the internationally renowned National Symphony Orchestra, led by America's premier pops conductor, Erich Kunzel with the traditional Tchaikovsky's '1812 Overture' complete with live cannon fire." SOUNDSTAGE - KT TUNSTALL 7/08 1:10 a.m.: "The Scottish-bred KT Tunstall may have a diminutive frame, but she packs a wallop with her big voice, which slides from earthy alto, soulful charm to bluesy grit, often in one song. Her stunning debut, Eye to the Telescope, offers catchy songs alongside touching ballads, with musical influences touching upon blues, country and gritty rock. KT's Soundstage appearance features selections from her debut, along with new songs." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - PERCUSSION POWERHOUSE 7/08 1:30 p.m.: "Piano, marimba and drums - it's all about percussion as Sarina Zhang, a 10-year-old pianist from San Diego, California, performs Glinka's 'The Lark; and Molly Yeh, 17, plays solo marimba. Host Christopher O'Riley welcomes David Hutter and Victoria Ashcheim, the other members of Beat 3, Molly's Chicago-area percussion trio, for a thunderous finale capped by an astounding trick involving a lawn mower." SOUNDSTAGE - ROB THOMAS 7/08 12:10 a.m.: "As one of the most popular voices to emerge in the late-'90s, Rob Thomas, with his band Matchbox Twenty, dominated the charts and the radio. Marrying '70s-styled rock with pop hooks that made a lasting impression. Thomas served as principal songwriter for the group, and his songwriting chops earned him three Grammy nods in 2000 when he co-wrote the massive hit, 'Smooth,' for Carlos Santana's Supernatural. Rob Thomas graces Soundstage with a performance shot at the venerable Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado." PATSY CLINE - SWEET DREAMS STILL 7/08 2:09 a.m.: "This program highlights the popular career of Patsy Cline, an artist whose influence continues across all genres of music. At a time when country artists stayed close to the traditional roots of the music, Cline recorded songs that soared from country to pop. The program features full performances (including the last two known recordings taped in Nashville five days before her death), rare photos and personal memorabilia." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - YOUTH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 7/08 1 p.m.: "The stage is packed full of teenagers as this episode welcomes New England Conservatory's Youth Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Benjamin Zander. After a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of the music, the audience is treated to a performance of Chopin's 'Grande Valse' and a solo Bach piece by principal cellist Sebastian Baverstam. Host Christopher O'Riley joins Sebastian, principal violinist Yun-Chie Wang and the orchestra to perform Beethoven's beloved Triple Concerto - but not before a suspense-filled game of 'Musical Jeopardy.'" AMERICAN MASTERS - LES PAUL 7/11 10 p.m.: "To celebrate his 92nd birthday, the program looks back at the precocious little boy from Waukesha, Wisconsin, who punched new chords into his mother's piano roll, turned his bedsprings into a radio antenna and rigged a microphone out of telephone parts to get a bigger sound from his Sears & Roebuck acoustic guitar. The legendary Les Paul - father of the solid-body electric guitar, inventor of overdubbing and multi-track recording, king of the '50s pop charts and rock 'n' roll pioneer - is still irascible, still egotistical, still indefatigable and still performing every Monday night at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City." DRIVEN TO PLAY - THE NORTH AMERICAN ROCK GUITAR COMPETITION 7/11 11:30 p.m.: "This behind-the-scenes look at the five finalists in last summer's North American Rock Guitar Competition follows the finalists - Mark Krurnowski, Amherst, New York; Andrew Roudny, Toronto, Ontario; Boobie Browne, Montreal, Quebec; Dave King, Liverpool, New York; and Ned Evett, Boise, Idaho - in the days and hours leading up to the competition and their performances in front of judges, music industry reps and a sold-out crowd at the University of Buffalo. The program also features interviews with competition organizers, competitors' family members and the panel of judges, which included Canadian guitar legend Rik Emmett and Sid McGinnis from the 'Late Show with David Letterman.'" SOUNDSTAGE - DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL LIVE FROM MADISON SQUARE 7/15 12:42 a.m.: "As one of the most captivating artists to emerge recently, Dashboard Confessional blends acoustic and electric guitar with emotionally packed lyrics to create an indie feel, yet making it fresh and relevant. Soundstage is delighted to bring you Dashboard Confessional, shot at the world's most famous arena - Madison Square Garden. Dashboard delivers an amazing performance, jam-packed with sing-along choruses and hook-filled lyrics." AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD IN CONCERT 7/15 1:39 a.m.: "Amazing tribute band Australian Pink Floyd recreates the energy and music of the original group in a concert complemented by a psychedelic light show." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - STRING ALONG 7/15 1 p.m.: "Strings take center stage when Ania Filochowska, a 12-year-old violinist originally from Poland, interprets the music of her homeland in Wieniawski's lively 'Polonaise,' and a quartet of car-crazed teenage boys from Ohio plays sketches from the beautiful Ravel Quartet. After Chris reveals some of the boys' hidden talents, the ensemble joins him for the Brahms Piano Quintet in F Minor, Opus 34." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - DENYCE GRAVES 7/15 1:30 p.m.: "Guest star Denyce Graves shares her moving story of discovering opera as a youth in inner-city Washington, DC. The acclaimed mezzo-soprano performs with four outstanding young musicians." ************************************************************************************************ June 14, 2007 This edition of the newsletter is a day early since the
staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is en route to Grass Valley
for the California Bluegrass Association's 32nd Annual Father's Day
Bluegrass Festival. Which is where you should be as well. Rhonda Vincent
& The Rage, Dale Ann Bradley, The Del McCoury Band, John Reischman
& The Jaybirds, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, and many others.
But if you cannot make it, there is a lot of stuff to do in the Bay
Area this weekend and for the rest of the month. So get out and enjoy
the music and the weather! The Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station has Jamie Laval & Ashley
Broder performing Celtic, roots, and bluegrass innovation on the 30th. *************************************************************************************************** June 1, 2007 Welcome to the 78th edition of Carltone's Corner! Just the facts, please. Longtime readers of this newsletter may notice some missing features in this issue. Due to a lack of time, there is no band scramble or ever-popular police log here (sorry, for current weapon-of-mass-distraction Lindsay Lohan info just pickup a "real" newspaper or turn on your TV), and there is very little wit and wisdom (actually, some may think there never was!) included. A veritable dearth of mirth, so to speak. This edition pretty much contains mostly info about shows and events. With a few days vacation coming up next week, the staff here hopes to return fit, rested and ready in time for the mid-month update. The festival season has begun in earnest, so make those summer plans now if you haven't already done so. The jewel of the season, the California Bluegrass Association's 32nd Annual Father's Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, will start on the 14th, and it is not to be missed. Get out those tents, tarps and coolers, and plan on seeing some great music there and elsewhere. Carltone is here to tell you where and when to go. Speaking of festivals, the Strawberry Music Festival over Memorial Day Weekend near Yosemite was one fabulous time. The spring weather was the best in memory, and there was lots of fine music as well - JD Crowe, Tim O'Brien, Rita Hosking, Three Ring Circle, The Bill Evans String Summit, Crooked Still, David Jacobs-Strain, Harmony Grits, The Infamous Stringdusters - just to name some of the acts. Also, there was lots of jamming and workshops, hanging with old and new friends, and pickin' some music around the campfire (okay, the Coleman lantern). The good news is that there will be another fest there on Labor Day Weekend. The bad news is that it has been sold out for about a month. The better news is that tickets always come available about a week before the festival, so be patient and check out the Strawberry Ticket Exchange and Craig's List. Go take a hike! Ilana Monkoff, a San Franciscan and true Strawberrian if there ever was one, was diagnosed with Stage Two breast cancer in January just before her 37th birthday. She has gone through a mastectomy and is undergoing chemo treatments. But she is determined to join the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Fundraiser in SF on July 7th and 8th. Please consider going to the web site to either register, volunteer or donate to this most worthy of causes. Ilana's team is trying to help raise $20,000. Helping hand. There will be a benefit show for musician Bill Laymon on the 24th at 7 p.m. at Don Quixote's in Felton. Billy, who is recovering from Typhus, is a well renowned and respected Santa Cruz musician, bassist, songwriter, producer and educator. Perhaps best known for his many years as bassist for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, as well as the critically-acclaimed David Nelson Band, his credentials also include numerous tours of duty with the world-renowned Jefferson Starship, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Kingfish and hosts of other high-profile and successful acts. Santa Cruz artists that Bill has played with include Harmony Grits and Ginny Mitchell, who are performing at the show with many super talented artists to raise funds to help Bill recover financially from his illness. Farewell and good luck! Audrey Auld Mezera, the wonderful Tasmanian
singer/songwriter who has lived in Stinson Beach for the past few years,
is on her way to Nashville to no doubt hit the big time. If you have
ever seen her play around here, you will be able to say "I saw
her when!" Lots of talent and a real fine person. But hey, you
can still get her CDs on line, so it is not like she is gone for good… Fishwrap Roundup. Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys have their first CD out, and they are featured in the Pacific Sun in the June 1st edition. Read the story here. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival benefactor Warren Hellman was on the cover of the SF Bay Guardian recently, and you can read the story here. The Berkeley Downtown Jazz Festival and Yoshi's Jazz Club are the subject of on SF Chronicle front-page story today due to the few Afro American musicians included. North Bay fiddler and mandolinist Ed Neff now has his own web site. He plays in multiple bands, so go to his site to see where he is playing next. Coming attractions. Keystone Crossing at the Marin Country Fair on July 4th; Hot Buttered Rum and others at the High Sierra Music Festival July 5th-8th; The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival on July 13th-15th; The Roadoilers and The Whoreshores at Sweetwater on July 18th; Strawberry Music Festival Labor Day Weekend; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Life's railway to heaven. KPIG radio's founder and program director, Laura Ellen Hopper, died on May 28th in Santa Cruz from lung cancer. She was 57. Onward to the calendar… Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 7th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the new Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Vinyl on the 1st, The Bobby G Posse on the 2nd, Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved/Mars Arizona/I See Hawks In LA on the 5th, James Mosely on the 10th and 24th, David Nelson Band on the 14th, Cole Tate Band on the 21st, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 27th, The Marshall Rhodes Band on the 29th, and more. Rowan news. The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band will headline a show at The Palms in Davis on the 1st, at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma on the 8th, and at the Little Fox in Redwood City on the 10th. The Rowan Brothers (Lorin & Chris) will be playing from 11-11:30 a.m. on the 9th at the pre-theatre Mountain Play performance of Hair on Mount Tam in Mill Valley. Then catch Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox with Barry Sless (steel guitar) and Doug Harman (cello) at Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax on the 21st. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Trailer Park Rangers on the 1st, Leon Bristow Band on the 2nd, PBJ Peri's Blues Jam on the 3rd, Turning Point on the 7th, Bonnie Hayes and the Superbonbons on the 8th, Fairfax Festival Four Bands on the 9th (6 p.m. start with Spinout, Billy Boys, 35R, Bar Association), Sexy Sunday on the 10th, Lariats of Fire on the 14th, Pete Olsen Band on the 19th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 22nd, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 24th, Jon Mulvey and Friends w/Cat McLean on the 28th, and the Airport Sexy CD Release Party on the 30th. San Anselmo singer/songwriter Christopher Smith is having a CD release show for his latest musical project, Gravedigger's Boy, on the 1st at the Larkspur Café Theatre. The songs on this CD have a rollicking string band sound with lots of fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and yes, even banjo! The tunes were influenced by traditional American music, as well as such modern roots songwriters such as Steve Earle and Gillian Welch. There are train songs, murder ballads, gothic waltzes and assorted novelties. The bad news is, the show is already sold out. The good news is Christopher still has quite a few CDs available to sell, so go to his web site and be the first one on your block to own one. At The Mystic in Petaluma see 3 Scoops of Aloha Concert on the 1st, The Tubes on the 2nd, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and Under The Radar on the 8th, Reckless Kelly and Trailer Park Rangers on the 14th, The Dillards and Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 17th (see below), Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra on the 20th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is DjangoFest on the 1st-3rd, Kusun Ensemble on the 7th, Pete Escovedo on the 16th, The Max Perkoff Band on the 29th, and Jules Broussard on the 30th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 1st, Andrew Freeman on the 2nd, the Celtic jam on 3rd, Grizzly Peak on the 8th, Greenhouse on the 10th, The Tonewoods on the 15th, Dockside on the 22nd, Adam Traum on the 28th, High Country on the 30th, and much more. Lauralee Brown is one busy singer. On the 1st she'll be sitting in for a few tunes with the Pep Tones at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito, and on the 3rd see her band Lauralee Brown & Company at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito from 7-10 p.m. The band features Jay Stapleton on guitar, Jack Prendergast on bass and Tom Peplinski on drums and sound. Up the coast on the on the 13th she'll be singing intimate jazz with John Gilmore on piano and Nina Mera on bass at the Headlands Coffeehouse in Fort Bragg. On Tuesdays you can find her at The Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur holding down the Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh and Greg Punkar from 7-9 p.m. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are The Rhythm Drivers on the 1st, Buckshot Boys on the 8th, Robert Herrera & Ian Scherer on the 14th and 28th, American Drag on the 15th, and The Fortunate Sons on the 29th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre, besides Christopher Smith on the 1st, are Terry Haggerty & Friends on the 6th, are Roadside Daisies on the 8th, The Little Wheels Band on the 9th, Joe New/Tommy Tutone/Blackie Farrell on the 14th, Kash Killion on the 15th, Honkytonk Hippies on the 21st, and Edo Castro on the 29th. Catch Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 1st at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, on the 6th at Iron Springs Brewery, on the 22nd at Peri's, and on the 23rd at the Irish Cultural Center in S.F. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy The Pep Tones on the 1st, The Tom Bowers Duo on the 2nd, Noel Jewkes on the 8th, Rebecca Griffin & Ken Husbands on the 9th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 15th, Jazz Philosophy on the 16th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 22nd, Alex Markels & Lady D. on the 23rd, Jump To It on the 29th, and Anne O'Brien on the 30th. After another very successful winter at Graziano's Ristorante in downtown Petaluma California, the Peter Welker Sextet will go back out on the Petaluma River for its 9th summer on the river. The Jazz On The River series will start on Friday the 1st and continue into September. As always, there will be guests every week, and there will be a very special guest on the 8th. He is Fred Lipsius, a multi-Grammy winner and former co-leader of Blood, Sweat and Tears and co-writer of many of the band's hits such as "Spinning Wheel." At Rancho Nicasio you can see Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 2nd, Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums on the 9th, Joe New on the 10th, Paul Thorn on the 14th, Maria Muldaur on the 16th, Houston Jones on the 17th, Shana Morrison on the 23rd, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 2nd and the 9th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 16th it will be swing music, and on the 23rd and 30th it will be pickers' choice. The Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station has two hot shows. There will be a Western Weekend Dance with The Bar Association on the 2nd at 8 p.m., and on the 30th at 8 p.m. see Jamie Laval & Ashley Broder perform Celtic, roots, and bluegrass innovation. Doug Adamz & Bravo will be playing both country and western music at Rancho Nicasio on the 2nd, and Trio Bravo will be out at the Station House in Point Reyes Station on the 22nd. Doug will also be sittin' in on fiddle with Christopher Smith on the 1st and with Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue at the Mystic on the 17th. Andrew Freeman, besides performing solo on the first Saturday of every month at Murphy's in Sonoma, will play with his band Down, Not Out on the main stage at the S.F. Free Folk Festival on the 17th. And he continues to play Tuesday evenings at Giordano's (Columbus and Broadway) in SF at 7 p.m. Head on over to the Second Annual Trolley-Trestle Music Extravaganza on the 2nd in Petaluma. This is a fundraiser for The Petaluma Trolley, a Living History project. The event runs from 6-11 p.m. The location is 110 Bayliss Street (the Old Yellow Barn), and $15 buys you fine food and music, with beer and wine also available. Music by The Petaluma Rivertown Band, Three Legged Dawg, The Sofa Kings, Teresa Tudury, Scott Gerber, Chris Samson, Barbara Arhon, and others. Call (707) 778-7878 for more info. The Friends of the Phoenix Music Festival will be happening on the 2nd in Petaluma. Local teens from six bands will showcase their musical talents as they perform with professional musicians and lively rhythm sections onstage at the Phoenix Theater from 7:30-11:30 p.m. during the fundraiser to benefit the Petaluma Phoenix Center, Inc., the nonprofit organization, owner, and operator of the Phoenix Theater. Produced by local and renowned professional musician and music teacher Gary Vogensen, the program will be first opportunity for Gary's exceptionally talented students to display their skills before a public audience since beginning their training several years ago. Suggested donation is $8 to $20. North Bay singer Jan White has a few things going on in June. On the 2nd at 7:30 p.m. she'll be at the Friends of the Phoenix Music Festival; on the 14th she'll be on the Krush (95.9 FM) Thursday Night Live radio program at 8 p.m.; and on the 17th at 6 p.m. at The San Francisco Free Folk Festival You can attend the Union Street Festival in SF on the 2nd and 3rd. Some of the acts you can see are The Lost Cats, Rob Robinson Band (with Gary Bauman on guitar) Black Olive Jazz, Kurt Ribak Trio, Ray Green & Friends, Tommy Rox, Audrey Shimkas, and The Jake Richmond Band. Wine tasting and music. There will be a big wine tasting fest going on in the Healdsburg area called Taste of the Valley on the 2nd and 3rd, and on the 2nd you can sip and listen to The Shut-Ins at the Alexander Valley Community Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on the 3rd Gayle Lynn and the Hired Hands will play. Bring a designated driver with you. Knockout punch. The American Jukebox show at the Knockout in SF on the 2nd at 9 p.m. will include Les Raww and The Spawn of the Pioneers, The Cowlicks, and the Dust Bowl Cavaliers. Three bands for $8! Try and beat that… 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. Mill Valley's Matt Lax has some good stuff going on. He will be with The Palm Wine Boys on the 2nd from 4-6 p.m. at Rasputin Records as part of the Berkeley World Music Festival. Then he and Erik Pearson will be playing acoustic originals and country classics at The Station House Café in Point Reyes Station on the 3rd from 2-5 p.m. On the 5th Matt's band Nearly Beloved and his brother Paul Lax's band I See Hawks in LA will play at the Sweetwater along with Mars Arizona. Chatting up Mickey. Listen to composer, author, world music preservationist and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart in conversation with Barbara Lane at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on the 5th at 8 p.m. Today Hart spearheads the Endangered Music Fund, which returns recording royalties to indigenous songwriters, and serves as a Trustee of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Hart's most recent book, Songcatchers: In Search of the World's Music, documents his lifelong fascination with the history and mythology of music. Jesse Lee Kincaid, songwriter, founding member of The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and former member of popular Marin band Borderline, performs original songs (plus a select few popular favorites) every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at Larkspur's Ward Street Cafe. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on mostly Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 6th see Rusty Evans Ring of Fire; on Thursday the 7th it will be a very special night of music to kick off the Fairfax Festival; on the 13th Dore Coller & Bermuda Grass; The Deciders on the 20th; Thursday the 21st another special Thursday night of music with Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox; and on the 27th Jack Pribble's Living Room all star jam of Fairfax musicians. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 6th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. On the 7th at 8:30 p.m. the Bluegrass Gold series, produced by Carltone Music, will take place at Sweetwater and it will be a CD release party for Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys. Opening the show will be Rick Jamison. Known for putting the "dish" back in traditional bluegrass, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys have been surprising Bay Area bluegrass, Americana and alternative country audiences with their sparkling vocals, finely tuned arrangements, inventive delivery and blazing instrumental skills. The core of the band has been together since 1995. Belle and the Boys have wowed crowds at the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival every year since 2001, and also performed at the Brookdale and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festivals. The band also plays regularly at Bay Area bluegrass venues such as Slim's, Sweetwater, Plough & Stars, Hotel Utah, Iron Springs Brewery and the Atlas Café. In July of 2006 the Brewglass Boys made it to the finals of the Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, taking third place. And now they are celebrating the release of their eponymous CD. The band is Belle Monroe on guitar, Ted Silverman on mandolin, Tom Drohan on bass, Rick Hendricks on dobro, Jordan Klein on banjo, and Diana Greenberg on fiddle. Opening the show will be Sonoma County bluegrass singer/songwriter and painter Rick Jamison. A couple of years back he was the leader of his own band Copper Canyon, and he was featured in the February edition of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. His most recent solo CD is titled The Magic Hour. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 7th and the 21st the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Petaluma Church Concerts presents Darol Anger's Republic of Strings featuring Scott Nygaard on the 7th at 8 p.m., for an evening with one of the most creative forces in acoustic music, Darol Anger. With the jazz-oriented Turtle Island String Quartet, Anger developed and popularized new techniques for playing contemporary music styles on string instruments. Drawing from an array of sources that includes Ornette Coleman, Aretha Franklin, Scandinavian string bands such as Vasen and the quartet's own members, the Strings documents a unique intergenerational exchange. The group also features virtuoso acoustic guitarist Scott Nygaard, four-time National Fiddle Champion Tristan Clarridge on cello, and Tashina Clarridge on fiddle. Tickets are $20 at the door or $19 in advance at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. Marin musician/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget is keeping very busy this month. On the 8th he'll be performing with Deborah Crooks at the Health & Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa. The next day, you can hear him at the Fairfax Festival in the early afternoon with Dori Green, and then later in the day with Namely Us at the Italian Street Painting Festival in San Rafael. On both the 10th and 24th, Namely Us performs at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. Kurt plays a solo evening on the 17th at the Black Cat Cafe in Penngrove. Finally, his alt-country band, Moonlight Rodeo, kicks up some sawdust at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station on the 22nd. The 29th Annual Harmony Festival is coming to Santa Rosa on June 8th-10th. See Brian Wilson, Rickie Lee Jones, moe, Steve Kimock, Hot Buttered Rum, New Monsoon, Blue Turtle Suduction, The Waybacks, and much more. Joe New and The Crowhoppers, (Joe New, Chris Goddard, Austin deLone, Stu Schecter and Pat Campbell) are touring around the Bay Area this month. On the 8th at 8:30 p.m. see them at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax, followed by a performance at the Fairfax Festival on the 9th; on the 10th at 4 p.m. they'll play at Rancho Nicasio; on the 14th at 8 p.m. there will be a special songwriter's show at the Larkspur Café Theatre with Joe, Blackie Farrell and Tommy "Tutone" Heath; and on the 15th see the band at Café' Van Kleef in Oakland. The town of Fairfax will be holding its annual Fairfax Festival on the 8th-10th. Some of the acts you can see are Zydeco Flames, Joe New & The Crowhoppers, The Tazmanian Devils, Tom Finch & The Purple Passion, The Trailer Park Rangers, Rob Robinson Band, Bonnie Hayes & The Super Bonbons,Chrome Johnson & The Riverside Kings, Kelly Peterson, Dori Green & Kurt Huget, and The Hold Outs. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell has two cool gigs coming up. His band Under the Radar opens for Pete Rowan at the Mystic in Petaluma on the 8th at 8 p.m., and his new band The Rhythm Rangers will play the KRSH (95.9FM) Live With Andre show on the 21st at 8 p.m. in their big debut. Out of the area you can listen on the web. Western swing and country /blues/rock with Kevin, Blair Hardman, Ric Cutler & Dave Zirbel. On the 9th Layne Bowen's new band Flatt Lonesome will be playing at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Flatt Lonesome features vocalist Sheila Groves, and her brother Charlie Mooney on some great sibling harmonies. Other members are Tom Sours on bass, Dan Ransford on drums, hot steel guitar and dobro player Jon Mitguard, and Layne on whatever is left (electric guitar, mandolin, fiddle)(what, no didgeridoo?). Go on by and see what the fuss is about. No cover, great food and beer and a hot band - what else do you need? Wagon, the three-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing on the 9th at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach starting at 7 p.m. The Novato Art and Wine Festival will take place on the 9th and 10th. Kenan Boyle, Luce, Jackie Greene, Maxx Hazzard, It's A Beautiful Day, The Tazmanian Devils and others. Mill Valley guitarist Dore Coller is on the go. On the 12th and 26th he'll be at The Left Bank in Larkspur with The Hot Club of Marin; on the 13th at Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax he'll lead his Bermuda Grass ensemble; he'll be sitting in the guitar chair at the bluegrass taco jam at Baja Tacos on Piedmont in Oakland on the 18h; on the 23rd see Caribbean R&B at The Summer Sailstice Celebration on Treasure Island. See Anthony Paule & Mz. Dee at 8 p.m. on the 13th at Biscuits and Blues in SF. This date will be Anthony's first performance in the city since last year's San Francisco Blues Festival. All roads lead to The CBA Father's Day Festival in Grass Valley from the 14th-17th. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Dale Ann Bradley, The Del McCoury Band, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, and lots more traditional bluegrass. The Mayflower Community Chorus has a few shows of note this month. They are presenting Folklorica: Music of Our World from the 14th-16th at 8 p.m. at the San Anselmo Playhouse, and on the 17th see them at St. Vincent's Chapel in San Rafael at 2:30 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 15th, beginning at 7 p.m. The 31st Annual SF Free Folk Festival will take place at its new location (City College) on the 16th and 17th. Some acts to see there are Culann's Hounds, Faith Petric, Down Not Out, Big Wide Grin, Folk This!, World Harmony Chorus, The Michael Gaither Band, Jo D'Anna, Mokai, Jan White, and many others. Plus, jams and workshops. 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 Henry Kaiser on the 16th and Michael & Kelleran Millham with Doug Young on the 21st. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Back porch bluegrass. On Sunday the 17th at 8 p.m. treat Dad to one hot traditional bluegrass music show at The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. This show will feature The Dillards as the headliner and Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue as the opener. Known as the hillbilly band The Darlings on The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s, for over 40 years The Dillards (Rodney and Doug) have been performing with their unique blend of harmonies and untouched musicianship coupled with down-home comedy and interaction with audiences. They have become legends in the entertainment industry, and they have appeared with such greats as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs. This will be their first performance in Northern California in many years. Opening the show will be Marin County's own Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, led by the entertaining Dr. Elmo ("Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer") on banjo. The group also consists of John Pierson on guitar and Carltone on bass. For 16 years this band has been playing traditional bluegrass around the bay with a bit of Elmo's original songs thrown into the mix. Sittin' in this night will be Doug Adamz on fiddle. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 18th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Dawg grass. The David Grisman Quintet will be performing at the Napa Opera House on the 20th and at the Osher JCC in San Rafael the 23rd. The Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse Presents musical treasure Iris Dement on the 22nd at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Repertory's Roda Theatre. Bay Area singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong opens with selections from her new CD titled Everything. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Nina Storey on the 22nd at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The Corte Madera Community Foundation and the Town of Corte Madera is sponsoring a summer concert series again this year at the Piccolo Pavilion. The concerts will be Sunday evenings from 5-6 p.m. Featured on the 24th is bluegrass music by String Break, with veteran fiddler Joe Osborn, Mike Staninec on guitar, Dave Hanks on mandolin, Buffalo Bob Davis on the banjo, and Duncan Draper on bass. The lovely and talented Karen Cribbs will also sing a few songs this evening with the boys. 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 24th. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and 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 annual Kate Wolf Festival runs from June 29th to July 1st in Laytonville, and here are some of the great acts you can see: Utah Phillips, Joe Craven & Sam Bevan, Lowen & Navarro, Dougie MacLean Band, Marcia Ball, Robin & Linda Williams & Their Fine Group, Hot Tuna (acoustic), Laura Love Band, Richie Havens, The Mammals, Tribal Voice (John Trudell & Quiltman), The Be Good Tanyas, and David Bromberg & The Angel Band. 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 6/01 1 p.m., 6/09 4 p.m., 6/11 12:30 a.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." 12 GIRLS BAND - LIVE FROM SHANGHAI 6/01 8:30 p.m., 6/05 7:30 p.m., 6/10 5 p.m.: "During the 13th Century in China, the Chinese Emperor was usually entertained by a band of made up of 12 girls playing a variety of string instruments. Those same string instruments are used today by China's foremost world music ensemble as they electrify the world's most modern city with their high-energy orchestral arrangements. Performing live from beneath the famous Pearl Tower in Shanghai's famed skyscraper district, the 12 Girls Band treat their world audience to music arrangements of their best selling world music albums as well as unique arrangements of classical crossover favorites such as Nessun Dorma and favorites from such composers as Mozart and Puccini." THE BRITISH BEAT 6/02 5 a.m., 6/02 10 p.m., 6/06 7:30 p.m., 6/08 1 p.m.: "This special travels on location to London and around the UK to the place where the British Beat was born, and brings together the first ever comprehensive 4-CD box set of all original British Invasion hits, by the original British Invasion legends that define the British Rock Era of the 1960's. The TV special features rare archival full-length performance films mixed with new live performances recorded throughout the UK. This special will feature introductions and performances from various legendary clubs and hot performance spots that inspired the Mersey Beat." ANDRE RIEU - RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE IN NEW YORK 6/02 8 p.m., 6/04 7:30 p.m., 6/05 1 p.m., 6/09 6 p.m., 6/13 7:30 p.m.: "Andre performs at Radio City Music Hall and is joined by the Harlem Gospel Choir and 5-year-old violinist Akim Camera." SOUTH PACIFIC IN CONCERT FROM CARNEGIE HALL 6/03 1:30 p.m., 6/10 6:30 p.m.: "Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's own Pulitzer Prize-winning blockbuster was a landmark of post-WWII Broadway, a provocative romantic drama that beguiled audiences with a hit parade of instant standards." A TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLOR 6/03 4 p.m., 6/09 9:30 p.m., 6/12 7:30 p.m.: "With his gentle acoustic sound and insightful lyrics, James Taylor remains one of the most influential and beloved singer-songwriters to emerge from the popular music scene of the 1970s. In a career extending over three decades, Taylor's musical craftsmanship continues to delight critics and audiences alike." TONY BENNETT DUETS - THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC 6/03 8 p.m., 6/07 9 p.m.: "This program takes a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of Tony Bennett's 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. Among the musical artists who join Bennett in the studio are Bono, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Sting. In addition to musical selections, there are interviews with Bennett, the duet artists, and Phil Ramone, producer of the Duets CD." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 6/04 1 p.m., 6/09 2 a.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world." JOHNNY MATHIS - WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! 6/07 7:30 p.m., 6/12 1:30 a.m.: "Ever popular recording star Johnny Mathis celebrates his 50th anniversary in show business with a hit-filled concert recorded in Atlantic City in late October, 2006. The program also includes new interview footage taped at his home in the Hollywood Hills." WE LOVE ELLA! A TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST LADY OF SONG 6/07 10:30 p.m.: "With her distinctive voice and innovative technique, Ella Fitzgerald consistently ranked among the most popular female jazz singers in the US for more than half a century. The incomparable 'First Lady of Song' sang sultry ballads and swinging pop standards with matchless musicianship, earning 13 Grammy Awards and selling over 40 million albums. It would be impossible to overestimate her influence on the next generation of singers." DOO WOP'S BEST ON PBS 6/09 noon, 6/10 10:30 p.m., 6/13 9:30 p.m.: "In December 1999, the most successful fundraising program in the history of PBS took the nation by storm with the premiere release of 'Doo Wop 50,' the first ever celebration from 20 of the greatest vocal groups and their biggest hit recordings. This success gave birth to two follow-up sequels, 'Doo Wop 51,' which united an additional 30 Doo Wop legends, and 'Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop' which historically preserved and presented even more legends from rock and roll's Golden Age of the 1950s and early 1960s. This program presents the most incredible, emotional and memorable full-length performances from each of these three original programs." ROLLING STONES ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS 6/09 8 p.m., 6/11 8 p.m.: "This time capsule will transport you to another age: swinging London in the late 1960s. This is the Stones as you have hardly ever seen them - up close and intimate. Some guests: The Who singing A Quick One While's He's Away, Jethro Tull and a great performance by John Lennon. This show was broadcast once in the US; on VH-1 on New Year's Eve in 1996. The show almost never saw the light of day as the footage was lost for more than a decade, discovered in a garbage can in The Who's vault." FROM GALWAY TO BROADWAY 6/10 9 p.m., 6/14 7:30 p.m.: "Irish tenor Ciaran Sheehan performs emotional classics from the Emerald Isle and Broadway at New York City's historic Marble Collegiate Church, accompanied by award-winning soprano Gay Willis and The New York Festival Orchestra conducted by David Holcenberg." ELVIS LIVES - THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 6/11 9:30 p.m., 6/15 8:30 p.m.: "In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of his death, Elvis is reunited with his original TCB Band, back-up singers and musical director through the magic of modern technology. The result is a unique concert special, featuring Elvis from selected concerts, including the Hawaii performance, which remains one of the biggest satellite concerts ever." *************************************************************************************************** May 15, 2007 For the third issue in a row this newsletter is early. But due to the rush job on the previous edition (because of impending jury duty) a lot of information failed to make it into the May 1st issue. The goal now is make up for the oversights by catching up on what was missed and also to add events that came in after the newsletter was sent out. Fingers and toes are crossed that everything gets in here now… The jury is out. Many have asked about what happened vis a vis our jury duty commitment, and the good news is that we weren't selected to sit on a patent infringement case that would have lasted at least three weeks, and we're free and clear from being called for at least another year. Strawberry Stew. If you are looking to find tickets to the sold-out Memorial Day Weekend Strawberry Music Festival, they are now starting to come available on the exchange site. If you were holding off on buying them for the Labor Day Festival, well, keep on holding, as that fest is now sold-out as well. But towards the end of August you will be able to score tickets on the same exchange site. Enemy combatant armed with fingerpicks. Folksinger Joan Baez was banned from playing a concert for injured servicemen at Walter Reed Hospital in DC. The irony here is that if the US Army had just shut up and let her sing, we would never have heard about this incident… Future new bluegrass band? Congratulations to Ryan Carter (bass player in Homespun Rowdy) and his wife, who recently had triplets, and to Lisa Berman (Stairwell Sisters) and her partner Ryk, who had a baby boy last month named Harlan Booker Groetchen. On life support. The historic Lark Theatre in downtown Larkspur is once again in need of money to stay open. You can help contribute to the cause by donating. Band Scramble. Ron Spears has apparently joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Years ago he played with Rhonda Vincent, had his own band called Within Tradition, and lately was a member of Special Consensus. IIIrd Tyme Out announced that former mandolin player Wayne Benson is coming back into the band replacing Alan Perdue, who is leaving after three years. Police log. Busted Busta. Trevor Smith, a.k.a. rapper Busta Rhymes was popped in New York on the 2nd for driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was probably trying to forget about the fact that his trial for two assault charges was looming on May 8th…Brandy sued for negligence and wrongful death (is there a "rightful" death?) for a fatal crash she caused in LA while speeding on December 30th. And the rapster that goes by the name Eve was arrested for DUI on April 26th while driving her Maserati in Hollywood. Just think - if she spent the money on a Taurus or something she could afford to pay for a driver… Life's railway to heaven. Luthier John Sullivan, of Portland, OR, lost his yearlong battle with esophageal cancer on April 21st. He was an instrument maker with a good eye for detail. Tommy Newsome, longtime sax player and substitute band leader on The Johnny Carson Show, died of bladder and liver cancer on April 28th in Virginia. He was 78. James Davis, a founder of The Dixie Hummingbirds, died of a heart ailment on April 17th in Philadelphia. He was 90. Blues harmonica player Carey Bell passed away in Chicago on May 6th from complications from diabetes. He was 70. Coming attractions. Christopher Smith CD release show at Larkspur Café Theatre on June 1st; Joe New at various venues in Marin from June 8th-15th; Darol Anger & The Republic of Strings at Petaluma Church Concerts on June 7th; The CBA Father's Day Festival in mid-June The Kate Wolf Festival on June 29th; String Cheese Incident at the Greek in Berkeley on July 21st-22nd; Strawberry Music Festival on Labor Day Weekend; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Onward to the calendar… The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See The MysticGrass show on the 11th featuring Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, Howdy, The Whoreshoes, and The Pine Needles, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 18th, Colin Hay on the 23rd, and Zero on the 26th. At the Black Rose in Santa Rosa see the Spiral Mystics on the 11th, The Tonewoods on the 12th, The Mitguards on the 17th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 18th, The Hicktones on the 19th, join the bluegrass/old-time session on the 23rd, see The Ring of Truth Trio on the 24th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Ion Dogle on the 11th (see below), Blame Sally on the 12th, Rhythm Village on the 25th, Djangofest on the 31st, and other great shows. Bread and Roses will be hosting a special evening on the 11th at 7 p.m. at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre. By attending this pre-concert event, you can help raise crucial funds for this wonderful organization, while enjoying delicious appetizers from local restaurants and an assortment of wines to please your palate. And that's just the first part of this exciting evening. As an attendee to the reception, you'll be able to reserve your seat for a special Bread & Roses' "May Around The Bay" performance by Ian Dogole and Hemispheres. It will be a high-adventure excursion into the vast musical melting pot, blending jazz inspired by the innovators, indigenous music and instruments from around the globe, and forays into uncharted musical terrain. As part of this concert, there will be a musical tribute to one of the most exquisite and uplifting spirits of the last 40 years who recently passed on - Alice Coltrane. Hemispheres is Ian Dogole, Sheldon Brown, Bill Douglass, Frank Martin and Paul McCandless. Wagon, the old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing at Pelican Inn Muir Beach on the 11th from 7-10 p.m. and on the 20th at the San Rafael Community Center from 3-5 p.m. for the Access 4 Bikes (Marin non-profit) Fundraiser Film Fest & Bar BQ Party. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at the Great American Music Hall in SF with The Waybacks on the 11th, and at the Mystic in Petaluma on the 18th they will be doing a bluegrass interpretation of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." They are billing the show as "Dark Side of the Moonshine" and there will be a full laser show. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 22nd you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Joe Lewis Walker on the 11th, Shana Morrison on the 12th, James Moseley on the 13th and 27th, Sheila's AIDS Benefit on the 15th (see below), SambadA on the 18th, Chris Webster on the 24th, The Best Intentions on the 27th, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 30th and lots more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Lisa Kindred on the 11th, Lynne Clyde Duo on the 12th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 18th, Jazz Philosophy on the 19th, Jump To It on the 25th, and Ralph Woodson on the 26th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 12th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 19th it will be swing music, and on the 26th it will be pickers' choice. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will play at the Marin Human Race on the 12th at the Marin Center Fairgrounds for Bread & Roses, at the No Name Bar in Sausalito on the 16th at 8:30 p.m. with help from Jim Bitter, and on the 31st at Murphy's Pub in Sonoma. The Wild Catahoulas will have you dancing at the Human Race in Santa Rosa on the 12th at 8 a.m. at the Slater Middle School. The Shots will be offering Irish, bluegrass, old-time and originals as part of the 2007 Marin Open Studios at Crome Architecture, 904 Fourth Street, in San Rafael on the 12th at 7:30 p.m. See Audrey before she goes. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will soon be playing her last dates in California for a while, prior to heading off to her new home in Nashville. On the 12th at 8 p.m. see her at the Marin House Concerts series in San Rafael, hosted by Drew Pearce. Drew hosts regular house concerts with good wine, good company and an open song circle after the main set. On the 13th she'll be at Don Quixote's in Felton at 7 p.m. with a group called With River also on the bill. And on the 22nd she'll be at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley at 8 p.m. with Nina Gerber as part of the "Bread & Roses May Around The Bay" event. The Aqus Cafe in Petaluma will feature Steve Seskin in concert on the 12th at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and info call Barbara at (707) 781-3272. Strictly bluegrass. On Saturday the 12th go to the Golden Gate Park Pickin' Party sponsored by the California Bluegrass Association. The party will run from noon to 6 p.m. at Lindley Meadow, in the western part of the park. There are directions and a link to a map here. San Francisco CBA Activities VP Chuck Poling and his wife Jeanie are hosting the picnic. They'll have a couple of grills set up and will have hamburgers and hot dogs available. They'll also provide plates, cups and utensils. Please bring a side dish, snack, beverages or something to throw on the grill. Chairs are a good idea too. And for goodness sakes, bring your instruments and voices. Lindley Meadow is just west of Speedway Meadow (No. 14 on the map), where the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival is held each year. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic
open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys
on the 11th, Sexy Sunday on the 13th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round
on the 17th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 18th, Tom Finch Group
on the 19th, The Beat Meters on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night
on the 27th, The Harbor Rats on the 30th, and others. Out at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin see Mitch Woods on the 12th, Tommy Castro on the 19th, Vinyl on the 25th, The Rancho All-Stars with David Jenkins on the 25th, and The Blues Broads on the 28th. The RiffRiders will be pickin' some hillbilly jazz on the 12th at McGrath's in Alameda. The band is Tom Drohan, David Phillips, Corey Losee, and Charlie Casey. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are Steve Pile & The Pile Drivers on the 12th, Robert Herrera and Ian Scherer on the 18th and 31st, Soul Shine on the 25th and Eugene on the 26th. Bears in Stinson. On the 13th from noon-3 p.m. you can see the Grizzly Peak bluegrass band play at the Sand Dollar Restaurant in Stinson Beach. The Dollar is great place to get away for the day, with good food and nice views. The band's new CD, Heartbreak and Loneliness, will be available for your listening and buying pleasure. It would make a great gift for Mom on Mother's Day. The Marin Center is featuring Loreena McKennitt on the 13th, The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band on the 15th, the Celtic Woman concert on the 18th, and Bob Newhart on the 19th. Mill Valley guitar man Dore Coller will play with The Hot Club of Marin on the 13th from 5-6:30 p.m. at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, and with the band on the 22nd from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at The Left Bank in Larkspur. Worthwhile benefit. Sweetwater bartender Sheila Lynch will be hosting a fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa at the club on Tuesday the 15th. Heather Combs, Devon Shane and The Bobby G Posse will perform. This second annual event raises money for International Volunteer Work with Global Service Corps for Sheila who will be returning to Tanzania to volunteer with youth leaders from all over Africa. She will spend one-month educating youths in a HIV/AIDS Peer Education and Life Skills Summer Camp. The kids then return to their local communities and start Health Clubs to educate their peers about AIDS. The night also raises funds for children's school fees in Rau primary school to ensure a proper education and at least one meal a day at school. It only costs $10. Jesse Lee Kincaid, songwriter, founding member of The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and former member of the popular Marin band Borderline, performs original songs (plus a select few popular favorites) every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur. No cover. Jesse just took second place in the Ojai Fiddle Contest on April 28th, and took second place in their Picking Division, playing mandolin. See/hear Lauralee Brown on the 15th/22nd/29th from 7-9 p.m. play Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh & Greg Punkar at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur; on the 18th Jazz and Beyond at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito; on the 24th from 7-10 p.m. Intimate Jazz at Caffé DiVino in Sausalito; on the 27th from 2-4 p.m. Jazz and Beyond at the Caledonia Street Fair in Sausalito; and on the 28th Jazz and Beyond at Sausalito Yacht Club. 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 Michael Elvin Hunt on the 16th, The Barefoot Nellies on the 23rd, and Fireball Mailmen on the 30th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Terry Hagerty on the 16th, Sylvia Herold on the 17th, Jamie Clark on the 18th, The Itchy Mountain Men on the 20th, Free Peoples on the 24th, Wake The Dead on the 25th, Corinne West on the 26th, and more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The SEVA Foundation Benefit at the Grand Ballroom in SF on the 18th will be one hot ticket, with Mickey Hart, Zero, Chris Robison's Wooden Family, Sikiru Adepoju, and Wavy Gravy. Join Ain't Misbehavin' on the 18th at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes beginning at 7 p.m. for an evening of acoustic vintage and Western Swing, jazzy ballads, originals, banjo tunes, and more. Great food, friendly wait staff, and no cover! Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Tish Hinojosa on the 18th and Gove Scrivenor on the 26th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. How about spending An Evening with Ramblin' Jack Elliot for a worth cause? One of the last great American folk icons on the planet, West Marin's Jack also was the recipient of The National Medal of Honor Award and a Grammy. He will perform his unique brand of story telling and songs for a benefit for KWMR, West Marin Community Radio. Jesse DeNatale will open the show on the 19th at 8 p.m. at Toby's Barn and Gallery, Main Street, Point Reyes Station. There will be a pre-show reception 5:30- 7:15 p.m. that includes country BBQ, beer, oysters from Drakes Bay, and desserts, as well as a private viewing of KWMR's fine art show. Hot rods and hot music. Groove to the Classic Car Parade & Rockin' Street Dance on the 19th starting at noon in downtown San Rafael. There will be live music by Los Treos Borrachos, 77 El Deora, Factor 11, and Rusty Evans & ring of Fire. And, there will be a parade of classic cars starting at 6 p.m. Experience high-altitude bluegrass with Hot Buttered Rum at the Fillmore in SF on the 19th. Also on the bill is That One Guy. HBR will also be releasing their new "Live in the Northeast" CD at the show. Be the first on your block to have this hot new recording. The Waylin' Jennys will be wailin' on the 19th at 8 p.m. at the Osher JCC in San Rafael. On the 20th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley award-winning songwriter Caren Armstrong unveils Everything, her new CD. Expect a multi-dimensional show that runs the gamut from one girl, one guitar (actually four guitars) to a rockin' band with Houston Jones members Glenn Houston, Peter Tucker, and Chris Kee, bass, as well as other special guests. Join Paul Knight & Friends on the 20th at 5 p.m. at the Station House in Point Reyes Station when they play traditional American music. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 21st from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. On Tuesday the 22nd at 8:30 p.m., a third edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. The headliner will be Three Ring Circle, and opening will be The Grass Cutters. Three Ring Circle is a jamgrass acoustic power trio formed by three of the hottest pickers to be found anywhere - Rob Ickes (of Blue Highway) on dobro, Andy Leftwich (Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder) on mandolin and fiddle, and Dave Pomeroy on bass. Individually they are world renowned players who have worked with everyone from Elton John to Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs and Bruce Hornsby, but as Three Ring Circle they are collectively blazing a new trail for fans of instrumental music everywhere. Their music is exciting, innovative, emotional, and as Duke Ellington used to say, "beyond category." Their self-titled recording was released to much acclaim last year, and it was nominated for an IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year award. Rob Ickes has also won Dobro Player of the Year Award eight times. Opening the show will be the new North Bay band The Grass Cutters, featuring Gary Kaye on banjo, Dana Rath on mandolin, Joe Kenny on bass, and Adam Roszkiewicz on guitar. Versatile Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will performing solo on the 22nd
while opening for Audrey Auld Mezera at the Freight & Salvage, and
on the 27th with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. 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. 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 is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and 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. 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 Paul Geremia on the 31st at 8 p.m. Paul is a first-rate bluesman who combines his own original compositions with interpretations of the music of men like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, and Blind Blake. He's a genuine historian of rare, prewar blues classics and can replicate the original styles of the masters, but Paul comes to this music from the inside and makes it his own. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Twang fever. Fans of the pedal steel guitar will be queing up at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 31st for the In The Steel of The Night show, with pedalers Joe Goldmark, David Phillips, and Bobby Black with bands Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Saddlecats and The Seducers. Ed Neff and Friends play 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - BANJO MAKEOVER 5/13 1:30 p.m.: "The banjo as a classical instrument? Bela Fleck, the man who reinvented the banjo, joins 14-year-old violinist Caroline Goulding from Shaker Heights, Ohio, and 13-year-old cellist Gabriel Cabezas from Willamette, Illinois, for performances of Fleck's arrangement of Debussy's 'Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum.' They also perform his own rousing composition, 'County Clare,' inspired by a trip to the Emerald Isle. Fleck gets more than he bargained for when Caroline does a Martha Stewart-style makeover on his banjo case." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - TASTE OF AMERICA 5/13 2 p.m.: "Host Christopher O'Riley presents a dazzling rumba for the saxophone played by 17-year-old Kevin Olusula from Owensboro, Kentucky, who then outshines himself with a beatbox performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Serafina, a Philadelphia- area string quartet made up of the Smith sisters - 14-year-old Caeli and 16-year old Madelyn -and the 15-year-old Tabby twins, Sabrina and Genevieve, join Rochelle Chester, a 17-year-old Navajo composer from Kayenta, Arizona, on stage to play Rochelle's 'Moon's Lullaby.' 11-year-old George Li, from Lexington, Massachusetts, takes a break from the science lab to perform Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A minor." *************************************************************************************************** April 27, 2007
This edition of the newsletter is a few days early due to the fact we've been called for jury duty next week starting on April 30th, and it may continue all week. There are two really hot bluegrass shows at Sweetwater on the 1st and 2nd that need mentioning (see below), as well as some other events at the beginning of the week. One of the mottos around here is "Better early than late, and half-baked than not at all." Due to time constraints, this is also the shortest version on the Corner in recent memory. More info about shows for later in the month will appear in the next edition. There are less links here than usual as well. Apologies to anyone who sent info that did not make it in here. We are racing with the clock just to get this meager edition done and sent out. New ax. Hey mandolin players…looking to upgrade on that Kentucky or Eastman you've been playing? Well, here is a nice model you may want to consider buying at Gryphon. Bring the pink slip to the Beemer with you, and maybe your first born as well… Gathering moss. Rolling Stone magazine is celebrating its 40th birthday, and while no one around Carltone World Headquarters has any use for it, you can now get past issues on DVD from them if you so desire. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass benefactor Warren Hellman, besides playing with his band The Wronglers at Sweetwater on the 2nd, was featured in the SF Chronicle recently not because of his banjo playing but because of what he does on his day job. Spinal Tap is back! The mock heavy metal band has reunited to fight against global warming. Instead of spending megabucks to see reunion tours of The Police and other geezer bands this summer, check out these guys instead. Willie Nelson is back on the road again. After being popped last fall in Louisiana for marijuana possession while on his tour bus, the Willster plead guilty to a misdemeanor, paid a fine, and was sent on down the highway. Amazingly so, not once during his hearing did he say, "I don't not recall" or "I just cannot remember"… Worthwhile benefit. Sweetwater bartender Sheila Lynch will be hosting a fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa at the club on Tuesday the 15th. Heather Combs, Devon Shane and The Bobby G Posse will perform. This second annual event raises money for International Volunteer Work with Global Service Corps for Sheila who will be returning to Tanzania to volunteer with youth leaders from all over Africa. She will spend one month educating youths in a HIV/AIDS Peer Education and Life Skills Summer Camp. The kids then return to their local communities and start Health Clubs to educate their peers about AIDS. The night also raises funds for children's school fees in Rau primary school to ensure a proper education and at least one meal a day at school. Everyone is welcome. Please go and support the empowerment of education for those surviving in impoverished conditions. It only costs $10. Coming attractions. Christopher Smith at Larkspur Café Theatre on June 1st; Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys at Sweetwater on June 7th; The CBA Father's Day Festival in June; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Band scramble. Young and talented banjo picker Frankie Nagle has apparently left the Lost Coast bluegrass band to concentrate more on her high school studies. Rest assured that it will be but a few years before we see her picking again on the national scene, and you will then be able to say "I saw her way back when"… Life's railway to heaven. Howard Larman, co-founder along with his wife Roz of the FolkScene radio show in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, died in April. Jazz pianist Andrew Hill died of lung cancer on April 20th in Jersey City, NJ. He was 75. Bobby "Boris" Pickett, known for the Halloween song "The Monster Mash," died on April 25th from leukemia in Los Angeles. He was 69. Famed Hawaiian musician Don Ho died on April 14th of heart failure. He was 76. Craig Martin, founding member of the Bay Area band Butch Wax & The Glass Packs, died on April 14th. He was 56. Choreographer Michael Smuin died in San Francisco on the 23rd of an apparent heart attack. He was 68. Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich died on April 27th. He was 80. Onward to the calendar… On Tuesday the 1st at 8:30 p.m. the first May edition of the Bluegrass Gold series will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society This show will feature The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band as the headliner, and Jerry Faires as the opener. Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan has led a long and varied career. In the 1960s he played with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys as well as the bands Earth Opera and Seatrain. In 1973 he formed the all-star bluegrass band Old and In the Way, with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, and their self-titled recording is one of the best-selling bluegrass albums of all time. He then recorded a few albums with brothers Chris and Lorin, toured with his band The Free Mexican Air Force, and he has recorded several solo albums. His song "Panama Red" was a million-selling hit for The New Riders of the Purple Sage. His most recent recording on Rounder Records is Quartet with bluegrass guitar wizard Tony Rice. Peter has lived in Marin County for over thirty years, and he is one of the most entertaining and versatile performers on the scene today. Playing with Peter tonight will be Jody Stecher on mandolin, Keith Little on banjo and fiddle, and Paul Knight on bass. Opening the show will be Jerry Faires, a Santa Fe singer/songwriter storyteller and spoken word artist. His poignant story-poems come from his lifelong study, and love, of the human pageantry that flows around us all. Peter Rowan and Tony Rice featured Jerry's song (one he co-wrote with Peter) "Come Back To Old Santa Fe" on their You Were There For Me CD from 2004. On Wednesday the 2nd at 8 p.m. a second edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place. The headliner will be The Dale Ann Bradley Band, and opening will be The Wronglers. Dale Ann Bradley doesn't just sing to an audience, she mesmerizes them with stories about her life, her family, the people and the land where she was raised in Berea, Kentucky. Melodically bending notes the way an accomplished musician bends a string, she has one of the fullest, sweetest voices you'll ever hear. But she can also turn around and belt out a driving song reflecting the strength of her voice with those same tones of pure pitch. An incredibly gifted vocalist, she exudes a sweet spirit and humbleness that is both genuine and sincere. Her band consists of Ramona Church on banjo, Mike Bub on bass, Jeff Parker on mandolin, and Troy Engle on fiddle/guitar. Dale Ann's most recent CD is titled Catch Tomorrow. Opening the show will be the Bay Area band The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Nate Levine, Bill Martin, Krista Martin, and Colleen Browne and Chris Hellman). They made their stage debut last October at Warren's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, and they combine bluegrass, folk, and old-time techniques, producing an intelligent, intimate sound with an abundance of twang. Warren's love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction. As an added bonus, sittin' in with the band for this show will be Ron Thomason (Dry Branch Fire Squad) and Heidi Clare (Reeltime Travelers). Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold shows mentioned above and below on the 1st, 2nd and 22nd you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See The Sundogs on the 3rd, Rock for Hope fundraiser on the 4th, Vinyl on the 5th, Joe Louis Walker on the 11th, James Moseley on the 13th and 27th, and lots more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Turning Point on the 1st, Phil Berkowitz and the Dirty Cats on the 3rd, Spinout on the 5th, PBJ Peri's Blues Jam on the 6th, Leon Bristow on the 9th, The Deciders on the 10th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 11th, and more. See/hear Lauralee Brown on the 1st from 7-9 p.m. play Intimate Jazz at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur (all other Tuesdays in May it will be Acoustic Sounds with Denise Leigh & Greg Punkar at the cafe); on the 5th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Jazz and Beyond at the Sausalito Spring Faire; on the 18th Jazz and Beyond at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito; on the 24th from 7-10 p.m. Intimate Jazz at Caffé DiVino in Sausalito; on the 27th from 2-4 p.m. Jazz and Beyond at the Caledonia Street Fair in Sausalito; and on the 28th Jazz and Beyond at Sausalito Yacht Club. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 2nd. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. 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. On the 2nd it will be The Trailer Park Rangers, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on 9th, Michael Elvin Hunt on the 16th, The Barefoot Nellies on the 23rd, and Fireball Mailmen on the 30th. Marin County singer/songwriter Forest Sun will appear on the KFOG Morning Show on the 2nd at 7 a.m.; on the 5th at 5 p.m. tune into KALW in SF; and then see him play live at Sweetwater on the 6th starting at 8 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Clarence Clemmons and Narada Walden on the 2nd, Ion Dogle on the 11th, Blame Sally on the 12th, and others. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, with no cover charge. Featured there is Kurt Huget on the 3rd, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 4th, Andrew Freeman on the 5th, the Celtic jam on 6th, The Mitguards on the 10th, Carolina Special on the 12th, The David Thom Band on the 25th, and much more. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Claudia Russell (see below) on the 3rd, Trailer Park Rangers on the 4th, Deborah Winters on the 5th, Terry Hagerty on the 16th, and more. Berkeley-based songstress Claudia Russell will make her third appearance at the LCT at 8 p.m. She will be accompanied by her band, the Folk Unlimited Orchestra, featuring Bruce Kaplan on mandolin and guitar, Mark Petrella on stand-up bass, Dan Sankey on fiddle, Gerry Grosz on vibraphone and piano, Wendy Sue Rosloff on percussion. Pianist/songwriter Grosz will open the show with a short set. This show will be a CD release party for Russell's new Live CD, Live Band Tonight. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 3rd and the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Versatile Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will performing solo on the 3rd at Murphy's and on West Coast Live radio show on the 5th; on the 22nd opening for Audrey Auld Mezera at the Freight & Salvage; and on the 27th with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. St. John's Church in Ross is having a festive weekend of acoustic guitars on the 4th-6th that they are calling "Stained Glass and Strings." On the 4th it will be Al Stewart, the 5th David Tanenbaum, and on the 6th the San Francisco Guitar Quartet. The festival is made possible by a gift from Acoustic Guitar Magazine. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See David Wilcox on the 4th, The Del McCoury Band on the 5th, Junior Brown on the 6th, and The MysticGrass show on the 11th featuring Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, Howdy, The Whoreshoes, and The Pine Needles. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 4th, Jazz Roots Trio on the 5th, Lisa Kindred on the 11th, Lynne Clyde Duo on the 12th, and Lauralee Brown & Company on the 18th. Country honky-tonk band Little White Lie will be at the Plough and Stars in SF on the 5th. Singer Leslie McClain is amazing and there's plenty of pedal steel. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents award-winning Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tia McGraff for an evening of music and dining on the 5th. Tia's music, ranging from songs of soul-stirring passion to angelic beauty, spans the spectrum of life, love, relationships, and faith. Her gutsy alto has been heard everywhere from CMT Canada to European radio stations, to the Savannah Folk Music Society and the coveted spotlight of Nashville's Bluebird Café. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts at 7 pm. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 5th and the 12th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 19th it will be swing music, and on the 26th it will be pickers' choice. See Novato fiddler/guitarist Doug Adamz with his band Light Rain and The Joffrey Ballet through the 6th; also on the 6th at 7 p.m. with The Grateful Dougs at the Mission City Coffee Roasters in Santa Clara, and on the 26th at 9 p.m. at Shanachie Pub in Willits fiddling with The Train Singer Greg Schindel and Malakai. The Wild Catahoulas will be playing at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, on the 6th beginning at 5:30 p.m. They will also be at the Human Race in Santa Rosa on the 12th 8 a.m. at Slater Middle School. Wagon, the old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing on the 10th at the San Rafael Farmer's Market from 6-8:30 pm, at Pelican Inn Muir Beach on the 11th from 7-10pm and on the 20th at the San Rafael Community Center from 3-5 p.m. for the Access 4 Bikes (Marin non-profit) Fundraiser Film Fest & Bar BQ Party. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at the Great American Music Hall in SF with The Waybacks on the 11th, and at the Mystic in Petaluma on the 18th. Audrey Auld Mezera will play the Drew Pearce House Concert in San Rafael on the 12th, at Don Quixote's Music Hall in Felton on the 13th, and at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on the 22nd with Nina Gerber The Aqus Cafe in Petaluma will feature Steve Seskin in concert on the 12th at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and info call Barbara at (707) 781-3272. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will be at the Marin Human Race on the 12th at the Marin Center Fairgrounds for Bread & Roses; she'll play at the No Name Bar in Sausalito on the 16th at 8:30 p.m. with help from Jim Bitter; and on the 31st at Murphy's Pub in Sonoma. Join Ain't Misbehavin' on the 18th at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes beginning at 7 p.m. for an evening of acoustic vintage and Western Swing, jazzy ballads, originals, banjo tunes, and more. Great food, friendly wait staff, and no cover! The Hicktones will be performing at The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa on the 19th at 8 p.m. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Tish Hinojosa on the 18th and Gove Scrivenor on the 26th.Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. On the 20th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley award-winning songwriter Caren Armstrong unveils Everything, her new CD. Expect a multi-dimensional show that runs the gamut from one girl, one guitar (actually four guitars) to a rockin' band with Houston Jones members Glenn Houston, Peter Tucker, and Chris Kee, bass, as well as other special guests On Tuesday the 22nd at 8:30 p.m., a third edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. The headliner will be Three Ring Circle, and opening will be The Grass Cutters. Three Ring Circle is a jamgrass acoustic power trio formed by three of the hottest pickers to be found anywhere - Rob Ickes (of Blue Highway) on dobro, Andy Leftwich (Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder) on mandolin and fiddle, and Dave Pomeroy on bass. Individually they are world renowned players who have worked with everyone from Elton John to Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs and Bruce Hornsby, but as Three Ring Circle they are collectively blazing a new trail for fans of instrumental music everywhere. Their music is exciting, innovative, emotional, and as Duke Ellington used to say, "beyond category." Their self-titled recording was released to much acclaim last year, and it was nominated for an IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year award. Rob Ickes has also won Dobro Player of the Year Award eight times. Opening the show will be the new North Bay band The Grass Cutters, featuring Gary Kaye on banjo, Dana Rath on mandolin, Joe Kenny on bass, and Adam Roszkiewicz on guitar. 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. 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 is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and 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. 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 Paul Geremia on the 31st at 8 p.m. Ed Neff and Friends play 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. 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: AMERICA'S CHOIR - THE STORY OF THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR 5/01 11 p.m.: "Broadcast veteran Walter Cronkite hosts this special, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Grammy Award-winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir - dubbed 'America's Choir' by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The program includes performances by the all-volunteer, 360-voice ensemble, re-enactments, archival footage and interviews with such artists as Sting, composer John Williams and others." SAXOPHONIST HOWARD WILEY, WEAVER ADELA AKERS 5/02 7:30 p.m., 5/07 3 a.m., 5/08 2:30 a.m.: "Saxophonist Howard Wiley explores the tradition of spiritual music found at a plantation prison in the Deep South, and other stories." ATLANTIC RECORDS - THE HOUSE THAT AHMET BUILT 5/02 10 p.m.: "Ahmet Ertegun, a young Turk with an immigrant's passion for the African-American music he heard in the rigidly segregated Washington, DC, of the 1940s, soon recognized that 'all popular music stems from Black music, be it jazz or rock n' roll or rap.' He exported these endemic sounds to England, where they merged with the European sensibility, and he imported that fusion back across the ocean. It was a revolutionary new genre, single-handedly influencing the future direction of contemporary music. The program profiles the man who discovered Ray Charles, introduced Eric Clapton to Aretha Franklin and fell asleep on Mick Jagger." THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III (1994) 5/05 10:33 p.m.: "A collection of musical moments from the MGM library, including a discarded dance routine by Fred Astaire and Joan Crawford singing and dancing." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - A GALA NIGHT AT ALICE TULLY HALL 5/06 noon: "The program joins Wynton Marsalis, Audra McDonald, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Tom Brokaw, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and many others for the final concert at Alice Tully Hall before it closes for renovation. Highlights will include archival footage of Lincoln Center's original construction and animations of the hall's new look." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - FAMILY AFFAIR 5/06 1:30 p.m.: "It's all in the family with a sister-and-brother act from Orinda, California: 10-year-old Clark (inspired by Yo-Yo Ma's appearance on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) on cello and 14-year-old Chloe Pang on piano; 13-year-old Leeza Ali, from a musical family in Mendota Heights, Minnesota; and 17-year-old trumpeter Conrad Jones, from Sayville, New York, whose parents are both music educators. The Pang siblings tackle a roller coaster of a piece: the allegro from Shostakovich's Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor. Conrad displays his talents on Clarke's Carnival of Venice. Viewers get a glimpse of the everyday life of Leeza's family, where musical talent seems to be in the water." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - THE PRINCESS AND THE COWBOY 5/06 2 p.m.: "This episode welcomes two dazzling young artists to the show: 13-year-old cellist Tessa Seymour from Berkeley, California, and 18-year-old violinist and 'Asian Cowboy' Charles Yang from Austin, Texas. Tessa and Charles join host Christopher O'Riley for riveting performances of Debussy, Monti and Dvorak; and cellist Yo-Yo Ma reveals the 'Top Ten Reasons Why Cello Is the Coolest.'" LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - BANJO MAKEOVER 5/13 1:30 p.m.: "The banjo as a classical instrument? Bela Fleck, the man who reinvented the banjo, joins 14-year-old violinist Caroline Goulding from Shaker Heights, Ohio, and 13-year-old cellist Gabriel Cabezas from Willamette, Illinois, for performances of Fleck's arrangement of Debussy's 'Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum.' They also perform his own rousing composition, 'County Clare,' inspired by a trip to the Emerald Isle. Fleck gets more than he bargained for when Caroline does a Martha Stewart-style makeover on his banjo case." LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL - TASTE OF AMERICA 5/13 2 p.m.: "Host Christopher O'Riley presents a dazzling rumba for the saxophone played by 17-year-old Kevin Olusula from Owensboro, Kentucky, who then outshines himself with a beatbox performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Serafina, a Philadelphia- area string quartet made up of the Smith sisters - 14-year-old Caeli and 16-year old Madelyn -and the 15-year-old Tabby twins, Sabrina and Genevieve, join Rochelle Chester, a 17-year-old Navajo composer from Kayenta, Arizona, on stage to play Rochelle's 'Moon's Lullaby.' 11-year-old George Li, from Lexington, Massachusetts, takes a break from the science lab to perform Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A minor." *************************************************************************************************** April 13, 2007 An early newsletter for a change. What a concept! Usually at this time of this month the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is scrambling to find every receipt from concerts, CDs and festival tickets while the Tax Man knocks on the door. Amazingly so, the tax forms are done and sent, and with the extra time and added shows this weekend, we thought we'd get the newsletter off earlier than usual. We're even going to bend the rules here a bit and tell you about two shows at the beginning of May. Short of the "Coming Attractions" section, we try to stick to shows within the designated month. But with May 1st being on a Tuesday this year, and jury duty on the horizon that week, there is a possibility that the next newsletter will be a few days late. Plus, the two bluegrass shows (at Sweetwater) that are mentioned below are going to be hot ones, so you will want to plan ahead. Music in/on the air. Keystone Crossing, featuring the voices of yours truly and Claudia Hampe, will be singing live on the air on Sunday the 15th in Berkeley on Ray Edlund's Pig in a Pen bluegrass radio show on KPFA. The show airs from 3-5 p.m. You can tune in at 94.1 FM in the Bay Area, or listen on line at www.kpfa.org. Keystone sings the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass, such as the Delmore Brothers, Louvin Brothers, and Blue Sky Boys. Make an entire day of listening to KPFA on Sundays! Starting at 11 a.m. every week there is Robbie Osman's Across the Great Divide followed by Mary Tilson's America's Back 40 show at 1 p.m. Then at 3 p.m. Ray Edlund's Pig in a Pen alternates every other week with Tom Diamant's Panhandle Country. The House of Cash is no longer. Johnny Cash's famous house outside of Nashville burned to the ground on the 10th. Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees was the new owner, and a fire broke out during restoration. Want to really drive your neighbors crazy? There is now a new electric banjo available from Nechville Musical Products. Be the first and only one on your block to own one! Did you ever imagine what the music world would have been like if the Beatles had played bluegrass instruments instead of electric guitars and drums? There was a cool doctored photo of the lads on the California Bluegrass Association web site two weeks back that you can view here. What's that smell? Leftover Salmon will be doing a tour this summer, featuring a brief reunion of the popular jamgrass group that disbanded in 2004. They will perform at two larger festivals in July - The High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, CA, and the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, WV. Featured on these reunion shows will be Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman, Jeff Sipe, Greg Garrison, Bill McKay and Noam Pikelny. Fishwrap roundup. In the Marin Independent Journal on the 8th Paul Liberatore wrote a story about John Goddard's Mill Valley record store called Village Music. Two weeks back in a column titled "Who's Marin's Best Guitar Player?" Liberatore asked for votes in a very unscientific poll, and in his column on the 13th winner is Jeff Watson from Nightranger. In the SF Chronicle on the 11th in Leah Garchik's gossip column she said about Sweetwater "The sound system went kerflooey last week, and so Monday night neighbors and friends rallied for a fundraiser that made about $10,000 for a new one. Bob Weir and RatDog were surprise guests, as was Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads." Well, the date of the benefit was the 5th, not the 9th, and the sound system went kerflooey back in February, not last week. Looks like Garchik went kerflooey with the facts. Which makes you wonder about all of the other items she posts on a daily basis… April fools! The media went gaga when Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards said he snorted his father's ashes. Oops! Turns out he was just kidding! Or was he? Anyone see that edition of Bay Area Backroads on Sunday morning TV on the 8th? It featured SF Chronicle geezer rock writer Joel Selvin and the segment was all about Marin venues and musicians, including the late Otis Redding, Narada Michael Walden, Sweetwater, and the 2 AM club. It was also a plug for Selvin's book titled The San Francisco Musical History Tour. That he put out in 1996! Yes, that feature was about ten years old, but everything is still relevant. It was just a younger David Grisman on the stool at Sweetwater, as well as a spryer Narada at this studio… Special coming attractions. Here are the two shows in early May that are mentioned above. You can get tickets on TicketWeb or at Sweetwater during the day: On Tuesday, May 1st, at 8:30 p.m., the first May edition of the Bluegrass Gold series will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. This show will feature The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band as the headliner, and Jerry Faires as the opener. Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan has led a long and varied career. In the 1960s he played with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys as well as the bands Earth Opera and Seatrain. In 1973 he formed the all-star bluegrass band Old and In the Way, with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, and their self-titled recording is one of the best-selling bluegrass albums of all time. He then recorded a few albums with brothers Chris and Lorin, toured with his band The Free Mexican Air Force, and he has recorded several solo albums. His song "Panama Red" was a million-selling hit for The New Riders of the Purple Sage. His most recent recording on Rounder Records is Quartet with bluegrass guitar wizard Tony Rice. Peter has lived in Marin County for over thirty years, and he is one of the most entertaining and versatile performers on the scene today. Playing with Peter tonight will be Jody Stecher on mandolin, Keith Little on banjo and fiddle, and Paul Knight on bass. Opening the show will be Jerry Faires, a Santa Fe singer/songwriter storyteller and spoken word artist. His poignant story-poems come from his lifelong study, and love, of the human pageantry that flows around us all. Peter Rowan and Tony Rice featured Jerry's song (one he co-wrote with Peter) "Come Back To Old Santa Fe" on their You Were There For Me CD from 2004.On Wednesday the 2nd at 8 p.m. (earlier start time) a second edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place. The headliner will be The Dale Ann Bradley Band, and opening will be The Wronglers. Dale Ann Bradley doesn't just sing to an audience, she mesmerizes them with stories about her life, her family, the people and the land where she was raised in Berea, Kentucky. Melodically bending notes the way an accomplished musician bends a string, she has one of the fullest, sweetest voices you'll ever hear. But she can also turn around and belt out a driving song reflecting the strength of her voice with those same tones of pure pitch. An incredibly gifted vocalist, she exudes a sweet spirit and humbleness that is both genuine and sincere. Her band consists of Ramona Church on banjo, Mike Bub on bass, Jeff Parker on mandolin, and Troy Engle on fiddle/guitar. Dale Ann's most recent CD is titled Catch Tomorrow. Opening the show will be the Bay Area band The Wronglers (Warren Hellman, Nate Levine, Bill Martin, Krista Martin, and Colleen Browne and Chris Hellman). They made their stage debut last October at Warren's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, and they combine bluegrass, folk, and old-time techniques, producing an intelligent, intimate sound with an abundance of twang. Warren's love of bluegrass and old-time music permeates every aspect of his life, and his excitement at playing on stage for an audience brings him a huge sense of involvement and satisfaction. As an added bonus, sittin' in with the band for this show will be Ron Thomason (Dry Branch Fire Squad) and Heidi Clare (Reeltime Travelers). Coming attractions. The Del McCoury Band on May 5th and Junior Brown on the 9th at the Mystic; The Waybacks and Poor Man's Whiskey at the Great American Music Hall in SF on May 11th; Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans on Mother's Day (May 13th) at the Freight on Berkeley at 1 p.m.; SEVA Foundation Benefit at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on May 18th with Mickey Hart, Zero, Chris Robison's Wooden Family, Sikiru Adepoju, and Wavy Gravy; Three Ring Circle (Rob Ickes' new trio) and The Grass Cutters at Sweetwater on May 22nd; Strawberry Music Festival on Memorial and Labor Day Weekends; The CBA Father's Day Festival in June; Alison Krauss & Union Station at the Greek on June 30th; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Police log. Ode to Billy Joe. Arrest warrants have been issued for singer-songwriter singer Billy Joe Shaver in connection with a March 31st shooting on the parking lot of a bar in Lorena, TX, a suburb of Waco. Shaver's attorney, Joseph Turner of Austin, Texas, told The Austin American-Statesman newspaper that his client acted in self-defense when he shot and wounded a man in the cheek at Papa Joe's Texas Saloon. "The other guy was the aggressor," Turner told the newspaper. "He was intoxicated and followed Billy Joe outside the bar with a knife." Shaver, 67, did not know the victim, his attorney said. Shaver's best known songs include "Old Chunk of Coal," "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Georgia on a Fast Train"… New song material. Country singer Sara Evans' estranged husband Craig Schelske is suing the singer's divorce lawyer for $20 million for slandering his reputation in the media. Schelske filed the lawsuit in Davidson County Circuit Court this week against John Hollins Sr. Evans and her attorney have also been sued by Evans' former nanny, Alison Clinton Lee, for slander and libel. Lee is seeking $3 million in damages and has asked Evans to publicly apologize for wrongly accusing her of having an affair with Schelske. Additions Wagon, the old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach on the 13th from 7:30-9:30 p.m. On the 13th at The Plough and the Stars in SF you can see the North Bay quartet called the Ring of Truth Trio (yeah, the trio is four) starting at 9:30 p.m. The ROTT is Henry Nagle, Muir Houghton, Rory McNamara, and Ross Harris Gayle Schmitt and the Toodala Ramblers can be seen and heard on the 14th at 12:15 p.m. at the Discovery Museum in Sausalito as part of the "Month of the Young Child" celebration. This family festival goes all day and is free. In addition to the toe-tapping sounds of the Ramblers there will be puppet shows, Latin music and English Morris dancers, as well as the museum's one-of-a-kind exhibits and demonstrations. Kyle Alden has one busy rest of the month. See him and Big Value when play a dinner show on the 14th at the Marin Coffee Roasters in downtown San Anselmo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; on the 22nd Kyle and Peter Lacques are at the Yes Festival in Fairfax starting at 12:30 p.m.; on the 24th Kyle will play with Curlew at Schmidt's Pub in Albany from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; on the 26th he'll be with Tipsy House at the Plough and Stars at 9 p.m.; on the 28th it is the San Gregorio General Store from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and on the 29th back at the Plough for the Traditional Irish Music Session from 8:45 p.m. until midnight. Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys will play at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 15th from 12-3 p.m. Paul Knight & Friends will be playing at the Station House Cafe
in Pt. Reyes Station on the 15th from 5-8:30 p.m. With Paul will be
Jonathan Schiele on banjo, Jacob Groopman on guitar and Tim Hicks (recently
arrived from W. Virginia) on mandolin. It will be mostly traditional
bluegrass and should get pretty speedy on the instrumentals. Singer/songwriter Caren Armstrong has two big shows coming up at the Great American Music Hall in SF when she opens for Nanci Griffith on the 18th and 19th. Join the KWMR Block Party Hootenanny and Uke-a-thon on the 21st from noon to 6 p.m. for barbecue, live music, and good folks. It happens in front of the KWMR studios in Point Reyes Station at 11431 Highway One at Mesa Road. It's free for all ages. The music lineup includes Val Esway, Jimbo Trout, Forest Sun, Larkin Gayl, The Riverside Kings featuring Danny Uzilevsky & Darren Nelson, The Whoreshoes, Rick Quisol, The Shut-Ins, Tippy Canoe and the Paddlemen, Leopard Print, and Sage. Aqus Folk Music Concerts on the 21st will be bringing you an evening of original folk songs with Larry Potts, Al Haas, James K, Scott O Brien, Tony Gagaran and Gary Grubb at 7:30 p.m. For info and tickets call Barbara at (707) 781-3272. Reminders Charlie Louvin, one half of the famed country/bluegrass duo The Louvin Brothers, will be playing at the Swedish American Hall in SF on the 13th. He recently put out an album (his first in 10 years) that has duets and playing by Elvis Costello, Tom T. Hall, Bobby Bare Jr., Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham and more. It has been getting great reviews too. The Swedish Hall is an amazing space to hear acoustic music. It is located directly upstairs from the Café du Nord, near Market and Castro. Charlie hasn't toured in quite a while, and he is about to turn 80 too. So, this may be your last chance to see him out here. The Americana acoustic group Under the Radar (with Kevin Russell on guitar) plays the Station House Café in Point Reyes Station on the 13th at 7 p.m. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Kenni & Company on the 13th, The Acmes on the 14th, Greenhouse on the 22nd, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 26th, Solid Air on the 27th, High Country on the 28th, and much more. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rancho All-Stars on the 13th, Led Kaapana & Mike Kaawa on the 15th, Elvin Bishop & Little Smokey Smothers on the 21st, Trailer Park Rangers on the 27th, the Baguette Quartet on the 28th, and Jerry Hannan on the 29th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Ed Earley Band on the 13th, Crooked Roads on the 15th, Tom Finch Group on the 20th, Zachariah on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 29th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday see Geoff Bolt on the 13th, James Kline on the 19th, Clipper Erickson on the 22nd, Jules Broussard on the 29th, and other shows. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See The Tracy Rose Trio on the 13th, Mike Angel and Friends on the 14th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Jump To It on the 27th, Wendy DeWitt on the 28th. At the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma check out tribute bands Zoo Station and Stung on 13th, Roy Rogers and Jackie Green on the 14th, Cowboy Junkies on the 15th, Railroad Earth on the 19th, Martin Sexton on the 20th, and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage on the 21st. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 19th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Bonnie Hayes on the 14th, Luce on the 21st, James Moseley on the 22nd, Bermuda Grass and Lorin Rowan & Rattlebox on the 24th, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 25th, and more. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music on the 14th at Smiley's in Bolinas. Get a room and make it a weekend at the beach with the band! Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 14th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 21st it will be swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. Versatile Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will be performing on the 14th at Station House in Pt. Reyes Station; on the 15th with Deborah Crooks at Cafe Trieste in SF; on the 20th jazz with Si Perkoff at Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo; and on the 25th it will be jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Amy Speace on the 14th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Audrey Auld Mezera, Nina Gerber and friends on the 14th, and the Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart on the 28th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Earlier in the day Audrey can be heard on KRCB in Rohnert Park on the 14th at 2 p.m., and on the 21st she'll play the Cozmic Café in Placerville at 7:30 p.m. Later in the month she'll be touring all over Texas, so email your buds down there and tell them to get out and see her play. The People Paddle for AIDS Benefit in SF will take place on the 15th and Mill Valley's Kimrea & Dreamdogs will be playing at the event. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Em K on the 15th, County Line Trio on the 20th, Geoff Palmer & Terry Haggerty on the 25th, Jelly on the 27th, and more. On the road again. Willie Nelson and Family will be playing in SF on the 15th-19th at the Fillmore, and in Santa Rosa on the 21st and 22nd at the Luther Burbank Center. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 16th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Get ready for the San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins on the 16th-22nd. It is now a weeklong festival, starting with a "Bluegrass Mandolin Summit" with Butch Waller, Dix Bruce, Tom Bekeny and others on the 16th at 7:30 p.m. at Amnesia on Valencia Street, and ending with "The Grand Day of Mandolins" on the 22nd from noon to 6 p.m. at the Croatian American Cultural Center. Along the way there are other concerts and workshops at various venues. Go to the web site for more info. Enjoy the acoustic sounds from the 60s & 70s with Lauralee Brown and friends every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur. Jesse Lee Kincaid, songwriter, founding member of The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and former member of the popular Marin band Borderline, performs original songs (plus a select few popular favorites) every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. No cover. Mill Valley soulful singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey will be joined by Jim Bitter & Mike Williamson at the No Name in Sausalito on the 18th starting at 8:30 p.m. Cool things are happening at the French Garden Restaurant and Brasserie in Sebastopol. Girlyman on the 18th, SF Early Music Society Fundraiser on the 22nd, Balkan Dance on the 29th in the afternoon, and later that evening the new all-star bluegrass band Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans will be playing a show at 8 p.m. Also in the band are Tom Bekeny and Cindy Browne. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays and some Thursdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See The Shut-Ins on the 18th, and Grizzly Peak on the 25th, and The David Nelson Trio with Pete Sears and Barry Sless on the 26th. There will be a $5 cover for the Nelson show, and all others are free. On Thursday the 19th at 8:30 p.m. there will be three anniversaries of note at the Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater. The series celebrates its eight-year anniversary with The Bill Evans String Summit as the headliner, and the duo Keystone Crossing celebrates its ten-year anniversary when they open the show. One of its members has a birthday of significance two days later. Bay Area banjo player Bill Evans last year stepped into the spotlight as bandleader with his own band, the Bill Evans String Summit, a six-piece ensemble featuring some of the hottest new acoustic musicians on the West Coast. In this highly anticipated Marin County return engagement, Bill brings together guitarist Scott Nygaard, dobro player Michael Witcher, bass player Cindy Browne and the incredible twin fiddling of four-time National Champion fiddlers Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, to perform original instrumental pieces that draw heavily from Bill's two critically acclaimed solo CDs Native and Fine and Bill Evans Plays Banjo. The String Summit uses bluegrass as a stylistic meeting ground for a diverse group of musicians who span two generations and bring with them a mix of stylistic influences, from jazz, classical, folk and world music traditions. Opening the show will be the duo Keystone Crossing, featuring the voices of yours truly and Claudia Hampe. The Marin County twosome sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass, and they got their start opening for Ralph Stanley at the club ten years ago. They also played the first Bluegrass Gold show in April of 1999. On the 21st Claudia will officially be celebrating her 60th birthday, and no doubt the party will be starting two days earlier at Sweetwater. The California Bluegrass Association is having Rhonda Vincent & The Rage play a benefit concert on the 19th in Fair Oaks (near Sacramento). Help support this most worthwhile organization, and, while you're at it, enroll as a member as well! Marin bluegrass jam. On the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Ed Neff and Friends are celebrating ten years of 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. 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 Rick Ruskin on the 19th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Mill Valley's Lorin Rowan is busy in the county this month. On the 19th Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox band featuring Barry Sless (steel guitar) and Doug Harman (keyboards) will be at Iron Springs brewery; on the 24th Rattlebox will be at Sweetwater along with Bermuda Grass; and on the 28th his band of yore The Edge, featuring Jimmy Dillon, Ozzie Ahlers, Jeff Myers and Eric McCann, will be at Sweetwater. Besides playing the AIDS benefit in SF on the 15th, 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. They will also be on the Sonoma Valley Music Scene radio show on the 19th on KSVY 91.3 FM in the town of Sonoma at 8 p.m. And you can see Kimrea & Joe LoCoco at Murphy's on the 26th at Murphy's. The Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th starting at 9 p.m. Bonus feature: astounding magic performed by Barry! Mill Valley's Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved can be seen in the East Bay on the 20th from 8:30-11 p.m. at McGrath's Pub in Alameda, and then on the 27th from 8-10 p.m. at Cafe Trieste in Berkeley Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in the North Bay, and this month on the 20th it will be Jennifer Weaver and Adrianne in Novato. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. The North Bay band The Pine Needles bring their acoustic string band sound to Finnegan's in Novato on the 21st, and the Novato Farmer's Market on the 24th. Solid Air, the Americana folk/rock duo of Allegra Broughton and Sam Page, not only has a new web site, they have a gaggle of shows this month. You can see the full Solid Air Band on the 21st from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival in Westside Park, see the duo on the 27th at Murphy's from 8-10 p.m., and then on the 29th the full band from 2-3 p.m. at the Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 21st at the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa. North Bay singer Adam Traum will play at the Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood on the 21st. Celebrate Earth Day on the 21st by heading over to the Green Apple Music and Arts Festival in SF's Golden Gate Park to see Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Greyboy Allstars, Stephen Marley & Jr Gong, Samantha Stollenwerck and Martin Sexton. This is a free event. Tie-die optional. 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 22nd. 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. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - THE FIRST EMPEROR 4/15 noon: "The
world-premiere broadcast of Chinese composer Tan Dun's epic opera features
legendary tenor Placido Domingo as Emperor Qin, who built the Great
Wall and gave China its name. Tan Dun's music is a fascinating mix of
East and West, and this monumental production is staged by revered Chinese
filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers),
with costumes by Oscar-winning designer Emi Wada (Kurosawa's Ran)."
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - EUGENE ONEGIN 4/22 noon: "American soprano Renee Fleming joins Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky for this broadcast of Tchaikovsky's gorgeous and lyrical adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's iconic text 'Eugene Onegin.' The sweeping dramatic arc of this opera - youthful longing, rejection, regret, a desperate plea that comes too late - is perfectly mirrored in Tchaikovsky's achingly beautiful music and in the stunning lighting of this strikingly minimal production." CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH 4/23 11 p.m.: "This historical concert features George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Jim Horn, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan and Leon Russell."
*************************************************************************************************** April 1, 2007 Welcome to the 76th edition of Carltone's Corner! Spring has officially sprung, the crack of the bat can be heard once again, and music is in and on the air. As usual, there are lots of shows to see as well as there being good stuff to hear on the radio or watch on KQED-TV. There are quite a few benefits to attend, and there are some significant anniversaries. The staff here at Carltone World Headquarters, April Fools that we are, (when not idly watching television game shows where singers vie for recording contracts) has been working overtime trying to find and bring you all the pertinent news. Send off the tax returns, do your spring-cleaning, and then get out and treat yourself to some good music! In the last edition we told you about the FATMusicRadio.com web site. Turns out that there is more Fat news, as Gilbert Klein, host of the "Chewin' the FAT" show on the old radio station, is now writing a book about his days working there, titled "Fat Chance." Crying game. If you haven't bought tickets for the spring Strawberry Music Festival by now, let the tears begin falling. As predicted here many months back, the Memorial Day Festival is now sold out. Sure, you can start posting frantic emails on the fest chat site, but this won't get you very far until about the weekend before the festival begins. So sit back, relax, and starting checking the site in the third week of May. In the meantime, if you are thinking about going on Labor Day weekend, you know the routine… The oblique Americana band 77 el Deora recently returned from playing ten shows in ten days in Belgium and The Netherlands. 2856 kilometers in a rental van, they're still talking to one another, had a great time, and they made a ton of new friends. Those interested in the details might enjoy the blog they ran as a sort of daily diary. Go to their website and click on the "blog in progress" link. Old-time is still not a crime in Berkeley. Join the new session of old-time ensemble classes, with instructors Allegra Yellin (guitar), Jordan Ruyle (banjo), and Amy Hofer (fiddle). Cost for the six-week session is $100. Class meets at La Pena on Sundays from 4:30-6 p.m., from April 15th to May 20th. To register, or for more information, call (510) 655-5715 or email Jordan at jordanruyle@yahoo.com. Learn new tunes and meet other old-time musicians. Fishwrap roundup. In the Marin Independent Journal recently there was a story by Paul Liberatore about a new record label in Larkspur called Passion Star Records and about Novato guitarist/fiddler/songwriter Doug Adamz. Read past the record label part to get to the section on Doug. In the SF Chronicle there was a story about the handful of remaining record stores in the Bay Area where you can actually buy music on vinyl. Last month it was reported here that Charlie Louvin would be playing a show at the Swedish American Hall on the 12th of April. Turns out that the SF Chronicle was wrong with the date, and he will be there on the 13th. See details of this show below. Marin singer/songwriter Victoria George was featured in the Chronicle on the cover of its 96 Hours section on March 29th. While this section is about 75% ads and a waste of paper, occasionally you can find something worthwhile in it. Dead again. In case you weren't aware, Jerry Garcia, guitarist for Grateful Dead, has been dead for over ten years. But this doesn't stop Paul Liberatore from writing about him (or someone from the band) at least once a year or so. In the March 30th edition of the Marin Independent Journal, in a column titled "Who's Marin's Best Guitar Player?" the dead Dead dude gets his vote. Others in the running are Carlos Santana, Terry Haggerty, Roy Rogers, Tommy Castro, Steve Kimock, and Bonnie Raitt. Read the story and then cast your vote by contacting Paul. Speaking of vinyl record stores, there will be a real Elvis sighting at Village Music at 1 p.m. in downtown Mill Valley on the 3rd. Elvis Costello that is, as he will be doing an in-store appearance. Later on that night he will be playing at the Warfield Theatre in SF. Village Music, which has been owned and run by John Goddard for over 40 years, will sadly be closing in September. The store is mentioned in the Chronicle story above. There was a fascinating interview on the NPR show Fresh Air With Terry Gross on March 20th with a record producer named Joe Boyd, who worked with many of the big bands in the 60s but who is probably best known for producing the "Dueling Banjos" soundtrack. He has a new book out called White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s.. Also on the show on March 26th was an interview with Marin County resident and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Booker T. Jones, who had a band called Booker T. and The MGs back in the 60s. Bay Area fiddler Laurie Lewis and her band are featured on the cover of the April edition of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.. The piece was written by San Diego bluegrass singer and bandleader Chris Stuart. Congratulations to Mike and Anne Altman, owners of the Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax, as Joseph Evan Altman arrived into the family on March 22nd, weighing in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce. The Traveling Wilburys (the all-star band that included Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan) ride again! Sort of. It is kind of hard to do a reunion tour when two of your members have gone on that big rock concert in the sky. Rhino Entertainment will reissue the band's first two albums in June after being out of print for more than a decade. Rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks have been added to the package. The Traveling Wilburys Collection also includes a bonus DVD with a 24-minute documentary showing unseen footage of the band and a 16-page collectible book. No laughing matter. Despite the endless amount of banjo jokes continuously making the rounds, the much maligned five-string and backbone of bluegrass music is soon to become easier to play. East Bay banjo master Bill Evans, who plays in multiple bands, teaches and is a banjo historian, is currently writing Banjo For Dummies (the yellow and black book series), and it should be available in a few months. In the meantime, he'll be taking a break from his writing and you can see him play in the North Bay this month with his String Summit at Sweetwater on the 19th and with Rustler's Moon on the 29th. Details await below. Happy trails to you! On the 2nd at 8 p.m. go to the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley for the "Happy Trails" benefit concert for Halleck Creek Institute, a non-profit organization (affiliated with the Marin 4-H Club) that provides therapeutic horseback riding to disabled people on beautiful Halleck Creek Ranch in central Marin. Performing will be Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Shay Black & Riggy Rackin, Caren Armstrong, Larry Hanks, Eric & Suzy Thompson, and special guests. In tribute to the work of Halleck Creek, all the performers will be doing material that refers to horses or riding! Sound investment. Sweetwater in Mill Valley needs a new sound system, and these things don't come cheap. So, there will be a benefit at the club on the 5th to raise money to help pay for the new system, and you can do your share by going to the show. Some of the performers that will be donating their time to play are Heather Combs, Larkin Gayle, Cole Tate, Aram Danesh, Michael LaMacchia, Lynn Asher, Jimmy Dillon, Ozzie Ahlers, Austin deLone, plus other surprise guests. The People Paddle for AIDS Benefit in SF will take place on the 15th and Mill Valley's Kimrea & Dreamdogs will be playing at the event. Rhonda to the rescue! The California Bluegrass Association is having some serious financial problems, so Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be playing a benefit concert on the 19th in Fair Oaks (near Sacramento). Help support this most worthwhile organization, and, while you're at it, enroll as a member as well! Another benefit of note will be taking place on the 6th at Peri's Silver Dollar Saloon in Fairfax, which will feature Peak Season (with members of Farallon), and all proceeds will be going to the National Brain Tumor Foundation. Also on the bill will be Bob's Driveway for a night of rock and roll that will benefit a very important cause. On July 28th Eric Clapton will be holding his Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in a Chicago suburb, and it will be a benefit for his drug rehab clinic that he founded in Antigua a decade ago. Scheduled performers so far include B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck and John Mayer. Get those plane tickets now. Reggae on the River has found a new home to hold its festival. The new locale is Dimmick Ranch and French's Camp in the town of Piercy, Humboldt County, and the fest will take place on August 3rd, 4th and 5th. Plan ahead! The 3rd Annual Golden Old Time Music Festival has been canceled for this year, due to logistical problems. The fest folks hope to regroup and be ready again for June 2008. Coming attractions. Dale Ann Bradley Band and The Wronglers (Warren Hellman and friends) at Sweetwater on May 2nd; The Del McCoury Band on May 5th and Junior Brown on the 9th at the Mystic; The Waybacks and Poor Man's Whiskey at the Great American Music Hall in SF on May 11th; Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans on Mother's Day (May 16th) at the Freight on Berkeley at 1 p.m.; Strawberry Music Festival on Memorial and Labor Day Weekends; The CBA Father's Day Festival in June; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. Band scramble. The longtime North Bay old-time band The Acmes (formerly known as The Acme String Ensemble) is calling it quits after almost 20 years of playing together. The members may get together now and then for some shows, but they will no longer be playing regularly at Murphy's in Sonoma and other venues. See them for the last time at the pub on the 14th. On the mend. Bay Area bluegrass bassist and CBA board member Lisa Burns broke her leg and wrist recently while skiing. When in one piece she plays bass in the bands Sidesaddle & Company and Cabin Fever. Police log. Between a rock and a hard place. Rocker Kid Rock is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a woman in his home in Michigan. He met her in a bar, invited her and a friend back to his house for some fun, and things got ugly. Of course, everyone can identify with this situation, as some of us always invite total strangers back to our houses at two in the morning. Man, this is a guy who was married to Pam Anderson for five minutes last year. My, how the mighty have fallen…Speaking of Anderson, she is rumored to be cozying up to former husband, drummer Tommy Lee from the band Guns 'N Roses. Before she does something silly, like get married again for the umpteenth time, she'd better wait until May, when her divorce to Kid Rock becomes official…Cue up the Tammy Wynette song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Country singer Wynonna Judd and her husband of four years, Dan Roach, have split up after he was arrested for aggravated sexual assault with a minor…One man's trash is another man's treasure: Theft charges have been dropped against two people who gained possession of a notebook containing lyrics to 17 unrecorded songs written by Hank Williams. However, a civil suit is still pending to determine the ultimate ownership of the notebook containing lyrics written in the late 1940s. The charges were filed against memorabilia collector Stephen M. Shutts and janitor Francine Boykin after Boykin said she found the notebook in a box of trash taken from Sony/ATV Music Publishing's office in Nashville. She and her husband sold the box, which also contained items from Conway Twitty and Roy Orbison, to Shutts for $1,500 in 2006. A Nashville judge ruled in March that there was inadequate evidence to support the theft charges. The value of the notebook has been estimated to be as much as $250,000…It takes a village idiot: Former Village People singer Victor "Macho Man" Willis was arrested yet again, this time for choking and threatening a woman with a knife. Last year he was sentenced to probation for multiple drug offenses…Hot pants: Scott Weiland, lead singer of the rock band Velvet Revolver, had ten grand worth of his wardrobe burned by his wife after a fight. Since being arrested she has blamed her actions on meds. They earlier tore up a hotel room before the big bonfire Life's railway to heaven. Luther Ingram, soul singer and songwriter who had a hit with his song "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right)," died on March 20th in St. Louis of heart failure. He was 69. Henson Cargill, who reached No. 1 on the country charts in 1968 with "Skip a Rope," died on March 24th in Oklahoma following complications from surgery. He was 66. "Skip a Rope" spent five weeks at the top of Billboard's country chart and was nominated for CMA song of the year. Onward to the calendar… The next Petaluma Church Concerts show is scheduled for Sunday the 1st at 3 p.m. at the First Church of Christ Scientist in downtown Petaluma with The Hot Frittatas, Northern California's liveliest ensemble for international café music. They play Italian, Sicilian, French, Mexican, Brazilian and more. The four-piece band features Gus Garelick on fiddle and mandolin, Dennis Hadley on accordion, Don Coffin on guitar, and Sam Page on bass. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is the Celtic jam on the 1st, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 6th, Andrew Freeman on the 7th, Shades of Green on the 8th, Megan McLaughlin on the 12th, Kenni & Company on the 13th, The Acmes on the 14th, Greenhouse on the 22nd, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 26th, Solid Air on the 27th, High Country on the 28th, and much more. North Bay singer Adam Traum will play the Hotel Utah in SF on the 1st and then the Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood on the 21st. Solid Air, the Americana folk/rock duo of Allegra Broughton and Sam Page, not only has a new web site, they have a gaggle of shows this month. You can see them play as the duo at the "Songs of Sonoma" Concert Series at Ordinary Miracles in Cotati on the 1st at 3 p.m. along with Doug Jayne, Teresa Tudbury and Dean Wilson; on the 6th from 7-10 p.m. it will be the Station House in Point Reyes Station; and on the 27th see them at Murphy's from 8-10 p.m. You can see the full Solid Air Band on the 21st from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival in Westside Park, and on the 29th from 2-3 p.m. at the Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol. Cool things are happening at the French Garden Restaurant and Brasserie in Sebastopol. On the Poetry for April Fools on the 1st, Girlyman on the 18th, SF Early Music Society Fundraiser on the 22nd, Balkan Dance on the 29th in the afternoon, and later that evening the new all-star bluegrass band Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans will be playing a show at 8 p.m. Also in the band are Tom Bekeny and Cindy Browne. Wagon, the old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing
on the 1st at 7 p.m. at the Twang Café in Berkeley. They will
be sharing the bill with The Mountain Boys (featuring Jacob Groopman
of Lost Coast) and At Rancho Nicasio you can see Billy Bright and Chojo Jacques on the 1st, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 6th, The Rancho All-Stars on the 13th, Led Kaapana & Mike Kaawa on the 15th, Elvin Bishop & Little Smokey Smothers on the 21st, Trailer Park Rangers on the 27th, the Baguette Quartet on the 28th, and Jerry Hannan on the 29th. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 19th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Eric Lindell on the 2nd, Lost Legends on the 3rd, the sound system benefit on the 5th, James Moseley on the 8th and 22nd, Victoria George on the 11th, Bonnie Hayes on the 14th, Luce on the 21st, Bermuda Grass and Lorin Rowan & Rattlebox on the 24th, Heather Combs Songwriters on the 25th, and more. Enjoy the acoustic sounds from the 60s & 70s with Lauralee Brown and friends every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur. Jesse Lee Kincaid, songwriter, founding member of The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and former member of the popular Marin band Borderline, performs original songs (plus a select few popular favorites) every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. No cover. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Geoff Palmer & Terry Haggerty on the 3rd and 25th, Marley's Ghost on the 5th, The Rowan Brothers on the 7th, Elaine Lucia on the 12th, Em K on the 15th, County Line Trio on the 20th, Jelly on the 27th, and more. Versatile Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will be performing with Kimberlye Gold on the 4th at Bookbeat in Fairfax; on the 8th and 25th it will be jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; on the 12th see him with Deborah Crooks at First Street Cafe in Benecia; on the 14th he'll play solo at Station House in Pt. Reyes Station; on the 15th with Deborah Crooks at Cafe Trieste in SF; and on the 20th jazz with Si Perkoff at Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays and some Thursdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See Banana & Friends on the 4th, The Pine Needles on the 11th, Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox on the 12th, The Shut-Ins on the 18th, and Grizzly Peak on the 25th, and The David Nelson Trio with Pete Sears and Barry Sless on the 26th. There will be a $5 cover for the Nelson show, and all others are free. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 4th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See WTJ Trio on the 4th (and 18th), Peak Season on the 6th, Danny Montana and Bar Association on the 7th, Sexy Sunday on the 8th, Glen Earl Brown, Jr. & The Dickens on the 10th, Ed Earley Band on the 13th, Crooked Roads on the 15th, Tom Finch Group on the 20th, Zachariah on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 29th, and more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 5th and the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday and Johnnie Steele every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. there is the Tam High Concert Choir on the 5th, Geoff Bolt on the 13th, James Kline on the 19th, Clipper Erickson on the 22nd, Jules Broussard on the 29th, and other shows. Ed Neff and Friends are celebrating ten years of 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 alternate banjoists Larry Cohea and George Goodell. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. At the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma check out New Monsoon on the 6th, The Yardbirds on the 7th, tribute bands Zoo Station and Stung on 13th, Roy Rogers and Jackie Green on the 14th, Cowboy Junkies on the 15th, Railroad Earth on the 19th, Martin Sexton on the 20th, and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage on the 21st. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will be playing the West Side Theatre in Newman on a bill with David Jacobs Strain on the 7th; you can hear her on KRSH radio in Santa Rosa on the 12th at 7:45 p.m. and on KRCB in Rohnert Park on the 14th at 2 p.m.; in the evening on the 14th she'll be headlining a show at Studio E in Sebastopol with Nina Gerber, Fur Dixon and Steve Werner; and on the 21t she'll play the Cozmic Café in Placerville at 7:30 p.m. Later in the month she'll be touring all over Texas, so email your buds down there and tell them to get out and see her play. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 7th and the 14th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 21st it will be swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. 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 Sylvia Herald & Euphonia on the 7th and Rick Ruskin on the 19th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Mill Valley's Lorin Rowan is busy in the county this month. On the 7th he and brother Chris Rowan will be at the Larkspur Café Theatre along with special guest opener Ken Emerson (Grammy winning slack key guitarist from Hawaii) and guest appearances from Dave Jenkins and Dick Bright with both acts; on the 19th Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox band featuring Barry Sless (steel guitar) and Doug Harman (keyboards) at Iron Springs brewery; on the 24th Rattlebox will be at Sweetwater; and on the 28th his band of yore The Edge, featuring Jimmy Dillon, Ozzie Ahlers, Jeff Myers and Eric McCann, will be at Sweetwater. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music at Peri's in Fairfax (with monster talent Danny Uzilevsky playing lead guitar) on the 7th, and then on the 14th the boys will be at Smiley's in Bolinas. Get a room and make it a weekend at the beach with the band! The word on the street is that the boys put on a hot show at the Mystic last month, opening the sold-out show for the Marshall Tucker Band. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 7th at A'Roma Roasters & Café in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m., and on the 21st at the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See Madeline Sheron on the 6th, J.S.N. on the 7th, The Tracy Rose Trio on the 13th, Mike Angel and Friends on the 14th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Jump To It on the 27th, Wendy DeWitt on the 28th. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in the North Bay, and this month on the 8th in Napa see Olivia Voss, Dennis Haneda, Bryan Brunt and Cello Joe, and on the 20th it will be Jennifer Weaver and Adrianne in Novato. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Guitarist Dore Coller will be playing with a new Django Parisian wing group called The Hot Club of Marin (with Ned Ripple on guitar, Kit Eakle on violin, and Dave Fischer on bass) on the 8th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax at 5 p.m., and on the 10th and 24th at the Left Bank in Larkspur (they have a steady gig there the second and fourth Tuesday every month now). And his band Bermuda Grass returns to Sweetwater on the 24th. The North Bay band The Pine Needles bring their acoustic string band sound to the Iron Springs Brewery on the 11th, Finnegan's in Novato on the 21st, and the Novato Farmer's Market on the 24th. The Americana acoustic group Under the Radar (with Kevin Russell on guitar) plays the Station House Café in Point Reyes Station on the 13th at 7 p.m. No cover. Charlie Louvin, one half of the famed country/bluegrass duo The Louvin Brothers, will be playing at the Swedish American Hall in SF on the 13th. He recently put out an album (his first in 10 years) that has duets and playing by Elvis Costello, Tom T. Hall, Bobby Bare Jr., Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham and more. It has been getting great reviews too. The Swedish Hall is an amazing space to hear acoustic music. It is located directly upstairs from the Café du Nord, near Market and Castro. Charlie hasn't toured in quite a while, and he is about to turn 80 too. So, this may be your last chance to see him out here. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Amy Speace on the 14th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Audrey Auld Mezera, Nina Gerber and friends on the 14th, and the Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart on the 28th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. On the road again. Willie Nelson and Family will be playing in SF on the 15th-19th at the Fillmore, and in Santa Rosa on the 21st and 22nd at the Luther Burbank Center. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 16th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Get ready for the San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins on the 16th-22nd. It is now a weeklong festival, starting with a "Bluegrass Mandolin Summit" with Butch Waller, Dix Bruce, Tom Bekeny and others on the 16th at 7:30 p.m. at Amnesia on Valencia Street, and ending with "The Grand Day of Mandolins" on the 22nd from noon to 6 p.m. at the Croatian American Cultural Center. Along the way there are other concerts and workshops at various venues. Go to the web site for more info. Mill Valley soulful singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey will be joined by Jim Bitter & Mike Williamson at the No Name in Sausalito on the 18th starting at 8:30 p.m. On Thursday the 19th at 8:30 p.m. there will be three anniversaries of note at the Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater. The series celebrates its eight-year anniversary with The Bill Evans String Summit as the headliner, and the duo Keystone Crossing celebrates its ten-year anniversary when they open the show. One of its members has a birthday of significance two days later. Bay Area banjo player Bill Evans last year stepped into the spotlight as bandleader with his own band, the Bill Evans String Summit, a six-piece ensemble featuring some of the hottest new acoustic musicians on the West Coast. In this highly anticipated Marin County return engagement, Bill brings together guitarist Scott Nygaard, dobro player Michael Witcher, bass player Cindy Browne and the incredible twin fiddling of four-time National Champion fiddlers Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, to perform original instrumental pieces that draw heavily from Bill's two critically acclaimed solo CDs Native and Fine and Bill Evans Plays Banjo. The String Summit uses bluegrass as a stylistic meeting ground for a diverse group of musicians who span two generations and bring with them a mix of stylistic influences, from jazz, classical, folk and world music traditions. Opening the show will be the duo Keystone Crossing, featuring the voices of yours truly and Claudia Hampe. The Marin County twosome sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass, and they got their start opening for Ralph Stanley at the club ten years ago. They also played the first Bluegrass Gold show in April of 1999. On the 21st Claudia will officially be celebrating her 60th birthday, and no doubt the party will be starting two days earlier at Sweetwater. Besides playing the AIDS benefit in SF on the 15th, 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. They will also be on the Sonoma Valley Music Scene radio show on the 19th on KSVY 91.3 FM in the town of Sonoma at 8 p.m. And you can see Kimrea & Joe LoCoco at Murphy's on the 26th at Murphy's. The Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs vintage and current acoustic tunes, paying tribute to Bob Wills, the Boswell Sisters, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Hoagie Carmichael, Sons of the Pioneers, as well as some bluegrass, originals, and jazzy ballads. See them at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th starting at 9 p.m. Bonus feature: astounding magic performed by Barry! Mill Valley's Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved can be seen in the East Bay on the 20th from 8:30-11 p.m. at McGrath's Pub in Alameda, and then on the 27th from 8-10 p.m. at Cafe Trieste in Berkeley Celebrate Earth Day on the 21st by heading over to the Green Apple Music and Arts Festival in SF's Golden Gate Park to see Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Greyboy Allstars, Stephen Marley & Jr Gong, Samantha Stollenwerck and Martin Sexton. This is a free event. Tie-die optional. 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 22nd. 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. Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: HOLOCAUST - A MUSIC MEMORIAL FILM FROM AUSCHWITZ 4/01 12:30 p.m.: "This moving program was created to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in memory of those murdered in the Nazi genocide. It was recognized with an International Emmy in the Arts Programming category, announced November 21, 2005." IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE - THELONIOUS MONK INSTITUTE OF JAZZ 4/04 8 p.m.: "Barbara Walters hosts an evening of performance from the East Room of the White House as the President, First Lady and guests salute the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. The evening includes performances by Anita Baker, Wayne Shorter, Clark Terry, Lisa Henry and Bobby Watson. The program also includes interviews with Quincy Jones, Thelonious Monk Jr. and others who helped found and foster the Monk Institute - the country's only institute dedicated to the furthering of America's only native art form." SOUNDSTAGE - MARK KNOPFLER AND EMMYLOU HARRIS 4/07 11:10 p.m.: "A great venue, a great tour, two great artists and a great performance. So it was for icons Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles before a sold-out crowd. Their concert together, one of only a handful in the US, followed the release of All the Roadrunning, their long-awaited rootsy collaboration. That special night has been captured in this unique Soundstage episode. Highlights include the title track 'All the Roadrunning,' Emmylou's 'Red Dirt Girl' and Knopfler's 'Speedway at Nazareth.'" AMERICA IN CONCERT - LIVE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 4/08 1:10 a.m.: "Thirty years after they hit the top of the charts with 'A Horse with No Name' and became serial hit makers through the 70s, notching up 11 US Top 40 singles and 17 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum albums, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley are back on the road in concert. In Australia alone America has sold close to a million albums and charted with hits such as 'Ventura Highway,' 'I Need You,' 'Sister Golden Hair,' 'Lonely People,' 'Tin Man,' and 'You Can Do Magic.' Now you can take your very own comfortable front row seat at the Sydney Opera House as America bring you their unique mellow harmonies and appealing blend of rock, pop and folk. Combining all their hits with plenty of surprises, this program will have you rockin' and cruisin' back down the 'Ventura Highway.'" WAYFARER'S JOURNEY - LISTENING TO MAHLER 4/08 noon: "Examining the critical relationship between music, healing and survival, and the one composer who brought them all together. As one of seven surviving in a family of 14 children, composer Gustav Mahler learned to cope with music as his therapy. The documentary discusses the art of listening and reveals how Mahler found safety, healing and survival in music after his own childhood trauma in World War II. Using archival footage and interviews with current doctors and composers, the program examines how Mahler's work is being used today as part of an innovative therapy to help patients and families learn to transcend, heal and hope. The program also features actors Richard Dreyfus as the voice of Mahler." SPARK! DEL SOL STRING QUARTET, DAVID HEVEL, LA FAMILIA PENA-GOVEA 4/11 7:30 p.m., 4/13 11 p.m., 4/16 3 a.m.: "Hear the Del Sol String Quartet rehearse and debut the work of contemporary chamber composers; laugh with sculptor David Hevel as he makes fun of pop culture celebrities with his outrageous animal creations; join La Familia Pena-Govea, the family band where everyone has a part to play in this musical dynasty in the making." GREAT PERFORMANCES - FROM SHTETL TO SWING 4/12 8 p.m.: "Between 1880 and 1924, 2.5 million Jews had reached the breaking point. Fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe, they kissed their small-town shtetls goodbye and migrated to America. America, in turn, would completely reshape Jewish identity, and Jewish popular entertainment would take 20th-century American music on a joy ride to beat the band. That toe-tapping, two-stepping, rug-cutting odyssey is the subject of this program, a delightful musical spritz. Hosted by Broadway's latest Tevye, Harvey Fierstein, and written and directed by Fabienne Rousso-Lenoir, the evening features such legendary performers as Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, Molly Picon, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman. The music isn't too shabby either, with Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Harold Arlen keeping things moving. Bursting with pep and ambition, these first- and second-generation Americans became cultural pioneers, eager to shake off their past yet taking full advantage of their Yiddish musical heritage. And when they joined forces with the black musicians around them, the results were irresistible. Identifying with black music, Jewish artists projected their own roots onto the black condition. Sharing a history of slavery, exile and marginalization, the match was a perfect fit, and jazz became the prayer of secularized Jews." GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - THE FIRST EMPEROR 4/15 noon: "The
world-premiere broadcast of Chinese composer Tan Dun's epic opera features
legendary tenor Placido Domingo as Emperor Qin, who built the Great
Wall and gave China its name. Tan Dun's music is a fascinating mix of
East and West, and this monumental production is staged by revered Chinese
filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers),
with costumes by Oscar-winning designer Emi Wada (Kurosawa's Ran)."
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - EUGENE ONEGIN 4/22 noon: "American soprano Renee Fleming joins Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky for this broadcast of Tchaikovsky's gorgeous and lyrical adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's iconic text 'Eugene Onegin.' The sweeping dramatic arc of this opera - youthful longing, rejection, regret, a desperate plea that comes too late - is perfectly mirrored in Tchaikovsky's achingly beautiful music and in the stunning lighting of this strikingly minimal production." CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH 4/23 11 p.m.: "This historical concert features George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Jim Horn, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan and Leon Russell." *************************************************************************************************** March 15, 2007 Here is it the middle of March, and it feels like summer festival season already in the SF Bay Area. Maybe it is the luck of the Irish that has brought such beautiful weather, or maybe it is global warming. Whatever the case, get out and enjoy the sun while it is here, because more rains are sure to come. There are lots of things to do this St. Patrick's Day Weekend as well as in the rest of the month, so turn off those TVs, get out of the house and enjoy some great music. Praise the lard! There is a new radio web site getting started on the 17th for fans of the late, great KFAT radio station. Former KFAT host Felton Pruitt presents the debut of FATMusicRadio.com, playing music ranging from Bob Wills to Bob Weir, with programming highlights for the day that will include new "Chewin' the FAT" interviews with Guy Clark and Joe Ely as well as the "Midnight Flyer" blues show hosted by radio legend Norman Davis. There will also be a special tribute to broadcasting pioneer Thom O'Hair. Radio station KTRB (860 AM in SF), which has been mentioned in the past two editions of this newsletter, has decided on a compromise of sorts with its new programming. Since February 1st they have been playing nothing but the "San Francisco Sound," bands from the rock and roll heyday. According to Ben Fong-Torres in the SF Chronicle, the station was about to go with an all-talk format (Oh boy, we just can't wait to hear that wacky Mancow or the hilarious Jon London come back to the SF airwaves!) when, in response to hundreds of emails, they have now decided to yuk it up during the week and continue with the San Francisco Sound on the weekends. For now, that is. Bets here are that they'll do this for maybe a month… The wolf ate the bear! Country music (which is essentially warmed over rock and roll these days) has returned to the SF airwaves. After switching from country music to the "The Bear" a couple of years back, 95.7 FM is now back to country, this time calling itself "The Wolf." Core artists include Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Rascal Flatts, and Brooks & Dunn. Old-timers like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson will be played as occasional "spotlight" features. Speaking of big hat/no cattle country singers, the Biography Channel is putting on a series of shows featuring country acts next week. At 9 p.m. PST see Hank Williams Jr. on the 19th, LeAnn Rimes on the 20th, Toby Keith on the 21st, Lee Ann Womack on the 22nd, Loretta Lynn on the 23rd, and Dolly Parton on the 24th. Charlie Louvin, one-half of the fabulous duo The Louvin Brothers from over 40 years ago, has been in the news a bit recently. A song of his, "Great Atomic Power," off his new album was the "song of the day" on National Public Radio's Morning Edition show on March 6th; he and some other veteran Grand Ole Opry legends are claiming age discrimination is keeping them off the Opry stage; and, according to the SF Chronicle (but not his own web site) Charlie will be appearing in SF on April 12th at the Swedish American Hall in support of his new album. Jimi Hendrix vodka? The family of the late guitarist is suing the makers of Hendrix Electric Vodka for using Jimi's name to sell alcohol, a substance that had more than a little to do with his death back in 1970. The booze producers claim that the Hendrix family only has the rights to Jimi's music, not his name. Sheesh. What's next, the Kurt Cobain .38 Special? Leader of the pack. Mary Weiss, who as a teenager sang the "Leader of the Pack" with the Shangri-Las in the 60s, has her first solo album out after being out of the music business for 40 years, and it is titled Dangerous Game. She definitely has a good publicist, as she was featured in the NY Times recently as well as on the PBS interview show Fresh Air With Terry Gross. Has it been worth the wait to hear her again? The jury is still out on this. Listen to some of the songs on her site or in the interview and judge for yourself… Linda Ronstadt's interview from a few weeks back on the KQED radio show City Arts and Lectures will be air on the 18th at 1 p.m. at 88.5 on your FM dial. You can listen on line as well. Fishwrap roundup. The Jeb Brady Band had a real nice story by Matt Kramer in the Pacific Sun on the 9th, yet if you haven't seen it by now, odds are you won't. To begin with, it is next to impossible to find the music stories on the paper's web site (but boy, you can sure find the personal ads real easily!). But then the paper deletes the story from the site in a few days. Wassup with this, Sun-ites? The Marin IJ had a real nice story on guitarist Ry Cooder, and the SF Chronicle had a story about Marin singer Sammy Hagar. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted a roster of artists on March 12th: Patti Smith, R.E.M., Van Halen, Grandmaster Funk, and The Ronettes. Producer of the Ronettes (and ex-husband of lead singer Ronnie Spector) couldn't attend because, uh, he is about to go on trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. Eddie Van Halen did not show, as he opted to go into rehab instead, and his brother Alex (the band's drummer) did not show for undisclosed reasons. Former lead singer David Lee Roth did not appear because he could not decide what song to sing, leaving later lead singer Sammy Hagar to accept the award along with bassist Michael Anthony. Sounds like a swell party… Second best. The state of Colorado now has two official state songs: "Where the Columbines Grow" (gosh, who knew?) and "Rocky Mountain High" by the late John Denver. The former has been on the books since 1915. The latter was just voted in when the politicos decided, after 35 years of deliberations, that the word "high" was a drug reference… All in the family. Willie Nelson has his own new record label called Pedernales, and he recently signed his first act, a band called 40 Points. Two of the members are named Lukas and Micah Nelson, who happened to be the sons of the great Willster. Guess who makes an appearance on their upcoming debut recording? Coming attractions. The Hot Frittatas at the Petaluma Church Concerts series on April 1st; Willie Nelson in SF on April 15th-19th and in Santa Rosa on the 21st and 22nd; SF Festival of the Mandolins April 16th-22nd; The Bill Evans String Summit and Keystone Crossing at Sweetwater April 19th; Rhonda Vincent & The Rage at the Mystic in Petaluma on April 21st; Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek and The Wronglers (Warren Hellman and friends) at Sweetwater on May 2nd; The Del McCoury Band on May 5th, and Junior Brown on the 9th at the Mystic; Strawberry Music Festival on Memorial and Labor Day Weekends; The CBA Father's Day Festival in June; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. The 7th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp will not take place until June 10th-13th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, yet it is never too early to register. Some slots have filled up, but there is plenty of room for old-time banjo and fiddle, and for bass players. Cost of the camp is $245 before May 1st, and $280 after. Go to the site or contact Ingrid Noyes at (707) 663-1342 (after 9 a.m.) for info. Police log. Speaking of Kurt Cobain, his widow, Courtney Love, is back in court again, this time for not paying her rehab bill. Hey, I thought Mel Gibson was credited with helping her out? Uh, maybe he is too concerned with his own rehab bill now…Pop singer George Michael is in more trouble with his arrest last October for falling asleep at the wheel of a car in London after smoking too much pot. The original charge of "being unfit to drive through drugs" has been amended to "driving while unfit through drugs." Whatever this means. Once the smoke clears, George could be in a heap more trouble…Speedy traveler. Blues Traveler lead singer John Popper and a friend were popped in Washington state for driving 110 mph in Popper's car. When the police searched his car they found a cache of weapons and marijuana. Life's railway to heaven. Life's railway to heaven. Bobby Rosengarden, a drummer who led the band on "The Dick Cavett" show back in the early 70s, died of kidney failure in Florida. He was 82. Brad Delp, the lead singer in the band Boston, committed suicide on the 9th in New Hampshire. He was 55. Additions The Little Wheels Band will be at the Hard Rock Cafe on Pier 39 in SF on the 16th at 9:30. This is a Battle of the Bands Benefit for Music Rising, an instrument replacement fund for musicians of the Gulf Coast. On the 17th see them at the Old Princeton Landing in Princeton by-the-Sea starting at 8:30 p.m. San Rafael's Jon Mitgard will be playing pedal steel for both shows. The 155th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in SF on the 17th will start at 11:30 a.m. at 2nd and Market and end at the Civic Center. There you can see Culann's Hounds, Shana Morrison, Avalon Rising, and others perform. The Marin band The Shots, purveyors of Irish, bluegrass, country, old-time and Cajun music, will be playing at Mahoney Vineyards in Napa on the 17th from 1-4 p.m. Join the Celebratin' Luck, Life and Love Fundraiser on the 17th at 7 p.m. at the Sausalito Cruising Club in support of Jenna Aleta in her healing from a malignant brain tumor. She was diagnosed at 26 years of age, and she has now successfully completed four rounds of chemotherapy, with eight more to go. Boys Gone Wild will play two sets of their upbeat, outrageously fun, bootie-shakin' music. Members of Boys Gone Wild include Keith Kane of Vertical Horizon, Stroke 9's John McDermott and Luke Esterkyn, and Scott Lipsitz of the Fiver Brown Band. No blarney. An all-star cast of players will be playing a St. Patrick's Day Benefit on the 17th in memory of the late Marin Country musician Rick Strand. The music begins at 7:30 p.m. at Pete's 881 Sports Bar in San Rafael featuring Jim Strand, Laura Strand, Luke Strand, Mike Schwab, Pat Campbell, Scott Steward, Steve Farzan, Willow van den Hoek, Dore Coller, Remy Hennessee, Linda Imperial, Marvin Hollins, Michael Foley, Carolyn Jayne, Billy Stone, Peggy Lagomarsino, Andy Koplick, Roy Schmall, and other surprise guests. Go early for Kelly's famous corned beef & cabbage starting at 5 p.m. There is no cover, but all proceeds from donations will go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Rick. Yvette O'Tannenbaum (guitar, mandolin, vocals & Irish whistle)
along with Susan Worland on fiddle will be playing traditional and Irish/American
tunes and other songs at Finnegan's Pub in Novato from noon to 2 p.m.
on 17th. Women in Song. Four Bay Area female singer/songwriters will be playing a series of shows in the last half of the month. Beth Robinson, Megan McLaughlin, Patty Espeseth, and Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will all appear together on the 31st at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, but before then tune into Kevin Vance's A Patchwork Quilt radio show on KALW (91.7 FM) in SF on the 24th at 5 p.m., and to Larry Kelp's Sing Out! show on KPFA (94.1 FM) in Berkeley on the 28th at 10 p.m. The outlaw/folk band Howdy is excited to return to Smiley's in Bolinas on the 24th starting at 9 p.m. They'll be surfing before the gig and also the next day, so bring your board, come early, stay late, and join them in the waves. North Bay pickers Paul Shelasky and Ingrid Noyes will play a show for families (or anyone who's still a kid at heart) at La Pena in Berkeley on Saturday morning the 24th at 10:30 a.m. These two multi-instrumentalists have a great time together and so do their audiences. Mostly old-timey music, with guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion, mandolin, dobro, pennywhistles and jokes! Lots of audience participation - singing, dancing, and playing along. Always a fun show! Reminders Murphy's Irish Pub has some shows of note this month. See John Kelley & Kith and Kin on the 16th, an all-day St. Patrick's Day fest on the 17th with Shades of Green, The Cotter Family, Irish step dancing and The Spiral Mystics, John Kelly & Greengrass on the 18th,The David Thom Band on the 23rd, Peter Lamson on the 25th, Pete Olson on the 29th, and The Carrtunes on the 31st. Novato fiddler and guitarist Doug Adamz stays busy. On the 16th at 8 p.m. he and Don Rich will play Irish music with The Northern Stars at The Kells in San Francisco; on the 17th at 6 p.m. he and Russ Gauthier will play Irish music at the Table Mountain Casino near Fresno; on the 23rd at 8 p.m. it will be the Doug Adamz & Bravo band at Rancho Nicasio; and on the 30th see Trio Bravo at 7 p.m. at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 21st you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the new Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Aram Denish and The Pinks on the 16th, Bugs Henderson & The Shuffle Kings on the 20th, Les Dudek on the 22nd, James Moseley during the day on the 25th, Bonnie Hayes with Deborah Holland in the evening of the 25th, Kris Delmhorst on the 27th, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 28th, Vinyl on the 30th, Victoria George on the 31st, and more. Ain't Misbehavin' appears on the 16th at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes. Acoustic swing, jazzy ballads, banjo tunes and originals, starting at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Patty Griffin will appear at the Warfield in SF on the 16th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Ramana Viera on the 16th, The Finger-Style Guitar Summit on the 17th, Audrey Auld Mezera with Nina Gerber and Pam Delgado (percussionist with Blame Sally) on the 23rd, John Trudell on the 24th and 25th, Chojo Jacques & Billy Bright (see below) on the 29th, and more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Lauralee Brown & Company on the 16th, Jazz Philosophy on the 17th, Chris Cosbey Trio on the 23rd, Ralph Woodson on the 24th, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 30th, and Norris Clement on the 31st. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Sweetie Pie & The Doughboys on the 16th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, Whiskey Puppy on the 27th, Slow Drags on the 28th, Spinout on the 30th, and others. 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. On the 16th see Linda Waterfall at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 17th it will be swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. The North Bay band The Pine Needles take their acoustic string band sound to the Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 17th, and A'Romas in Santa Rosa on the 23rd. The Hicktones will be at the Santa Rosa Farmer's Market on the 17th from 9 a.m. to noon, and then on the 23rd at 7 p.m. at North Light Books in Cotati. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday, and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows you can see are Jeb Brady & Gary Bauman at 5 p.m. on the 17th, followed by The B-Side Players at 9:30, Thomas Dolby on the 22nd, Boys Gone Wild on the 24th, The English Beat on the 30th, plus more. At the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa there is John Courage on the 17th, St. Peterbilt on the 24th, and much more. Sebastopol singer/guitarist Walter Strauss is all over the bay and airwaves this month. On the 17th at 7:30 he'll play a Victor House Concert in Larkspur (email bvictormd@gmail.com for info and reservations); on the 29th at 8 p.m. tune into KRSH (95.9 FM) in Santa Rosa for the Thursday Night Live radio show; and on the 31st at 7:30 p.m. he'll play in Half Moon Bay at a house concert (email beachmeeting@earthlink.net for info and reservations). At Rancho Nicasio you can see Johnny Allair on the 17th, The Goldbrickers on the 18th, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 23rd, Blame Sally on the 25th, The Trailer Park Troubadours on the 30th, and The Zydeco Flames on the 31st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Jules Broussard on the 18th, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble on the 22nd, Tik Tok of Oz on the 23rd-25th, Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso on the 29th, and Reilly & Maloney (see below) on the 31st. At The French Garden in Sebastopol some of the acts you can see are Teslim on the 18th, and a Balkan dance on the afternoon of the 25th, followed by an evening show with Chris Webster and Nina Gerber. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor at The Bistro in Hayward on the 18th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Americana artist Andrew Freeman can be found at Giordano's in SF (Columbus and Broadway, next door to the Stinking Rose) on Tuesday's, starting around 7 p.m. It's solo acoustic, and friends might stop by and sit in. See him on the 20th and 27th. His band Down, Not Out will also be at the Larkspur Cafe Theater on the 29th. Laura Lee Brown and Denise Leigh will be at the Ward Street Café on the 20th and 27th in Larkspur from 7-9 p.m. Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music, and the show on the 21st at 8:30 p.m. will feature Poor Man's Whiskey as the headliner and opening will be Adam Traum. Poor Man's Whiskey is the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the wine country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. Their most recent CD is titled Roadside Attraction. Adam Traum, from the town of Sonoma, plays Americana roots style, which incorporates Piedmont and Delta blues, bluegrass and rockabilly. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play mostly on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. Jack Pribble's Living Room on the 21st, a special Thursday show with Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox featuring Barry Sless & Doug Harmon on the 22nd, and acoustic country and blues with The Bluebellies on the 28th. The Ring of Truth Trio (with four members - Rory McNamara, Henry Nagle, Muir Houghton and Ross Harrison) will be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 22nd at 8:30 p.m. 3 Fox Drive, a hot bluegrass band from Nashville that includes former Bay Area champion fiddler Megan Lynch, will be playing a series of shows around the bay later in the month. On the 22nd they'll be at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore, in Fair Oaks on the 24th, in Mountain View for the Redwood Bluegrass Associates on the 25th, and in Chico on the 25th. The Lincoln Theater and Jacalyn Kane Productions are proud to present Latin Grammy winner Lila Downs in Yountville on the 23rd at 8 p.m. Lila's vibrant voice embodies the spirit of her music with passion and conviction, invoking struggles, lost loves and legends. She transcends cultural barriers, combining beautiful infusions of blues, jazz and folk influences into traditional cumbias, creating a powerful musical, cultural and political statement as she celebrates her heritage and homeland. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See Greg Brown on the 23rd, Marshall Tucker and Danny Montana & the Bar Association on the 24th, Tommy Castro Band on the 30th, and Son Volt on the 31st. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Heather Combs, Jay Nash, and William Fitzsimmons on the 23rd, and Danny Schmidt on the 29th. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Dore Coller & Bermuda Grass will be back at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 23rd. Mill Valley's Matt Lax will be at the Riptide in SF on the 24th starting at 8 p.m. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will host Kimberlye Gold & Kurt Huget on the 24th. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Kurt will then play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 25th. You can hear the original bluegrass of The Earl Brothers on the 29th when they'll play at Amnesia in SF at 9 p.m. along with The Whoreshoes. 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. The Petaluma band The Bluebellies on the 28th it will be Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax. Chojo Jacques and Billy Bright will be playing a series of shows in the Bay Area at month's end. They'll be at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 29th, at McGrath's in Alameda on the 30th, and at the Plough & Stars in SF on the 31st. They first met at a festival in Florida in 2001, where they were performing with their respective bands. They became friends, and now they are playing together. Billy toured extensively with Peter Rowan in Peter's Texas Trio and then later in The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet. Chojo, on fiddle and mandolin, performed with the Waybacks from 1999-2004, and he continues his collaborations and performances with artists such as Slaid Cleaves, Fred Eaglesmith, Eliza Gilkyson, Two High String Band, Houston Jones, The Devil Makes Three, Joe Craven, and many others. Dead Set will be playing acoustic jam music at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station on the 30th at 9 p.m. It will be their first show with bass player Enrique Salmon, who also plays with the rockabilly band the Bluenote Cats. There will be pickin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the 25th, and 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. Reilly and Maloney will be at the 142 Throckmorton on the 31st. Ginny Reilly and San Anselmo's David Maloney are one of the most endearing duos ever to grace the West Coast folk and singer-songwriter scene. Their incredible blend of voices combined with their intricate harmonies and guitar arrangements created one of the most unique sounds in the acoustic music genre. They are known for their uplifting performances and they continue to offer their audiences new original material along with covers, arranged to delight the listener with their distinctive style. Since the beginning of their partnership in 1970, Reilly and Maloney have remained committed to their growth as artists and to maintaining a high degree of integrity in their work. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 31st at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents the award-winning Chicago-based folk duo Small Potatoes for an evening of music and dining on the 31st. Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso say it has taken them years of careful indecision to develop a repertoire they describe as "Celtic to cowboy." Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine said, "one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit." Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: BEVERLY SILLS - MADE IN AMERICA 3/22 8 p.m.: "When 10-year-old Belle 'Bubbles' Silverman told her Papa she wanted to be an 'opera star,' the reaction was more of dismay than of thrill. It was only after nearly three decades of concert halls, conductors and applause that Bubbles - better known as Beverly Sills - rose to international fame and critical acclaim. Before retiring from professional singing in 1980, Sills had circled the globe, triumphing in a host of leading roles from some of the world's most cherished operas. With interviews and performances from her friends, including Manon, Julius Caesar and Roberto Devereux, the program profiles one of opera's homegrown stars." BARENBOIM ON BEETHOVEN 3/22 9:30 p.m.: A spectacular concert featuring legendary pianist, conductor and recording artist Daniel Barenboim. Barenboim performed the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle in eight concerts at Berlin's Staatsoper, one of the world's most beautiful opera houses. This special features the entire fourth concert, which consists of five sonatas, including the audience favorite 'Appassionata' (Sonata No. 23 F minor, Op. 57)." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - CORINNE BAILEY RAE/KT TUNSTALL 3/24 10:30 p.m.: "ACL showcases a pair of British stars now conquering US shores. England's Corinne Bailey Rae affirms her burgeoning popularity with hits 'Put Your Records On' and 'Like a Star' from her self-titled debut. Then Scotland's KT Tunstall demonstrates why her star is rising with 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' and other favorites from her acclaimed Eye to the Telescope. " JONI MITCHELL - WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND 3/24 11:30 p.m.: "The daughter of a grocery store manager and a teacher in Canada, Joni Mitchell is now a US citizen, a Buddhist, a poet and a painter, whose heroes are Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe. Uncompromising and iconoclastic, Mitchell has confounded expectations at every turn - wildly innovative, her music evolved from deeply personal folk into pop, jazz and avant-garde, prophetic of the multi-cultural experimentation of the `80s and `90s. Fiercely independent, she resisted the whims of mainstream audiences and the male-dominated recording industry. Mitchell's records may never have sold as widely as some of her contemporaries, but no one experimented so recklessly or so bravely explored territory outside of accepted pop music." PETER, PAUL AND MARY - A MUSICAL LEGACY 3/25 1 a.m.: "There once was a time, some years before the ascendance of rock and roll on Top 40 radio, when popular music veered sharply from the mainstream to sample American roots-music traditions. Inspired by the songs of Pete Seeger and The Weavers, this 'folk' music, found its greatest expression during the early 1960s in the songs of an emerging Greenwich Village group known as Peter, Paul and Mary. In this program, we share in the four-decade long career of Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. The Trio recalls the beginnings of the cultural revolution of the 1960's when music emerged as a unifying force midst the hopeful, idealistic and sometimes turbulent, movements of social change." FEVER - THE MUSIC OF PEGGY LEE 3/25 11:59 a.m.: "How many times have you heard 'Fever' with its finger-snapping, pulsating opening and then the sweet sensual voice of Miss Peggy Lee, understated and earthy, flaming right to the end when she slow-sizzled the words, 'What a lovely way to burn!' Peggy Lee's career burned for nearly 60 years, from the fresh-faced girl singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to the smoky-voiced, sultry star who became a legendary night club singer, a prolific recording artist, a successful songwriter and an actress talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award. This program will feature her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, with a wealth of rare footage and images, including photographs and memorabilia from Miss Lee's estate." PATSY CLINE - THE LADY BEHIND THE LEGEND 3/25 1 p.m.: "A fresh look at the life and career of a legendary recording star. Four decades after the tragic plane crash that took her life at the age of 31, the woman who changed the face of country music continues to top the charts in album sales. The program chronicles the public and private lives of Patsy Cline through photos, audio and video clips and interviews with those who knew and admired her. In this documentary, perhaps for the first time, myths will be dispelled and misunderstandings cleared to reveal the Patsy Cline that few knew." PEANUTS GALLERY 3/25 2 p.m.: "In 1990, Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and beloved cartoonist Charles M. Schulz began an extraordinary friendship that would ultimately unite their creative talents in one masterwork. Through interviews with Zwilich and Mrs. Schulz, along with character clips and rarely seen footage of Charles Schulz himself, this program tells the story of how the Peanuts characters went from the daily comics to Carnegie Hall. It culminates with a performance of Zwilich's 'Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Orchestra' by the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra." ARETHA FRANKLIN - THE QUEEN OF SOUL 3/31 6 p.m.: "This program traces the meteoric rise to fame of the world-famous Queen of Soul. The film focuses on Aretha's musical development, tracing her progress from her early strengths as a Detroit gospel singer to the wide stylistic and emotional range she comes to command. The moving, emphatic quality of Aretha's singing is demonstrated in clips from film and television appearances, as well as original footage of one of her recording sessions. Interviews with the people who contributed to her musical career illuminate the stages of her artistic growth. An interview with Aretha herself, the first woman to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reveals her own perspective on her past." COTTON CLUB (THE MOVIE) (1984) 3/31 9:49 p.m.: "The Cotton Club, a Prohibition-Era Harlem nightclub 'where crime lords rub elbows with the rich and famous,' serves as the locale for this musical gangster movie. With Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage, Gregory and Maurice Hines, Bob Hoskins, and Fred Gwynne. Directed by Francis Coppola. Written by William Kennedy, Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo." *************************************************************************************************** March 1, 2007 Welcome to the 75th edition of Carltone's Corner! As we march heartily in the month of March, celebrating issue number 75 of this publication, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters would like to welcome all the new readers who recently took the time to sign up for the newsletter at shows at Sweetwater, the Dance Palace, the New College of California, and to those folks who found us on their own or via referrals. That is how this newsletter survives and thrives. There is no commercial advertising, no lifting of addresses off of other sites, and no spamming here. There are over 1,130 subscribers now, and we appreciate each and every one of you. Thanks for supporting acoustic music in Marin and Sonoma Counties, and also for spreading the word about Carltone's Corner. Blah, blah, blah. Last month we reported on new radio station KTRB (860 AM) in San Francisco, and how they were playing the "San Francisco Sound" until they could, uh, "decide" on a format. Well, here is a big surprise for you: according to the SF Chronicle, as of mid-March KTRB will be going to an all-talk format (wow, what an innovative idea!), featuring, via syndication, the likes of already-exiled-once-from-the-SF-airwaves-for-boneheaded-stunts Eric "Mancow" Muller and Jon London. What, was there a major groundswell in the city from fans demanding that these two jokers be brought back? Muller, you may remember, was fired some years back for staging a haircutting stunt at the Bay Bridge toll plaza that backed up traffic for hours and inconvenienced thousands of commuters. Oh, wow, what a big laugh that was! And London was fired just last year when he sarcastically offered to pay a listener $5,000 to kill comedian Penn Jillette. Hardee-har-har! Guys, please, I'm laughing so hard just remembering these events. Boy, I can't wait to tune in to this new form of revolutionary radio! The good news is that the SF Sound will continue to be played until the 14th. The even better news is that, at the least, the station is not going to an all-Anna-Nicole/(shaved head) Britney-Spears format. Maybe this is because CNN and MSNBC already have the copyright on the programming… Many thanks to everyone that attended the Chip Dunbar tribute show in Santa Rosa on February 24th. Lots of performers played, such as Kevin Russell, Caren Armstrong, Modern Hicks, Craig Fletcher, Ted Dutcher, Sara Winge, Solid Air, and others. There was a wonderful story about the event in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Fishwrap roundup. Picker David Bromberg has his first new CD out in 25 years titled Try Me One More Time, and it got a rave review by Joel Selvin in the SF Chronicle. Selvin also wrote about East Bay blues man Jimmy McCracklin. There were three nice stories about Marin musicians in the Marin IJ recently. The first one is about singer/performer Joy Perrin, who makes a living performing in retirement homes for senior citizens. The second one is about the band Vinyl by Paul Liberatore, and the third is about Zakir Hussain by Dennis McNally. Get it straight! Country singer Kenny Chesney is not gay! At least, this is what he claimed in a recent appearance on the TV series 60 Minutes. After his wife of four months, actress Renee Zellweger, filed for divorce and claimed "fraud" in her filings, rumors were floating that around that maybe the big-hatted crooner couldn't, uh, perform in the bedroom. Congratulations to Sonoma guitarist Adam Traum and his wife Becky, as future musician Merle Traum was born on February 15th. Happy grandpa Happy Traum (of Homespun Tapes) and grandma Jane were in town for the occasion. Raising funds. Each March Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma stages a benefit for some worthy cause. On the 6th and 9th at 7 p.m. there will be a performance of "The Letters of John B. Keane," a reading of the comic correspondence of an Irish country priest. The performance will benefit Darfur relief. According to UN estimates, since the year 2003 over 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced in the civil war conflict there. This is the only time all year that there is cover at the pub ($15), and all the proceeds go to the relief fund. Linda Ronstadt's interview from a few weeks back on the KQED radio show City Arts and Lectures will be aired at 1 p.m. at 88.5 on your FM dial on 18th. You can listen on line as well. New sounds. The Bay Area bluegrass band Grizzly Peak has their first CD out, and it is titled Heartbreak and Loneliness. They will be playing a series of CD release shows this month all around the Bay, so be the first one on your block to get a copy of this new recording. See the band at McGrath's in Alameda on the 2nd, the Atlas in SF on the 8th, and at Murphy's on the 10th. Celtic tiger. St. Patrick's Day will be here on the 17th, and every joint that sells alcohol will be offering up green beer, corn beef and cabbage, and plastic shamrocks as they try to cash in on Irish stereotypes and make some cold, green cash for themselves. Murphy's Irish Pub offers up the real deal all year round, with lots of Celtic music, Irish stew, fish and chips and Guinness. This month the pub will present a week of mostly Irish music with - imagine this - some real Irish performers in some of the bands. Shades of Green will start off the week on the 11th, followed by Four Shillings Short on the 15th, John Kelley & Kith and Kin on the 16th, an all-day fest on the 17th with Shades of Green, The Cotter Family, Irish step dancing and The Spiral Mystics, and then John Kelly & Greengrass on the 18th. The real kicker? No cover for any of these bands! Short of a special benefit like the one mentioned above, there is never a cover at Murphy's. Coming attractions. The Hot Frittatas at the Petaluma Church Concerts series on April 1st; The Bill Evans String Summit and Keystone Crossing at Sweetwater April 19th; Strawberry Music Festival on Memorial and Labor Day Weekends; The CBA Father's Day Festival in June; the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Concert on September 2nd. The 7th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp will not take place until June 10th-13th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, yet it is never too early to register. Banjo instructors are Bill Evans, Murphy Henry, and Nick Hornbuckle, Cathy Fink and Andy Alexix on old-time banjo, guitarists Jim Nunally, Charlie Edsall and Marcy Marxer, mandolinists John Reischman, Butch Waller and David Harvey, fiddlers Heidi Clare, Eric Anderson and Jack Tuttle, Michael Witcher and Kathy Barwick on dobro, bassists Missy Raines and Trisha Gagnon, and Claire Lynch and Jim Hurst on vocals. Cost of the camp is $245 before May 1st, and $280 after. Go to the site or contact Ingrid Noyes at (707) 663-1342 (after 9 a.m.) for info. Band scramble. There is a new bluegrass influenced acoustic band in Marin called The Grasscutters that features Dana Rath on mandolin, Gary Kaye on banjo, Adam Roszkiewicz on guitar, and Joe Kenny on bass. North Bay guitarist Kevin Russell has yet another new band called The Rhythm Rangers. They play mostly Western swing type music but sprinkle it with a little blues and rock. Also on board are Dave Zirbel on steel, Ric Cutler on drums, and Blair Hardman on bass. Bryn Davies has left the Peter Rowan/Tony Rice Quartet to play bass with Patty Griffin. Santa Rosa mandolinist Layne Bowen has a new hard-driving bluegrass band called The Mountain River Valley Boys, with Chris Caputo on banjo, Tom Sours on bass, and Jon Myers on guitar. Police log. Hip-hop artist Foxy Brown was arrested again for battery and obstruction of justice in yet another incident in a nail saloon. She was just sentenced last October to three years probation and anger management classes for a similar incident some years back. Bobby Brown (no relation) was also arrested again, this time for failure to appear at a child support hearing. More known in some circles for being Mr. Whitney Houston, Brown was arrested and sentenced in 2004 for the same thing. Geez, is there a pattern here with these two singers? The long goodbye. The body of the late "Godfather of Soul" James Brown will finally be interred somewhere, after his most recent wife and his six adult children came to an agreement about such. They just aren't saying where for now. Brown died on Christmas Day, 2006. And, in order to determine paternity disputes, DNA tests will be conducted before he is put in the ground. Ailing. The SoCal bluegrass band Lost Highway's lead singer Ken Orrick suffered a stroke on February 21st and is recovering. According to his mother, he lost the use of his right arm, hand and his feet. His speech is also very slow. After a few days in the hospital, Ken was sent to a rehab facility and is responding well. If you want to drop him a note of support, send to Ken Orrick, 3760 Skylark Dr., Riverside, CA, 92505. Really ailing is singer Lee Hazlewood, who has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at age 77. Back in the late 60s he wrote Nancy Sinatra's big hit "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" and he also sang a duet with Sinatra on their popular song "Jackson." He has a new (and probably final) CD out titled Cake Or Death. He probably feels a lot worse after his interview in the SF Chronicle with "Pop Quiz" writer Aidin Vaziri, who has a knack for asking ridiculous questions and pissing off a lot of artists and readers along the way. Hey, with any luck Vaziri will be fired soon, and then he will qualify for a radio slot on KTRB! Life's railway to heaven. Ray Evans, who along with his partner Jay Livingston wrote such classic hits as "Silver Bells," "Whatever Will Be, Will Be," and "Mona Lisa," died in Los Angeles last month at age 92. He and Livingston also penned the theme songs to the TV shows "Mr. Ed" and "Bonanza." (yes, the latter had lyrics.) Evans is probably rolling over in his grave over the premise (a washed up singer is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an admiring teen sensation) of the new Hugh Grant movie "Music and Lyrics"… Onward to the calendar… Murphy's Irish Pub has some other shows of note this month. Besides what is mentioned above, you can see Rick and Lavinia Ross on the 1st, Sonoma Mountain Band on the 2nd, Andrew Freeman on the 3rd, The Tonewoods on the 8th, Grizzly Peak on the 10th, The David Thom Band on the 23rd, Peter Lamson on the 25th, Pete Olson on the 29th, and The Carrtunes on the 31st. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 1st and the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 21st you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the new Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Crash Landing on the 2nd, Sexy Sunday on the 4th, Trailer Park Rangers and The Bluebellies on the 7th, Michael LaMacchia on the 10th, James Moseley on the 11th (and 25th), Aram Denish and The Pinks on the 16th, Bugs Henderson & The Shuffle Kings on the 20th, Les Dudek on the 22nd, Bonnie Hayes with Deborah Holland on the 25th, Kris Delmhorst on the 27th, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 28th, Vinyl on the 30th, Victoria George on the 31st, and more. Adam Traum will be back at Smiley's Schooner Saloon in Bolinas on the 2nd. He'll have a full band with him this night including the always-entertaining Jimmy Sweetwater on harp and washboard. Call ahead to book a room and stay the night. Then on the 21st he'll perform at the Sweetwater (no relation to Jimmy). Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are James Mosely on the 2nd, Houston Jones on the 3rd, George Michalski on the 9th, The Queens of Boogie Woogie on the 10th, Doug Blumer/John Haley-Walker/Peter Axtell on the 15th, Audrey Auld Mezera with Nina Gerber and Pam Delgado (percussionist with Blame Sally) on the 23rd, John Trudell on the 24th and 25th, Chojo Jacques & Billy Bright (see below) on the 29th, and more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Jump To It on the 2nd, Lisa Kindred on the 3rd, Rick & Denise Karvasales on the 9th, David Jeffery Jazz Fourtet on the 10th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 16th, Jazz Philosophy on the 17th, Chris Cosbey Trio on the 23rd, Ralph Woodson on the 24th, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 30th, and Norris Clement on the 31st. The Petaluma band The Bluebellies have some gigs of note coming up. On the 2nd they'll be at The Black Cat in Penngrove with steel guitar legend Dave Zirbel literally sittin' in; on the 7th see them at Sweetwater with Zirbel on the gig again; on the 11th they'll be playing an all request acoustic show at Rocker Oysterfeller's in Valley Ford; and on the 28th it will be Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax. At the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa there is the Joe Valley Blues Band on the 2nd, The Buckshot Boys on the 10th, John Courage on the 17th, St. Peterbilt on the 24th, and much more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See the Trailer Park Rangers on the 2nd, Peri's Blues Jam on the 4th, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 8th, Tom Finch Group on the 10th, Sexy Sunday on the 11th, Sweetie Pie & The Doughboys on the 16th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, Whiskey Puppy on the 27th, Slow Drags on the 28th, Spinout on the 30th, and others. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rancho All-Stars featuring Allegra Broughton on the 2nd, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys on the 9th, Booker T. Jones on the 10th, Gary Vogensen & Bobby Black on the 11th, Johnny Allair on the 17th, The Goldbrickers on the 18th, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 23rd, Blame Sally on the 25th, The Trailer Park Troubadours on the 30th, and The Zydeco Flames on the 31st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Will Durst on the 2nd, Noah Griffin on the 3rd, DjangoFest on Tour on the 9th, Jules Broussard on the 18th, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble on the 22nd, Tik Tok of Oz on the 23rd-25th, Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso on the 29th, and Reilly & Maloney (see below) on the 31st. The Ring of Truth Trio (with four members - Rory McNamara, Henry Nagle, Muir Houghton and Ross Harrison) will be at the San Gregorio Store at 2:30 p.m. on the 3rd, The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 8th and 22nd at 8:30 p.m., and at a house concert in the Gold Country on the 10th. Details for this last appearance can be obtained by emailing othercousinbob@aol.com. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will host David Jacobs-Strain on the 3rd and Kimberlye Gold & Kurt Huget on the 24th. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. On the 3rd see Zepparella, Wayne "The Train" Hancock on the 9th, Greg Brown on the 23rd, Marshall Tucker and Danny Montana & the Bar Association on the 24th, Tommy Castro Band on the 30th, and Son Volt on the 31st. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey, besides playing the Bluegrass Gold show listed below on the 21st, will be serving up their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at the Bella Winery Barrel Tasting in Healdsburg from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 4th, 10th and 11th. At the Marin Civic Center you can see the Belly Dance Festival on the 3rd, the Celtic band Altan on the 9th, and Michael Feinstein on the 31st. 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 Mary Flower on the 3rd at 8 p.m. One of Eric's favorite musicians, Mary works in the intricately syncopated Piedmont fingerpicking style and plays a deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar. She's performed with Pat Donohue on Prairie Home Companion, and she's also the only woman ever to place twice in the top three at the legendary National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. On the 16th see Linda Waterfall at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 3rd and the 10th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 17th it will be swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. Americana artist Andrew Freeman, besides playing at Murphy's on the first Saturday of every month (the 3rd this month), can also be found at Giordano's in SF (Columbus and Broadway, next door to the Stinking Rose) on Tuesday's, starting around 7 p.m. It's solo acoustic, and friends might stop by and sit in. His band Down, Not Out will also be opening for the Chojo Jacques/Billy Bright Duo at the Larkspur Cafe Theater on the 29th. The North Bay band The Pine Needles take their acoustic string band sound to the Ukiah Brewing Company on the 3rd, Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 17th, and A'Romas in Santa Rosa on the 23rd. North Bay acoustic musician John Youngblood has some gigs of note coming up. His trio Myers/Youngblood/Garelick will play at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville (formerly Chateau Souverain) as part of the Wine Road Barrel Tasting event on the 3rd and 10th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; his duo Harris/Youngblood will be there on the 4th and 11th at the same time; and the bluegrass band that he is part of, The Hicktones, will be at the Santa Rosa Farmer's Market on the 17th from 9a.m. to noon, and then on the 23rd at 7 p.m. at North Light Books in Cotati. On the 3rd head up to the town of Sonoma for the Benefit for Leon McCarthey Liver Transplant Fund at Little Switzerland from noon until midnight. 11 bands are slated to play. Little Switzerland is a wonderful venue with a great dance floor, and lots of good food, too. Earlier in the day there will be balloons and face painting for the kids. See Cynthia Carr and the Carrtunes, Wildflower Weed, Rick Hardin, Greg Volker, The Hellhounds, DD, Pete Olson & His Honky-Tonk Band, Tudo Bem, Wendy Dewitt/Dave Workman, Dave Scott's Band Zizoo with Billy Wilson, and Western Swing Hall of Famer Tommy Thomsen & Friends. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday, and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows you can see are Wonderbread on the 3rd, The Buddy Owen Band on the 4th, Zoo Station on the 10th, The Hot Club of Marin on the 11th, Otis Scarecroe on the 14th, The English Beat on the 30th, plus more. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 7th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play mostly on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. Hear bluegrass with The Deciders on the 7th, blues with The Jeb Brady Band on the 14th, Jack Pribbles Living Room on the 21st, a special Thursday show with Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox featuring Barry Sless & Doug Harmon on the 22nd, and acoustic country and blues with The Bluebellies on the 28th. There is a new venue for music in Sebastopol that a number of readers have told us about. It is called The French Garden, and music is generally on Sundays and Wednesdays. Some of the acts you can see there are The Hot Frittatas on the 7th, Teslim on the 18th, and a Balkan dance on the afternoon of the 25th, followed by an evening show with Chris Webster and Nina Gerber. Laura Lee Brown has a pretty full calendar. On the 6th she'll be singing intimate jazz at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur from 7-9 p.m.; on the 8th from 5:30-8 p.m. she will be at the Seafood Peddler in San Rafael, as guest vocalist with the Alex Markels Trio; on the 11th from 5-8 p.m. she will perform with her Jazz and Beyond band at Rafters Grille & Brewery in San Rafael and on the 16th at 7:15 p.m. at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito; and she will be playing on Thursday the 13th (and Tuesday the 20th and 27th) from 7-9 p.m. back at the Ward Street Café with Denise Leigh and special guests. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor at Peri's Silver Dollar in Fairfax on the 8th and at The Bistro in Hayward on the 18th. Sebastopol singer/guitarist Walter Strauss is all over the bay and airwaves this month. On the 8th at 8 p.m. tune into KKUP's (91.5 FM) The Moonlight Trail show with Jackie Loken; on the 10th at 8 p.m. see him play a Fiddling Cricket Concert at Mission City Coffee Roasting Company in Santa Clara; on the 17th at 7:30 he'll play a Victor House Concert in Larkspur (email bvictormd@gmail.com for info and reservations); on the 29th at 8 p.m. tune into KRSH (95.9 FM) in Santa Rosa for the Thursday Night Live radio show; and on the 31st at 7:30 p.m. he'll play in Half Moon Bay at a house concert (email beachmeeting@earthlink.net for info and reservations). You can hear the original bluegrass of The Earl Brothers at the Palms Playhouse in Winters on the 9th at 8:30 p.m., and then on the 29th they'll play at Amnesia in SF at 9 p.m. along with The Whoreshoes. The Brookdale Lodge Bluegrass Festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains will be happening again on the 9th-10th. Some of the acts to see are Carolina Special, Harmony Grits, Sherry Austin, Jimmy Chickenpants and Faux Renwah. The Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival will take place on the 10th at the Sebastopol Community Center. The fest this year will be dedicated to the memory of the late Sebastopol musician Chip Dunbar, who passed away in December at age 52. You can see the Any Old Time String Band, Rustler's Moon, Adobe Creek, Sidesaddle, High Country, and others. The Mighty Chiplings, students of Chip's, will open the festival with a couple of songs. Emcees will be yours truly and Ray Edlund, of KPFA's Pig in a Pen bluegrass radio show. Rustler's Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans has a busy day on
the 10th. Before playing the festival listed above, they will play in
the morning at 10 a.m. to noon on the West Coast Live radio show on
KALW-FM (91.7). Tune in to hear them perform or go see the radio show
live at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, or also listen in on
the web. (The band will also headline at the Freight on Saturday the
3rd at 8 p.m.) Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Kenni and Rick Hardin on the 10th, Heather Combs, Jay Nash, and William Fitzsimmons on the 23rd, and Danny Schmidt on the 29th. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Renowned East Coast flat-picker Orrin Star will be touring all over Northern California this month, and his one date in Marin will be at 8 p.m. on the 10th at a house concert in Corte Madera. For info about this show contact Robert via email at gassman55@yahoo.com or call (415) 713-1791. For news about other shows, go to Orrin's web site. Novato fiddler and guitarist Doug Adamz stays busy. On the 10th he'll play solo for a memorial for Rachel Corrie at a home in Marin (contact Doug for details); on the 12th at 6 p.m. he'll play fiddle with The Pinks at The Olema Inn; on the 16th at 8 p.m. he and Don Rich will play Irish music with The Northern Stars at The Kells in San Francisco; on the 17th at 6 p.m. he and Russ Gauthier will play Irish music at the Table Mountain Casino near Fresno; on the 23rd at 8 p.m. it will be the Doug Adamz & Bravo band at Rancho Nicasio; and on the 30th see Trio Bravo at 7 p.m. at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 11th and 25th, and with Kimberlye Gold at Alpha Houseboat Concert Series in Sausalito on the 24th. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 13th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Doug Blumer will be performing with his musical buddies, John Haley-Walker and Peter Axtell on the 15th at 7:30 p.m. at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre. Peter was a founding member (along with Doug) of The Westerleys back in the 90s. Set one will highlight the three songwriters both solo and together. Set two it will be Doug's band The Beerhunters, joined by John and Peter. Ain't Misbehavin' appears on the 16th at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes. Acoustic swing, jazzy ballads, banjo tunes and originals, starting at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Patty Griffin will appear at the Warfield in SF on the 16th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music, and the show on the 21st at 8:30 p.m. will feature Poor Man's Whiskey as the headliner and opening will be Adam Traum. Poor Man's Whiskey is the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the wine country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. Their most recent CD is titled Roadside Attraction. Adam Traum, from the town of Sonoma, plays Americana roots style, which incorporates Piedmont and Delta blues, bluegrass and rockabilly. 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. 3 Fox Drive, a hot bluegrass band from Nashville that includes former Bay Area champion fiddler Megan Lynch, will be playing a series of shows around the bay later in the month. On the 22nd they'll be at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore, in Fair Oaks on the 24th, in Mountain View for the Redwood Bluegrass Associates on the 25th, and in Chico on the 25th. The Lincoln Theater and Jacalyn Kane Productions are proud to present Latin Grammy winner Lila Downs in Yountville on the 23rd at 8 p.m. Lila's vibrant voice embodies the spirit of her music with passion and conviction, invoking struggles, lost loves and legends. She transcends cultural barriers, combining beautiful infusions of blues, jazz and folk influences into traditional cumbias, creating a powerful musical, cultural and political statement as she celebrates her heritage and homeland. Dore Coller & Bermuda Grass will be back at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 23rd. Mill Valley's Matt Lax will be at the Riptide in SF on the 24th starting at 8 p.m. Chojo Jacques and Billy Bright will be playing a series of shows in the Bay Area at month's end. They'll be at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 29th, at McGrath's in Alameda on the 30th, and at the Plough & Stars in SF on the 31st. They first met at a festival in Florida in 2001, where they were performing with their respective bands. They became friends, and now they are playing together. Billy toured extensively with Peter Rowan in Peter's Texas Trio and then later in The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet. Chojo, on fiddle and mandolin, performed with the Waybacks from 1999-2004, and he continues his collaborations and performances with artists such as Slaid Cleaves, Fred Eaglesmith, Eliza Gilkyson, Two High String Band, Houston Jones, The Devil Makes Three, Joe Craven, and many others. Dead Set will be playing acoustic jam music at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station on the 30th at 9 p.m. It will be their first show with bass player Enrique Salmon, who also plays with the rockabilly band the Bluenote Cats. There will be pickin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the 25th, and 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. Reilly and Maloney will be at the 142 Throckmorton on the 31st. Ginny Reilly and San Anselmo's David Maloney are one of the most endearing duos ever to grace the West Coast folk and singer-songwriter scene. Their incredible blend of voices combined with their intricate harmonies and guitar arrangements created one of the most unique sounds in the acoustic music genre. They are known for their uplifting performances and they continue to offer their audiences new original material along with covers, arranged to delight the listener with their distinctive style. Since the beginning of their partnership in 1970, Reilly and Maloney have remained committed to their growth as artists and to maintaining a high degree of integrity in their work. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 31st at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents the award-winning Chicago-based folk duo Small Potatoes for an evening of music and dining on the 31st. Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso say it has taken them years of careful indecision to develop a repertoire they describe as "Celtic to cowboy." Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine said, "one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit." Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 3/01 9:30 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W. On stage - Roy Orbison with guests Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Soles, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 3/02 3 a.m.: " A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom & Dick Smothers and Judy Collins, featuring legendary folk artists of the era." PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 3/02 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. Even better, it takes an absolute minimum amount of note reading ability. Best of all, Scott Houston makes it fun along the way." ANDIAMO 3/04 10:30 p.m., 3/09 8:30 p.m.: "Three amazingly talented tenors, 100% Italian and firmly based in the Italian classical tradition, perform a modern, charismatic take on the Italian Song. Taped November 2006 in Amsterdam, the program features many Neapolitan classics, and a 55-piece orchestra conducted by Arne Roth." A TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLOR 3/06 1 p.m.: "With his gentle acoustic sound and insightful lyrics, James Taylor remains one of the most influential and beloved singer-songwriters to emerge from the popular music scene of the 1970s. In a career extending over three decades, Taylor's musical craftsmanship continues to delight critics and audiences alike. In recognition of his many achievements in music as well as his philanthropic efforts, Taylor was honored in February 2006 as 'Person of the Year' by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' MusiCares program. The all-star line-up of performers paying tribute to 'Sweet Baby James' includes India.Arie, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Douglas, Dr. John, Carole King, Alison Krauss, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Keith Urban." HEAVENLY VOICES 3/06 7:30 p.m.: "Featuring Manhattan/EMI virtuosi singers Ryland Angel, Giorgia Fumanti, and Sasha & Shawna, the soaring, beautiful live performances are presented against a backdrop of striking footage from the home country of each artist. From the hills of Tuscany to the castles of Wales to the golden colors of New England autumn, viewers are transported around the world with a memorable evening of some of the most beloved songs of all time. The magnificent voices of Ryland Angel, Georgia Fumanti, and Sasha & Shawna are accompanied by the Tim Janis Ensemble in a stirring celebration of song and image." LOREENA MCKENNITT - NIGHTS FROM THE ALHAMBRA 3/06 9 p.m., 3/15 7:30 p.m.: "Join 'eclectic Celtic' recording artist Loreena McKennitt at Granada's magnificent Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as she presents highlights from a musical catalogue that has captivated audiences and sold over 13 million records worldwide. Fuelled by the virtuoso skills of a stellar band of performers, McKennitt invites viewers to join her in an inspiring exploration of literary, historic and spiritual themes." MY MUSIC - THE BRITISH BEAT 3/07 8 p.m., 3/10 1:30 a.m., 3/11 8 p.m.: "This special travels on location to London and around the UK to the place where the British Beat was born, and brings together the first ever comprehensive 4-CD box set of all original British Invasion hits, by the original British Invasion legends that define the British Rock Era of the 1960's. The TV special features rare archival full-length performance films mixed with new live performances recorded throughout the UK. This special will feature introductions and performances from various legendary clubs and hot performance spots that inspired the Mersey Beat." AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK - DOO WOP'S BEST ON PBS 3/10 1 p.m.: "In December 1999, the most successful fundraising program in the history of PBS took the nation by storm with the premiere release of 'Doo Wop 50,' the first ever celebration from 20 of the greatest vocal groups and their biggest hit recordings. This success gave birth to two follow-up sequels, 'Doo Wop 51,' which united an additional 30 Doo Wop legends, and 'Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop' which historically preserved and presented even more legends from rock and roll's Golden Age of the 1950s and early 1960s. This program presents the most incredible, emotional and memorable full-length performances from each of these three original programs." LEGENDARY VICTOR BORGE 3/10 3 p.m.: "Victor Borge began his performing career with a piano debut in 1926 at the age of seventeen. For eight decades he'd been in the spotlight. 'The Great Dane,' as the beloved international humorist and musician is known, died just a few days before his 92nd birthday on January 3, 2001. This program is a fitting tribute, a smorgasbord of comedy and music from the Victor Borge archives, including never-before-broadcast Borge routines." TONY BENNETT DUETS - THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC 3/10 4:30 p.m.: "This program takes a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of Tony Bennett's 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. Among the musical artists who join Bennett in the studio are Bono, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Sting. In addition to musical selections, there are interviews with Bennett, the duet artists, and Phil Ramone, producer of the Duets CD." CELTIC WOMAN - A NEW JOURNEY 3/10 6 p.m.: "Recorded at historic Slane Castle in Ireland, the talented original members are joined by a sixth Celtic Woman, New Zealand born international recording star Hayley Westenra. Hayley, whose ancestors hailed from County Monaghan in Ireland, brings another great dimension to the show. The setting is a perfect backdrop for the music and songs written and arranged by composer David Downes, a wonderful blend of old classics, contemporary hits and original material. The individual and collective performances of Celtic Woman are enthralling and take full advantage of the castle setting on a surprisingly warm night at the County Meath venue. The evening is hosted by Lord Henry Mount Charles whose home in Slane Castle is steeped in Irish history, with the famous River Boyne running through its grounds, the mystery of Newgrange at its door and the hill of Tara home to the kings of Ireland at its rear." ANDRE RIEU - THE HOMECOMING 3/10 8 p.m., 3/12 7:30 p.m., 3/15 1 a.m.: "Andre Rieu returns to his Dutch hometown of Maastricht for a midsummer night performance in Vrijthof Square. Complete with a spectacular light show and a special guest appearance by the Platinum Tenors, this concert is breathtaking." MY MUSIC - THE '60S EXPERIENCE 3/10 10 p.m.: "Procol Harum with 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale,' The Moody Blues singing 'Nights In White Satin,' John Fogerty and Credence Clearwater Revival - do these names sound familiar? Just like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, they are all part of 'the 60's Experience.' For the first time, never-before-seen classic full-length clips of these icons, and new live performances from 60's seminal artists, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, John Kay and Steppenwolf, Felix Cavalierie of The Rascals, Eric Burden of The Animals and more will gather for a special 'rock-u-concert.' The program promises to take us back with songs and of peace, love, and protest - the defining anthems of a generation." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 3/14 3 a.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi, featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi America, and groups from around the world. Placido Domingo hosts." SOUTH PACIFIC IN CONCERT FROM CARNEGIE HALL 3/14 7:30 p.m., 3/16 1:30 a.m.: "Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's own Pulitzer Prize-winning blockbuster was a landmark of post-WWII Broadway, a provocative romantic drama that beguiled audiences with a hit parade of instant standards. Last June, South Pacific reached new heights when - for one enchanted evening - Carnegie Hall presented a magnificent concert production with a dream cast headed by Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jason Danieley, Lillias White and Alec Baldwin." VISIONS OF IRELAND 3/15 9:30 p.m.: "This special showcases the land of saints and scholars as never before. A helicopter-mounted camera shares the vantage point of the Irish faeries of ancient lore for serene aerial views above the fog and mist, the remote Skellig Islands, the magnificent windswept Cliffs of Moher - and the perfect angle from which to kiss the Blarney Stone. The 'Emerald Isle' is a place where myth and legend coexist with a booming modern legacy of invigorated economic strength. This program reveals all its 'forty shades of green' following an itinerary from Sligo to Belfast to Galway to Dublin that explores timeless country glens, abundant fishing ports, the famous golf courses of counties Kerry and Cork, and more. Rich narration gives context for the stunning high definition aerial and ground views of this little island of grand historical significance, all set to a soundtrack that includes the fiddles and pipes of traditional jigs and reels and modern Celtic rock." BEVERLY SILLS - MADE IN AMERICA 3/22 8 p.m.: "When 10-year-old Belle 'Bubbles' Silverman told her Papa she wanted to be an 'opera star,' the reaction was more of dismay than of thrill. It was only after nearly three decades of concert halls, conductors and applause that Bubbles - better known as Beverly Sills - rose to international fame and critical acclaim. Before retiring from professional singing in 1980, Sills had circled the globe, triumphing in a host of leading roles from some of the world's most cherished operas. With interviews and performances from her friends, including Manon, Julius Caesar and Roberto Devereux, the program profiles one of opera's homegrown stars." BARENBOIM ON BEETHOVEN 3/22 9:30 p.m.: A spectacular concert featuring legendary pianist, conductor and recording artist Daniel Barenboim. Barenboim performed the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle in eight concerts at Berlin's Staatsoper, one of the world's most beautiful opera houses. This special features the entire fourth concert, which consists of five sonatas, including the audience favorite 'Appassionata' (Sonata No. 23 F minor, Op. 57)." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - CORINNE BAILEY RAE/KT TUNSTALL 3/24 10:30 p.m.: "ACL showcases a pair of British stars now conquering US shores. England's Corinne Bailey Rae affirms her burgeoning popularity with hits 'Put Your Records On' and 'Like a Star' from her self-titled debut. Then Scotland's KT Tunstall demonstrates why her star is rising with 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' and other favorites from her acclaimed Eye to the Telescope. " JONI MITCHELL - WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND 3/24 11:30 p.m.: "The daughter of a grocery store manager and a teacher in Canada, Joni Mitchell is now a US citizen, a Buddhist, a poet and a painter, whose heroes are Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe. Uncompromising and iconoclastic, Mitchell has confounded expectations at every turn - wildly innovative, her music evolved from deeply personal folk into pop, jazz and avant-garde, prophetic of the multi-cultural experimentation of the `80s and `90s. Fiercely independent, she resisted the whims of mainstream audiences and the male-dominated recording industry. Mitchell's records may never have sold as widely as some of her contemporaries, but no one experimented so recklessly or so bravely explored territory outside of accepted pop music." PETER, PAUL AND MARY - A MUSICAL LEGACY 3/25 1 a.m.: "There once was a time, some years before the ascendance of rock and roll on Top 40 radio, when popular music veered sharply from the mainstream to sample American roots-music traditions. Inspired by the songs of Pete Seeger and The Weavers, this 'folk' music, found its greatest expression during the early 1960s in the songs of an emerging Greenwich Village group known as Peter, Paul and Mary. In this program, we share in the four-decade long career of Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. The Trio recalls the beginnings of the cultural revolution of the 1960's when music emerged as a unifying force midst the hopeful, idealistic and sometimes turbulent, movements of social change." FEVER - THE MUSIC OF PEGGY LEE 3/25 11:59 a.m.: "How many times have you heard 'Fever' with its finger-snapping, pulsating opening and then the sweet sensual voice of Miss Peggy Lee, understated and earthy, flaming right to the end when she slow-sizzled the words, 'What a lovely way to burn!' Peggy Lee's career burned for nearly 60 years, from the fresh-faced girl singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to the smoky-voiced, sultry star who became a legendary night club singer, a prolific recording artist, a successful songwriter and an actress talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award. This program will feature her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, with a wealth of rare footage and images, including photographs and memorabilia from Miss Lee's estate." PATSY CLINE - THE LADY BEHIND THE LEGEND 3/25 1 p.m.: "A fresh look at the life and career of a legendary recording star. Four decades after the tragic plane crash that took her life at the age of 31, the woman who changed the face of country music continues to top the charts in album sales. The program chronicles the public and private lives of Patsy Cline through photos, audio and video clips and interviews with those who knew and admired her. In this documentary, perhaps for the first time, myths will be dispelled and misunderstandings cleared to reveal the Patsy Cline that few knew." PEANUTS GALLERY 3/25 2 p.m.: "In 1990, Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and beloved cartoonist Charles M. Schulz began an extraordinary friendship that would ultimately unite their creative talents in one masterwork. Through interviews with Zwilich and Mrs. Schulz, along with character clips and rarely seen footage of Charles Schulz himself, this program tells the story of how the Peanuts characters went from the daily comics to Carnegie Hall. It culminates with a performance of Zwilich's 'Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Orchestra' by the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra." ARETHA FRANKLIN - THE QUEEN OF SOUL 3/31 6 p.m.: "This program traces the meteoric rise to fame of the world-famous Queen of Soul. The film focuses on Aretha's musical development, tracing her progress from her early strengths as a Detroit gospel singer to the wide stylistic and emotional range she comes to command. The moving, emphatic quality of Aretha's singing is demonstrated in clips from film and television appearances, as well as original footage of one of her recording sessions. Interviews with the people who contributed to her musical career illuminate the stages of her artistic growth. An interview with Aretha herself, the first woman to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reveals her own perspective on her past." COTTON CLUB (THE MOVIE) (1984) 3/31 9:49 p.m.: "The Cotton Club, a Prohibition-Era Harlem nightclub 'where crime lords rub elbows with the rich and famous,' serves as the locale for this musical gangster movie. With Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage, Gregory and Maurice Hines, Bob Hoskins, and Fred Gwynne. Directed by Francis Coppola. Written by William Kennedy, Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo." *************************************************************************************************** February 15, 2007 February has definitely been one incredible time for musical activity in and around the North Bay. The first half of this month was action-packed, with multiple bluegrass festivals and countless other shows and events going by. But don't think you can kick back and rest now. There is still plenty of great stuff to get out and see. While the so-called major media were busy covering the titillating tale and demise of Anna Nicole Smith (with her 36DD weapons of mass distraction), astro-nuts in diapers, the upcoming Oscar frenzy and that wacky old one-time funnyman Bill Murray playing golf in the rain at Pebble Beach, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters worked overtime on Valentine's Day just to bring you news and info about the North Bay music you know and love… Hot chicks. The Dixie Chicks were big winners (with five) at the recent Grammy Awards that were given out on the 11th. Also in the winners' circle were such notables as Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Bryan Sutton & Doc Watson, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Booker T. & The MG's, The Grateful Dead, Joan Baez, Bob Wills, The Doors, Ornette Coleman and Maria Callas. Baseball and bluegrass. Ever heard of a country/bluegrass singer named Tim Flannery? Well, now you have. He also happens to be a professional baseball coach who played and worked for years with the San Diego Padres and is now going to be the third base coach with the SF Giants. He will be arriving in the Bay Area after spring training is over, and will be based in SF during the season. He has eight CDs out already, and his newest is titled The Wayward Wind. Live Earth. Mark your calendar now for July 7 of this year. This is the date when there will be concerts all over the world in a 24-hour span whose purpose is to bring attention to the threat of global warming. Former vice president Al Gore announced the "Save Our Selves - The Campaign for a Climate in Crisis" event on February 15th. Some of the acts already included are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge, The Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Duran Duran, the Black Eyed Peas, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Old punkers never die (well, many of them have), they just start singing bluegrass. Tommy Ramone, a founding member of the punk band the Ramones, will release a bluegrass CD with singer-songwriter Claudia Tienan. Billed as Uncle Monk, the duo's self-titled album, featuring 14 original songs, will be released in May. Ramone (born Tommy Erdelyi) was the Ramones' drummer, producer and manager when the band first gained attention in New York during the '70s. Will there be mosh pits at their bluegrass gigs? Funny Waybacks. Anyone who has ever seen the Bay Area crabgrass band The Waybacks play knows about their hot picking and witty stage banter. Well, they have now made the funny pages as well! Go to the site for The Humble Stumble cartoon and click on the calendar dates for this week. Way to go, Stevie C! Turn on, tune in, and drop out. There is a new 50,000 watt radio station in SF with the letters KTRB at 860 AM that is honoring the "San Francisco Sound," playing music by SF-based artists and groups from the mid-60s to the early 70s such as The Beau Brummels, The Syndicate of Sound, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Journey. However, according to the web site here this programming will only last until the end of February, and after that, it is anyone's guess as to what they will be playing. The station itself runs cutesy little promos such as "We'd love to tell you what our new format will be at the start of next month, but we just don't know yet." Don't believe this bull for one minute. They HAVE to know what it will be, as they will have to be ready with staff, slogans, ads, etc. They are just not being honest. But heck, tune in now until the end of the month at least. But with this being big money, corporate radio, be prepared for the worst afterwards. And be ready to go back to listening to KPIG on March 1st. Thanks to Tom McCarter for this tip. Blame Sally had their big Severland CD release show in SF on the 10th, and there were two good stories about them in the local fishwraps. There was one in the SF Chronicle, and one in the Marin IJ that is mostly about guitarist Rene Harcourt and her battle with breast cancer. The SF Chronicle has been running a series of articles for Black History Month, and some of the artists they have written about are Tiburon's influential keyboardist Booker T. Jones ("Green Onions," "Time is Tight") and jazz tenor saxophonist Ron Stallings. Click on these links to read the stories. Geezer rock. Plans are already afoot for reunion tours this summer of the bands The Police, Genesis, Van Halen, Rage Against the Machine, and The Smashing Pumpkins. There is big money to be made in nostalgia. Heck, considering the state of the music business now, who can blame anyone for going to see any of these shows? Why don't these bands just turn to bluegrass, like Tommy Ramone? Because Spell Check on this computer won't let the words "bluegrass" and "big money" go together in the same sentence… Reggae down the river. The annual Reggae on the River festival that used to take place up north on the Russian River every summer has to find a new home, as the event producer and the site owners could not to terms over the details of their agreement. Anyone have a big back yard? There was a cool Fresh Air With Terry Gross Valentine's Day show on
National Public Radio on the 14th that featured interviews with filmmaker
John Waters and country singer Willie Nelson. Waters has put out a CD
of some of his favorite (and very offbeat) songs called A Date With
John Waters. Listen to the show here. Pause for a cause. Longtime Marin musician Peter Walsh and his wife are apparently having some health problems, so there will be a fundraiser at Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Sunday the 25th at 9 p.m. Peter hosted the long-running Sunday R&B jam at the club back in the 80s, played with Commander Cody, and is also the front man in the vintage swing band Stompy Jones. Some of the performers will be Barry "The Fish" Melton, Roy Blumenfeld, Peter Albin, Gary Vogensen, Pamela Rose, Lisa Kindred, Nick Gravenites, Keta Bill, Austin deLone, Tim Eschliman, Martine Fierro, David LaFlamme and Ron Thompson. Catchy title. Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore star in a new film titled Music and Lyrics that has not yet been screened by the Carltone staff movie reviewer. It is about "a washed up singer (Grant) who is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an admiring teen sensation. Though he's never written lyrics in his life, he sparks with an offbeat younger woman (Barrymore) with a flair for words." Ah yes, this is how hit songs are written all the time! Coming attractions. The Brookdale Lodge Bluegrass Festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains will be happening again on March 9th-10th. Some of the acts to see are Carolina Special, Harmony Grits, Sherry Austin, Jimmy Chickenpants and Faux Renwah. The Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival will take place on March 10th at the Sebastopol Community Center. You can see the Any Old Time String Band, Rustler's Moon, Adobe Creek, Sidesaddle, High Country and others. Patty Griffin will be at the Warfield in SF on March 16th. Poor Man's Whiskey and Adam Traum will play at Sweetwater on March 21st, and Reilly and Maloney will be at the 142 Throckmorton on March 31st. In rehab. British pop singer Robbie Williams checked into a clinic for his dependency on prescription drugs. In his younger day he was in a successful teen band called Take That, and between this band and his solo career he has reportedly sold over 65 million records. Sheesh, has anyone ever heard of this guy? Life's railway to heaven. 1950s pop singer Frankie Laine, who had hits with "That Lucky Old Sun," "Mule Train," and "Cool Water," as well as the theme song from the TV show "Rawhide," died on the 6th in San Diego from complications from surgery. He was 93. Gino D'Auri, the "godfather of flamenco guitar," died in Los Angeles on January 26th from cancer. He was 69. And Barbara McNair, a singer and actress who in 1969 was one of the first black women to host her own variety TV show, died of throat cancer on the 5th. She was 72. Additions The Jeb Brady Band will be performing at Smiley's Schooner Saloon in Bolinas on the 16th. Jeb, Wendy, Mike, Gary, and special guest drummer Carl Assmus would love to see you there. Take a ride to see Blue Highway this weekend. On the 17th they will play a Redwood Bluegrass Associates show in Mountain View, and on the 18th they can be seen at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. One of the most influential groups in contemporary bluegrass, BH excels at every facet of the music, from instrumental dexterity to impeccable vocal interplay to literate, powerful songwriting. Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Wayne Taylor (bass, vocals), Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin) and the Bay Area's own Rob Ickes (Dobro) are at the forefront of their respective roles, appearing on innumerable projects as sidemen, songwriters, and solo artists. Their singing, playing, and songwriting are unsurpassed in contemporary bluegrass, and their songs have often topped the Bluegrass Unlimited radio charts. Jim Nunally and Keith Little open the show in Petaluma. The Wild Catahoulas are busy for Mardi Gras. Dance to them at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on the 17th, with dance lessons at 7 p.m. and music at 8. On the 20th go to the Mardi Gras Dinner at the Calistoga Inn from 6-9 p.m. And on the 25th see them at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa from 5-8 p.m. Old-time is still not a crime out in West Marin! The Flat Mountain Girls bring their special brand of powerful, all-female old-time and bluegrass music to the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station on the 24th at 8 p.m. The Girls are a tight, rowdy string band from Portland, OR, known for powerful, raw, edgy harmonies, ripping old-time fiddle tunes, and hilarious stage banter. They were a featured act at the 2006 Folk Alliance Conference in Austin, and they won the 2006 Northwest String Summit band contest. Tickets are $16 general, $14 seniors, $5 teens and kids, and are available at the door or online at the venue's site. For more information, call (415) 663-1075. Reminders Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Walter Strauss on the 15th, The Jill Knight Band on the 16th, Nicolas Bearde & Bill Bell on the 17th, Tuva Throat Singers on the 18th, Makela on the 22nd, The Wayne Wallace Band on the 23rd, and lots more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Petty Theft on the 15th, the Billy Boys on the 16th, The Bar Association on the 17th, the Pete Olsen Band on the 20th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 23rd, Lariats of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, and much more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Elaine Dempsey on the 15th, Adam Traum on the 22nd, The Carrtunes on the 23rd, High Country on the 24th, Greenhouse on the 25th, and other fine acts. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are Robert Herrera on the 15th, John Courage & Friends on the 17th, and Soul Shine on the 23rd. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. You can attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the new Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See The Distant Lover All-Stars (Marvin Gaye tribute) on the 15th, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 16th, Shana Morrison on the 17th, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday on the 20th with Rhythmtown Jive, Jerry Day Benefit on the 24th, Heather Combs songwriters on the 28th, and more. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will performing at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 15th with Kimberlye Gold and on the 25th with Namely Us. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs acoustic Western & vintage swing, jazzy ballads, originals, etc., at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes on the 16th, starting at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Come for the great food and ambience, stay for the hot fiddlin' and silly magic tricks. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 16th, Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks on the 17th, The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble on the 22nd, and more. The David Thom Band will be pickin' traditional bluegrass at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 16th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Alex Markels & Tina Marzell on the 16th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 17th, Jazz Roots Trio on the 23rd, and Tom Peplinski's Gypsy Jazz on the 24th. North Bay guitarist Walter Strauss, who appears at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 15th, will also be at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 17th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 17th it will be swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. The North Bay band The Pine Needles bring their acoustic string band sound to The Old Western in Point Reyes Station on the 17th and to Finnegan's in Novato on the 24th. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music at Peri's in Fairfax on the 17th. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. Check out their web site and listen to some tunes. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See the aforementioned Blue Highway on the 18th, Todd Snider (and Audrey Auld Mezera opening) on the 21st, Hapa on the 23rd, Robert Earl Keen on the 28th, and others. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting acclaimed singer/songwriter John Gorka on the 18th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor at The Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 18th, and at The Jack Douglas Saloon in Columbia on the 25th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. 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. On the 21st it will be a night of jam/folk with Jelly, and on the 28th see the RiffRiders play cowboy jazz. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday, and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows you can see are Otis Scarecroe on the 21st, Vinyl on the 23rd, and The Jeb Brady Band on the 25th. 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 Laurence Juber on the 22nd at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. The Wintergrass bluegrass festival will be happening in Tacoma, WA, on the 22nd-25th. This is a great indoor event. North Bay fiddler and guitarist Doug Adamz will play with his trio of Bill Amatneek and Rusty Gauthier at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 23rd, and he will play solo at The Bazaar Cafe in SF on the 28th at 7 p.m. on a bill with Teja Gerken and Nate Cooper. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Lara Price Band on the 23rd, bluegrass with Rustler's Moon on the 25th, and more. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Jana Losey on the 23rd in San Rafael. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk at The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa on the 23rd at 8:30 p.m. 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. Remembering Chip Dunbar. On the 24th there will be a musical day celebrating the life and musical influence of master musician and mandolin maestro, Chip Dunbar. On November 26th Chip passed away unexpectedly. Through his work as a music teacher he touched many lives, tutoring many in the fine arts of American Roots music on the mandolin, guitar, fiddle and banjo. His many bands are the stuff of folk music legend in Sonoma County: HiJinks, The Eclecti-cats, Terra Nova and Under the Radar. He was a tireless volunteer for the Sonoma County Folk Society, a brilliant sound engineer, songwriter and bandleader. The show at 8 p.m. at the New College of California in Santa Rosa will feature The Mighty Chiplings, The Ruminators, Don Coffin, Phil Lawrence, Gary Knowlton, Solid Air, Ted Dutcher & Ellen Silver, Sara Winge & Company, Caren Armstrong, Modern Hicks, and Kevin Russell & The Elder Chiplings. Tickets are only $10, and for information/reservations call (707) 824-1858. Tickets also available at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. This event is also a benefit for KRCB radio, 91.1 FM. Earlier in the day there will be a radio show to pay tribute to Chip and it will also offer a preview of the evening performances (listen in to Our Roots are Showing, 1-5 p.m., for the radio tribute). The radio show will feature recorded performances from Chip's various bands, as well as conversations with many of his former band mates (including Don Coffin, Ted Dutcher, Sara Winge & Kevin Russell). 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 25th. It takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts. Email at lencarl@comcast.net for more info. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Mandolin prodigy (and member of the band Nickel Creek) Chris Thile and his How To Grow A Band ensemble will appear at The Independent on the 25th. Showtime is 8 p.m. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: SAMMY DAVIS, JR. - ONE COOL CAT 2/17 6 p.m.: "This program is a detailed and thoroughly entertaining look at the life and career of this American entertainment icon through the use of rarely seen archival performance footage and photos." SOUNDSTAGE - JEWEL 2/18 12:30 a.m.: "Three-time Grammy nominated Jewel is best known for her charismatic live performances. Whether she is on stage with her band, or solo, Jewel's stage presence is one of a consummate performer. She has managed to put her life's retrospective into her well-crafted songs, which are influenced by many music genres including rock, pop, country, jazz and classical. Jewel's Soundstage performance is not to be missed. Taped at the beautiful Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, she performs solo acoustic as well as with her band." GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - I PURITANI 2/18 noon: "Sensational Russian soprano Anna Netrebko - 'Audrey Hepburn with a voice,' according to one critic - has taken the opera world by storm, dazzling audiences in Vienna, Milan, Berlin New York and Los Angeles. Now she takes on the role of the fragile Elvira, who goes mad when abandoned at the altar, in Bellini's I Puritani. With its vocal fireworks and deep pathos, this has been a supreme role for great singing actresses, from Maria Callas to Beverly Sills. Tenor Eric Cutler stars as Lord Arturo Talbot." SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR LIVE IN CONCERT 2/18 5 p.m., 2/21 2:58 a.m.: "Having enjoyed the number one position on Billboard's World Music chart in the US with their first CD Voices from Heaven, the Soweto Gospel Choir is a vocal ensemble of international renown. Filmed during their 2005 Australian tour, this program showcases the group's vibrant repertoire from diverse African cultures and other international sources." CLOSE TO YOU - REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS 2/22 8 p.m., 2/24 3:58 a.m.: "A music-filled documentary that traces the Carpenters' career through the eyes of Richard Carpenter and the group's friends in the music business, features all of their top recording hits. There are interviews with Richard Carpenter, in addition to some of the group's longtime back-up singers and musicians, famous friends and colleagues, particularly those who helped them achieve stardom, including Herb Alpert, Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach and Petula Clark. It also contains rare footage of Richard and Karen, including home movies, concert performances, studio recording sessions and archival TV appearances and outtakes. Karen died unexpectedly at her parents' home in 1983 from heart failure at the age of 33, the result of anorexia nervosa. Since her death, Richard has worked continuously, going back into the studio to remix the Carpenters' repertoire for compilations." BEST OF THE BEATLES 2/22 9:02 p.m., 2/24 3 a.m.: "This program tells the untold story of the world's most famous band's formative years, as seen through the eyes of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. Viewers learn the truth about events in Liverpool and Hamburg at the time when the band was in the vanguard of popular music, and how it all went horribly wrong for Best, just as the Fab Four grasped the golden apple. For the first time, audiences hear of Best's pivotal role in forming the Beatles and his survival of a very public nightmare." AMERICAN MASTERS -THE WORLD OF NAT KING COLE 2/24 6 p.m.: "This film focuses not just on Nat King Cole's celebrity, but also on the civil rights movement and how the performer uniquely broke through major racial barriers in the entertainment industry - he was the first black American to have his own national radio show, in 1948, and the first black American to have his own television show, in 1956. His musical origins were as a young Chicago jazz pianist, but he became known - and accepted, even in those turbulent times - as a smooth singer. With open access to the Cole family - including, of course, his daughter Natalie - and his record label (EMI) archives, the program paints a picture of great courage." A STAR IS BORN (1954) 2/24 8 p.m.: "A classic showbiz tale: Declining movie star Norman Maine (James Mason) meets aspiring singer Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland), and their friendship blossoms into romance. But as her career takes off, and she becomes a bigger star than he was, he begins to drink himself to death out of bitterness. Eventually, his bad behavior begins to threaten the career of his long-suffering wife as well. The movie features Garland singing 'The Man That Got Away,' among other songs." JUDY GARLAND - DUETS 2/24 11 p.m.: "Not so long ago, an incredible music treasure - thought lost forever for more than three decades - suddenly surfaced: nearly 30 hours of Judy Garland at her early 1960's prime on television, comprising hundreds of solos and dozens of duets pairing 'the world's greatest entertainer' with many of the most legendary performers in history! This program is the direct result of that find - the one and only Garland in unforgettable performances with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Bobby Darin, Ethel Merman, Vic Damone, Mel Torme and Jack Jones. Also included: a charming, beguiling 17 year-old Liza (long before Cabaret) doing several songs with 'Mama' Judy Garland; a pre-Funny Girl 21 year-old Barbra Streisand bringing the house down with Judy in their now-legendary duet of 'Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again' and teaming again for the free-spirited 'Hooray for Love' medley." SOUNDSTAGE - RICKIE LEE JONES 2/25 12:02 a.m.: "Rickie Lee Jones is one of the most complex singer-songwriters of our time. Her career, which spans nearly three decades, has been full of unique musical expression. Jones' style has crossed many genres including folk, rock, jazz, soul, spoken word and pop. Her voice echoes that of a 40's jazz era performer, which has been an influence to many of today's performers including Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos. Rickie Lee Jones's inimitable Soundstage performance is a celebration of her career." STING - SONGS FROM THE LABYRINTH 2/26 11 p.m.: "A spectacular concert featuring an ageless legend performing some timeless music. Born in 1563 into an age of religious and political strife, English composer and court musician John Dowland has captivated performers and listeners alike since the late 16th century with his serene and introspective music. Composed primarily for lute, but also for small ensembles, Dowland's music remains arresting in its simplicity, spellbinding with melancholy and joy. It is perhaps inevitable that Sting - one of today's most internationally acclaimed troubadours - would be drawn to revisit Dowland's work from a contemporary perspective, some 400 years after the composer's death." SPARK - MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2/28 7:30 p.m.: "Spark finds that every musician has a chosen instrument that takes them on their creative journey. Organ player Wil Blades has jammed with the famous and holds court in clubs and classrooms of the Bay Area; world famous lyric soprano Barbara Bonney is known for her Lieder performances but she also teaches master classes to regular people; since 1981, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has been dedicated to reproducing historically informed performances on original instruments; then, meet Stephen Kent, a didgeridoo player from the UK." BIG BAND MAGIC! 2/28 9:54 p.m.: "War and the Depression melted away when the big bands started to play, and a generation forgot its troubles on the dance floor. This KQED-produced special takes a nostalgic look back at the dance halls and ballrooms that live only in memories - El Patio at Market and Van Ness, the Mural Room in the St. Francis Hotel, Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland, and many more. Filled with music, photos, archival films and dance sequences that recall the spirit of the age, the program tells a story that has remained untold for too long, revives the fondest memories of a generation, and treats viewers to a glimpse of this fabled past." INDEPENDENT LENS - STRANGE FRUIT 2/28 11 p.m.: "Radio stations banned it, but when Billie Holiday sang 'Strange Fruit' the whole world listened anyway. Sprung from the pen of an unknown Bronx schoolteacher named Abel Meeropol, the song continues to mesmerize musicians and civil rights advocates alike with its chilling vision of a lynching. This program shows how a little-known Jewish songwriter and an African-American icon created a song that changed America."
*************************************************************************************************** February 1, 2007 Welcome to the 74th edition of Carltone's Corner! With Groundhog Day, the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and countless other days of note taking place this month, the major media has its hands full. That is why the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been pounding their keyboards in search of all of the great music that will go on in and around Marin and Sonoma Counties this month. Like old groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, we hope to see the light of day again as soon as we post this edition of the newsletter. And hopefully we won't be facing six more weeks of winter after we do… Bluegrass extravaganza! This month is chock full of great shows in Marin/Sonoma, San Francisco, and points north and south. Carltone Productions has its virtual 4th Annual North Bay Bluegrass Festival (shows at different venues over the course of two weeks in Marin and Sonoma counties), and it began on the 24th of January and it runs until February 11th. The San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival goes from the 1st-10th at locations in SF and Berkeley. The CBA's Second Annual Supergrass Festival takes place from the 1st-4th in Bakersfield, and Wintergrass will be happening in Tacoma, WA, on the 22nd-25th. Talk about a sure cure for the mid-winter blues! Dead air. On Saturday the 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., the annual KPFA Grateful Dead Marathon will be airing at 94.1 on your Bay Area FM dial, or you can listen in on the web. It is a fund-raiser for America's first listener-sponsored radio station. There will be rare recordings, live music, and more. Speaking of radio shows, the January 13th SF Prairie Home Companion radio show was a huge success that featured Maria Muldaur and The Stairwell Sisters. Banjo player Tony Trischka has been getting a lot of press recently about his new album Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular. He was written up in the Washington Post, The New York Times, and in that bastion of bluegrass news, the Wall Street Journal. However, you have to subscribe on-line to be able to these papers. You can, however, listen to the January 21st story on the National Public Radio show Weekend Edition. Carlos and Maria. Renowned guitarist and San Rafael resident Carlos Santana is about to become a partner in the restaurant business when he and a corporation named DSE buy Mill Valley's Cantina restaurant. They will soon change the name of the place to "Maria, Maria," the title of a Santana song. There is no truth to the rumor that the song was written about Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur… Local boy goes national. Sebastopol bluegrass guitarist/songwriter and painter Rick Jamison is featured in the February issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. The magazine only features the cover story on its web site, but you can read the BU story on Rick's site. Name that tune. Okay, you've been in this situation countless times: You can't remember the name of a song, and you try humming a few bars, albeit embarrassingly, to some friends, who can't understand your singing. Well, be embarrassed no more! There is a new web site called Midomi where, if you have a computer and a mic, you can hum a few bars into the mic and the site will identify the song! If you cannot make it to Supergrass this weekend the bluegrass band The Grascals will perform with Dierks Bentley on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson on the 12th. They'll play "Prodigal Son's Prayer," their duet on Dierks's current album. Consult your local TV listings for time and channel. Weapon of mass distraction found in Iraq! Finally, proof that the late dictator Saddam Hussein possessed a dangerous weapon… Fade to black. The longtime music feature After Dark in the Marin weekly The Pacific Sun is now on "hiatus" due to budget concerns. For the past two years the column was written by Marin singer Kimberlye Gold, and before that, Matt Kramer, who is now the main music writer for the paper. If you'd like to voice your dismay about this situation, send an e to the editor. MySpace clarification. Last month this was written here: "If you are a North Bay performer and have shows that you want to have mentioned in this newsletter, due to certain restrictions here at Carltone World Headquarters we cannot access any myspace.com web sites." In no way was this meant as a slam to anyone who uses MySpace. We just cannot get into any of the sites, so our staff interns cannot check calendars and such. If you want us to post any North Bay gigs of yours, you will be have send the info to us directly. Speaking of MySpace, there is a real good article about it in Acoustic Guitar Magazine by Scott Nygaard that you can read here. Thanks to John Wilson for this tip. Honky-tonk hero. Rockabilly guitarist Bill Kirchen was written up in the SF Chronicle recently by Joel Selvin. Bill has a new album out called Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods, and he will be playing a few shows in the Bay Area. On the 1st see him at Sweetwater, and on the 2nd he will be at Slim's in SF. Kirchen played with Commander Cody back in the day, and he is one hot guitar picker. Former Bay Area bassman Claude Arthur will be playing with Bill. The Bay Area quartet of all female songwriters named Blame Sally has a new CD called Severland, and fans of the band will not be disappointed. Real fine singing, playing and writing fill the bill, and you can get a copy at their CD release show at the Brava Theatre in SF on the 10th. A second show has now been added for this night. You can also see/hear the band on the West Coast Live radio show on the 3rd when it takes place at the Ferry Building in SF. Tune into KALW at 91.7 FM in the Bay Area from 10 a.m. to noon. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera has a new CD out as well titled Lost Men and Angry Girls that chronicles the past three years she has spent living on the coast of Northern California. She is originally from Tasmania. She won the Chris Austin Song Contest at MerleFest last year, and is a two- time ARIA nominee (Australian Recording Industry Association). See Audrey and Nina Gerber on the 3rd at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa, as a solo on the 18th at Ordinary Miracles in Cotati, and again with Nina on the 21st at the Mystic in Petaluma. Sebastopol guitarist, composer, vocalist, and producer Walter Strauss has recently struck out on his own after years of playing guitar with such notables as The Burns Sisters and Mamadou Diabate. He has a new CD of all original music titled Pulling Shadows, and he has three North Bay gigs coming up. On the 11th he will be playing solo at the Ace in the Hole in Sebastopol, and on the 15th see him with friends Kendrick Freeman (Alison Brown Quartet) on drums and Sam Bevan (David Grisman Quintet) on bass at the Larkspur Café Theater, and at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 17th. Boxed Stanleys. A three-disc boxed set from the Stanley Brothers will be released by Time-Life on the 27th. The Definitive Collection: 1947-1966 marks the 60th anniversary of Ralph and Carter Stanley's first recordings together and includes three previously unreleased tracks and two songs never before available on a CD. The package also features many rare photos. See Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys on the 22nd at The Palms in Winters, in Chico on the 23rd, and at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley on the 24th and 25th with Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. This show is presented by the Freight and Salvage. Here comes Johnny! Four years after his death, country singer Johnny Cash is still putting out albums. His younger sister, Joanne Cash, will include three duets with her late brother on a new gospel album to be released on 20th. They sing together on "Softly and Tenderly," "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning" and "When He Comes." The album is titled Gospel. Three titans unite. Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Ray Price will release a double-disc album together on March 20th titled Last of the Breed. The recording sessions included contributions from the Jordanaires, steel guitarist Buddy Emmons and fiddler Johnny Gimble. The album includes two new songs and newly recorded versions of songs made famous by the three artists, including Price's 1959 hit, "Heartaches by the Number." Like a rolling stone. There is a new "reality show" being aired on MTV called I'm From Rolling Stone where young contestants vie for a writing job on the staff of Rolling Stone magazine. According to the story in the SF Chronicle by former Stone writer Ben Fong-Torres, some of the contestants were chosen not because of their writing abilities but because of their "personalities." And, they got better stories to cover than normal interns. Yeah, this sounds like "reality" all right… Coming attractions. The Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival will take place on March 10th at the Sebastopol Community Center. You can see the Any Old Time String Band, Rustler's Moon, Adobe Creek, and others. Patty Griffin will be at the Warfield in SF on March 16th. Poor Man's Whiskey will play at Sweetwater on March 21st, and Reilly and Maloney will be at the 142 Throckmorton on March 31st. Band scramble. A great California bluegrass band just became a super group. Chris Stuart & Backcountry, from San Diego, has officially added mandolinist Eric Uglum to the lineup. This is after the band added Eric's two incredibly talented stepsons, Austin and Christian Ward, on fiddle and bass last year. Eric has played for many years in Lost Highway, and is a producer and performer in his own right. His solo CD, Shenandoah Wind, from 2005, made Carltone's Top Recordings of that year, as did band banjoist Janet Beazley's 5 South solo CD. Eric and his boys recently released a new recording titled The Old Road to Jerusalem that, even though we haven't heard it yet, is destined to make Carltone's Top Recordings of 2007. Police log. R & B singer, actress and talent judge ("America's Got Talent") Brandy was involved in a car accident that killed another driver in late December. Her car rear-ended another that started a chain reaction that caused the fatality. No drugs or alcohol were found in her vehicle. Blowing his horn for Jesus: Grammy-winning trumpeter Phil Driscoll was sentenced recently to a year and a day in prison for using his gospel music ministry in an income-tax evasion scheme. Cat scratch fever: Crazed guitarist Ted Nugent has denied reports that he made offensive remarks about non-English speakers during his performance at Texas governor Gov. Rick Perry's inaugural ball. Wild ride: Country singer Crystal Gayle had her tour bus stolen by an escaped con named Christopher Gay who was just trying to get home to see his ailing momma. The guy also stole a loaded tractor-trailer. Man, is this the makings of a county song or what? Sure is! Bluegrass singer/songwriter Tim O'Brien has already written "The Ballad of Christopher Daniel Gay" to the tune of Woody Guthrie's "Pretty Boy Floyd." (Thanks to Randy Pitts for this hot tip!) Life's railway to heaven. Jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker died on January 13th of a rare bone disease called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). He was 57. He and his brother David performed as The Brecker Brothers, and they played on numerous albums with acts such as Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Elton John, Aerosmith, Diana Ross, and Frank Sinatra. Jazz pianist Alice Coltrane, a performer in her own right who was also married to the late renowned saxophonist John Coltrane, died on January 12th. She was 69. Denny Doherty, a member of the 60s quartet The Mama and Papas, died on January 19th in Ontario, Canada, from kidney problems. He was 66. Doyle Holly, who played bass with Buck Owens & The Buckaroos from 1963-1971, died in Nashville on January 13th from prostate cancer. He was 70. Onward to the calendar… Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 7th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone, and the new Saturday afternoon open mics with Michael LaMacchia. See Bill Kirchen on the 1st, Dan Hicks on the 4th, Red Meat and Big Smith on the 8th, Boys Gone Wild on the 9th, Zoo Station on the 10th, Victoria George on the 14th, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 16th, Shana Morrison on the 17th, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday on the 20th with Rhythmtown Jive, Jerry Day Benefit on the 24th, Heather Combs songwriters on the 28th, and more. 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. There will be a special engagement on Thursday the 1st with Lorin Rowan's Rattlebox (with Barry Sless and Doug Harmon). On the 7th see Ida Viper, an American roots band from Oregon; on the 14th it will be a special night of jazz & swing with Dore Coller's Bermuda Grass, with a Valentines day dinner menu, and this is the only night of the year when reservations are accepted; on the 21st it will be a night of jam/folk with Jelly; and on the 28th see the RiffRiders play cowboy jazz. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are The Boulder Acoustic Society on the 1st, Hands on Fire with James Henry on the 2nd, The Pine Needles & Los Califas on the 3rd, Acoustic Eidolon on the 8th, It's about Love with Shannon Bryant on the 9th, Rhonda Benin on the 10th, Peter Rowan on the 11th, Walter Strauss on the 15th, and lots more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Town Mountain on the 1st, The Jeb Brady Band on the 2nd, Feed and Seed on the 6th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 9th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 10th, Sexy Sunday on the 11th, Petty Theft on the 15th, the Billy Boys on the 16th, The Bar Association on the 17th, the Pete Olsen Band on the 20th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 23rd, Lariats of Fire on the 24th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 25th, and much more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Jon Stiles on the 1st, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 2nd, Andrew Freeman on the 3rd, Kevin Russell & Friends on the 8th, Adobe Creek Bluegrass on the 9th, The Acmes on the 10th, Shades of Green on the 11th, Elaine Dempsey on the 15th, Adam Traum on the 22nd, The Carrtunes on the 23rd, High Country on the 24th, Greenhouse on the 25th, and much more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 1st and the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The North Bay band The Pine Needles bring their acoustic string band sound to Rafter's in San Rafael on the 1st, Larkspur Café Theatre on the 3rd, The Old Western in Point Reyes Station on the 17th, and Finnegan's in Novato on the 24th. Some acts to see at the Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa are Robert Herrera on the 1st/10th/15th, The Pile Drivers on the 9th, John Courage & Friends on the 17th, Soul Shine on the 23rd, plus others. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Steve Malerbi on the 2nd, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 3rd, Chris Reece on the 9th, Jazz Philosophy on the 10th, Alex Markels & Tina Marzell on the 16th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 17th, Jazz Roots Trio on the 23rd, and Tom Peplinski's Gypsy Jazz on the 24th. Kick up your heels. Marin County's favorite (and only) old-time band The Roadoilers will be playing two contra dances in the North Bay. On the 2nd they'll be at Herrmann Sons Hall in Petaluma, and on the 3rd join them in Calistoga at the Tucker Farm Center. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday, and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows you can see are Gyptian on the 2nd and 3rd, Buddy Owen on the 4th, Black Dog on the 9th, Chuck Day on the 11th, Otis Scarecroe on the 21st, Vinyl on the 23rd, The Jeb Brady Band on the 25th, and others. North Bay singer Adam Traum will open for Wake the Dead at The Little Fox in Redwood City on the 2nd, and earlier that day will appear on Dave Stafford's Friday Folk-Off show on KKUP in Cupertino (91.5 FM) at 4 p.m. He will also be on KPIG's Please Stand By radio show on the 4th at 10 a.m. with John Sandidge. As always, he will be at the Swig in SF from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. running the acoustic jam/open mic. It's a great place to play and/or listen and it's always free. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is Brian Copeland on the 2nd and 3rd, Maria Muldaur's Valentine's Show on the 11th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 16th, Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks on the 17th, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 3rd and the 10th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 17th it will be swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at The 12 Galaxies in SF on the 3rd as part of the SF Bluegrass Fest. Due to a scheduling snafu, this is an earlier than originally posted show, starting at 7 p.m. instead of 9. Also on the bill are Belle Monroe & Her Brewgrass Boys and the Spillit Quikkers. Santa Rosa House Concerts is presenting two shows of note this month. On the 3rd you can see Richard Berman, who, with a wry sense of humor, weaves through musical genres with a master's touch. His songs defy labels like folk or pop - they are simply songs you must hear for yourself. And on the 10th you can see acclaimed Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph. Dubbed the Welsh "Springsteen," Martyn's questing spirit and soulful muse make for songs praised for their outstanding lyrical intelligence. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6 p.m., show starts 7 p.m. Admission is $20 for Berman, and $25 for Joseph. Reservations are required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. North Bay fiddler and guitarist Doug Adamz will be sittin' in with Andrew Freeman at Murphy's on the 3rd, and then his trio of Bill Amatneek and Rusty Gauthier will play at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 23rd. Santa Rosa's Rory McNamara's new band The Ring of Truth Trio (Rory on guitar and vocals, Henry Nagle on pedal-steel and guitars, and Muir Houghton on bass) will be performing some originals and American traditional songs as well as some fairly obscure cover material at The Plough & Stars in SF on the 3rd at 9 p.m. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Avett Brothers on the 3rd, It's A Beautiful Day on the 10th, Corinne West on the 11th, The Baguette Quartet on the 14th, The Lara Price Band on the 23rd, Rustler's Moon on the 25th, and more. Lauralee Brown & Company, besides appearing at Saylor's on the 3rd, will be winding up their Sausalito World Tour on the 4th at Caffe Trieste from 7-10 p.m., playing jazz and beyond. The band is Bob Brumalo on guitar, Jack Prendergast on bass, Tom Peplinski on drums, and Lauralee on vocals. Then, on the 6th, see Lauralee and Denise Leigh play folk-style music from the 60s and 70s as well as some very fine original songs at the Ward Street Café in Larkspur from 7-9 p.m. The David Thom Band will be playing traditional bluegrass at a house concert in his own home in the town of Sonoma on the 6th, playing on instruments of Greg Boyd, who owns House of Vintage Instruments. You can go by David's house on the 5th and 6th during the day to look and play what is on display. The band will then be at McGrath's in Alameda for the SFBOTF on the 9th, and at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 16th. On Wednesday the 7th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. This show will feature Hot Buttered Rum as the headliner and the new trio known as The Mountain Boys as the opener. Hot Buttered Rum is a young band that plays what they call "high altitude bluegrass," and they feature hot pickin' and singing with a mix of original and traditional songs played with lots of energy. They are attracting a truly multi-generational audience with its ability to create an undeniably hip and fresh sound that weaves together the grounded traditions of folk and bluegrass with the modern influences of rock-n-roll, reggae and acoustic singer/songwriters. HBR's musical evolution has not only defined their sound, with their extensive touring schedule, the band has become established as one of the nation's hottest young touring acts since setting off as a group of friends on a trail in the high Sierras in the early part of the decade. Three of the members grew up in Mill Valley. The band is Aaron Redner sawing the fiddle, Zac Matthews on mandolin, Nat Keefe picks the guitar, Bryan Horne holds down the bass, and Erik Yates plays multiple instruments. Their most recent CD is titled Well Oiled Machine. Opening the show will be The Mountain Boys, featuring Jacob Groopman (Lost Coast Bluegrass) on guitar, Tim Hicks on mandolin, and Andrew Conklin on bass. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 7th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and join the hosts for a Guinness. 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 Todd Hallawell & Robin Kessinger (back-to-back National Guitar Champions) on the 8th at 8 p.m., and Laurence Juber on the 22nd at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Be my Valentine. Beat the rush on Valentine's Day and celebrate the big event a few days earlier. Take that special someone to a show and donate to a good cause at the same time. Head on out to the Dance Palace on Friday the 9th for a West Marin Valentine's tradition of acoustic Americana duets at the Sweethearts of the Radio show featuring Peter Rowan with a very special surprise musical sweetheart, plus the duos Solid Air and Keystone Crossing, along with Paul Knight, Jody Stecher and others. The show starts at 8 p.m. and it will benefit public radio station KWMR, located at 89.3 and 90.5 on your FM dial. Contact KWMR for ticket info. Wagon, the five-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing on the 9th at 8:30 p.m. at the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa, and on the 28th at 9 p.m. at Finnegan's Marin in Novato. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor at The Bistro in Hayward on the 9th, at The Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 18th, and at The Jack Douglas Saloon in Columbia on the 25th. Peter Rowan, besides playing the Dance Palace show, as part of the SF Fest will also headline at the Noe Valley Ministry in SF on the 10th with a band consisting of Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight. The Alhambra Valley Band will open. Peter will also play a benefit at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 11th. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be featuring Peppino D'Agostino on the 10th. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Nate Cooper and Kyler England on the 10th in Fairfax, and Jana Losey on the 23rd in San Rafael. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 10th at A'Roma Roasters & Café in Santa Rosa at 8:30 p.m., and at The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa on the 23rd at 8:30 p.m. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will performing at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 11th and 25th with Namely Us, and on the 15th with Kimberlye Gold. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 13th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Ain't Misbehavin' trio performs acoustic Western & vintage swing, jazzy ballads, originals, etc., at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes on the 16th, starting at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Come for the great food and ambience, stay for the hot fiddlin' and silly magic tricks! Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music at Peri's in Fairfax on the 17th. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. Check out their web site and listen to some tunes. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See the best in bluegrass with Blue Highway on the 18th (Jim Nunally and Keith Little opening), Todd Snider (and Audrey Auld Mezera opening) on the 21st, Hapa on the 23rd, Robert Earl Keen on the 28th, and others. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting John Gorka on the 18th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. 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. Remembering Chip Dunbar. On the 24th there will be a musical day celebrating the life and musical influence of master musician and mandolin maestro, Chip Dunbar. On November 26th Chip passed away unexpectedly. Through his work as a music teacher he touched many lives, tutoring many in the fine arts of American Roots music on the mandolin, guitar, fiddle and banjo. His many bands are the stuff of folk music legend in Sonoma County: HiJinks, The Eclecti-cats, Terra Nova and Under the Radar. He was a tireless volunteer for the Sonoma County Folk Society, a brilliant sound engineer, songwriter and bandleader. The show at 8 p.m. at the New College of California in Santa Rosa will feature The Mighty Chiplings, The Ruminators, Don Coffin, Phil Lawrence, Gary Knowlton, Solid Air, Ted Dutcher & Ellen Silver, Sara Winge & Company, Caren Armstrong, Modern Hicks, and Kevin Russell & The Elder Chiplings. Tickets are only $10, and for information/reservations call (707) 824-1858. Tickets also available at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. This event is also a benefit for KRCB radio, 91.1 FM. Earlier in the day there will be a radio show to pay tribute to Chip and it will also offer a preview of the evening performances (listen in to Our Roots are Showing, 1-5 p.m., for the radio tribute). The radio show will feature recorded performances from Chip's various bands, as well as conversations with many of his former band mates (including Don Coffin, Ted Dutcher, Sara Winge & Kevin Russell). 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 25th. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts. Email at lencarl@comcast.net for more info. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Mandolin prodigy (and member of the band Nickel Creek) Chris Thile and his How To Grow A Band ensemble will appear at The Independent on the 25th. Showtime is 8 p.m. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: SOUNDSTAGE - NEW YORK DOLLS 2/04 12:02 a.m.: "The New York Dolls are still one of the most influential bands around. Creating punk rock before the genre had a name, the group officially broke up in 1977. But in 2004, Morrissey, who was a huge fan, asked the group to perform. They reunited to a rousing reception. The New York Dolls' story lives on as the group released its third studio album, One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This in 2007. The Dolls' invigorating performance is a celebration of punk's roots. From its rousing cover of Bo Diddley's 'Pills' to new revved-up tunes such as the R&B-infused 'Take a Good Look at My Good Looks' and the fueled 'Gimme Love & Turn on the Light,' it's a triumphant return to form." BROADWAY'S BEST AT POPS 2/04 noon: "This program takes viewers back to the most memorable moments from the past 35 years of Evening At Pops. Featuring the renowned conductors of the Boston Pops - Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and Keith Lockhart - the program celebrates the Pops collaborations with all-star guest performers from Broadway, including Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr., Bonnie and John Raitt, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines and many more, in addition to interviews with Broadway greats." BROADWAY - THE AMERICAN MUSICAL #101-106 2/04 1-7 p.m.: "This six-part series chronicles the history of this uniquely American art form. Hosted by Julie Andrews, it tells two stories: the 100-year history of musical theater, and the story of its relationship to 20th-century American life, from the immigrant experience at the turn of the century to today's Broadway, where big budget new productions and revivals of classic favorites compete side by side for box office success." BILLY STRAYHORN - LUSH LIFE 2/06 11 p.m.: "As Duke Ellington's co-composer, arranger and right-hand man, Billy Strayhorn wrote some of the greatest American music of the 20th century. But as a gay man in the '40s and '50s, Strayhorn had to lead a discreet existence, while Ellington played to thunderous applause on center stage. The program tells the story of the unheralded man who changed jazz and popular music forever, maintaining artistic and personal integrity, while challenging prejudice along the way." DEFORD BAILEY - A LEGEND LOST 2/08 11:30 p.m.: "Harmonica virtuoso DeFord Bailey was one of the first stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Yet history knows almost nothing of this lost legend. In the 1930s, at the height of Jim Crow, rising country stars like Bill Monroe and Roy Acuff would take DeFord on the road because they knew that his name and talent would draw crowds. Because his medium was radio, listeners never knew that DeFord was black until they saw him live. He would often sacrifice comfort, dignity and safety to travel and perform. Considered one of the most unexplained events in Grand Ole Opry history, DeFord left the stage in the early 1940s and refused to perform professionally. This half-hour documentary tells the story of DeFord's career and early departure from the stage, and reveals how black musicians have influenced many legends of country music. Lou Rawls narrates." ELLA FITZGERALD LIVE IN '57 AND '63 2/10 6 p.m.: "Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most beloved and influential jazz vocalists of the twentieth century. With her three octave vocal range, uncanny interpretive abilities and a mastery of the improvisational technique known as 'scat,' she earned 13 Grammy Awards as well as innumerable other honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom." LEE ANN WOMACK WITH SPECIAL GUEST JULIE ROBERTS 2/11 midnight: "Two-time Grammy winner Lee Ann Womack's performance spans music from her 1997 platinum-selling eponymous debut through 2005's There's More Where That Came From. Joining Lee Ann Womack is special guest Julie Roberts, who was discovered inadvertently by her boss, Luke Lewis, at Mercury records while Roberts was working as a receptionist. Roberts performs classic country hits such as 'When Will I Be Loved' as well as her hit 'Smile.'" SATCHMO - THE LIFE OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG 2/12 11 p.m., 2/17 3 a.m.: "A self-taught trumpet player and singer burst onto the scene at age 17 in 1918, replacing the legendary King Oliver in Kid Ory's band. Over the next six decades he would turn the world of music on its ear and become one of the world's most recognized and best-loved entertainers. He recorded albums in every conceivable genre, from country to show tunes, toured the globe and influenced virtually 'every musician of worth in popular music or jazz,' as Tony Bennett says in this film by Gary Giddins. He was also an outspoken symbol of the civil rights movement, making a goodwill tour of western Africa and refusing to patronize New York clubs from which he had once been excluded. Named Best Music Video by Jazz Times Magazine in 1989, this film tracks Armstrong's life and career through recordings, performance footage, rare home movies, and interviews with friends and colleagues - among them Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Lester Bowie, Dexter Gordon, Milt Hinton and many others." RAT PACK - A CONFERENCE OF COOL 2/15 8 p.m.: "For a glittering five-year period Frank Sinatra and a group of Hollywood stars became the bad boys of fame - and the unofficial rulers of American society. They christened themselves the Rat Pack. Each member, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and Sinatra, was already a star in his own right. Together they were unassailable. Whether performing on stage in the lounges of Las Vegas or acting the fool on the set of movies such as Ocean's Eleven, the Rat Pack became a byword for all that was good and much that was bad about 1950s America. This program shows the heyday of the Rat Pack, from the parties with John F. Kennedy to the intrigues with the sinister forces of the Mafia." SAMMY DAVIS, JR. - ONE COOL CAT 2/15 8:53 p.m., 2/17 6 p.m.: "This program is a detailed and thoroughly entertaining look at the life and career of this American entertainment icon through the use of rarely seen archival performance footage and photos." SOUNDSTAGE - JEWEL 2/18 12:30 a.m.: "Three-time Grammy nominated Jewel is best known for her charismatic live performances. Whether she is on stage with her band, or solo, Jewel's stage presence is one of a consummate performer. She has managed to put her life's retrospective into her well-crafted songs, which are influenced by many music genres including rock, pop, country, jazz and classical. Jewel's Soundstage performance is not to be missed. Taped at the beautiful Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, she performs solo acoustic as well as with her band." GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - I PURITANI 2/18 noon: "Sensational Russian soprano Anna Netrebko - 'Audrey Hepburn with a voice,' according to one critic - has taken the opera world by storm, dazzling audiences in Vienna, Milan, Berlin New York and Los Angeles. Now she takes on the role of the fragile Elvira, who goes mad when abandoned at the altar, in Bellini's I Puritani. With its vocal fireworks and deep pathos, this has been a supreme role for great singing actresses, from Maria Callas to Beverly Sills. Tenor Eric Cutler stars as Lord Arturo Talbot." SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR LIVE IN CONCERT 2/18 5 p.m. 2/21 2:58 a.m.: "Having enjoyed the number one position on Billboard's World Music chart in the US with their first CD Voices from Heaven, the Soweto Gospel Choir is a vocal ensemble of international renown. Filmed during their 2005 Australian tour, this program showcases the group's vibrant repertoire from diverse African cultures and other international sources." CLOSE TO YOU - REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS 2/22 8 p.m., 2/24 3:58 a.m.: "A music-filled documentary that traces the Carpenters' career through the eyes of Richard Carpenter and the group's friends in the music business, features all of their top recording hits. There are interviews with Richard Carpenter, in addition to some of the group's longtime back-up singers and musicians, famous friends and colleagues, particularly those who helped them achieve stardom, including Herb Alpert, Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach and Petula Clark. It also contains rare footage of Richard and Karen, including home movies, concert performances, studio recording sessions and archival TV appearances and outtakes. Karen died unexpectedly at her parents' home in 1983 from heart failure at the age of 33, the result of anorexia nervosa. Since her death, Richard has worked continuously, going back into the studio to remix the Carpenters' repertoire for compilations." BEST OF THE BEATLES 2/22 9:02 p.m., 2/24 3 a.m.: "This program tells the untold story of the world's most famous band's formative years, as seen through the eyes of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. Viewers learn the truth about events in Liverpool and Hamburg at the time when the band was in the vanguard of popular music, and how it all went horribly wrong for Best, just as the Fab Four grasped the golden apple. For the first time, audiences hear of Best's pivotal role in forming the Beatles and his survival of a very public nightmare." AMERICAN MASTERS -THE WORLD OF NAT KING COLE 2/24 6 p.m.: "This film focuses not just on Nat King Cole's celebrity, but also on the civil rights movement and how the performer uniquely broke through major racial barriers in the entertainment industry - he was the first black American to have his own national radio show, in 1948, and the first black American to have his own television show, in 1956. His musical origins were as a young Chicago jazz pianist, but he became known - and accepted, even in those turbulent times - as a smooth singer. With open access to the Cole family - including, of course, his daughter Natalie - and his record label (EMI) archives, the program paints a picture of great courage." A STAR IS BORN (1954) 2/24 8 p.m.: "A classic showbiz tale: Declining movie star Norman Maine (James Mason) meets aspiring singer Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland), and their friendship blossoms into romance. But as her career takes off, and she becomes a bigger star than he was, he begins to drink himself to death out of bitterness. Eventually, his bad behavior begins to threaten the career of his long-suffering wife as well. The movie features Garland singing 'The Man That Got Away,' among other songs." JUDY GARLAND - DUETS 2/24 11 p.m.: "Not so long ago, an incredible music treasure - thought lost forever for more than three decades - suddenly surfaced: nearly 30 hours of Judy Garland at her early 1960's prime on television, comprising hundreds of solos and dozens of duets pairing 'the world's greatest entertainer' with many of the most legendary performers in history! This program is the direct result of that find - the one and only Garland in unforgettable performances with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Bobby Darin, Ethel Merman, Vic Damone, Mel Torme and Jack Jones. Also included: a charming, beguiling 17 year-old Liza (long before 'Cabaret') doing several songs with 'Mama' Judy Garland; a pre-Funny Girl 21 year-old Barbra Streisand bringing the house down with Judy in their now-legendary duet of 'Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again' and teaming again for the free-spirited 'Hooray for Love' medley." SOUNDSTAGE - RICKIE LEE JONES 2/25 12:02 a.m.: "Rickie Lee Jones is one of the most complex singer-songwriters of our time. Her career, which spans nearly three decades, has been full of unique musical expression. Jones' style has crossed many genres including folk, rock, jazz, soul, spoken word and pop. Her voice echoes that of a 40's jazz era performer, which has been an influence to many of today's performers including Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos. Rickie Lee Jones's inimitable Soundstage performance is a celebration of her career." STING - SONGS FROM THE LABYRINTH 2/26 11 p.m.: "A spectacular concert featuring an ageless legend performing some timeless music. Born in 1563 into an age of religious and political strife, English composer and court musician John Dowland has captivated performers and listeners alike since the late 16th century with his serene and introspective music. Composed primarily for lute, but also for small ensembles, Dowland's music remains arresting in its simplicity, spellbinding with melancholy and joy. It is perhaps inevitable that Sting - one of today's most internationally acclaimed troubadours - would be drawn to revisit Dowland's work from a contemporary perspective, some 400 years after the composer's death." SPARK - MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2/28 7:30 p.m.: "Spark finds that every musician has a chosen instrument that takes them on their creative journey. Organ player Wil Blades has jammed with the famous and holds court in clubs and classrooms of the Bay Area; world famous Lyric Soprano Barbara Bonney is known for her Lieder performances but she also teaches master classes to regular people; since 1981, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has been dedicated to reproducing historically informed performances on original instruments; then, meet Stephen Kent, a didgeridoo player from the UK." BIG BAND MAGIC! 2/28 9:54 p.m.: "War and the Depression melted away when the big bands started to play, and a generation forgot its troubles on the dance floor. This KQED-produced special takes a nostalgic look back at the dance halls and ballrooms that live only in memories - El Patio at Market and Van Ness, the Mural Room in the St. Francis Hotel, Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland, and many more. Filled with music, photos, archival films and dance sequences that recall the spirit of the age, the program tells a story that has remained untold for too long, revives the fondest memories of a generation, and treats viewers to a glimpse of this fabled past." INDEPENDENT LENS - STRANGE FRUIT 2/28 11 p.m.: "Radio stations banned it, but when Billie Holiday sang 'Strange Fruit' the whole world listened anyway. Sprung from the pen of an unknown Bronx schoolteacher named Abel Meeropol, the song continues to mesmerize musicians and civil rights advocates alike with its chilling vision of a lynching. This program shows how a little-known Jewish songwriter and an African-American icon created a song that changed America." *************************************************************************************************** January 15, 2007 The first of the month edition was a few days late going out, so to make up for it the mid-month update has now gone out a bit early. Forget about the holiday credit card bills and the already-broken New Year's resolutions, turn off the boob tube and get out into the sunshine while it is still here. It has been one unbelievably beautiful start to 2007 by the bay, but it can't last. Rains will be here before you know it, so make the most of things now. But if you are a couch potato and don't want to venture outside, there is plenty to watch on KQED-TV this month, as the station finally sent along its music TV listings. Scroll down to the bottom to see the schedule. Turn your radio on! On Saturday the 13th two Bay Area musical treasures, Maria Muldaur and The Stairwell Sisters, will be appearing on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion radio show on KQED-FM (88.5) in SF. Maria will be singing songs off of her most recent recording titled Heart of Mine: The Love Songs of Bob Dylan. The show will be broadcast from the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House on National Public Radio as well as on X/M and Sirius satellite. The show will air on KQED in the S.F. Bay Area at 6 p.m. on Saturday night, and then it is replayed at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. It is free to listen to on public radio. Outside of the SF area check your local public radio web site listings to see what time the show will be on. Carltone Productions has once again strung together another virtual 4th Annual North Bay Bluegrass Festival (shows at different venues over the course of two weeks), beginning on the 24th and going into mid-February. Almost-up-to-date details are already on the site, and more will appear here in the next edition. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are the acts that will make it into the hall this year: Van Halen, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes and Patti Smith. Dead in pink. There was a good story in the SF Chronicle Pink Section last weekend for all of you techies about what instruments, amps, mics, etc., were used by the Grateful Dead back in the day. Coming attractions. Over the years many folks have requested that we publicize events that sometimes are months away. The general rule here at Carltone World Headquarters is to take things one month at a time unless it is an event that is sure to sell out, like the Strawberry Music Festivals. From here on out, however, we will mention more festivals, since often times tickets, hotels, travel plans, etc., need to be made way in advance. We won't necessarily provide full details, but at the least there will be web links. The CBA's Second Annual Supergrass Festival will take place in Bakersfield on February 1st-4th, and you need to get your hotel reservations in now. Some of the bands to see there are JD Crowe and the New South, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands and High Country. The SF Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival will run from February 1st-10th. Wintergrass will be taking place in Tacoma, WA, on February 22nd-25th with Tim O'Brien, The Jerry Douglas Band, Blue Highway, The Greencards, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Darrell Scott Band, Uncle Earl, Three Fox Drive, Hot Buttered Rum, Chris Jones. and others. The Sonoma County Bluegrass Festival will take place on Saturday, March 10th, in Sebastopol, at a new location, the Sebastopol Community Center. Any Old Time String Band, Rustler's Moon, Adobe Creek, and others. Sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite. Opera singer Alison Trainer stayed at the Hilton Suites in November and claims she was bitten over 150 times by bedbugs before she was to appear in a production of Hansel and Gretel. She is suing the chain for $6 million, which will more than cover the cost of the room for one night, and which comes to about $40,000 a bite. It may seem like a lot of money, but it is about $5000 less than what Barry Zito will make every time he starts a game for the SF Giants this year. Unconfirmed reports have Trainer vowing to stay at the Motel 6 next time she is in Phoenix. Note to the singer: watch out for chiggers in the South… Talking with Linda. You can eavesdrop on a conversation with SF's Linda Ronstadt and the SF Chronicle's Steve Winn on the 19th at the Herbst Theatre at 8 p.m. if you want to pay $35 to attend the City Arts & Lectures series. Or, for $200 you can get a great seat and attend a dinner afterwards with the honored guest. If you cannot afford either of these prices, keep your ears tuned to KQED a week or two after the show, because they air some of the interviews on the radio. Bets are being placed here that this will be one of the ones that gets in the queue early on… Musical stamps. "The First Lady of Song," renowned jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, has been honored by the US Postal Service by having her face on a new 39-cent stamp that just came out this week. Spread the word of music when you pay your bills! Also, there is still a move in the bluegrass world to get bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe's face on a stamp. It has been a long struggle, but you can do your part by going to this site to find out what you can do to help make this happen. Police log. Wham, bam, not guilty, ma'am! Pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame as part of the duo called Wham! two decades back before embarking on a solo career, pleaded not guilty to charges of drugging and driving when he was found asleep at the wheel at an intersection in London some months back. He is claiming that the blood samples taken from him were illegal, and that the case should be thrown out. The female judge was not amused… All that glitters: rock 'n repeat sex offender Gary Glitter, who has been mentioned often here in the Police Log, may get out of jail early in Viet Nam due to a program where well-behaved felons can get voted out by their con, er, comrades. He is serving time for child molestation. His song "Rock and Roll (Part 2)" used to be played in sports arenas everywhere in the US, though it is unclear whether or not the ban on the song actually ever went into effect. Note to elementary school administrators - don't book this guy for any assemblies! Life's railway to heaven. Sneaky Pete Kleinow, a legendary pedal steel guitar player who played with the Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers in the early days of country rock, died on the 8th. He was 72. Bay Area blues harmonica player Red Archibald died on Christmas day. He was 53. A tribute to his life and music will be held February 11th at 2 p.m. at The Saloon on Grant Street in SF. Oakland jazz and punk promoter Wesley Anderson died of a heart attack on December 27th. He was 80. Additions Down, Not Out (electric & acoustic) will be at the Downbeat Lounge at Biscuits & Blues in SF on the 14th from 6-9 p.m., with no cover. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present super talented finger-style guitarist John Danley on the 26th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Marin's favorite (and only) old-time band The Roadoilers will be playing a Contra dance in Sebastopol at the Wischmann Hall on the 27th. Check out Under The Radar on the 27th when Kevin Russell, Ted Dutcher and Layne Bowen play bluegrass, swing, blues, folk and country at 8:30 p.m. at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Reminders At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday,
and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows
you can see are Culann's Hounds on the 12th, Outlaw Nation on the 20th,
Otis Scarecroe on the 24th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 28th, and Jelly
on the 29th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 12th, Sexy Sunday on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 18th, Lokoyokols on the 21st, the Harbor Rats on the 23rd, Trailer Park Rangers on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th, Dust Bowl Cavaliers on the 30th, Lariats of Fire on the 31st, and much more. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor on the 12th at The Bistro in Hayward and at Iron Springs on the 31st. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Lauralee Brown & Denise Leigh on the 12th, JSN Trio on the 13th, Clyde Jazz Duo on the 19th, Jazz Philosophy on the 20th, Mike Angel Duo on the 26th, and Dave Casini on the 27th. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting a songwriters-in-the-round show
on the 12th with Steve Seskin, Craig Carothers and Don Henry. Plan ahead
for John Gorka on February 18th. Tickets are available at the Last Record
Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Carolina Special on the 13th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 18th, The David Thom Band on the 26th, The Whutknotts on the 27th, Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack on the 28th, and others. 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 Pat Donohue on the 13th at 8:30 p.m., and
Catfish Keith on the 25th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended,
as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 13th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 20th it will be swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country
and western music in West Marin on the 13th at Smiley's in Bolinas for
a winter beach weekend. Show starts at 9 p.m. Check out their web site
and listen to some tunes. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also Odetta on the 14th, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings on the 19th, Peppino D'Agostino & Joe Miller on the 25th, and more. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 15th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. North Bay singer Adam Traum is at the Swig in SF from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. every Monday running the acoustic jam/open mic. It's a great place to play and/or listen and it's always free. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax.
Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer,
food and music. On the 17th it will be Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass
Boys, the Night Time String Band on the 24th, and The Sons of Emperor
Norton on the 31st 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. Speaking of Jan White, she will be having a CD release party on the
18th at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre with special guests David Nelson on
guitar, Barry Sless on pedal steel, Steve Shufton on keyboard/organ,
Paul Revell on drums, Pat Campbell on bass, and Bill Cutler on percussion.
Her new CD is titled Sonoma County Rose. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and
show at 8 p.m. The Pine Needles take their acoustic string band sound to the A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa on the 20th and to Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 26th. North Bay favorite Rory McNamara will play with former partner Stevie
Coyle (of The Waybacks) when their old duo The Frontmen performs at
The Larkspur Cafe Theater on the 24th accompanied by some of the members
of Rory's Ring of Truth Trio. The Trio (Rory on guitar and vocals, Henry
Nagle on pedal-steel and guitars, and Muir Houghton on bass) will also
be performing some originals and American traditional songs as well
as some fairly obscure cover material at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa
at 7:30 p.m. on the 25th. Michael Messer (of Those Darned Accordions)
will join them on percussion. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: SIERRA CENTER STAGE - GUY CLARK1/14 1:06 a.m.: "National treasure Guy Clark is joined by his frequent collaborator Verlon Thompson in a rousing performance of the widely celebrated Texas singer-songwriter's most popular tunes, including 'L.A. Freeway,' 'Stuff that Works, and 'Homegrown Tomatoes.' The show is capped with a surprise appearance by the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - SAM BUSH 1/14 2:02 a.m.: "Virtuoso American bluegrass musician Sam Bush plays mandolin, fiddle and guitar as well as being an accomplished bluegrass vocalist. A founding member of the New Grass Revival, Sam has been called a modern day Bill Monroe." SOUNDSTAGE - PETER FRAMPTON PART ONE 1/20 11 p.m.: "Peter Frampton was one of the most successful arena rock stars of the 70s. Frampton remains one of the most thrilling live performers around, and his two-part Soundstage performance is no exception. In the first hour, Frampton performs songs such as his classics 'Show Me the Way' and 'Nassau/Baby I Love Your Way.'" EVENING WITH THE DIXIE CHICKS 1/21 midnight: "The biggest-selling female band in history performs hits from their multi-platinum albums Wide Open Spaces (1998), Fly (1999) and Home (2002) at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Filmed in August 2002 just before the release of Home, this concert showcases the Dixie Chicks' stellar musicianship, unique vocal sound, engaging spirit and extraordinary ability to connect with an audience. Natalie Maines (lead vocals/guitar/papoose), Martie Maguire (harmony vocals/fiddle/mandolin/ viola) and Emily Robison (harmony vocals/banjo/dobro/papoose) sing 'Landslide,' 'Long Time Gone,' 'Wide Open Spaces,' 'Goodbye Earl' and more." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - STRUNZ AND FARAH 1/21 1 a.m.: "Winners of Billboard's World Beat Album of the Year (1992), Strunz and Farah offer their fiery Latin rhythms backed by hot Afro/Cuban rhythm sections and special guest, violinist Charlie Bisharat (Shadowfax)." GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET - THE MAGIC FLUTE 1/24 10 p.m., 1/28 noon: "Celebrated director Julie Taymor casts her spell on Mozart's masterpiece. Dancing bears, flying birds, even a giant serpent are all brought vividly to life through Taymor's ingenious use of puppetry. This abridged version of Mozart's opera is sung in English by an attractive young cast that includes Isabel Bayrakdarian (Pamina), Cornelia Gotz (Queen of the Night), Matthew Polenzani (Tamino), Nathan Gunn (Papageno) and Morris Robinson (Sarastro), conducted by beloved maestro James Levine." CELTIC WOMAN - A NEW JOURNEY 1/26 9 p.m., 1/27 4:30 p.m.: "The wonderfully talented original members are joined by a sixth Celtic Woman, the New Zealand born International recording star Hayley Westenra. Hayley, whose ancestors hailed from County Monaghan in Ireland, brought another great dimension to the show. The setting for the show which has seen performances by U2, The Rolling Stones & Bruce Springsteen was a perfect backdrop for the music and songs that were once again arranged and written by composer David Downes. The new show received a standing ovation from a very appreciative audience. The songs were a wonderful blend of old classics, contemporary hits and original material. The individual and collective performances of Celtic Woman were enthralling and took full advantage of the castle setting on a surprisingly warm night at the County Meath venue. The evening was hosted by Lord Henry Mount Charles whose home in Slane Castle is steeped in Irish history with the famous River Boyne running through its grounds, the mystery of Newgrange at its door and the hill of Tara home to the kings of Ireland at its rear." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 1/27 2:30 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." DEAD AHEAD - THE GRATEFUL DEAD IN CONCERT 1/27 9:30 p.m.: "In the fall of 1980, already so well-known that their San Francisco concert could be advertised without mentioning their name, they belatedly celebrated their 15th anniversary with a special concert tour that included an opening acoustic set, their first regular such set in a decade. That tour ended on Halloween night at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Highlights from that three-hour concert make up this Grateful Dead special. This tour was one of the key factors leading to the Dead's ascendancy to truly legendary status." LEGENDARY VICTOR BORGE 1/28 6:30 p.m.: "Victor Borge began his performing career with a piano debut in 1926 at the age of seventeen. For eight decades he'd been in the spotlight. 'The Great Dane,' as the beloved international humorist and musician is known, died just a few days before his 92nd birthday on January 3, 2001. This program is a fitting tribute, a smorgasbord of comedy and music from the Victor Borge archives, including never-before-broadcast Borge routines. This special also contains such classic comedy bits as 'Phonetic Pronunciation,' 'Inflationary Language,' 'The Timid Page Turner,' and many more." *************************************************************************************************** January 1, 2007 Welcome to the 73rd edition of Carltone's Corner! The New Year has arrived in earnest (the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters attended five parties in four days at year's end), and just when we thought the partying was over we realized that it was anniversary time here in the Corner. Six years ago the first two-page newsletter was sent out to about 30 people, and now the average is ten pages and 1,100 readers. While the party hats are still on and the noisemakers and confetti are strewn all over the office floor, we'll take a snort of champagne and start pecking away here at the keyboard, as we're staying the course and bringing you all the important music news in the North Bay (and sometimes a bit beyond). Just when you (and we) thought it was time for a break after the holidays, the calendar page has been turned and just like that there is a ton of stuff going on already… Gas up the car and head north as soon as you read this. Far north, that is, as in Portland. The RiverCity Bluegrass Festival will be happening from the 5th-7th and it is one incredible lineup for any time of the year, let alone on the first weekend of January. Many bluegrass legends will be there. Some of the acts you can see are Emmylou Harris & Carolina Star (John Starling, Mike Auldridge, Tom Gray, Rickie Simpkins, Jimmy Gaudreau), Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Longview (w/J.D. Crowe, James King, Don Rigsby, Marshall Wilborn, Lou Reid, Ron Stewart), Asleep At The Wheel, David Bromberg w/Angel Band, Larry Sparks, Bryan Bowers, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, and The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. Carltone Productions will once again be stringing together the virtual 4th Annual North Bay Bluegrass Festival (shows at different venues over the course of two weeks), beginning on the 24th and going into mid-February. Tentative details are already on the site, and more will appear here in the next edition. Were you there at the top ten musical performances in the North Bay in 2006? If you are not sure, read Matt Kramer's list in the recent edition of the Pacific Sun. The Waybacks garnered two slots, The David Thom Band and The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience each got one, and what do you know, Carltone's Hillbilly Hootenanny at Rancho Nicasio on Thanksgiving Weekend earned one as well. That's half the picks right there for acoustic and bluegrass related music! Strawberry alarm clock. As mentioned before here, the Strawberry Music Festival started selling tickets two months earlier than usual. So if you want to buy the all-festival ticket at the cheapest rate, you must do so by January 12th. The easiest way to do this is to go to the web site and buy with a credit card. Otherwise, if you got their holiday greeting in the mail, you can fill out the form and send it in. Or, you can still call the office the old-fashioned way and give them your card info. But don't delay! It takes a village. The sad news is that the venerable record store Village Music in Mill Valley will be closing its doors for good due to the skyrocketing cost of rent. The good news is that this won't be happening until September. Owner John Goddard, who has lived his entire life in Mill Valley, started working in the store in 1957 and then took it over in 1968. He will be selling all of his stock and memorabilia. Unless, of course, you want to buy the whole store and keep it open! . Soundtrack of your life. There is a website that you can go to where you can click on a year and hear the hit songs. Take a trip down memory lane by going here. You rap fans will be disappointed though. The only years covered are from 1952-82. Can't wait for that rap oldies station though… History lesson. If you were a fan of the late/great fiddle and banjo player John Hartford you simply have to get a copy of the CD from 2005 by his son Jamie Hartford. It is titled Part Of Your History, and Papa John wrote all the songs but the title cut. Jamie, who sounds a lot like his dad, wrote the title song, and it is a touching tribute. Lots of hot players are on the disc, including Sam Bush, John Cowan, Vassar Clements, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Ronnie McCoury, Dennis Crouch, Norman Blake, and others. Thanks to Doug Blumer for passing along this wonderful recording as a Christmas gift… Music on the air. Michael L. Castle's Rootstock & Vine Radio Show is on Saturday nights in the Sonoma Valley, at KSVY 91.3 FM. If you cannot pick it up on your transistor radio, go to the site and click on "LISTEN" and pick up the audio stream on the web. Show time is 5-7 p.m. He features the best of blues, bluegrass, country, Western Swing, old-time, singer/songwriters, Cajun, Zydeco, rock 'n' roll, Conjunto, Tejano, Norteno, Native American, and anything else he feels like playing. Myspace is not yourspace. If you are a North Bay performer and have
shows that you want to have mentioned in this newsletter, due to certain
restrictions here at Carltone World Headquarters we cannot access any
myspace.com web sites. So the interns cannot look at your gig pages.
Please send dates in a separate email. Can't we all just get along? There is a big feud brewing over legendary concert promoter Bill Graham's archives. The owner of Wolfgang's Vault, William Sagan, bought the archives in 2003, and is now being sued by artists who claim that he has no right to sell concert recordings and footage without permission from the performers. Can't we all just get along, part two: The sons of two soul singers are having a veritable dogfight of sorts. Lou Rawls Jr. filed a lawsuit against Marvin Gaye III in Los Angeles after reportedly being attacked by Gaye's dogs during a visit to Gaye's house in Hollywood in 2005. The verdict is in. The writer at first, just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale when the judge in the dispute over the rights to the song "Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum said that organist Matthew Fisher is entitled to 40% of the royalties from the hit song from over 40 years ago. Two months back we poked fun here at this lawsuit, yet the judge and the defendants found it no laughing matter. Alison does Tony. Alison Krauss & Union Station will tour with bluegrass guitar wizard Tony Rice this April, exclusively performing music from Rice's catalog. The tour will begin April 21st, but the shows will be mostly on the East Coast. Hopefully an album will ensue so the rest of us can enjoy it as well… Speaking of Tony and recordings, look for the new Peter Rowan & Tony Rice disc titled Quartet (with Bryn Davies and Sharon Gilchrist) to be released on the 23rd. Go to the Rounder Records web site for info. Normally we'd tell you to dash over to Tower Records to get a copy… Another Peter Rowan release that came out a few months back is titled Crucial Country, and it is a live recording from a performance at the Telluride Music Festival from 1994. It is one smokin' record of some of the best of Rowan's songs, with one hot version of "Land of the Navajo." With players such as Jerry Douglas, Larry Atamanuik, Sam Bush, Viktor Krauss and Kester Smith joining Peter on stage, how could it not be? Several country performers were among the artists included on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Top 50 albums of 2006. With Bob Dylan topping the list with Modern Times, Johnny Cash came in at No. 14 with American V: A Hundred Highways, The Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way was listed at No. 19 and Willie Nelson's You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker was No. 46. Wise career move. Maybe Jessica Simpson should stick to acting. Despite two separate attempts to sing the song "9 to 5," Simpson was not seen paying tribute to Dolly Parton during the Kennedy Center Honors telecast on CBS on December 26th. Simpson flubbed the words and appeared to become frustrated when she performed the song during the December 3rd taping in Washington, D.C. Simpson was later given a second chance to perform the song, but after seeing a tape, she asked that her second effort also be deleted from the show. Wise career move? Speaking of Willie and Jessica, they have been added to the cast of Blonde Ambition, a new film based on the 1988 movie, Working Girl. Nelson will play Simpson's grandfather. They previously co-starred in the 2005 flop version of The Dukes of Hazzard. Something to plan ahead for. The CBA's Second Annual Supergrass Festival will take place in Bakersfield on February 1st-4th, and you need to get your hotel reservations in now. Some of the bands to see there are JD Crowe and the New South, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, Special Consensus, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Lost Highway, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands and High Country. Also, Wintergrass will be taking place in Tacoma, WA, on February 22nd-25th with Tim O'Brien, The Jerry Douglas Band, Blue Highway, The Greencards, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Darrell Scott Band, Uncle Earl, Three Fox Drive, Hot Buttered Rum, Chris Jones and others. Band scramble. Brewglass Boy Ted Silverman has another new ensemble that he is calling the Fireball Mailmen. They are an electric hillbilly band playing fiddle tunes, bluegrass, country jazz, swing, blues and rockabilly songs. Members are Ted, Mitch Polzac, Billy Wilson, Josh Lazarus, and David Hymowitz. See them make their public debut at Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax on the 3rd. Mandolin player Thomas Wille, dealing with tendonitis, has left Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds. Bass player Pat Campbell stepped out a month or two back as well. The rest of the band (Julay, Larry Cohea and Jim Mintun) is using rotating players for the time being. You can see them at the Prince of Wales in San Mateo on the 4th and at McGrath's in Alameda on the 27th. Lost Coast (formerly Donner Mountain) guitarist Jacob Groopman has a new side project called The Mountain Boys that features Jacob on guitar, Tim Hicks on mandolin, and Andrew Conklin on bass. And rockabilly band 1/4 Mile Combo is searching for a new female vocalist. They're looking for someone with experience and a strong appreciation of rockabilly/country/roots music. Get out your handkerchiefs. One way or the other, here is a rumor to be crying over: Model Kate Moss either said "I do" or "I don't" to Pete Doherty, the oft-arrested-for-drug-abuse and lead singer of the band Babyshambles. A British rag reported that the happy couple got married recently in Thailand, though the two deny it. Doherty, voted the "coolest man on the planet" by British Magazine NME in 2004, slipped to number 28 by 2006. Getting arrested a few times will do this to one's ranking… Police log. DUI - drugging under the influence: Trey Anastasio, the former front man of the band Phish, was popped for drugging while driving on December 15th in New York. Life's railway to heaven. Brien Hopkins, a Mill Valley musician and songwriter, died on January 1st after taking a fall. He was 60. In 1971 he moved to England with Mill Valley's Austin deLone, and they were credited with jump-starting the pub-rock scene with their band called Eggs Over Easy. There was a story about deLone in the Marin IJ last October that includes a photo of Brien in the Eggs, and you can see it here. There will be a memorial gathering for him at Sweetwater on Tuesday the 9th at noon. James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, died in Atlanta, GA, on Christmas morning from pneumonia and congestive heart failure at age 73. Country singer Del Reeves, who had a big hit in 1956 with "The Girl on the Billboard," died on the 1st in Nashville after a long illness. He was 74. Dennis Linde, a well-known songwriter in Nashville, died on December 22nd from lung disease. He was 63. He wrote "Burning Love," which was a huge hit for Elvis Presley in 1972, as well as the song "Goodbye, Earl" for the Dixie Chicks. Onward to the calendar… Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 3rd it will be Fireball Mailmen, Django Obscura on the 10th, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on the 17th, the Knight Time String Band on the 24th, and The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 31st. At 19 Broadway in Fairfax there is Derek Smith's open mic every Monday, and Danny Uzilevsky's Solo Sessions every Tuesday. Some of the shows you can see are Jelly on the 3rd (and 29th), the Grass Cats on the 4th, Buddy Owen on the 7th, Culann's Hounds on the 12th, Outlaw Nation on the 20th, Otis Scarecroe on the 24th, and The Jeb Brady Band on the 28th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 4th and the 18th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Mill Valley chanteuse Maria Muldaur will be performing two shows with songs from her latest recording Heart of Mine: The Love Songs of Bob Dylan at Yoshi's at Jack London Square in Oakland on the 4th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Matt Lax & Mike Stadler on the 4th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 5th, the Celtic jam on the 7th, Andrew Freeman on the 6th, Megan McLaughlin on the 11th, Carolina Special on the 13th, Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 18th, The David Thom Band on the 26th, The Whutknotts on the 27th, Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack on the 28th, and others. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See the Greg Cross Band on the 4th, The Jakes on the 6th, Leon Bristow Band on the 10th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 12th, Sexy Sunday on the 14th, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 18th, Lokoyokols on the 21st, the Harbor Rats on the 23rd, Trailer Park Rangers on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 28th, Dust Bowl Cavaliers on the 30th, Lariats of Fire on the 31st, and much more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 25th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. See Blue Turtle Seduction on the 4th, Freddie Hughes with special guest George Michalski on the 5th, Aram Danesh on the 6th, Victoria George on the 10th, Nick Gravenites on the 13th, the James Moseley Band on the 14th (and 28th), Kimrea & Dreamdogs on the 17th, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 24th, Vinyl on the 26th, Michael LaMacchia's Organic Jive Collective on the 31st, and more. The Alpha 2007 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will be hosting a benefit for their neighbors whose houseboat burned the night of December 16th. Jazz vocalist Deborah Winters will be there on the 5th at 8 p.m. Suggested donation is $20 to benefit the Nelson family. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Out in West Marin at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station join the International Folk Dance Party on the 5th with dances from Greece, Bulgaria, Rumania, Israel and more. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly with a jazz flavor on the 5th at Demarco's 23 Club in Brisbane, then on the 6th go to a hoedown at the historic Monroe Dance Hall in Santa Rosa, to The Bistro in Hayward on the 12th and finally the band will be at Iron Springs on the 31st. (Not Grateful) Dead singers tributes. There will be two events in SF this month with multiple bands honoring two hard-partying-and-as-a-result-now-dead-and-revered singer/songwriters. On the 5th at 9 p.m. it will be the Townes Van Zandt Tribute at 12 Galaxies in the Mission district. The bands will be Court and Spark, Etienne De Rocher, Four Year Bender duo, Alela Diane/Jeffrey Luck Lucas/Tom Heyman, and Mike Therieau w/Dave Gleason, Bob Frank and John Murry. Then on the 13th at the Great American Music Hall at 8 p.m. it will be the 7th Annual Sleepless Nights/Gram Parsons Tribute & Benefit, featuring Dave Gleason's Wasted Days, Red Meat, Mover, The Real Sippin' Whiskey's, Paula Frazer & Patrick Main, Sweetbriar, and others. The North Bay band The Pine Needles take their acoustic string band sound to the Black Cat in Penngrove on the 5th, the Starry Plough in Berkeley on the 6th, A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa on the 20th, and Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 26th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Enjoy Wendy DeWitt on the 5th, Rebecca Griffin on the 6th, Lauralee Brown & Denise Leigh on the 12th, JSN Trio on the 13th, Clyde Jazz Duo on the 19th, Jazz Philosophy on the 20th, Mike Angel Duo on the 26th, and Dave Casini on the 27th. North Bay singer Adam Traum will be playing on the 5th from 6-9 p.m. at the Downbeat Lounge (upstairs at Biscuits and Blues) in SF. Sitting in will be Jimmy Sweetwater on harmonica and washboard and Pat Campbell on bass. As a special treat, Stevie Coyle (of The Waybacks) will be there as well, and will be playing a few of his own tunes. There's no cover and it's all ages. On the 8th Adam will be back at the Swig in SF from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. running the acoustic jam/open mic after the holiday hiatus. It's a great place to play and/or listen and it's always free. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to be on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 6th and the 13th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 20th it will be swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. North Bay favorite Rory McNamara has a busy month. He will play with The Mild Colonial Boys on the 6th at the San Grergorio General Store (down the Peninsula) from 2:30-5:30 p.m. His new band called The Ring of Truth Trio (Rory on guitar and vocals, Henry Nagle on pedal-steel and guitars, and Muir Houghton on bass) will be performing some originals and American traditional songs as well as some fairly obscure cover material at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 7:30 p.m. on the 11th and 25th. Michael Messer (of Those Darned Accordions) will join them on percussion. And on the 24th The Frontmen (Rory and his former partner Stevie Coyle of The Waybacks) will appear at The Larkspur Cafe Theater accompanied by some of the members of the Ring of Truth Trio. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Gary Vogensen & Bobby Black on the 7th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 12th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 13th, Matt Lax & Nearly Beloved at 3 p.m. and Jose Nieto at 7:30 p.m. on the 14th, Stompy Jones on the 20th, Houston Jones on the 21st, Lara Price on the 26th, Jerry Hannan on the 28th, and more. Are Stompy and Houston related? Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 9th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also Al Kooper on the 10th, Steve Seskin/Don Henry/Craig Carothers on the 11th, Odetta on the 14th, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings on the 19th, Peppino D'Agostino & Joe Miller on the 25th, and more. 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 can be heard on KSVY in Sonoma on the 10th at 8 p.m., she will play at Sweetwater on the 17th with the band, and then as a duo on the 18th at Murphy's. On the 31st she will also be on the Bruce Latimer TV show out of Pacifica. Hot ticket. Another Planet Entertainment and KFOG present An Evening of American Acoustic Music in SF on the 11th at the Palace of Fine Arts featuring David Bromberg & Angel Band and the Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting a songwriters-in-the-round show on the 12th with Steve Seskin, Craig Carothers and Don Henry. Plan ahead for John Gorka on February 18th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Doug Adamz and his Trio Bravo will appear at the Station House Cafe in Pt. Reyes Station on the 12th starting at 7 p.m., he will perform solo a little further south on the 20th at The University of Texas at El Paso Dinner Theatre, and then he will be part of The Whutknotts at Murphy's on the 27th along with Don Rich and yours truly. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at Slim's in SF on the 12th along with the Mother Truckers and Four Year Bender. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Beausoleil on the 12th, Lavay Smith on the 13th, The Dixie Dregs on the 15th, Tower of Power on the 21st, and Dar Williams on the 28th. 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 Pat Donohue on the 13th at 8:30 p.m., and Catfish Keith on the 25th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. At the Marin Civic Center you can see The California World Guitar Show (which is put on by Texas Style Guitar Show), which will be returning on the 13th and 14th. Instrument experts from all over the world will be there, along with dealers, artists, collectors, foreign buyers, authors and celebrities. The show will also feature exhibits of old, rare, celebrity-owned, new and used guitars, amps, banjos, effects, memorabilia and equipment. It is unclear on the center's site as to whether or not Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be there on the 26th. They list ticket info about the show yet the word "canceled" also appears in the headline. Wagon, the five-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble from Marin, will be playing a house party hoedown on the 13th at Epic Art Studios in Berkeley starting at 8 p.m. Also on the bill are The Skinny String Gals and The Backyard Party Boys. The Farallons will be crooning their soulful folk on the 13th at A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa and then at the Black Rose on the 26th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Pilar on the 13th, Jan White (see below) on the 18th, Mike Gibbons on the 19th, Blame Sally on the 20th, Sheila Glover on the 21st, The Frontmen on the 24th, and Pete Escovedo & Ray Obiedo on the 27th. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music in West Marin on the 13th at Smiley's in Bolinas for a winter beach weekend. Show starts at 9 p.m. Check out their web site and listen to some tunes. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Mike Gibbons on the 13th. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Mill Valley's Matt Lax has a three county tour lined up. Besides playing at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 4th Matt and his band Nearly Beloved will be at the Riptide in SF on the 13th, and at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin on the 14th. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will performing solo live on the 14th on KPIG radio in the morning from 10-noon, and then at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax with Namely Us in the evening. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 15th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Speaking of Jan White, she will be having a CD release party on the 18th at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre with special guests David Nelson on guitar, Barry Sless on pedal steel, Steve Shufton on keyboard/organ, Paul Revell on drums, Pat Campbell on bass, and Bill Cutler on percussion. Her new CD is titled Sonoma County Rose. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. The David Thom Band, besides being at Murphy's on the 26th, will be playing traditional bluegrass at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 19th. Ain't Misbehavin' appears on the 19th at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes. Acoustic swing, jazzy ballads, banjo tunes and originals, starting at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music, and the show on the 25th at 8:30 p.m. will feature Homespun Rowdy as the headliner and The Barefoot Nellies as the opener. Homespun Rowdy is a hard-driving, straight-ahead bluegrass band making its home in San Francisco. Young and energetic but traditionally minded, they perform classic vocal trios around a single microphone, creating powerfully raw harmonies, and a visually dynamic stage show. Each set is full of many of the original songs featured on their recently released, self-titled debut CD, Homespun Rowdy, and seasoned with little known bluegrass gems and honky-tonk nuggets. HSR is Richard Wagner on guitar, Dave Zimmerman on mandolin, Ryan Carter on bass, Dave Walker on banjo, and Alisa Rose on fiddle. The Bay Area's finest all-gal bluegrass band, The Barefoot Nellies, combine driving, high lonesome vocals, soaring sister duo and trio harmonies, and tasteful picking inspired by traditional bluegrass musicians like Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, and the Stanley Brothers. Although firmly rooted in the traditional sounds, the Nellies subtly blend together their diverse musical influences, from Balkan singing to Texas fiddling and hot swing to honky-tonk, bringing a drive and energy to their playing that takes them far beyond the "girl group" label. Old-time is not a crime! The Mercury Dimes will be playing old-time music out at the Old Western in Point Reyes Station on the 26th. Resin up that bow! The 32nd Annual Cloverdale Old-Time Fiddle Contest will take place on the 26th-27th in the town of Cloverdale. Tom Rigney & Flambeau will perform on the night of the 26th, with the contest on the 27th. The Petaluma Church Concerts series is presenting The Bill Evans String Summit on the 27th at 8 p.m. Three of the fastest rising stars of the acoustic music scene join with three seasoned masters for a rare performance in Petaluma. The concert takes place at First Church of Christ Scientist, 522 B Street (corner of 6th). The group combines the talents of five time National Champion fiddlers Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, dobro player Michael Witcher (from Dolly Parton's touring band and the Laurel Canyon Ramblers), guitarist Scott Nygaard (from Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, Tim O'Brien, Chris Webster), bass player Cindy Browne (who has played with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton and Mel Torme and Due West), and banjo player and band leader Bill Evans (Dry Branch Fire Squad, Due West, and others). Don't miss Audrey Auld Mezera & Nina Gerber on the 27th at the Stinson Beach Community Center at 7.30 p.m. Special guests With River and Sharon Allen. 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 in January is the 28th. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts. Email at lencarl@comcast.net for more info. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info. Music Television. There is usually some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area, but this month the station had not sent out their schedule by press time. *************************************************************************************************** December 15, 2006 As the year 2006 rapidly comes to an end, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters would like to send out hearty thanks and holiday greetings to you (and to all the new readers as well) for supporting this publication over the years. Your kind words and occasional tips are what keep us going, and we'll keep on putting this newsletter together as long as folks find it useful. Have a grand holiday season, and we'll see you back here in the New Year! Just because it is the holiday season, however, does not mean that the elves here at CWH have been out partying and slacking off. Besides the shopping madness there are still a lot of shows and events to check out if you want to chill out and give a gift to yourself. Whatever you do for the next two weeks, have a jolly old time and do such in moderation. Or, at the least, have a designated driver. But don't employ Yoko Ono's driver… Oh, no, Yoko, say it ain't so! Former Beatle John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono's longtime driver Koral Karsan was arrested on extortion charges this week and bail was set for $500,000. He apparently "had people on standby waiting to kill her" if she didn't pay up. I guess he won't be getting a Christmas bonus this year. Or maybe this is why he was trying to shake her down! Closed for alterations. Caren Armstrong's monthly Celebrating Songwriters showcase at the Larkspur Café Theatre has come to an end for the foreseeable future. The series will go on hiatus while Caren returns to the studio to make a new recording. Several of the songs written for this series will be included on her new Wildplum Recordings CD. Thanks to everyone who turned out to support the shows, and to all the songwriters who shared their gifts. Fishwrap roundup. There was a nice story in the Oakland Tribune recently about South Bay 13 year-old flatpicking guitarist Molly Tuttle. You can read the story here.hronicle this week by dinosaur scribe Joel Selvin about R&B singer Sugar Pie DeSanto, who recently lost her husband and all of her earthly belongings in a fire. And in the Marin Independent Journal there was a story about The Mayflower Chorus, who recently made a trip to the Czech Republic to perform some concerts. The day the music died. There have been many eulogies about the demise of Tower Records in newspapers around the country. There is also a story in The Nation magazine. Making a list and checking it twice. Just as a reminder, in case you missed this in the previous issue, here are some great gift ideas for you flustered shoppers. Memberships to the California Bluegrass Association and the Northern California Bluegrass Society are the gifts that keep on giving all year round. Tickets to festivals of both organizations, or the Strawberry Music Festivals, make for nice stocking stuffers. And, of course, there is the gift of music. Here is the incomplete list of Carltone recommendations of local acts with new CDs this year. Buy direct from the artist, cut out the middleman, and support your local musicians: Peter Rowan - Crucial Country; High Country - High Country - The First 25 Years; Doug Adamz - Guitar Solos; Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You; Alhambra Valley Band - Willow Pass Road; Maria Muldaur - Heart of Mine; The Circle R Boys - Rare Bluegrass Recordings; Jan White - Sonoma County Rose; The Earl Brothers - Troubles To Blame; Hot Buttered Rum - Well Oiled Machine; Larry Potts - All Things Considered; Blame Sally - Severland; Michael Koppy - Red River Redux; Sherry Austin - Drive On Back; Ginny Mitchell - Just To Hear Your Voice; Jayme Kelly Curtis - Sugar & Sand; Michael Gaither - Spotted Mule and Other Tales; Kimrea - Monday Nights at the No Name; Sylvia Herold & Eyphonia - Lovely Nancy; Marshall Rhodes - Marshall Rhodes; Howdy! - Stranger; The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience - The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience; The David Thom Band - Live At The Majestic. And don't forget that Marin County's own Dr. Elmo, the man who brought us everyone's favorite holiday tune, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," has all kinds of cool stuff available on his web site. Recycle, man! Mill Valley native Larry Holman (and longtime drummist in countless bands) moved to Oregon some years back, but along the way he took reels of footage and has finally finished his documentary about recycling called Respect Yo' Mama, and the soundtrack features Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, Jules Broussard, Danny Hayes, The Old Gray Zipper, and lots more acts. Go to his site and order a copy of the film in time for X-Mas! Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men, and Salman Rushdie must die! Please remember the third part of the previous sentence when you start getting nostalgic for Cat Stevens (who for the past two decades or so has been going by the name Yusuf Islam) and are considering buying his new CD titled An Other Cup. Don't buy it! He walked away from the music biz many years back, became a Muslim (which is fine, we have no problem with someone becoming religious), and then called for the death of writer Rushdie after the release of his book titled The Satanic Verses (we do have a problem with this). Stevens/Islam is back, trying to make some cash, and the major media folks have conveniently forgotten what he said back in 1989. He was quoted in the New York Times as saying that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of Rushdie, ''I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing.'' He also said that, if Rushdie were to appear at his door in need of help, ''I might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like. I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is.'' National Public Radio will air a live concert and interview with him soon, and the bets here are that no questions will be asked about the Catman's words from 17 years ago… BG goes C&W. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees recently moved from England to Nashville, and he bought Johnny Cash's house. There was a reception for him at BMI publishing this week, and some hot Nashville bluegrass pickers picked some Bee Gees songs bluegrass style. David Harvey on mandolin (Claire Lynch's band), Barry Crabtree on banjo, and both Jan Harvey and Patty Mitchell sang. Wiggle room. The Wiggles have replaced an original band member with someone new. What? You have never heard of The Wiggles? Where have you been? This band grossed over $40 million last year, and they are the kindergarten set's answer to the Beatles. They are an Australian quartet that sings songs for children (apparently mommies like some of the guys in the band as well) and lead singer Greg Page has had to retire due to an illness. The NY Times says, "This is the equivalent of Lennon and McCartney quitting the Beatles." The good news for kids and moms alike is that a younger stud named Sam Moran is replacing Page. One man's junk is another man's treasure. A guy from Montreal recently bought an acetate copy of The Velvet Underground's first recording at a yard sale in New York for 75 cents, and then sold it at auction for $155,000. Audio geeks everywhere are now scanning their weekly papers for garage sales in their neighborhoods… A real Prince of a man. Football lovers everywhere can't wait for the Super Bowl (well, Bay Area fans will have to wait a few years yet for their teams to appear in the game) half-time event, because the artist-formerly-known-as-Prince-but-now-is-known-as-Prince-again will be performing. Now this is something to look forward to in the New Year… Get out your handkerchiefs. Last month it was reported here that singer Lance Bass, who is in the band 'N Synch (and who came out of the closet this past summer) and his partner Reichen Lehmkuhl were being threatened because of their sexuality (Lehmkuhl recently wrote a book titled "Here's What We'll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.") Well, now the couple have split up and gone separate ways. Band scramble. The new bluegrass band featuring Steve Gulley, Phil Leadbetter and Alan Bibey finally has a name, and they are calling themselves Grasstowne. David Talbot is out as banjo player of The Grascals, and the word is that he resigned from the band in order to play with Dolly Parton full-time. Aaron McDaris has stepped in, after leaving his gig with The Larry Stephenson Band. Dave Gooding, erstwhile founder/member of The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band, is now the new bass player in the California bluegrass band called Borderline. Police log. Life in the fast lane: Actress (and daughter of pop singer Lionel) Nicole Richie was arrested for DUI on December 10th in Los Angeles. Uh, her car was stopped while facing the wrong direction in the carpool lane. Oops! Amazingly so, unlike a well-known Hollywood actor/director, she did not unleash a tirade of racial epithets when she was popped…A life in shambles: Pete Doherty (lead singer of the band Babyshambles and more known as Mr. Kate Moss) is back in the news again, and this time not for his usual drug bust. Apparently someone either jumped or was pushed from a balcony to his death at a party at the home of Doherty's literary agent. Doherty and his entourage left to attend another party before the police arrived, and the victim's family wants him investigated...All you need is love: Rock singer Courtney Love, most famous as being the widow of Kurt Cobain, had drug and assault charges dropped after completing the terms of her probation. She has claimed that the well known Hollywood actor/director alluded to above has helped her remain on the straight and narrow…Bad rap: Rapper Foxy Brown, who was convicted and sentenced to probation for getting into a fight with a nail salon worker some months back, was back in court for violating the terms of her probation. She could end up in jail if she doesn't keep her nails, er, nose clean… Life's railway to heaven. News arrived way late about Greenbrae country singer Pam Nadale, who led a band for many years called Pam's Country Jam. She passed away in September from lung cancer at age 56. Dempsey Young, the mandolin player in the bluegrass band called Lost and Found, died in VA on the 9th, apparently taking his own life. He was 52. Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records back in 1947 and who recorded countless rhythm and blues singers, died in NY at age 83. He suffered from a fall a couple of months back and never recovered. One of his artists who had a big hit back then was Ruth Brown, a rhythm and blues pioneer who died last month at age 78 from complications of a heart attack and stroke in Las Vegas. She had hits such as "Teardrops From My Eyes" and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean." Logan Whitehurst, a founding member of the Bay Area indie rock band the Velvet Teen, died on the 2nd from brain cancer. He was only 29. Susan Raab Simonson, a Marin County actress and producer whose live productions from Los Angeles were recorded for broadcast over satellite and public radio, died in Marin County on November 27th after an eight-month battle with breast cancer. She was 37. Dave Black, a jazz drummer from the Alameda who played with Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, died on December 4th from pancreatic cancer. He was 78. Homer Ledford, longtime instrument maker and musician whose work is also on display at the Smithsonian Institute, died in KY on the 11th. He was 79. And thanks to everyone who attended the memorial service for Sebastopol's Chip Dunbar on the 2nd. A couple hundred people turned out on short notice to celebrate the all too short (52 years) life of one good guy and a great picker. Many will miss him. Additions North Bay singer/songwriter Adam Traum will be playing a happy hour show from 4:30-8 p.m. on the 15th with Jimmy Sweetwater at the new Biscuits and Blues upstairs lounge in SF. On the 23rd Adam will have an all-star band with him at Smiley's Schooner Saloon in Bolinas. In addition to Joe Kyle (Waybacks bassist) and Jimmy Sweetwater, he'll have Jamie Lease on drums and Whiskey Pills on second guitar and banjo. And Adam still hosts the Monday night acoustic jam at Swig in San Francisco from 9-1 (except on the 25th and January 1st). Musicians and listeners alike are welcome. Alt-country benefit. On the 17th Jenn and Maurice (from the band 77
El Deora) are going to be at the Rite Spot in San Francisco to play
an acoustic set and hang with some friends. Also on the bill will be
Yard Sale and Mike Therieau & Dave Gleason doing the acoustic duo
thing as well. It is a free event but you are encouraged to donate a
new unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots program. Show starts at 4:30 p.m. The new electric version of the band Down, Not Out will be playing at Biscuits & Blues on the 22nd from 11p.m.-1:30 a.m. There will still be plenty of acoustic stuff, but the band is moving in a direction toward the integration of the acoustic and electric. Some blues and country, and of course, a few Dead songs mixed in. Tie-dye optional. Jingle all the way. David Thom and Bill Houston will be leading a sing-along of holiday songs on Christmas Eve at Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma from 1-4 p.m. The Audrey Shimkas Jazz Duo with Jason Martineau on keyboard will be performing on the 31st at Cacciucco in Sausalito from 10:30 p.m.- 1 a.m. Lauralee Brown & Jay Stapleton will be playing intimate jazz & beyond at the Ward Street Cafe in Larkspur on the 31st starting at 8:30 p.m. This place has a very cozy, intimate atmosphere. The food is prepared daily for your health and dinning pleasure, enhanced by an exotic beer and wine list. Reservations are highly recommended. Reminders At the Sweetspot in Santa Rosa you can see Robert Herrara on the 15th and 21st, St. Peterbilt on the 22nd, John Courage on the 23rd, Phatty on the 31st, and lots more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge. Featured there this month is John Kelley on the 15th, The Tonewoods on the 22nd, High Country on the 23rd, David Thom & Bill Houston on the 24th, Greenhouse and The Carrtunes on the 31st, and more. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Lauralee Brown & Company on the 15th, Jazz Philosophy on the 16th, Lilan Kane & Melissa Tanor on the 22nd, Joan Getz on the 23rd, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 29th, and Norris Clement on the 30th. Some fine shows at the Larkspur Café Theatre this month are George Michalski & Friends on the 15th, Larkin Gayl on the 17th, Crystal City on the 22nd, and Daisy Dern and Dave Gibson on the 28th. The Pineneedles take the classic American mountain string band sound into several musical areas including cool jazz, Gypsy, funk, folk rock, old-time, newgrass, and folk. On the 15th see them at Servino in Tiburon. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Besides Hot Buttered Rum on the 15th, enjoy The Christmas Jug Band on the 16th, Tommy Castro on the 31st, and more. The Mayflower Chorus will be performing their annual holiday show at The Playhouse in San Anselmo Seminary at 8 p.m. on the 15th-16th, and then at The Chapel at the Mission San Rafael on the 17th. Sonoma singer/songwriter Jan White plays every Friday at The Sandpiper in Bodega Bay from 6-8 p.m. The Pegasus Theatre Company in Monte Rio will be presenting their Holiday Revue Variety Show at the Pegasus Theater in Monte Rio on the 15th, 16th and 17th. North Bay picker Dave Hardy will be singing and strumming while playing a guitar-toting street musician who sings "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to the Jolly Lama in Act I, and in the Act II follies, he'll be doing "Christmas Island" with hula girls backing him. Under the Radar has a gig in the North Bay coming up, and they will have Layne Bowen sittin' in for the late Chip Dunbar. They will be at the Station House Cafe in Point Reyes Station on the 15th from 7-10 p.m. No cover charge. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides Michael LaMacchia on the 16th, see The Christmas Jug Band on the 20th-22nd, Jackie Greene on the 27th, Chuck Prophet on the 29th, and Vinyl on the 31st. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday (except on the holidays) is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Little Wheels Band on the 16th, Beaufunk on the 21st, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 23rd, Peri's Family Christmas Eve Showcase on the 24th, and The Bar Association on the 31st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also a lot of other great stuff. The Klezmatics on the 16th, Woody Allen on the 22nd, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's on the 31st, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz from 2-5 p.m. On the 16th it will be swing music, and on the 23rd and 30th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 18th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play every Wednesdays, with a special Thursday show as well on the 21st of this month, starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 20th see the Second Annual Iron Springs Holiday Show with The Shut-Ins, on the 21st it will be the 3rd Annual Winter Solstice Show with the David Nelson Trio featuring David Nelson, Barry Sless & Pete Sears, and on the 27th a special post holiday evening with Banana & Friends. All hail the Woodman! Filmmaker Woody Allen has also been playing the clarinet for many years with his New Orleans Jazz Band at a club in New York City. Occasionally he takes the band on the road, and you will have four chances to see him in the Bay Area this month. On the 20th it will be the Fox Theatre in Redwood City, the 21st at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, on the 22nd at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, and on the 23rd at the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 21st the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' appears on the 22nd at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes. Acoustic swing, jazzy ballads, banjo tunes, original, and holiday cheer! Starting at 6:30 p.m. in the bar area. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and you can see the group River on the 22nd. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Doug Adamz & Bravo (with special guests Carol-Joy Harris and Donna Turner) on the 22nd, Marcia Ball on the 29th, Hacienda Brothers on the 30th, Zydeco Flames on the 31st, and more. The Marin blues outfit called The Jeb Brady Band will be playing at Smiley's in Bolinas on the 22nd. Guitar player Kurt Huget on the 24th will be at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax with Namely Us, and on the 31st at Rafters in San Rafael with Robin DuBois. 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. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly on New Year's Eve at the Riptide in SF There will be no pickin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, since the date is Christmas Eve. See you next month! Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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 BEST AT POPS 12/15 9 p.m., 12/16 6 p.m.: "This program takes viewers back to the most memorable moments from the past 35 years of Evening At Pops. Featuring the renowned conductors of the Boston Pops - Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and Keith Lockhart - the program celebrates the Pops collaborations with all-star guest performers from Broadway, including Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr., Bonnie and John Raitt, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines and many more, in addition to interviews with Broadway greats." YENTL (1983) 12/16 8 p.m.: "Set in the early 1900s in Eastern Europe, this movie tells the story of Yentl (Barbara Streisand) a young Jewish woman who has to disguise herself as a boy in order to receive a religious education at the Yeshiva. Once she is studying among the Orthodox Jewish rabbis, she falls in love with Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin), another student; her situation is further complicated when Avigdor's fiancé Hadass (Best Supporting Actress nominee Amy Irving), falls in love with Yentl. This dramatization of a Isaac Bashevis Singer story marked Streisand's directorial debut (for which she won a Golden Globe), and won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song Score." COLOR ME BARBRA 12/16 10:15 p.m.: "Barbra Streisand's second solo television special, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim to 1965's My Name Is Barbra, and still dazzles with even further musical and visual innovation. Videotaped in color, the special opens with a dreamy interlude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and then segues to a charming, animal-filled circus sequence before concluding with a bravura concert performance. Recapturing the electrifying early years of the Streisand sensation, the showcase shines a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." MY NAME IS BARBRA 12/16 11:14 p.m.: "My Name is Barbra, her first pioneering special from 1965, garnered five Emmys, including the first of several for Barbra Streisand personally, as well as her first Peabody Award. The critical acclaim was unprecedented, with UPl exclaiming, 'She is so great it is shocking. She may well be the most supremely talented and complete popular entertainer that this country has ever produced.'" SUPER TROUPERS - THIRTY YEARS OF ABBA 12/17 12:15 a.m.: "A retrospective celebrating years of ABBA's worldwide popularity. Agnetha, Frida, Benny, Bjorn, and producer Pete Waterman tell the story of the pop group's early beginnings, their rise to international acclaim and the reasons for their demise. This documentary integrates material from ABBA: The Movie, a documentary about their first tour of Australia, current and archival concert footage and interviews with band members. It culminates with three of the four group members reuniting in London at a performance of the stage hit Mamma Mia! which features several of their songs." MARCIA BALL 12/17 1:30 a.m.: "Marcia Ball is an anomaly in the world of piano-based R& B/blues/boogie. A keyboardist who was steeped in and absorbed all the rich traditions of New Orleans, the Austin-based singer-songwriter was nominated for a Grammy Award for a CD release of this Sierra Center Stage program." AMERICA'S CHOIR - THE STORY OF THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR 12/18 9 p.m.: "Broadcast veteran Walter Cronkite hosts this special, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Grammy Award-winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir - dubbed 'America's Choir' by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The program includes performances by the all-volunteer, 360-voice ensemble, re-enactments, archival footage and interviews with such artists as Sting, composer John Williams and others." HOLIDAY CONCERT - SAN FRANCISCO BOYS CHORUS 12/19 7:30 p.m., 12/24 2 p.m.: "Features joyful choruses and many holiday musical treats." SPARK! STEPPIN' OUT 12/20 7:30 p.m., 12/22 11 p.m., 12/25 3 a.m. (A KQED Production): "Spark gets around town to hear what's going on in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. Old-time is gaining respect from a new generation with the help of The Crooked Jades, who perform American roots music. We get an inside look at the instrument that drives the jazz band with bassist Walter Savage; Miena Yoo writes folk songs that fuse American and Korean elements and spreads her love of music by performing at nursing homes and UCSF's cancer center; and, the non-profit Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society brings jazz, classical, and world music to Half Moon Bay." CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING RENEE FLEMING 12/20 8 p.m., 12/24 10 p.m.: "Special guest soprano Renee Fleming and film, television and stage actress Claire Bloom join the renowned choir to perform classic songs, including 'Joy to the World,' 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' and 'The First Noel.' The lineup also includes orchestra renditions and carols from around the world." RENEE FLEMING - SACRED SONGS AND CAROLS 12/20 9 p.m.: "Hailed by the press as 'one of the truly magnificent voices of our time,' opera superstar Renee Fleming has consistently wowed critics and audiences alike with her keen musicianship, artistic versatility and, of course, a voice considered 'the gold standard of soprano sound.' Recorded at Germany's Mainz Cathedral, Fleming performs a lush selection of sacred Christmas music, backed by a full orchestra and boys choir." POPS HOLIDAY PARTY 12/22 9 p.m., 12/23 6 p.m.: "Come celebrate the holidays with the Boston Pops Orchestra. This special will feature festive holiday music culled from over 35 years of programming. It will include musical archives and clips from the best of the best from Arthur Fiedler and John Williams, along with new selections from current Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. From festive holiday standards to your favorite sing-alongs, it's a holiday party primed for the whole family." DECEMBER - CHRIS BOTTI AND FRIENDS 12/22 10:30 p.m.: "Trumpeter Chris Botti and Grammy-winning pianist and composer Billy Childs perform a jazz set of holiday favorites in the KQED studios." RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA 12/23 8 p.m.: "Among the classics of musical theater, one of the most cherished productions is one that was originally created for television. Cinderella stars Julie Andrews and features a cast that includes Kaye Ballard, Alice Ghostly, and Edie Adams. An enchanting musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, it was watched by and astounding 10 million viewers during its 1957 network premiere, but amazingly, the film has not been seen or in fact, available in any format since that initial telecast. Now, see the restored original film for the first time in nearly half a century. Cinderella herself, Julie Andrews, hosts the program, recalling fond memories and backstage stories from the landmark show." JULLIARD 12/23 9:30 p.m., 12/26 3 a.m.: "In an unprecedented arrangement with this prestigious conservatory, American Masters was granted the exclusive and unrestricted rights to spend a full year filming within its guarded walls. Julliard reaches beyond the mystique and magic of artistry, revealing the daily struggles and joys in the quest for excellence. What emerges is a portrait of the creative process, the essence of discipline and dedication. In its 95-year history, from music to opera and dance to drama, the Julliard School has set the international standard for education in the performing arts. This film weaves five stories of present students with the past glories and hardships of distinguished faculty and celebrated alumni." BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA 12/23 11:30 p.m.: "The Brian Setzer Orchestra (BSO) offers their 'Christmas Extravaganza' concert in a live performance taped at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. It will include many of BSO's popular holiday songs presented in classic Setzer style." TONIC SOL-FA CHRISTMAS 12/24 12:30 a.m.: " For years, vocal quartet Tonic Sol-Fa has established itself as one of the most in-demand a cappella groups in the United States. Tonic Sol-Fa Christmas captures one of the group's annual Holiday Tour concerts, taped live at a sold-out Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minn. The spirited holiday program highlights the foursome's trademark humor and skilled musicianship as they perform a mix of traditional, secular and original holiday songs, much to the audience's delight." SONIA DADA 12/24 1:30 a.m.: "Some bands defy categorization on purpose; Chicago's Sonia Dada does it naturally. Songwriter/guitarist Dan Pritzker has taken a trio of African American gospel singers he discovered performing for free at a subway station and blended their sound with a talented jam band to create an intoxicating blend of R&B, pop, and world beat that is truly unique. Lyrics that make you think; a groove that makes you want to dance - this is truly a show you can't miss." CHRISTMAS TRADITION WITH TOMMY MAKEM 12/24 1:02 p.m.: "Internationally renowned Irish folksinger and storyteller Tommy Makem performs traditional holiday carols, stories and poetry in a Victorian Christmas Setting. Joining Makem for this special are folksingers Schooner Fare and Cathie Ryan (formerly of the Irish group Cherish the Ladies). Performed live before an enthusiastic audience of children and adults, musical selections include traditional Celtic favorites." CHRISTMAS AT THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE 12/24 5 p.m.: "A compilation of memorable moments from the holiday specials of the series The Hollywood Palace, a lavish variety show from the 1960s. It features full performances by Bing Crosby and his family, Perry Como, as well as guests such as Bob Newhart, The Lennon Sisters, and the charming puppet act of Kukla, Fran and Ollie. In various interview segments, Hollywood Palace producer William Harbach and members of the Crosby family reminisce about the original Christmas at the Hollywood Palace programs." HAPPY HOLIDAYS - THE BEST OF THE ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS SPECIALS 12/24 5:59 p.m.: "This program features classic clips from Andy Williams' holiday specials. Filling homes with seasonal cheer, the specials became a cherished holiday family tradition. The digitally re-mastered production numbers are complete with magnificent sets and costumes and a cast of singers, dancers and skaters." ST. OLAF CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY 12/24 9 p.m.: "This holiday special features the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir in concert in the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, one of the oldest and grandest gothic churches in the world, first begun in 1070. The special is an evening of traditional Christmas hymns sung in both Norwegian and English. Featured performers include the exquisite voices of the St. Olaf Choir from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN; the girls choir of Nidaros Cathedral, Jentekor; and famed Norwegian mezzo soprano Randi Stene." O CHRISTMAS TREE 12/24 10:59 p.m.: "The time-honored custom of decorating evergreen trees with candy, tinsel and ornaments is immortalized in the German carol 'O Christmas Tree.' This special traces the styles, traditions and history of the Christmas tree - from its pagan origins to its status as the modern-day symbol of the holiday season. Hosted by Richard Karn, it is filled with funny and fascinating Christmas tree lore." TIM JANIS - THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL 12/25 2 a.m.: "From 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' to 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear' - this program traces world famous carols back to their humble beginnings. Composer Tim Janis is joined by special guests Paul Baloche, Jadon Lavik, Shannon Wexelberg, and Lynn Witty. Narration done by James Earl Jones." L.A. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION (2006) 12/25 1 p.m.: "This music and dance special showcases a cultural mosaic of performers of African, Asian, European and Latino backgrounds who come together to express the holiday spirit. Hosted by Mark Walberg of Antiques Roadshow, the program features performances by the Mariachi Divas, the Jazz Tap Ensemble and the Blind Boys of Alabama." A TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLOR 12/25 9 p.m., 12/31 12:07 a.m.: "With his gentle acoustic sound and insightful lyrics, James Taylor remains one of the most influential and beloved singer-songwriters to emerge from the popular music scene of the 1970s. In a career extending over three decades, Taylor's musical craftsmanship continues to delight critics and audiences alike. In recognition of his many achievements in music as well as his philanthropic efforts, Taylor was honored in February 2006 as 'Person of the Year' by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' MusiCares program. The all-star line-up of performers paying tribute to 'Sweet Baby James' includes India.Arie, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Douglas, Dr. John, Carole King, Alison Krauss, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Keith Urban." ONE NIGHT WITH ROD STEWART 12/25 10:30 p.m.: "For three decades now, Rod Stewart has been an iconic force in the realm of popular music. Through a stellar catalog of classic songs - many of which he's written or co-written - he's earned his place in the pantheon of genuine musical legends. His infinitely expressive voice, sly wit and a truly electrifying stage presence have earned Rod Stewart a place in the hearts and lives of millions of fans worldwide. Now, for the first time, the legendary rock `n' roller performs some of his best-known hits and newfound 'Great American Songbook' classics at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London." ERIC CLAPTON - SESSIONS FOR ROBERT J 12/27 4 a.m.: "Live, intimate and raw, this program is Clapton's tribute to blues legend Robert Johnson. It was filmed during tour rehearsals in London and Dallas, and features a recording session at 508 Park Avenue, the Dallas warehouse where Johnson made some of his final recordings." BIG BAND MAGIC! 12/29 9 p.m., 12/30 6 p.m., 12/31 1:30 p.m.: "War and the Depression melted away when the big bands started to play, and a generation forgot its troubles on the dance floor. This KQED-produced special takes a nostalgic look back at the dance halls and ballrooms that live only in memories - El Patio at Market and Van Ness, the Mural Room in the St. Francis Hotel, Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland, and many more. Filled with music, photos, archival films and dance sequences that recall the spirit of the age, the program tells a story that has remained untold for too long, revives the fondest memories of a generation, and treats viewers to a glimpse of this fabled past." THE FORD BROTHERS 12/31 1:34 a.m.: "This program is a reunion of the original family band with brothers Mark Ford on harmonica and Pat Ford on drums rejoining the incomparable Robben Ford (sideman for Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison as well as the leader of his own award winning jazz group) in a rousing road-house dance party. The concert also features a guest appearance by recording artist Chris Cain." ANDREA BOCELLI - TRIBUTE ON ICE 12/31 5 p.m.: "When the world's greatest skaters choreograph routines for competition or entertainment, they search for music that allows them to perform at their best. Quite often, they choose the music of Andrea Bocelli. In conjunction with the release of a new recording of popular music from the internationally acclaimed tenor, a group of champion skaters from around the world gathered to perform together with Andrea. Led by Olympic Gold Medallists Brian Boitano and Ekaterina Gordeeva, the program will consist of solo performances by Bocelli and skating routines performed with his live performances." ANDREA BOCELLI - A NIGHT IN TUSCANY 12/31 6 p.m.: "On a warm September night in 1997, Andrea Bocelli came home to Tuscany to sing to the people of the ancient city of Pisa. The Piazza dei Cavalieri was the historic setting for this momentous outdoor event. This program finds the popular Italian tenor singing an assortment of classical and popular ballads, many of them from the Romanza album." NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC - AUDRA MCDONALD SINGS THE MOVIES 12/31 8 p.m.: "Famed Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald joins the New York Philharmonic for an evening of showstoppers." GARRISON KEILLOR'S NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECIAL 12/31 10 p.m.: "In 1969,
Garrison Keillor started working for Minnesota Public Radio on a morning
show called 'A Prairie Home Companion,' featuring musical guests and
funny regulars. Today, over four million listeners hear the radio broadcast.
This program is this year's edition of the show's annual New Year's
Eve radio broadcast live from Nashville, with Keillor and his Guy's
All-Star Shoe Band as well as other series regulars and special guests."
*************************************************************************************************** December 1, 2006 Welcome to the 72nd edition of Carltone's Corner! The holiday season is upon us once again, and every day on radio and TV and in the papers there are ads and stories exhorting you to buy buy buy! Well, 'tis the season to be jolly, so do whatever it is that makes you happy. If you need some gift ideas, once again the elves here at Carltone World Headquarters suggest, as they always do at this time of year, that you give the gift of music. Can't afford a flat screen TV or a Sony Playstation? Why not buy tickets to shows, memberships to great organizations like the California Bluegrass Association and the Northern California Bluegrass Society, recordings from Bay Area artists, or tickets to events such as the Strawberry Music Festival or the CBA's festivals? In the meantime, there is also a lot of good live music going on before the big day arrives, so get out and enjoy! Even though this is the holiday season and it is supposed to be a joyous time of year, there was some real sad news from the North Bay bluegrass community. Chip Dunbar, who played in the band Under The Radar, passed away suddenly in Sebastopol on November 26th at age 52. The cause was sudden cardiac arrhythmia related to an existing heart condition. In the early 90s he had a bluegrass band called HiJinks that also included his wife Sara Winge and bass player Ted Dutcher. Chip was a real good guy and one hot picker on mandolin and fiddle. There will be a memorial service for him on the 2nd starting at 1 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex. Music in print. There were two stories of note in the Marin Independent Journal last week. The first one, by Paul Liberatore, is about singer/songwriter Tom Russell, who will be playing at Rancho Nicasio on the 1st. The other story, by Mark Langton, is about the local band Culann's Hounds, a Celtic-rock band that will be at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 29th. New local band. North Bay favorite Rory McNamara has a new band called The Ring of Truth Trio that consists of Rory on guitar and vocals, Henry Nagle on pedal-steel and guitars, and Muir Houghton on bass. They will be performing some originals and American traditional songs as well as some fairly obscure cover material. You can see them at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa at 7:30 p.m. on the 14th and 28th. New national band. Bluegrass veterans Steve Gulley, Phil Leadbetter and Alan Bibey have joined forces to form a new and as of yet unnamed band. After being integral parts of their respective bands, Steve (Mountain Heart, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver), Phil (Wildfire, J. D. Crow & The New South), and Alan (Blue Ridge, IIIrd Tyme Out) all felt the need for a fresh start musically and believe this new collaboration will provide just the right creative outlet they all have wanted for a long time. The band will bring years of experience to the stage and the studio, performing a traditional-based sound with original material. This will be a five-piece unit including resophonic guitar, guitar, mandolin, banjo and upright bass. The new band name and remaining member's names will be announced shortly. All you need is love. The Beatles, a band that broke up over 30 years ago and of which two of its members are now dead, have just released a new/old album called Love. The recording is actually a re-mix of some of their hits, with different instruments added. The Beatles' original producer George Martin worked on the soundtrack for a Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas show. Martin and his son Giles have released a modified soundtrack of that production. There was real nice story on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" show on November 28th about the masters of the old-time autoharp.. Fun for the whole family! Another band with dead (and Dead) members that keeps putting out new product is the Grateful Dead. Looking for that perfect gift for the deadhead in your family this holiday season? Well, look no further. Buy them "Grateful Dead, The Game" board game. Back in the saddle. The country/rock band from the 70s The New Riders of the Purple Sage is back in action again with some of the original members (including David Nelson), and there was a story about them in the Petaluma Argus Courier earlier this week.. They will also be playing at the Mystic Theatre on the 1st. Their big hit over 30 years ago was the Peter Rowan classic song "Panama Red." There was a cool story on performer Taj Mahal in the SF Chronicle recently. He has moved back to Berkeley after living in Hawaii for many years. Out of the closet. Michael LaMacchia's Closet Musicians Workshop is gearing up for a new semester. If you play an instrument but have never played in a band yet always wanted to, this is a great way to get your feet wet. Your final exam is a performance at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Yabba Abba Do! If you happen to be going to Sweden anytime in 2008 make sure you stop by the ABBA interactive museum, a venue dedicated to the music, clothing and history of the legendary Swedish pop group and its four members that will open in Stockholm. Guns for Guns. If you live in certain areas of Oakland you can get free tickets to see the metal band Guns N' Roses play at the Oakland Coliseum. A writer for the SF Chronicle says that offering this to those living "on the east side of town is like giving cats free tickets to the dog show." Meaning, why would people in economically depressed parts of Oakland want to see this band play? Get out your handkerchiefs. As hard as it may seem to believe, Pamela Anderson, famous for her sex video with her former hubby Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, is about to become single once again. Disproving the theory that the third time's the charm (she got hitched in three different, made-for-People-Magazine ceremonies), her marriage this time, to rocker Kid Rock, has lasted all of four months. Does this mean that they have to give back the toaster oven and waffle iron that they got as gifts? And Britney Spears is apparently not wasting any time having fun after recently splitting from husband K-Fed. The tabloids have been going gaga over the fact that she is now hanging out with fellow bimbettes Paris Hilton and Lyndsay Lohan, even going so far as to having had some photos taken by the 'loids that show her not wearing panties. . Takes two to tango. Country singer Sara Evans invited trash-talk show host Jerry Springer to perform during her December 1st concert in Merrillville, IN. Evans and Springer were both competitors on Dancing With the Stars. "Jerry loves country music," says Evans. "He is a huge fan and even cut a country record so I invited him to sing at my show in Merrillville where he'll do a couple of classic songs. ... I cannot wait!" She bowed out of the series due to her impending divorce, which has been mentioned here in previous editions. Band scramble. For the longest time the North Bay band was called The Acme String Ensemble. Then, two months back they changed their name to The Stoney Point Ramblers. Now they are simply calling themselves The Acmes. Jimmy "Spider" Wilson, 71, a guitarist who has worked on the Grand Ole Opry for 53 years, quit on November 24th after repeatedly being excluded from the televised portion of the show. Opry manager Pete Fisher referred to Wilson's frequent omission as "a casting decision" and called Wilson "an exceptional musician and an exceptional person." Police log. End game: the rapper known as The Game was arrested in New York City last month when he told a cab driver that he was an undercover police officer and that he should run red lights. And a partner in a recording studio of Game's was arrested for allegedly laundering money for gangsters. In the dogg house again: Snoop Dogg was arrested for the third time this year, this time on weapons and narcotics charges after his performance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on November 28th. Life's railway to heaven. Melissa Stevenson, known to many as "Mo the Face Painter" at the Strawberry Music Festivals, was killed in a car accident on October 15th out in the Central Valley. She was 56. Dirk Dirksen, the "Pope of Punk" in SF for many years as manager of the Mabuhay Gardens, died in SF on November 21st. He was 69. Taylor Patterson, the son of longtime Sweetwater owner Jeanie Patterson, died in Chicago in early November at age 31. Anita O'Day, renowned jazz singer who rose to fame as in the Gene Krupa swing band in the 1940s, died on November 23rd in L.A. She was 87. Betty Comden, who with her longtime collaborator Adolph Green wrote the lyrics and often the librettos for some of the most celebrated musicals of stage and screen, died last month in New York. She was 89. Great filmmaker Robert Altman, who made dozens of films in his long career, died of complications from cancer on November 20th in Los Angeles. He was 81. Besides the films MASH, Gosford Park, Short Cuts and The Player, he also made movies where music played a major role. Nashville is one of our all-time favorites; McCabe & Mrs. Miller featured the fiddling of one-time Bay Area (and now LA) player Brantley Kearns; and he made The Company, Kansas City, and the recent A Prairie Home Companion. Onward to the calendar… Everybody's favorite crabgrass band, The Waybacks, will be playing two separate shows on the 1st at the Larkspur Café Theatre. Doug Adamz & Bravo has two gigs of note in West Marin this month. On the 1st the acoustic trio version of the band will be at the Station House in Point Reyes Station, and then on the 22nd the full band will play at Rancho Nicasio. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides Bluegrass Gold on the 2nd and the Dore Coller/Rattlebox shows on the 5th mentioned below you can see Aphrodesia on the 1st, String Theories on the 7th, Shana Morrison on the 9th, Rainmaker on the 14th, The Beautiful Losers on the 19th, The Christmas Jug Band on the 20th-22nd, Jackie Greene on the 27th, Chuck Prophet on the 29th, and Vinyl on the 31st. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 1st, Andrew Freeman on the 2nd, Adobe Creek Bluegrass on the 8th, The Acmes on the 9th, The Tonewoods on the 22nd, High Country on the 23rd, Greenhouse and The Carrtunes on the 31st, and more. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Jazz Roots Trio on the 1st, Laura Dorais on the 2nd, Ralph Woodson on the 8th, JSN Trio on the 9th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 15th, Jazz Philosophy on the 16th, Lilan Kane & Melissa Tanor on the 22nd, Joan Getz on the 23rd, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 29th, and Norris Clement on the 30th. The Pineneedles take the classic American mountain string band sound into several musical areas including cool jazz, Gypsy, funk, folk rock, old-time, newgrass, and folk. On the 1st see them at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, Cafe Trieste in Sausalito on the 2nd, Rafters Grille & Brewery in San Rafael on the 14th, and at Servino in Tiburon on the 15th. The Winter Brookdale Bluegrass Festival will be taking place at the Brookdale Lodge on the 1st and 2nd in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some of the acts you can see are Eric Burman's Brookdale Bluegrass Band, Harmony Grits, Jimmy Chickenpants, Chojo Jacques/Houston Jones, Grizzly Peak, Stoney Mountain Ramblers, Belle Monroe & Brewglass Boys, Mossy Creek and others. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Tom Russell on the 1st, Mitch Woods on the 2nd, Les Bailey and Paul Thorn on the 3rd, Angela Strehli on the 8th, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 9th, Bravo on the 22nd, Marcia Ball on the 29th, Hacienda Brothers on the 30th, Zydeco Flames on the 31st, and more. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The AMF Lanes in Petaluma on the 1st, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 7th and at The Jack Douglass Saloon in the Goldrush town of Columbia on the 9th and 10th. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Besides the New Riders show on the 1st mentioned above, you can see Zoo Station on the 2nd, Shooter Jennings on the 8th, Amos Lee on the 9th, Hot Buttered Rum on the 15th, The Christmas Jug Band on the 16th, Tommy Castro on the 31st, and more. Mill Valley's Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved can be seen at McGrath's in Alameda on the 1st at 8:30 p.m., and on the 13th at Iron Springs in Fairfax. Sonoma singer/songwriters head east. Jan White, besides playing every Friday at The Sandpiper in Bodega Bay from 6-8 p.m., will be playing a show with the help of Pat Campbell, Adam Traum and Jimmy Sweetwater at McGrath's Pub in Alameda on the 2nd 8 p.m. Then on the 8th Adam will also be playing at The Prism Café in Oakland along with Sara Furrer from 8-11 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 2nd and 9th it will be bluegrass, on the 16th swing music, and on the 23rd and 30th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. The Marin blues outfit called The Jeb Brady Band will be playing the
blues at The Bistro in Hayward on the 2nd and at Smiley's in Bolinas
on the 22nd. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See The Tom Finch Group on the 2nd, The Hummingbirdz on the 7th, Spinout on the 8th, Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 9th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 13th (and 27th), Little Wheels Band on the 16th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 23rd, Peri's Family Christmas Eve Showcase on the 24th, and The Bar Association on the 31st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also a lot of other great stuff. Charity & The Jam Band on the 3rd, John Stewart and Country Joe McDonald on the 9th, The Christmas Jug Band on the 10th, Woody Allen on the 22nd, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's on the 31st, and more. Guitar player Kurt Huget has slowed down some. He only has four gigs this month! On the 3rd he'll be at Ranch Nicasio with Les Bailey, on the 10th & 24th at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax with Namely Us, and on the 31st at Rafters in San Rafael with Robin DuBois. Don't miss Dore Coller's Bermuda Grass Holiday Show at the Sweetwater on the 5th at 8 p.m., with Lorin Rowan & Rattlebox opening. Besides Dore's Cow Bay Cruz Boy band mates Ned Doherty, Paul Cicco, and Eddie Sassin, lots of people will be sitting in: Steve Kallai on fiddle, Gary Kaye on banjo, Dave Hanks on mando, Pat Campbell on bass, Steve Farzan and Tom Funkhouser on guitar, and Willow Van Den Hoek and Remy Hennessee on vocals. Rattlebox will feature Lorin, Barry Sless and Doug Harmon. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will take place on the 6th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and toast the hosts with a Guinness. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 6th it will be Michael Elvin Hunt Band & special guests, the 13th Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved, the 20th the Second Annual Iron Springs Holiday Show with The Shut-Ins, the 21st the 3rd Annual Winter Solstice Show with David Nelson Trio featuring David Nelson, Barry Sless & Pete Sears, and on the 27th a special post holiday evening with Banana & Friends. Lost Weekend, one of the Bay Area's premier Western swing bands, returns to Ashkenaz in Berkeley on the 6th. Other fine shows at the Larkspur Café Theatre in December are Solo Bass Night on the 7th, Daria on the 8th, Drew Harrison - In the Spirit of Lennon on the 10th, Caren Armstrong's Celebrating Songwriters show on the 12th, Christie McCarthy and The Starting Five on the 14th, George Michalski & Friends on the15th, Larkin Gayl on the17th, and Daisy Dern and Dave Gibson 28th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 7th and the 21st the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Chicks with picks. There will be one hot night at the International
Café on Haight Street in SF on the 9th when the SF Folk Club
Hootenanny Night presents the Chickwagon Junction All Girl Revue featuring
the all-gal quartet Chickwagon (Jasmine Novak, Barbara Corff, Erika
Bauer, Nancy Irish) as the headliner along with other special all-female
acts such as the new trio from Marin called Ultraviolet, which features
heavenly harmonies by Claudia Hampe (Keystone Station), Julia Landis
and Maryann Mitguard. The show runs from 7-10:30 p.m., is free and is
open to all ages. And "Chicksie" Chuck Poling will host it.
Best deal in town! Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Peter Case on the 9th and the group River on the 22nd. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Jesse Kincaid, Marin songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, will be playing drums with the 40-piece Corte Madera Town Band at their holiday concerts. On the 9th and 10th see them from 12-2 p.m. at the Village Shopping Center in Corte Madera. Both concerts will feature popular holiday favorites and are free. The Pegasus Theatre Company in Monte Rio will be presenting their Holiday Revue Variety Show at the Pegasus Theater in Monte Rio on the 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th. North Bay picker Dave Hardy will be singing and strumming while playing a guitar-toting street musician who sings "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to the Jolly Lama in Act I, and in the Act II follies, he'll be doing "Christmas Island" with hula girls backing him. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 12th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Under the Radar has two gigs in the North Bay coming up, and they will have a guest musician sittin' in for the late Chip Dunbar. You can see them perform for the Sonoma County Democratic Society at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on the 13th at 7:30 p.m. They will then be at the Station House Cafe in Point Reyes Station on the 15th from 7-10 p.m. No cover charge. The Mayflower Chorus will be performing their annual holiday show at The Playhouse in San Anselmo Seminary at 8 p.m. on the 14th-16th, and then at The Chapel at the Mission San Rafael on the 17th. 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. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 18th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. All hail the Woodman! Filmmaker Woody Allen has also been playing the clarinet for many years with his New Orleans Jazz Band at a club in New York City. Occasionally he takes the band on the road, and you will have four chances to see him in the Bay Area this month. On the 20th it will be the Fox Theatre Redwood City, the 21st at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, on the 22nd at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, and on the 23rd at the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa. Ain't Misbehavin' appears on the 22nd at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes. Acoustic swing, jazzy ballads, banjo tunes, original, and holiday cheer! Starting at 6:30 p.m. in the bar area. There will be no pickin' of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, since the date is Christmas Eve. See you next month! Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: IL DIVO - LIVE AT THE GREEK12/01 8:30 p.m.: "The wildly popular 'popera' quartet offers its sophisticated vocal stylings and cross-continental flair in a showcase of romantic, rich harmonies and heart-breaking ballads. These four charming, sexy, talented young men take well-known hits - both old and new - and turn them into masterpieces, transforming hit pop songs with a refined classical twist of new arrangements. This special was taped in June 2006 during Il Divo's first World Tour at the stunning Greek Theater in Los Angeles before a capacity audience of 5000." DEAD AHEAD - THE GRATEFUL DEAD IN CONCERT 12/01 10:30 p.m., 12/03 1:30 a.m.: "In the fall of 1980, already so well-known that their 15 concert San Francisco run could be advertised without mentioning their name they belatedly celebrated their 15th anniversary with a special concert tour that included an opening acoustic set, their first regular such set in a decade. That tour ended on Halloween night at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Highlights from that three-hour concert make up this Grateful Dead special. This tour was one of the key factors leading to the Dead's ascendancy to truly legendary status." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 12/02 1:30 a.m.: "A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." A TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLOR 12/02 1 p.m., 12/25 9 p.m., 12/31 12:07 a.m.: "With his gentle acoustic sound and insightful lyrics, James Taylor remains one of the most influential and beloved singer-songwriters to emerge from the popular music scene of the 1970s. In a career extending over three decades, Taylor's musical craftsmanship continues to delight critics and audiences alike. In recognition of his many achievements in music as well as his philanthropic efforts, Taylor was honored in February 2006 as 'Person of the Year' by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' MusiCares program. The all-star line-up of performers paying tribute to 'Sweet Baby James' includes India.Arie, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Douglas, Dr. John, Carole King, Alison Krauss, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Keith Urban." DECEMBER - CHRIS BOTTI AND FRIENDS 12/02 3 p.m., 12/04 9 p.m., 12/05 9:31 p.m., 12/07 1 p.m., 12/22 10:30 p.m.: 'Trumpeter Chris Botti and Grammy-winning pianist and composer Billy Childs perform a jazz set of holiday favorites in the KQED studios." BLUE MAN GROUP - INSIDE THE TUBE 12/02 9 p.m., 12/03 12:30 p.m., 12/07 1:30 p.m., 12/08 1 a.m., 12/08 8:30 p.m., 12/08 10:30 p.m.: "This program spans the entirety of Blue Man Group's innovative and wildly popular body of work. Founders Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink serve as hosts of the program, which includes stunning footage from their dazzling live shows. The three founders discuss the improbable journey they took from building drums and tube instruments in their living room to creating one of the most popular shows in Las Vegas, a gold album, and a successful arena-sized rock tour. With an intimate look inside Blue Man Group's unique creative process, the program provides never-before-revealed insight into some of the underlying themes of their work. The founders also cite some of their influences, including public television." TIM JANIS - THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL 12/03 11 a.m., 12/25 2 a.m.: "From 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' to 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear' - this program traces world famous carols back to their humble beginnings. Composer Tim Janis is joined by special guests Paul Baloche, Jadon Lavik, Shannon Wexelberg, and Lynn Witty. Narration done by James Earl Jones." SINATRA - LIVE FROM CAESAR'S PALACE 12/03 9 p.m.: "Filmed in Las Vegas, this program features one of Frank Sinatra's legendary performances." JOHNNY MATHIS - WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! 12/04 7:30 p.m.: "Ever popular recording star Johnny Mathis celebrates his 50th anniversary in show business with a hit-filled concert to be recorded in Atlantic City in late October, 2006. The program will also include new interview footage taped at his home in the Hollywood Hills." ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 12/04 9:30 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W." CHRIS BOTTI & FRIENDS - LIVE 12/05 10:02 p.m.: "Since his premiere solo album in 1995, the acclaimed trumpeter, gifted instrumentalist and talented composer has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. His recent album, To Love Again, is the inspiration for this exciting concert, a magical evening with Chris Botti's sensual trumpet playing and the show's star studded line-up." CREAM REUNION CONCERT 12/10 8 p.m.: "Releasing just four albums as a group, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton left an indelible mark on the worldwide music scene. From 1966 to 1968 with hits like 'White Room,' 'Sunshine of Your Love,' and 'Badge,' Cream dominated the charts with a bluesy, masterful approach to the psychedelic rock of the late-1960s, selling 35 million records and inspiring virtually every new rock group of the era. Yet much to the disappointment of their fans, the group disbanded after only three years, playing their final concert together in 1968 at London's Royal Albert Hall to despairing cries of "God save the Cream!" It took 37 years, but in early May 2005, Royal Albert Hall was once again the scene for the group's much anticipated reunion, described by The Washington Times as "a unique moment in music history. It was a long time coming, but worth the wait." AT THE DRIVE-IN 12/13 3 a.m.: "Legendary 'Surf City' performers join forces for a tidal wave of nostalgic tunes in the once-in-a-lifetime concert special. Fabian, one of the original teenage heartthrobs, hosts an unprecedented lineup - Jan and Dean in their farewell concert tour, Bobby Vee and the Vees, The Surfaris, The Rip Chords, Chris Montez, Merrilee Rush, Ray Peterson, The Orlons, Dodie Stevens and the late Ricky Nelson's twin sons, The Nelsons." ABBA IN CONCERT 12/13 4:19 a.m.: "This special captures an unforgettable concert by the group as they performed at London's Wembley Arena in November of 1 979. ABBA stunned their audiences with a dazzling show and delivered one hit after another. In this legendary concert, these talented artists were at their dynamic best and provided an evening of music that continues to capture the world's attention and continues to make new fans." BROADWAY'S BEST AT POPS 12/15 9 p.m., 12/16 6 p.m.: "This program takes viewers back to the most memorable moments from the past 35 years of Evening At Pops. Featuring the renowned conductors of the Boston Pops - Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and Keith Lockhart - the program celebrates the Pops collaborations with all-star guest performers from Broadway, including Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr., Bonnie and John Raitt, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines and many more, in addition to interviews with Broadway greats." And on the Biography Channel: OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 12/1 8 p.m., 12/2 12 a.m.: "She was pop culture's good girl gone just slightly bad. Born in Cambridge, England, Newton-John began her singing career at the age of 15 and was a frequent winner at local talent shows. She slowly climbed the show biz ladder charting a number of times in the UK and then in the US. But it wasn't until 1978 that she really became more than just another pretty face trying to make it big. After a chance meeting with John Travolta, who had been chosen as the male lead in the movie Grease, Travolta insisted that Olivia be given the part of Sandy. The film went on to become the biggest box office hit of that year and launched several songs that reached #1 on both U.S. and International charts. In the 90's, Olivia successfully overcame a battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, GAIA." *************************************************************************************************** November 15, 2006 If there is something to give thanks for just a week away from Thanksgiving Day it is the fact that for once the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters got this newsletter done on time. This was accomplished, amazingly so, while the real media were busy watching Tom Cruise getting married for what, at least the third time? Maybe the real reason they met deadline is that they want to make sure the calendar is clear for when everyone's favorite murderer-at-large, OJ Simpson, goes on Fox TV later this month in a two-part interview titled "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened." Strawberry alarm clock. Hey Strawberry Music Festival fans, you better pony up soon for tickets for next year already. Word has it that you will be able to purchase tickets for the 2007 Strawberry Music Festivals starting on November 15th at their new online ticket system as well as by phone. To order tickets online, go to their web site or call (209) 984-8630. The cat is out of the bag. Yusuf Islam, originally known as Steven Demetre Georgiou, but is known more as 1970s folksinger Cat Stevens, has his first album out in over 30 years, titled An Other Cup. But please don't rush out to buy it. This is the same guy who, in 1989, during the controversy over author Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses, was quoted in the New York Times as saying that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of Rushdie, ''I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing.'' He also that, if Rushdie were to appear at his door in need of help, ''I might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like. I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is.'' To quote the catman in one of his hits, "Everyone jump on the peace train" indeed… Sore losers. Rapper Kanye West was irate when his song did not win the Best Video award at the MTV Music Awards in Denmark earlier this month. And then, not to be outdone, country singer Faith Hill was caught on camera as being shocked at the Country Music Awards when she lost to American Idol (or open mic) singer Carrie Underwood for Best Female Vocalist. Hill claims that she was just joking, which is a good comeback if so, but hey, judge for yourself by going to YouTube to check out the video. From a solo to a duo. In the previous edition it was noted here that Keith Little would be opening the Bluegrass Gold show on the 15th for Rustler's Moon (details below). Keith will indeed be on the bill, but now Jim Nunally will be joining him. Jim is a hot picker who is also in the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience and John Reischman & The Jaybirds. Hardly Hellman. A special act has been added to the Hillbilly Hootenanny (details below) lineup at Rancho Nicasio on the 26th. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival benefactor Warren Hellman and former Reeltime Travelers fiddler Heidi Clare will be riding their horses up from Bolinas with banjo and fiddle packed in their saddlebags. They will perform as the aptly named Heidi & Warren &The Horses They Rode In On… The banjo is dead! At least, old-time banjo playing is. So says author Carol Wade, who has a new book coming out called The Death Throes and Demise of the Banjo. You can read a review of the book here. There is a new acoustic concert series called the Petaluma Church Concerts that is being produced by Lance Walker. First Church of Christ Scientist is located in downtown Petaluma at the corner of 6th and B Streets. It is a historic structure built in the early 1900s. Seating is on wooden pews. The David Thom Band will be the first band to play the venue on the 19th starting at 3 p.m. Praising Ralph. President Bush presented Ralph Stanley the National Medal of Arts on the 9th during a ceremony at the White House. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the medal is the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence. Charlie Louvin, one-half of the renowned duo The Louvin Brothers, will release a new album of duets with his admirers next February. Guests include George Jones, Tom T. Hall, Bobby Bare, Marty Stuart, Tift Merritt, Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, David Kilgour and members of Bright Eyes, Lambchop and Superchunk. Gone fishin'. A new album with songs about fishing and fisherman is available in Wal-Mart stores starting this week. All Gone Fishin' includes performances from George Jones, Little Jimmy Dickens, Brad Paisley, Merle Haggard, Lorrie Morgan, Porter Wagoner, Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed, Bryan White, Rachel Proctor, Tanya Tucker, Mel Tillis, Patty Loveless, Steve Wariner and Arlo Guthrie. In the previous edition there was mention of the Prairie Home Companion movie along with the suggestion that, instead of renting this weak effort, that you seek out the 1988 Second Annual Farewell Performance show instead. Now you can go one better, and for free. On the 23rd KQED (channel 9 in the SF Area) will air the 30 Year Anniversary Show twice. It is turkey day, so get your VCR or Tivo ready to record the show… Get out your handkerchiefs. Unless you've been hiding out in a cave in Afghanistan for the past two weeks, you obviously have heard the earth-shattering news that Britney and K-Fed have filed for divorce after two long and happy years. Alas, the institution of marriage has taken yet another blow to the to the midsection as a result... The Sun also rises. Having been way behind the times when it comes to their web site, the Marin weekly paper The Pacific Sun, often referred to here, has finally updated its site. Go check it out. Willie Nelson debuted a new "controversial" song titled "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth" on a national radio show on the 2nd of this month. Guests on the track include Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons. Proceeds will benefit the National Veterans Foundation. Funny thing is, old Willie played the song some last year in concert, but only now has officially released it… The accused turned a whiter shade of pale. Former members of Procol Harum, a band that had one hit almost 40 years ago titled "A Whiter Shade of Pale," were in court this week (story here) in England battling over songwriting royalties. Singer Gary Brooker claims he wrote the song before organist Matthew Fisher joined the band. But Fisher claims that it is his organ playing that made the song famous. If Fisher wins, look for countless other has-been players to make claims that their bass runs and drum solos made other songs famous as well. The big question here is, what took Fisher four decades to file this suit? Was he in a coma all this time? But more importantly, does anyone have a clue as what this band name means? And, with a show of hands, how many of you who know the words to this song actually know what the song mean? No beer, no gig! The metal band Guns N' Roses canceled a concert in Portland, Maine, last week because of a law in that town that says drinking of alcohol is not allowed on stage. The group claimed that the venue was "making it impossible for the band to perform their show to the usual high standards that their fans deserve." Police log. Snoop Dogg was officially booked on the 6th for trying to carry his baton onto an airplane in LA. He was released on $150,000 bail. Country singer Lee Ann Womack has filed a protective order against a Georgia man she says is stalking her. Her lawyers filed a petition last week to keep Mark Borer, 36, of Tybee Island, Ga., away from the singer. He appeared in front of her parents' house in Jacksonville, Texas, last year when she was visiting and has been sending "various disturbing and harassing letters," according to court documents. Life's railway to heaven. French conductor Paul Mauriat, who had a hit in the late 1960s with his arrangement of an instrumental song called "Love Is Blue," died in the south of France on November 3rd at age 81. Rhythm and blues singer Gerald Levert (son of O'Jays singer Eddie Levert) who had a successful solo career, died last week at age 40. No details were given as to what caused his death. Additions The Marin band Marshall Rhodes' self-titled debut album hit the airwaves this month. They broke into the top 100 on the Americana Radio chart in the second week and are still climbing. They recently won an award for an acoustic piece they did for the animated children's book, Stanley Goes For a Drive, with Mill Valley author and art great, Craig Frazier. The piece played on every United Airlines flight for a month last spring. You can catch the band at the Sweetwater on the 16th. The band, with Glenn Burke, Michael Lehman, Michael Godwin and Adam "Bagel" Berkowitz, will include special guest Austin deLone on keyboards and Dave Eli on pedal steel. The Dixie Chicks will be playing at the Oakland Arena on the 17th. The Beerhunters (Doug Blumer, Rob McCloskey, Jeff Hanson and Ken Owen) will be playing at McGrath's Pub in Alameda on the 17th. Don't miss Chickwagon, the all-gal ensemble that will be doing a tweener. On the 30th at 8 p.m. tune in to Santa Rosa's KRSH at 95.9 FM. Host Andre de Channes will welcome The Hot Frittatas to his Thursday Night Live show. The band will be performing live and promoting their show on Saturday, December 2nd, at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Reminders Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the NCBS, and the show on the 15th at 8:30 p.m. will feature the grand debut of the new ensemble Rustler's Moon. Bay Area bluegrass veterans Kathy Kallick and Bill Evans have formed a new band based with acoustic bassist Cindy Browne, and Tom Bekeny on mandolin and fiddle. Opening the show will be Keith Little & Jim Nunally. The next show on December 2n will feature Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force as the headliner, and The Rowan Brothers as the opener. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Em K on the 15th, Pollyanna Bush on the 18th, Los Diablos on the 21st, Ruth Hastings & Company on the 24th and 25th, and more. 77 El Deora, with two band members from Marin, will be performing their unique brand of oblique Americana along with That Josh Davis Band (hard workin' honky-tonk from Ft. Worth, TX) on the 15th at The Knockout in SF. And then on the 24th see them at Cafe duNord in SF with The Pine Box Boys. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Girlyman on the 15th at Studio E in Sebastopol at 7:30 p.m. Music continues to brew at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See The David Thom Band on the 15th, The Pat Echols Experience on the 22nd, and The Bluebellies on the 29th. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see Anne Murray on 15th and the Cypress String Quartet on the 20th. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will be playing her usual gig at the No Name in Sausalito on 15th. 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. On the 16th it will be Duck Baker. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned above on the 15th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. Marshall Rhodes on the 16th, Vinyl on the 22nd, Stung on the 24th, The Edge (with original band members) on the 25th, and Calmodee on the 30th. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge. Featured there this month are WayBlonde on the 16th, The David Thom Band on the 24th, Spiral Mystics on the 25th, and much more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at Giordano's in S.F. on the 16th, at Anna's Cantina in St. Helena on the 17th, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 19th and at The Riptide in S.F. on the 25th. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up, with Eugene on the 16th, The Beat Meters on the 18th, St. Peterbilt on the 22nd, and others. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see the deMania Trio on the 17th and Butch Whacks & The Glass Packs on the 25th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See Lauralee Brown & Company on the 17th, Jazz Philosophy on the 18th, Wendy DeWitt on the 24th, and The David Jeffery Fourtet on the 25th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Maria Muldaur on the 17th, Mike Beck on the 19th, Carltone's Hillbilly Hootenanny on the 26th and more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 17th, Danny Montana & the Bar Association on the 18th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 26th, Front Porch on the 29th, and of course, lots more. The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa always features a healthy mix of Celtic, county, folk, and Americana music. Besides jam sessions of various levels every Wednesday, you can see The Farallons on the 17th, The Tonewoods on the 18th, and Solid Air on the 25th. The FAR-West Folk Alliance will be taking place in Sacramento on the weekend of the 17th-19th. There will be workshops, panels, seminars, showcases, jamming, performances and more. The California Bluegrass Association will be represented here as well. Ain't Misbehavin' performs vintage acoustic swing, Western swing, jazzy ballads, silly magic tricks and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Hot buttered meltdown. The Marin based high-altitude bluegrass band Hot Buttered Rum will be playing on the 17th (with Lost Coast opening) and 18th (Blue Turtle Seduction opening) at The Independent in San Francisco. Dance to Western swing music with Lost Weekend at Little Switzerland in the town of Sonoma on the 18th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. San Rafael's busiest guitarist Kurt Huget, as usual, has a few gigs of note on the calendar. On the 18th it will be a duo with Kimberlye Gold at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, on the 24th see his jazz duo with Robin DuBois at Zingari Jazz Lounge in SF, on the 24th he'll play solo at Coffee Roasters in Fairfax, and on 26th he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Lauralee Brown & Company, besides playing jazz and beyond on the 17th at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito, will also be at Towles Café in Burlingame on the 22nd. On the 22nd at Ashkenaz in Berkeley you can attend the Bio-Fueled Bluegrass Bash - A Thanksgiving Benefit for Clean Energy. Support local efforts for alternative fuels and renewable energy. Organized by Tom Brigham, the event involves a parade and rallies and will be capped by a concert of sweet sustainable bluegrass. There will be a caravan, rally and concert, featuring The Barefoot Nellies, Three Mile Grade and a nationally known mystery headliner. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See Groundation on the 24th, Country Joe McDonald and Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo on the 25th, and more. Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts has teamed up with George Merrill, Gary Grubb, and Scott O'Brien to form The Rivertown Band, and their regular monthly gig, called "Every Last Friday," will be on the 24th at the Petaluma Coffee & Tea Co. at 212 Second Street. Show starts at 7:30 p.m., and seating is limited. Call (707) 763-2727 for reservations. Tune into the Annual Jimi Hendrix Celebration on Friday the 24th from midnight until 7 a.m. on Saturday on KUSP-FM in the Monterey Bay Area either on your radio or on the web. Seven hours of Jimi with no repeated songs. This year, host Tom McCarter plans to play what he considers are "the best cuts and the best versions of Jimi's tunes." The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Mirium & Kiya of Wishing Chair on the 25th at 8 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. 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. On Sunday, November 26th, the Eighth Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Hillbilly Hootenanny will take place at Rancho Nicasio. Hosted by yours truly, my bluegrass duo Keystone Crossing (with Claudia Hampe) will be performing, as well as several special guest musicians from the Bay Area bluegrass and country music community. The guests so far are The Cash Magnets, The Last Call Quartet, Dave Fredrickson, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, Audrey Auld Mezera, and Heidi & Warren & The Horses They Rode In On. There is no cover charge, and the fun starts at 4 p.m. Last November Matt Kramer wrote about the show in The Pacific Sun and much of what he said is still current. You can read that story here. If you are going to be coming out, please call the Rancho a day or two in advance at (415) 662-2219 to ask about "reservations." They are really not needed, but if the place gets a lot of calls they will move the event into the main showroom instead of having it in the bar. Rancho Nicasio is West Marin's finest eatery and musical venue. Come out and enjoy a fine afternoon of bluegrass and country music on Thanksgiving weekend! They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 26th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: KEEPING SCORE - COPLAND AND THE AMERICAN SOUND 11/16 10pm, 11/19 noon: "In the early 20th century, the sounds of America burst upon the world with jazz, blues, spirituals, folk, Latin and the sounds of Tin Pan Alley - each of them defining a different musical experience of being American. Aaron Copland listened and absorbed everything around him. Filmed in New York, Brooklyn and Prague, this episode visits the places and explores the ideas that shaped Aaron Copland's life and music." NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL 2006 11/16 11 p.m.: "Highlight performances from the world's longest-running jazz festival, now in its 52nd year. Taped on three seaside stages at Newport, Rhode Island's historic Fort Adams State Park, this annual special features an all-star roster of jazz greats, contemporary R&B stylists and up-and-coming artists. The program captures the sights and sounds of the festival -from the music to scenes of the audience, food, vendors and backstage life. This year, performers include trumpeter Chris Botti, tap-dance master Savion Glover, African songstress Angelique Kidjo, the Robert Glasper Trio, The Bad Plus and singer-songwriter Dr. John." SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952) 11/18 8 p.m.: "The plot revolves around a Hollywood studio's clunky transition from making silent films to producing talkies - with a singing star whose voice could call dogs. But the best reason to watch this movie is Gene Kelly's stellar performance of the title song, which we often forget is about a man who realizes he has fallen in love and reacts with boundless unfettered glee. Also stars Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse and Rita Moreno." THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974) 11/18 9:45 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." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS -VAN MORRISON 11/19 midnight: "Acclaimed singer Van Morrison wraps his incomparable voice around the soul, blues, folk, jazz and country styles that have been the mainstay of his music for four decades. With one of his best stage bands ever, he delivers a spellbinding performance in his first appearance on ACL." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - RODNEY CROWELL 11/19 1 a.m.: "Rodney Crowell is perhaps best known for his string of five straight # 1 hits on the Billboard Country Music charts. However, this program showcases Crowell's rebirth as a deeply political, satirical, and clever singer/songwriter in the vein of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Featuring songs from his three CD Trilogy, starting with the 'Houston Kid,' Crowell rocks the dance floor with a tight band of Nashville virtuosos." KEEPING SCORE - COPLAND AND STRAVINSKY IN CONCERT 11/19 1 p.m.: "MTT and the SFS perform works by Igor Stravinsky including selections from the Firebird, a full performance of The Rite of Spring, and Aaron Copland's original 13-instrument version of Appalachian Spring." MAGIC OF BING CROSBY 11/22 8 p.m., 11/24 3 a.m.: "A moving celebration of the great crooner through the years, giving an insight into his life and loves through exclusive interviews with his most respected friends and colleagues, including Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, and his widow Kathryn Crosby." DEAN MARTIN - THE ONE & ONLY 11/22 8:57 p.m.: "He was a beloved American icon - the coolest, the most debonair, the smoothest entertainer of the 1960s and 70s. This special is a loving and moving tribute to one of the most admired and multi-talented performers the world has ever known." FRANK SINATRA - THE MAN & THE MYTH 11/22 9:57 p.m.: "Francis Albert Sinatra - agreed by many to be the greatest entertainer in the history of American pop culture. This biography is a revealing portrait of a true American legend, from his boyhood in Hoboken, New Jersey, through his stratospheric career as the singer's singer, an actor, and one of the most powerful figures in the history of American show business, a/k/a 'The Chairman of the Board.'" GREAT PERFORMANCES - RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA! 11/23 noon: "Breaking Broadway box office records when it opened in 1943, Oklahoma! was the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the renowned team who went on to create Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music." PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION WITH GARRISON KEILLOR 11/23 4:30 p.m., 11/23 10:30 p.m.: "The host of the venerable Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor pulls out all the stops in this special broadcast celebrating 30 years of his radio program. Taped in stunning high definition before a live audience during an actual radio broadcast, the program features his trademark segments Radio never looked so good!" BEVERLY SILLS: MADE IN AMERICA 11/23 9 p.m.: "When 10-year-old Belle 'Bubbles' Silverman told her Papa she wanted to be an "opera star," the reaction was more of dismay than of thrill. It was only after nearly three decades of concert halls, conductors and applause that Bubbles - better known as Beverly Sills - rose to international fame and critical acclaim." BROADWAY - THE GOLDEN AGE 11/24 9 p.m., 11/29 7:30 p.m.: "An important, ambitious and comprehensive film about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway." PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH 11/25 3 a.m., 11/26 11 a.m., 11/29 3 a.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." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 11/25 5 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." SINATRA - LIVE AT CAESAR'S PALACE 11/25 7 p.m., 11/29 9:30 p.m.: "Filmed in Las Vegas, this program features one of Frank Sinatra's legendary performances." DEAD AHEAD - THE GRATEFUL DEAD IN CONCERT 11/25 8:30 p.m.: "In June (1995), the Grateful Dead celebrated their 30th anniversary. Highlights from that three hour concert make up this Grateful Dead special." GET DOWN TONIGHT - THE DISCO EXPLOSION 11/25 10:30 p.m.: "KC and The Sunshine Band host a historic reunion from the superstars of the 1970s disco and dance era. This program features a mix of new live performances and classic archival clips from the disco days, including vintage performances from The Bee Gees and Donna Summer." CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' -THE SONGS OF THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS 11/26 4:30 a.m.: "This special celebrating the harmonious pop-rock group highlights a wealth of classic TV performances that have not been seen for more than 35 years. It blends full-performance clips, rare home movies, exclusive interviews with members Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty, and vintage footage of the late Mama Cass Elliot." LEGENDARY VICTOR BORGE 11/26 6 p.m.: "Victor Borge began his performing career with a piano debut in 1926 at the age of seventeen. For eight decades he'd been in the spotlight. 'The Great Dane,' as the beloved international humorist and musician is known, died just a few days before his 92nd birthday on January 3, 2001. This program is a fitting tribute, a smorgasbord of comedy and music from the Victor Borge archives." MARIACHI - THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO 11/30 1 a.m., 11/30 1 p.m.: "For ten days each year during the International Mariachi Festival in Guadalajara, more than 500 mariachis perform in concert halls and street markets - musicians famous and unknown gathered to celebrate the passionate music that over the past 100 years has been the beating heart of the Mexican people. Now for the first time, this program captures the excitement of this event in an exuberant display of the best of mariachi." JUDY GARLAND - BY MYSELF 11/30 7:30 p.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." And on Country Music Television: CROSS COUNTRY - VINCE GILL AND ALISON KRAUSS 11/21 5 p.m.: "Country music star Vince Gill and bluegrass powerhouse Alison Krauss have a history of making beautiful music together and that storied history continues in the second installment of CMT Cross Country. Longtime friends and colleagues, Gill and Krauss' past collaborations include the title track from his 1996 album, High Lonesome Sound, which won a Grammy for best country collaboration with vocals. Here, they take turns singing each other's songs during a concert filmed in Nashville. *************************************************************************************************** November 1, 2006 Welcome to the 71st edition of Carltone's Corner! Thankfully Halloween has come and gone, and we can get onto to the real business at hand - the Christmas holiday season! A Christmas TV commercial was spotted on one of the networks on October 28th, and by November 1st many of the merchants in downtown SF were decking the halls with boughs of holly while visions of mega-sales danced in their heads. Rushing the season? Crass commercialization? As songwriter Loudon Wainwright III sings in "Suddenly It's Christmas," one of the best holidays songs ever written, "Christmas comes but once a year, seven weeks before the day…" Of course, having performed with Dr. Elmo ("Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer") for the past quarter century, in some ways Christmas lasts year round here at Carltone World Headquarters (CWH). When you only have one big hit, you have to sing it whenever you can. And it won't be long now until grandma gets run over and over again… Meanwhile the elves, pages and interns here at CHW have been busy digging up all of the important musical happenings in and around the North Bay this merry month of November. All of the news is posted below. Public service announcement: Don't forget to do your civic duty and vote on November 7th. If you are doing such via absentee ballot, get it into the mail by this weekend, because it must arrive by election day, not just postmarked by then. And if you have to go to a voting station, well, then, skip going to Starbucks for one day and take the time to go to the polls. Don't let the schmuck down the street decide who gets elected, do your part as well. Congratulations to SF bluegrass picker, bon vivant and Phil Angelides look-alike Chuck Poling (from Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup) who has been appointed by the California Bluegrass Association as Area Vice President for San Francisco. Tower Records is dying fast, and writer Joel Selvin wrote a nice eulogy for it the SF Chronicle on October 19th.. And will Google's purchase of YouTube mean the death of the fledgling online video site? At least one writer at the Chronicle thinks so. Speaking of YouTube, an Ohio company called Universal Tube is suing the former because illiterate people keep searching for the video site by entering "utube," thereby wreaking havoc on the U Tube site. So, let's see here - U Tube wants some of the millions that YouTube just got in their sale because people don't know how to spell? Heck, it can't hurt to ask for some cash, right? And look, they just got more free publicity for themselves. So, if you need a machine that makes tubes, you now know where to go. Ah, American merchandizing at its finest! Celebration time. American roots music label Rounder Records had a little anniversary party on October 20th. That day marked the 36th anniversary of the release of their first two albums, George Pegram and The Spark Gap Wonder Boys. 36 years, and over 3,500 albums later, the company is still owned by the three founders. Start spreading the news. Veteran Marin rocker and erstwhile song and dance man Huey Lewis, who also fronts a band called The News, is starring in a San Francisco production of the musical Chicago at the Orpheum Theatre that opened last month and runs only until November 5th before moving to New York City. Speaking of Marin music news in the press, a tip arrived saying that primo music writer Matt Kramer will feature The Stairwell Sisters in the November 3rd issue of The Pacific Sun. So pick up a copy and read about this fabulous Bay Area all-female old-time band. Better yet, go see them perform at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 3rd instead! Even though they were punkish outsiders back in their day, The Clash not only have been members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for three years, they are now being honored there with a special exhibit. If you are a fan and happen to be in Cleveland, OH, sometime between now and next April, go check it out. Speaking of the Hall of Fame, nine acts have been nominated for induction next March, yet only five slots are available. The nine nominees are Chic, The Dave Clark Five, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith, The Stooges, Joe Tex and Van Halen. Looking for a place to record that new demo or album? Joe Rizzo has Cosmic Circuit Studio in Berkeley, and he provides direct 24-bit digital recording and caters to small bands and singer/songwriters. Direct CD color printing is available for your demo as well. Joe is also an Apple Final Cut Pro Level 1 certified engineer. Reel time. Chicks with picks, otherwise known as The Dixie Chicks, attended the premiere screening of Shut Up and Sing on October 24th in New York City. The new documentary follows the band from the time shortly after singer Natalie Maines' infamous comment about President Bush in 2003 through the planning stages of their current tour. And has anyone seen the movie A Prairie Home Companion and really enjoyed it? From the viewpoint high atop CWH, as much as we wanted to like the film, with it's contrived, fictionalized story loosely based on the real show, we found it really weak and disappointing. Only fans of the radio show would understand it, and was it really necessary to have Woody Harrelson singing cowboy songs? Granted, if that really was Meryl Streep singing in her own voice, she wasn't bad. And who/what is this Lindsay Lohan kid? Or do we have to be 18 to appreciate her talent (or lack thereof)? If you are a fan of the radio show, go out and find A Prairie Home Companion: The Second Annual Farewell Performance from 1988. It is a fantastic production of a live show from New York's Radio City Music Hall, and it features real musical performances by the late Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke, The Everly Brothers, Kate McKenzie, and Robin & Linda Williams, as well as an amazing, non-scripted half-hour monologue by Keillor that is simply a tour de force. Two more for the road. Some months back some eyebrows were raised when news came out of the pairing of Emmylou Harris and Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, when they made an album together called All The Road Running. Now there is word on the street in Nashville that Grammy award-winning bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant are recording an album together. Read the story here. Also spotted in Nashville recently was former Good Ol' Person dobro player Sally Van Meter, who was in town to play on Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen's new acoustic recording. The Blue Highway bluegrass band has reportedly recorded on the project as well. Booking music. There are four music books out that may be of some interest to you. The title of Hotel California: The True-life Adventures of Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles, and Their Many Friends pretty much sums up what the book is about. Written by Barry Hoskyns, this is an in-depth account of the LA music scene in the early 70s, and a must-read if you are a fan of any of these performers or of the country-rock genre. Black Cat Bone: The Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson by J. Patrick Lewis and Theo and The Blue Note by Peter Kuper are two books that were reviewed in the Chronicle on the October 29th. And for those of you who just love her, the former Mrs. Kurt Cobain, known as Courtney Love, has a new book called Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love. In a recent interview she claims that Mel Gibson (yikes!) helped her get on the road to recovery. She will be signing books on the 3rd at Border's in SF from 7-9 p.m., and on the 4th at 2 p.m. at Book Passage in Corte Madera, then at Cody's in Berkeley from 7-9 p.m. You stand warned… New sounds. From time to time we list new recordings by Bay Area artists, and at year's end we will offer a recap when it comes time to do some holiday gift giving: -- Doug Adamz, longtime North Bay fiddler and bandleader known for his country band Bravo as well as his belly-dancing ensemble Light Rain, has a wonderful new CD of guitar solos out with the catchy title of Guitar Solos. Hear a version of this amazingly multi-talented musician that you may have never heard before. -- Jan White, a North Bay singer/songwriter, has a delightful new CD of mostly original songs, and the disc is titled Sonoma County Rose. Some of the great North Bay players on the recording are David Nelson, Barry Sless, Chuck Prophet, Pat Campbell, and Dore Coller. You can get CD info on her web site or see Jan every Friday at the Sandpiper in Bodega Bay from 6-8:30 p.m., and she hosts the West Coast Songwriters open mic on the third Monday of every month at Sweetwater. Media matters. Are you tired of the homogenization of the so-called "public airwaves," where corporate monoliths such as Clear Channel and Susquehanna Broadcasting own many of the radio stations and everything sounds the same on your radio dial? Do you hate how FM radio has become the home of "McFormats," where some programmer in LA gets to format dozens of stations across the country? Are you still angry that KFRC fired their deejays, canned their oldies set-up and went with the franchised "Movin'" format? Then stand up and be counted. There are some members (albeit in the minority) of the FCC who want to make changes in the rules, and they are looking for public feedback. Or, if you can afford it, subscribe to Sirius or XM satellite and leave terrestrial radio in the Dumpster… Speaking of media monopolies, has anyone (other than the elves here at CWH) noticed that in the SF Chronicle Datebook section that rarely a day goes by when there isn't a photo of a band that is playing either at the Great American Music Hall or Slim's? Both venues are operated by the same ownership, and we can only wonder if the Chron's entertainment editors may have some connection to the venues. At last count there were, oh, more than a few dozen other venues in the Bay Area where bands perform that seldom get photos in the one major paper in the area… Kudos to Sweetwater in Mill Valley for recently being voted "#1 Best Place to Hear Live Music," "#1 Best Place to Hear Jazz," and "#3 Best Place to Dance" in the Pacific Sun's "Best Of 2006" poll. While a bit odd in that they don't feature much jazz (save for Jules Broussard every Sunday) and they really don't have a dance floor, you take your awards any way you can get them… Sonoma singer/songwriter Adam Traum has taken over hosting the acoustic jam/open mic on Monday nights from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at Swig (the former Blue Lamp) in San Francisco. For those who play an instrument or sing, it's a great way to jam with other musicians, practice a song or two or to just get an audience. For non-musicians, it's always a fun place to hear live music. If you're interested in playing, please drop by and talk with Adam. All acoustic instruments are welcome and a p.a. is provided. Drums and other percussion are welcome, as long as you can control your volume. The length of time you're on stage will generally run 10-20 minutes, but it really depends on how many players show up. You can also hear Adam on the 9th on the Sonoma radio station KSVY during their Thursday Sonoma Valley Music Scene. The show runs from 8-10 p.m., and it can also be heard outside of the Sonoma area on the web as well. The doctor is in! There is a wonderful story on bluegrass banjo legend Dr. Ralph Stanley in the October issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine by Chris Stuart (whose band is mentioned below), and you can read that story here. Another magazine to check out is Bluegrass Music Profiles. Their November-December issue is titled "Women in Bluegrass," and some of the performers they cover are Rhonda Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Missy Raines, Claire Lynch, Dale Ann Bradley, Alison Brown, and Martha Adcock. Make travel plans now: Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force, along with The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin) will be landing at Sweetwater on December 2nd. This will be one hot show, and by the time the December edition of this newsletter comes out, it may be too late to get on board. Another night to plan ahead for is The Waybacks when they play two separate shows at the Larkspur Café Theatre on December 1st. Honky-tonk blues. Still making news 53 years after his death, late country Hank Williams continues to show up in the media even though he has been dead for decades. Sony Publishing claims that Hank's notebook, worth $250,00 and which contains lyrics to unpublished songs, was stolen from them and the book is now in the hands of collectors who run The Honky Tonk Hall of Fame. Read the story here. And there was a story in the October 23rd edition of USA Today about "Alabama's Hank Williams Trail." Name game. There is a new band of Bay Area bluegrass all-stars calling themselves Rustler's Moon. Last month it was written here that they were going to be called The Ancient Tones. Then some press went out calling them The Kathy Kallick-Bill Evans Band. Other members include Tom Bekeny and Cindy Browne. Whatever they call themselves, they will be dang good, so go check them out at a venue near you real soon. They will be playing Sweetwater on the 15th (see info below) and in Sacramento on the 18th and 19th. A future star is born! Rachel Walters Steiner, daughter of longtime Bay Area bluegrass bassist and fiddler Sue Shelasky - and niece of one of the finest fiddlers around, Paul Shelasky - gave birth to a baby girl named Ella Rain Steiner in Arizona in late October. Rachel studied opera and has performed with The Lamplighters, and great-grandpa Shelasky was at one time first violinist for the SF and Santa Rosa Symphonies, was assistant concertmaster in the Oakland Symphony in the 1950s, and was a classical guitarist. So young Ella has a lot of musical genes in her blood… Band scramble. The rock band Duran Duran had to do some scrambling recently when lead guitarist Andy Taylor (no, not Opie Taylor's father!) was asked to leave the group just before embarking on a US reunion tour. Do you think it was something he said? Maybe it was his deodorant (or lack thereof)… Fire on the mountain! It looks like there has been a personnel change in the newly named Lost Coast (formerly Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band). According to a recent thread on the CBA message board, founding member Dave Gooding is no longer in the band, and his name no longer appears on the Loast Coast site…And here is something you needed to know: There will be a tour soon of a new band called Heaven & Hell, featuring some current and past members of Black Sabbath, minus mercurial lead singer, Ozzy Osbourne. But the real BS will also tour next year as well with Ozzy. Get your tickets now! If at first you don't succeed, try again and again and again. "Outlaw" country singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, author of hits such as "I'm Just An Old Chunk of Coal" and "Georgia on a Fast Train," recently got married for at least the fifth time. If you are keeping score, he was married to his first wife three different times, and has now married new/ex-wife Wanda Lynn Canady for the second time. If this isn't material for a country song, what is? And country singer Keith Urban, better known to the masses as Mr. Nicole Kidman, recently checked into rehab for an unspecified substance abuse problem, and has canceled all appearances for the near future. Police log. Wham-bam, thank you ma'am! George Michael is back in the news. After being found asleep at wheel of his car at an intersection in London a few weeks back, the pop star and former lead singer of the band Wham! gave an interview while toking away on a joint, saying "the stuff keeps me sane and happy." Uh, happy maybe, but it doesn't seem too sane to be puffing away in front of a camera… Inga Marchand, otherwise known as rapper Foxy Brown, picks some tough fights. She was sentenced to one-year probation for assaulting two workers at a nail salon. A plea agreement was worked out, where she admitted guilt instead of going to jail. But at sentencing at the last minute she tried to change her plea to not guilty, and the judge threatened to throw her in jail unless she abides by the arrangement…Singer Pete Doherty, lead singer of the band Babyshambles but more known as the often arrested-for-drug-possession and sometimes-significant-other of model Kate Moss, broke a mic stand on stage during a concert in Rome and threatened the audience with it after someone threw something at the stage. If this guy is going to possess drugs, maybe he should consider keeping some Prozac in his pocket…Long and winding road. Former Beatle Paul McCartney is now being accused by his soon-to-be former wife, Heather Mills, for both physical and verbal mistreatment during their four-year marriage. Look for lawyers to become very wealthy before the divorce is finalized…Out of the closet, and in synch. The partner of the singer Lance Bass, who is in the band 'N Synch and who came out of the closet this past summer, is being threatened because of his sexuality. Reichen Lehmkuhl recently wrote a book titled "Here's What We'll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy." Uh, perhaps Reichy forgot about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy…Calvin Broadus, a.k.a. rapper Snoop Dogg, was arrested yet again on October 26th for illegal gun and drug possession, this time an airport in Burbank, CA. Last month he was detained at an airport in New York for having a baton in his baggage. Memo to the Snoopster - in case you haven't heard, the airlines have become a bit stricter recently about what you can and cannot take with you on a plane… Country singer Sara Evans and husband Craig Schelske appeared in court on October 26th, and they agreed to an equal split of the $274,000 that Evans says Schelske withdrew from their joint checking accounts on October 12th, the day she filed for divorce. Schelske also agreed to find other living arrangements rather than continue to seek moving back into the couple's home. Last month Evans filed a divorce complaint on grounds of irreconcilable differences, inappropriate marital conduct and adultery. And now their nanny, Alison Clinton, is suing Evans for defamation of character. Seems that Evans accused the nanny and the husband of having an affair. Man, too bad these folks didn't have a reality show up and running a few months back… Ailing. Longtime Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh announced last week that he has prostate cancer, that he will be undergoing treatments real soon, and that as a result of catching it early enough, he expects to have a rapid and complete recovery. According to a bluegrass chat list, bluegrass songwriter Pete Goble had been in the hospital recovering from a back surgery when he apparently suffered a blood clot in his lungs which caused him to go without oxygen to his brain for several minutes. He is now on life support (ventilator) and his prognosis is very critical. Some of the his songs are "Big Spike Hammer," "Julie Ann," "Knee Deep In Bluegrass," and "Colleen Malone." Life's railway to heaven. Freddy Fender, the country singer who rose to fame in the 1970s with his hit songs "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls," died of lung cancer at age 69 on October 14th in Corpus Christi, TX. Talented San Francisco actress and artist Miriam Engelberg (and sister to Elise Engelberg of the Bay Area old-time band The Mercury Dimes) died on October 17th from cancer. She was 48. Read her Chronicle obituary here. Songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, who co-wrote "The Long Black Veil," died on October 28th in Nashville at age 86 following a lengthy struggle with heart disease. Originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell, "Veil" sounded like a traditional folk song that was handed down through generations. Although it only reached No. 6 on the country charts, the song became an American music standard that was later recorded by Johnny Cash, The Band, Joan Baez, the Kingston Trio and many others. Famed musician, songwriter and artist manager Tillman Franks, who co-wrote the country hit "Honky-Tonk Man" with singer Johnny Horton in 1956, died on October 26th in Shreveport, LA, following a lengthy illness. He was 86. Two decades later Dwight Yoakam recorded the song as his first single. Franks was injured in the automobile accident in Texas that claimed Horton's life in 1960. Bluegrass fiddler Carl Nelson passed away on November 1st in Maryland. He worked with Bill Harrell & The Virginians for a number of years in addition to playing fiddle on numerous bluegrass recording projects, and performed with such bluegrass notables as the Country Gentlemen, Buzz Busby, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and Don Reno. Onward to the calendar… 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. On the 2nd at 8 p.m. you can see Ken Emerson, and on the 16th it will be Duck Baker. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. All that jazz. The San Francisco Jazz Festival started last month and runs through the 12th of this month. The Sonoma County band Under the Radar has two shows of note. On the 2nd at 8 p.m. they'll be at the Larkspur Café Theatre and on the 11th at 8 p.m. it will be New College of California in Santa Rosa. Caren Armtrong will open both shows. The music of Under the Radar is probably best described as Americana. Much of the band's material is drawn from guitarist's Kevin Russell's fantastic solo recordings, which are a mix of original songs and unique interpretations of familiar classics (from Beatles to Ray Charles to Bill Monroe). UTR's approach to music seamlessly melds bluegrass, blues, swing, folk, country and rock music with stirring three-part harmonies and plenty of hot pickin'. This four-piece acoustic, percussion-driven band will have everyone up dancing one minute and holding your breath through a tender ballad the next. UTR is Kevin Russell on lead vocals and guitar, Chip Dunbar on mandolin, viola and harmony vocals, Ted Dutcher on upright electric bass and harmony vocals, and Kendrick Freeman on percussion. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see k.d. lang on the 2nd, Bill Cosby on the 5th, Anne Murray on 15th, and the Cypress String Quartet on the 20th. Danny Montana & the Bar Association are playing two shows this month. On the 2nd see them and a band called Shantytown at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa, and on the 18th they'll play at Peri's in Fairfax. Both shows start at 9:30 p.m. Band member Larry Cragg is back after being on tour all summer with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and he's rarin' to get back on his pedal steel. The North Bay's John Youngblood is a multi-tasker. As well as being a still-life photographer in real life and hosting the Saturday jams at the Coffee Catz in Sebastopol, he is playing with his band The Hicktones (Jack Frost, Doug Peterson, Mike Gleason) at the Ace in the Hole on the 2nd in Sebastopol from 7-9 p.m., on the 3rd he'll play with Hugh Harris at the Sandra Erickson Gallery in Healdsburg from 5:30-8 p.m., and on the 7th he'll play solo at Rosenblum Cellars in Healdsburg from 6-8 p.m. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 15th you can also attend the open mic most Monday nights, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. Luce will play on the 2nd-4th, David Nelson & Friends on the 6th, Marty Balin on the 7th, Ruby D. & The Snakehandlers on the 12th, Marshall Rhodes on the 16th, Vinyl on the 22nd, Stung on the 24th, The Edge (with original band members) on the 25th, and Calmodee on the 30th. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Some shows of note, besides the Celebrating Songwriters (see below) series on the 14th, at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Under The Radar on the 2nd, Stairwell Sisters on the 3rd, 3 Divas on the 4th, Rainmaker on the 9th, Lansdale Station on the 10th, Keith Terry on the 11th, Pollyanna Bush on the 18th, and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge. Featured there this month are The Tonewoods on the 2nd, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 3rd, Andrew Freeman on the 4th, JL Stiles on the 9th, Carolina Special on the 11th, WayBlonde on the 16th,The David Thom Band on the 24th, Spiral Mystics on the 25th, and much more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 2nd and the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is French Cabaret on the 2nd, Joe Raiola (from Mad Magazine) on the 3rd, Doug Ferrari on the 4th, Mamadou Diabate and Walter Strauss on the 9th, the deMania Trio on the 17th, and Butch Whacks & The Glass Packs on the 25th. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up, with
Eugene on the 2nd and 16th, Soulshine on the 3rd, The Beat Meters on
the 18th, St. Peterbilt on the 22nd, and others. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rancho All-Stars with guest David Jenkins on the 3rd, Vinyl on the 4th, Dixie Hummingbirds on the 11th, The Shots on the 12th, Maria Muldaur on the 17th, Mike Beck on the 19th, Carltone's Hillbilly Hootenanny on the 26th (see below) and more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Buddy Owen Band on the 3rd, Johnny Vegas and the High Rollers on the 4th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 8th and 22nd, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 10th, Jeb Brady Band on the 11th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 17th, Bar Association on the 18th, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 26th, Front Porch on the 29th, and of course, lots more. Crossing bridges. This isn't a show in the North Bay, but for this tour John Reischman & The Jaybirds are not playing anywhere nearby other that at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on the 3rd. Top flight bluegrass! Back to the country. Chris Stuart & Backcountry is one of the finest bands on the national bluegrass scene, and they hail from San Diego. But you will have to drive a little bit to see them here in the Bay Area. On the 3rd they will be playing in Fair Oaks (near Sacramento), and then on the 4th see them in Mountain View when Redwood Bluegrass Associates welcomes them to their monthly series. They will also be back up here on the 18th to play at the FAR-West conference (see info below). The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa always features a healthy mix of Celtic, county, folk, and Americana music. Besides jam sessions of various levels every Wednesday, you can see Late Harvest on the 3rd, Avalon Rising on the 10th, Honey & The Hay Boys on the 11th, The Farallons on the 17th, The Tonewoods on the 18th, and Solid Air on the 25th. Live music in Novato? Ah, sure, man, you betcha! There is a relatively new venue in Novato called Finnegan's that has live music a couple of nights a week, with Jerry Hannan holding court every Wednesday. However, their web site is still a work in progress, so the acts are not listed on there. On the 3rd it will be Dustin Saylor, Revolver on the 11th, The Spiral Mystics on the 18th, and others. The Aux Cajunals Trio (Eric & Suzy Thompson with Agi Ban) will be playing a Cajun dance on the 4th at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Garaj Mahal on the 4th, Average White Band on the 6th, Bruce Cockburn on the 9th, Robert Cray on the 13th, Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo on the 25th, and more. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond on the 4th and 22nd at Towles Café in Burlingame, on the 5th at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito, and on the 17th at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 4th and 11th it will be bluegrass, on the 18th swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Marin bass player and world traveler Segovia Bader has been touring for the last four months with a singer/songwriter named Tina Malia. They will be playing on the 4th at the Open Secret Bookstore in San Rafael at 8 p.m., located on 'C' Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Music continues to brew at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 8th it will be The RiffRiders, The David Thom Band on the 15th, The Pat Echols Experience on the 22nd, and The Bluebellies on the 29th. Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts recently won two awards and "Best in Show" for Jazz and Acoustic-Folk at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Music and Words Song Contest, and will be performing at the SCA on the 10th as part of the awards reception. He has also teamed up with George Merrill, Gary Grubb, and Scott O'Brien to form The Rivertown Band, and their regular monthly gig, called "Every Last Friday," will be on the 24th at the Petaluma Coffee & Tea Co. at 212 Second Street. Show starts at 7:30 p.m., and seating is limited. Call (707) 763-2727 for reservations. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly on the 10th at The AMF Lanes in Petaluma, at Giordano's in S.F. on the 16th, at Anna's Cantina in St. Helena on the 17th, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 19th and at The Riptide in S.F. on the 25th. Dore Coller & Friends will be presenting their "Bermuda Grass" at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 11th at 8:30 p.m., with special guest vocalists Willow Van Den Hoek and Remy Hennesee. The oblique Americana band 77 El Deora has a few gigs of note this
month. On the 11th see them at the Saints Car Club Benefit in San Rafael,
on the 15th at The Knockout in SF, and on the 24th it will be at Cafe
du Nord in SF with The Pine Box Boys. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Rachel Davis on the 12th at 5 p.m., and Mirium & Kiya of Wishing Chair on the 25th at 8 p.m. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. San Rafael's busiest guitarist Kurt Huget, as usual, has a few gigs of note on the calendar. On 12th & 26th he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, on the 18th it will be a duo with Kimberlye Gold at Cafe Amsterdam, on the 24th see his jazz duo with Robin DuBois at Zingari Jazz Lounge in SF, and on the 24th he'll play solo at Coffee Roasters in Fairfax. Alison Krauss & Union Station will be appearing at the Masonic Auditorium in SF on the 12th, but unless you already have a ticket, good luck getting into this show. It has been sold-out for weeks. Note to Zeppelin fans - Robert Plant will not be sittin' in! The monthly Celebrating Songwriter's show on the 14th at Larkspur Café Theatre will be "Out of Towners" night, featuring Nashville's Bob Cheevers, Oregon's Laura Kemp, and from Virginia, Andrew McKnight. Host Caren Armstrong adds her own effervescent energy to the mix with a newly penned song every month, just to keep things interesting. Dinner guests enjoy priority seating and a wonderful light menu on top of a great evening of song. Not to be missed! Matt and Peter Lax can be seen at Sweetwater on the 14th at the Sacred Run Benefit with Dennis Banks, Floyd Crow Westerman, and Pete Sears. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 14th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will be playing her usual gig at the No Name in Sausalito on 15th. Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the NCBS, and the show on the 15th at 8:30 p.m. will feature the grand debut of the new ensemble Rustler's Moon, with opener Keith Little. "The ancient tones" - elements of the ballads, dance tunes, and religious music brought to this country by immigrants - is what bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe said were the basis of bluegrass. And Bay Area bluegrass veterans Kathy Kallick and Bill Evans have formed a new band based on just these elements. Kathy and Bill have played together many times in the past few years, and both have been making contributions to bluegrass since the 1970s. They've toured the country and the world with their music, collaborated with some of the top contemporary acoustic musicians, have an obvious reverence for traditional bluegrass but have recorded a number of their own compositions, and have never forgotten to have fun playing this music. Joining these two will be acoustic bassist Cindy Browne, and Tom Bekeny on mandolin and fiddle. Opening the show will be Keith Little. A Sierra Nevada foothill native who now lives in Vallejo, Keith is a nationally acclaimed bluegrass musician, recording artist, and composer. He performed on two Grammy Award winning recordings and he is a member of The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. Keith plays acoustic guitar and banjo. The David Thom Band will be pickin' bluegrass at the Iron Springs Brewery on the 15th, at the Petaluma Church Concerts Series on the 19th, and at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 24th. 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. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Girlyman on the 15th at Studio E in Sebastopol at 7:30 p.m. This multiple award winning, indie folk trio is known for its lush, seductive and complex three-part harmonies and modern bluegrass/folk sound, equal parts Alison Krauss & Union Station and REM. Their gorgeous songs and detailed arrangements have inspired Dar Williams, Catie Curtis and the Indigo Girls (twice) to invite Girlyman to tour as an opening act and as supporting musicians. The members of Girlyman switch off songwriting duties, lead vocals, and play a range of instruments. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site above. The FAR-West Folk Alliance will be taking place in Sacramento on the weekend of the 17th-19th. FAR-West exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, dance and related performing arts in the Western U.S., and it seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, field and professional development. There will be workshops, panels, seminars, showcases, jamming, performances and more. The California Bluegrass Association will be represented here as well. Ain't Misbehavin' performs vintage acoustic swing, Western swing, jazzy ballads, silly magic tricks and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Hot buttered meltdown. A few times a year the Marin based high-altitude bluegrass band Hot Buttered Rum produces a full weekend event. They often unveil new songs or sequences, collaborate with treasured musical friends, and generally stretch their music. On the 17th (with Lost Coast opening) and 18th (Blue Turtle Seduction opening) the band is setting up shop at The Independent in San Francisco. The weekend will feature two diverse nights of music, a community BBQ and kickball game, an alternative fuel car show, a food drive, and a fun hotel where out-of-towners can stay. Mill Valley chanteuse Maria Muldaur will be performing at Rancho Nicasio on the 17th and at the Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City on the 24th. You can also watch Maria perform on a recent broadcast of the Wood Songs Radio Hour on the web. Go to this link and click on "video" in the upper right hand corner. She is on about five minutes into the show in a 15-minute slot, and then she appears again about 37 minutes into the show. Also on the program is guitarist Will Kimbrough. Dance to Western swing music with Lost Weekend at Little Switzerland in the town of Sonoma on the 18th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. "Fill 'er up with premium French fry oil, please." On Wednesday the 22nd drive your hybrid over to Ashkenaz in Berkeley to attend the Bio-Fueled Bluegrass Bash - A Thanksgiving Benefit for Clean Energy. Support local efforts for alternative fuels and renewable energy. Organized by Tom Brigham, the event involves a parade and rallies and will be capped by a concert of sweet sustainable bluegrass. There will be a caravan, rally and concert, featuring The Barefoot Nellies, Three Mile Grade and a nationally known mystery headliner. Tune into the Annual Jimi Hendrix Celebration on Friday the 24th from midnight until 7 a.m. on Saturday on KUSP-FM in the Monterey Bay Area either on your radio or on the web. Seven hours of Jimi with no repeated songs. This year, host Tom McCarter plans to play what he considers to be "the best cuts and the best versions of Jimi's tunes." On Sunday, November 26th, the Eighth Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Hillbilly Hootenanny will take place at Rancho Nicasio. Hosted by yours truly, my bluegrass duo Keystone Crossing (with Claudia Hampe) will be performing, as well as several special guest musicians from the Bay Area bluegrass and country music community. The guests so far are The Cash Magnets, The Last Call Quartet, Dave Fredrickson, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue, and Audrey Auld Mezera. There is no cover charge, and the fun starts at 4 p.m. Last November Matt Kramer wrote about the show in The Pacific Sun and much of what he said is still current. You can read that story here. If you are going to be coming out, please call the Rancho a day or two in advance at (415) 662-2219 to ask about "reservations." They are really not needed, but if the place gets a lot of calls they will move the event into the main showroom instead of having it in the bar. Rancho Nicasio is West Marin's finest eatery and musical venue. Come out and enjoy a fine afternoon of bluegrass and country music on Thanksgiving weekend! They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 26th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: KEEPING SCORE - BEETHOVEN'S EROICA 11/02 10 p.m., 11/05 noon: "Bringing this musical experience to novice and experienced listeners alike, this three-part series elucidates how and why Beethoven, Stravinsky and Copland were able to write such remarkable, revolutionary works, and illuminates the impact of the works when written and the reason for their continuing emotional appeal today. The lively episodes feature the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas in rehearsal, performance and traveling the world to explore the stories, meaning, and impact of this music. This episode: 200 years ago, Beethoven rewrote the rules of music when he premiered his Eroica Symphony, describing through music his own personal experiences. Filmed in and around Vienna, this episode explores what shaped Beethoven and the Eroica - his life story, his deafness, his rivals and patrons - and what makes the music so powerful still." SOUNDSTAGE - LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM WITH SPECIAL GUEST STEVIE NICKS 11/04 11 p.m.: "Hailing from Fleetwood Mac, one of America's most renowned and successful bands, Lindsey Buckingham embarked on a productive and storied solo career that continues to evolve 18 years after his departure from the band. In this appearance, Buckingham's performance spans the various eras of his career. The alluring Stevie Nicks joins Buckingham during the set, providing an intimate view of the chemistry that once propelled their former band to the top of the charts. Though their once tumultuous relationship was a topic that reached near-epic proportions, this reunion eclipses the controversy, placing all emotion back into the songs that defined them." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - SUFJAN STEVENS/CALEXICO 11/05 midnight: "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." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - ROY ROGERS & THE DELTA RHYTHM KINGS 11/05 1a.m.: "Considered one of the modern masters of slide guitar, Roy is an eight-time Grammy nominee and Grammy winning producer (John Lee Hooker, Ramblin' Jack Elliott). Roy is joined by special guests Phil Aaberg, Norton Buffalo, Shana Morrison, and Tom Rigney. This show features interviews with Bonnie Raitt and Sammy Hagar." KEEPING SCORE - BEETHOVEN'S SYMPHONY #3 11/05 1 p.m.: "MTT and the San Francisco Symphony perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 'Eroica.'" JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS 11/06 7:30 p.m., 11/10 2:30 a.m., 11/10 2:30 p.m., 11/10 10:30 p.m., 11/13 12:01 a.m.: "Think Perry Como and Igor Stravinsky have nothing in common? Think again! As Josh finds out from Michael Tilson Thomas, the connections between contemporary and classical music can often be surprising. For more than a decade MTT has earned international acclaim as the San Francisco Symphony's music director and conductor. But one of his proudest achievements to date is giving viewers an intimate look at classical music composition and performance through his PBS documentary series 'Keeping Score.' He's got a sneak preview for Josh - and we'll see what the maestro thinks of Josh's own talents on the oboe." MI MAMBO! 11/06 11 p.m.: "This program takes us inside the school exploring the ways that the Harbor Conservatory captures and feeds on the musical energies of the street and how the conservatory gives back to the streets, teaching young men and women from East Harlem to play and appreciate the music of their Latin roots, to master its rhythms. It has become the center for Afro-Caribbean music drawing students of diverse backgrounds and ages - not just from New York City - but from all over the world. Here students are introduced to Latin American musical traditions, and they get the opportunity to perform with professional musicians and dancers." KEEPING SCORE - STRAVINSKY'S RITE OF SPRING 11/09 10 p.m., 11/12 noon: "Almost 100 years ago, Igor Stravinsky shocked the western world with his ballet score 'The Rite of Spring,' a highly charged and confrontational piece. Michael Tilson Thomas goes behind the scenes in St. Petersburg and Paris to discover the spirit in which it was written and the drama of the opening night that shook the music world to its foundations." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO 11/12 1:20 a.m.: "Ladysmith Black Mambazo brings its combination of South African musical traditions and Christian gospel music to the ACL stage. This group has become an international cultural force over the last 40 years, and their remarkable vocal harmonies continue to inspire enthusiasm whenever and wherever they perform."
*************************************************************************************************** October 15, 2006
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass VI was simply marvelous this year. So many stages, too little time! And the weather was ideal for an outside fest. Hats off once again to Warren Hellman and his staff for putting on an event like no other. And all free to the public. Consider taking the time to drop Warren a note of thanks, and send to One Maritime Plaza, Twelfth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111. If you missed the fest and want to read about it, dinosaur scribe Joel Selvin had a review in the SF Chronicle on the 9th that you can read here. For the most part it is an accurate story. However, saying that The Waybacks play "hippie rock" is a bit off the wall. And in the Friday the 13th Datebook section of the paper a disgruntled attendee had the gumption to complain that the festival had "lost its original appeal," was once made up of "serious music fans," but now "has been peppered with many brain-dead, quiche-and-brie-eating troglodytes." This is a direct slam at usually tolerant San Francisco's troglodyte community! And heck…a free festival with over 60 bands to chose from, including many of the bluegrass elite. Maybe it would be better if there were no festival at all, dear letter writer? Sheesh… Errors and Omissions. In the previous edition it was noted in two separate entries that both The David Thom Band and Space Debris would be playing at the Iron Springs Brewery on the 18th. Turns out that The David Thom Band will be playing there next month on the 15th. And it was incorrectly stated that Roy Rogers will be playing on the 22nd at Rancho Nicasio. He will be there on the 27th. Color her Barbra. Singer Barbra Streisand was not about to be upstaged by a heckler at her recent concert in Madison Square Garden in New York. After being admonished by someone for the satirical political skit she put on, she turned to the dude and said, "Shut the (bleep) up!" Which is something that every performer, everywhere, wishes they could have said more than a few times in their life when folks gab away in the audience… Congratulations to Lost Coast (formerly Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band) fiddler Annie Staninec for winning the Dudley Hill Memorial Music Endowment. Funds and/or musical instruments from the endowment are awarded to exceptional young artists for support, training, development, and/or education in music, with special emphasis on Gypsy Jazz. Fallen tower. Tower Records, to the dismay of many in the music world, is on its way out. On the 6th a liquidator bought the record giant and it is already in the process of dismantling the company. With 89 stores in 20 states, the 3,000 employees will all soon be in the unemployment lines… Another club bites the dust. The music venue/wine bar/art gallery called Soho in Petaluma (formerly known as the Zebulon Lounge) will sadly be closing its doors for good on the 25th. Police log. Jimmy Buffett was popped for pills while leaving an airport in France. The authorities claimed he had Ecstasy, he says the pills were Foltx, a vitamin B supplement. Buffett says he "couldn't tell you the difference between a hit of Ecstasy and Excedrin PM. My vices these days consist of boat drinks, beer, wine and the occasional hot fudge sundae." What, no margaritas anymore? Country singer Sara Evans filed for divorce and has also obtained a restraining order against her husband Craig Schelske, accusing him of adultery, watching pornography, and other sordid stuff. Schelske ran for congress in Oregon in 2003. Heck, maybe she'll get some new county songs out of the experience… Life's railway to heaven. After an unexpected and thankfully short bout with lung cancer, Marin jazz guitarist Jon Steiner passed away on September 30th in his home surrounded by his wife and two daughters. There will be a memorial concert/jam session to celebrate his life at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on Sunday the 15th from 5-8 p.m., and all who knew Jon or knew of him and his music are invited to commemorate his life. Claude Luter, a horn player who hung out with Louis Armstrong and was one of France's most celebrated jazz musicians, died on October 6th. He was 83. He was best known for playing New Orleans jazz in Paris, and he played twice a month with his band until last year. Additions The rockabilly band 1/4 Mile Combo is all over the North Bay this month. On the 13th it will be The Filling Station in Santa Rosa at 7 p.m., The Lucky Bastards Car Show on the 14th at noon at the Twin Oaks Tavern in Penngrove, at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 20th with the band Moonshine at 9 p.m., and on the 21st at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa at 9 p.m. with Texas Steve & The Git Gone Trio. Tracy Blackman, now a proud mama and once again performing, will be playing a show for the Mill Valley Film Festival at the Festival Cafe at the Outdoor Arts Club on the 14th from 5:30-7 p.m. This is a free show, and open to the public. It's family friendly and they have food, too. The venue is located at One West Blithedale in Mill Valley. No troglodytes please! The Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station will be celebrating its 35th Anniversary Bash on the 14th. There will be a potluck supper at 5:30 p.m. (bring something wonderful to share - beer, wine, water, and soft drinks will be on sale), and then music will start at 7 with performances by folks and groups who have been involved over the years at the Dance Palace including singer/songwriter Sky Nelson, Dance Palace Kids Musical Theater Group, and Dance Palace Campers. Then there will be dancing to live music by Van Van Der Maaten and B-Line at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. Check out Tyrone White and The Hitmen when they appear at Peri's in Fairfax on the 20th. Cover is only $5, and this includes a free copy of the Hitmen CD. The Hitmen play a combination of rhythm & blues and rock & roll, everything from the 60s to current. Jayne Russell will be performing at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 21st at 8:30, with no cover charge. The band is Doug Jayne, Kevin Russell, Dean Wilson and Dan Ransford playing original rock & cool covers. Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts has a regular gig at the Petaluma Coffee and Tea Company, 212 Second Street, Petaluma, every last Friday of the month, and on the 27th it will be with his trio called Rivertown. The time is 7:30 p.m., with a $10 cover. He'll be playing original songs from his two albums, The Shape of Things to Come and All Things Considered. It will be folk-acoustic sets with hit songwriter, musician and producer George Merrill on keyboards and percussion, and Gary Grubb on guitar. Larry will be showcasing other artists as the year moves on. Call (707) 763-2727 for advance tickets. Seating is limited. Under the Radar plays driven acoustic music (bluegrass, blues, swing and more), and you can see them at a house concert in Sebastopol on the 27th. The band is Kevin Russell, Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher and Kendrick Freeman. The Lucky Dawgs and The One Night Stands will be sharing the bill at
New College of California's Santa Rosa campus on the 28th 8 p.m. It
will be a rare night of alt-country featuring two of Sonoma County's
best-known bands. This will also be a live recording for the One Night
Stands and will feature a blazing two steel guitar finale Marin's own
Jon Reminders 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 Radim Zenkl on the 13th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Head on down to Soho in Petaluma before it is all over. You can see
Johnny Dilks & His Country Soul Brothers on the 13th, The Bluebellies
on the 15th, The Sofa Kings on the 19th, the Gary Vogensen Band on the
20th (with Bobby Black on pedal steel), Ron Thompson on the 21st, Solid
Air on the 24th, and the big closing party on the 25th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 13th, Leon Bristow on the 17th, Spinout on the 21st, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Buxter Hoot'n on the 31st and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Carrtunes on the 13th, The Stoney Point Ramblers on the 14th, Elaine Dempsey on the 19th, Amy Wigton on the 26th, Dockside on the 27th, High Country on the 28th, plus more. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Joe Louis Walker on the 13th, Dark Star Orchestra on the 19th, Tea Leaf Green on the 28th, and more. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly on the 13th at the Twin Oaks in Penngrove, at AMF Boulevard Lanes in Petaluma on the 14th, the Calistoga Inn on the 21st, Iron Springs on the 25th, Ana's Cantina in St. Helena on the 27th, plus other dates. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Madeline Sheron on the 13th, Dave Costa Duo on the 14th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Bob Steele Jazz Trio on the 27th, and Lisa Kindred on the 28th. In Point Reyes Station there is a new hot music scene continuing at the Old Western Saloon. Jerry Lunsford, of KWMR radio, is now booking the joint, and for the most part there is a mixture of bluegrass, country and blues on the calendar. Buckaroo Bonet's Los Tres Borachos on the 13th, LuvPlanet on the 20th, Moonlight Rodeo on the 21st, The Pinks on the 27th, and The Pineneedles on the 28th. There is also the brand new open mic on the second Sunday afternoon of each month from 3-6 p.m. Kurt Huget is one busy guitar player. On the 13th he'll play with Kimberlye Gold at the Outdoor Art Club for the Mill Valley Film Festival, he'll be with his country band Moonlight Rodeo on the 14th when they play a command performance inside the walls of San Quentin, on the 21st (as noted above) they will be at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station, and on the 22nd he'll be with Namely Us at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax, Wagon, the four-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble, will be rolling into the Sacred Grounds Café in SF on the 13th, and then they'll be at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach on the 27th from 7-9:30 p.m. The band is Adam Bowers on dobro, Brian Lamoreaux on banjo, guitar Brendan Neagle on mandolin and guitar, and Nick Martin on fiddle. Out in West Marin at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station check out Mac Martin & The California Travelers playing bluegrass on the 13th, the Piano Concert Series with Sarah Cahill on the 15th, and The Stairwell Sisters Halloween Concert & Square Dance on the 28th. The Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration is happening on the 14th, and you can celebrate the season of harvest and bounty in the style of an old time country fair. Create and name a scarecrow, learn to spin wool or just relax in their beautiful garden. You and your family can have fun with our chickens, goats, sheep, turkey, and ducks. There will be a variety of craft activities, guided tours and coastal hikes, games, local food, and live music, including Matt and Pete Lax. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Jean Mann and Mark Davis on the 14th in Mill Valley. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Santa Rosa House Concerts presents award-winning Nashville-based singer/songwriter Toni Catlin for an evening of music and dining on the 14th. Equal parts rootsy folk-rock with integrity, Americana, and pop, Toni weaves tales of heartache, acceptance, and redemption and delivers them in a soulful, mellifluous voice that suggests she's lived more than a few of her lyrics. Doors open 5 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Auburn Bluegrass. There will be a one-day bluegrass festival in the town of Auburn on the 14th at the performing arts center, which is northeast of Sacramento. Acts you can see are Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Mountain Laurel, The F 150's, On The Loose, and The Spillit Quikkers. The Hicktones (Jack Frost, Doug Peterson, John Youngblood, Mike Gleason) are playing on the 14th at North Light Books in Cotati from 2-4 p.m., and on the 29th at the Sebastopol Farmers Market downtown from 10 a.m-1 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 14th it will be bluegrass, on the 21st swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. The Pine Needles will be at the Ace In The Hole in Sebastopol on the 14th, the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa on the 17th, the Red Vic Theater SF on the 19th, at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 27th, and at the Old Western Saloon Point Reyes on the 28th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also a lot of other great stuff. There are a host of events connected to the Mill Valley Film Festival through the 15th, (including a show with former Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek on the 14th), Those Darn Accordions on the 20th, Austin deLone & Friends on the 21st, Wine Women & Song Benefit on the 22nd, and Peter Yarrow on the 27th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are the Daniel Pearl Tribute on the 15th, Sylvia Herold and Jan Smith on the 18th, The Ruminators on the 20th, Wake The Dead on the 21st, Nearly Beloved and The Cash Magnets on the 26th, Doug Adamz on the 27th (see below), plus more. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond at the Sausalito Yacht Club on the 15th, at Towles in Burlingame on the 19th, at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito on the 20th, at the Masonic Lodge in San Rafael on the 21st, and at Rafter's in San Rafael on the 22nd. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Houston Jones on the 15th, JL Stiles on the 22nd, Roy Rogers on the 27th, and more. The Bluebellies are a band from Petaluma that plays American roots music, and they can be seen at Soho in Petaluma on the 15th and at the Olema Inn on the 16th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 16th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 18th see Space Debris, and The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 25th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Austin singer-songwriter Sam Baker on the 20th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Ain't Misbehavin' performs vintage acoustic swing and western swing, jazzy ballads, silly magic tricks and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company on the 21st. The Wild Catahoulas will have you tapping your feet to the Cajun beat when they play at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on the 21st from 8-11 p.m. Dance lessons at 7. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 22nd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. John Prine will be at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF on the 23rd and 24th. Breast cancer benefit. There will be a great show on the 24th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley to celebrate the release of a new album, Glass Half Full, the proceeds from which benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and SHARE, with some of the performers on the CD appearing on the stage. See Laurie Lewis, Barbara Higbie, Jennifer Berezan, Chris Webster, Sheilah Glover, and Grace Griffith. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Christie McCarthy with Patty Espeseth on cello on the 27th This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Marin Country fiddler Doug Adamz also plays guitar, and on the 27th he will be celebrating the release of his new album Guitar Solos by playing some selections from the CD as well as making forays into the many styles of music he has explored during his long sojourn in music - Americana, story songs and fiddle tunes. He'll even take an excursion into the belly dancing music he has composed that was used by the Joffrey Ballet and in Robert Altman's movie The Company. His band Bravo (Russ Gauthier, Bill Amatneek, Don Rich, Kendrick Freeman) will be on hand to back him up. 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. At the Marin Civic Center you can see fine Cape Breton fiddler Natalie McMaster on the 27th. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music at Smiley's in Bolinas on the 28th. Check out their web site and listen to some tunes. The Farallons will be playing their soulful folk on the 28th at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - WEEKEND ON THE ROCKS 10/14 11:45 p.m.: "Dave Matthews Band, touring to support their #1 album 'Stand Up,' were taped early September 2005 at Colorado's visually-impressive Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In addition to songs from that album, they perform many of the hits that made them a household name. Trey Anastasio, formerly of the band Phish, joins Dave Matthews onstage for the performance." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - TOMMY EMMANUEL 10/15 12:45 a.m.: "Australia's 'Entertainer of the Year' is the hottest new guitarist on the world scene, whose skills as a storyteller and teacher are highlighted as he shares laughs, tips on guitar playing, and his unique view on life. Sierra Nevada's own Bob Littell gives a rousing performance on harmonica." ABBA IN CONCERT 10/15 1:45 a.m.: "This special captures an unforgettable concert by the group as they performed at London's Wembley Arena in November of 1979. ABBA stunned their audiences with a dazzling show and delivered one hit after another. Their performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. This concert transports ABBA fans back to the 70's to experience all-time favorites. In this legendary concert, these talented artists were at their dynamic best and provided an evening of music that continues to capture the world's attention and continues to make new fans." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - AUDRA MCDONALD AND FRIENDS 10/15 noon: "This star-studded evening, part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, features Audra McDonald on stage with some of the entertainment world's most exciting singer-songwriters. McDonald will treat her audience to an evening of joyous song as she takes the stage of Jazz at Lincoln Center's magnificent Allen Room overlooking New York City's Central Park." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - JUANES 10/21 11:45 p.m.: "Arguably the single most important figure on today's Latin music scene, Juanes brings his infectious rhythms and compelling songs from his native Colombia to an American audience. Juanes remains true to his roots, performing in his native language." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS 10/22 12:45 a.m.: "The dance floor erupts when Rod Piazza and his band, The Mighty Flyers, bring their distinctive West Coast boogie-woogie style to Sierra Center Stage. Featuring the always entertaining Honey Piazza on keyboards, this band's unique and entertaining blend of swing, jive, and R&B has earned them the reputation as one of the best blues bands in the world today - including the honor of 'Band of the Year' at the 2006 Blues Foundation Awards gala." HARRY CHAPIN - REMEMBER WHEN 10/22 1:45 a.m.: "A definitive collection of Harry Chapin performances of his hits from throughout his short lived career. Chapin continues to be one of the most beloved performers in American music history, a spokesman of the people and poet laureate to cabdrivers, housewives, handymen, watchman, dry cleaners and so many others so often overlooked. This special features unique classic performances of Harry's most important hits and notable songs, with insightful and personal commentary from Harry's widow, Sandy Chapin and their children Jennifer and Josh. Chapin died in a car accident on Long Island in 1981. He was on his way to perform a benefit concert in support of his charity and desire to feed the hungry. Before 'Live Aid' and 'We Are The World,' Harry was the catalyst, chief fundraiser and face of the World Hunger Fund." BEAUX ARTS AT 50 10/23 11 p.m.: "Pianist Menahem Pressler and the Beaux Arts Trio celebrate their 50th anniversary at Indiana University's Jacob School of Music by recreating their first public debut concert. The program takes viewers behind the scenes as Pressler, violinist Daniel Hope and cellist Antonio Meneses prepare for their big anniversary performance. Featuring historical recordings and interviews with the trio, the program examines one of the most beloved chamber ensembles of our time." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO 10/29 midnight: "Few contemporary artists inspire the degree of rapturous critical praise as Alejandro Escovedo, without the accompanying fame and fortune. Back in form after a near-death battle with Hepatitis C, Escovedo performs songs from The Boxing Mirror, praised by Billboard as 'a masterwork from one of the genuine lights in rock music.'" SIERRA CENTER STAGE - BRUBECK BROTHERS WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAVE BRUBECK 10/29 1 a.m.: "Drummer Danny Brubeck and bass player/trombonist Chris Brubeck - both well known performers and composers in their own rights - are joined on this historic television program by their father, Dave Brubeck, one of the most well-known jazz pianists of all time. The senior Brubeck recorded the first ever million-selling jazz tune ('Take Five'), has written songs recorded by hundreds of artists, and has scored symphonies performed worldwide. His sons now tour with their own award-winning group, which also features pianist Chuck Lamb and guitarist Mike DeMicco." And on the A & E Network: PAUL MCCARTNEY - THE SPACE WITHIN US 10/28 10-11 p.m.: "In 2005, rock legend Paul McCartney crossed America with his record-breaking, sold out US tour. Better than a front row seat, this feature-length concert film takes viewers onto the stage and beyond, capturing Paul's out of this world performance - which was beamed to the astronauts aboard the Mir space station who wake up to some 'English Tea' with Paul and the band through a live feed from the tour."
*************************************************************************************************** October 1, 2006 Welcome to the 70th edition of Carltone's Corner! Well, we're a few days late and many dollars short here with this issue. Apologies to those who had gigs and events earlier this month that obviously we missed and won't be mentioned here. We've been too busy text messaging the Carltone World Headquarters interns and pages, trying to get them to get their info to us on time. And at no time can we ever be accused of ever being, to coin a popular phrase this weekend, "overly-friendly" to them. At least, not in emails or text messages… Most roads are leading to Golden Gate Park on the 6th-8th for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass VI, the free festival that is bankrolled every year by SF financial investment wizard Warren Hellman. The fest seems to get bigger and better every year, and hey, for the price, who can complain that "there's not enough bluegrass" there. This is why they added the word "Hardly" in front. Some of the bands to see are Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Del McCoury Band, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Iris DeMent, Hazel Dickens, Keystone Station, Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle & the Bluegrass Dukes, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, Tim O'Brien's Cornbread Nation with special guest Mollie O'Brien, Jerry Douglas & Best Kept Secret, Gillian Welch, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Richard Thompson Solo Acoustic, Banjo Extravaganza with Bill Evans, Tony Trischka and Alan Munde, The Waybacks w/ special guest Bob Weir, Heidi Clare & AtaGallop, Richie Furay, Annie & The Vets, The Stairwell Sisters, Poor Man's Whiskey, Elvis Costello (solo & with the Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods), G.E. Smith, and the David Gans Trio. Get your tarps and chairs ready, go to the web site and decide which of the five stages will work best for you, bring warm/cold weather clothes, and have one heck of a time. Special kudos to the Marin-based band Keystone Station who is looking forward to being the only strictly-local traditional bluegrass band on the bill of the fest. Some of the other local acts play old-time, tour nationally, are throw-together bands just for this show, or have drums. Keystone also played the first two years at the fest. Stop by and see them on the Porch Stage on Sunday the 8th at 12:45 p.m. Other roads on the same weekend are leading towards The Wolf Mountain Bluegrass Festival at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. If you want a smaller setting with a strictly bluegrass lineup, then head on down there to see Perfect Strangers, High Plains Tradition, Bluegrass Redliners, Keith Little & Jim Nunally, High Country, Highway One, Lone Prairie, Mighty Crows, Page Brownton & Friends, Jake Quesenberry & The McRae Brothers, and more. Beatle pics. The San Francisco Art Exchange is supposedly presenting a powerful and comprehensive exhibition of original, hand signed Beatle photography. "Supposedly" because their web site still has info about their exhibit from three months ago and not this one. But, according to the associate director, the Beatle exhibit is there. This exclusive showing of over 100 iconic images began in September and will run through the second week of October. The Exchange is located at 458 Geary Street in SF, and you can call (800) 344-9633 for more details. Thanks to Tom McCarter for this news. Most everyone knows the old joke: How do you make a million dollars in the music business? The answer? Start with two million! Now there is an on-line venture where players can get folks to invest in them, or vice versa. It is called Sellaband. If you have some money to burn, have a look. As the Romans used to say, "caveat emptor." Or, "let the buyer beware…" No Linda. As most folks know by now, Linda Ronstadt will not be at Hardly Strictly after all, and has had to cancel the rest of her tour dates for this year after having minor surgery. Do not believe the ad in the recent Sunday Chronicle that has her playing at the San Jose Convention Center on the 6th. Ramblin' Jack Elliott is certainly getting some good ink lately. In September he was featured in the Marin Independent Journal. On October 1st there was a nice story about him the Chronicle Pink Section that you can read here. Earlier in the paper they mention that Jack will be "headlining the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival." Uh, playing there, yes, but does playing at 11:15 a.m. on a Sunday morning make one a headliner? Poor choice of words there, Chron editor that knows nothing about bluegrass festivals… There was also a story about multi-talented singer/writer/instrumentalist Darrell Scott by Paul Liberatore in the Marin Independent Journal last week. Scott will be at Rancho Nicasio and Hardly Strictly this weekend. Read it here. New flicks. There is a new documentary out that may have you thinking twice now that the politico powers-that-be unlimited power to wiretap and investigate you. In 1972 president Nixon and his cronies had former Beatle John Lennon tapped and followed by the F.B.I. everywhere he went in the US, and even had Lennon's passport renewal declined because they feared that Lennon would succeed in encouraging young people to vote. The film is called The U.S. Versus John Lennon, and it will probably be playing at a theatre near you soon. More detailed info about Lennon and the F.B.I. can be found in the book by Jon Wiener titled Gimme Some Truth. Another music film of sorts that most readers of this newsletter probably have no interest in seeing is called American Hardcore, which is a documentary of the punk era from the early 80s. New sounds. In the previous edition we listed a slew of new recordings by Bay Area artists. From here on out we will mention as many as we can, with the hope being that at year's end we will offer a recap for when it comes time to do some holiday gift giving: -- High Country, the Bay Area's longest running bluegrass band that is led by Butch Waller, has a new disc titled High Country - The First 25 Years, that is a retrospective of recordings which includes long out of print material from the earliest days of the band through the early 90s in digital format. This is a two CD set with 44 songs. -- The Circle R Boys is another veteran Bay Area bluegrass band (which includes one current as well as one former member of High Country), and they have a new CD titled Rare Bluegrass Recordings. Nice story recently in the Washington Post recently on A Guide to the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, which is about the region's music, past and present, and highlights its annual festivals, weekly concerts, live radio shows, and informal jam sessions. At the International Bluegrass Music Association awards show last week some of the winners were The Grascals, Tim O'Brien, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, and Michael Cleveland. Go to the IBMA site for a complete list. Congratulations to the South Bay bluegrass band The Mighty Crows, who won the Emerging Artist competition at Bluegrass in The Foothills festival last month! Moldy oldies. Looking for a line of work with some job security? Then do not go into the radio business. According the SF Chronicle on September 22nd,"KFRC's 'Cammy & Dean Show' was winding down when Cammy Blackstone and Dean Goss were called into an office. They were told the station's oldies format, '70s and '80s music, was changing in 10 minutes. They were being let go, and they had to leave the building immediately. The new format, called 'Movin,' is '80s and '90s dance music. Sue Hall, who'd done the midday show for 16 years, was let go, too; the guillotine fell on more than half a dozen people. After 13 years at the station, Blackstone was allowed back into the building to collect her things on Wednesday." And don't let the door hit you on the way out! Band scramble. The new name of the Acme String Ensemble is now The Stoney Point Ramblers. Bluegrass bassman Paul Knight has a new band called The Night Time String Band with Banana, Dix Bruce, Tom Rozum and Chad Manning, and they will play at the Iron Spring Brewery in Fairfax on the 4th. And Josh Needleman's new eclectic acoustic music band called The Pine Needles includes Morgan Meadow, Marty Fowler and Steve La Porta. Police log. Jeff Timmons of 90s boy band 98 Degrees pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and refusing to sign a citation and was sentenced to a year of probation. Singer Bobby Brown, whose marriage to Whitney Houston was reported here in the previous issue as being on the rocks, has been ordered arrested by a judge in MA (if he appears in the state) over delinquent child support payments. Asleep at the wheel: Pop singer George Michael fell asleep at the wheel of the car he was driving in London on October 2nd, and he was blocking traffic. The police found cannabis in his car, and popped him for possession. The two brothers that owned the Station nightclub in Rhode Island nightclub where 100 people and members of the rock band Great White were killed in a fire in 2003 were given lenient sentences, and this has angered the relatives of the dead victims. One brother got four years, the other a suspended sentence. And here's a shocker: Willie Nelson and band cited for marijuana possession! At a commercial traffic inspection in Louisiana on September 18th the officer smelled something funny, and citations were given out before the band was allowed to move on down the road again… Life's railway to heaven. Western swing singer Don Walser, the "Pavarotti of the Plains," died on September 20th in Austin, TX, from neuropathy, a disease that attacks the nervous system. He was 72. He played the Strawberry Music Festival in 1998. Etta Baker, influential Piedmont blues guitar picker, died at age 93 in Virginia on September 23rd. You can hear a touching tribute to here on National Public Radio. She didn't start touring until she was in her 60s, and she became a hit on the international folk-festival circuit. Etta also won a 1991 Folk Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Dobro legend Josh Graves died on the September 30th in Nashville after a long illness. He was 79. He played with Flatt & Scruggs back in the 50s and The Earl Scruggs Review in the 70s, and also recorded with country and bluegrass pickers. Not dead yet. It was widely reported on September 27th that Paul Vance, who wrote the 1950's hit "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" had died in Ormond Beach, FL. Turns out that a man named Paul Vance from Florida did indeed croak, but not the songwriter. The Florida guy had been lying to his wife and others for over 40 years about being the writer of the song. The real Paul Vance is 76 years old and very much alive in New York. And still collecting royalty checks. Read the wacky story here. Onward to the calendar… The David Thom Band will be playing bluegrass at the Sonoma Farmer's Market on the 3rd and at Iron Springs Brewery on the 18th. Jeanie & Chuck Poling's bluegrass and country jam at The Plough and Stars in SF will be celebrating its five-anniversary on the 4th. It runs from 8:30-11 p.m., but it is a bar, so you must be 21 to attend. Stop on by to pick a tune, and toast the hosts with a Guinness. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 4th see The Night Time String Band, Belle Monroe and Her Brewglass Boys on the 11th, Space Debris on the 18th, and The Sons of Emperor Norton on the 25th. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond (with special guest vocalist Krickie) at the No Name in Sausalito on the 4th, at the Sausalito Yacht Club on the 15th, at Towles in Burlingame on the 19th, at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito on the 20th, at the Masonic Lodge in San Rafael on the 21st, and at Rafter's in San Rafael on the 22nd. Everybody's favorite crabgrass band, The Waybacks, will be playing a show with special guest Bob Weir on the 4th at the Great American Music Hall in SF. They will also be at Hardly Strictly on the 8th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 5th and the 19th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Lariats of Fire on the 5th, Jeb Brady Band on the 7th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 12th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 13th, Leon Bristow on the 17th, Spinout on the 21st, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 27th, Buxter Hoot'n on the 31st and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is Megan McLaughlin on the 5th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 6th, Adam Traum on the 12th, The Carrtunes on the 13th, The Stoney Point Ramblers on the 14th, Elaine Dempsey on the 19th, Amy Wigton on the 26th, Dockside on the 27th, High Country on the 28th, plus more. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. James McMurtry on the 5th, Hot Tuna on the 6th, Iris Dement on the 7th, Joe Louis Walker on the 13th, Dark Star Orchestra on the 19th, Tea Leaf Green on the 28th, and more. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is also a lot of other great stuff. There are a host of events connected to the Mill Valley Film Festival on the 6th-15th, (including a show with former Saturday Night Live band guitarist GE Smith on the 7th, and Ray Manzarek on the 14th), Those Darn Accordions on the 20th, Austin deLone & Friends on the 21st, Wine Women & Song Benefit on the 22nd, and Peter Yarrow on the 27th. Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved can be seen at The Knockout in SF on the 6th and then at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 26th. The 20th Annual B.R. Cohn Charity Fall Music Festival & Celebrity Golf Classic will be taking place on the 6th-8th in Glen Ellen, and some of the bands performing are The Rowan Brothers, Pablo Cruise, The Old Boot Band, Little Feat, The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald, and Willie Nelson. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly on the 6th at the Knockout in SF, at the Twin Oaks in Penngrove on the 13th, at AMF Boulevard Lanes in Petaluma on the 14th, the Calistoga Inn on the 21st, Iron Springs on the 25th, Ana's Cantina in St. Helena on the 27th, plus other dates. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 6th, The Alex Markels Quartet on the 7th, Madeline Sheron on the 13th, Dave Costa Duo on the 14th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 20th, Jazz Philosophy on the 21st, Bob Steele Jazz Trio on the 27th, and Lisa Kindred on the 28th. The Sonoma County band Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with rock-n-roll attitude at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on the 6th (kids show) and 8th, and also at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company on the 21st. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Jimmy Dillon & Ozzie Ahlers (Tracy Blackman opens) on the 6th, Celebrating Songwriters on the 10th (see below), Daniel Pearl Tribute on the 15th, Sylvia Herold and Jan Smith on the 18th, The Ruminators on the 20th, Wake The Dead on the 21st, Nearly Beloved and The Cash Magnets on the 26th, Doug Adamz on the 27th (see below), plus more. The Pine Needles will be at the Ukiah Brewing Company on the 6th, Ace In The Hole in Sebastopol on the 14th, the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa on the 17th, the Red Vic Theater SF on the 19th, at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 27th, and at the Old Western Saloon Point Reyes on the 28th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Darrell Scott on the 6th, Danny Montana on the 7th, Danny Uzilevsky on the 8th, Fred Eaglesmith on the 12th (special Thursday show!), Houston Jones on the 15th, JL Stiles on the 22nd, Roy Rogers on the 22nd, and more. 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 and Robin Bullock on the 6th, and Radim Zenkl on the 13th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. If you can't make it down to GG Park, you can see Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder at the Napa Valley Opera House on the evening of the 7th. Danny Montana & the Bar Association will be playing both country and western music in West Marin at Rancho Nicasio on the 7th and at Smiley's in Bolinas on the 28th. Check out their web site and listen to some tunes. The Napa Valley Blues Festival will take place in two different venues in and around Calistoga on the 7th and 8th. Some bands to see are The Radiators, Ron Thompson & His Resistors, Norton Buffalo & The Knockouts, Christopher Ford, and The Zydeco Flames. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Irina Rivkin on the 7th at 8 p.m., and Christie McCarthy with Patty Espeseth on cello on the 27th This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The 19th Annual Carousel Fund Casino Night will be happening on the 7th at the Petaluma Veteran's Building. The event raises money for local families who have children who suffer from catastrophic illnesses. This year you can see The John Corbett Band (from Sex and The City/My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Peter Welker & His All Star Band. In Point Reyes Station there is a new hot music scene continuing at the Old Western Saloon. Jerry Lunsford, of KWMR radio, is now booking the joint, and for the most part there is a mixture of bluegrass, country and blues on the calendar. On the 7th see The Nitecaps, Buckaroo Bonet's Los Tres Borachos on the 13th, LuvPlanet on the 20th, Moonlight Rodeo on the 21st, The Pinks on the 27th, and The Pineneedles on the 28th. There is also the brand new open mic on the second Sunday afternoon of each month from 3-6 p.m. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 7th and 14th it will be bluegrass, on the 21st swing music, and on the 28th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. Kurt Huget is one busy guitar player. On the 7th he will play solo at the Nomad Cafe in Oakland, on the 8th and 22nd he'll be with Namely Us at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax, on the 13th he'll play with Kimberlye Gold at the Outdoor Art Club for the Mill Valley Film Festival, he'll be with his country band Moonlight Rodeo on the 14th when they play a command performance inside the walls of San Quentin, following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard (uh, this is a "private" concert, and tickets cost more than most folks want to pay), and on the 21st they will be at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station. The MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust) will be having their Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 8th at the Nicasio Valley Farms, 1/4 mile north of the town square in Nicasio. The Roadoilers will play a concert and square dance with Erik Hoffman calling. Tim Cain will also perform. Bring the whole family, and celebrate the history and the future of Marin's family farms. Select a pumpkin from the patch, take a hayride, plant seeds, spin wool, ride a pony, pet a sheep, goat, or cow. Audrey Shimkas & Josh Workman will be playing jazz at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 8th from 7-10 p.m. KWMR public radio in Point Reyes Station will have their Live Americana Music Concert and Autumn Pledge Drive Kick Off Party with Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Carrie Rodriguez & Chip Taylor, The Bluebellies, Bart Davenport, and more on Monday the 9th (Indigenous Peoples Day) in front of the KWMR studios on Highway One and Mesa Road in Point Reyes. The music and grill will start up at noon and continue until 7 p.m. Support community radio and enjoy a free, local grass-fed burger with every membership. Drop in at any time; all are welcome. This is a free event. The Celebrating Songwriters show on the 10th at the Larkspur Café Theatre features two distinctively accomplished musicians - Marin County's own Forest Sun and Santa Cruz songstress Sherry Austin. Show host and award winning songwriter Caren Armstrong adds her own effervescent energy to the mix with a newly penned song every month, just to keep things interesting. Dinner guests enjoy priority seating and a wonderful light menu on top of a great evening of song. Not to be missed! Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 10th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Bluegrass Gold at Sweetwater in Mill Valley is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the NCBS, and the show on the 11th at 8:30 p.m. will feature the debuts of two Bay Area female-led bands - headliner Heidi Clare & AtaGallop and opener Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds. Heidi Clare, formerly the fiddler/dancer for the nationally acclaimed old-time band Reeltime Travelers, is now living back in the Bay Area and has teamed up with accomplished guitarist Ed Snodderly and dynamic bassist Brandon Story to form the perfect group for showcasing all their talents. Together they breathe new life into old-time tunes and songs. As a member of Reeltime, Heidi has fiddled and danced on stage at The Grand Ole Opry, Strawberry Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Merlefest, Magnolia Festival, Bean Blossom, Grey Fox, and The Carter Family Fold, to name a few. And she has a new CD titled I Declare. Julay Brandenburg, best known as one-half of the duo The Cash Magnets with her husband Richard, now has her own bluegrass band called The Nightbirds, with Larry Cohea, Pat Campbell, Jim Mintun, and Thomas Wille. Wagon, the five-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble, will be rolling into the Sacred Grounds Café in SF on the 13th. The band is Adam Bowers on dobro, Brian Lamoreaux on banjo, guitar Brendan Neagle on mandolin and guitar, Nick Martin on fiddle, and Ted Silverman on bass. Out in West Marin at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station check out Mac Martin & The California Travelers playing bluegrass on the 13th, the Piano Concert Series with Sarah Cahill on the 15th, and The Stairwell Sisters Halloween Concert & Square Dance on the 28th. The Hicktones (Jack Frost, Doug Peterson, John Youngblood, Mike Gleason) are playing on the 14th at North Light Books in Cotati from 2-4 p.m., and on the 29th at the Sebastopol Farmers Market downtown from 10 a.m-1 p.m. The Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration is happening on the 14th, and you can celebrate the season of harvest and bounty in the style of an old time country fair. Create and name a scarecrow, learn to spin wool or just relax in their beautiful garden. You and your family can have fun with our chickens, goats, sheep, turkey, and ducks. There will be a variety of craft activities, guided tours and coastal hikes, games, local food, and live music, including Matt and Pete Lax. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month see Jean Mann and Mark Davis on the 14th in Mill Valley. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Santa Rosa House Concerts presents award-winning Nashville-based singer/songwriter Toni Catlin for an evening of music and dining on the 14th. Equal parts rootsy folk-rock with integrity, Americana, and pop, Toni weaves tales of heartache, acceptance, and redemption and delivers them in a soulful, mellifluous voice that suggests she's lived more than a few of her lyrics. Doors open 5 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, show starts 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Auburn Bluegrass. There will be a one-day bluegrass festival in the town of Auburn on the 14th at the performing arts center, which is northeast of Sacramento. Acts you can see are Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Mountain Laurel, The F 150's, On The Loose, and The Spillit Quikkers. 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. The Bluebellies are a band from Petaluma that plays American roots music. Besides seeing them at the KWMR benefit you can also check them out at Soho in Petaluma on the 15th and at the Olema Inn on the 16th. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Austin singer-songwriter Sam Baker on the 20th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Ain't Misbehavin' performs vintage acoustic swing and western swing, jazzy ballads, silly magic tricks and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 20th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Wild Catahoulas will have you tapping your feet to the Cajun beat when they play at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on the 21st from 8-11 p.m. Dance lessons at 7. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 22nd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place
at Sweetwater on the 23rd from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform,
but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow.
If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that
can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on
networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for
best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording
time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Breast cancer benefit. There will be a great show on the 24th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley to celebrate the release of a new album, Glass Half Full, the proceeds from which benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and SHARE, with some of the performers on the CD appearing on the stage. See Laurie Lewis, Barbara Higbie, Jennifer Berezan, Chris Webster, Sheilah Glover, and Grace Griffith. Marin Country fiddler Doug Adamz also plays guitar, and on the 27th he will be celebrating the release of his new album Guitar Solos by playing some selections from the CD as well as making forays into the many styles of music he has explored during his long sojourn in music - Americana, story songs and fiddle tunes. He'll even take an excursion into the belly dancing music he has composed that was used by the Joffrey Ballet and in Robert Altman's movie The Company. His band Bravo (Russ Gauthier, Bill Amatneek, Don Rich, Kendrick Freeman) will be on hand to back him up. At the Marin Civic Center you can see fine Cape Breton fiddler Natalie McMaster on the 27th. The Farallons will be playing their soulful folk on the 28th at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS 10/02 midnight: "Think Perry Como and Igor Stravinsky have nothing in common? Think again! As Josh finds out from Michael Tilson Thomas, the connections between contemporary and classical music can often be surprising. For more than a decade MTT has earned international acclaim as the San Francisco Symphony's music director and conductor. But one of his proudest achievements to date is giving viewers an intimate look at classical music composition and performance through his PBS documentary series 'Keeping Score.' He's got a sneak preview for Josh - and we'll see what the maestro thinks of Josh's own talents on the oboe." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - RAY DAVIES 10/07 11:32 p.m.: "The legendary Kinks front man Ray Davies makes a rare American television appearance, showcasing classic songs from the former quintessential Brit band as well as his eagerly received first-ever solo record." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES 10/08 12:30 a.m.: "Bela Fleck is considered one of the world's premier banjo players. His critically acclaimed music has been nominated in more categories than any other artist in the history of the Grammy Awards - for a total of 22 times! His band includes Victor Wooten (considered by many to be the best bass player alive), Wooten's brother 'Futureman,' who plays an unusual self-made drum set, and Jeff Coffin, a multi-talented woodwind player." CORRS - LIVE IN GENEVA 10/08 1:30 a.m.: "The Corrs have been together for 15 years and have sold more than 24 million albums worldwide. The band of three accomplished and stunning sisters and their talented brother have taken the world by storm with their music. They kicked off their US tour 18 months ago with an appearance on The Tonight Show and performed in venues from the Kodak Theatre in LA to Jones Beach in NY." CARNEGIE HALL OPENING NIGHT 2006 10/11 9 p.m.: "Mahler and Mozart take center stage as bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes join Franz Welser- Most and The Cleveland Orchestra in Carnegie Hall's 2006 Opening Night. The program marks the long-awaited series debut of Quasthoff, who performs songs from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Andsnes offers Mozart's charming and intimate Piano Concerto No. 17. CNN journalist and cellist Paula Zahn hosts." DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - WEEKEND ON THE ROCKS 10/14 11:45 p.m.: "Dave Matthews Band, touring to support their #1 album 'Stand Up,' were taped early September 2005 at Colorado's visually-impressive Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In addition to songs from that album, they perform many of the hits that made them a household name. Trey Anastasio, formerly of the band Phish, joins Dave Matthews onstage for the performance." SIERRA CENTER STAGE - TOMMY EMMANUEL 10/15 12:45 a.m.: "Australia's 'Entertainer of the Year' is the hottest new guitarist on the world scene, whose skills as a storyteller and teacher are highlighted as he shares laughs, tips on guitar playing, and his unique view on life. Sierra Nevada's own Bob Littell gives a rousing performance on harmonica." ABBA IN CONCERT 10/15 1:45 a.m.: "This special captures an unforgettable concert by the group as they performed at London's Wembley Arena in November of 1979. ABBA stunned their audiences with a dazzling show and delivered one hit after another. Their performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. This concert transports ABBA fans back to the 70's to experience all-time favorites. In this legendary concert, these talented artists were at their dynamic best and provided an evening of music that continues to capture the world's attention and continues to make new fans." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - AUDRA MCDONALD AND FRIENDS 10/15 noon: "This star-studded evening, part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, features Audra McDonald on stage with some of the entertainment world's most exciting singer-songwriters. McDonald will treat her audience to an evening of joyous song as she takes the stage of Jazz at Lincoln Center's magnificent Allen Room overlooking New York City's Central Park." *************************************************************************************************** September 15, 2006 "All the North Bay music news the local media tends to ignore" Many apologies again for the unedited and incomplete previous issue of this newsletter that was sent out on August 30th. There were 40 some mistakes and necessary edits, but we just ran out of time between packing for the Strawberry Music Festival and dashing to the porcelain throne, as a 24-hour food poisoning bout really knocked us down for the count. Somehow we made it to the fest and had a great time, and now we've recovered from sleep deprivation and the reality that the summer of '06 is gone forever and it is time to hunker down for the fall and winter months ahead. But don't for a minute think that since the summer is over that the festivals and fun have stopped. There so much going on in the last two weeks of this month that this is without a doubt the longest mid-month update on record… Errors and omissions. Among the many mistakes previously, on the 15th the Alhambra Valley Band should have been listed as playing at the Plough & Stars in SF on the bill with The Earl Brothers. The dates for the Saturday jams in Sebastopol were wrong. For the rest of the month they are 16th, 23rd and 30th, not the 17th and 24th. The Sebastopol gospel jam should have been listed as being on the 24th, not the 23rd. And we left out an entire passage about the upcoming Bluegrass Gold show at Sweetwater on the 28th. This info lies below here. Dialing for dollars. Public radio station KALW (91.7 FM) in SF is in the midst of a fundraising drive, and one thing you can do to help keep bluegrass on the air is to tune into Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal show on Saturday the 16th. Normally it airs from 6:30-8 p.m., but this will be a special three-hour edition of the program from 5-8 p.m. Your pledge of support will help pay some bills and keep Peter's great show going. Whatever you can afford is very much appreciated. And he'll have extra thank-you gifts for you, including a DVD titled Bluegrass: Country Soul, the first film ever made about bluegrass, shot at a 1971 North Carolina festival; the new CD by Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands titled The Golden West; the Dale Ann Bradley CD Catch Tomorrow that Compass Records is making available to Bluegrass Signal listeners one month before it's on sale to the public; and a book and two CDs - A Guide to the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, about the region's music, past and present, and highlights its annual festivals, weekly concerts, live radio shows, and informal jam sessions. Tune in and support Bluegrass Signal and KALW with a call to 1-800-525-9917. Other wonderful shows of note on before Peter's when it isn't fundraising time are Thistle & Shamrock, Folk Music & Beyond, and A Patchwork Quilt. Do wah diddy. Sean "Puffy" Combs, the artist formerly known as "Puff Daddy" who, since 1991 has called himself "P. Diddy," now wants to be known simply as "Diddy." He can call himself that anywhere he wants except in England. Turns out that London-based music producer Richard "Diddy" Dearlove has been using the name for long time, and he got old Puff to agree to a settlement whereby he won't use the name over there. Beatle album covers will soon be available on postage stamps in Britain. Watch for the trend to catch on here in the US anon. Still blaming Sally. The Bay Area all-female quartet named Blame Sally recently had a great time playing the Strawberry Music Festival near Yosemite. The video of their song "If You Tell A Lie" has been mentioned here previously, and it has rapidly climbed the video chart on Neil Young's web site to the number three position. If you go here to view it, the more folks do this, the higher ranking it will get. Check it out if you have not done so already, or, look at it again. The more times, the merrier. New sounds. Many years ago the interns here used to write real reviews of recordings for other publications, and many of those can be found on the Carltone web site. However, due to a shortage in staff and the high pockets of the publisher, there is no time left to do detailed reviews. A whole slew of CDs from Bay Area artists have made there way to Carltone World Headquarters recently, and the best we can do is to list them with links so you can go and listen to songs on your own. Here is a partial list of some of the stuff to check out. Get your holiday shopping done early, or, better yet, give them out at Halloween instead of candy: -- Michael Koppy, a San Francisco performer, has a new CD titled Red
River Redux. He plays what he calls "front porch music," and
on the CD he offers his own interpretations of mostly traditional tunes.
There are two new recordings that will get a lot of ink and media coverage elsewhere but will no doubt suck. Paris Hilton has a new CD out titled Paris. Heck, she ain't just into making porno videos anymore! And Yusaf Islam (birth name Steven Demetre Georgiou), the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, has inked a deal with Atlantic records to make a new album. Ooh, baby, it's a wild world, indeed… The Bard of West Marin, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, recently turned 75 and also put out a new album titled I Stand Alone. You can read a story about him by Paul Liberatore in the Marin Independent Journal here. You can see him at the Mystic in Petaluma on the 30th, at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass next month, or at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley on October 18th. There was a nice story in the Contra Costa Times a few weeks back about 19 year-old saw player Caroline McCaskey of San Pablo who came in second at the 27th Annual International Musical Saw Competition last month. Thanks to Kenny Blacklock for this item. Has the world heard enough of silly love songs? Paul McCartney asked this in a song from over 30 years ago, and if you look around the city of Mogadishu in the African country of Somalia, you'd certainly think so. Islamic militants that control that part of the world shut down Radio Jowhar for playing love songs that go against their beliefs. They also closed movie houses and even broke up wedding celebration because a live band was playing. Note to Bay Area bluegrass bands trying to book out of town gigs: Ixnay on Somalia-ay… All that glitters is not gold. For some time now the Carltone Webwitness News Team has been following the sordid exploits of erstwhile British rocker Paul Francis Gadd, otherwise known as Gary Glitter. He was convicted of sexual molestation last spring in Viet Nam and sentenced to three years in jail (after having been convicted of similar counts in England as well). His song, "Rock and Roll Part 2," has been played at every football game and other sporting events in the US for years. But now the National Football League has banned the song. What, being convicted in England wasn't enough for the NFL? It took getting popped in Southeast Asia? The league subsidized his travels with royalty checks for year. The betting here is that Michael Jackson songs won't be played either… Congratulations to Don Burnham, leader of the band Lost Weekend. The Western Swing Society's Hall of Fame Festival will run from September 28th until October 1st in Rancho Cordova, and on the 1st Don will be inducted in the Western Swing Hall of Fame. Get out your handkerchiefs. To the amazement of many, the marriage of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown has lasted 14 years and many arrests. Alas, they are finally going to untie the knot. Band scramble. As mentioned previously, the local lads/lasses of The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band are changing their name to Lost Coast, and they have a new web site with photos, sound clips and other good stuff. They are headed to Nashville at month's end to attend the International Bluegrass Music convention as invited guests. These kids are the future of bluegrass, folks, so catch them around the Bay while you still can. And, there is a new bluegrass band from the East Bay called The Ancient Tones comprised of veteran all-stars Kathy Kallick, Bill Evans, Cindy Browne, and Tom Bekeny. Look for their shows coming up in November. Police log. Actress, model, heiress, "singer," weapon of mass distraction and, lest we forget, homemade porno video star Paris Hilton was arrested on September 7th in Los Angeles for drunken driving. And only in America, her publicist claims that the arrest "Will only help her career…" Rapper 50 Cent was arrested in New York on the 8th for traffic offenses. Onlookers started booing the police when they saw who was driving the car. Victor Willis, erstwhile founder of the 70s disco band The Village People who was mentioned here some months back for being busted near SF on drug and parole violations, was sentenced to rehab and probation. He is just one more infraction away from being sent to the Big House where he can certainly "have fun with all the boys"… Life's railway to heaven. Bandleader and longtime jazz saxophone player Walter "Dewey" Redman died on the 2nd in New York of liver failure. He was 75. Matthew Allred, 35, a talented multi-instrumentalist and singer, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday the 10th. A former member of The Country Gentlemen and Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Matthew had toured with Ricky Skaggs as well. He often performed with his brother Derrick in The Allred Brothers group and appeared frequently with The Bluegrass Experience and Carolina Lightning. Additions The Plymouth Bluegrass Festival will take place on the 15th-17th at the Amador County Fairgrounds southeast of Sacramento. Some of the bands to see there are Cherryholmes, Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass, The Chapmans, Grizzly Peak, Bound To Ride, Hit and Run Bluegrass, and The Mighty Crows. Bye bye Ivy Room. After 15 years of serving up stiff drinks and live music, the Ivy Room in the East Bay town of Albany has been sold and its future is unknown. The weekend of the 15th-17th will be its last under the current ownership, and they are going out in style by having many regular bands come and play. On the 15th at 8 p.m. you can see Red Meat, Dave Gleason's Wasted Days, Mover (Reunion), Dreamdate, The Moore Brothers, Sweetbriar, and on the 16th The Loved Ones (Bart, Mike, John & Xan), Rusty Zinn (Duo), Carlos Guitarlos, The Salem Lights, Ride The Blinds, Eric McFadden Trio, and special surprise guests. Earthdance, the Global Dance Festival for Peace, has grown to become the world's largest simultaneous music and dance event. Founded in 1997, with 22 cities and 18 countries participating, Earthdance events have occurred in over 240 cities in 50 countries, with locations ranging from the clubs of New York to the rainforests of Brazil. Every year, in alignment with the International Day of Peace, over 200,000 people unite in dance with hundreds of thousands more joining online in support of global peace and humanitarian aims. The fest will take place in Laytonville on the 15th-17th. Some of the artists to see are Ani DiFranco, India.Arie, Ozomatli, Blackalicious, Tea Leaf Green, Mad Professor, DJ Logic, John Trudell and Pele Juju. Go to the site for more info. Wagon will be rolling into the Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa on the 15th, starting at 8:30 p.m., and going until they get tired, which won't be until around 11 p.m. The Wine, Women & Song benefit on the 16th at 9 p.m. at Sweetwater in Mill Valley presents the music of Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Dusty Springfield, Carly Simon and other artists affected by breast cancer. Performers will be Eric Martin, Lorin Rowan, Susan Z, Loralee Christensen, Victoria George and many more. Join the fight against breast cancer with a night of rockin' good music and raffle prizes. Tickets are only $15. Order at Ticketweb or call Sweetwater at (415) 388-2820. All proceeds from the event benefit Zero Breast Cancer (formerly Marin Breast Cancer Watch) and Rally to Celebrate Life (formerly Rally for the Cause). Sailing with Maria. Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur sang to a sold-out crowd at the 142 Theatre in Mill Valley on the 1st, which was a CD release party for her smokin' new recording titled Heart of Mine: The Love Songs of Bob Dylan. You can see Maria and her band on dry land in the town of Paradise on the 16th, or you can join them on the "Blues Cruise" on the 24th from 4-8 p.m. when The Empress sails on the bay from Sausalito. Dave Crimmen's rockabilly band has a gig on the 17th from 12-3 p.m. at the Novato Hometown Festival in Hamilton Amphitheater Park at the decommissioned Hamilton Air Force Base. Admission is free. Rock the Earth, an environmental organization defending the Earth through strong ties to the music community, is hosting a benefit concert on the 17th from noon to 6:30 p.m. in the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in McLaren Park in SF. The benefit is free, but a donation of $25 is recommended, with proceeds benefiting Rock the Earth's ongoing efforts to defend the planet one beat at a time. Artists include Rubber Souldiers, including David Gans, Chris Rowan and Lorin Rowan, Robin Sylvester, Barry Sless and Adam Perry, with very special guests including David Nelson and Martin Fierro; Blue Turtle Seduction; Mark Karan's Buds, including Pete Sears, Robin Sylvester, Jimmy Sanchez, and Jay Lane; Zoo Station; and The Trespassers. The Chazz Cats, the Bay Area swing band led by sultry D'Lilah Monroe, has been on hiatus for most of the past few years, coming out of hiding to play a few select gigs. On the 17th you can see them at the Ace-In-The-Hole Pub in Sebastopol from 6-9 p.m., and then on the 23rd they will play a special anniversary show at the Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax. Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys will be pickin' some bluegrass at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on 17th from 12-3 p.m. Tie-dye optional. Dead Set will be on the retro-neo-psychedelic folk revival bill together with Hobo Jungle (includes Will Scarlett, famed harmonica player for Hot Tuna and others) and Juice at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on the 19th starting at 8:30 p.m. $5 gets you in the door. The North Bay progressive roots ensemble Trailer Park Rangers will appear there along with 60s songwriter and harmonica virtuoso, Powell St. John & The Aliens, on the 21st at 9 p.m. The 12th Annual Sebastopol Celtic Festival runs from the 21st-24th, and here is who you can see there: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Lunasa, John Williams & Dean Magraw, Vasen, The Cottars, Mary Jane Lamond, Richard Thompson, Pipeline, Wake The Dead, the Santa Rosa Scottish Dancers, Healy Irish Dancers, Apple Tree Morris, Swords of Gridlock, William Coulter & David Brewer, Dockside, and others. You can see Pete Olson play solo & acoustic on the 21st at Murphy's in Sonoma at 7:30 p.m. and on the 24th from 5-9 p.m. at the Ace-In-The-Hole Pub in Sebastopol. No cover at either venue. The 34th Annual SF Blues Festival will be happening at Fort Mason in SF on the 22nd-24th. Some of the acts to see are Ruth Brown, Phil Guy, Louisiana Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, Irma Thomas, Henry Butler, Kermit Ruffins, Mem Shannon, and the Brass Monkey Brass Band. The Hitmen, who have been a Marin County staple for close to 20 years now, play a combination of rhythm & blues and rock & roll, and everything from the 60s to current hits. See them on the 22nd at Peri's in Fairfax. The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival will take place in downtown Sonoma on the weekend of the 22nd-24th, and there are lots of activities, such as music, a parade, wine tasting, and food. The fest celebrates the harvest and continues the Sonoma Valley tradition of generous support of the community and their winemaking heritage. First held in 1897, the fest has brought the Sonoma Valley community and visitors from all over the world together for many generations.1/4 Mile Combo, besides playing the festival from 3:30-5 p.m. on the 23rd, will also on the 28th at 10 p.m. be at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael with Lil Bit and the Customatics from San Antonio, TX. Strictly Bluegrass. Join Jeanie & Chuck Poling at an official CBA picking party in Golden Gate Park on Saturday the 23rd, starting at noon and going until at least 6 p.m. They've reserved their favorite little grove, the Dahlia Dell near the Conservatory of Flowers. Bring a dish or something to throw on the grill, along with something to drink. They'll bring plates, cups, and utensils. Chairs might be handy too. Bring your instruments, bandmates, friends and family. The grove is hidden away behind the Garfield statue on JFK Drive. There's plenty of room to spread out and have several jams. The California Bluegrass Association sponsors this event and it is open to all. For anyone who is looking to learn more about bluegrass music or is new in town, this is a chance to have a good time and get involved with the CBA. Caren Armstrong, besides hosting the Celebrating Songwriters series at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the second Tuesday of each month, also tours nationally and performs locally. See her at the Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito on the 23rd starting at 8 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Head on up to the Old-Time Bluegrass Festival that will take place on the 23rd in the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park near Clearlake. Acts you can see are the Stairwell Sisters, The Roadoilers, Bluegrass Contraption, Pat Ickes & Friends, Gus Garelick & Don Coffin, Laura Lind, Andy Skelton & The Konocti Fiddlers, and Jim Williams. There will be many workshops as well. The Wild Catahoulas will have you tapping your feet to the Cajun beat when they play at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa on the 27th from 8-11 p.m. The Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Thursday the 28th at 8:30 p.m. will be a special night featuring the Marin County band Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. Show producer Carltone will be celebrating a quarter century of playing with Elmo. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Wild Blue is Marin County's longest running bluegrass band. Led by the entertaining Dr. Elmo ("Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer") on banjo, the group also consists of John Pierson on guitar and yours truly on bass. All three of these talented musicians sing both lead and harmony, forging a musical blend that captivates and delights their audiences. They'll be picking traditional bluegrass music with a bit of Elmo's original songs thrown into the mix. Sitting in this night with the band will be Sausalito fiddler Kenny Blacklock (of Keystone Station) and San Rafael mandolin player Dana Rath (of The Modern Mandolin Quartet). Novato bassman Pat Campbell along with guitarist Ricc Sandoval, keyboardist Steve Shufton and drummer Paul Revelli, will be playing a show with Bill Cutler & The Hounds of Time at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on the 29th. Also on the bill is the band Grapefruit Ed. The Ruminators will play on the 30th at 7 p.m. at the Ace-In-The-Hole Pub in Sebastopol. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival VI is coming on October 6th-8th. The complete lineup is now posted on their site. This is a free event in Golden Gate Park. More details next edition. Also recently added to the Hardly roster is Marin County's own Keystone Station, who played the first and second years of the festival as well. Reminders Marin guitarist Kurt Huget is as busy as usual. He will play as a duo with Kimberlye Gold on the 14th at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, solo at the San Anselmo Coffee Roasters on the 23rd, and he'll also play jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam on the 24th. The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin) will be playing on the 14th at the Famous For Our Look Block Party in downtown Mill Valley at 7:30 p.m. This is a benefit for Katrina victims and Kiddo Schools. Then see them at the Iron Springs Brewery on the 27th, as joining them will be Barry Sless and Doug Harman. Finally you can see the brothers at 12:30 p.m. at Rock and Blues by the Lake on the 30th, followed by Lorin's Beatle cover band Lonely Hearts from 1-1:30 p.m. At Murphy's in Sonoma this month are Kimrea and Joe Lococo on the 14th, Solid Air on the 15th, Pete Olson on the 21st, The David Thom Band on the 22nd, The Whutknotts on the 23rd, Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack on the 24th, Adobe Creek Bluegrass on the 29th, the Spiral Mystics on the 30th, plus more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned above on the 28th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. See Calmodee on the 14th, Commander Cody on the 15th, the Wine, Women & Song benefit on the 16th, Aram Denesh on the 22nd, Kermit Ruffins on the 23rd, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 27th, and more. Plus, Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturdays from 3- 6 p.m., with no cover. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Small Change Romeo on the 14th, David Roche on the 15th, Pilar on the 16th, Valerie Jay & The Americanos on the 21st, Julie Layne on the 27th, and Corinne West on the 28th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows to see are Highway Robbers on the 14th, Swammees on the 21st, Danny Montana & The Bar Association on the 23rd, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 29th, and lots more. Great double bill in Santa Rosa. On the 14th the outlaw folk band Howdy! will be playing at the Last Day Saloon, opening for the band Hit & Run Bluegrass. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 15th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Besides Phil Richardson on fiddle, Marin guitar legend Chris Goddard will join Barry & Annie Ernst. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See Lauralee Brown & Denise Leigh on the 15th, Lynn Clyde on the 22nd, The Tom Bowers Duo on the 23rd, Jazz Philosophy on the 29th, and Joan Getz on the 30th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there will be a benefit fundraiser called "Love Letters" for the theatre starring Ann Fraser and Ross McGowan on the 15th and 16th, Roberta Donnay on the 22nd, Daniel Ho and Herb Ohta, Jr. on the 27th, the 20th Anniversary of Schoenberg Guitars on the 29th, and many other shows. At Rancho Nicasio see The Goldbrickers on the 15th, Elvin Bishop on the 17th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 22nd, The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience on the 24th, The Sons of Champlain on the 30th, and others. Out at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station you can see the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band on the 15th, and on the 17th an evening of Flamenco guitar revelry, song and dance with Los Gitanos Andalones. Sonoma County guitarist Kevin Russell and his band Under The Radar will play a mix of bluegrass, swing, country, folk and acoustic rock from 8:30 to 11 p.m. on the 16th at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa. And then his old bluegrass band Modern Hicks will pick on the 30th from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at a benefit for the Sonoma Land Trust. For info call Craig at (707) 544-7284. Jesse Lee Kincaid will perform original songs of wit and humor at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival on the 16th at 11:30 a.m. on the main stage. Other performers include 'Til Dawn, Joe Price, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, and others. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 16th see Soul Shine, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 21st, The Eugene Band on the 23rd, Ancient Mystic on the 29th, and lots more. In Point Reyes Station there is a new hot music scene happening at the Old Western Saloon. Jerry Lunsford, of KWMR radio, is now booking the joint, and for the most part there is a mixture of bluegrass, country and blues on the calendar. See Three Mile Grade on the 16th, Wilson McFarlin & Friends on the 22nd, Love Rocket on the 23rd, and Big B and the Snake Oil Saviors on the 29th. Singer/guitarist Kyle Alden has quite a few gigs this month. On the 17th see him at the San Gregorio Store on his own from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., on the 22nd at BookBeat from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on the 28th at Schmidt's Pub in Albany with the band Curfew from 7-9 p.m. Lauralee Brown, besides playing on the 15th at Saylor's Landing as noted above, will be with her band on the 17th on the Sausalito Empress bay cruise from 4-8 p.m. And on the 26th, from 8-10 p.m., you can see her at The Left Bank in Larkspur as guest vocalist with the Jon Stiener Jazz Trio. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 21st the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The Sons of Emperor Norton, with San Anselmo's Gary Bauman on lead guitar, will be will be the Sweetspot in Santa Rosa on the 21st, at Anna's Cantina in St Helena on the 22nd and at The Baltic in Pt. Richmond on the 30th. The Sons play vintage rockabilly and, besides Gary, also feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on vocals and rhythm guitar, Eva Maass and Scott Hoover on bass, Ed Randol on sax, Dale Gutridge on trumpet, and George Smeltz on drums. The David Thom Band will be picking bluegrass at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 22nd. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play most Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. There will be a special night on Saturday the 23rd when the pub will celebrate its second anniversary as well as owner Michael Altman's 40th birthday and his wedding anniversary, and, as noted above, The Chazz Cats will perform. See The Rowan Brothers with Barry Sless on Wednesday the 27th Love Rocket, a psychedelic folk-rock band with amazing three-part harmonies reminiscent of the Byrds, will be playing at The Old Western Saloon at Pt. Reyes on the 23rd. If you like jangly electric 12-string guitar and vocal harmonies, don't miss theses folks. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents the Calistoga singer-songwriter duo Lindalou & Michael Ryge for an evening of music and dining on the 23rd. Lindalou and Michael have been making music together for 30 years. Their first album, Beginner's Luck, released in summer of 2003, is brimming with close harmonies, true stories and adventures reflecting their love for life and each other. Their music is diverse in style, ranging from instrumental to a cappella, from story songs and love ballads to quirky autobiographical tales. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $15.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@monitor.net. The Kings River Bluegrass Association & The Fresno Folklore Society present The 7th Annual Kings River Bluegrass Festival on the 23rd and 24th in Hobbs Grove Park in the town of Sanger. There are a few Bay Area bands on the schedule - The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band, The Mighty Crows, Barefoot Nellies - as well as The Mill Creek Boys, Heartland Harvest, Kenny Hall and The Long Haul String Band, Boys in The Woods, The Kings River Gospelairs, and others. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of these warmer months
there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m.
On the 24th see Swing Society. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 24th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing the blues on the 24th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax and at Smiley's in Bolinas on the 29th. 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. However, this month Eric will be celebrating 20 years of being in business with a special show at 142 Throckmorton on the 29th featuring Jorma Kaukonen, Barry Mitterhoff, Laurence Juber, Mike Dowling, Muriel Anderson and other special guests. Rock and Blues By The Lake will be going on out in West Marin on the 30th. This year you can see Jefferson Starship, Sons of Champlin, David Laflamme Band (formerly of It's A Beautiful Day), The Rowan Brothers, Verge, The Alameda All Stars, and Tim Cain. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: TANGO - THE SPIRIT OF ARGENTINA 9/15 9 p.m.: "Tango is a unique expression in music, song and dance, a local art form that blossomed to enchant and seduce the whole world. Produced on location in Buenos Aires in May 2004, this program displays the finest of Argentinean tango in a unique performance special that brings together the best singers, musicians and dancers, at a combination of locations and concert venues, to showcase the past and present of tango both for existing tango lovers and a whole new audience waiting to discover its magic." MY NAME IS BARBRA 9/16 8 p.m.: "Great Performances is proud to present the two historic musical showcases that brought Barbra Streisand the same unprecedented triumph on television that she had already achieved on Broadway and in recordings. My Name is Barbra, her first pioneering special from 1965, garnered five Emmys, including the first of several for Streisand personally, as well as her first Peabody Award. The critical acclaim was unprecedented, with UPl exclaiming, 'She is so great it is shocking. She may well be the most supremely talented and complete popular entertainer that this country has ever produced." Her second outing, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim and filled with further musical and visual innovation. Together, the programs shine a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." COLOR ME BARBRA 9/16 9 p.m.: "Barbra Streisand's second solo television special, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim to 1965's My Name Is Barbra, and still dazzles with even further musical and visual innovation. Videotaped in color, the special opens with a dreamy interlude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and then segues to a charming, animal-filled circus sequence before concluding with a bravura concert performance. Recapturing the electrifying early years of the Streisand sensation, the showcase shines a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." FEVER - THE MUSIC OF PEGGY LEE 9/16 10 p.m.: "How many times have you heard 'Fever' with its finger-snapping, pulsating opening and then the sweet sensual voice of Miss Peggy Lee, understated and earthy, flaming right to the end when she slow-sizzled the words, 'What a lovely way to burn!' Peggy Lee's career burned for nearly 60 years, from the fresh-faced girl singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to the smoky-voiced, sultry star who became a legendary night club singer, a prolific recording artist, a successful songwriter and an actress talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award. This program will feature her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, with a wealth of rare footage and images, including photographs and memorabilia from Miss Lee's estate." LOS LONELY BOYS LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 9/16 11:01 p.m.: "The Texican rock trio's first public television concert was filmed at San Francisco's famed Fillmore Auditorium in October, 2004. Brothers Henry (guitar), JoJo (bass) and Ringo (drums) Garza sizzle through songs from their double platinum self-titled debut, including 'Heaven,' which topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart and scored a 2004 Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Los Lonely Boys have recorded and toured with country legend Willie Nelson, who calls them his favorite band." PASAJERO - A JOURNEY OF TIME AND MEMORY 9/17 noon: "A heartwarming musical and cultural journey through the experiences of a group of young Mexican-American musicians, singers and dancers who accompany their mariachi maestro on his homecoming to Mexico. Pasajero is a powerful reminder of the vital role music plays in defining one's identity. Recently widowed Julian Gonzalez left his native village in Jalisco, Mexico, to start a new life in Northern California. There, he not only found a new home, but an opportunity to impart his knowledge and love of pre-commercial mariachi music and dance to the young students of the Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center in San Pablo. He instills in them the cultural importance of this infectious music, rooted in the traditions and heritage of rural Mexico." THE VIENNA STATE OPERA 50TH ANNIVERSARY REOPENING 9/18 9 p.m.: "Prior to its devastating bombing during the final days of World War II, the Vienna State Opera was legendary home to a multitude of classical music giants for nearly a century. The House opened once again on November 5, 1955, and has since played host to some of the world's most esteemed musicians. The program marks the 50th anniversary of the Opera's re- opening with a magnificent concert featuring songs and an international collection of leading opera stars, including Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Bryn Terfel and Angelika Kirchschlager." ANDY WARHOL: A DOCUMENTARY FILM Part 1 9/20 9 p.m., 9/22 3 a.m., Part 2 9/21 9 p.m., 9/23 3 a.m.: "No artist in the second half of the 20th century was more famous - or, perhaps, more famously misunderstood - than Warhol. This two-part film, directed by Ric Burns, explores Warhol's astonishing artistic output - from the late 1940s to his untimely death in 1987 -paintings, drawings and photographs, films and television, books, magazines and musical performances. Set within the turbulent, changing context of his life and times, we are the first to move deeply into the immense archives at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the city of his humble origins. Obsessed with fame and a desire to transcend those origins, Warhol uniquely grasped the realities of modern society - the function of celebrity and of the mass media - and became the high priest of one of the most radical experiments in American culture, permanently penetrating and redefining the barrier between art and commerce." BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - THE SEEGER SESSIONS 9/23 10 p.m.: "Recorded at St. Luke's in London's East End, rocker Bruce Springsteen performs an intimate concert of songs selected from his new album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, a collection of folk standards and spirituals popularized by folk legend Pete Seeger. The Boss' UK concert performances have thrilled the critics, with The Independent raving 'an astonishingly rich evening - his music has rarely sounded more spontaneous or vitalizing than this.'" BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND - HAMMERSMITH9/23 11 p.m.: "This program features Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in the legendary November 18, 1975 concert taped at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, during the band's tour in support of the landmark album Born to Run, (digitally restored in honor of the 30th anniversary of this never-before-seen legendary performance). Emmy Award winner Thom Zimny's production team painstakingly cleaned the original negatives, and digitally restored the footage, ultimately presenting the multiple-camera film of the concert in vibrant color and detail." YES - THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 9/24 12:05 a.m.: "The longest lasting and the most successful of the '70s progressive rock groups, the band Yes comes together with their classic lineup (Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Chris Squire) celebrating their 35th year together. Captured at the Tsongas Arena in Massachusetts, this concert is on the grand scale of past years with new stage designs by famed artist Roger Dean." JOHN DENVER - A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 9/24 1:02 a.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." MANUEL BARRUECO - A GIFT AND A LIFE 9/24 1 p.m.: "In intimate and candid interviews, the acclaimed guitarist traces his journey from Santiago de Cuba and his first public performance at the age of 11, to his debut recital at Carnegie Hall and his long and distinguished international recording and concert career. This documentary also features Placido Domingo, David Russell, Sergio and Odair Assad, David Tanenbaum, Eliot Fisk, Andy Summers and Al Di Meola. Maestro Barrueco performs music by Bach, Scarlatti, Albeniz, Granados, Villa-Lobos, Lecuona, Rodrigo, Sierra, Assad, Corea, Di Meola and Lennon/McCartney. By Mitchell Lawrence." MOZART AT 250 - THE SALZBURG FESTIVAL CELEBRATION 9/26 9 p.m.: "In celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday in 2006, the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival will present all 22 of the composer's operas and other major compositions throughout the course of its summer schedule. To join the festivities, Great Performances travels to Salzburg in all its picturesque splendor for a gala concert with the Vienna Philharmonic from the stage of the Felsenrietschule (the "Rock Riding School" immortalized as the location for the final Von Trapp Family concert in The Sound of Music)." THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974) 9/30 8 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." *************************************************************************************************** September 1, 2006 Welcome to the 69th edition of Carltone's Corner! As the summer rapidly comes to a close, the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is in a frenzy between having been glued to the JonBenet Channel, er, uh, CNN, 24/7 for the past ten days and trying to get this edition done and sent out before we head to Strawberry. If there are any mistakes and omissions herein, blame them on the major news media that offered up this weapon-of-mass-distraction of a nut case John Mark Karr… As mentioned previously, Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur has a fabulous new CD of Bob Dylan songs titled Heart of Mine, and it is now available. There was a real nice story about her in the Marin Independent Journal last week by Paul Liberatore that you can read here. The best place to get a copy of the CD is when she will be playing a CD release show on the 1st at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. Be the first one on your block to own one! Worn out youngsters. The band Nickel Creek, who started out some years back as a bluegrass band but then morphed into the "check other" category, will release a compilation album before going on hiatus at the end of 2007 to allow its three members to pursue solo projects. Set for release in November, Nickel Creek: Reasons Why (The Very Best), will include favorites from the trio's three albums for Sugar Hill Records, several exclusive live tracks and all of their music videos. Chris Thile is releasing a new solo album, How to Grow a Woman From the Ground, in September and plans to record an album and tour with bassist-composer Edgar Meyer later this year. Sara Watkins will complete a self-produced solo album, and Sean Watkins is exploring work in film scoring. The band will continue to tour later this year and in early 2007. Band scramble. Josh Sidman, recent bass player in the Earl Brothers and mandolinist in the New Good Old Boys, has left both bands. The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band is soon to change names and become known as Lost Coast. And there is a new band called The Whutknotts that plays a mix of Americana, country and bluegrass. The members are Brandon Douglas on guitar and fiddle, Don Rich on guitar, and Carl Tone on bass. Police log. Rapper Foxy Brown plead guilty on August 28th to misdemeanor assault charges stemming from a fight with salon workers over a manicure. The plea deal, which spares her jail time, requires her to serve three years probation and take anger management classes. Mario Cipollina, former bassist with Huey Lewis & The News, plead guilty to possession of heroin on August 21st in a Marin County court. Country crooner John Michael Montgomery will not go to court for his DUI charges from earlier this year after reaching a plea agreement recently in Lexington, KY. The 41-year-old singer entered an Alford plea, a legal response which means he did not admit guilt but acknowledged there is enough evidence to convict him. Instead of a trial, Montgomery will pay $663.50 in fines and court costs and will enroll in an alcohol education program. And Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards will not be fined for smoking on stage at a concert in Scotland. If you were to light up while in the audience, you would be arrested and evicted. But if you play on stage and make millions of dollars for promoters, well, then, you can do whatever you want… Ailing. Linda Ronstadt, who has a new CD out with Ann Savoy and was supposed to play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in October, has canceled dates for the rest of the year due to undisclosed minor surgery. Tom Hamilton, bass player in the band Aerosmith, is recovering from radiation treatment for throat cancer and will skip the beginning of the band's upcoming tour. Life's railway to heaven. Maynard Ferguson, renowned jazz trumpeter and bandleader, died on the 23rd in a Ventura, CA, hospital of kidney and liver failure. He was 78. David Schnaufer, a longtime leader in playing and teaching the dulcimer, died of cancer on August 23rd in Nashville at age 53. Credited with bringing the Appalachian instrument into contemporary music, his recording sessions included work with a wide variety of artists, such as Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, the Judds, Mark Knopfler, Cyndi Lauper, Albert Lee, Mark O'Connor and Hank Williams Jr. Onward to the calendar… Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 28th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 1st see Crash Landing, Chris Cain on the 2nd, Peter Ostroushko on the 4th, Shana Morrison on the 9th, Great American Taxi on the 10th, Kimrea & Dreamdogs Community Jam on the 13th, Calmodee on the 14th, Commander Cody on the 15th, the Wine, Women & Song benefit on the 16th, Aram Denesh on the 22nd, Kermit Ruffins on the 23rd, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 27th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 28th, and more. Plus, Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturdays from 3- 6 p.m., with no cover. At Murphy's in Sonoma this month are The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 1st, Andrew Freeman on the 2nd, the Celtic jam on the 3rd, Lisa Redfern on the 7th,Carolina Special on the 8th, Kimrea and Joe Lococo on the 14th, The Whutknotts on the 23rd, plus more. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre, besides Caren Armstrong's songwriter show listed below, are the Trailer Park Rangers on the 1st, George Michalski on the 7th, Ray Bonneville on the 11th, Valerie Jay on the 21st, and lots more. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 1st see Ralph Woodson, The JSN Trio on the 2nd, The Eagle Street Jazztet 8th, The Jon Steiner Trio 9th, Lauralee Brown & Denise Leigh on the 15th, closed for private party on the 16th, Lynn Clyde on the 22nd, The Tom Bowers Duo on the 23rd, Jazz Philosophy on the 29th, and Joan Getz on the 30th. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing the blues at Peri's Silver Dollar on the 1st, at The Iron Springs Brew Pub on the 13th, on the 24th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax and finally at Smiley's in Bolinas on the 29th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Maria Muldaur on the 1st, Will Durst on the 7th, 20th Anniversary of Schoenberg Guitars on the 29th, and many other shows. Country/blues man Dan Hayes can be seen playing solo at the Station House Café in Point Reyes Station on the 1st from 7-10 p.m. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows to see are The Jeb Brady Band on the 1st, Leon Bristow on the 3rd, Trailer Park Rangers on the 5th (and 19th), Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 8th, Greg Cross Band on the 12th, Highway Robbers on the 14th, Swammees on the 21st, Danny Montana & The Bar Association on the 23rd, Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 24th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 29th, and lots more. The 54th Sausalito Art and Wine Festival runs from the 2nd-4th, and some of the bands you can see depending on when you go are The Red Legs, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Dick Dale, Shana Morrison, Big Lou's Polka Casserole, The Tazmanian Devils, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Hot Frittatas, Deborah Winters, Solid Air, Jackie Greene, Ten Years After, Eddie Money, Loralee Christiansen, and Tom Rigney & Flambeau. See the Earl Brothers on the 2nd at The Knockout in SF starting at 9 p.m., and then on the 15th with the Alhambra Valley Band at the Plough and Stars in SF at 9. Singer/guitarist Kyle Alden has quite a few gigs this month. On the 2nd he'll be with the Mild Colonial Boys at the San Gregorio General Store from 3-6 p.m., on the 10th at the Plough and Stars in SF with fiddler John Sherry, at BookBeat in Fairfax on the 13th from 7-10 p.m., on the 17th at the San Gregorio Store on his own from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., on the 22nd at BookBeat from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and on the 28th at Schmidt's Pub in Albany with the band Curfew from 7-9 p.m. In Point Reyes Station there is a new hot music scene happening at
the Old Western Saloon. Jerry Lunsford, of KWMR radio, is now booking
the joint, and for the most part there is a mixture of bluegrass, country
and blues on the calendar. On the 2nd see Sky Nelson with Waking Eve,
Jeff Smiler on the 3rd, OWS & The Packway Handle Band on the 8th, Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 2nd and 9th it will be bluegrass, on the 16th swing music, and on the 23rd and 30th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The David Thom Band will be picking bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 3rd and then at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 22nd. The Sons of Emperor Norton, with San Anselmo's Gary Bauman on lead guitar, will be in San Anselmo for Music In the Park on the 3rd, then at The Soho Lounge in Petaluma on the 7th, Anna's Cantina in St. Helena on the 22nd, at the Black Cat Bar in Penngrove on the 29th, and at The Baltic in Pt. Richmond on the 30th. The Sons play vintage rockabilly and, besides Gary, also feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on vocals and rhythm guitar, Eva Maass and Scott Hoover on bass, Ed Randol on sax, Dale Gutridge on trumpet, and George Smeltz on drums. Lauralee Brown, besides playing on the 15th at Saylor's Landing as noted above, is very excited about performing at the Sausalito Art Festival VIP tent on the 4th from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with Billy Frates (from Vinyl). Then on the 17th you can see Lauralee Brown & Company on the Sausalito Empress bay cruise from 4-8 p.m. And on the 26th, from 8-10 p.m., you can see her at The Left Bank in Larkspur as guest vocalist with the Jon Stiener Jazz Trio. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget is as busy as usual. He will play with his band Moonlight Rodeo on the 4th at Rosal Park in Santa Venetia at noon, as a duo with Kimberlye Gold on the 14th at Cafe Amsterdam, as a solo at San Anselmo Coffee Roasters on the 23rd, and at Sweetwater on the 30th, and he'll also play jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam on the 10th and 24th. Are you a fan of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion? If so, then the name Peter Ostroushko will sound familiar to you. He has been a member of the house band for many years, and after playing at Strawberry he will be playing a special Labor Day Evening show at Sweetwater starting at 8:30 p.m. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the Wednesday September 6th it will be Michael Elvin Hunt featuring David Nelson, The Jeb Brady Band on the 13th, and The Rowan Brothers with Barry Sless on the 27th. On Saturday the 23rd the pub will celebrate its second anniversary and owner Michael Altman's 40th birthday as well as his wedding anniversary, and The Chazz Cats will perform. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 7th and the 21st the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Wagon has two gigs of note this month. On the 7th from 7-9 p.m. see them at Marin Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo. And on the 15th at 8 p.m. they'll be at the Black Rose Irish Pub in Santa Rosa. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito on the 8th will present Kym Tuvim. Reservations are strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. The 2nd Annual Humboldt Hills Hoedown will take place on the 9th, and some of the bands to see are Hot Buttered Rum, Vince Herman's Great American Taxi, Joe Craven & Django Latino, Corinne West & The Posse, Ten Mile Tide, Lansdale Station (featuring members of Zero) and Pine Box Boys. Sonoma County guitarist Kevin Russell is one busy picker. On the 9th you can see him with the alt-country band Laughing Gravy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Heirloom Tomato Festival at the Kendall Jackson Winery in Santa Rosa. His band Under The Radar will play a mix of bluegrass, swing, country, folk and acoustic rock from 8:30-11 p.m. on the 16th at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa. And then his old bluegrass band Modern Hicks will pick on the 30th from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at a benefit for the Sonoma Land Trust. For info call Craig at (707) 544-7284. On the 9th at 8 p.m. at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station you can see The Hidden Jewel jazz band with Art Lande, Paul McCandless, and Gunter Wehinger. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Bill Morrissey on the 9th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Bill's astute lyrical gifts and graceful, understated melodies have garnered him critical acclaim from magazines, authors, and music peers, and have also earned him two Grammy nominations. Several of his ten albums have earned four-star reviews in Rolling Stone as well as equal accolades in nearly every other major national publication. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, and more info is available on the site Also on the 9th at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax Dore Coller & Friends will be playing their latest edition of Bermuda grass, which is their original hybrid of Caribbean, bluegrass, and everything else they've ever played. Downbeat is at 9 p.m. Paul Knight & Friends will be at the Station House Cafe in Pt. Reyes Station on the 10th starting at 5 p.m. See Keith Little, Suzy Thompson and Jody Stecher. No cover. Don't miss Ray Bonneville at a rare Monday night show at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 11th at 8 p.m. Ray is a one-man band of roots and country blues, with arch-top electric guitar, harmonica, footboard percussion and vocals. His unique, roots influenced, country blues material and riveting performance style capture new fans wherever he goes. Canadian Ray calls himself a "North American." His last 30 years have been spent absorbing life, playing music, and traveling all over the US, Canada, and Europe. His weathered, story-telling vocals are recognizable anywhere, and his intricate but understated rack harmonica playing comes right from the gut. His songs are written from real life, snapshots of emotions and feelings lived, and the recall of observations of things gone by along the way. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 12th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. On the 12th at The Celebrating Songwriters show at The Larkspur Café Theatre at 7 p.m. features two distinctively accomplished musicians - Marin County's own fiddlemeister Doug Adamz and Seattle songstress Kym Tuvim. Show host and award winning songwriter Caren Armstrong adds her own effervescent energy to the mix with a set including a newly penned song every month, just to keep things interesting. Dinner guests enjoy priority seating and a wonderful light menu on top of a great evening of song. Everyone is headed to the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention from the 14th-17th to see The New Lost City Ramblers, Ginny Hawker, Jody Stecher & Hank Bradley, The Mercury Dimes, The Stairwell Sisters, and lots more. Great double bill in Santa Rosa. On the 14th the outlaw folk band Howdy! will be playing at the Last Day Saloon, opening for the band Hit & Run Bluegrass. Also, Howdy has a new album titled Stranger that has just been released and is available either at the show or on their web site. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 15th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. Besides Phil Richardson on fiddle, Marin guitar legend Chris Goddard will join Barry & Annie Ernst. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Jesse Lee Kincaid will perform original songs of wit and humor at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival on the 16th at 11:30 a.m. on the main stage. Other performers include 'Til Dawn, Joe Price, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, and others. The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin) will be playing at the Iron Springs Brewery on the 20th, and joining them will be Barry Sless and Doug Harman. Then you can see the brothers at 12:30 p.m. at Rock and Blues by the Lake on the 30th, followed by Lorin's Beatle cover band Lonely Hearts from 1-1:30 p.m. Love Rocket, a psychedelic folk-rock band with amazing three-part harmonies reminiscent of the Byrds, will be playing at The Old Western Saloon at Pt. Reyes on the 23rd. If you like jangly electric 12-string guitar and vocal harmonies, don't miss theses folks. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents the Calistoga singer-songwriter duo Lindalou & Michael Ryge for an evening of music and dining on the 23rd. Lindalou and Michael have been making music together for 30 years. Their first album, Beginner's Luck, released in summer of 2003, is brimming with close harmonies, true stories and adventures reflecting their love for life and each other. Their music is diverse in style, ranging from instrumental to a cappella, from story songs and love ballads to quirky autobiographical tales. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $15.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@monitor.net. The Kings River Bluegrass Association & The Fresno Folklore Society present The 7th Annual Kings River Bluegrass Festival on the 23rd and 24th in Hobbs Grove Park in the town of Sanger. There are a few Bay Area bands on the schedule - The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band, The Mighty Crows, Barefoot Nellies, Stay Tuned - as well as The Mill Creek Boys, Heartland Harvest, Kenny Hall and The Long Haul String Band, Boys in The Woods, The Kings River Gospelairs, and others. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of these summer months
there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m.
On the 24th see Swing Society. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 23rd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Thursday the 28th at 8:30 p.m. will be a special night featuring the Marin County band Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. Show producer Larry Carlin will be celebrating a quarter century of playing with Elmo. Bluegrass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Wild Blue is Marin County's longest running bluegrass band. Led by the entertaining Dr. Elmo ("Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer") on banjo, the group also consists of John Pierson on guitar and Larry on bass. All three of these talented musicians sing both lead and harmony, forging a musical blend that captivates and delights their audiences. While Larry and Elmo have played together for 25 years, the Wild Blue trio has been together for over 15 years now. They have been picking traditional bluegrass music with a bit of Elmo's original songs thrown into the mix. Sitting in this night with the band will be Sausalito fiddler Kenny Blacklock (of Keystone Station) and San Rafael mandolin player Dana Rath (of The Modern Mandolin Quartet). 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. However, this month Eric will be celebrating 20 years of being in business with a special show at 142 Throckmorton on the 29th featuring Jorma Kaukonen, Barry Mitterhoff, Laurence Juber, Mike Dowling, Muriel Anderson and other special guests. Rock and Blues By The Lake will be going on out in West Marin on the 30th. This year you can see Jefferson Starship, Sons of Champlin, David Laflamme Band (formerly of It's A Beautiful Day), The Rowan Brothers, Verge, The Alameda All Stars, and Tim Cain. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: JUDY GARLAND - BY MYSELF 9/03 12:05 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, '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." LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - LATIN JAZZ 9/04 11 p.m.: "This episode looks at the evolution and current state of Latin jazz. Keyboard legend Eddie Palmieri and flute virtuoso Dave Valentin perform and talk with Ramsey Lewis about the genesis of Latin jazz, from the early days of Xavier Cugat and the rumba, to the Afro-Cuban stylings of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker (picked up from Latin jazz giants Chano Pozo and Machito), to the great Latin Jazz artists of the 1950s and early '60s, including Chico O'Farrell, Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Willie Bobo and more." LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - BRAZILIAN JAZZ 9/04 11:30 p.m.: "The early days and the current groove of jazz from Brazil are explored in this exciting half-hour. Guests include the legendary Oscar Castro-Neves, a contemporary of Tom Jobim, Luis Bonfa and Joao Gilberto, who was on the scene as a major player when the Bossa Nova was being created, and Grammy winner Ivan Lins, the keyboardist/composer whose songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Quincy Jones to Ella Fitzgerald and many more. Ivan Lins and Oscar Castro-Neves, through their music, show us why the music of Brazil offers something highly stimulating for the heart, body and soul." LEONARD BERNSTEIN - REACHING FOR THE NOTE 9/06 9 p.m., 9/08 3 a.m.: "This special uses home movies, scrapbooks, photographs, rehearsal footage, television interviews and newsreels - much of which has never before been seen by the public - to document every period of this music giant's remarkable life. At the core of this special are the autobiographical thoughts and words of Bernstein himself." CUBA MIA - PORTRAIT OF AN ALL-WOMAN ORCHESTRA 9/06 11 p.m.: "Captures the musicians of the all-female orchestra Camerata Romeu as they prepare for an end-of-the-year concert in Old Havana's Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. With one of the world's most beautiful churches as the backdrop, the women play a unique blend of classical music, created by famous Cuban and Latin American composers. The program profiles the musicians, ranging from a talented young violinist to a mature bass player. Cuba Mia follows the musicians and conductor Zenaida Romeu as they juggle their studies, and in some cases motherhood, with a demanding schedule and complex musical repertoire." AMERICAN CREOLE - NEW ORLEANS REUNION 9/07 11 p.m.: "The program takes viewers on a tour of the front lines of New Orleans' cultural rebirth. The documentary examines the devastation left by Katrina and the restoration of the music scene that made the city legend." NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC OPENING NIGHT GALA CONCERT 9/13 8 p.m.: "Maestro Lorin Maazel and the New York Philharmonic open up their musical season with a performance of classical Mozart and Beethoven. Guest pianists include Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman." TANGO - THE SPIRIT OF ARGENTINA 9/15 9 p.m.: "Tango is a unique expression in music, song and dance, a local art form that blossomed to enchant and seduce the whole world. Produced on location in Buenos Aires in May 2004, this program displays the finest of Argentinean tango in a unique performance special that brings together the best singers, musicians and dancers, at a combination of locations and concert venues, to showcase the past and present of tango both for existing tango lovers and a whole new audience waiting to discover its magic." MY NAME IS BARBRA 9/16 8 p.m.: "Great Performances is proud to present the two historic musical showcases that brought Barbra Streisand the same unprecedented triumph on television that she had already achieved on Broadway and in recordings. My Name is Barbra, her first pioneering special from 1965, garnered five Emmys, including the first of several for Streisand personally, as well as her first Peabody Award. The critical acclaim was unprecedented, with UPl exclaiming, 'She is so great it is shocking. She may well be the most supremely talented and complete popular entertainer that this country has ever produced.' Her second outing, Color Me Barbra (1966), was greeted with equal acclaim and filled with further musical and visual innovation. Together, the programs shine a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." COLOR ME BARBRA 9/16 9 p.m.: "Barbra Streisand's second solo television special was greeted with equal acclaim to 1965's My Name Is Barbra, and still dazzles with even further musical and visual innovation. Videotaped in color, the special opens with a dreamy interlude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and then segues to a charming, animal-filled circus sequence before concluding with a bravura concert performance. Recapturing the electrifying early years of the Streisand sensation, the showcase shines a spotlight on the many talents that paved the way for a legendary five-decade career as singer, actress, director, composer, and producer." FEVER - THE MUSIC OF PEGGY LEE 9/16 10 p.m.: "How many times have you heard 'Fever' with its finger-snapping, pulsating opening and then the sweet sensual voice of Miss Peggy Lee, understated and earthy, flaming right to the end when she slow-sizzled the words, 'What a lovely way to burn!' Peggy Lee's career burned for nearly 60 years, from the fresh-faced girl singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to the smoky-voiced, sultry star who became a legendary night club singer, a prolific recording artist, a successful songwriter and an actress talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award. This program will feature her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, with a wealth of rare footage and images, including photographs and memorabilia from Miss Lee's estate." LOS LONELY BOYS LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 9/16 11:01 p.m.: "The Texican rock trio's first public television concert was filmed at San Francisco's famed Fillmore Auditorium in October, 2004. Brothers Henry (guitar), JoJo (bass) and Ringo (drums) Garza sizzle through songs from their double platinum self-titled debut, including Heaven, which topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart and scored a 2004 Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Los Lonely Boys have recorded and toured with country legend Willie Nelson, who calls them his favorite band." PASAJERO - A JOURNEY OF TIME AND MEMORY 9/17 noon: "A heartwarming musical and cultural journey through the experiences of a group of young Mexican-American musicians, singers and dancers who accompany their mariachi maestro on his homecoming to Mexico. Pasajero is a powerful reminder of the vital role music plays in defining one's identity. Recently widowed Julian Gonzalez left his native village in Jalisco, Mexico, to start a new life in Northern California. There, he not only found a new home, but an opportunity to impart his knowledge and love of pre-commercial mariachi music and dance to the young students of the Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center in San Pablo. He instills in them the cultural importance of this infectious music, rooted in the traditions and heritage of rural Mexico." THE VIENNA STATE OPERA 50TH ANNIVERSARY REOPENING 9/18 9 p.m.: "Prior to its devastating bombing during the final days of World War II, the Vienna State Opera was legendary home to a multitude of classical music giants for nearly a century. The House opened once again on November 5, 1955, and has since played host to some of the world's most esteemed musicians. The program marks the 50th anniversary of the Opera's re-opening with a magnificent concert featuring songs and an international collection of leading opera stars, including Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Bryn Terfel and Angelika Kirchschlager." ANDY WARHOL - A DOCUMENTARY FILM Part 1 9/20 9 p.m., 9/22 3 a.m., Part 2 9/21 9 p.m., 9/23 3 a.m.: "No artist in the second half of the 20th century was more famous - or, perhaps, more famously misunderstood - than Warhol. This two-part film, directed by Ric Burns, explores Warhol's astonishing artistic output - from the late 1940s to his untimely death in 1987 -paintings, drawings and photographs, films and television, books, magazines and musical performances. Set within the turbulent, changing context of his life and times, we are the first to move deeply into the immense archives at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the city of his humble origins. Obsessed with fame and a desire to transcend those origins, Warhol uniquely grasped the realities of modern society - the function of celebrity and of the mass media - and became the high priest of one of the most radical experiments in American culture, permanently penetrating and redefining the barrier between art and commerce." BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - THE SEEGER SESSIONS 9/23 10 p.m.: "Recorded at St. Luke's in London's East End, rocker Bruce Springsteen performs an intimate concert of songs selected from his new album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, a collection of folk standards and spirituals popularized by folk legend Pete Seeger. The Boss' UK concert performances have thrilled the critics, with The Independent raving 'an astonishingly rich evening - his music has rarely sounded more spontaneous or vitalizing than this.'" BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND - HAMMERSMITH 9/23 11 p.m.: "This program features Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in the legendary November 18, 1975 concert taped at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, during the band's tour in support of the landmark album Born to Run, (digitally restored in honor of the 30th anniversary of this never-before-seen legendary performance). Emmy Award winner Thom Zimny's production team painstakingly cleaned the original negatives, and digitally restored the footage, ultimately presenting the multiple-camera film of the concert in vibrant color and detail." YES - THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 9/24 12:05 a.m.: "The longest lasting and the most successful of the '70s progressive rock groups, the band Yes comes together with their classic lineup (Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Chris Squire) celebrating their 35th year together. Captured at the Tsongas Arena in Massachusetts, this concert is on the grand scale of past years with new stage designs by famed artist Roger Dean." JOHN DENVER - A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 9/24 1:02 a.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." MANUEL BARRUECO - A GIFT AND A LIFE 9/24 1 p.m.: "In intimate and candid interviews, the acclaimed guitarist traces his journey from Santiago de Cuba and his first public performance at the age of 11, to his debut recital at Carnegie Hall and his long and distinguished international recording and concert career. This documentary also features Placido Domingo, David Russell, Sergio and Odair Assad, David Tanenbaum, Eliot Fisk, Andy Summers and Al Di Meola." MOZART AT 250 - THE SALZBURG FESTIVAL CELEBRATION 9/26 9 p.m.: "In celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday in 2006, the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival will present all 22 of the composer's operas and other major compositions throughout the course of its summer schedule. To join the festivities, Great Performances travels to Salzburg in all its picturesque splendor for a gala concert with the Vienna Philharmonic from the stage of the Felsenrietschule (the "Rock Riding School" immortalized as the location for the final Von Trapp Family concert in The Sound of Music)." THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974) 9/30 8 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." *************************************************************************************************** August 15, 2006 The summer may be winding down but the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters is working 24/7 to bring you all the good North Bay August music news that will be happening from now until Labor Day Weekend. Uh, that is, working hard until we leave for five days in the mountains next week, followed by attending The Strawberry Music Festival the following week. We have found a sure cure for the summertime blues, and that is spending time communing with nature at 5,000 feet in the Sierras. Rest assured, however, that there will be no naked bongo playing and chanting by any staff members… Strawberry has been sold out for months. Lots of great acts will be there, including Rhonda Vincent, Jerry Douglas, Laurie Lewis, Blame Sally, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Marty Stuart, and many others. If you don't have a ticket and you want to go, monitor their ticket exchange site and be patient. About a week before the fest starts the tide will change and tickets will come available to buy. Will pick for food. If you are one of the lucky ones who already has a ticket to the festival, rise early and stop on by the Breakfast Show at the mess hall some morning to say hello to Carltone, one of the on-air hosts of the show. If you can't get out of the sack, tune into the show on your portable radio, as the fest broadcasts most shows on their in-camp radio station. Dallas Dobro, emcee for the Strawberry Music Festivals and longtime morning host on irreverent KPIG radio, has been off the air on medical leave during his morning time slot for the past couple of weeks. Rumors abound that the "leave" may be permanent, but not by his choosing. Keep your ears open at the festival for the latest news… There was a great story by Matt Kramer about Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band in the Marin weekly The Pacific Sun last week. Read it here, and then come to the show on the 16th that is described below. Lots of people have been asking when this hot young band will be coming to Sweetwater. Well, here they come, so be there! Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur has a fabulous new CD of Bob Dylan songs coming out on the 26th called Heart of Mine. There was a short review of it in the Sunday Pink Section of the SF Chronicle. If you are going to be in Japan in the next ten days or so, you can see her on tour over there. Otherwise, she will be playing a CD release show on September 1st at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. Plan ahead. Correction. In the previous edition of this newsletter it was incorrectly stated that Linda Ronstadt had a new album out with Cajun singer "Ann Lavoy." Her correct name is Ann Savoy, not Lavoy. Congrats to Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, who took third place in the Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival 2006 Band Contest, out of 12 competing bands. They were the only California band in the competition. The winning band, Long Road Home, was the second place runner-up last year, so maybe BMBB will hit pay dirt next year! Bay Area songwriter and songwriting mentor Steve Seskin has a new CD out titled Two Paper Town, the title cut being one fantastic song heard recently at his show at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley. He also has a new children's book out titled A Chance To Shine, and a new Spanish version of his book, Don't Laugh At Me. Heck, all he needs now is a restaurant and he'd be the next Jimmy Buffett! Are you a collector of musical instruments, but are still looking for that rare instrument that no one else has? Well, look no further than this site here. Amaze your friends when you bring one of these to the next jam! Thanks to Linda Rust for the link. Band scramble. There is a new member of Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds. Dobro player Jim Mintun is now in the band, replacing Tom Lucas on fiddle. And the Bay Area bluegrass band The Earl Brothers is looking for a new bass player. . Police log. According to the Marin Independent Journal, Mario Cipollina, a founding member of Huey Lewis and The News, was arraigned in Marin Superior Court on the 2nd on felony counts of heroin and methamphetamine possession, charges that could bring him more than four years in prison. Cipollina, 51, was arrested after sheriff's investigators conducted a random probation search at his residence in Santa Venetia. Because he is on probation for petty theft and burglary, his home can be searched with or without cause, day or night. He faces up to four years and four months in prison if convicted. Country singer Troy Gentry, of the duo Montgomery Gentry, was indicted and charged with killing a caged tame bear with a bow and arrow, and later claiming that he killed the bear in the wild. Apparently the stunt was caught on videotape. Wow, we've heard the saying "Like shooting fish in a rain barrel" before, but this one is a bit unbearable to read about… Ailing. Country singer Freddy Fender is resting at his home near Corpus Christi, TX, after being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. Fender, 69, first found national success a few decades back with the song "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." In 1975 his single "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" won a CMA award for single of the year. His other No. 1 hits include "Secret Love" and "You'll Lose a Good Thing." Fender said, "I feel very comfortable in my life. I'm one year away from 70, and I've had a good run. I really believe I'm OK. In my mind and in my heart, I feel OK. I cannot complain that I haven't lived long enough, but I'd like to live longer." Teardrops will certainly be falling soon… Life's railway to heaven. Charlie Derrington, famed Nashville mandolin luthier, was killed by a drunk driver on his motorcycle on the 1st. He was only 51. Charlie worked for Gibson Guitars for many years, and he is best known for repairing Bill Monroe's 1923 Lloyd Loar F-5 mandolin when it was destroyed in 1985. Arthur Lee, who led a band called Love in the late 60s, died on the 4th in Memphis from leukemia. He was 61. A Memphis native who described himself as "the first so-called black hippie," he moved to Los Angeles in 1965 and formed the influential band that never really had a huge career of its own. You can also listen here to a review of his life and music on the National Public Radio show Fresh Air. Country singer/songwriter Johnny Duncan, 67, who had a few hits in the 60s/70s, died on the 14th of a heart attack. He charted his first single, "Hard Luck Joe," in 1967 and scored his first Top 10 hit in 1973 with "Sweet Country Woman." His greatest success was in 1976 when he enjoyed another Top 10 hit with Kris Kristofferson's "Stranger." Additions Mill Valley's Matt Lax and his band Nearly Beloved will be at Strings in Emeryville on the 16th from 8-10 p.m. The next generation traditional fiddle and cello masters -the brother and sister combo of Tashina & Tristan Clarridge -are playing at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 16th. The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin) will be opening for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on the 17th starting at 8:30 p.m. Out at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station the West Marin Music Festival presents a cello and piano recital with Robert Howard and Joe Bloom with works by Bloch, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Schumann, and Chopin on the 18th at 7:30 p.m. Then on the 19th you can see "The Tender Land" opera by Aaron Copland at 7:30 p.m., and on the 20th at 4 p.m. Also in Point Reyes Station there is a new hot music scene happening at the Old Western Saloon. Jerry Lunsford, of KWMR radio, is now booking the joint, and for the most part there is a mixture of bluegrass, country and blues on the calendar. On the 18th it will be The Hot Fritattas, The Billy Boys on the 19th, Stumptown Jug Thumpers on the 25h, and Blue Holstein on the 26th. 1/4 Mile Combo is busy this month. On the 18th they'll be at the Black Cat in Penngrove, at the Synergy School of Dance on the 19th in SF, The Knockout in SF on the 20th, and at Biscuits and Blues in SF on the 23rd. 77 El Deora will be performing their own inimitable interpretation of the ancient musical form "oblique Americana" at the 4h Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 19th. The Wild Catahoulas, a Cajun band from Santa Rosa, will be performing at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on the 19th starting at 8 p.m. There will be a Zydeco dance lesson at 7. The Trailer Park Rangers have a series of gigs during the rest of this month. On the 19th it will be at the Modesto Wine Festival at 8 p.m., the Calistoga Inn on the 21st at 6 p.m., SoHo in Petaluma on the 24th at 7:30 p.m., the Sebastopol Brewing Company on the 26th at 9 p.m., and Marilyn's in Sacramento on the 30th. The Great American Blues & Barbeque Festival in San Rafael will be taking place on the 19th in downtown San Rafael from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This festival is produced by Pro Event of Mill Valley. Some of the acts you can see are Ron Thompson, Austin deLone, Freddie Hughes, and Goddard & Huggins. Use an accordion, go to jail! The annual Cotati Accordion Festival is coming to the town of Cotati on the 26th and 27th. Some of the performers will be The Loose Acoustic Trio, The Mad Maggies, Lady of Spain, The Great Morgani, Those Darn Accordions, The Julbilee Klezmer Ensemble, Tango No. 9, and Sammy Thomas. Reminders On Wednesday the 16th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. This show will feature the Marin County debut of the Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band. The DMB features a mix of fast picking traditional bluegrass and pure vocal harmonies. Their music is artful, melodic, and engaging, and it is played with passion and superb musicianship. Although a band of young performers, Donner Mountain is steeped in bluegrass roots. Their on-stage energy is a captivating and unique experience that brings audiences to their feet. They recently won the National Bluegrass Playoffs at the Huck Finn Jubilee Festival in June. The band is Dave Gooding, Hide Kawatsure, Frankie Nagle, Jacob Groopman, and Annie Staninec. Enjoy Mill Valley singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey at the No Name in Sausalito on the 16th. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. Ruby Dee & the Snakehandlers on the 16th, Robert Herrera on the 17th, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 18th, Jody Counter Blues Band on the 23rd, Ancient Mystic on the 25th, and jazz every Sunday afternoon. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez on the 16th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Concert starts at 8, with the doors at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. You can see Grizzly Peak on the 16th, Danny Montana & the Bar Association on the 23rd, and Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band on the 30th. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Bistro in Hayward on the 16th and 20th, The Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa on the 18th, Giordano's in S.F. on the 24th, The Hydro in Calistoga on the 26th and finally at The Lost Weekend in Alameda on the 31st. Check their website for shows in the outlying areas as well. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the
calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is
the plus a lot of other great stuff. See Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarists
George Kuo, Martin Pahinui, Marin bluegrass jam. On the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is Rick Hardin on the 17th, The Carrtunes on the 25th, High Country on the 26th, plus more. Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with a rock-n-roll attitude at the KRSH Backyard Barbecue in Santa Rosa on the 17th. Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum has a few gigs of note in the North Bay this month. On the 18th he'll be at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax, and on the 31st at the Calistoga Inn in Calistoga. He also has a new instructional two-DVD set out on Homespun Tapes called "Electric Guitar for Beginners." Besides playing music Adam is a wonderful photographer as well. Check out his work here. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see Lewis Black on the 18th, Gordon Lightfoot on the 23rd, Al Franken on the 26th, and Sara Evans on the 29th. Creekside Fridays is a free summer concert series held on Friday evenings at the Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Mill Valley from 6:30-8 p.m. There is a barbecue with live music. On the 18th it will be the final show with the rhythm and blues of Austin deLone & The Sophisticated Dudes. This is an event put on the Tam Community Services District. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned above you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. See Vinyl on the 18th, Lansdale Station on the 26th, and lots more. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. There are some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre. James Moseley Band on the 18th, Julius Melendez on the19th, Roadside Daisies on the 24th, and The Palm Wine Boys on the 25th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax every day of the month. Each Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows of note are Chuck Day on the 18th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys the 19th, and Rusty Evans on the 26th. Sexy Sunday, featuring the women musicians of Marin, is the second Sunday every month, and Krickie's Songwriters' Night, the last Sunday every month, features singer songwriters of both genders. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. You can see Lauralee Brown & Company on the 18th, Jazz Philosophy on the 19th, We B-3 on the 25th, and Jazz Roots Trio on the 26th. 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. Amazing guitarist Johnny Hiland, besides playing on the 18th see him at the 142 in Mill Valley, will also be playing at the Russian River Beer Revival in Guerneville on the 19th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 19th it will be swing music, and on the 26th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget stays busy. He'll play with Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley on the 19th, solo at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters on the 26th (in the morning), and with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam on the 27th. Wagon, the five-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble, will be rolling into southern Marin to play a book release party at Mill Valley Tennis Club on the 19th, and on the 20th at 2 p.m. at Santos Meadows between Muir Beach & Muir Woods for a birthday party. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some hot shows. See the Tazmanian Devils on the 19th, The Waifs on the 29th, and more. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and on the 19th it will be Jesse Brewster and Creeping Lovely in San Rafael. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. The 11th Annual Solfest will be taking place on the 19th and 20th in Hopland. SolFest celebrates solar energy by hosting many well-known speakers and experts in the fields of renewable energy, social responsibility and sustainable living. Headlining the show will be The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, and Hot Buttered Rum will also play. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents award-winning Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tom Kimmel for an evening of music and dining on the 19th. Doors open 6 p.m., potluck dinner 6:30, show starts 7:30. Admission $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Paul Knight & Friends will be at the Station House the 20th with a very special lineup of mostly bluegrass. The Farallons will also be playing their soulful folk on the 20th at the Art in the Redwoods Art Festival in Gualala. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Emmit Powell on the 20th, Motor Dude Zydeco on the 25th, the Baguette Quartet on the 26th, and Marcia Ball on the 27th. The David Thom Band will be playing bluegrass at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 20th, at the Sonoma Farmers Market on the 22nd, and at the Summergrass Bluegrass Festival in San Diego on the 25th-27th. Lauralee Brown, besides playing on the 18th at Saylor's Landing as noted above, will also be singing with The Jon Steiner Jazz Trio on the 22nd at the Left Bank in Larkspur. 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 Doug McLeod on the 23rd at 8:30. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Joe New & The Crawhoppers (Chris Goddard, Pat Campbell, Remy Hennessee, and Stu Schecter) will be taking the stage at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 25th. Opening the show will be The Cash Magnets. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Under the Radar will be playing their mix of bluegrass, swing, blues, country and folk at the Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes on the 25th, 7-10 p.m., and there is no cover. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, Kendrick Freeman and Kevin Russell. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito on the 26th will present Deborah Winters and Edo Castro. Reservations are strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. See The Ruminators when they play the Moose Lodge in Petaluma on the 26th from 8-10 p.m. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 27th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of the summer months there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m. On the 27th see the Marinwood Jazz Players. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: JOHN DENVER - THE WILDLIFE CONCERT 8/17 7:30 p.m., 8/19 1:30 p.m.:
"An intimate performance from 1995 featuring the songs that made
John Denver an American treasure. This program also features candid
interviews that express Denver's commitment to nature. One of the world's
best-known and beloved performers, Denver earned international acclaim
as a songwriter, performer, actor, environmentalist and humanitarian.
His music spanned three decades and garnered numerous music awards and
honors, including a 1996 induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame." And on the A&E Network: BIOGRAPHY - TOBY KEITH.1-2 p.m.: "The career of the country music star who stirred controversy after 9/11 with his super-patriotic song, 'Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American).' Keith toiled in the oil industry and played semi-pro football before focusing on his music career, and his debut single, 'Should've Been a Cowboy,' went to No. 1 on the country charts." BIOGRAPHY - OZZY OSBOURNE. 3-4 p.m.: "A no-holds-barred look at the flamboyant and often outrageous life of the lead singer and songwriter of Black Sabbath, the group that pioneered heavy metal music. Ozzy, the self-styled "Prince of Darkness," talks frankly about his past indiscretions and The Osbournes, the reality TV show that made him a household name. Also features interviews with Elton John, Jay Leno, Simon Cowell, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, and Ozzy's wife, Sharon, and three children." *************************************************************************************************** August 1, 2006 Welcome to the 68th edition of Carltone's Corner! The summer is rapidly slipping away and time is of the essence to get out into the sunshine and enjoy some great music while you can. On the other hand, if it is too hot where you are, go see someone play in a club that has air conditioning. There is a whole lot of stuff going on, and the staff here Carltone World Headquarters - when not celebrating MTV's 25th birthday, watching clips of Pamela Anderson's wedding video (no, not the one with her ex Tommy Lee of Motley Crue!)(the one with her new short-term hubby Kid Rock) or the new steamy photos of Jessica Simpson - is busy scouring the countryside to bring you all the music news that is fit to print… Editor's note: Yesterday the Carltone hard drive crashed (probably due to all of the activity noted above)(or the heat), and today we have it up and running again with baling wire and duct tape. The prediction here is that there will be more than a few mistakes and omissions, and for this we apologize to all of you grammarians in the audience. The object here was to get this edition out before disaster struck again. Strawberry stew. The Strawberry Music Festival that starts on the 31st and runs through Labor Day Weekend has been sold out for eons. It promises to be one of the best fests ever, with the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Jerry Douglas, Laurie Lewis, Blame Sally, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Marty Stuart, and many others. If you don't have a ticket and you want to go, monitor their ticket exchange site and be patient. About a week before the fest starts the tide will change and tickets will come available to buy. Speaking of the Bay Area songwriting quartet known at Blame Sally, they have a new video out of their song "If You Tell A Lie" that was also chosen to appear on Neil Young's website. The more people who click on it and watch/listen to it from this link here, the higher it gets ranked. If it gets ranked in the top ten it moves to the front page and then it will be viewed and listened to by a lot more people who have never seen it. Speaking of Neil Young, there was a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young show in Concord recently, and a review of the show from the San Francisco Chronicle can be read here. Amazingly so, this story was not written by staff geezer band writer Joel Selvin. But Selvin did write about Linda Ronstadt the next day, and you can read that story here. In the last newsletter we told you about Linda's new album with Cajun singer Ann Savoy, and that is the crux of this story. Headbutt an opponent, and win a prize! It seems that the new craze is headbutting. First there was the soccer player Zinedine Zidane who butted an Italian player in the World Cup finals. Then there was the jockey in England who butted his horse. Now there is a Worldbeat hit song in France written by soccer fans called "Coup de Boule," which, translated, means "headbutt." Read all about it here. And then go and bang your head against a wall… Book preview. In the last couple of issues we've featured some brief book reviews. Now we have to tell you about a new book that we just heard about. It is called Fiddler's Dream, and it was written by Gregory Spatz, who, besides being a writer and author of two other books, is also the fiddler in the John Reischman & The Jaybirds bluegrass band. According to Greg's web site, "Fiddler's Dream tells the story of a young musician of prodigious talent who pursues his dream of becoming one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys as he tracks the whereabouts of his missing musician father." And, there was a review of the book on National Public Radio's news show All Things Considered on July 27th. Thanks to fiddler Kenny Blacklock for the tip. How can we miss you if you won't stay away? Remember Dan Quayle, erstwhile vice-president with Bush Sr.? You don't? Well, he wants you to, as his handlers got his name in the news recently when he stormed out of a John Cougar Mellencamp concert because Mellencamp had the audacity to introduce his song, "Walk Tall," by saying "This next one is for all the poor people who've been ignored by the current administration." Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are celebrating 30 years of playing music. You can listen to an interview with Petty on the National Public Radio show Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Bay Area guitar dealer (and bluegrass bass player) Steve Swan of Steve Swan Guitars is back in business in the South Bay again, specializing in guitars from the Santa Cruz Guitar Company and Nashville Guitar Company. He also features string basses and has an assortment of used guitars. While he doesn't have regular hours yet he is often at the shop in Millbrae, but making an appointment is the best way to check out his inventory. Go to his web site for more info. Carltone's Swap Shop. The North Bay duo Solid Air has a not-very-used Yamaha EMX 5000-12 powered P.A. mixing board (12 channels, 1000 watts, tons of features, sounds great) for sale. It lists in Musician's Friend for $850, and the folks would like to get $400 for it. Email them at solidair@earthlink.net. Reel time. There is a new movie out called Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man about longtime singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen. Director Lian Lunson filmed a concert tribute to Cohen and included interviews and clips with the artist. Another music film that probably won't be high your list of flicks to see is Brothers of the Head, a fake documentary about conjoined twins who become punk rock singers in England. In September, a new documentary about the aftermath of the Dixie Chicks' controversial political remarks will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film Dixie Chicks - Shut Up and Sing will shows the repercussions of Natalie Maines' negative comments at a London concert in 2003. Also coming in September, country singer Toby Keith's first feature film, Broken Bridges, will open nationally. Keith makes his acting debut as a down-on-his-luck country music singer who returns to his hometown to discover a daughter he has never met. The odds (and hope) here are that Keith's acting career will go just like country crooner George Strait's from about 15 years back - straight into the video bin… Band scramble. Mill Valley guitarist Matt Lax, besides leading his own band Nearly Beloved, has also joined The Palm Wine Boys, and they will be playing a show at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre on the 25th. They play original West African/folk acoustic music based on the Palm Wine Music of Sierra Leone. Police log. The betting here is that before Joey "JoJo" Sacarais Garza was arrested in late July for supposedly beating his fiancée in a motel room that you never heard of the band Los Lonely Boys. Garza was arrested in Austin, TX, on July 25th, saying "it was all just a misunderstanding." Maybe he and Philadelphia Phillies baseball pitcher Brett Myers, who smacked his wife on a street corner in Boston in view of multiple witnesses some weeks back, can attend sensitivity training together… Life's railway to heaven. Floyd Dixon, longtime singer and jump-blues pianist, died of cancer in Los Angeles on July 28th at age 77. He is best known for his song "Hey Bartender" that was made popular by The Blues Brothers. Onward to the calendar… The Sonoma County Fair is underway in Santa Rosa, and some of the acts you can through the 7th are Shedaisy, Loverboy, Better Than Ezra, Hot Frittatas, Pam's Country Jam and lots more. On Wednesday the 2nd at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. This show will be an evening with Eric Thompson's Kleptograss. The all-star ensemble Kleptograss is headed up by East Bay guitar virtuoso Eric Thompson, who has assembled some of the Bay Area's finest traditional musicians for a special evening of musical fireworks. One of the most versatile figures in the local traditional music scene, Eric has spent the past four decades picking bluegrass, old-time, Irish, Cajun, and blues. In recent years he has played in The Blue Flame Stringband, California Cajun Orchestra, Bluegrass Intentions, and Thompson's String Ticklers. Besides Eric on guitar on mandolin, the rest of the band will be Steven Strauss on bass, Paul Kotapish on mandolin, fiddler Paul Shelasky, and guitarist Scott Nygaard. These folks will be taking bluegrass to places it has never been before. Matt Kramer wrote the band up last fall in the Pacific Sun, and you can read the story here. Some of the players have changed, but the quality of the music remains the same. 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 Michael Gulezian on the 2nd at 8 p.m., and Doug McLeod on the 23rd at 8:30. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Two Marin County singers - John Haley-Walker and Christopher Smith - as well as Dana Hubbard will be sharing the stage at Strings in Emeryville on the 2nd. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly on the 2nd at The Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax (their first Marin appearance), at The Riptide out at the beach in S.F. on the 13th, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 16th and 20th, The Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa on the 18th, Giordano's in S.F. on the 24th, The Hydro in Calistoga on the 26th and finally at The Lost Weekend in Alameda on the 31st. Check their website for shows in the outlying areas as well. Besides the Celebrating Songwriters Series on the 8th mentioned below, some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Dead Set playing song-based acoustic jam music on the 2nd, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 4th, David Gans and The Little Wheels Band on the 5th, Bill Bell on the 11th, Wayword Sons on the 15th, James Moseley Band on the 18th, Roadside Daisies on the 24th, and The Palm Wine Boys on the 25th. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. As noted above on the 2nd you can see The Sons of Emperor Norton, The Riff Riders on the 9th, Grizzly Peak on the 16th, Danny Montana & the Bar Association on the 23rd, and Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band on the 30th. Also, there will be a special show on Saturday the 5th with The Derelict Wannabee Has-Beens, led by former Leftover Salmon bass-player Tye North. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 3rd and the 17th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold shows mentioned above and below you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 3rd it is the Leo Bash with Cole Tate and the band Jelly, Michael LaMacchia on the 4th, The Edge on the 5th, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 11th, Heather Combs on the 12th, Vinyl on the 18th, Lansdale Station on the 26th, and lots more. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget stays busy. He'll play solo at Murphy's on the 3rd, solo at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters on the 4th and 26th (in the morning), with Audrey Auld Mezera at Villa Montalvo on the 6th and at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley on the 19th, and with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam on the 13th and 27th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax every day of the month. Each Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows of note are the Trailer Park Rangers on the 3rd, Bluegrass Revolution on the 6th, Vanilla Fudge guitarist/singer Buddy Owen celebrates his birthday on the 11th, Chuck Day on the 18th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys the 19th, and Rusty Evans on the 26th. Sexy Sunday, featuring the women musicians of Marin, is the second Sunday every month, and Krickie's Songwriters' Night, the last Sunday every month, features singer songwriters of both genders. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 3rd and 17th see Robert Herrera, Plum Crazy on the 11th, Ruby Dee & the Snakehandlers on the 16th, Sons of Emperor Norton on the 18th, Jody Counter Blues Band on the 23rd, Ancient Mystic on the 25th, and jazz every Sunday afternoon. Ian "Jethro Tull" Anderson with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael on the 3rd. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month is Kurt Huget on the 3rd, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 4th, Andrew Freeman on the 5th, Doug Adamz & Rusty Gauthier on the 10th, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 11th, The Acme String Ensemble on the 12th, Rick Hardin on the 17th, The Carrtunes on the 25th, High Country on the 26th, plus more. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see Olivia Newton-John on the 3rd, Boz Scaggs on the 4th, Lewis Black on the 18th, Gordon Lightfoot on the 23rd, Al Franken on the 26th, and Sara Evans on the 29th. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Jerry Hannan on the 4th, Kronos Quartet on the 6th, Asleep at the Wheel on the 12th and 13th, Emmit Powell on the 20th, Motor Dude Zydeco on the 25th, the Baguette Quartet on the 26th, and Marcia Ball on the 27th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is the plus a lot of other great stuff. Doug Ferrari on the 4th, Sony Holland on the 11th, The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience on the 17th, Johnny Hiland on the 18th, Ian Dogle on the 31st, plus more. Creekside Fridays is a free summer concert series held on Friday evenings at the Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Mill Valley from 6:30-8 p.m. There is a barbecue with live music. On the 4th see Fat Saturday Night play rock and roll, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue pickin' bluegrass on the 11th, and the rhythm and blues with Austin deLone & The Sophisticated Dudes on the 18th. This is an event put on the Tam Community Services District. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some hot show. See David Bromberg & Angel Band on the 4th and 5th, the Tazmanian Devils on the 19th, The Waifs on the 29th, and more. The 23rd Annual Reggae on the River Festival, which takes place on the Eel River in Humboldt County on the 4th-6th, is sold out. So, if you don't have ticket, go somewhere else that weekend. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. You can see Jump To It on the 4th, the JSN Trio on the 5th,Wendy DeWitt on the 11th, Joan Getz on the 12th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 18th, Jazz Philosophy on the 19th, We B-3 on the 25th, and Jazz Roots Trio on the 26th. Dore Coller and Friends will play their eclectic-acoustic-hybrid-Caribbean-grass-cross-pollination (how's that for genre bending!) at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 4th at 9:30 p.m. Then he'll be at the Pacific Catch in Corte Madera on the 5th from 4-7 p.m. The David Thom Band has a busy month. They will be playing a CD release show on the 5th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 6th and 20th, at the Bowers Mansion Festival in Reno on the 12th, at the Sonoma Farmers Market on the 22nd, and at the Summergrass Bluegrass Festival in San Diego on the 25th-27th. Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band will bring their acoustic string band sound to Aroma Roasters in Santa Rosa on the 4th at 8:30 p.m. The group will take the classic American mountain string band sound into several musical areas including cool jazz, Gypsy, funk, folk rock, old-time, newgrass, and folk. The Edge, featuring Lorin Rowan, Jimmy Dillon, Ozzie Ahlers and Jeff Myer, have reunited with bassist Eric McCann for a rare public performance at Sweetwater on the 5th, one of the early stomping grounds where the band developed a solid enthusiastic following in the early 80s, featuring their fusion sound of rock and reggae. All of the members have since gone on to enjoy successful careers on their own. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 5th and 12th it will be bluegrass, on the 19th swing music, and on the 26th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Grateful Dead aficionado David Gans, besides hosting the Dead to the World radio show on KPFA (94.1 FM) every Wednesday night, also tours as a solo musician, performing Dead songs and original material. He also has a new band called Honky Tonk Hippies, and they will be playing at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 5th on a bill with The Little Wheels Band. If you like the pedal steel guitar you must go to this show, as David Phillips will play with the Hippies and Gary Ciapetta will be with the Wheels. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will play the KPIG Songwriter Festival on the 6th at Villa Montalvo with Kurt Huget and on the 19th at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley. Jerry Day, a free, all-day outdoor tribute to Jerry Garcia, will be happening on the 6th at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in McLaren Park in SF. The event runs from 12-6, and you can see Grapefruit Ed, Harmony Grits, Django Obscura, and more. Jesse Kincaid and The New Folk Choir perform at Piccolo Pavilion in Corte Madera on the 6th at 5 p.m. Admission is free. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond on the 6th at Rafters Grille & Brewery from 5-8 p.m., and on the 9th at the No Name in Sausalito from 8:30-midnight. On the 18th at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito from 7:15-10:15 p.m. she'll be singing with The David Jeffery Jazz Trio, and on the 22nd you can see her sing with The Jon Steiner Jazz Trio at the Left Bank in Larkspur. The Audrey Shimkas Trio w/Jason Martineau and Pierre Archain will play at Cafe Trieste in Sausalito on the 6th from 7-10 p.m. Then The Audrey Shimkas Quartet w/John Seppala and others will be at Servino's in Tiburon on the 11th from 6- 9 p.m. Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum has a few gigs of note in the North Bay this month. On the 8th he will be at Soho in Petaluma, on the 18th at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax, and on the 31st at the Calistoga Inn in Calistoga. He also has a new instructional two-DVD set out on Homespun Tapes called "Electric Guitar for Beginners." Besides playing music Adam is a wonderful photographer as well. Check out his work here. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 8th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. On the 8th the Celebrating Songwriters Series goes country! Host Caren Armstrong is busting out into her second season by digging in to music's traditional roots with a pair of trios at the Larkspur Café Theatre. Besides Caren the show will feature J Byrd Hosch and The Cash Magnets. Country artist J.Byrd Hosch of Crosby, TX, who now lives in SF, entertains with her songs and personality. With their unique vocal blend and fine musicianship, the Cash Magnets transport the listener to some honky-tonk, front porch, country church, or late-night radio station of long ago, and make it real. The West Coast Songwriters North Bay open mic is having its annual playoff at Sweetwater on the 8th from 7:30-10 p.m. The three judges will be Gary Vogensen, Raz Kennedy, and Bill Cutler. Go by and see the all of the winners of the monthly open mics as they vie for the grand prize, which is to perform at the WCS convention in September. Poor Man's Whiskey will be playing their blend of acoustic bluegrass shaken with a rock-n-roll attitude at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 11th, at the Gravenstein Apple Fair on the 12th, in Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa on the 13th, and at the KRSH Backyard Barbecue in Santa Rosa on the 17th. The annual Dead on the Creek festival will be running from the 11th-13th in Willits, and some of the bands you can groove to are Houston Jones, Shanti Groove, The Laurie Lewis Quartet, Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, Deadbeats, Sweet Sunny South and others. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Michelle Lewis with special guest Amber Rubarth on the 11th at 8 p.m. Then on the 26th don't miss Deborah Winters and Edo Castro. Reservations are strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month there will be two shows. On the 12th see Megan Slankard and Paul Manousos in Mill Valley, and on the 19th it will be Jesse Brewster and Creeping Lovely in San Rafael. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. The Gravenstein Apple Fair celebrates "33 Sweet Years" at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on the 12th and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the 13th. Some of the bands appearing are Charlie Musselwhite, Scott Gerber, Poor Man's Whiskey, The Farallons, Hurricane Sam & The Hotshots, Solid Air, and others. There will be beer and wine tasting, great food, farm animals and demonstrations, and lots of apples, including pies, juices, juggling, and eating. The Farallons will also be playing their soulful folk on the 12th at the Black Rose in Santa Rosa, and on the 20th at the Art in the Redwoods Art Festival in Gualala. Don't miss the annual Sawplayers Picnic & Music Festival on the 13th in Roaring Camp in Felton from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See Morgan Cowin, Bluegrass Contraption, Mary McCaslin, Alan Pitts, Caroline McCaskey and others. There are other events on the 12th as well. 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. Wagon, the five-piece old-timey/bluegrass ensemble, will be rolling into southern Marin to play a party at the Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse on the 13th, a book release party at Mill Valley Tennis Club on the 19th, and on the 20th at 2 p.m. at Santos Meadows between Muir Beach & Muir Woods for a birthday party. The band is Adam Bowers on dobro, Brian Lamoreaux on banjo, guitar Brendan Neagle on mandolin and guitar, Nick Martin on fiddle, and Ted Silverman on bass. Enjoy Mill Valley singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey at the No Name in Sausalito on the 16th. On Wednesday the 16th at 8:30 p.m. a second edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. This show will feature the Marin County debut of the Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band. The DMB features a mix of fast picking traditional bluegrass and pure vocal harmonies. Their music is artful, melodic, and engaging, and it is played with passion and superb musicianship. Although a band of young performers, Donner Mountain is steeped in bluegrass roots. Their on-stage energy is a captivating and unique experience that brings audiences to their feet. They recently won the National Bluegrass Playoffs at the Huck Finn Jubilee Festival in June. The band is Dave Gooding, Hide Kawatsure, Frankie Nagle, Jacob Groopman, and Annie Staninec. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez on the 16th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Concert starts at 8, with the doors at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Amazing guitarist Johnny Hiland, besides playing on the 18th see him at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, will also be playing somewhere in Guerneville on the 19th. Some say at a brewfest, others say a street fair. The town is not that big, so just go and you will find him. The 11th Annual Solfest will be taking place on the 19th and 20th in Hopland. SolFest celebrates solar energy by hosting many well-known speakers and experts in the fields of renewable energy, social responsibility and sustainable living. Headlining the show will be The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, and Hot Buttered Rum will also play. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents award-winning Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tom Kimmel for an evening of music and dining on the 19th. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Shawn Colvin, Maura O'Connell and Waylon Jennings. Doors open 6 p.m., potluck dinner 6:30, show starts 7:30. Admission $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. Paul Knight & Friends will be at the Station House the 20th with a very special lineup of mostly bluegrass. Joe New & The Crawhoppers (Chris Goddard, Pat Campbell, Remy Hennessee, and Stu Schecter) will be taking the stage at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 25th. Opening the show will be The Cash Magnets. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Under the Radar will be playing their mix of bluegrass, swing, blues, country and folk at the Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes on the 25th, 7-10 p.m., and there is no cover. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, Kendrick Freeman and Kevin Russell. The Ruminators will be playing the Moose Lodge in Petaluma on the 26th from 8-10 p.m. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 27th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of the summer months there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m. On the 27th see the Marinwood Jazz Players. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL 40th ANNIVERSARY GALA 8/02 8 p.m.: "Music director Louis Langree conducts a 'Coronation' concert to celebrate the launch of the 40th Mostly Mozart Festival - America's first indoor summer music festival - at Lincoln Center. Maestro Langree conducts the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra in two Mozart works. One is the Piano Concerto No. 26 with guest soloist Garrick Ohlsson, and the other is Mass in C major, with soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, tenor Matthew Polenzani, bass John Relyea and the Concert Chorale of New York." AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK - DOO WOP'S BEST ON PBS 8/05 noon, 8/06 7 p.m.,
8/08 3 a.m., 8/12 1 a.m.: "In December 1999, the most successful
fundraising program in the history of PBS took the nation by storm with
the premiere release of 'Doo Wop 50,' the first ever celebration from
20 of the greatest vocal groups and their biggest hit recordings. This
success gave birth to two follow-up sequels, 'Doo Wop 51,' which united
an additional 30 Doo Wop legends, and 'Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop' which
historically preserved and presented even more legends from rock and
roll's Golden Age of the 1950s and early 1960s. This program presents
the most incredible, emotional and memorable full length performances
from each of these three original programs." LIZA WITH A "Z" 8/08 7:30 p.m., 8/12 10 p.m.: "On a
late spring night in 1972, Liza Minnelli took over New York's Lyceum
Theater for what would be the performance of a lifetime. Alone on stage,
guided by the masterful showmanship of the legendary Bob Fosse and captured
with eight 16mm cameras by Academy Award winning cinematographer Owen
Roizman, Minnelli's tour-de-force performance became one of the most
celebrated television specials of a generation. Now for the first time
in over three decades, viewers have the rare opportunity to experience
this unforgettable event with a fully restored and digitally re-mastered
special. See quintessential Minnelli as she effortlessly moves from
one musical genre to the next." *************************************************************************************************** July 15, 2006 The staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has returned from a two-week junket back east, and we're fit, rested and ready to bring you the important music news from the North Bay. Even if we are a bit behind schedule. There are lots of additional shows added to this month's calendar, as well as quite a bit of other great stuff still to see and do before the month of July slips away. There was a real nice story about Linda Ronstadt in the North Bay Bohemian earlier this month. She also turned 60 on the 15th. Not mentioned in the piece is the fact that she has a new album out with singer Ann Savoy called Adieu False Heart. Some of the folks playing on the CD are mandolinist Sam Bush, bass player Byron House, guitarists Sam Broussard, Chas Justus, and Joel Savoy, accordionist Dirk Powell, and string players Andrea Zonn and Stuart Duncan. The duo will appear at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park on the first weekend of October. Pork rinds. Apparently all is not well at KPIG, the irreverent Americana radio station from the Santa Cruz area that also started simulcasting to the Bay Area last July. According to reports the overnight staff and the production director were fired recently, and benefits were cut for some full-timers. Afternoon host Ramblin' Ror was cut back to part-time, and morning host (as well as Strawberry Music Festival emcee) Dallas Dobro is off on a disability leave, which has other rumors floating around. Read about the mess here in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The Janis Joplin musical, Love Janis, opened at the Marines Memorial Theatre in SF last week to rave reviews. Also, before the musical opened Paul Liberatore of the Marin IJ wrote about Marin guitarist Sam Andrew, who played in Big Brother & The Holding Company, and is also the musical director of the show. As always, read the IJ links fast, before they disappear from the paper's web site. Top album sales according to the July 15th Billboard charts are the sound track from the movie A Prairie Home Companion in the bluegrass category and Taking the Long Way by the Dixie Chicks in the country category. South Bay bluegrass guru Michael Hall is starting up his email bluegrass newsletter again. You should get on his mailing list. To do so, all you have to do is send him an email at hallmw@gmail.com. Tell him Carltone sent you. There was a nice review in the SF Chronicle two weeks back of the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris concert. Read it here. Although their Bluegrass Gold show at Sweetwater already took place on the 12th, there was a story about the Sonoma Country bluegrass band Poor Man's Whiskey in the Pacific Sun on the 7th, written by Matt Kramer. You can read it here. The band will be playing some other North Bay shows in August. Book of the month. If you are looking for something to read while bathing on the beach this summer, there is a relatively new book out called The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart that is chock full of the wit and wisdom of legendary country singer Willie Nelson. Turk Pipkin and Willie put it together. Willie and his family band will play at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga on August 31st, and then at Konocti Harbor in Kelseyville on September 1st. The Sonoma County Fair is underway in Santa Rosa, and some of the acts you can see there in July are Kris Kristofferson, Darryl Worley, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, The Ruminators, Solid Air, Honey & The Hey Boys, Trailer Park Rangers, Mark McLay & The Dustdevils, and a blues festival on the 29th. Police log. Village idiot? Victor Willis, one of the founding members of '70s disco band The Village People, pleaded no contest on the 20th to drug possession charges. His lawyer is Mark Geragos, who defended murderer Scott Peterson last year. You be the judge as to who the idiot is here in this blurb…Mindy McCready, a country singer whose real life exploits sound like a bad country song, has been cleared of a drunk driving charge stemming from a May 2005 incident in Nashville. She refused to take a breath alcohol test after she was stopped for speeding while driving a friend's vehicle, and police claimed she smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test. The jury deliberated more than five hours before acquitting the singer of the DUI charge. However, McCready was found guilty of driving on a suspended license. She remains on three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty in 2004 of presenting a fraudulent prescription for the painkiller OxyContin. Man, give this woman a reality show quick! Ailing. Country singer Porter Wagoner is recuperating at a Nashville hospital after undergoing surgery on the 14th to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The surgery was successful, and doctors anticipate a full recovery for Wagoner, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. Rick Cornish, California Bluegrass Association Chairman and editor of their main web page, is recovering from knee surgery. Cards can be sent to him at 10740 Whiskey Creek Road, Sonora, CA, 95370. And in the three-strikes-and-you're-crazy-to-get-on-another-one department, South Bay guitar picker Yvonne Walbroehl took her third spill off a bicycle in the past two years, and got banged up pretty bad. She does wear a helmet, and with any luck this latest fall knocked some sense into her noggin… Life's railway to heaven. Syd Barrett, reclusive founder of the band Pink Floyd, died on the 7th in England at age 60. He was the original lead singer and songwriter, but he left the band in 1968 after its first album and had some drug problems. Nashville bank executive Brian Williams died on the 8th in a swimming accident while boating with his friends and family in Smithville, TN. As founder and director of SunTrust's sports and entertainment division on Nashville's Music Row, Williams was the bank's industry representative to major record labels, publishing companies, music industry executives and superstar celebrities. Irving Green, the co-founder of Mercury Records, died on the 1st in Palm Springs, CA, at age 90. He is credited with overcoming racial obstacles in the music industry by successfully issuing music by Louis Armstrong, the Platters, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington on the fledgling Chicago-based label, as well as later hiring Quincy Jones as the label's vice president, the first African-American executive at a major label. In addition, bluegrass pioneers Flatt & Scruggs recorded for the label shortly after they left Bill Monroe's band in 1948. Additions Creekside Friday Nights is a free summer concert series held on Friday evenings at the Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Mill Valley from 6:30-8 pm. There is a barbecue with live music. On the 21st see The Starduster Orchestra play big band music, and on the 28th it will be the Eugene Huggins Blues Band. This is an event put on the Tam Community Services District. The funk band The Monophonics will have the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station jumpin' starting at 9 p.m. on the 21st, and then Wake the Dead will be playing acoustic and Celtic versions of Grateful Dead songs there on the 22nd at 8 p.m. See the Gary Vogensen Band at Soho in Petaluma on the 22nd with his Organ Trio featuring Wayne De La Cruz on Hammond organ and Paul Distel on drums. They'll be doing some songs from Gary's CD Don't Tell Me About Love, as well as some blues, jazz and bebop standards. Tea Leaf Green and the Flying Other Brothers will be on the bill at the San Geronimo Cultural Center in West Marin on the 22nd starting at 8 p.m. The John Cowan Band will be opening for Dan Hicks at the Mystic in Petaluma on the 22nd. At the Konocti Harbor Resort in Kelseyville you can see Chris Isaak on the 22nd, The Wailers on the 23rd, and Robin Trower on the 27th. Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum will be opening for blues guitarist Chris Cain on the 22nd at the Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City. On the 21st Adam will be on the South Bay's KKUP (FM 91.5) during Friday Folk Off with David Stafford. Dead Set will be at the Old Western Saloon in Pt. Reyes Station for a free show on Sunday the 23rd. Showtime is from 3-5 p.m. The Circle R Boys bluegrass band will be making a rare North Bay appearance on the 27th, filling in for Ed Neff and Friends at the Willowbrook Ale House, 3600 Petaluma Blvd, N., Petaluma. The band is Paul Bernstein on banjo, Steve Pottier on mandolin, Bob Waller on guitar, and Josh Hadley bass. The Wild Catahoulas, a band from the North Bay, will be playing Cajun music on the 28th at 7:30 p.m. in the downtown plaza in Cloverdale. On Saturday the 29th at 8 p.m. Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue will be playing traditional bluegrass at Murphy's in Sonoma. Wild Blue is Marin County's longest running bluegrass band. Led by the entertaining Dr. Elmo ("Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer") on banjo, the group also consists of John Pierson on guitar and Carltone on bass. For 15 years this band has been playing bluegrass around the bay with a bit of Elmo's original songs thrown into the mix. Sittin' in this night will be Kenny Blacklock on fiddle. Dore Coller and Friends (many mysterious guests including the Nairobi Trio) will be on the patio at Pacific Catch (formerly Fresh Choice) at the Town Center in Corte Madera on the 29th from 5-8 p.m. Reminders Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 21st see Alex Markels, Connie Ducey on the 22nd, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 28th, and John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 29th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are John Kelley on the 21st, The David Thom Band on the 22nd, Peter Lamson on the 23rd, The Cynthia Carr Band 28th, plus more. The North Bay folk trio known as The Farallons will play in Santa Rosa at Aroma Roasters on the 21st. 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 Roy Book Binder on the 21st at 8:30. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The amazing Chris Goddard on guitar and lap steel will be substituting for Phil Richardson this night. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are the Big Band Beatles on the 21st, Jenna Mammina on the 22nd, Jimmy Dillon on the 28th, and others. Mill Valley singer Lauralee Brown has quite a month. She and her band will be at the McInnis Park Golf Center in San Rafael on the 21st. Lauralee will also sing with The Jon Steiner Trio at the Left Bank in Larkspur on the 25th. And on the 29th from 8 p.m. to midnight she will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Repair! Rebuild! Renew! New Orleans Benefit Concert Series at the Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker in Sausalito. There will be rockin' blues from the bayou with the Creole Belles with Andrew Carrier, Curtis Lawson, Eugene Huggins & Friends, and The Fiver Brown Band. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget is as busy as usual. He will be part of the Fifth Annual "Salute to the Beatles" on the 21st at Larkspur Cafe Theatre and on the 22nd at Creek Park in San Anselmo, with Namely Us on the 23rd at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, and he will play solo in the morning at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters on the 29th. The Sons of Emperor Norton, with San Anselmo's Gary Bauman on lead guitar, will be playing at The Black Cat in Penngrove the 22nd and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 29th. The Sons play vintage rockabilly and, besides Gary, also feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on vocals and rhythm guitar, Eva Maass and Scott Hoover on bass, Ed Randol on sax, Dale Gutridge on trumpet, and George Smeltz on drums. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will be joined by Nina Gerber on the 22nd when they will play Bill Wagman's House Concert in Davis. They will also do a show at the Stinson Beach Chapel on the 28th at 8 p.m. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. You can attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. See Best Intentions (Motown) on the 22nd, New Monsoon on the 28th, and more. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 22nd see Soul Shine, The Jodi Counter Band on the 28th, Bonor on the 29th, and more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 22nd, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 27th, Honey Dust on the 29th, and Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, plus more. The David Thom Band will be picking bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 22nd, and at Murphy's later that evening. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks on the 22nd, Tommy Castro on the 29th, and more. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Maria Muldaur on the 22nd, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 28th, and others. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides comedy night every Tuesday, enjoy Starduster Sundays on the 23rd, plus more. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of these summer months there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m. On the 23rd see the Miller Creek Middle School Summer Jazz Combos. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 23rd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See the band Wagon on the 26th. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Laurie Lewis and Nina Gerber on the 28th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Johnny Dilks and His Country Soul Brothers will have your boots a scootin' at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 28th. Mill Valley's Matt Lax has a new web site. And his band will be at McGrath's in Alameda on the 28th at 8 p.m., and then at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 30th from 5-8 p.m. 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. 77 El Deora will be playing their original oblique Americana music at the Black Cat in Penngrove on the 29th. The Ruminators will be playing at the Sonoma County Fair on the 29th on the Park Stage from 1-5 p.m. There is one show of note at the Marin Civic Center this month. The twice-yearly Texas Guitar Show will take place on the 29th. Go and check out stuff for sale. Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds will be playing McGrath's in Alameda on the 29th from 8-11 p.m. The Nightbirds are Julay Brandenburg (vocals/guitar/dobro), Thomas Wille (vocals/mandolin), Larry Cohea (vocals/banjo), Tom Lucas (vocals/fiddle), and Pat Campbell (bass). Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area: THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS AND FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE 7/23 1:04 a.m.: "Power
pop is arguably one of America's greatest gifts and Fountains of Wayne
and The All-American Rejects are champions of the genre. Fountains of
Wayne had its genesis long before the band made waves across the charts
with the wonderfully catchy and hilariously MILF-themed 'Stacy's Mom.'
Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, the singer-songwriting duo who
comprise Fountains of Wayne, began collaborating while in college in
1986, but the duo went separate ways before reacquainting in 1996 to
form Fountains of Wayne." *************************************************************************************************** July 1, 2006 Welcome to the 67th edition of Carltone's Corner! While the mainstream media is busy falling all over itself drooling at the nude photos of a pregnant Britney Spears and the wedding pics of Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban, as well as offering up the latest Rush Limbaugh Viagra jokes (boy, has he ever fallen on some "hard" times lately!), the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been pecking furiously away at the old Olivetti (if you don't know what this is, look it up!), trying to bring you the rest of the pertinent news that Fox, CNN, and your daily fish wrap overlooked. There is way too much fun to be found in the North Bay this month, so hopefully you are fit, rested and ready to get out and have some. Speaking of which, the staff here at CWH is in need of a summer break, so the July mid-month edition of this newsletter will not be sent out until the 18th or 19th. So keep this one around longer than usual for a reference. Fresh sounds on the air. There were some good music interviews recently on the National Public Radio show Fresh Air that you can listen to on line. You can listen to Dave Alvin and Kris Kristofferson. And there was a review of the new CD by SF singer/songwriter Jolie Holland. Velocity Circus has a new show titled "1906! A Journey Through the Mythical City." The show features show-stopping songs and hilarious sketches by Mill Valley's Emmy Award winning composer/writer Rita Abrams, and it premiered at San Francisco's Theatre 39 in June. A talented cast of circus performers, musicians, and comic actors will sing you, dance you, fly you, joke you, and quake you through a power-packed tour of San Francisco's history. There was another story about Vince Welnick in the SF Chronicle about the late keyboardist of the Grateful Dead on the 30th. Read it here. Type casting? Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards will appear in the (boy, we can hardly wait!) Pirates of the Caribbean III. He was supposed to appear in the second installment of the movie series, as the father of Johnny Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow, but the Stones took their Bigger Bang tour around the world and Richards then fell out of a coconut tree in Fiji. Petaluma blues man Dan Hayes has a new blues CD called California that is now available on iTunes and also at the digital label Blue Skunk Music. Book report. The interns here at Carltone World Headquarters actually unplugged their iPods and turned off MTV long enough to read two relatively new books of note. The first book, by San Francisco Chronicle sports writer Bruce Jenkins, is called Goodbye: In Search of Gordon Jenkins. Bruce's father Gordon was a writer, arranger, conductor and producer from the 1930s-70s who, among other things, worked with Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. He put The Weavers on the map when he recorded their first record, and he conducted Harry Nilsson's A Little Bit of Schmilsson in the Night. He also wrote a song called "Crescent City Blues" that Johnny Cash plagiarized back in the '50s with his hit song "Folsom Prison Blues." The second book is called Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music by Chris Willman. Music writer Willman was inspired to write this book after covering the Dixie Chicks' controversy in 2003. He interviewed countless country and bluegrass stars, and gives an in depth look behind the scenes of the politics that goes on in the music biz in Nashville. Congratulations to Bay Area country singer Valerie Jay. On June 4th, she and her husband Dylan Carp arranged and produced their first child, a baby girl, 6 lbs., 3oz., and 18 inches long. Her name is Ava Lauren Carp. Congrats to the Donner Mountain Band, who won the National Bluegrass Playoffs in June at the Huck Finn festival in Victorville, CA. They've been invited to the IBMA event in Nashville in October to showcase, jam, schmooze and not sleep for a whole week. Look for them at Sweetwater in Mill Valley in August. When talking heads go wrong. There is a horrendous singing performance by news anchor Connie Chung making the rounds on the web that is so bad that at first glance it is hard to tell if it was intentionally funny. Check it out here. But, according to Chung, it was meant to be the way it is, since it is a parody. You be the judge. Thanks to Tim Van Raam for the tip. Killer tour bus. If you go the Marin County Fair (details below), whatever you do, stay out of the way of Ricky Skaggs' tour bus. Last month it ran over an attendee of the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. Read the story here. Of course, according to one devotee of the mandolin player, "There are worse ways to go than to be hit by Ricky Skaggs' tour bus." Now, how is that for a positive spin on things? Get this gal a job in politics at once! Nice story in the SF Chronicle recently about Hawaiian ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro. The Alhambra Valley Band has released their first studio recording. Formed in 1986, and now celebrating 20 years of bluegrass picking, the band is proud to announce that Willow Pass Road is now available. They will be at the Scott's Valley Bluegrass festival on the 15th or you can go to their site for more info. Play way ahead. The Weirbacks (Grateful Dead guitarists Bob Weir and The Waybacks) will be playing at the Hardly Strictly Festival in October in SF. Speaking of the Wabes, there was a great story by Paul Liberatore about Stevie Coyle in a recent Marin Independent Journal. Paul Knight & Friends monthly gig at The Station House in Pt. Reyes Station will be skipping July. Last month featured Avram Siegel, Ray Burl and Buddy Craig. Paul will be back on August 20th with some very special guests playing the songs of Vern & Ray. Morning jolt. "Would you like a little Gene Simmons with that double-decaf/non-fat/mocha latte?" The make-up-wearing band KISS has opened their first coffee house in South Carolina. Watch out Starbucks! Police log. George O'Dowd, otherwise known as erstwhile pop singer "Boy George," may have found a new career. He has been sentenced to five days of trash duty after pleading guilty in March to filing a false police report over a non-existent burglary in New York City. Also, a South Florida HIV and AIDS community care organization is suing him over money they said he owes after a drug arrest prevented his appearance at a fundraising event. Life's railway to heaven. Kool & The Gang co-founder and lead guitarist Claydes Charles Smith died on June 23rd after a long illness. He was 57. Johnny Jenkins, a guitar player in Macon, GA, who hired a young Otis Redding to sing in his band in 1960, died of a stroke at age 67 on the 28th. Arif Mardin, a Grammy-winning arranger and record producer who recorded Aretha Franklin and The Bee Gees, to name a few, died on June 25th in New York City of pancreatic cancer. He was 74. Onward to the calendar… Fair game. The Marin County Fair started on June 30th, and it runs through the 4th of July. You can see Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Beausoleil, Preservation Hall, The Rowan Brothers, The David Thom Band, and lots more. The fair will also host its 34th Annual Old-Time Fiddle contest on Saturday the 1st. For complete listings for the Marin Arts Council days at the fair, go to their site. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 12th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 1st see The Heather Combs Band, Left Hand Smoke on the 7th, The Mark Hummel Blues Harmonica Blowout on the 10th, Boys Gone Wild on the 15th, Quicksilver on the 20th, Best Intentions (Motown) on the 22nd, New Monsoon on the 28th, and more. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. The Summer Sun Festival, presented by James Taylor Jones and Area 101, is a virtual Lorin Rowan fest, and it will be happening on the 1st in Laytonville. You can see Lorin with Lonely Hearts, Rattlebox and The Rowan Brothers, and also see acts such as Corry Hannah, The Hogan Vance Project and Plum Crazy. Bluegrass comeback. Two of Sonoma County's finest bands, The Bluegrass Irregulars and HiJinks, will be playing a show together on the 1st at 8 p.m. at the New College of California in Santa Rosa. The Irregulars, whose last gig was about 20 years ago, are Layne Bowen, Ted Dutcher, Mark Hogan, Kevin Russell and Gerry Schoztak. Headlining the show will be HiJinks, a well-loved institution in Sonoma County. They play bluegrass, swing, country & modern folk music. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, and Sara Winge. The Cash Magnets will be playing at McGrath's Pub in Alameda on the 1st from 8-11 p.m. This will be an evening of great honky-tonk and classic country music, both well-chosen covers and originals. The Cash Magnets feature the vocals of Richard and Julay Brandenburg and Mike Stadler, supported by Mike's fiddle and mandolin, Dave Magram on pedal steel, and Pat Campbell on bass. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and 8th it will be bluegrass, on the 15th swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 1st see Phatty, Robert Herrera on the 6th, Ancient Mystic on the 13th, Soul Shine on the 22nd, and more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See The Little Wheels Band on the 1st, Foxtail Thos on the 4th, Acoustically Cool on the 6th, The Bar Association on the 8th, Sexy Sunday Women Who Rock on the 9th, Buddy Owen on the 11th, Ruckus on the 12th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 14th, French Kiss on the 19th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 22nd, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 27th, Honey Dust on the 29th, and Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, plus more. Music in/on the air. The Mighty Crows will be playing live on Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal show on KALW (91.7 FM) on the 1st from 6:30-8 p.m., and then they will head over to the Riptide at Ocean Beach to play from 9:30-midnight. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 1st see David Jeffrey, WE B-3 on the 7th, Ralph Woodson on the 8th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 14th, Jazz Philosophy on the 15th, Alex Markels on the 21st, Connie Ducey on the 22nd, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 28th, and John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 29th. The David Thom Band will be picking bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 1st and 22nd, at the Sebastiani Winery on the 2nd, Marin County Fair on the 4th, Point Richmond Music Festival on the 7th, the Good Old Fashioned on the 9th, and at Murphy's on the 22nd. On the 1st at 8 p.m. Keystone Crossing will be performing at Murphy's in Sonoma. The Marin County duo of Carltone and Claudia Hampe sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass music - The Delmore, Louvin, and Everly Brothers - as well as songs from contemporary duos such as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. There is no cover charge at Murphy's and the pub offers great food and drink at reasonable prices. Come for the music, stay for the mushy peas! Children are welcome. Other events at Murphy's this month are the Celtic jam on the 2nd, Trio Bravo on the 3rd, Megan McLaughlin on the 6th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 7th, The Tonewoods on the 8th, Kimrea and Joe Lococo on the 13th, Elaine Dempsey on the 20th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 29th, plus more. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Red Elvises on the 2nd, Tommy Emmanuel on the 20th, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks on the 22nd, Tommy Castro on the 29th, and more. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Mitch Woods on the 2nd, The Hacienda Brothers on the 3rd, the subdudes on the 4th, Stompy Jones on the 8th, Maria Muldaur on the 22nd, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 28th, and others. 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 Michael Gulezian on the 2nd at 8 p.m., and Doug McLeod on the 23rd at 8:30. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Rosie and the Railroaders will be playing at the Sand Dollar Restaurant in Stinson Beach on the 2nd from noon to 3 p.m. All train songs, all the time! The band is Ingrid "Rosie" Noyes, Danny Carnahan, Paul Knight, Jon Mitguard, and Paul Herzoff. Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum has a few gigs of note in
the North Bay this month. On the 2nd he will be at Soho in Petaluma
with fellow songwriters Steve Brian and Joni Davis. The show starts
at 8:30. On the 6th it will be the Calistoga Inn in Calistoga, and then
on the 7th you can see him at Smiley's in Bolinas. Besides playing music
Adam is a wonderful photographer as well. Check out his work here. Fourth of July. Just about every little town in the North Bay has some festivities to take part in on Tuesday the 4th. The SF Chronicle has a listing of places to go and see fireworks. Corte Madera has a parade and party in the park with live music. Charlie Deal and The Toilet Seat Band will be tooling down the boulevard amongst the revelers. The band includes Kimrea and the Dreamdogs, Lisa Kindred, Charlie Deal, and Matt Lax. The town of Sonoma has a big parade, and then afterwards everyone will be heading on over to Murphy's Irish Pub, where Trio Bravo will be playing country, bluegrass and Celtic tunes from noon to 3 p.m. with no cover. The band for this occasion will be Doug Adamz, Don Rich, and Carltone. In Sausalito in the park after the parade you can see the Unauthorized Rolling Stones play. The town used to have a great mix of Americana, blues and bluegrass played by southern Marin based bands. How the faux Stones band relates to the 4th of July is beyond comprehension… 77 El Deora will be playing their original oblique Americana music at the Todos Santos Plaza in Concord on the 4th, The Ivy Room in Albany on the 16th, and at the Black Cat in Penngrove on the 29th. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 5th it will be South Bend, David Haskell Ensemble on the 12th, Jelly on the 19th, and Wagon on the 26th. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre, besides Caren Armstrong's show listed below, are Peter Rowan (Chris & Lorin Rowan opening) on the 6th, Jamie Clark on the 8th, The Boulder Acoustic Society on the 9th, Big Band Beatles on the 21st, Jenna Mammina on the 22nd, Jimmy Dillon on the 28th, and others. At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see Nickel Creek on the 6th, Linda Ronstadt on the 10th and Lyle Lovett on the 17th and 18th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 6th and the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will be joined by Nina Gerber and special guest Kenny Edwards at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 7th. Then on the 22nd Audrey and Nina will play Bill Wagman's House Concert in Davis. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Michael Gulezian (gu-LAY-ze-in) on the 8th at Studio E in Sebastopol. If you enjoy the artistry of musicians such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges, then you will love Michael. Concert starts at 8, with the doors at 7:30. And on the 28th don't miss Laurie Lewis and Nina Gerber. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site The North Bay folk trio known as The Farallons will play in Santa Rosa on the 8th at the Black Rose Pub and then at Aroma Roasters on the 21st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley will be closed from the 1st-7th for a break. Otherwise, there is a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides hosting comedy night every Tuesday (but the 4th) Mark Pitta will also be there on the 8th, French Cabaret on the 14th, Starduster Sundays on the 23rd, plus a lot of other great stuff. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget is as busy as usual. He will be with Namely Us on the 9th and 23rd at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; as part of the Fifth Annual "Salute to the Beatles" on the 21st at Larkspur Cafe Theatre and the 22nd at Creek Park in San Anselmo; and he will play solo in the morning at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters on the 29th. Bluegrass Contraption will be playing a free show at the Piccolo Pavilion in Corte Madera on the 9th from 5-6 p.m. The Sons of Emperor Norton, with San Anselmo's Gary Bauman on lead guitar, will be doing the Sunday hoedown at The Baltic in Pt. Richmond on the 9th, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 13th, playing "twang" Sunday at Thee Parkside in S.F. on the 16th, at The Black Cat in Penngrove the 22nd and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 29th. The Sons play vintage rockabilly and, besides Gary, also feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on vocals and rhythm guitar, Eva Maass and Scott Hoover on bass, Ed Randol on sax, Dale Gutridge on trumpet, and George Smeltz on drums. 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. On the 11th at 7:30 p.m. The Celebrating Songwriters is proud to announce its One Year Anniversary at The Larkspur Café Theatre. In the past year Caren Armstrong has hosted over two dozen of the top singer/songwriters around, and they have ALL been invited back for this special show to commemorate the occasion. Suffice to say that there will be a ridiculous abundance of talent on the stage for this event. Multi-instrumentalist Kevin Russell will be bringing his stellar accompaniment chops and playing "on the side" for most of the evening. Some of the very talented songwriters that might be taking the stage for the show are Caroline Aiken, John Haley-Walker, Jerry Hannan, Doug Adamz, Dana Hubbard, Larry Potts, Christie McCarthy, Denali, James McVay, Kimberlye Gold and Claudia Russell with Bruce Kaplan. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 11th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. On Wednesday the 12th the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Headlining the bill will be Poor Man's Whiskey, and opening will be Four Year Bender. Poor Man's Whiskey is the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the Wine Country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. They played at the Strawberry Music Festival in 2005, and have performed multiple times at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. Their new CD is titled Roadside Attraction. Since it's inception in early 2002, Four Year Bender has been one of the most talked about country bands in the Bay Area, garnering lavish praise from music fans and critics alike. They have played every major venue in San Francisco including The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Their most recent CD is titled Lucky. Mill Valley's Elaine Dempsey will play at The No Name Bar in Sausalito on the 12th at 8:30 p.m. with Jim Bitter, and then at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 20th. All roads lead to Hollister. On the 13th-15th is where the Bay Area bluegrass crowd will be converging for the 13th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival. Some of the bands to see are Grizzly Peak, REO Haywagon, Barefoot Nellies, Homespun Rowdy, Mighty Crows, Houston Jones, Sidesaddle & Co., David Thom Band, Stay Tuned, Harmony Grits, and lots more. Mill Valley singer Lauralee Brown has a busy month. She and her band will be at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito on the 14th and at the McInnis Park Golf Center in San Rafael on the 21st. Lauralee will sing with The David Jeffery Fourtet at the Emerald Garden in Alameda on the 15th, and with The Jon Steiner Trio at the Left Bank in Larkspur on the 25th. And on the 29th from 8 p.m. to midnight she will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Repair! Rebuild! Renew! New Orleans Benefit Concert Series at the Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker in Sausalito. There will be rockin' blues from the bayou with the Creole Belles with Andrew Carrier, Curtis Lawson, Eugene Huggins & Friends, and The Fiver Brown Band. The Ruminators will be playing the Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 14th at 9 pm. and then at the Sonoma County Fair on the 29th on the Park Stage from 1-5 p.m. Michael and Lindalou can be found playing at the Calistoga Farmer's Market on the 15th from 9:15 a.m. until noon. They'll have Dan Brunetti on guitar, David Chapman on drums and Terry Ann Gillette on fiddle. The Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival will be held on the 15th and 16th at the Etna city park in Etna. See The Kathy Kallick Band (with Laurie Lewis filling in on bass), Alan Bibey & BlueRidge, Frank Ray & Cedar Hill, The Alhambra Valley Band, Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band, Siskiyou Summit, and Don Maddox. Drew Pearce puts on house concerts in Marin just about every month. He'll be hosting Joe Rathbone and Brindl on the 15th in Sausalito. The open mic begins at 7 p.m., and the featured performers begin at 8:30. To attend, call (415) 706 3800. Besides the county fair, there are two other shows of note at the Marin Civic Center this month. The Temptations are there on the 15th, and the Texas Guitar Show on the 29th. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Under the Radar will be playing their eclectic mix of bluegrass, swing, blues, country & folk at a free concert on the Sebastopol Town Square on the 20th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, Kendrick Freeman and Kevin Russell. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The amazing Chris Goddard on guitar and lap steel will be substituting for Phil Richardson this night. Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of these summer months there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m. On the 23rd see the Miller Creek Middle School Summer Jazz Combos. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 23rd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Johnny Dilks and His Country Soul Brothers will have your boots a scootin' at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 28th. Mill Valley's Matt Lax has a new web site. And his band will be at McGrath's in Alameda on the 28th at 8 p.m., and then at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 30th from 5-8 p.m. Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds will be playing McGrath's in Alameda on the 29th from 8-11 p.m. The Nightbirds are Julay Brandenburg (vocals/guitar/dobro), Thomas Wille (vocals/mandolin), Larry Cohea (vocals/banjo), Tom Lucas (vocals/fiddle), and Pat Campbell (bass). Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: SHERYL CROW, WILDFLOWER - A SOUNDSTAGE SPECIAL EVENT 7/01 11:30 p.m.:
"This dynamic special features Sheryl Crow, accompanied by a 16-piece
string orchestra, in an intimate performance taped live at Lincoln Center." CAPITOL FOURTH (2006) 7/04 8 p.m.: "Jason Alexander hosts this musical extravaganza - topped by a dazzling display of fireworks over the Washington Monument - as the July 4 festivities air live from the West Lawn of the US Capitol. America's biggest birthday celebration will feature some of the country's best known and award-winning musical artists performing with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. The nation's premiere Independence Day celebration will also include a special birthday tribute to America by everyone's favorite red muppet from Sesame Street, Elmo! Capping off the show is a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's '1812 Overture,' complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition." BOB DYLAN - NO DIRECTION HOME Part 2: 7/05 9 p.m.: "Bob Dylan
participates for the first time in an exclusive, full-length film biography.
From his explosive arrival on the downtown New York City scene in 1961
- with a raspy voice, pounding guitar and stunning lyrics - through
his near- fatal motorcycle accident in Woodstock in 1966, no one had
more of an impact and no one changed the landscape of contemporary music
more profoundly. Private, almost reclusive, disdainful of customary
forms of publicity, Dylan has now agreed to make an appearance in his
own story, illuminated in particular by this remarkable five-year period.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intimate and incomparable film includes
an archive of never-before-seen footage from childhood, from the road
and from backstage, as well as unreleased interviews conducted over
the past 15 years with other seminal figures from those times - some
of whom, like Allan Ginsberg, are long dead." And on the A&E Network: TOM JONES 7/4 8-9 a.m.: "One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the British Invasion, Tom Jones has defined male rock star sexuality to the point of self-caricature. His rags to riches story began in the slums of Wales, took him to London and then all the way to sold-out Vegas concert stages. Along the way there have falls from grace, betrayals, incredible peaks of popularity and whole new generations of fans." THE DIXIE CHICKS 7/8 8-9 a.m.: "The story of the three women from Texas - sisters Martie and Emily Erwin and Natalie Maines - who shook up the country music scene with the release of their first CD in 1998, and caused a storm of controversy when Natalie made a critical remark about President Bush before a sold-out crowd in London in March 2003." ABBA 7/15 8-9 a.m.: "The Swedish pop group ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad) had a string of hits in the 70's and 80's before breaking up in 1982. Throughout much of the world, especially Europe and Australia, the ABBA phenomenon never went away, with repackaged hits compilations and live collections continuing to hit the charts long after the group's demise. Their music was revitalized and introduced to a new generation yet again with the premiere of Mamma Mia, a global smash-hit musical based on their catchy tunes. It remains a top draw on Broadway today, proving that truly outstanding music never loses its charm." *************************************************************************************************** June 15, 2006
This has been a tough month so far for anyone with the initials V.W. Two musicians of note passed on - bluegrass great Vern Williams and former Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick. Details lie below. Anyone else with these initials, you may want to get a physical before month's end… Chicks with picks. The Dixie Chicks, shunned and banned by country stations for their comments on stage about George Bush a few years ago, are back with a new album called Taking the Long Way that is at the top of the charts yet is also getting scant airplay. There was a story in the SF Chronicle recently saying that the band was going to be canceling some tour dates due to lack of ticket sales, but according to a posting on the band site, this is untrue. They were on the cover of Time Magazine in May, and Sixty Minutes did a story on them as well. In the Chronicle recently was a story about the Bruce Springsteen tour "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions," which is a tribute to the great folk singer Pete Seeger, not rocker Bob Seger. Velocity Circus has a new show titled "1906! A Journey Through the Mythical City." The show features show-stopping songs and hilarious sketches by Mill Valley's Emmy Award winning composer/writer Rita Abrams, and it premieres at San Francisco's Theatre 39 on the 23rd. A talented cast of circus performers, musicians, and comic actors will sing you, dance you, fly you, joke you, and quake you through a power-packed tour of San Francisco's history. For info go to the web site or call (415) 433-3939. The Kinkster gets help. Irreverent county singer and Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman is getting help from a wrestler and the Flip-Flop guy. Former Minnesota Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura and "Margaritaville" singer Jimmy Buffett are joining the ranks of supporters to help the independent contestant get elected to the Texas state house. If at first you don't succeed…As hard as it may seem to believe, there is another Dukes of Hazzard movie in the works, with Willie Nelson reprising his role of Uncle Jesse. According to a report on Country Music Television, old Willie said, "I'm heading to California to do The Dukes of Hazzard 2. For the next three weeks, I'll be Uncle Jesse, so I'm looking forward to that." The movie is a prequel that's expected to go directly to DVD. Wow, what a surprise… Van Halen bluegrass? Yikes! An album of Van Halen songs - arranged in a bluegrass style and approved by David Lee Roth - was released last week on CMH Records. Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen features musicians John Jorgensen, Blue Highway, Larry Cordle, John Cowan, David Grisman, Mountain Heart and the Nashville Bluegrass Band, among others. Roth sings on only three of the tracks: "Jump" and two versions of "Jamie's Cryin'." Budweiser in dirty water. The Standells, who had a big hit in the '60s with the song "Dirty Water," are suing Anheuser-Busch for using their song in ads without permission. The June cover story in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine is about Del McCoury, and it was written by San Diego bluegrass musician Chris Stuart, who is high on the Carltone list of favorite performers. You can read the story here. Plan ahead. Peter Rowan will be making a return engagement to the Larkspur Café Theatre on July 6th. Also, Poor Man's Whiskey will play Sweetwater on July 12th. Police log. Country singer Mindy McCready, whose foibles have been followed here, has now sued her former boyfriend for $3 million. In the lawsuit, she claims William McKnight beat her after breaking into her home in 2005, and as a result, she had difficulty booking concert appearances. McCready's legal troubles since her 1996 hit, "Guys Do It All the Time," include charges of drunk driving and fraudulently obtaining prescription for OxyContin. Another name mentioned here recently is Pete Doherty, the lead singer of the band Babyshambles and erstwhile beau of model Kate Moss. In a surprise to no one, he has checked into detox. Life's railway to heaven. Vern Williams, one of the godfathers of California bluegrass, died on the 6th in San Andreas of pneumonia at age 75. Along with Ray Park, the two had a band called Vern & Ray in the '60s, and then later he had The Vern Williams Band. Vince Welnick, keyboardist in The Tubes and in later years in the Grateful Dead, died at age 55 in Sonoma County on the 2nd of an apparent suicide. Billy Preston, keyboardist known at the "fifth Beatle," died from kidney problems on the 6th in Arizona. Johnny Grande, who was an original member of Bill Haley & His Comets, and played piano on "Rock Around The Clock," died in Tennessee at age 76. Lew Anderson, who played Clarabell The Clown on The Howdy Doody Show and was also a big band musician, died on May 14th at age 85. Nashville singer/songwriter Bobby L. Harden, 70, died on May 30th. He found national success in 1966 with sisters Robbie and Arlene Harden as the Harden Trio in 1966 with "Tippy Toeing." György Ligeti, the Hungarian composer whose intricately beautiful creations made him an important musical figure of the second half of the 20th century, died on the 12th at his Vienna home after a long illness. He was 83. His scores were used in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Latin jazz pianist Hilton Ruiz died at age 55 on the 6th in New Orleans from an apparent fall. Additions The New Good Old Boys have been added to the bill as the opener for the King Wilkie show (details below) at Sweetwater in Mill Valley on the 14th. The band is Gary Kaye on banjo, Brian Shindledecker on guitar, Jose Sidman on mandolin, and Joe Kenny on bass. Blue Bossa will be playing at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 15th, with special guest blues and gospel singer Dorothy Morrison, who sang on the song "Oh Happy Day." Caren Armstrong, who hosts the Celebrating Songwriters Series at the Larkspur Café Theatre each month (see below), will be playing at a new summer concert series at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley on the 17th starting at 7:30 p.m. Harris/Youngblood - Hugh Harris on guitar and vocals & John Youngblood on guitar, mandolin and vocals - will be playing at The Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 24th starting at 8:30 p.m. Then John will be playing a solo show for the Michel-Schlumberger Courtyard Music Series in Healdsburg on the 30th from 4-7 p.m. Dore Coller & Friends will be at the Amsterdam on the 29th, starting at 8:30 p.m. The Marin County Fair officially begins on the 30th with a performance by Rick Springfield. In July you can see Ricky Skaggs, Eddie Money, Preservation Hall, and others. More details in the next edition. Reminders On the 14th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. King Wilkie will headline the show. Combining the kick and exuberance of youth with the finesse and style of musicians twice their ages, King Wilkie is fast becoming a major force in the Americana/roots music sweepstakes. Based in Charlottesville, VA, this is a sextet of young men inject beyond-their-years chops and the knowing interplay of savvy veterans with vibrant, electrifying energy that spikes the punch of the form's time-honored recipes. They caught the ear of the Virginia bluegrass label Rebel Records, which promptly signed the group and went on to release their debut, Broke, in 2004. As the year progressed, the band made multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and eventually earned the IBMA's coveted Emerging Artist of the Year Award. Taking their name from Bill Monroe's favorite horse, the boys eschew needless showboating and stylistic tweaking, instead allowing their razor-sharp musicianship, and edgy, passionate harmonies to inject timeless themes of love (won and lost), loneliness, spirituality (and crippling lack thereof) and death with a freshness and energy that's as vital and relevant as any cutting-edge indie rockers could deliver. The members are Ted Pitney, Reid Burgess, Abe Spear, John McDonald, Nick Reeb, and Jake Hopping. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See Michael Elvin Hunt featuring David Nelson on the 14th, The Rowan Brothers featuring Barry Sless on the 21st, and Moonlight Rodeo on the 28th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows to see are Ruckus on the 14th and 28th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 30th, and lots more. 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. And on the 15th they'll play from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Redwoods Retirement Community on Camino Alto in Mill Valley. Open to the public, free and all ages are welcome. Some shows worth seeing at the Larkspur Café Theatre are the Celebrating Songwriters series on the 13th with Austin Willacy, Carlos Olmeda, and host Caren Armstrong, Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan on the 15th, Deborah Winters & Friends on the 17th, Kimberlye Gold & Kurt Huget on the 21st, The Westerleys on the 22nd, plus more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and jazzy ballads at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 16th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. No cover charge, and the café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing classic R&B and blues at Peri's Silver Dollar in Fairfax on the 16th. Showtime is 9:30-1:15. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Spiral Mystics on the 16th, Pete Olson on the 22nd, The Westerleys on the 23rd, High Country on the 24th, plus more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. You can attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 16th see Vinyl, The Blasters on the 18th, Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun on the 22nd, Bonnie Hayes and Her Wild Combo on the 24th, David Jacobs-Strain on the 27th, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood on the 30th, and more. Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezzera, featured by Matt Kramer in the Pacific Sun last week, on the 16th will be at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley for the Freight's birthday celebration. There will be others on the bill, and Audrey will play a solo set. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has music four nights a week. Every Sunday
from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica
and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett
& Chris Huson jazz duo. On the 16th see Lauralee Brown & Company
playing jazz & beyond, Jazz Philosophy on the 17th, the As Is Jazz
Quartet farewell performance on the 23rd, Lisa Madison on the 24th,
and Lisa Kindred on the 30th. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 17th swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. There is a new open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Jules Broussard celebrate his 70th birthday on the 17th, The Gospel Hummingbirds on the 23rd, Los Pinguos Hot Latin Rhythms on the 24th, The Waybacks and Marley's Ghost on the 28th, plus a lot of other great stuff. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Joey Lent with Chuck Steed and Jim Zwack on the 17th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Danny Montana and the Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and John Malloy/Beau Faw on drums) are playing on the 17th at 9 p.m. at Smiley's in Bolinas. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Paul Thorn on the 18th, Buckwheat Zydeco on the 25th, and more. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Slaid Cleaves with Michael O'Connor and Eleanor Whitmore on the 18th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with three different acts. See him on the 21st with Kimberlye Gold at Larkspur Cafe Theatre, with Namely Us on the 25th at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, and on the 28th with Moonlight Rodeo at Iron Springs Pub in Fairfax. The Westerleys reunion. Blending three different voices and three styles of songwriting, this talented group (Nancy Terzian, Doug E. Blumer, and Peter Axtell) created a sound of their own that was as beautiful as anything that had come down the musical road in a long time. They performed together for a little over six years, and they recorded three CDs before they split up some years back. They have three gigs in the Bay Area this month. See them at Strings in Emeryville on the 21st, the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 22nd, and Murphy's Irish Pub on the 23rd. All three members sing lead and harmony, taking turns at both. The Sonoma Marin Fair runs from the 21st-25th in Petaluma. See Restless Heart, Uncle Kracker, Grand Funk Railroad, Craig Chaquico and more. See 1/4 Mile Combo on the 23rd when they play at SoHo in Petaluma. The Sons of Emperor Norton will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 24th. They will also be appearing at The Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa on the 30th. The 30th Annual San Francisco Free Folk Festival will take place in SF on the 24th-25th from noon-10 p.m. at the Roosevelt Middle School at Geary and Arguello. Lots of workshops, and performances by In Harmony's Way, Steve Seskin, Polka Cowboys, Leftover Dreams, McBride Irish Step Dancers, The Brunos, Four Shillings Short, Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds, and many others. The Kate Wolf Festival will be happening in Laytonville from the 23rd-25th, and there are lots of great acts, including Alison Brown Quartet, Greg Brown, Bruce Cockburn. Steve Earle, Mary Gauthier, Arlo Guthrie & Family, Buddy Miller, Tim O'Brien Band, Utah Phillips, Railroad Earth, The Roches, The Wailin' Jennys, The Websters & Scott Nygaard and much more. Creekside Friday Nights is a free summer Friday concert series at the Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Mill Valley. Join your friends and neighbors, and bring down the kids, pets, chairs and blankets. Each week features local musicians and a different genre of music. The series runs from June 23rd-August 18th, every Friday night from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Tennessee Valley Cabin, located at 60 Tennessee Valley Road. This is a beautiful setting right off the creek. There is no on-site parking, but bike and hike paths lead right to the place. Park at the Community Center at 203 Marin Avenue or at Peace Lutheran Church. Enjoy our barbeques specialties or bring a picnic dinner. Beverages, wine and beer will be sold. On the 23d enjoy the high-octane Americana sounds of Houston-Jones. On the 30th see a band called Sebastian. Eclectic Stage presents The Rowan Brothers (Chris & Lorin) with Barry Sless on pedal steel and Doug Harmon on cello on the 24th at 8 p.m. the Black Bean Barbecue in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $12 door/$10 advance at Black Bean BBQ and the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. The David Thom Band will be playing bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 24th. The Far West Music Festival, a benefit for and presented by KWMR radio in West Marin, will be taking place on the 25th from 12:30-6 p.m. at The Olema Ranch. See Hot Buttered Rum, Allison Brown, and The Mother Hips. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 25th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: PINK MARTINI LIVE: DISCOVER THE WORLD 6/14 7:30 p.m., 6/17 1 a.m.: "The 12-piece 'little orchestra' Pink Martini is a combination of a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band and Japanese film noir. In this concert special, the band moves effortlessly through a variety of tunes that harken back to the big-band days with a mix of romantic French ballads and sultry Latin tunes, all performed in a sophisticated style. Pianist and founder Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes share their feelings about each tune in short backstage interviews that are interlaced with the on-stage performances." MOTOWN - THE EARLY YEARS 6/14 9 p.m., 6/16 1 a.m., 6/17 9:30 a.m., 6/18 2:30 p.m.: "'Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat'… Summer is here and the time is right for an all Motown celebration! This performance special presents a mix of classic full-length archival performances, rare and never-before-seen performance footage, mixed with the current line-up of Motown groups performing all their big hits charted between 1960 and 1966-67." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA 6/15 8 p.m.: "Directed by Bartlett Sher, the program restages the original musical production that won six 2005 Tony awards. Adapted from Elizabeth Spencer's novel, the story takes place in the summer of 1953, where Margaret Johnson, the wife of a well- heeled American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter Clara. A chance encounter sparks an intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, to the objections of Margaret." TIM JANIS - COASTAL AMERICA 6/15 10:30 p.m., 6/17 noon: "This program journeys along the spectacular coastlines of the United States' treasured natural landmarks, including New England lighthouses, the cliffs of Big Sur, the dunes of Cape Hatteras and the forests of the Olympic Coast. The concert special, recorded live at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, is a stirring tribute to America's grand shores, featuring an inspiring medley of natural imagery and sweeping melodies. Stunning High Definition cinematography is interwoven with an original instrumental score composed by Janis and performed by the 14-piece Tim Janis Ensemble." JOHN DENVER - THE WILDLIFE CONCERT 6/16 8:30 p.m.: "An intimate performance from 1995 featuring the songs that made John Denver an American treasure, including 'Rocky Mountain High,' 'Take Me Home, Country Roads,' 'Annie's Song' and 'Sunshine on My Shoulders.' One of the world's best-known and beloved performers, Denver earned international acclaim as a songwriter, performer, actor, environmentalist and humanitarian. His music spanned three decades and garnered numerous music awards and honors, including a 1996 induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame." CREAM REUNION CONCERT 6/17 10:30 p.m. "Releasing just four albums as a group, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton left an indelible mark on the worldwide music scene. From 1966 to 1968, with hits like 'White Room,' 'Sunshine of Your Love' and 'Badge,' Cream dominated the charts with a bluesy, masterful approach to the psychedelic rock of the late 1960s, selling 35 million records and inspiring virtually every new rock group of the day with dreams of stadium success. It took 37 years, but in May 2005, Royal Albert Hall was once again the scene for the group's much anticipated reunion. It was a long time coming, but worth the wait." BROADWAY - THE GOLDEN AGE 6/17 5 p.m.: "An important, ambitious and comprehensive film about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway. He soon learned that great films can be restored, fine literature can be kept in print - but historic Broadway performances of the past are the most endangered. They leave only memories that, while more vivid, are more difficult to preserve. In their own words - and not a moment too soon - this program tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre." AMERICAN MASTERS -GEORGE GERSHWIN 6/17 8 p.m.: "When George Gershwin's parents bought a piano for their eldest son, Ira, it was little George who sat down and began playing tunes on it. That was the beginning of Gershwin's remarkable musical career, which included the Tin Pan Alley hit 'Swanee' and the Broadway musicals Funny Face and Of Thee I Sing. While Gershwin's compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris marked him as a serious composer, he continued to create popular music for stage and screen, winning the first Pulitzer Prize for a musical. In 1935, Gershwin premiered the seminal work of the American opera, Porgy and Bess. Two years later, at age 39, he died of a brain tumor. Using family photo albums, home movies, and rehearsal and performance footage, this film sheds light and historical perspective on Gershwin's eclectic musical career." YOU'RE THE TOP - THE COLE PORTER STORY 6/17 9:30 p.m.: "'Night and Day,' 'I Get a Kick You of You,' 'You're the Top,' 'Begin the Beguine,' 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' - some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written came from the pen of Cole Porter. Outwardly a sophisticated bon vivant and international partygoer, he was also a dedicated musical professional who routinely spent hours agonizing over a single rhyme or musical transition. The life and legacy of America's most sophisticated songwriter is the subject of this documentary, which features interviews with the performers and artists who knew Porter best and more than 20 classic performances from his movie musicals." SOUNDSTAGE - COUNTING CROWS AND SHELBY LYNNE 6/25 midnight: "The Counting Crows know how to have fun. Lead Singer Adam Duritz rocks his way through an evening in which poetry seems to explode from the band's repertoire of blues/rock/country hits. Fresh off the release of their greatest hits album Films About Ghosts (taken from a line in the song Mrs. Potter's Lullaby), the band reflects on its 10-year history in a program that highlights the iconic Mr. Jones, along with other up-tempo tunes including Hangin' Around, Rain King and Mrs. Potter's Lullaby. Duritz slows down in the mournful rendition of A Long December but reinvigorates the mood with the rootsy American Girls. Other hits featured include Recovering The Satellites, and She Don't Want Nobody Near. Grammy winner Shelby Lynne plays songs from the album that critics are calling her defining effort Identity Crisis a collection of songs that the singer/songwriter penned and produced herself. The album, similar to this episode, shows just how versatile Lynne can be. From gospel 10 Rocks, to blues Evil Man, to country Buttons And Beaus, Lynne's throaty alto can carry her into any arena. Her delivery as a performer is at once flirtatious and captivating. When she sings If I Were Smart, I Wouldn't Have A Heart the audience smiles, not just at her honesty, but at the delicate and edgy way she reveals herself." POWER OF HARMONY 6/25 noon: "The need for family, faith, acceptance, and self-acceptance extends to all humans, and no less to the gay men and women who struggle for these fundamental liberties in an often intolerant world. This film takes an intimate look at these struggles and the issues surrounding them through the personal experiences of men who find inspiration and courage in a gay men's chorale, which manages to thrive in the heart of the Bible Belt. It carries inspiration not only to gay audiences, but to anyone who has struggled for self-enlightenment or who seeks to understand shared human experiences." THE AMASONG CHORUS: SINGING OUT 6/25 1 p.m.: "When lesbian music student Kristina Boerger moved to a small Illinois college town, she didn't find a ready-made community. So she created one with what she loved best - choral singing. Assembling a ragtag group of volunteers, she created a lesbian choir in the middle of this conservative area. Showing the choir's evolution into a nationally accepted and recognized award-winning ensemble, this program documents how the spirit and dedication of one person can help transform a community." JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - MICHAEL FRANTI 6/26 7:30 p.m., 6/30 2:30 a.m., 6/30 2:30 p.m., 6/30 10:30 p.m.: "Musician Michael Franti is known for writing songs with socially progressive lyrics paired with a mixture of hip-hop, funk and reggae melodies. Over the years he and his band Spearhead have gained an international following - playing sold- out concerts from Alaska to Australia. Two years ago this peace-loving musician embarked on the most life-changing trip of his career - a journey to the war-torn Middle East. His experiences on that trip are now the subject of a fascinating documentary entitled 'I Know I'm Not Alone.' Franti shares his most vivid memories of the trip and performs a brand new song for Josh. And Josh wanders to Berkeley to jam with the legendary 'Fatdog' - owner of Subway Guitars, where Franti had one of his first jobs before making it big." IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE - DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM 6/28 8 p.m.: "Hosted by the President and First Lady, the historic event honors the 37-year history of The Dance Theatre of Harlem with a formal dinner in the State Dining Room and performances by the famed company. Special guests include Harolyn Blackwell, Rev. Al Green, Audra MacDonald and LeAnn Rimes." BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTION HOME - PART 1 6/28 9 p.m. "Bob Dylan participates for the first time in an exclusive, full-length film biography. From his explosive arrival on the downtown New York City scene in 1961 - with a raspy voice, pounding guitar and stunning lyrics - through his near- fatal motorcycle accident in Woodstock in 1966, no one had more of an impact and no one changed the landscape of contemporary music more profoundly. Private, almost reclusive, disdainful of customary forms of publicity, Dylan has now agreed to make an appearance in his own story, illuminated in particular by this remarkable five-year period. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intimate and incomparable film includes an archive of never-before-seen footage from childhood, from the road and from backstage, as well as unreleased interviews conducted over the past 15 years with other seminal figures from those times - some of whom, like Allan Ginsberg, are long dead." *************************************************************************************************** June 1, 2006 Welcome to the 66th edition of Carltone's Corner! This edition has broken all previous records in length. And, with the staff scrambling to get out of town for five days, the editing process may have suffered some. There are fewer links than usual, and apologies in advance for any items that did not make it into this newsletter, as time just ran out. Any corrections and additions will be made in the mid-month edition. The summer festival season has begun in earnest. There is so much going on this month that in some instances you will have to opt for one fest over another. Go to the links provided below for each fest and figure out which one is a better fit for you. Prizes (including a free subscription to Carltone's Corner!) will be given to those who attend a fest on all five weekends of June… But don't look to the SF Chronicle for any news about any of these events. They had a feature story on May 31st that highlighted the big events of the summer season around the bay, and not one festival that is listed herein is on this list. Lots of American Idol contestants and Ozzy Osbourne sightings though. Wow, we can hardly wait… The was a good story recently in the rag by Joel Selvin about YouTube, a web site where you can watch videos and old footage of performers of all stripes for free. Heads have been rolling here all week at Carltone World Headquarters about YouTube, since reader Dave Spalteholz tipped us off about it at least a month ago. Yet since we were preoccupied by the news of Tom Cruise's new kid and voting for American Idol, one of the staff here forgot to put YouTube into an earlier edition of this newsletter… There were three interesting music stories in the SF Chronicle Sunday Pink Section on the 14th of May: the eclectic Americana band Marley's Ghost, fiddler Darol Anger, and an article about protest song writers today. The Strawberry Music Festival over Memorial Day Weekend was a fun time, albeit a bit nippy at night. The one on Labor Day Weekend promises to be even better, but it has been sold out for some time now. Folks are begging for tickets. If you have any to sell in the next two months, we'll take them off of your hands. But by late August all bets are off, because oodles of tickets become available right before the fest. Don't get caught holding the bag on this one, like many unfortunate folks did at this last fest… Is country music ready for another African/American artist? Considering that Charlie Pride is about the only one who has had great success in the genre, this is probably doubtful. But Rhonda Towns is going to give it a try. There was a wire service story about her in the SF Chronicle recently. Does having sex on camera qualify you as a singer? If your name is Paris Hilton, it surely does. As unbelievable as this proposition sounds, she is about to release an album of reggae songs. Hasn't her 15 minutes of fame been used up by now? As if this music news wasn't bad enough, how about the band Oasis beating out the Beatles for Greatest Album of All Time in a recent poll in England? Speaking of Beatles, Paul McCartney and his wife Heather have split up. Radiogator is another cool free online radio station where you can listen to bluegrass and old-time without commercials. Folk music made a strong showing in the East Bay Express Readers poll released last month. The Freight and Salvage was voted the Best Venue. Best Musician was a tie between Suzy Thompson, a fiddler, singer and songwriter that is a mainstay on Berkeley stages, and singer/songwriter Claudia Russell. Claudia also has a nice review on the Americana-UK.com, a web site web site for British Ameriphiles, and she will be appearing with Bruce Kaplan at the Larkspur Cafe Theater on the 15th. Life's railway to heaven. Longtime country singer Billy Walker, age 77, his wife Bettie, and two band members were killed in car crash in Alabama on May 21st after playing a show. Walker had many hits a few decades back, such as "Charlie's Shoes" and "Cross the Brazos at Waco." He was also a regular at the Grand Ole Opry. Also killed in the crash were guitar player Daniel Patton and bassist Charles Lilly Jr., who was a son of Everett Lilly of The Lilly Brothers. It is with a very sad heart that Taylor Huskey, 23, son of the late bass player Roy Huskey, died on May 22nd of cardiac arrest in Nashville. Clifford Antone was found dead on May 24th in his home of an apparent heart attack at age of 56. He was an important figure in the Austin, TX, music scene, as impresario of the legendary blues club, president of the record label and owner of the roots and blues record store, all of which took his name. Lawrence "Ramrod" Shurtliff, longtime member of the road crew for the Grateful Dead, died on May 17th of lung cancer at age 61. Legendary Algerian rai music star Cheikha Rimitti passed away on May 15th in Paris at age 83. Hamza El Din, noted Nubian musician whose rich fusion of Arabic and Nubian sounds entranced audiences worldwide and inspired colleagues like the Grateful Dead and Kronos Quartet, died May 22nd at a Berkeley hospital from a gallbladder infection. He was 76. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on May 24th after collapsing from a heart attack in his home in Surrey, England. He was 64. Onward to the calendar… The 8th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival runs from the 1st-11th at various locations. You can see Louie Bellson, McCoy Tyner, Charlie Haden Quartet West, Mark Murphy and The Heath Brothers Tribute to Percy Heath and others. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 2nd, Andrew Freeman on the 3rd, Amy Wigton on the 8th, Adobe Creek on the 9th, The Acme String Ensemble on the 10th, Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack on the 11th, Spiral Mystics on the 16th, Pete Olson on the 22nd, The Westerleys on the 23rd, High Country on the 24th, plus more. The Second Annual Golden Old Time Music Festival will be going at on the 2nd-4th at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka. Dirk Powell, Foghorn String Band, Stairwell Sisters, Tom and Pat Sauber, Mark Graham, Kenny Hall, Government Issue Orchestra, and Mercury Dimes. The 13th Annual and Final Wild Iris Folk Festival will take place in Booneville up in Mendocino County on the 2nd-4th. Some of the acts you can see are The Bills, Utah Phillips, Todd Snider, The Greencards Steve Lucky and the Rumba Bums, SoVoSó, Devil Makes Three, Coyote Blue, Roof Top Four, and Wild Oats. Some shows worth seeing at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Kundalini Boombox on the 2nd, Cedricke Dennis on the 3rd, Lindsay Mac on the 4th, Audrey Auld Mezzera and Nina Gerber on the 10th, Natural Gas Jazz Band on the 11th, the Celebrating Songwriters Series on the 13th (see below), Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan on the 15th, Deborah Winters & Friends on the 17th, Kimberlye Gold & Kurt Huget on the 21st, The Westerleys on the 22nd, plus more. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Some shows to see are Sweetie Pie & The Doughboys on the 2nd, Bluegrass Revolution on the 6th, Chuck Day on the 9h, Ruckus on the 14th and 28th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 30th, and lots more. The Peter Welker Quintet kicks off their 7th summer on the River on the 2nd at 6 p.m. The location is The Apple Box on the historic Petaluma River. Special guest artists will be featured every Friday. Peter's sextet will also be sharing the Kiwanis Stage with Craig Chaquico on the 25th from 2-4 p.m. at the Petaluma Fairgrounds during the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show with King Wilkie mentioned below on the 14th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 2nd see Aphrodesia, Closet Musicians Workshop Concert on the 4th, Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round on the 6th, Marshall Rhodes Band CD Release Party, Michael LaMacchia on the 10th, Vinyl on the 16th, The Blasters on the 18th, Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun on the 22nd, Bonnie Hayes and Her Wild Combo on the 24th, David Jacobs Strain on the 27th, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood on the 30th, and more. Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Roy Rogers on the 2nd, Robert Earl Keen on the 4th, KRSH Listener Appreciation Party with Lee Rocker and Honey & The Hey Boys on the 9th, T-Bone Burnett and Jakob Dylan on the 16th, and more. Under the Radar, featuring Kevin Russell, Chip Dunbar & Ted Dutcher, will be at Studio E in Sebastopol on the 3rd at 8 p.m. The music of UTR is probably best described as Americana (or in other words, a wide range of American musical styles). Much of the band's material is drawn from Kevin's fantastic solo recordings, which are a mix of original songs and unique interpretations of familiar classics (from Beatles and Ray Charles to blues and bluegrass). With musical friendships going back 25 years, UTR's relaxed approach allows for plenty of spontaneity and lots of improvisation along the way. Also joining the band for this event will be master veteran drummer & percussionist Don Conolly. The Third Annual Berkeley World Music Festival takes place on the 3rd and 4th, and you can see The Pete Olson Trio, Kaila Flexer, Sean Smith, Glenn Morgan, and lots more. All aboard on the 3rd for The Great Petaluma Trolley Trestle Extravaganza, featuring the Larry Potts CD release party. Petaluma singer/songwriter Larry Potts is throwing a CD release bash for his second album titled All Things Considered from 5:30-11:30 p.m. Some of the musicians will be Al Haas, James Kay, Tony Gagarin, Scott Gerber, and a host of additional players, bands, and special guests. Six hours of continuous folk, Americana, country, and free-form jam sessions with over 15 different local artists and players. The event is called "Trolley-Trestle Extravaganza" because the purpose is to raise money for the restoration of the old electric trolley and line along the waterfront theater district in old Petaluma. The location is the Old Yellow Barn at 110 Bayliss Street. Call (707) 778-7878 or Livingart@comcast.net for info and directions. At Rancho Nicasio you can see It's A Beautiful Day on the 3rd, Shana Morrison on the 10th, Paul Thorn on the 18th, Buckwheat Zydeco on the 25th, and more. Will the circle be unbroken? Full Circle, an acoustic band featuring four fine vocalists, will be at Rancho Nicasio on the 4th at 5 p.m. They do everything from pop, folk and country to gospel. This will be the final show for the band, as Jenny Doores, vocalist, will be moving to Washington. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 3rd and 10th it will be bluegrass, on the 17th swing music, and on the 24th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. There is a new open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 3rd, Russian pianist Polina Osetinskaya on the 4th, DjangoFest from the 8th-11th, Jules Broussard on the 17th, Los Pinguos Hot Latin Rhythms on the 24th, plus a lot of other great stuff. Out at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station you can enjoy an evening of Flamenco music on the 2nd at 8 p.m. with Gypsy singer Cristo Corte, Flamenco dancer Carola Zertuche, guitarist Ricard Diaz, cellist Jessie Wolf, and percussionist Rami Ziadeh. Then on the 3rd it will be the Western Weekend Coronation Dance with Doug Adamz & Bravo. Country-dance lessons from 7-8 p.m., dance from 8-10:30 p.m. Want to hear some Western, cowboy, bluegrass, and hillbilly music? On the 3rd from 3 to 6 p.m., Tommy Thomsen and Friends will be appearing for the Valley of the Moon Riding Club at their clubhouse, located at 1005 Verano Ave. in El Verano (behind the Nazarine Church off Arnold Dr.) This event will be for all ages. There will be ponies to pet for the kids, good food and cold beverages for the adults, and dancing and general merriment. Tickets are $10 for adults, and kids under 18 are free. Tickets are available at The Flag Emporium in Sonoma or by calling (707) 996 8140, ext.103. Check out Zone Music's annual Factory Flea Market on Saturday the 3rd starting at 9 a.m. You can buy something new or sell your old gear. Zone will be moving tons of gear at way less than it really costs. Plus, factory reps bring tons of samples, with out of box, scratched, etc., gear at blowout prices. Go to the site to see about signing up if you have stuff to sell. Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum will be playing the Ace-In-The-Hole Pub in Sebastopol on the 3rd from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Grab a glass of cider, listen to some tunes, and enjoy the perfect weather out on their beautiful patio. On the 18th, from 12-3 p.m., he'll be at the Sand Dollar Tavern in Stinson Beach. FunkSway will be groovin' on the 3rd at Spanky's in Cotati. Start up time is 9 p.m. The David Thom Band will be playing bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 4th and 24th, as well as playing the main stage at the CBA Fest. 77 el Deora will be playing on the 4th at Thee Parkside in SF starting at 5 p.m. Singer Jenn Courtney and guitarist Maurice Tani examine the battle of the sexes from the streets of Bakersfield to the South of Market. Intelligent, original, neo-noir honky-tonk in the classic rhythms and themes of western America: cheatin', lyin', drinkin', dyin', broken hearts, shattered dreams, bright, twangy guitars and the Ray Price shuffle. Also in the band are Mill Valley fiddler Steve Kallai, Keith Bahjat on bass, and Christopher Fisher on drums. Danny Montana and the Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and John Malloy/Beau Faw on drums) are playing several dates this month. On the 3rd at 3:30 p.m. it will be the Marin Tack & Feed's 25th Anniversary Party in Fairfax; on the 4th at 1 p.m., Toby's Feed Barn & BBQ in Pt. Reyes Station for Western Weekend; on the 10th at 4:50 p.m. at the Fairfax Festival on the main stage; and on the 17th at 9 p.m. at Smiley's in Bolinas. The Wild Catahoulas will be playing Cajun music on the 6th from 9-11:30 p.m. at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. Free dance lessons at 8:30. Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band will play on the 6th at SoHo Petaluma starting at 9 p.m. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the Wednesday 7th see Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, Michael Elvin Hunt featuring David Nelson on the 14th, The Rowan Brothers featuring Barry Sless on the 21st, and Moonlight Rodeo on the 28th. Kane Productions in Mill Valley is producing a show with legendary piano player Leon Russell at the Napa Opera House on the 8th. The 28th Annual Harmony Festival, which is a mix of music, arts, ecology and healthful living, will be happening on the 9th-11th at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds with some really hot acts. Bob Weir & Ratdog, Hot Buttered Rum, Maria Muldaur, Cake, Zero (First Bay Area Reunion), Michael Franti & Spearhead, War, New Monsoon featuring Steve Kimock and too many other bands to mention here. See 1/4 Mile Combo with Texas Steve and the Git Gone Trio on the 9th at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael. On the 11th join them for Peggy Sue's Cruise and happy hour from 5-8 p.m. at the Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa. Then on the 23rd they'll play at SoHo in Petaluma. The Sons of Emperor Norton will be playing their vintage rockabilly at Anna's Cantina in St. Helena on the 9th and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 24th. They will also be appearing at The Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa on the 30th. The Sons feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on rhythm guitar and vocals, Gary "Indiana" Bauman on lead guitar, Scott Hoover on bass, Eva Maass on vocals and bass, Ed Randol and Rob Harlan Evans on saxes, Dale Gutridge on trumpet and George Smeltz on drums. Lauralee Brown has some shows of note this month. On the 9th from 5-7 p.m. she'll be singing at the Dipsea Race kick-off party in Mill Valley at the outdoor Art & Garden Center with Michael LaMacchia on guitar and Jack Prendergast on bass. Then on the 10th Lauralee Brown & Company will head up to Napa at the Silverado Resort for the Napa Sustainable Winegrowers Group 4th Annual Fundraiser and Auction. The NSWG is about organic farming and sustaining the land for this type of use for generations to come. And on the 16th catch them at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with three different acts. See him on the 10th with Namely Us at the Italian Street Painting Festival in San Rafael and on the 11h and 25h at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; on the 21st with Kimberlye Gold at Larkspur Cafe Theatre; and on the 28th with Moonlight Rodeo at Iron Springs Pub in Fairfax. Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezzera has two shows of note this month. On the 10th at 7:30 p.m. she will be at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre with Nina Gerber. Then, on the 16th, see her at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley for the Freight's birthday celebration. There will be others on the bill, and Audrey will play a solo set. The 29th Annual Fairfax Festival will take place on the 10th and 11th. On the main stage you can see The Billy Boys, Culann's Hounds, Tom Finch & The Purple Band, Danny Montana & The Bar Association, Michael Elvin Hunt, Victoria George, Four Year Bender, and The Mother Truckers. Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved will do their part for the environment on the 10th at the Fairfax Eco-Fest, which is part of the event, at the historic Fairfax Pavilion at 12:45 p.m. The fest is a community event, organized by Fairfax residents, to bring people together and learn about issues that affect us economically, environmentally, socially and politically. The David Grisman Quintet will be back at Osher JCC in San Rafael on the 10th for their 16th Annual CenterStage performance. It will be an incomparable evening of bluegrass, jazz, funk, folk, rock, flamenco and much more under beautiful Marin skies. Sit outside on the lawn, bring a picnic, bring the family, dance and have fun. Kids 6 and under are free, and the kids' play area is conveniently located right next to lawn seating. The annual free Mill Valley Plaza Concerts in downtown's Lytton Square, which used to feature four bands over the course of four weeks, is now having four bands in one day instead. On the 10th you can see Katie Knipp, Times 4, Kimrea and Maxx Hazzard. Kimrea also plays with her band Dreamdogs every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band. And on the 15th they'll play from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Redwoods Retirement Community on Camino Alto in Mill Valley. Open to the public, free and all ages are welcome. The Shots will be playing Celtic grass at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 11th from 9:30-11:30 am. The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp, which will take place from the June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, just prior to the big CBA Father's Day Bluegrass Festival, is filling up fast. Contact Ingrid Noyes now if you want to attend. (707) 878-9067 or info@cbamusiccamp. The town of Windsor will be having a celebration of the district's 15th anniversary with a series of hikes, bird watching, farm visits, etc., throughout Sonoma County. It's called Open Spaces & Public Places. The weekend concludes on Sunday afternoon the 11th from 3:30-7:00 on the Windsor Town Green with a free family concert and picnic featuring the Banana Slug String Band at 4 p.m. and Kathy Kallick & Nina Gerber at 5:40 p.m. The June 13th installment of Celebrating Songwriters at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre promises to carry on the tradition of award winning songs, impromptu collaborations and general delight for all concerned. Rolling Stone's venerable critic Ben Fong Torres dubbed Austin Willacy's sound the "music of tomorrow." His "stunning choir boy vocals are a visceral thrill, packing a graceful wallop that seduces with magnum force." Raised on blues, soul, old school R&B and 70's era rock, Willacy fuses genres unlike others before him. Puerto Rico born Carlos Olmeda's music will transport you to a wide spectrum of emotional and cultural destinations. In his own words, "My job, and I love my job, is to entertain you. My dream, and I live my dream, is to jump-start your imagination." Host Caren Armstrong acts as the musical thread that weaves an ever-changing tapestry of songwriters together for the benefit of Marin County listening audiences. Inspired by the opportunity to appear before the community on a monthly basis, she has made it her goal to contribute a new song to each month's show. Join them for a light supper and an evening of inspiring, highly enjoyable music. On the 14th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. King Wilkie will headline the show. Combining the kick and exuberance of youth with the finesse and style of musicians twice their ages, King Wilkie is fast becoming a major force in the Americana/roots music sweepstakes. Based in Charlottesville, VA, this is a sextet of young men inject beyond-their-years chops and the knowing interplay of savvy veterans with vibrant, electrifying energy that spikes the punch of the form's time-honored recipes. They caught the ear of the Virginia bluegrass label Rebel Records, which promptly signed the group and went on to release their debut, Broke, in 2004. As the year progressed, the band made multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and eventually earned the IBMA's coveted Emerging Artist of the Year Award. Taking their name from Bill Monroe's favorite horse, the boys eschew needless showboating and stylistic tweaking, instead allowing their razor-sharp musicianship, and edgy, passionate harmonies to inject timeless themes of love (won and lost), loneliness, spirituality (and crippling lack thereof) and death with a freshness and energy that's as vital and relevant as any cutting-edge indie rockers could deliver. The members are Ted Pitney, Reid Burgess, Abe Spear, John McDonald, Nick Reeb, and Jake Hopping. Everyone is headed to Grass Valley on the 15th-18th for The 31st Annual California Bluegrass Association's Father's Day Festival. You can, and should, see Uncle Earl, King Wilkie, The James King Band, The Biscuit Burners, The Stairwell Sisters, Homespun Rowdy, The David Thom Band, Doyle Lawson, Larry Sparks, Larry Stephenson, and much more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 15th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and jazzy ballads at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 16th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. No cover charge, and the café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing classic R&B and blues at Peri's Silver Dollar in Fairfax on the 16th. Showtime is 9:30-1:15. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Joey Lent with Chuck Steed and Jim Zwack on the 17th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Slaid Cleaves with Michael O'Connor and Eleanor Whitmore on the 18th at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 19th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. The Westerleys reunion. Blending three different voices and three styles of songwriting, this talented group (Nancy Terzian, Doug E. Blumer, and Peter Axtell) created a sound of their own that was as beautiful as anything that had come down the musical road in a long time. They performed together for a little over six years, and they recorded three CDs before they split up some years back. They have three gigs in the Bay Area this month. See them at Strings in Emeryville on the 21st, the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 22nd, and Murphy's Irish Pub on the 23rd. All three members sing lead and harmony, taking turns at both. The Sonoma Marin Fair runs from the 21st-25th in Petaluma. See Restless Heart, Uncle Kracker, Grand Funk Railroad, Craig Chaquico and more. The 30th Annual San Francisco Free Folk Festival will take place in SF on the 24th-25th from noon-10 p.m. at the Roosevelt Middle School at Geary and Arguello. Lots of workshops, and performances by In Harmony's Way, Steve Seskin, Polka Cowboys, Leftover Dreams, McBride Irish Step Dancers, The Brunos, Four Shillings Short, Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds, and many others. Saylor's Landing in Sausalito has music four nights a week. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. The Kate Wolf Festival will be taking place in Laytonville from the 23rd-25th, and there are lots of great acts, including Alison Brown Quartet, Greg Brown, Bruce Cockburn. Steve Earle, Mary Gauthier, Arlo Guthrie & Family, Buddy Miller, Tim O'Brien Band, Utah Phillips, Railroad Earth, The Roches, The Wailin' Jennys, The Websters & Scott Nygaard and much more. Creekside Friday Nights is a free summer Friday concert series at the Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Mill Valley. Join your friends and neighbors, and bring down the kids, pets, chairs and blankets. Each week features local musicians and a different genre of music. The series runs from June 23rd-August 18th, every Friday night from 6:30-8:00 at the Tennessee Valley Cabin, located at 60 Tennessee Valley Road. This is a beautiful setting right off the creek. There is no on-site parking, but bike and hike paths lead right to the place. Park at the Community Center at 203 Marin Avenue or at Peace Lutheran Church. Enjoy our barbeques specialties or bring a picnic dinner. Beverages, wine and beer will be sold. On the 23d enjoy the high-octane Americana sounds of Houston-Jones. On the 30th see a band called Sebastian. Eclectic Stage presents The Rowan Brothers (Chris & Lorin) with Barry Sless on pedal steel and Doug Harmon on cello on the 24th at 8 p.m. the Black Bean Barbecue in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $12 door/$10 advance at Black Bean BBQ and the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa. The Far West Music Festival, a benefit for and presented by KWMR radio in West Marin, will be taking place on the 25th from 12:30-6 p.m. on the 25th at The Olema Ranch. See Hot Buttered Rum, Allison Brown, and The Mother Hips. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 25th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl the new hosts, and you can email then at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: THE WHO - TOMMY AND QUADROPHENIA LIVE 6/04 midnight, 6/06 9:30 p.m., 6/13 11 p.m.: "This program highlights selected performances from the band's groundbreaking rock operas. It features a who's who of rock legends, including Billy Idol and Elton John performing alongside founding members Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. The dynamic performances capture The Who's 1989 Tommy performance from The Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles as well as the live version of Quadrophenia from their 1996/1997 U.S. tour." MAGIC MOMENTS - THE BEST OF 50'S POP 6/04 noon, 6/08 7:30 p.m., 6/10 3 p.m., 6/17 5:30 a.m.: "Take a stroll down memory lane with the pop sounds of this concert special. This reunion brings together the greatest recording artists from the 50s pop era. Taped in Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal, it is hosted by Mary Lou Metzger, Phyllis McGuire and Pat Boone, and features a cavalcade of 1950s pop music recording legends, reuniting and performing their biggest hits." MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 6/04 2:30 p.m., 6/14 2:30 a.m., 6/18 noon: "Patti Page returns to co-host all new performances and archival classics from the vault with co-hosts Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale, and Mary Lou Metzger. This program features many more legends of the late 50s and early 1960s pop era. " ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 6/04 9:30 p.m., 6/10 11:30 p.m., 6/16 10:30 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W. On stage - Roy Orbison with guests Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Soles, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes." ANDREA BOCELLI - AMORE UNDER THE DESERT SKY 6/05 7:30 p.m., 6/07 9:30 p.m., 6/10 1 p.m., 6/11 8 p.m.: "The Tuscan-born Andrea Bocelli continues to seduce audiences everywhere with the moving melodies and passionate performances that have enthralled American viewers. Setting the standard for 'crossover' classical tenors, Bocelli has become one of the most famous and beloved singers in the world. This special was recorded in Lake Las Vegas from a concert venue that literally floats in the resort's signature 320-acre lake." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 6/05 9:30 p.m., 6/11 10 p.m., 6/17 2:30 a.m.: " A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." TIM JANIS - COASTAL AMERICA 6/06 1pm, 6/09 10:30 p.m., 6/10 11:30 a.m. 6/15 10:30 p.m., 6/17 noon: "This program journeys along the spectacular coastlines of the United States' treasured natural landmarks, including New England lighthouses, the cliffs of Big Sur, the dunes of Cape Hatteras and the forests of the Olympic Coast. The concert special, recorded live at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, is a stirring tribute to America's grand shores, featuring an inspiring medley of natural imagery and sweeping melodies. Stunning High Definition cinematography is interwoven with an original instrumental score composed by Janis and performed by the 14-piece Tim Janis Ensemble." CREAM REUNION CONCERT 6/06 7:30 p.m., 6/10 1 a.m., 6/17 10:30 p.m. "Releasing just four albums as a group, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton left an indelible mark on the worldwide music scene. From 1966 to 1968, with hits like 'White Room,' 'Sunshine of Your Love' and 'Badge,' Cream dominated the charts with a bluesy, masterful approach to the psychedelic rock of the late 1960s, selling 35 million records and inspiring virtually every new rock group of the day with dreams of stadium success. It took 37 years, but in May 2005, Royal Albert Hall was once again the scene for the group's much anticipated reunion. It was a long time coming, but worth the wait." CHRIS BOTTI & FRIENDS: LIVE FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE AIR 6/09 8:30 p.m., 6/11 5:30 p.m.: "Since his premiere solo album in 1995, the acclaimed trumpeter, gifted instrumentalist and talented composer has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. His recent album, To Love Again, is the inspiration for this exciting concert, a magical evening with Chris Botti's sensual trumpet playing and the show's star studded line-up." JOHN DENVER - THE WILDLIFE CONCERT 6/10 5:30 p.m., 6/11 10:30 a.m., 6/16 8:30 p.m.: "An intimate performance from 1995 featuring the songs that made John Denver an American treasure, including 'Rocky Mountain High,' 'Take Me Home, Country Roads,' 'Annie's Song' and 'Sunshine on My Shoulders.' One of the world's best-known and beloved performers, Denver earned international acclaim as a songwriter, performer, actor, environmentalist and humanitarian. His music spanned three decades and garnered numerous music awards and honors, including a 1996 induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame." PINK MARTINI LIVE: DISCOVER THE WORLD 6/10 8 p.m., 6/14 7:30 p.m., 6/17 1 a.m.: "The 12-piece 'little orchestra' Pink Martini is a combination of a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band and Japanese film noir. In this concert special, the band moves effortlessly through a variety of tunes that harken back to the big-band days with a mix of romantic French ballads and sultry Latin tunes, all performed in a sophisticated style. Pianist and founder Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes share their feelings about each tune in short backstage interviews that are interlaced with the on-stage performances." BROADWAY - THE GOLDEN AGE 6/12 9 p.m., 6/17 5 p.m.: "An important, ambitious and comprehensive film about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway. He soon learned that great films can be restored, fine literature can be kept in print - but historic Broadway performances of the past are the most endangered. They leave only memories that, while more vivid, are more difficult to preserve. In their own words - and not a moment too soon - this program tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre." JUDY GARLAND - DUETS 6/12 11 p.m.: "Not so long ago, an incredible music treasure - thought lost forever for more than three decades - suddenly surfaced: nearly 30 hours of Judy Garland at her early 1960's prime on television, comprising hundreds of solos and dozens of duets pairing 'the world's greatest entertainer' with many of the most legendary performers in history! These priceless recordings were found - literally unearthed - having inexplicably been hidden for decades in a dank, non-temperature controlled New Jersey basement. Defying time and the elements, these master recordings not only survived, they remained in mint condition. This staggering collection of over 100 audio and videotapes were gingerly transported to the west coast, vaulted under ideal conditions and, gradually, digitally remastered. This program is the direct result of that find - the one and only Garland in unforgettable performances with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Bobby Darin, Ethel Merman, Vic Damone, Mel Torme and Jack Jones. Also included: a charming, beguiling 17 year-old Liza (long before 'Cabaret') doing several songs with 'Mama' Judy Garland; a pre-'Funny Girl' 21 year-old Barbra Streisand bringing the house down with Judy in their now- legendary duet of 'Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again' and teaming again for the free-spirited 'Hooray for Love' medley." MOTOWN - THE EARLY YEARS 6/14 9 p.m., 6/16 1 a.m., 6/17 9:30 a.m., 6/18 2:30 p.m.: "'Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat'… Summer is here and the time is right for an all Motown celebration! This performance special presents a mix of classic full-length archival performances, rare and never-before-seen performance footage, mixed with the current line-up of Motown groups performing all their big hits charted between 1960 and 1966-67." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA 6/15 8 p.m.: "Directed by Bartlett Sher, the program restages the original musical production that won six 2005 Tony awards. Adapted from Elizabeth Spencer's novel, the story takes place in the summer of 1953, where Margaret Johnson, the wife of a well- heeled American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter Clara. A chance encounter sparks an intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, to the objections of Margaret." AMERICAN MASTERS -GEORGE GERSHWIN 6/17 8 p.m.: "When George Gershwin's parents bought a piano for their eldest son, Ira, it was little George who sat down and began playing tunes on it. That was the beginning of Gershwin's remarkable musical career, which included the Tin Pan Alley hit 'Swanee' and the Broadway musicals Funny Face and Of Thee I Sing. While Gershwin's compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris marked him as a serious composer, he continued to create popular music for stage and screen, winning the first Pulitzer Prize for a musical. In 1935, Gershwin premiered the seminal work of the American opera, Porgy and Bess. Two years later, at age 39, he died of a brain tumor. Using family photo albums, home movies, and rehearsal and performance footage, this film sheds light and historical perspective on Gershwin's eclectic musical career." YOU'RE THE TOP - THE COLE PORTER STORY 6/17 9:30 p.m.: "'Night and Day,' 'I Get a Kick You of You,' 'You're the Top,' 'Begin the Beguine,' 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' - some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written came from the pen of Cole Porter. Outwardly a sophisticated bon vivant and international partygoer, he was also a dedicated musical professional who routinely spent hours agonizing over a single rhyme or musical transition. The life and legacy of America's most sophisticated songwriter is the subject of this documentary, which features interviews with the performers and artists who knew Porter best and more than 20 classic performances from his movie musicals." SOUNDSTAGE - COUNTING CROWS AND SHELBY LYNNE 6/25 midnight: "The Counting Crows know how to have fun. Lead Singer Adam Duritz rocks his way through an evening in which poetry seems to explode from the band's repertoire of blues/rock/country hits. Fresh off the release of their greatest hits album Films About Ghosts (taken from a line in the song Mrs. Potter's Lullaby), the band reflects on its 10-year history in a program that highlights the iconic Mr. Jones, along with other up-tempo tunes including Hangin' Around, Rain King and Mrs. Potter's Lullaby. Duritz slows down in the mournful rendition of A Long December but reinvigorates the mood with the rootsy American Girls. Other hits featured include Recovering The Satellites, and She Don't Want Nobody Near. Grammy winner Shelby Lynne plays songs from the album that critics are calling her defining effort Identity Crisis a collection of songs that the singer/songwriter penned and produced herself. The album, similar to this episode, shows just how versatile Lynne can be. From gospel 10 Rocks, to blues Evil Man, to country Buttons And Beaus, Lynne's throaty alto can carry her into any arena. Her delivery as a performer is at once flirtatious and captivating. When she sings If I Were Smart, I Wouldn't Have A Heart the audience smiles, not just at her honesty, but at the delicate and edgy way she reveals herself." POWER OF HARMONY 6/25 noon: "The need for family, faith, acceptance, and self-acceptance extends to all humans, and no less to the gay men and women who struggle for these fundamental liberties in an often intolerant world. This film takes an intimate look at these struggles and the issues surrounding them through the personal experiences of men who find inspiration and courage in a gay men's chorale, which manages to thrive in the heart of the Bible Belt. It carries inspiration not only to gay audiences, but to anyone who has struggled for self-enlightenment or who seeks to understand shared human experiences." THE AMASONG CHORUS: SINGING OUT 6/25 1 p.m.: "When lesbian music student Kristina Boerger moved to a small Illinois college town, she didn't find a ready-made community. So she created one with what she loved best - choral singing. Assembling a ragtag group of volunteers, she created a lesbian choir in the middle of this conservative area. Showing the choir's evolution into a nationally accepted and recognized award-winning ensemble, this program documents how the spirit and dedication of one person can help transform a community." JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - MICHAEL FRANTI 6/26 7:30 p.m., 6/30 2:30 a.m., 6/30 2:30 p.m., 6/30 10:30 p.m.: "Musician Michael Franti is known for writing songs with socially progressive lyrics paired with a mixture of hip-hop, funk and reggae melodies. Over the years he and his band Spearhead have gained an international following - playing sold- out concerts from Alaska to Australia. Two years ago this peace-loving musician embarked on the most life-changing trip of his career - a journey to the war-torn Middle East. His experiences on that trip are now the subject of a fascinating documentary entitled 'I Know I'm Not Alone.' Franti shares his most vivid memories of the trip and performs a brand new song for Josh. And Josh wanders to Berkeley to jam with the legendary 'Fatdog' - owner of Subway Guitars, where Franti had one of his first jobs before making it big." IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE - DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM 6/28 8 p.m.: "Hosted by the President and First Lady, the historic event honors the 37-year history of The Dance Theatre of Harlem with a formal dinner in the State Dining Room and performances by the famed company. Special guests include Harolyn Blackwell, Rev. Al Green, Audra MacDonald and LeAnn Rimes." BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTION HOME - PART 1 6/28 9 p.m. "Bob Dylan participates for the first time in an exclusive, full-length film biography. From his explosive arrival on the downtown New York City scene in 1961 - with a raspy voice, pounding guitar and stunning lyrics - through his near- fatal motorcycle accident in Woodstock in 1966, no one had more of an impact and no one changed the landscape of contemporary music more profoundly. Private, almost reclusive, disdainful of customary forms of publicity, Dylan has now agreed to make an appearance in his own story, illuminated in particular by this remarkable five-year period. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intimate and incomparable film includes an archive of never-before-seen footage from childhood, from the road and from backstage, as well as unreleased interviews conducted over the past 15 years with other seminal figures from those times - some of whom, like Allan Ginsberg, are long dead." *************************************************************************************************** May 15, 2006 Here we are halfway through the merry month of May, and there seems to be just as much music news to report as there was at the first of the month. The first big holiday weekend of the season is just about here, so get out those Palm Pilots, BlackBerrys and Treos out and start taking notes. Or, yellow magic marker will work on the printed version of this newsletter. It doesn't work too well on the computer edition though… Strawberry fields forever. Contrary to previous years, there are already many tickets available for the officially sold-out Strawberry Music Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. Usually they don't become available until the weekend before the fest. So if you want to go but did not plan ahead, go to this site to have a look for tickets. Carltone is no longer in need of any tickets for this festival. Correction. In the previous newsletter it was incorrectly stated that The T-Bone Burnett and Jakob Dylan would be playing at the Mystic on May 16th. It turns out that the right date is June 16th. According to the reader who caught this mistake, the Mystic site had this listed wrong on their site some weeks back. Music at the movies. There are a few music films of note either making the rounds or about to. Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt is a documentary about the late and talented but troubled songwriter who penned the song "Pancho and Lefty." The Neil Young documentary Heart of Gold by noted filmmaker Jonathan Demme will be showing at the Red Vic movie house in SF on the 25th-27th. And the Robert Altman film, A Prairie Home Companion, recently played at the SF Film Festival and will be coming to a theatre near you soon. No Direction Home. In case you missed the airing of the Martin Scorcese documentary on Bob Dylan on KQED some months back, part one will be shown on public TV station KRCB (channel 22 in the North Bay) at 8 p.m. on the 17th, with part two being aired on the 24th. Hot real estate market. Anyone who lives in Marin County knows about the blazing costs of property values in the area. Things got a little too hot on Sunday the 14th for Realtor and bluegrass singer Claudia Hampe, when a three-alarm fire destroyed the house behind her office on East Blithedale in Mill Valley. Amazingly so, the building that houses her business, Redwood Empire Properties, which she has owned and run since 1981, was not damaged by the fire. If you are looking to buy or sell a house in Marin, Claudia is now the "hottest" broker in the county. Many members of the music community have used her services, and with 30 years experience selling homes in Marin, she is always willing to be helpful in her warm and friendly bluegrass style. If you need help buying or selling real estate in the county, give her a call. When she is not selling houses she is singing and playing guitar in the bluegrass band Keystone Station and the duo Keystone Crossing. Congratulations to the Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax, who recently won a bronze medal for their Epiphany, a hoppy amber ale, in the category of American-Style Amber/Red Ale at the World Beer Cup 2006. The winners were selected by an international panel of 109 beer judges from an impressive field of 2,221 entries received from 540 breweries in 56 countries from around the world. Gold, silver, and bronze medals in the competition's 85 beer-style categories were awarded April 14th during the World Beer Cup gala awards ceremony in Seattle. The popular brewpub also has live music (mostly acoustic) every Wednesday night with no cover. See the music listing below. The Waybacks are just back from a triumphant show at Merlefest, where they played with Grateful Dead alum Bob Weir. Together they were unofficially dubbed "The Weirbacks," and joining them for their show onstage were Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Sam Bush. With any luck the video cameras and recording machines were running at the same time… Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera won the Chris Austin Song Contest at Merlefest in the country category with her song "Losing Faith," taken from her 2003 album of the same name. The contest attracted a record 1172 entries, 18 more than 2005. The judges say they liked Mezera's use of imagery in her lyrics and her energy. Prizes included an acoustic Gibson Epiphone guitar, cash, D'Addario guitar strings and the opportunity to sing the song on the Cabin Stage (beside the main stage) on Friday night after The Weirbacks show. Rich Brotherton (Robert Earl Keen band) accompanied Audrey on guitar. Great White dope. Former rock band Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele was sentenced to four years in jail last week for his role is one of the worst nightclub fires in American history. In February of 2003 it was his bright idea to set off fireworks inside the Station club in Rhode Island when the band started to play. 100 people were killed. To hell with country music you say? So does legendary country musician Merle Haggard. There is a real good interview with him on this site. Using his head. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richard, 62, fell out of a palm tree a few weeks back while vacationing in Fiji, and had to have surgery. What is it about the combination of being 62 and climbing a palm tree that just doesn't make much sense here? The Stones say there is no brain damage, but it is unclear as to whether this statement was issued before or after the accident… Thing's are getting a little kinkier in the Texas governor's race. Erstwhile irreverent county singer and a prolific author Kinky Friedman submitted 169,574 voter signatures on the 11th in his bid to run as an independent in the November election. Heck, we have a former body-builder as a governor in California, and Minnesota had a wrestler for a few years, so why not a cigar-chomping guitar player? He has a great slogan: "How hard can it be?" Which, when you think of some of the folks who have held the job over the years, is a good question… Band scramble. Chris Stuart & Backcountry has two new band members, Christian Ward on fiddle and Austin Ward on upright bass. Mason Tuttle will be moving from bass to lead guitar and mandolin, so they are now officially a five-piece band. The new configuration will start in August. Christian is becoming well known as a fiddle player, and Austin is an amazing bass player with great feel for bluegrass and acoustic music. Both of the boys are teenagers and played last year at the CMT Fan Fest with Earl Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs. Police log. "Mr. Bling-Bling," otherwise known as guitarist Gary Glitter (real name is Paul Francis Gadd), had his appeal trial postponed until next month. The 62 year-old rocker, whose claim to fame is the song "Rock and Roll Part Two" (this is played in every sports arena in America during home team rallies), was convicted and sentenced to prison for having sex with minors in Viet Nam. This was not the first time that the Glitter Man has run afoul of the law. Country singer Doug Supernaw was acquitted of public intoxication charges in connection with a March incident in Bryan, TX. When he was arrested, police claimed Supernaw was yelling obscenities as he walked past an apartment complex at 2 a.m. A security guard testified that the crooner smelled of alcohol and was slurring his words and staggering as he walked. At the trial, however, his attorneys noted there were no field sobriety, breath or blood tests proving Supernaw was guilty of the misdemeanor charge. His acquittal marks the fourth time Supernaw has been cleared of charges in the Bryan area. He topped the country charts in 1993 with "I Don't Call Him Daddy." Life's railway to heaven. Bluegrass musician Larry Rice, 57, lost his battle with mesothelioma cancer on the 13th. He was 57. He was one of four brothers who played bluegrass, with his brother Tony being the most well known. Colombian/American singer/songwriter Soraya died from breast cancer on the 10th. She was only 37 years old. After being diagnosed with the disease (that also killed her mother, aunt and grandmother) three years previously, she spent the rest of her days raising millions of dollars for prevention and a cure in the Latino community. Additions The band Ruckus had been added to the Peri's schedule in Fairfax on
the 17th and 31st to take the place of French Kiss, who had to cancel
due to illness. Former West Marin singer/songwriter Joe New moved to Portland, OR, some months back. But he'll be back in town on the 19th to play a show at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax with his band The Crowhoppers, which is Pat Campbell on bass, Chris Goddard on guitar, and Stu Schecter on drums. Joe wrote the song "She Can't Burn Me Now," which the Del McCoury Band recorded last year. Adam Traum will open the show. The Wild Catahoulas will be at Papa's Taverna on Lakeville Road in Petaluma on the 19th from 8-11 p.m. They are the newest Cajun/ Zydeco band in the North Bay, playing traditional Cajun music, with irresistible Zydeco dance rhythms and a distinct New Orleans/Northern California flavor. Sausalito classic folk singer/songwriter and finger-style guitarist Jo D'Anna will be at Simple Pleasures Café in SF on the 20th from 8-10 p.m. The café is located at 3434 Balboa Street at 36th. The East Bay Cajun band called the Aux Cajunals will be playing at the Ridge Vineyards in Healdsburg on the 20th. Bluegrass ballet? Why not? There will be a fundraiser for the Marin Dance Theatre on Sunday the 21st at St. Vincent's Academy in San Rafael, and part of the performance will have dancers stepping out to live bluegrass music provided by the Marin bluegrass band Keystone Station (with special guest Paul Shelasky on fiddle). Renowned ballerina Joanna Berman, former principal dancer San Francisco Ballet, will be dancing to a song by the Delmore Brothers. And who said bluegrass was just hillbilly music? Harris/Youngblood (Hugh Harris on guitar & vocals, and John Youngblood on guitar, mandolin & vocals) will be playing acoustic Americana, swing, blues, and country on the 21st from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Santi Restaurant in Geyserville. Pedal steel alert. San Rafael's own Jon Mitguard will be activating this mysterious and beautiful instrument in two very different settings this month. The acoustic (except for the steel) Stadler-Gibbons Band will be at Iron Springs Brewery on the 24th, featuring beautiful harmonies on a bed of silky steel. Then on the 27th see him at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station with the Little Wheels Band. The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp, which will
take place June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass
Valley, just prior to the big CBA Father's Day Bluegrass Festival, is
filling up fast. Contact Ingrid Noyes now if you want to attend. Gutter music. Don't miss the The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band on the 16th when they play their Annual Spring Concert at the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael. The LGVSDNMB performs for its own enjoyment as much as that of Marin County residents. They're a non-profit tax-exempt organization seeking to provide an outlet for Bay Area musicians plus stimulate enthusiasm for the arts locally. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night on the 16th, 23rd and 30th, there is the Spring One Act Fringe Festival on the 18th-21st, George Winston on the 22nd, Mitch Wood and Friends on the 26th, plus a lot of other great stuff. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. You can attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 17th it will be Culann's Hounds, the Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 19th, Stung on the 20th, Danny Click on the 24th, the Surfrider Environmental Forum and The Rowan Brothers on the 25th, and Aram Danesh on the 26th. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, and no cover. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 17th see The Trailer Rangers, Stadler-Gibbons on the 24th, and The Papermill Creek Rounders on the 31st. 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. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Vicky Emerson on the 18th, The Fromers on the 19th, The Flying Other Brothers on the 25th, Edo Castro on the 26th, Marian Hubler's Circle of Friends on the 27th (see below), and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Adam Traum on the 18th, The David Thom Band on the 19th, Honey and The Hey Boys on the 27th, Solid Air on the 28th, plus more. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Kenny White with Mark McLay (with Kevin Russell) on the 19th. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The David Thom Band has two bluegrass shows in the North Bay. On the 19th they'll be at Murphy's in Sonoma, and on the 20th go to The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach from noon-3 p.m. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 19th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing the blues at Peri's Silver Dollar in Fairfax on the 19th. The show starts at 9 p.m. and goes till 1:30 a.m. They'll be joined by Carl Assmus on drums and Joe "Sourdough" Kaline (from The Sons of Emperor Norton) on saxophones for this show. Then the band will also be at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 28th from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Also, a new addition to the schedule every Monday night see Serge the Blushin' Rushin', playing an eclectic mix of acoustic rock and Russian folk songs from 7-9 p.m. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See Lauralee Brown & Company on the 19th, Jazz Philosophy on the 20th, and Jump To It on the 26th, and Joan Getz on the 27th. Lauralee Brown & Company, besides playing at Saylor's on the 19th, will also be at Rafter's Grille & Brewery in San Rafael on the 24th, and at The Caledonia Street Fair on the 28th. She will then be the guest vocalist for the Jon Steiner Jazz Trio on the 30th at the Left Bank in Larkspur. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 19th, The Persuasions on the 21st, The Blues Broads (Maria Muldaur, Angela Strehli, Tracy Nelson and Annie Sampson) on the 28th, Jackie Green on the 29th, and more. Acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter Josh Needleman plays an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, old time, newgrass, popular, funk, and Gypsy on the 19th at Brainwash in SF. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has mostly acoustic music on the calendar. Some shows to see are Manzanita Moon on the 19th,Trailer Park Rangers on the 26th, Hot Frittatas on the 27th, plus there are Celtic jams on the first three Wednesdays and a bluegrass and old-time jam on the last Wednesday of every month. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 20th, Highway Robbers on the 23rd, Spinout on the 25th, The Lynn Bobby Band on the 26th, Krickie's Songwriter Night on the 28th, plus more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 20th it will be swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month there will be two more shows. Heather Combs and Jesse Brewster in San Rafael on the 20th, and Forest Sun, Larkin Gayl and Danny Schmidt in Lagunitas on the 25th. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire are busy this month. On the 20th see them at the San Rafael Classic Car Show on 4th St. at 6:30 p.m., and later that night at Peri's in Fairfax at 9:30 p.m, and then on the 26th at the Fourth St. Tavern in San Rafael at 9:30 p.m. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. Phillip Roebuck on the 20th, Robert Herrera on the 25th, JL Stiles on the 26th, and others. There is a fine show at the Marin Civic Center when Judy Collins plays on the 20th. Just back from a two-week tour of the Northeast U.S., The Earl Brothers will be playing at Jupiter in Berkeley on the 21st starting at 5 p.m. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. See Lee Roy Parnell on the 21st, Roomful of Blues on the 26th, and more. Solo and acoustic artist Pete Olson plays country and original songs, and on the 25th see him at Café Amsterdam in Fairfax from 8:30 p.m.-12. 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 Alec Stone-Sweet on the 25th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. 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. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget will play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 25th. Culann's Hounds will be playing Celtic rock on the 25th at the Farmer's Market in town. Longtime Bay Area fiddler and bassist Sue Shelasky is moving to Arizona in June to be with her daughter and soon-to-arrive grandchild. There will be a special farewell party for her at the Subud Hall in Sebastopol on the 27th starting at 7 p.m. featuring two bands she has been playing with - The Acme String Ensemble and Ed Neff & Friends. Sue has asked that this be a benefit for Doctors Without Borders as well. The suggested donation is $10. Marian Hubler will be the featured vocalist in a special evening concert with "A Circle of Friends" at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 27th at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bread & Roses and the Arete Scholarship Fund. The show will be a celebration of Marian's ten years of producing shows for Bread & Roses. Joining her this evening will be Lynn Asher, Marianna August and Amy Carr (vocals), Steve deLaet, Steve Keating and Kurt Huget (guitar/vocals), Michael Parsons (piano), as well as other surprise guests. The show will feature songs in a variety of musical styles from contemporary acoustic to pop and jazz. The CowBay CruzBoys will be performing Caribbean R&B, Calypso, Reggae and rock at Graffiti in Petaluma on the 27th from 4-8 p.m. There will be a Memorial Day Weekend Americana Rock Dance Party starting at 8 p.m. on the 27th at The Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station with Bill Cutler & The Hounds of Time and The Little Wheels Band. The Hounds of Time is an assemblage of some of the Bay Area's finest players including drummer Paul Revelli, bassist Pat Campbell, keyboardist Steve Shufton, and lead guitarist Ricc Sandoval. The Little Wheels Band is a South Bay based country and roots band led by Michael John Ahern that has a powerful sound and an acoustic/electric show. Cutler and Ahern will also be performing live on KWMR radio on the 22nd at 7 p.m. The Shots will be playing Celtic grass at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 27th from 9:30-11:30 am. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 28th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the new hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: THE WORLD OF NAT KING COLE 5/17 10 p.m.: "This film focuses not
just on Nat King Cole's celebrity, but also on the civil rights movement
and how the performer uniquely broke through major racial barriers in
the entertainment industry - he was the first black American to have
his own national radio show, in 1948, and the first black American to
have his own television show, in 1956. His musical origins were as a
young Chicago jazz pianist, but he became known, and accepted, even
in those turbulent times, as a smooth singer. With open access to the
Cole family - including, of course, his daughter Natalie - and his record
label (EMI) archives, the program paints a picture of great courage." *************************************************************************************************** May 1, 2006 Welcome to the 65th edition of Carltone's Corner! Spring has finally sprung, and the rains of March and April are just a soggy memory. Get over your case of cabin fever by going out to see and hear some music in and around the North Bay! Everyone with tickets is looking forward to seeing Bay Area bands Homespun Rowdy and The Stairwell Sisters plus many more great performers at the Strawberry Music Festival near Yosemite over Memorial Day Weekend. As always at this time of year, if you have tickets that you cannot use, let us know and we'll buy them from you. Those without tickets have a bad case of the snivels. No news is not good news. After starting out as a Marin County weekly entertainment newspaper last summer, and then going to a monthly supplement in February, the News Marin, published by the Marinscope Newspapers, is dead. A special version of this newsletter, titled Carlin's Corner, ran in the paper on a semi-regular basis since last November. Many thanks to editor Tom Stern who did a yeoman's job with the column from start to finish. The wrong news is not good news. In the Pacific Sun this week they have the wrong calendar listings for Sweetwater. For dates May 1-5 they have the shows posted that actually took place on April 1-5. Peter Rowan will be playing the Bluegrass Gold show on the 4th, not The Roadoilers on the 5th. For more correct info go the Sweetwater site. News battle in West Marin. The Point Reyes Light weekly newspaper was sold a few months back to a new publisher, and rumblings have been heard all the way to San Francisco about the changes being made. Read the story from the April 28th edition of the SF Chronicle here. There was a good story in the LA Daily News last month about the Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor and how kids are getting hooked on bluegrass at the store. Read it here. But to find out about kids on bluegrass right here in Northern California, go to the California Bluegrass Association site. Reckless Records is proud to announce the release of a new live two-CD set titled In The House by Audrey Auld Mezera & Nina Gerber. Audrey, who lives in Stinson Beach, is an Australian singer/songwriter in the 'Americ-kinda' style. There was also an interview with Audrey in the North Bay Bohemian recently. Read it here. There is a new/old version of The New Riders of the Purple Sage making the rounds. Singer John "Marmaduke" Dawson kept the band alive through the 80s and most of the 90s, and now early band members David Nelson and Buddy Cage are touring with their version of the band. They played some shows last month in the Bay Area, and you can read a story about them here from the North Bay Bohemian. Speaking of the Bohemian, they are in the midst of their Second Annual North Bay Music Awards voting, so go to their site to cast your ballots. There are quite a few familiar names on the list from this newsletter, such as Hot Buttered Rum, Audrey Auld Mezera, Nina Gerber, Maria Muldaur, Poor Man's Whiskey, Greenhouse, Laughing Gravy, Trailer Park Rangers, Solid Air and Vinyl. Too many friends here for the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters to choose sides. Take a look and take your pick. The cover story in the April edition of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine is a tribute to Louise Scruggs, the late wife and manager of banjo icon Earl Scruggs. You can read the story here. Apparently there is a story in the May issue about the California Bluegrass Association's Carl Pagter, but you'll have to get a copy of the magazine to read it because the story is not in their on-line edition. Devil in the green dress. The bluegrass chat lists are all abuzz about a promotional photo of singer Rhonda Vincent. Does she look great in the photo? You bet. Does sex sell? Duh! Maybe not in Afghanistan or Pakistan, but it certainly does here in the US of A. Why else would the photo have been put out there to begin with? Check out the pic here. More popular dead than alive. More than three decades after his death, there will be soon be a three-disc set titled Gram Parsons: Complete Reprise Sessions released in June on Rhino Records. The collection includes re-mastered versions of Parsons' two solo albums (GP and Grievous Angel), plus rare interviews and live radio performances with Emmylou Harris. The 52-page booklet includes lyrics, many previously unseen photos, and an introduction by Harris (who also co-produced the project). Coincidentally, Rhino Entertainment will also release a Parsons documentary, titled Fallen Angel, on June 20th. Serendipity? Also still dead and making money 30 years later. There has been an Elvis sighting in Tennessee! A new TV commercial for Tennessee's tourism department features a current day Dolly Parton riding in a convertible with a '60s-era Elvis Presley. The digital scene recreated from his 1967 film, Clambake, marks the first time Elvis Presley Enterprises has authorized the late singer's likeness to be used in a TV commercial with another celebrity. Country soul. Soul singer Solomon Burke will release his first country CD in September. He recorded the album at guitarist-songwriter Buddy Miller's Nashville home studio. Guests include Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Gillian Welch. Burke won a Grammy for his 2002 album, Don't Give Up On Me. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Bluegrass benefit recording. There is a new bluegrass concert album titled Celebration of Life that will benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. The two-disc project includes performances from the annual Musicians Against Childhood Cancer Festival near Columbus, Ohio. Performers include Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, J.D. Crowe & the New South, the Grascals, the James King Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Alecia Nugent, Tony Rice, the Seldom Scene, Dan Tyminski and Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, among many others. Two for the road. Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris released All The Roadrunning, their first album of duets. The two first met while taping a TV special with the late Chet Atkins and have been working on the album sporadically in Nashville for the past seven years. Knopfler co-produced the recording and wrote all but one of the songs. Neil Young has a new album out with songs that won't be downloaded onto Rush Limbaugh's iPod anytime soon. Titled Living with War, Young has a few things to say that run contrary to his "Let's Roll" song that came out right after 9/11… The Kathy Kallick Band will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. The band Kathy (guitar, vocals), Tom Bekeny (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Avram Siegel (banjo, guitar, vocals), and Amy Stenberg (bass, vocals), was formed a decade ago to tour in support of Kathy's Call Me As Taxi album. Their musical and personal chemistry quickly inspired new songs, new arrangements of older songs, and a fresh approach to the music that's been labeled "hot bluegrass and cool originals." They'll be at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 13th at 8 pm, and then on the 14th at the Freight it will be the 17th Annual Mother's Day Celebration with the band playing music for children and families from Kathy's award-winning albums, What Do You Dream About? and Use A Napkin (Not Your Mom). Plan ahead to attend The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp, which will take place June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, just prior to the big CBA Father's Day Bluegrass Festival. Musical magnates. Richard and Julay Brandenburg are all webbed-up and ready for gigs. Between the two of them they have three bands and new web sites, and they are ready to play for any occasion. First there is The Cash Magnets, which was originally a duo but now has a full lineup of players. The band is Julay (guitar, dobro, vocals), Richard (guitar, vocals), Michael Stadler (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), Dave Magram (pedal steel), and Pat Campbell (bass). Then there is the bluegrass band, Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds. Besides Julay on guitar, dobro, and vocals, the band is Larry Cohea (banjo, vocals), Tom Lucas (fiddle, vocals), Thomas Wille (mandolin, guitar, vocals), and Bruce Campbell (bass). This is very traditional bluegrass sound a la Vern & Ray, Bill Monroe, etc. And finally, the couple has a vocal trio with Tom Diamant, called The Last Call Quartet. They sing an eclectic assortment of songs - cowboy songs, bluegrass, country, gospel, folk - whatever they feel like. The instrumentation is Richard on guitar, Julay on lead guitar and dobro, and Tom on lead guitar and mandolin. Santa Rosa fiddle/mandolin teacher Gus Garelick is looking to set up some lessons in Napa once or twice a month. He has a venue and he's given a few lessons there already. If anyone in the area is looking for lessons on fiddle or mandolin, send him an e at fiddler@sonic.net. He can teach many styles, from old time and bluegrass to Cajun, swing, Italian and French musette, etc. Police log. Calvin Broadus, known to some as rapster Snoop Dogg, was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport on April 27th after a disturbance in the first-class lounge. Allegedly not all of his pack of doggs had first-class tickets. Country crooner John Michael Montgomery's trial for DUI charges has been delayed in Lexington, Ky., until May 11th. The prosecutor in the case asked for a postponement to look into congratulatory messages about the "high-profile arrest" from police officers posted on the arresting officer's web page. Montgomery was arrested on alcohol, drug, and weapons charges after leaving a Lexington bar on February 16th. Band scramble. There is a new all-star bluegrass band based in the North Bay. Adobe Creek features Ed Neff on mandolin and fiddle, Keith Little on banjo, Mike Wilhoyte on guitar, and Jeff King on bass. Also, former members of Copper Canyon (Phil Cornish, Elida Ickes, Pat Ickes, Todd Clinesmith) have regrouped, added Larry Chung on guitar, and will soon have a new band name as well. Former bandleader Rick Jamison left the band last fall to pursue his songwriting and solo career. Life's railway to heaven. Chicago singer/songwriter Tom Dundee, known for his song "A Delicate Balance," died on April 18th after a motorcycle accident. He was 59. Bonnie Owens, the country singer who married and helped build the careers of country music legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, died on April 24th at a Bakersfield hospital after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 76. Daniel McKenna, a former guitarist for the band Toby Beau, was found dead in his home, apparently a victim of suicide on April 26th. He was 54. The band had a hit in 1978 with the song "My Angel Baby." Mike Lantz, longtime mandolin and tenor singer from the bluegrass band Front Range, lost his battle with brain cancer on March 29th. He was 47. He was a founding member of the band along with Bob Amos. He also co-founded The Bluegrass Patriots in 1979. Onward to the calendar… 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. On Monday the 1st she will be having a CD release party there to celebrate her new recording, appropriately titled Monday Nights at the No Name. Go on by and join the party, as the band marks six years of playing at the venerable bar. Special guests will perform as well on the 1st. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 4th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 3rd see Free Peoples and JL Stiles, Lansdale Station on the 6th, Vinyl on the 12th, Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 19th, Stung on the 20th, Danny Click on the 24th, the Surfrider Environmental Forum and The Rowan Brothers on the 25th, and Aram Danesh on the 26th. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are James Hurley on the 3rd, The Drew Youngs & Steve Kindler Project on the 5th and 6th, the Celebrating Songwriters Series on the 9th (see below), Tandamanzi and Michael LaMacchia on the 12th, The Rowan Brothers, David Gans, & Rubber Souldiers on the 13th, The Fromers on the 19th, Marian Hubler's Circle of Friends on the 27th (see below) and more. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 3rd see Michael Elvin Hunt, The Shut-Ins on the 10th, The Trailer Rangers on the 17th, Stadler-Gibbons on the 24th, and The Papermill Creek Rounders on the 31st. On the 4th the next edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. Headlining the bill will be Peter Rowan, playing a show titled "The Singer and His Songs." Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan has led a long and varied career. In the 1960s he played with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys as well as the bands Earth Opera and Seatrain. In 1973 he formed the all-star bluegrass band Old and In the Way, with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, and their self-titled recording is one of the best-selling bluegrass albums of all time. He then recorded a few albums with The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin), toured with his band The Free Mexican Air Force, and he has recorded several solo albums. His song "Panama Red" was a million-selling hit for The New Riders of the Purple Sage. He released four new albums in 2002: a solo project called Reggaebilly; Old and In the Gray with David Grisman, Vassar Clements, Herb Pedersen, and Bryn Bright; Crazy People with his two brothers; and the 2003 Grammy Award nominated High Lonesome Cowboy with Don Edwards. His most recent recording on Rounder Records is with bluegrass guitar wizard Tony Rice, and it is called You Were There For Me. Peter has lived in Marin County for over thirty years, and he is one of the most entertaining and versatile performers on the scene today. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Ellen Stapenhurst, Mark McLay and Kevin Russell on the 4th,The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 5th, Andrew Freeman on the 6th, Carolina Special on the 13th, Lisa Redfern on the 14th, Adam Traum on the 18th,The David Thom Band on the 19th, Honey and The Hey Boys on the 27th, Solid Air on the 28th, plus more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 4th and the 18th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See Merfolk on the 4th, The Ed Earley Band on the 5th, the Little Wheels Band on the 6th, Front Porch on the 11th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 12th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 19th, Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire on the 20th, Highway Robbers on the 23rd, Spinout on the 25th, The Lynn Bobby Band on the 26th, Krickie's Songwriter Night on the 28th, plus more. Wagon will be rolling into the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach on the 4th starting at 6:30 pm. No cover. The band is Adam Bowers on dobro, Brian Lamoreaux on banjo, guitar Brendan Neagle on mandolin and guitar, and Nick Martin on fiddle. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, there is the Blue Star Music Benefit on the 4th, Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin on the 7th, the Spring One Act Fringe Festival on the 18th-21st, Mitch Wood and Friends on the 26th, plus a lot of other great stuff. The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 4th and 25th you can see Robert Herrera, Soul Shine on the 5th, BOA on the 13th, Phillip Roebuck on the 20th, and JL Stiles on the 26th. 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 Michael Stadler on the 4th, Eric & Suzy Thompson on the 11th, and Alec Stone-Sweet on the 25th. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter Josh Needleman plays an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, old time, newgrass, popular, funk, and Gypsy. On the 4th his Acoustic Band and The Skiffle Symphony will be at the Ace In The Hole in Sebastopol, and the two bands will also be at Brick's in Petaluma on the 6th. The Acoustic Band will then play Cuisine On The Green in Stinson Beach on the 13th, and on the 19th they'll be at Brainwash in SF. There are some fine shows at the Marin Civic Center this month. See Trisha Yearwood on the 4th, the Harmony Sweepstakes on the 6th, and Judy Collins on the 20th. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Also, a new addition to the schedule every Monday night see Serge the Blushin' Rushin', playing an eclectic mix of acoustic rock and Russian folk songs from 7-9 p.m. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. See Laura Dorais on the 5th, Jon Steiner on the 6th, John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 12th, Schuster Bay on the 13th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 19th, Jazz Philosophy on the 20th, and Jump To It on the 26th, and Joan Getz on the 27th. The country-bluegrass quartet The Whoreshoes will be appearing at the Stage Dor in Sausalito on the 5th. On Friday the 5th head out to Pt. Reyes Station to join the Cinco de Mayo celebration. From 5-9 p.m. KWMR radio, West Marin School, and Toby's Barn & Gallery will be presenting an evening that includes live traditional Mexican Ranchera and Mariachi music and dance performances featuring Los Cenzontles, who will be performing at Toby's. Also, there will be a screening of their award-winning film set in Jalisco, Mexico, titled Pasajero, A Journey of Time and Memory. Handmade, organic Mexican fare includes grilled vegetables, carne asada and vegetarian tacos, grilled oysters, postre, cerveza, aguas frescas, and more. Afterwards, go by the Station House to see Petaluma country/blues singer Dan Hayes play from 7-10 p.m. Hot Buttered Rum will be playing their annual Spring Meltdown at the Evergreen Lodge at the gates of Yosemite on the 5th-7th. There will be at least two full sets from the boys each night. HBR is excited to welcome Honkytonk Homeslice, featuring Bill Nershi from String Cheese Incident, who will also be performing both nights. These two bands have a short, but storied history collaborating together and this weekend is sure to create many lasting musical memories as well. Cabins and camping on-site will be available at the lodge. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart on the 5th at 8 p.m. at Studio E in Sebastopol. And on the 19th see Kenny White with Mark McLay (with Kevin Russell). Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Stiff Dead Cat and Poor Man's Whiskey on the 5th, Charlie Musselwhite on the 12th, Tommy Castro on the 13th, T-Bone Burnett and Jakob Dylan on the 16th, Lee Roy Parnell on the 21st, Roomful of Blues on the 26th, and more. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has mostly acoustic music on the calendar. Some shows to see are The Farallons on the 5th, Shindig on the 6th, Houston Jones on the 13th, Manzanita Moon on the 19th, Trailer Park Rangers on the 26th, Hot Frittatas on the 27th, plus there are Celtic jams on the first three Wednesdays and a bluegrass and old-time jam on the last Wednesday of every month. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Heather Waters for an evening of music and dining on the 6th. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner at 6, and show starts at 7. Admission is $20.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. The 19th Annual Santa Cruz Bluegrass Faire will take place on the 6th from noon 'til 5 p.m. on the Duck Island Stage in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz. Presented by The Northern California Bluegrass Society, this will be an afternoon of free, live bluegrass music for all to enjoy. Four local bluegrass bands will be performing: Harmony Grits, The Abbott Family Band, R.E.O Haywagon, and Earthquake Country. Raffled items will include festival tickets, CDs, a guitar, and much more. Bring the family, set your blanket on the grass and enjoy a day in the sun. If you forget your picnic basket you can always order up a hot dog or garden burger and a soft drink, and finish it off with a cookie or two. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 6th and 13th it will be bluegrass, on the 20th swing music, and on the 27th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. Tony Marcus & Patrice Haan will play hot swing and jazz standards on the 6th at New College of California's Santa Rosa campus at 8 p.m. Ticket info at (707) 579-3960 or at the Last record Store in Santa Rosa. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Knockout in SF on the 6th, at The Northlight in Cotati from 1-4 p.m. on the 7th, and then on the 12th at Anna's Cantina in St. Helena from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget stays busy. He'll be solo at the Nomad Café in Oakland on the 6th from 7-8 p.m., and then he'll jump in the limo and dash to Sweetwater to play the opening set at Sweetwater at 9:30 p.m. with Kimberlye Gold. Later in the month he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 25th. The David Thom Band has three bluegrass shows in the North Bay. On the 7th and 20th go to The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach from noon-3 p.m., and on the 19th they'll be at Murphy's in Sonoma. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Blame Sally on the 7th, Stompy Jones on the 13th, Tom Rigney & Flambeau on the 19th, The Persuasions on the 21st, The Blues Broads (Maria Muldaur, Angela Strehli, Tracy Nelson and Annie Sampson) on the 28th, Jackie Green on the 29th, and more. On the 9th don't miss the next presentation of the hugely entertaining Celebrating Songwriters at the Larkspur Café Theatre. Host Caren Armstrong is featuring two uniquely gifted guests. The Bay Area's own Christie McCarthy discovered songwriting and singing at the age of three. In addition to her own acclaimed records, Christie also appears on the Sharper Images Sirens of Song compilation (along with Norah Jones & Diana Krall) with her award-winning original song "Nothing Moves Me." Southern California's James McVay blends his powerhouse guitar chops with lyrics that speak with an honesty and social insight sorely needed in the world today. His composing credits include over 30 movies and hundreds of TV shows as well as arranging and producing songs for many of LA's best independent songwriters. Caren continues to host, share the stage and act as the thread that weaves an ever-changing roster of songwriters together. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 9th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Culann's Hounds will be playing Celtic rock on the 11th at Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael, and then on the 25th see them at the Farmer's Market in town. The RiffRiders (Charlie Casey, David Phillips, Tom Drohan and Corey Losee) will be at McGrath's Pub in Alameda on the 12th starting at 8 p.m. The band plays it all, including swing, jazz, bluegrass, ballads and poker. Notable local characters often sit in with the band throughout their sets. Get into the swing of things on the 13th with the 2nd Annual Sweetwater Golf Tournament and Party at the Mill Valley Golf Course. Play a round of golf starting at 1 p.m., and then join the party at 7, featuring live music by the band Rainmaker. For complete info email Kevin Moloney at kevinpatrickmoloney@yahoo.com. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Rebecca Troon, Edo Castro and Joel Tepp on the 13th at 8 p.m. All of these artists could headline separately, but they're friends and they dig the houseboat scene so they're going to play together. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Audrey Auld Mezera & Nina Gerber will be playing at Cuisine on the Green on the 13th at 2 p.m. in Stinson Beach. This is an all day fair with food, art, crafts and music. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in various locations in Marin County, and this month there will be three shows. On the 13th it will be Peter Rothbart and Cas Lucas in Sausalito, Heather Combs and Jesse Brewster in San Rafael on the 20th, and Forest Sun, Larkin Gayl and Danny Schmidt in Lagunitas on the 25th. To attend, call (415) 706-3800 or RSVP to drew@drewpearce.com. Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire are busy this month. On the 13th they'll be playing at Costello's Four Deuces in S.F., on the 20th at the San Rafael Classic Car Show on 4th St. at 6:30 p.m., and later that night at Peri's in Fairfax at 9:30 p.m, and then on the 26th at the Fourth St. Tavern in San Rafael at 9:30 p.m. Free Paul Knight! West Marin bassman Paul Knight has three gigs this month in Marin and there is no cover at any of them. Paul & Friends will play their monthly gig at the Station House Cafe in downtown Pt. Reyes Station on 14th from 5-8:30 p.m. Then he'll be at the Iron Springs Brewery two weeks in a row with two different bands starting at 8 p.m. On the 24th see the Stadler/Gibbons Band, and then it will be the Paper Mill Creek Rounders on the 31st. Solo and acoustic artist Pete Olson plays country and original songs. He'll be playing on Mother's Day the 14th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ace in the Hole Cider Pub Sebastopol. Billing itself as America's first cider pub, the Ace is a unique blend of cozy English country pub and rustic California saloon, serving several different ciders brewed there on the premises, as well as a full selection of premium beers. They also have a fine selection of food. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 15th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Gutter music. Don't miss the The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band on the 16th when they play their Annual Spring Concert at the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael. The LGVSDNMB performs for its own enjoyment as much as that of Marin County residents. They're a non-profit tax-exempt organization seeking to provide an outlet for Bay Area musicians plus stimulate enthusiasm for the arts locally. Interested musicians are invited to attend a rehearsal any Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Miller Creek School during the school year. Present strength is about 75 members, aged 18 to 80. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond at Saylor's Landing on the 19th, at Rafter's Grille & Brewery in San Rafael on the 24th, and at The Caledonia Street Fair on the 28th. She will also be the guest vocalist for the Jon Steiner Jazz Trio on the 30th at the Left Bank in Larkspur. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 19th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Jeb Brady Band will be playing the blues at Peri's Silver Dollar in Fairfax on the 19th. The show starts at 9 p.m. and goes till 1:30 a.m. They'll be joined by Carl Assmus on drums and Joe "Sourdough" Kaline (from The Sons of Emperor Norton) on saxophones for this show. Then the band will be at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 28th from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Just back from a two-week tour of the Northeast U.S., The Earl Brothers will be playing at Jupiter in Berkeley on the 21st starting at 5 p.m. Longtime Bay Area fiddler and bassist Sue Shelasky is moving to Arizona in June to be with her daughter and soon-to-arrive grandchild. There will be a special farewell party for her at the Subud Hall in Sebastopol on the 27th starting at 7 p.m. featuring two bands she has been playing with - The Acme String Ensemble and Ed Neff & Friends. Sue has asked that this be a benefit for Doctors Without Borders as well. The suggested donation is $10. Go on by to say goodbye and to also support a worthwhile cause. Marian Hubler will be the featured vocalist in a special evening concert with "A Circle of Friends" at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 27th at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bread & Roses and the Arete Scholarship Fund. The show will be a celebration of Marian's ten years of producing shows for Bread & Roses. Joining her this evening will be Lynn Asher, Marianna August and Amy Carr (vocals), Steve deLaet, Steve Keating and Kurt Huget (guitar/vocals), Michael Parsons (piano), as well as other surprise guests. The show will feature songs in a variety of musical styles from contemporary acoustic to pop and jazz. Bread & Roses is a non-profit organization founded by Mimi Fariña in 1974. They produce over 500 shows per year throughout the Bay Area, bringing music and other live performance to institutionalized audiences. The Arete Scholarship Fund provides entry-level college scholarships to youth who demonstrate excellence of achievement in sports or the arts and need assistance in higher education in various parts of the world. The Cow Bay Cruzboys will be performing Caribbean R&B, Calypso, Reggae and rock at Graffiti in Petaluma on the 27th from 4-8 p.m. There will be a Memorial Day Weekend Americana Rock Dance Party starting at 8 p.m. on the 27th at The Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station with Bill Cutler & The Hounds of Time and The Little Wheels Band. Bill Cutler is a San Francisco rock band veteran, having collaborated and performed with many of the greatest Bay Area musicians for decades. His band, The Hounds of Time, is an assemblage of some of the Bay Area's finest players including drummer Paul Revelli, bassist Pat Campbell, keyboardist Steve Shufton, and lead guitarist Ricc Sandoval. The Little Wheels Band is a South Bay based country and roots band led by Michael John Ahern that has a powerful sound and an acoustic/electric show. Cutler and Ahern will also be performing live on KWMR radio on the 22nd at 7 p.m. The Shots will be playing Celtic grass at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 27th from 9:30-11:30 am. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 28th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the new hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - THE GOLDEN HORNS 5/06 11:30 p.m.: "This series celebrates the distinctly American musical art form of jazz. It combines live performance, intimate conversations with legendary jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis and archival imagery for a revealing and entertaining look at some of jazz's most memorable moments and performers. It pays homage to the jazz greats, past and present, including Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Jamie Cullum, as well as its future stars. The series pairs these legendary, Grammy-winning artists, many of whom have never appeared or recorded together before. The groupings produce some of the most inspired jazz performances ever captured for television. The series also acknowledges jazz's roots, with a special episode devoted to celebrated blues artists Etta James and B.B. King." LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - THE JAZZ SINGERS 5/07 midnight: "Al Jarreau is the only vocalist in the history of the Grammys to win awards in three different categories (jazz, pop and R&B). He's been compared to such legends as Billy Eckstine and Johnny Mathis, and has been thrilling audiences since his 1975 debut, the top-selling We Got By. Multiple Grammy nominee Kurt Elling is one of the great modern proponents of the vocalese tradition of marrying original lyrics to classic jazz solos. Al and Kurt perform and talk with Ramsey Lewis about the great male vocalists and their own lives and times on stage and in the studio. Although approaching jazz from two opposite directions, these two master vocalists, Al Jarreau and Kurt Elling, came up with a duet on 'Take Five' that will become a classic." VIENNA TENG LIVE 5/07 12:30 a.m.: "Acclaimed singer/songwriter and pianist Vienna Teng, as featured on NPR, performs live in concert, as captured at a recent performance in Berkeley, CA. Teng's performance features both her original material, a stunning collection of lush, melodic songs, incorporating her classical training within a contemporary pop framework, as well as a couple of cover versions." SHERYL CROW, WILDFLOWER - A SOUNDSTAGE SPECIAL EVENT 5/11 11 p.m., 5/14 12:30 a.m.: "This dynamic special features Sheryl Crow, accompanied by a 16-piece string orchestra, in an intimate performance taped live at Lincoln Center." LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - THE GREAT GUITARS 5/13 11:32 p.m.: "Pat Metheny has been one of the most unique forces in jazz guitar for more than 20 years. His music -with its blend of jazz, rock, folk and electronic elements - is highly original and enormously popular, allowing him to sell out arena venues. He appears in this episode with Jim Hall, NEA Jazz Master and a musician of understated elegance who is considered one of the greatest living jazz guitarists. Although Pat Metheny, the wonderful contemporary guitarist, says that he has always looked up to Jim Hall, you will witness this as simply a musical love affair between two great artists." LEGENDS OF JAZZ WITH RAMSEY LEWIS - CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 5/14 midnight: "Lee Ritenour, Marcus Miller and George Duke have played together in the past, but in this episode they perform with energy, creativity and as though they had been playing together for years. Master guitarist and contemporary jazz legend Lee Ritenour, keyboardist George Duke and the phenomenal bassist/producer Marcus Miller perform together and share the musical progressions that led to the creation of the various sub-genres that we call 'contemporary jazz.' The trail ranges from the soul/R&B/funk inflected jazz beginning in the late 1950s into the '60s with artists such as Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock and Ramsey Lewis; the creation of Rock Fusion in the late 60s and into the 1970s by artists like Miles Davis, Weather Report and Chick Corea; the melding of pop and jazz in the 1980s with artists such as Spyro Gyra, the Yellowjackets, and Lee himself, and on into the Smooth Jazz era that characterizes contemporary jazz today." And, on Country Music Television: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - THE SEEGER SESSIONS 5/5 9 p.m.: "This is a one-hour documentary about the recording sessions that resulted in his 21st album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. The tribute to folk music icon Pete Seeger was recorded at Springsteen's farmhouse in New Jersey. The documentary includes never-before-seen footage, including complete performances of 'Erie Canal' and 'Jacob's Ladder.'" VAN MORRISON - ONE NIGHT IN NASHVILLE 5/5 10 p.m.: "Features live performances of several country songs the legendary singer-songwriter recorded for his latest album, Pay the Devil. The 30-minute black-and-white special includes a rare television interview conducted by CMT editorial director Chet Flippo and performances of 'Playhouse,' 'This Has Got to Stop,' 'There Stands the Glass' and ''Til I Gain Control Again.' The concert was taped in March at the Ryman Auditorium during Morrison's first-ever visit to Nashville." *************************************************************************************************** April 15, 2006 It has been one tough time here in the Bay Area these past six weeks. Record amounts of rain have everyone in a soggy funk, and there are unfounded rumors that some are moving to Seattle to live in a dryer location. The bad news is that the weather guessers are predicting more rains for this weekend. For those of you who still have not finished with your taxes, the good news is that you have two extra days (until the 17th) to do such, since the deadline of the 15th falls on weekend this year. The better news is that for those of you who have your taxes done and need to get out of the house before cabin fever and bad TV drive you insane, Carltone, as always, is here to tell you where to go… But first, one place you cannot go unless you have already gotten tickets are the Strawberry Music Festivals over Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends. Both events are now sold out. Surprised? You shouldn't be, as there were countless warnings here over the past few months. Let the sniveling begin… Song of the Mountains to be syndicated nationally on PBS. In 2005 the bluegrass, old-time and Celtic television series titled Song of the Mountains was launched on Blue Ridge Public TV, a PBS affiliate based in Roanoke, VA. The shows were taped at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VA, which is a beautiful 500 seat facility originally built in 1927. Starting May 18th the Song of the Mountains shows will be nationally syndicated and offered to over 190 PBS affiliates across the United States. Presently there are 13 one-hour episodes, showcasing over 30 bands, being offered to PBS affiliates with plans for 18 to 20 more shows being produced in 2006. You are urged to contact your local PBS programmer to inquire about having the show included in your area. For those of you in the SF area, send an e to tv@kqed.org. Are you in a nostalgic mood? Want to relive your youth by going see some dinosaur rock or punk band from the 70s? You may want to read the fine print to see who is actually in the band before coughing up the big bucks. Authoritative geezer scribe Joel Selvin had an interesting story on reunion bands recently in the SF Chronicle. Sonoma County bluegrass singer/songwriter Rick Jamison's solo CD, The Magic Hour, got a great review in this month's Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. There was a real nice story this month in the News Marin about the local country band Danny Montana and The Bar Association. You can read the story on the band's site. Grateful Head. Elvis died on one, and now someone stolen Jerry Garcia's toilet. Not that he had much use for it himself anymore. Band scramble. There have been some big changes in the Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek band, just in time for their upcoming West Coast tour. Elmer Burchett is the new banjo player, and Greg Hodge is on mandolin. Gone are fiddler Michael Cleveland, mandolin player Jesse Brock, and banjoist Pete Kelly. Cleveland has his own new band called Flamekeeper. Life's railway to heaven. 1960s pops singer Gene Pitney, who wrote the Ricky Nelson hit "Hello Mary Lou" and had hits of his own including "Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa" and "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart," died on the 5th while on tour in England. He was 65. Rapper Proof, who was a good friend of rapster Eminem, was slain in Detroit on the 11th. He was 32. June Pointer, the youngest of the Pointer Sisters, died on the 12th from cancer. She was 52. Fond farewells. There was a huge turnout at the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield on the 1st of this month for the recently departed Buck Owens. Over 6,000 people showed up to say goodbye to the country singer. Read the story here. And last March there were about 60 people in attendance at the Freight and Salvage on the 18th for a heartfelt memorial celebration for renowned washtub bass and jug player Fritz Richmond, who died from cancer last November at age 66. He played in the Jim Kweskin Jug Band (a band that featured both Geoff and Maria Muldaur) and toured for many years with John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful and Welcome Back Kotter theme-song fame). Wedding bell blues. Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known to some simply as "Eminem," has decided to divorce again from the wife he remarried a second time three months ago. Man, this guy's life is a veritable country/western song… Plan ahead for Yosemite in May. Hot Buttered Rum will be playing their annual Spring Meltdown at the Evergreen Lodge at the gates of Yosemite National Park on May 5th-7th. And plan ahead for June as well. The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp will not take place until June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, yet it is never too early to register. Cost of the camp is $235 before May 1st, and $270 after. Go to the site or contact Ingrid Noyes at (707) 878-9067 (after 9 a.m.) for info. Additions The Western Swing band Lost Weekend has a new lead singer in Pam Brandon, and she will be making her Bay Area debut with two gigs this month. On the 15th see the band at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, and on the 22nd see them at Little Switzerland in the town of Sonoma. Pam was the singer in the Chazz Cats, she was recently in The Cheatin' Hearts with Doug Blumer, and she is also known as Belle Monroe with her band Her Brewglass Boys. Marin County's Jeb Brady & Friends, playing a mixture of blues and country, have been added to the calendar at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma on Saturday the 15th. The Frontmen (Stevie Coyle, Doug Adamz and Rory McNamara) will be cavorting around the stage at The Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa on the 15th starting around 9 p.m. The Sweet Spot is a very cool bar that sells great food and drink, and it is situated at 619 Fourth Street in downtown Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents renowned Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan for an evening of music and dining on the 15th. One of Canada's best-known exports on the folk circuit, James is renowned for mining the past for musical inspiration. His most celebrated songs tell the stories of extraordinary events from history as seen through the eyes of ordinary people. In so doing, he turns epic tales into deeply moving pieces that strike a personal chord. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission is $22.00. Reservations required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@Monitor.Net. The Mike Stadler and Mary Gibbons Band (with Jon Mitguard and Paul Knight) will be playing at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 16th from 5-8 p.m. Don't miss the next installment of Celebrating Songwriters at the Larkspur Café Theatre on the 18th. Host Caren Armstrong is hosting two exceptional guests, Bay Area hit machine Steve Seskin, and from California's North Coast, Eileen Hemphill-Haley. Steve Seskin is one of the most successful writers in Nashville today, with a long list of emotionally charged hit songs recorded by the cream of the country music crop. His song "Don't Laugh At Me" was a finalist for CMA Song of the Year in 1999, and has spurred an entire tolerance movement, launched by the Don't Laugh at Me Project. Other Seskin hits include "I Think About You," "Life's A Dance," "No Doubt About It," "If You've Got Love" and "Grown Men Don't Cry." Eileen Hemphill-Haley was born down south, lives out west, and has a mind that wanders to wherever a good story lines up with a strong melody. Caren Armstrong continues to host, share the stage and act as the thread that weaves an ever-changing roster of songwriters together for the benefit of Marin County listening audiences. Inspired by the opportunity to appear before the community on a monthly basis, she has made it her goal to contribute a new song to each month's show. The New Good Old Boys will be playing bluegrass at the Iron Springs Brewery on the 19th instead of the previously mentioned Blue Turtle Seduction. Save the Petaluma trolley tracks! Erik Hoffman, Ingrid Noyes, and Paul Shelasky will lead a fun and spirited community dance on the 21st from 6-9 p.m. at the old trolley barn in Petaluma as a fundraiser to save and restore the Petaluma trolley, track and trestle. There'll be contras, squares, and others, for all ages. No partners are necessary, and all dances will be taught and prompted. Cost is $15, and kids are free. The Old Trolley Barn is located at 110 Bayliss, across from the Grocery Outlet on Washington. Fine wine, beer and refreshments will be available. For more info call (707) 778-7878. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and jazzy ballads at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the bar area, yet special guest Chris Goddard, as previously noted, will not be with them on guitar. Lance Walker's Eclectic Stage Sonoma Concert Series will be presenting The Papermill Creek Rounders on the 21st at 8:30 p.m at the Black Bean BBQ in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $12 door/$10 advance at Last Record Store and Black Bean. The Rounders, featuring David Nelson and Banana, play bluegrass and more. Perhaps best known for founding the New Riders of the Purple Sage, David Nelson began playing bluegrass in the early '60s, forming The Pine Valley Boys with Herb Pedersen and Butch Waller and The Wildwood Boys with Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. Banana was a founding member of the Youngbloods along with Jesse Colin Young. He was accompanist to Mimi Farina for over 20 years, and has played with Zero, Norton Buffalo, Steve Kimmock and others. David and Banana formed The Papermill Creek Rounders in 2003 to have a chance to share the music they grew up with and have continued to play over the years. Rounding out the band for this performance is Ed Neff on banjo, a long time member of The Vern Williams Band; Chad Manning, fiddler for the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience; and Paul Knight, a veteran bass player who has played and recorded with Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis and others. The 18th Annual West Portal Fine Arts & Crafts Show in SF will feature bluegrass and old-time music this year. The three-day event will be held on the 21st through the 23rd from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day along West Portal Ave between Ulloa and 14th Avenue. The show is free to the public. On the 22nd see Grizzly Peak and The Mercury Dimes. On the 23rd enjoy Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds and The Barefoot Nellies. The stage will be located in the courtyard just left of The Music Store at 66 West Portal. Music starts at noon. Lawn chairs are welcome. Plan to attend the first ever "Herbalpalooza" on the 28th from 6-10 p.m. at the Ace in the Hole Pub in Graton. The event is sponsored by United Plant Savers and the band the Trailer Park Rangers, who will be performing. United Plant Savers is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of native medicinal plants. "Planting The Future" is the theme for this dance benefit, a celebratory event prior to the conference, which will be held the following day. The Sonoma County Folk Society will be presenting the Mary Gibbons/Michael Stadler Band at Subud Hall on the 29th at 8 PM. Tickets are $13 for Folk Society members, $15 for the general public. $20 will get you entrance and a membership in the Sonoma County Folk Society for one year. Advantages include discounts to Society and California Bluegrass Association concerts. The doctor is in. When he's not singing reindeer songs during the holidays, Dr. Elmo picks the five-string in the Marin bluegrass band called Wild Blue. The band has been together for 15 years, and they play all of the popular bluegrass songs that real bluegrass bands refuse to play. You can see the good doctor at Murphy's in Sonoma on the 29th from 8-10 PM. No cover, and a real good time. Reminders Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 20th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the Danny Click on the 14th, West Coast Songwriters on the 17th, Zoo Station on the 22nd, Amy Rigby and Marty Jones on the 25th, Kimrea & Dreamdogs and Johnny Smith on the 27th, plus more. Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. In Fairfax the club 19 Broadway has music seven nights a week. There is an open mic every Monday with Derek Smith, and Danny Uzilevsky plays every Wednesday. Other shows of note are Dogland on the 14th, Victoria George on the 28th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 30th, and others. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Frank Olivier on the 14th, Rhythm Village on the 15th, Dan Piraro & The Bizarro Baloney Show on the 19th, Zakiya Hooker & Shana Morrison on the 21st, plus a lot of other great stuff. At Graffiti in Petaluma enjoy Dan Hayes on the 14th, Elijah Samuels Quartet on the 21st, and Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 28th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Poor Man's Whiskey on the 14th, Jeb Brady & Friends on the 15th, Kimrea & Joe Lococo on the 20th, High Country on the 22nd, Kenni & Company on the 28th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 29th, plus more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15 p.m., and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Hear Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 14th, Jazz Philosophy on the 15th, Lauralee Brown & Company doing jazz and beyond on the 21st, Ralph Woodson on the 22nd, Tom Peplinski's All Stars on the 28th, and The Mike Angel Group on the 29th. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a lot of Celtic and other kinds of music on the calendar. See Late Harvest on the 14th, The Tonewoods on the 15th, Chuck Donnelly & Kate Wegner on the 21st, The Ruminators on the 22nd, Acme String Ensemble on the 28th, Rick & Lavinia Ross on the 29th, plus there are Celtic jams on the first three Wednesdays and a bluegrass and old-time jam on the last Wednesday of every month. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Elvin Bishop on the 14th, Flying Other Brothers on the 21st, Johnny Dilks on the 23rd, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 28th, Jerry Hannan on the 30th, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 15th swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. There is also a new open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. Some shows worth seeing at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Kundalini Boombox on the 15th, the Celebrating Songwriters series mentioned above, American roots duo Dead Set on the 19th, Amy Wigton on the 20th, Jerry Hannan & Friends on the 21st, Jimmy Dillon on the 22nd, plus lots more. There are some fine shows at the Marin Civic Center this month. See the Odissi Vilas Dance Company on the 15th, and Andreas Vollenweider on the 22nd. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. Steve Savage will be the judge this month. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. See The New Good Old Boys on the 19th, and The Bluebellies on the 26th. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with three different acts. He will be with his country band Moonlight Rodeo at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on the 19th, playing jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 23rd, and he'll be solo at Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 28th. Lindalou and Michael Ryge will be joined by former Paul McCartney impersonator Robert B. and other special guests on Wednesday nights through April from 8-11 p.m. at Ana's Cantina in St. Helena. They'll be playing old and new favorites and originals. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. On the French Kiss on the 19th, The Lynn Bobby Band on the 27th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 28th, and the songwriters showcase night, hosted by the effervescent Krickie, on the 30th. On the 20th Bluegrass Gold celebrates its 7th anniversary at Sweetwater. The headliner will be Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek, and Grizzly Peak will open. Dale Ann Bradley doesn't just sing to an audience, she mesmerizes them with stories about her life, her family, the people and the land where she was raised in Berea, Kentucky. Melodically bending notes the way an accomplished musician bends a string, she has one of the fullest, sweetest voices you'll ever hear. But she can also turn around and belt out a driving song reflecting the strength of her voice with those same tones of pure pitch. An incredibly gifted vocalist, she exudes a sweet spirit and humbleness that is both genuine and sincere. Opening the show will be the Bay Area band Grizzly Peak. Emerging on the scene in early 2004, Grizzly Peak is a high-energy band that is rooted in traditional bluegrass, but also brings contemporary and crossover tunes to shows. The band's vocals are an exciting mix of male and female leads and harmonies that keeps each tune spirited, fresh, and fun. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. 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. On the 20th it will be Rick Ruskin at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. 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. CBA Spring Campout. The California Bluegrass Association is presenting its annual spring campout to get you ready for the festival season. If you are one of the listeners and supporters of bluegrass, you are just as welcome as the pickers. The campout will be held on the 21st-23rd, at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. There will be lots of jamming, and The Marty Varner Band, Homespun Rowdy, and others will play. The joint will be jumpin' with rockabilly band 1/4 Mile Combo when they play on the 22nd at Thee Parkside in SF for the annual car show party, and at Michelle's in Santa Rosa on the 29th. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 22nd starting at 9:30 p.m. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts on the 22nd. There will a house concert in Petaluma on the 22nd featuring Albert, one of the last of the Yosemite Miwok Indians who will entertain with songs, guitar and traditional flute, along with folklore, at the home of Steve and Aletha Dolowitz. This is a potluck as well, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the concert 7:30. If you want attend call Barbara at (707) 781-3272. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Peppino D'Agostino on the 22nd at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Audrey Auld Mezera with Nina Gerber on the 22nd at 8 p.m. at the Black Bean Barbecue in Santa Rosa. This show will be a CD release for their live In The House recording from last year's show at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 26th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the new hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 823-3021 or email at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The Waybacks will be playing a show with Bob Weir at the Great American Music Hall in SF on the 26th. This will be a tune-up for their performance at MerleFest in North Carolina. Enjoy the oblique Americana sounds of 77 El Deora when they play at
the 4th Street Tavern in San Rafael on 28th. Mark McLay & The Dustdevils, with opening act The One Night Stands, will be playing mostly finely crafted originals and a few choice covers on the 29th at 8 p.m. at New College of California in Santa Rosa. The Dustdevils are a high-energy adult rock and roll band, and Mark is one of the finest songwriter's in northern California. The Earl Brothers will be at the Hotel Utah in SF on the 30th along with The Barefoot Nellies. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - JACK JOHNSON/RILO KILEY 4/16 12:30 a.m.: "Former surfer Jack Johnson has long been a hit at summer music festivals with his mix of folk, blues and hip-hop. He performs songs from his newest CD, In Between Dreams. Rilo Kiley fuse indie-pop and alt-country for a sound that emphasizes their emotional, playful lyrics. Highlights include songs from the band's newest CD, More Adventurous." HOLOCAUST - A MUSICAL MEMORIAL FILM FROM AUSCHWITZ 4/24 9 p.m.: "This moving program was created to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in memory of those murdered in the Nazi genocide. It was recognized with an International Emmy in the Arts Programming category, announced November 21, 2005." SOUTH PACIFIC IN CONCERT FROM CARNEGIE HALL 4/26 9 p.m., 4/29 3 a.m., 4/30 12:32 a.m.: "Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's own Pulitzer Prize-winning blockbuster was a landmark of post-WWII Broadway, a provocative romantic drama that beguiled audiences with a hit parade of instant standards. Last June, South Pacific reached new heights when - for one enchanted evening - Carnegie Hall presented a magnificent concert production with a dream cast headed by Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jason Danieley, Lillias White and Alec Baldwin. Directed for the concert stage by Walter Bobbie with musical director Paul Gemignani conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke's." And on the A & E Network: BIOGRAPHY - DOLLY PARTON 4/28 8-10 p.m.: "Profile of the incredibly curvaceous, enormously popular singing star who came out of Appalachia to conquer the music world as few have ever done. After gaining success as a songwriter in the mid-1960s, Dolly became Porter Wagoner's singing partner, and then stuck out on her own. She scored hit after country hit, then crossed over to conquer the pop world with 'Here You Come Again.' She even conquered Hollywood with her starring role in 9 to 5. Today, Dolly is a pop culture icon and one of the entertainment world's most durable superstars. Interviews include: Lee Ann Womack, Henry Winkler, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, and Billy Ray Cyrus." BIOGRAPHY - THE DIXIE CHICKS 4/28 10-11 P.M.: "The story of the three women from Texas - sisters Martie and Emily Erwin and Natalie Maines - who shook up the country music scene with the release of their first CD in 1998, and caused a storm of controversy when Natalie made a critical remark about President Bush before a sold-out crowd in London in March 2003." *************************************************************************************************** April 1, 2006 Welcome to the 64th edition of Carltone's Corner! Hope springs eternal that the spring season will soon end the rains that inundated us in March. It has been one wet time here in the North Bay, and everyone is more than ready to dry out and feel the sunshine. If folks are in a mood to get out of the house to see some live music, we're here to tell you where to go. If you haven't done so already, get your taxes done first and then go out and celebrate! But don't celebrate too hard if you live in Texas. Want go out with the gang and have someone be a designated driver so you can unwind? This is all well and good, but you may want think twice about doing such in the Lone Star state right now. Authorities down there must have too much time on their hands, as they are now arresting people who have had too much to drink before they even leave a bar, regardless of whether or not they are walking home or to a hotel room or getting a ride. Live on the air. Hear Gayle Schmitt & The Toodala Ramblers on the 1st from 10 a.m.-12 noon on the West Coast Live radio show. Tune into KALW 91.7 FM to hear them play live from the Freight and Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley. Or you can hear the show on the web. You can also attend in person. Then on the 8th at 1:30 p.m. they will play the Spring Fling at Slide Ranch in Muir Beach. Go and experience healthy, organic food for growing kids, enjoy live music, hands-on farm activities for the whole family, spring crafts and more. The event runs all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dead on the air. Country music legend Buck Owens died on March 25th, and on Sunday afternoon the 26th KPFA radio hosts Mary Tilson and Tom Diamant both dedicated portions of their shows to the Buckster. If you missed these great shows, you can still listen to Mary's America's Back Forty and Tom's Panhandle Country shows on the KPFA site. Mary started talking about Buck in the last half-hour of her program, so you can drag your cursor forward if you don't want to hear her whole show (though, of course, her entire show is always worth listening to). Or, you can just start with Tom's show. Tune into Peter Thompson's Bluegrass Signal radio show on KALW-FM (91.7) on the 8th during the membership drive to pledge your support for bluegrass on public radio. Among the thank-you gifts offered with a pledge are two of Pete Seeger's "Rainbow Quest" TV shows from 1965 and 1966 with The Stanley Brothers, Doc Watson/Clint Howard/Fred Price and Cousin Emmy, plus Claire Lynch's New Day CD with her great band of David Harvey, Jim Hurst, and Missy Raines, augmented by Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Charlie Cushman, Alison Brown, and others. Speaking of which, the radio station can use some help with answering phones during their membership drive, especially on the 8th. If you have the time, call Dianne Keogh (KALW's producer of on-air fundraising) at (415) 841-4121, ext. 3017, to sing up for a slot. Heck, you'd even get to met Peter and listen to some great bluegrass music at the same time. Plus they'll feed you. Call now! Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera (by way of Tasmania) will also be singing on radio shows this month. On the 10th at 8 p.m. and on the 15th at 2 p.m. she will be on KRCB (91.0 FM) in Rohnert Park, on the 16th on KZYX (Mendocino County) at 1:30 p.m., and on the 19th on KPFA in Berkeley at 10 p.m. She is also a finalist in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest this year. Her song "Losing Faith" is from her 2003 album of the same name. On April 28th at the festival in North Carolina the finals of the contest will be held. By the time three finalists in each of the four categories of songs perform their compositions there, they have been selected from among hundreds of submissions. A panel of Nashville music industry professionals, assembled by 2006 contest chairperson Jim Lauderdale, picked the dozen finalists. A then unknown Gillian Welch was one of the winners of the initial contest at MerleFest in 1993. Recent winners have included Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via, and Johnny Williams. Your name here. Just when you were getting used to the absurdity of sports arenas selling the naming rights to corporate interests (everyone in SF just loves the fact that the Giants' stadium in the past few years has gone from being called PacBell Park to SBC Park to AT&T Park and Who Knows What Park next year), a venerable concert hall in Santa Rosa has also taken the cue and from here on out (or until the next corporation outbids them) the Luther Burbank Center will be called the "Wells Fargo Center for the Arts." "Hey, hon, who is performing at the WeFCA tonight?" Kind of just rolls off the tongue now, doesn't it? Graceland has become a National Landmark. Elvis Presley's former home in Memphis, which has been open for years to the public for tours and such, will now become an official part of US history. No doubt that everyone is going to be standing in line to see the famous loo where the former King of Rock & Roll met his demise in 1977… Calling all scribes. The bible for rock and roll, Rolling Stone Magazine, will soon be teaming up with MTV to produce a so-called "reality" TV show. The focus will be on amateur journalists as they compete for a one-year staff position at the legendary magazine. There is no truth to the rumor that Carltone will be competing for the slot… Requiem for a cricket. The South Bay is about to lose a great small venue for live music. The Espresso Garden in San Jose will be no longer after the 9th of April. It will become a sushi bar. So, after nine years and exactly 500 shows, the Fiddling Cricket concert series, presented by Dick Brundle, will come to an end with a show on the 8th with guitarists Brian Gore and Richard Gilewitz. However, on Sunday the 9th Fiddling Cricket will have a final party there. Details are not settled yet, but the idea is to keep it informal and have the local musicians who have played and helped with the running of the series, on stage during the evening. Dale and Marilyn Barcellos will be the musical hosts, and Dick will be the emcee. Go to the Cricket site for more info. Lives needed. Over the years the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been constantly mystified by the concept of some fans keeping track of set lists of performers. Of course, the word "fan" comes from the word "fanatic," which is described in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "an enthusiastic devotee," so maybe this explains things a bit. But now some have taken things to the next level. There is an on-line betting pool to predict which songs Bob Dylan will play during his concerts. If you have too much time on your hands and want to take part, read about it here. Clawhammer banjo history. On the National Public Radio news show All Things Considered on March 21st there was an interesting story about the clawhammer banjo, and here is a description of the piece: "Forty years ago, a young man named Charles Faurot traveled from New York City to southwestern Virginia looking for older traditional banjo players to record for a tiny country-music record label. He found them and eventually produced three LPs of raw, intense mountain music. The records became the subjects of near cult-like devotion among a generation of younger players from around the world. One of them was NPR newscaster and reporter Paul Brown. The records are back out, on CD, with additional tracks. Listening to them again, Brown found himself swept away by their brilliance. And he decided, at long last, to find Charles Faurot." Congratulations to the Bay Area bluegrass band Homespun Rowdy, who was recently added to the spring roster at the Strawberry Music Festival. As previously noted, the local band The Stairwell Sisters will be on the bill as well. Kudos as well to Sweetwater in Mill Valley, voted #1 Best Place to Hear Live Music and the Best Place to Hear Jazz, as well as the #3 Best Place to Dance, in The Pacific Sun's recent Best of 2006 issue. T Bone Burnett, who won a Grammy for producing the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, is planning the release of his first album of original songs in 14 years and a two-CD compilation from his previous work as a solo artist and as a member of the Alpha Band. Strawberry Music Festival goers probably won't be rushing out to buy these recordings, as his live performance there a few years back was underwhelming to say the least. Some musicians do their best work from behind the console… Lou Reid and Carolina (no, not "Walk on the Wild Side" Lou Reed) have a new bluegrass CD out called Time that is riding high at the top of the bluegrass charts. While this is good news for the band, it is even better news for Nashville graphic artist and former Bay Area singer Nancy Terzian (of The Westerleys), who designed the artwork. More new music. Sonoma County photographer and singer/songwriter Adam Traum has a new CD out titled Meant To Be. Adam is the son of the well-known Greenwich Village folk singer Happy Traum, and he plays Americana roots style, which incorporates Piedmont and Delta blues, bluegrass and rockabilly. Plan ahead for Yosemite in May. Hot Buttered Rum will be playing their annual Spring Meltdown at the Evergreen Lodge at the gates of Yosemite National Park on May 5th-7th. There will be at least two full sets from the boys each night. HBR is excited to welcome Honkytonk Homeslice, featuring Bill Nershi from String Cheese Incident, who will also be performing both nights. These two bands have a short, but storied history collaborating together and this weekend is sure to create many lasting musical memories as well. So gather your friends and family and join them for an epic weekend of music and outdoor fun. Cabins and camping on-site will be available at Evergreen Lodge. May is an exciting and amazing time to visit Yosemite National Park as waterfalls are booming, wild flowers are blooming, wildlife is in abundance after a long winter and snowcapped peaks surround in all directions. A truly memorable and beautiful weekend awaits! And plan ahead for June as well. The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp will not take place until June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, yet it is never too early to register. Banjo instructors are Bill Evans, Murphy Henry, and Avram Siegel, Alice Gerrard and Brad Leftwich on old-time banjo, guitarists Jim Nunally, Eric Thompson, and Dan Bletz, Tom Rozum, Dix Bruce, and John Reischman on mandolin, Suzy Thompson, Jack Tuttle, and Tashina Clarridge on fiddle, Billy Cardine and Kathy Barwick on dobro, bassists Dean Knight and Mary Lucey, and Laurie Lewis and Keith Little on vocals. Cost of the camp is $235 before May 1st, and $270 after. Go to the site or contact Ingrid Noyes at (707) 878-9067 (after 9 a.m.) for info. Police log. Country singer Hank Williams, Jr., carrying on that old-fashioned country and western family tradition, has been accused of harassing a 19 year-old waitress in Memphis, TN, in mid-March. Hazardous driver Tom Wopat, better known as Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard TV series, on March 15th was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving after the vehicle he was driving hit a series of orange traffic cones and nearly struck a police car in northern New Jersey. Pete Doherty, mentioned here last month as the lead singer of the rock band Babyshambles as well as model Kate Moss's former boyfriend, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs in London and then, for good measure, kicked a reporter when he ran out of the courtroom and was chased down the street by police. Uh, wonder what drugs he was on…Victor Willis, one of the original Village People who co-wrote some of their hits ("Macho Man" and "In the Navy") and sang lead on "YMCA," was arrested in South San Francisco on March 27th after being sought for months in connection with possessing cocaine, a probation violation and other charges. Soon he will get to "have fun with all the boys" in Soledad…Randy "Blackhat" Weisendanger, longtime California bluegrass festival attendee and fiddler, is in jail in Modesto for shooting a man. And model/actress Naomi Campbell apparently is one hot firecracker. She was arrested in New York on March 30th for assaulting an assistant - the third time she has done something like this in the last few years. Band scramble. The busiest guy in Bay Area bluegrass just got busier. Bassman/soundman extraordinaire Paul Knight, after filling in for the past year for the late Forrest Rose with the bluegrass band Perfect Strangers, has now become an official member of the band. This is in addition to doing sound for many concerts and festivals, playing with The Papermill Creek Rounders and the Stadler-Gibbons Band, and hosting the occasional Paul Knight & Friends at the Station House in Point Reyes Station. Correction. In the band scramble segment of the previous newsletter the new band from the North Bay is called The Hey Boys, not "The Hay Boys." And the dobro player's last name is spelled Szostak, not Schostak. Fiddler in need. Bay Area fiddler Agi Ban, who plays with the Cajun band the Aux Cajunals, is having some serious mysterious medical problems, and band mate Suzy Thompson has set up a CaringBridge web page where you can keep up to date on Agi's condition and drop a note of support. CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization that helps friends and families stay connected. Go here to read about Agi, and make a post or, better yet, pledge a donation. Life's railway to heaven. As noted above, country singer Buck Owens went on to Honky-Tonk Heaven when died in his sleep at age 76 on March 25th after playing a show at this Crystal Palace music hall in Bakersfield, CA. Singer of such classic hits as "Act Naturally," "Together Again," and "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail," he was also the longtime co-host of the TV show Hee Haw. Cindy Walker (who was just mentioned in the previous newsletter with Willie Nelson's tribute album to her), one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in the history of country music, died on March 23rd in her hometown of Mexia, TX, following a lengthy illness. She was 87. Some of her songs were "Bubbles In My Beer," "Cherokee Maiden" and "You Don't Know Me." Bob Feldman, the president and founder of Red House Records, died on January 11th at age 56. According to songwriter Eliza Gilkyson, "Bob changed the face of folk music, and was in many ways responsible for bringing it into the 21st century. More than being a business partner and visionary ally, Bob was a friend to all the artists on this label and others. He was the kind of person you could call from the road and talk about anything, from the frustrations of politics to the wonders of being a parent, or to the challenges of committed relationships. He was humble and honest and incredibly present." Gruesome news. There is a website that lists obits of musicians and, in some case, the manner in which they died when it was something other than by natural causes. Take a look here it you dare. Onward to the calendar… Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold shows mentioned below on the 5th and 20th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 1st in the afternoon it is the Closet Musicians Workshop Concert and then Asher & Paige at night, Calmodee on the 6th, Vinyl on the 7th, Barry "The Fish" Melton on the 8th, Eric Andersen on the 9th, Danny Click on the 14th, West Coast Songwriters on the 17th, Zoo Station on the 22nd, Amy Rigby and Marty Jones on the 25th, Kimrea & Dreamdogs and Johnny Smith on the 27th, plus more. Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Enjoy the wonderful duo of Skybrook & Maxwell when they play on the 1st at the Marin Valley Country Club Clubhouse in Novato at 7:30 p.m. Acoustic musicians Jeanne Skybrook and John Maxwell, regular volunteer performers for Bread and Roses, along with special guest Carol-Joy Harris, will be singing some great harmonies, and the event is a benefit for the Safety Team at Marin Valley. The Golden Gate Boys have two shows this month. They've been playing together for five years and primarily focus on preserving the old Gospel material from the time when traditions included playing music whenever there was a family gathering. The band repertoire includes a lot Bill Monroe influences as well as some contemporary artists. Band members include Hal Johnson on mandolin, Jimmy Kemp on guitar, Larry Cohea on bass, and Tom Jones on banjo and guitar. On the 1st at 7 p.m. you can see them at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (888-442-8709) in Mill Valley, and on the 2nd at 6 p.m. they'll be at the Valley Baptist Church (415-479-3390) in San Rafael. Both concerts are free. The Shots will also be playing their version of "Celticgrass" on the 1st at the Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by for your morning jolt. Danny Montana and the Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and Bill Bowen on drums) are playing on the 1st at 9 p.m. at Smiley's in Bolinas. Can't make that date? Catch 'em again on the 8th at 9:30 p.m. at Peri's in Fairfax, or on the 12th at 8 p.m. at Iron Springs Pub and Brewery, also in Fairfax - a great under-21 venue with delicious food. In Fairfax the club 19 Broadway has music seven nights a week. There is an open mic every Monday with Derek Smith, and Danny Uzilevsky plays every Wednesday. Other shows of note are the Brides of Funkenstien on the 1st, Kehoe Nation on the 8th, Otis Scarecrow on the 13th, Dogland on the 14th, Victoria George on the 28th, The Jeb Brady Band on the 30th, and others. Some shows worth seeing at the Larkspur Café Theatre are The Trailer Park Rangers on the 1st, Jamie Clark on the 2nd, James Dalessandro on the 5th, Rhythm Dance on the 6th, Girl Kulture on the 7th and 8th, Natural Gas Jazz Band (in the afternoon) on the 9th, Jovino Santos Neto & Keith Terry on the 9th, John Trudell & Bad Dog on the 11th and 12th (in conjunction with the showing of the documentary Trudell at the Lark Movie Theatre on the 10th), Caren Armstrong's Celebrating Songwriters series with Steve Seskin and Eileen Hemphill-Haley on the 18th, American roots duo Dead Set on the 19th, Amy Wigton on the 20th, Jerry Hannan & Friends on the 21st, Jimmy Dillon on the 22nd, plus lots more. At Graffiti in Petaluma enjoy Tout Va Bien on the 8th and 22nd, Dan Hayes on the 14th, Elijah Samuels Quartet on the 21st, and Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 28th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Andrew Freeman on the 1st, the Celtic jam on the 2nd, Dan Hayes & Doug Adamz on the 6th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 7th, The Acme String Ensemble on the 8th, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 14th, Kimrea & Joe Lococo on the 20th, High Country on the 22nd, Kenni & Company on the 28th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 29th, plus more. Cumulus Productions has one show of interest this month in Sebastopol. See Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the 1st. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Patrick Martin on the 1st, Lynne Jackson & Mike Palter on the 2nd, The Audrey Shimkas Jazz Quintet on the 7th, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks on the 8th, Monk's Music Trio on the 9th, Dan Piraro & The Bizarro Baloney Show on the 19th, Zakiya Hooker & Shana Morrison on the 21st, plus a lot of other great stuff. The joint will be jumpin' with rockabilly band 1/4 Mile Combo when they play at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 1st along with St. Peterbilt. You can also see them on the 22nd at Thee Parkside in SF for the annual car show party, and at Michelle's in Santa Rosa on the 29th. The David Thom Band has three bluegrass shows around the bay. On the 1st they'll be at the Majestic Theater in Benicia starting at 8 p.m., and on the 8th and 29th go to The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach from noon-3 p.m. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15 p.m., and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Hear As Is on the 1st, Jocelyn Steele on the 7th, Kat Fitzgerald on the 8th, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 14th, Jazz Philosophy on the 15th, Lauralee Brown & Company doing jazz and beyond on the 21st, Ralph Woodson on the 22nd, Tom Peplinski's All Stars on the 28th, and The Mike Angel Group on the 29th. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. On the 1st it will be The Jeb Brady Band playing the blues, Pack of Wolves on the 2nd, Wildsang on the 4th, The Bar Association on the 8th, Sexy Sunday (featuring women who rock) on the 9th, Spinout on the 13th, French Kiss on the 19th, The Lynn Bobby Band on the 27th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 28th, and the songwriters showcase night, hosted by the effervescent Krickie, on the 30th. UltraSound will be playing at The Tradewinds in Cotati on the 1st, and it will be the farewell performance of sax player Mike Halasz, as he is moving to Miami. The band features the vocals, original songs, and keyboard stylings of Linda Ferro, John Ranis on guitar and vocals, Halasz on saxophone and vocals, Tom 'Tree' Territo on bass and vocals, and Jeff Mangone on drums. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a lot of Celtic and other kinds of music on the calendar. See Raisin' Cain on the 1st, Jack Grant on the 7th, The Robert E Band on the 8th, Late Harvest on the 14th, The Tonewoods on the 15th, Chuck Donnelly & Kate Wegner on the 21st, The Ruminators on the 22nd, Acme String Ensemble on the 28th, Rick & Lavinia Ross on the 29th, plus there are Celtic jams on the first three Wednesdays and a bluegrass and old-time jam on the last Wednesday of every month. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 1st, Earl Thomas on the 8th, The Trailer Park Rangers on the 9th, Elvin Bishop on the 14th, Flying Other Brothers on the 21st, Johnny Dilks on the 23rd, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 28th, Jerry Hannan on the 30th, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and 8th it will be bluegrass, on the 15th swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also word has it that there is a new open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at Northlight Books in Cotati on the 2nd from 1-4 p.m., Ana's Cantina in St. Helena starting at 9:30 p.m., The Bistro in Hayward on the 8th from 8 p.m-midnight, and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 22nd starting at 9:30 p.m. If tickets are still available, you can go see Bob Dylan at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on the 4th. Merle Haggard will not be joining the tour until 7th, so you won't see him there. On Wednesday the 5th the Black Point String Band plays originals and covers at the Mayflower Inn in San Rafael. No cover. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. Johnny Winter on the 5th, Zilla featuring Michael Travis of String Cheese Incident on the 6th, New Riders of the Purple Sage on the 8th, Umphrey's McGee on the 9th, and Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts on the 22nd. Fun in the valley. The 9th Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival will take place from the 5th-9th in the town of Sonoma. Visit some wineries during the day, attend a movie at the fest, and then have dinner and a beer and listen to free music at Murphy's Irish Pub. Old-time is not a crime! On Wednesday the 5th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. This will be a veritable old-time extravaganza, featuring The Roadoilers, The Mercury Dimes and Amy & Karen. The Roadoilers are an old-time string band from Marin County who play square dance and contra dance music, traditional country singing, ragtime, and Irish traditional tunes. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass and bagpipes are the instruments. John Pedersen, Perry Fly, Chuck Wiley and Mike Drayton have played together in various combinations for over 25 years. Taken together, the band has over 160 years of experience playing old-time and bluegrass music. John is a luthier and he owns Amazing Grace Music in San Anselmo. The Mercury Dimes are a dynamic, twin-fiddle driven string band from San Francisco. The band has been busy on the California string band contest circuit. While Appalachian fiddle music lies at the heart of the band's musical inspiration, The Dimes also boast a fiery repertoire of bluegrass ballads and country-blues gems mined from a bygone era when dimes were still made from pure silver. The members are Matt Knoth, Elise Engelberg, Mike Brown, Jordan Ruyle, Sabra Guzman, and Michael Follstad. Amy & Karen love to play straight-ahead dance tunes, creepy crooked melodies, and two-part harmonies songs where everybody dies in the end. With Karen on guitar, fiddle and vocals, and Amy on fiddle, banjo, guitar, and vocals, they create a rich and changing texture of sounds. They have a new CD titled Amy & Karen Play 15 Old Time Quality Tunes. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax.
Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer,
food and music. On the 5th it will be Pink Sabbath, country music with
The Bar Association featuring Danny Montana on the 12th, tribal funk
grass with Blue Turtle Seduction on the 19th, and The Bluebellies Lindalou and Michael Ryge will be joined by former Paul McCartney impersonator Robert B. and other special guests on Wednesday nights through April from 8-11 p.m. at Ana's Cantina in St. Helena. They'll be playing old and new favorites and originals. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 6th and 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. There are some fine shows at the Marin Civic Center this month. See Peter Frampton on the 7th, Sweet Honey in the Rock on the 8th, the Odissi Vilas Dance Company on the 15th, and Andreas Vollenweider on the 22nd. Drew Pearce hosts house concerts in southern Marin County, and on the 8th in Corte Madera you can see David Hopkins, Rosanna Ferrera, and Tamaras. Go to Drew's site for info on the location. 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. On the 8th at 8:30 p.m. see Del Rey & Steve James, and on the 20th it will be Rick Ruskin at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with three different acts. He will play jazz with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 9th and 23rd, be with his country band Moonlight Rodeo at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on the 19th, and he'll be solo at Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 28th. Paul Knight & Friends will be playing at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 16th from 5-8:30 p.m. 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. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place
at Sweetwater on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform,
but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow.
If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that
can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on
networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for
best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording
time. Steve Savage will be the judge this month. For more info contact
Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and jazzy ballads at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the bar area with special guest Chris Goddard on guitar. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Papermill Creek Rounders will be playing a show on the 21st at the Black Bean Barbecue in Santa Rosa (formerly Clo's Parkside Grill)(next to the Rialto Theatre). More details will be in the next newsletter. CBA Spring Campout. The California Bluegrass Association is presenting its annual spring campout to get you ready for the festival season. If you are one of the listeners and supporters of bluegrass, you are just as welcome as the pickers. The campout will be held on the 21st-23rd, at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. The only cost is for camping. The camping fees are $20 per night for campers and RV's and $15 for tents. There will be lots of jamming, and The Marty Varner Band, Homespun Rowdy, and others will play. There will a house concert in Petaluma on the 22nd featuring Albert, one of the last of the Yosemite Miwok Indians who will entertain with songs, guitar and traditional flute, along with folklore, at the home of Steve and Aletha Dolowitz. This is a potluck as well, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the concert 7:30. If you want attend call Barbara at (707) 781-3272. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present Peppino D'Agostino on the 22nd at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Audrey Auld Mezera with Nina Gerber on the 22nd at 8 p.m. at the Black Bean Barbecue in Santa Rosa. This show will be a CD release for their live In The House recording from last year's show at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 26th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl Laura are the new hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 823-3021 or email at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. The Waybacks will be playing a show with Bob Weir at the Great American Music Hall in SF on the 26th. This will be a tune-up for their performance at MerleFest in North Carolina. Enjoy the oblique Americana sounds of 77 El Deora when they play at the 4th Street Tavern in San Rafael on 28th. Mark McLay & The Dustdevils, with opening act The One Night Stands, will be playing mostly finely crafted originals and a few choice covers on the 29th at 8 p.m. at New College of California in Santa Rosa. The Dustdevils are a high-energy adult rock and roll band, and Mark is one of the finest songwriter's in northern California. The band consists of Mark McLay (acoustic guitar and vocals), Kevin Russell (electric lead guitar and vocals), Sue Pierson (vocals), Ron Stennet (accordion/keyboard), and Dan Ransford (drums). The One Night Stands is a one-night-only band consisting of Kevin Russell, Dan Ransford, Ron Stennet, Dean Wilson and Dave Zirbel. Fine Americana music! The Sonoma County Folk Society is presenting Mike Stadler and Mary Gibbons on the 29th at Sebastopol's Subud Hall at 234 Hutchins Avenue off Highway 116. The Earl Brothers will be at the Hotel Utah in SF on the 30th along with The Barefoot Nellies. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: CLOSE TO YOU - REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS 4/2 5:56 p.m.: "A music-filled documentary that traces the Carpenters' career through the eyes of Richard Carpenter and the group's friends in the music business, featuring all of their top recording hits, including '(They Long to Be) Close to You,' 'Top of the World,' and 'We've Only Just Begun.' Between 1970 and 1983, the Carpenters were awarded 10 gold singles, and nine gold albums, many of which also achieved multi-platinum status. This program features interviews with Richard, in addition to some of the group's longtime back-up singers and musicians, famous friends and colleagues, particularly those who helped them achieve stardom." SPARK! WHAT EXPERIENCE TEACHES 4/02 11:30 p.m., 4/03 3 a.m. 7:30 p.m.: "After a lifetime pursuing creativity, what do the years teach about art? Anna Halprin is 85. For 50 years she has been on the forefront of Modern Dance. In the '60s her work was vilified. In the '90s she survived cancer. Today she is still working, and that work is still challenging. We catch up with Anna to see her current projects including a long awaited return to a San Francisco with the dance that got her in trouble in '65; after 35 years on stage and in front of the camera, actor Peter Riegert has taken up directing. He came to San Francisco, to A.C.T., for his first stage production of his nascent second career. The choice? What else but the play that first put him, and playwright David Mamet, on the map: Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Peter directs four young actors through the unique challenges of a Mamet production; Jessica Williams began her career as a jazz pianist at the age of 19 playing with Philly Joe Jones. For years she has been one of the unknown gems of jazz piano. Now in her 60s she records many of her solo and trio albums in her own home studio or at live at local clubs like Yoshi's. They've been nominated for Grammy awards. She's also her own webmaster. Through it all she has been a champion for women in jazz. She's also one of the great interpreters and devotees of Thelonious Monk." LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER - THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL CELEBRATING 100 YEARS 4/03 8 p.m.: "America's only live performing arts series joins the Juilliard School for its 100th anniversary celebration. The stellar lineup will feature Juilliard alumni, current students, and faculty, including Wynton Marsalis, Itzhak Perlman, and Leontyne Price, along with members of the Juilliard String Quartet. They will be joined by the Juilliard Dance Ensemble, students from the Juilliard Drama Division, and the Juilliard Orchestra led by both the composer and conductor John Williams and conductor Andrea Quinn." AMERICAN MASTERS - JUILLIARD 4/03 9:30 p.m., 4/05 3 a.m.: "In an unprecedented arrangement with this prestigious conservatory, American Masters was granted the exclusive and unrestricted rights to spend a full year filming within its guarded walls. Julliard reaches beyond the mystique and magic of artistry, revealing the daily struggles and joys in the quest for excellence. This film weaves five stories of present students with the past glories and hardships of distinguished faculty and celebrated alumni. Through personal accounts - including Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams, Itzhak Perlman and Wynton Marsalis, Martha Clark and Leontyne Price - the viewer becomes intimate with an elite, intense world and the price often exacted to be 'the best.'" AFRICA LIVE - THE ROLL BACK MALARIA CONCERT AFRICA LIVE 4/06 11 p.m.: "Performed and recorded March 12-13, 2005, in Dakar, Senegal, this concert features many of Africa's premier musicians, including Youssou N'Dour performing with the Orchestre du Caire." SOUNDSTAGE - SHERYL CROW PART 1 4/15 11:30 p.m.: "With her passionate voice and hearty riffs, this music teacher-turned-rock icon reminds the audience to look inside and lighten up with hits including 'Soak Up The Sun,' 'Everyday Is a Winding Road' and an exuberant cover of 'Peace, Love and Understanding.'" *************************************************************************************************** March 15, 2006 Here we are halfway through the soggy month of March, and the hope here is that the sun, for a change, will break through and stick around for at least two days at a time. If the rains are driving you stir crazy the best thing you can do is to turn off the TV and get out to see some live music. There is a lot of great stuff going on in the North Bay, and though it takes a Herculean effort (and lots of caffeine)(but no greenies) by the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters to put this newsletter together, rest assured that no steroids or flaxseed oil were used by any of the staff members. At least, not while hacking away at their keyboards. Well, okay, maybe the bodybuilder bouncers at the door might have imbibed a bit… Strawberry alarm clock. Every year at this time we alert you to the fact that the Strawberry Music Festival will sell out, and rumor has it that tickets are going fast for the Memorial Day Weekend fest. Buy now before the tickets are gone. And don't say you weren't warned. Here comes the sun. Check out the March 17th edition of the Marin County free weekly The Pacific Sun. Sources tell us that the music story this week by esteemed writer Matt Kramer will be about the Bill Evans String Summit and Rick Jamison show coming to Sweetwater on the 23rd. The Sun does not post much of its content on-line, so you will either have to read the story the old-fashioned way - by getting a copy of the paper in a news box somewhere in the county, or, read it here on the Carltone web site. Stealth concert. Van Morrison, once one of Marin's most celebrated rock star residents, played a special show at Rancho Nicasio on the 2nd of March. If you weren't one of the folks privy to the show, you can read about it here as long as the story remains on the Marin Independent Journal site. It was the 60-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's first date on a sold-out American tour promoting his new country/western album Pay the Devil. Japanese/Americana. There was an interesting piece on the 9th in the SF Chronicle about a Japanese singer named Toshio Hirano who sings American cowboy music in Bay Area clubs. There was a wonderful story in the Marin IJ recently about Lucy Mercer, the proprietor of the fabulous 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. Clarification. In the previous newsletter there was a segment where we advised musicians, whenever possible, to get written confirmation of gigs via email. The example we used mentioned "an unnamed coffee venue in downtown Fairfax" where a band had a problem. Just to clear things up here a bit, we were not referring to Café Amsterdam, 19 Broadway or Peri's. These venues are clubs and restaurants, not coffee shops. Contrary to what most people might think, there is a thriving Bay Area Celtic music scene that goes on for 364 more days a year and not just on March 17th. For a great resource for all things Celtic, go to the SF Celtic site. Dylan at the oasis. Mill Valley diva Maria Muldaur has recorded and is now mixing an album of Bob Dylan songs, due to be released in a few months. Maria and Bob are friends from their Greenwich Village daze some four decades back. Besides going to see Maria and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band at Rancho Nicasio on the 18th, you can now hear her sing her signature hit song every time your Cingular Wireless cell phone rings by simply going to their site and selecting her ring tone. Willie Nelson has a new tribute album out called You Don't Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker. It is vintage country music, Texas-style, with songs written by famed songwriter Cindy Walker, a 1997 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee whose compositions have previously been recorded by Bob Wills, The Sons of the Pioneers, Ernest Tubb, George Jones, Ray Charles, and Elvis Presley among others. Some of the cuts are "Dusty Skies," "Bubbles In My Beer," "Cherokee Maiden" and "You Don't Know Me." One new song of Willie's not on this album is "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other"… Singing actors. There is a new album coming out in April with actors singing that will benefit Music Matters, a music education program. Called Unexpected Dreams: Songs From the Stars, it will feature Jeremy Irons singing a Bob Dylan song, Scarlett Johansson crooning the Gershwins' "Summertime," Ewan McGregor singing Sade's "The Sweetest Gift," John C. Reilly doing "Lullaby in Ragtime," Jennifer Garner offering Frank Loesser's Broadway ballad "My Heart Is So Full of You," and more. No word yet on whether or not a bunch of famous singers will soon get together to act in a movie… New local CD. San Francisco singer/songwriter Jamie Byrd recently released her latest project, and it is called Garden of Days. There is great singing, writing, playing and production here. Go to her site for more info. Close call. Fred Eaglesmith, the Canadian singer/songwriter who tours with his band The Flying Squirrels, narrowly escaped death and injury on February 20th when his recording and art studio caught fire in Ontario. He was asleep above the studio at the time. He lost a lot of stuff, but fortunately not his latest recording. He had just sent off the master to have the CD pressed. Pick and tell. For banjo and Bill Monroe fans there are two books now available that were written by former banjo players in The Blue Grass Boys. Bob Black, who currently plays with the Perfect Strangers, wrote Come Hither to Go Yonder, and the book chronicles his years with Monroe (1974-76). Butch Robins, who played with Monroe later (1977-81), wrote a book that covers his entire music career (he also played with an early version of Newgrass Revival), and it is called What I Know 'Bout What I Know. Both are available directly from the writers. The Robins book, while a very interesting read, was published without good editing, so it reads like a personal journal. The Black book has not been read yet by anyone here on the staff. Amazing music. The gem of an acoustic music store in San Anselmo, Amazing Grace Music, has finally entered the 21st Century and gotten a web site. Check it out. And support the store whenever you can. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted its newest members on the 13th. The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Ozzy Osbourne, Miles Davis, and Lynard Skyard made the cut. The event was not without controversy, though. Deborah Harry and her band Blondie would not let some of the former members take part in the ceremony. And apparently the Pistols (those that are still alive) still have a bit of the piss in them, as the saying goes. Johnny Rotten and his band mates sneered in a letter posted on the band's web site last month that "We're not your monkeys and so what?" Obviously they have not mellowed in their later years. This behavior does note bode well for any Sex Pistols nostalgia tour… Plan ahead. The 6th Annual California Bluegrass Association Music Camp will not take place until June 11th-14th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, yet it is never too early to register. Some of the instructors are Bill Evans, Murphy Henry, and Avram Siegel on bluegrass banjo; Alice Gerrard and Brad Leftwich on old-time banjo; Jim Nunally, Eric Thompson, and Dan Bletz on guitar; Tom Rozum, Dix Bruce, and John Reischman on mandolin; Suzy Thompson, Jack Tuttle, and Tashina Clarridge on fiddle; Billy Cardine and Kathy Barwick on dobro; Dean Knight and Mary Lucey on bass; and Laurie Lewis and Keith Little on vocals. Cost of the camp is $235 before May 1st, and $270 after. Go to the site or contact Ingrid Noyes at (707) 878-9067 (after 9 a.m.) for info. Police log. John "Yanni" Christopher was arrested in Florida on March 7th after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend. 26 year-old Pete Doherty, lead singer of Babyshambles and erstwhile beau of model Kate Moss, was arrested in London and charged with drug possession. 44 year-old George O'Dowd, better known as "Boy George," was given probation for a drug related charge recently in New York City. Band scramble. There is a new acoustic band in the North Bay called Honey and The Hay Boys, and its members are vocalist Sheila Groves ("Honey"), her brother Charlie Mooney on guitar/vocals, Gerry Schostak on dobro, Tom Sours on bass, Gus Garelik on fiddle and Layne Bowen on mandolin/vocals. Life's railway to heaven. Reba Cash Hancock, Johnny Cash's younger sister, died on March 5th at age 72 following a lengthy illness. For many years, she managed the House of Cash, a complex in Hendersonville that housed her brother's museum, recording studio and business offices. Charlie Hodge, a longtime member of Elvis Presley's touring band, died on March 3rd of cancer at age 71. Presley and Hodge became friends in 1958 when they were serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. From 1969 until Presley's death in 1977, Hodge played rhythm guitar and sang harmony vocals in Presley's touring band. He was best known as Presley's onstage assistant who cued songs and handed him his water and scarves. Additions Café Amsterdam in Fairfax has a full calendar. Some of the acts to see, besides the final David Thom Band show there on the 16th, are The Shots on the 17th, Jazz Philosophy on the 19th, Adam Traum on the 22nd, The Tom Finch Group on the 25th, and the acoustic open mic every Monday. You are invited to the annual St. Paddy's Day Bash at Pete's 881 Club in San Rafael starting at 7:30 p.m. The event will honor the legacy of late Marin musician Rick Strand. The Musical Family of Rick Strand will feature Jim Strand, Laura Strand, Luke Strand, Mike Schwab, Bill Abright, Pat Campbell, Scott Steward, Steve Farzan, Willow van den Hoek, Dore Coller, Remy Hennessee, Linda Imperial, Peter Harris, Marvin Hollins, Michael Foley, Andy Koplick, Roy Schmall, Tim O'Connor and other surprise guests. Go early for Kelly's famous corned beef and cabbage starting at 5 p.m. No cover for the music. Yvette Tannenbaum will be playing Irish tunes and more on the 17th from 7-7:45 p.m. at Shakey Grounds in San Rafael, on the corner of 4th and H street (across the street from Yardbirds). Wine, beer, coffee, tea and snacks. No cover. 77 El Deora will play the St. Patrick's Day Massacre at the 4th Street Tavern in San Rafael starting at 9:30 p.m. Then on the 19th catch them at Thee Parkside in SF at 5 p.m., with no cover. Their CD, Sirens, is #4 on the national Roots Music Report's/True Country chart this week. The band attribute's this moderate success to mostly independent programmers supporting small independent artists. Here are some sites to check out: Radioiocountry, Bootliquor, Freight Train Boogie, Radio Louisiana, TwangCast, Slacker Country, Cosmic American Radio, and Country Girls Only. The Shots will also be playing their version of "Celticgrass" on the 18th at Carneros Creek Winery in Napa from 1-4 p.m. On the 18th at 3 p.m. the Saturday Afternoon Pickin' Parlor at Iron Springs Brewery in Fairfax will kick into high gear with a fun group of musicians brought together by mandolin player Ted Silverman (of Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys). The players will be Katy Rexford (of Grizzly Peak) on fiddle, Gary Kaye (of the New Good Old Boys and Keystone Station) on banjo, Larry Goldfield (a newcomer to the bluegrass scene from Philadelphia) on guitar, and Tom Drohan (Belle Monroe) on upright bass. Then on the 25th it will be a bit different than bluegrass as Ted plays mostly original acoustic blues with Jared Karol, and they call themselves The Lid Flippers. Jared plays finger style guitar and harmonica, and Ted plays mandolin, upright bass and guitar. Admission is free, and donations are encouraged. At Graffiti in Petaluma enjoy Celtic music with Dockside on the 17th, and then on the 18th it will be Dore Coller & Friends (Pat Campbell, Dave Hanks, and Gary Kaye) playing acoustic music from 7-11 p.m. There are two shows of note coming up at the Marin Osher Jewish Community Center. The Middle East meets the Far East on the 18th when Iraqi-born Yair Dalal, one of Israel's most accomplished musicians, collaborates with the renowned Ali Akbar College of Music. Join them for a fun, post-concert Israeli-style Purim Party with food, DJ, dancing and costumes. Then see The Boys of the Lough on the 25th at 8 p.m. This is a longtime Celtic band whose performances are full of wit, tradition, and exemplary musicianship. Roasting Paul. On Sunday the 19th at Sweetwater there will be a Paul Kantner and Special Friends Galactic Reunion Concert and Roast. Celebrate Paul Kantner's (founder of the Jefferson Airplane of yore) 65th birthday with a special once in a lifetime engagement. The roast is at 9 p.m. and concert at 10. All patrons will receive a live soundboard recording of the entire event. This show is limited to 100 people with most of those tickets already pre-sold, so do not delay. Caren Armstrong, who hosts the monthly Celebrating Songwriters series at the Larkspur Café Theatre, will be appearing solo at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 24th, doing what she does best: one woman, one guitar, creating incredible music straight from the heart. Caren's songs transcend the self-revelatory and speak universally to the human condition in all its humor and outrage. Her playing style references folk, country, blues, jazz, traditional and pop music, yet is distinctively her own. At this show Caren will preview new material from her upcoming CD, dig into the old favorites and maybe even takes a few requests. Marin fiddler Doug Adamz will be opening a show on the 31st at the Larkspur Café Theatre, and then he will be playing with headliner Daisy Dern and Dave Gibson. Daisy is from Marin, and she moved to Nashville, signed with Mercury Records, met and married Dave, and has written and recorded some wonderful, rich songs. Correction. Schaef-Abel Productions is not hosting Under The Radar on the 18th at 7:30 p.m. at Studio E in Sebastopol as previously noted. This show has been canceled. The band will, however, be playing acoustic bluegrass, swing, country, blues and folk music at the Station House Cafe in Pt Reyes from 7-10 p.m. on the 24th, and at Rancho Nicasio at 4 p.m. on the 26th. Reminders Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Besides the Saturday Afternoon Music Parlor mentioned above, bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 15th see Pribble's Living Room; it will be bluegrass with The Barefoot Nellies on the 22nd; and on the 29th it is Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys. Lindalou and Michael Ryge will be joined by former Paul McCartney impersonator Robert B. and other special guests on Wednesday nights through April starting on the 15th of March from 8-11 p.m. at Ana's Cantina in St. Helena. They'll be playing old and new favorites and originals. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Swamp Thang plays on the 15th and every Wednesday; Honey Dust on the 17th; Midnight's Bastards on the 22nd; Pack of Wolves on the 23rd; Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 31st; plus more. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are Laura Lee Brown's duo Forsoothing Sounds on the 16th; Pilar on the 17th and 18th; Houston Jones on the 25th; Daisy Dern on the 31st; and more. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Deirdre Egan on the 16th, Greenhouse on the 17th, Dockside on the 19th, The David Thom Band on the 25th, Peter Lamson on the 26th, Megan McLaughlin on the 30th, plus more. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides The Community Benefit Party for Ambassadors of Hope & Opportunity on the 16th (details below), see Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, Samite on the 22nd, Norton Buffalo on the 24th, plus a lot of other great stuff. Hopeful benefit. On the 16th, Kimrea and the 142 Throckmorton Theatre will present the Community Jam Benefit Party for the non-profit Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity. This non-profit formed a year ago when government funding was cut to help homeless and at-risk youths ages 18-25 who are disconnected from family support systems. These kids statistically fall through the cracks at an alarming rate and become chronically homeless. AHO's goal is to help these youths get on their feet and find stable housing, healthcare, therapy, and job support. All proceeds from this show will go to Ambassadors of Hope and all the performers are donating their time. The list of local talent who will perform includes Kimrea & Dreamdogs, 'Til Dawn, Lisa Kindred, Austin deLone, Michael LaMacchia, Tandamanzi Drum Circle, Derek Evans, Keystone Crossing, Matt Lax, and Narada Michael Walden. Acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter Josh Needleman plays an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, old time, newgrass, popular, funk, and Gypsy. On the 16th go to Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma at 9 p.m., and on the 22nd he'll be at The Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa. The David Thom Band has two shows around the bay. On the 16th it will be their final monthly gig at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax after about ten years of playing the joint. You can also see them on the 31st at the Connecticut Yankee in SF. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Earl Brothers have a hot gig coming up. On the 17th they'll play a St. Patrick's Day show at the Great American Music Hall in SF along with Quin and Culann's Hounds. At The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge in downtown Santa Rosa you can see The Mulligans (Rory McNamara and Mary Pitchford) on the 17th, Charles Thomas on the 18th, plus more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Hear Lauralee Brown & Chris Goddard doing jazz and beyond on the 17th; Jazz Philosophy on the 18th; The David Jeffrey Jazz Trio on the 24th; The Dave Costa Jazz Duo on the 25th; and Jump To It playing jump swing, blues, jazz & boogie woogie on the 31st. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 23rd you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 17th see Sambada; Joe Louis Walker on the 18th; Mother Hips on the 24th and 25th; Billy C. Farlow on the 31st; plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Jeb Brady and Gary Bauman, from The Jeb Brady Band, will be playing acoustic blues by the fireside in the bar at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Wake the Dead on the 17th; Maria Muldaur on the 18th; Matt Lax at 4 p.m. and John Stewart (no, not JON Stewart) on the evening of the 19th; Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys on the 25th; Under the Radar in the afternoon and Paul Thorn in the evening of the 26th; Roy Rogers on the 31st, and more. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a lot of Celtic music on the calendar. There will be a big St. Pat's celebration on the 17th, and some of the other shows to see are Boys of the Bog on the 18th, Greenhouse on the 24th, and Dockside on the 25th, plus there are Celtic jams on the first three Wednesdays and a bluegrass and old-time jam on the last Wednesday of every month. Santa Rosa House Concerts presents the Dallas-based folk duo The Dreamsicles for an evening of music and dining on the 18th. Combining the talents of singer-songwriters Tom Prasado-Rao and Cary Cooper, The Dreamsicles draw on their experience in classical violin, musical theater, raising kids, and living in the Third World to perform love songs for grown-ups. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission $20.00. Reservations are required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@ Monitor.Net. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with three different acts. He will play with his band Moonlight Rodeo at Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma on the 19th; he'll be solo at Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 24th; and he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 26th. The Sons of Emperor Norton (featuring Marin's Gary Bauman on guitar) will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Bistro in Hayard on the 19th from 4-7:30 p.m., and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 25th starting at 9:30 p.m. 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. The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place
at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform,
but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow.
If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that
can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on
networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for
best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording
time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. 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. On the 23rd see acoustic jazz guitarist Jamie Findlay. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. There are two fine shows at the Marin Civic Center this month. See James Galway on the 24th and Frankie Valli on the 25th. Cumulus Productions has two shows of note this month in Sebastopol. See Dave Alvin & Chris Gaffney and special guest Nina Gerber, along with opening act Stiff Dead Cat, when they play a benefit at the Sebastopol Community Center on the 24th. Then on the 25th you can see "Masters of the Hawaiian Guitar" with Cyril Pahinui, George Kahumoku, Jr. and Dennis Kamakahi. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will present everybody's friend and the pride of San Anselmo, John Haley-Walker, on the 25th at 8 p.m. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin), along with Josh Zucker on bass and Matt Willis on drums, will be sharing the stage on the 25th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax with Judge & Lauren Murphy and Landsdale Station. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the 26th. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Laura and Jack Benge are the hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 824-1960 or email at bengeatlarge@sbcglobal.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 3/16 8:30 p.m., 3/18 4:30 a.m.: "Patti Page returns to co-host all new performances and archival classics from the vault with co-hosts Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale, and Mary Lou Metzger. This program features many more legends of the late 50s and early 1960s pop era. Frankie Lane, Julius LaRosa, The Four Lads, Four Aces, Four Freshmen, Roger Williams, Lenny Welch, The Platters, The DeCastro Sisters and more. Plus archival performances from Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and Nat King Cole round out this amazing special." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 3/17 1 p.m., 3/18 7:30 p.m.: "A celebration of the 60s folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." CHRIS BOTTI & FRIENDS - LIVE FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE AIR 3/17 8:30 p.m.: "Since his premiere solo album in 1995, the acclaimed trumpeter, gifted instrumentalist and talented composer has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. His most recent album, To Love Again, is the inspiration for this exciting new concert." TIM JANIS - COASTAL AMERICA 3/18 6 p.m.: "This program journeys along the spectacular coastlines of the United States' treasured natural landmarks, including New England lighthouses, the cliffs of Big Sur, the dunes of Cape Hatteras and the forests of the Olympic Coast. The concert special, recorded live at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, is a stirring tribute to America's grand shores, featuring an inspiring medley of natural imagery and sweeping melodies. Stunning High Definition cinematography is interwoven with an original instrumental score composed by Janis and performed by the 14-piece Tim Janis Ensemble." BENISE - NIGHTS OF FIRE 3/18 9:30 p.m.: "An unprecedented and spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance that pushes the bar of tradition and raises the standards of live performance to a fresh new level of originality, cultural fusion, and passion. Roni Benise is our master of ceremonies, as he takes us on a romantic and exotic voyage through the wild and beautiful sounds of his Spanish guitar." ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 3/18 11 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W." PATSY CLINE - SWEET DREAMS STILL 3/23 11:08 p.m.: "This program highlights the popular career of Patsy Cline, an artist whose influence continues across all genres of music. At a time when country artists stayed close to the traditional roots of the music, Cline recorded songs that soared from country to pop. The program features full performances (including the last two known recordings taped in Nashville five days before her death), rare photos and personal memorabilia." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - TRACY CHAPMAN 3/25 11 p.m.: "Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman tells compelling, socially relevant stories through her music. Highlights of the Grammy Award-winning singer's show include 'Fast Car,' 'Give Me One Reason' and 'You're the One.'" JONI MITCHELL - WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND 3/26 midnight: "The daughter of a grocery store manager and a teacher in Canada, Joni Mitchell is now a US citizen, a Buddhist, a poet and a painter, whose heroes are Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe. Uncompromising and iconoclastic, Mitchell has confounded expectations at every turn - wildly innovative, her music evolved from deeply personal folk into pop, jazz and avant-garde, prophetic of the multi-cultural experimentation of the `80s and `90s. Fiercely independent, she resisted the whims of mainstream audiences and the male-dominated recording industry. Mitchell's records may never have sold as widely as some of her contemporaries, but no one experimented so recklessly or so bravely explored territory outside of accepted pop music." MICKEY HART - PLANET DRUM 3/26 1:30 a.m.: "Recorded at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, this special combines dynamic stage performances, behind-the-scenes interviews and captivating natural photography to explore the musical world of this former member of the Grateful Dead. It delves into Hart's and his band's musical explorations during a concert to promote their 1998 Supralingua ('beyond language') album. The album paired Hart's trademark array of musicians and instrumentation from around the world with state-of-the-art technology and exquisite vocals." SPARK! WHAT EXPERIENCE TEACHES 3/29 7:30 p.m., 3/31 11 p.m.: "After a lifetime pursuing creativity, what do the years teach about art? Anna Halprin is 85. For 50 years she has been on the forefront of Modern Dance. In the '60s her work was vilified. In the '90s she survived cancer. Today she is still working, and that work is still challenging. We catch up with Anna to see her current projects including a long awaited return to a San Francisco with the dance that got her in trouble in '65; after 35 years on stage and in front of the camera, actor Peter Riegert has taken up directing. He came to San Francisco, to A.C.T., for his first stage production of his nascent second career. The choice? What else but the play that first put him, and playwright David Mamet, on the map: Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Peter directs four young actors through the unique challenges of a Mamet production; Jessica Williams began her career as a jazz pianist at the age of 19 playing with Philly Joe Jones. For years she has been one of the unknown gems of jazz piano. Now in her 60s she records many of her solo and trio albums in her own home studio or at live at local clubs like Yoshi's. They've been nominated for Grammy awards. She's also her own webmaster. Through it all she has been a champion for women in jazz. She's also one of the great interpreters and devotees of Thelonious Monk." CLOSE TO YOU - REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS 3/30 7:59 p.m.: "A music-filled documentary that traces the Carpenters' career through the eyes of Richard Carpenter and the group's friends in the music business, featuring all of their top recording hits, including '(They Long to Be) Close to You,' 'Top of the World,' and 'We've Only Just Begun.' Between 1970 and 1983, the Carpenters were awarded 10 gold singles, and 9 gold albums, many of which also achieved multi-platinum status. This program features interviews with Richard, in addition to some of the group's longtime back-up singers and musicians, famous friends and colleagues, particularly those who helped them achieve stardom." And on the A&E Network: BIOGRAPHY - JIMI HENDRIX 3/17 8-9 p.m., 3/18 12-1 a.m.: "Life of the guitar legend who astonished audiences with brilliant artistry, then died tragically at age 27. We reveal the man behind the icon - the Hendrix who was known to his friends as shy and complex, and the troubled musician who doubted his own brilliance. The celebrated guitarist from Seattle skyrocketed to fame after arriving in London in 1966. His death in 1970 only added to the myth. Interviewees include Hendrix's road manager, girlfriend, and the cardiologist who attended his death." BIOGRAPHY - JANIS JOPLIN 3/17 9-10 p.m., 3/18 1-2 a.m.: "Portrait of the 1960s queen of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll who died of a drug overdose at age 27, just two years after her first album went gold. Here is the truth about Joplin's wild living, her years of drinking, touring, and hard work, and her search for love, fame, and the perfect voice." *************************************************************************************************** March 1, 2006 Welcome to the 63rd edition of Carltone's Corner! Many thanks to all of the new readers who signed the Carltone mailing list either at the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience show at 142 Throckmorton, at Sweetwater, The Larkspur Café Theatre, and at the SF Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival. And to the folks who found us on the web and signed up as well. As of this date there are now over 1,000 people on the list, and it is growing. Not bad for a word of mouth, sign-the-sheet operation. As long as folks keep on reading, we'll keep on providing you with more music and entertainment information in the North Bay. Titillated by the news. The staff here at Carltone World Headquarters had a hard time concentrating this week while putting this newsletter together. All of the Plasma TVs here in the office were tuned to CNN, MSNBC and FOX as we waited for the latest clips of Anna Nicole Smith as she bounced her way up the steps of the Supreme Court. No wonder new justice Sam Alito wanted his new job so badly! All of the media is agog over Smith's case, no doubt hoping for a Janet Jackson-like moment to burst forth at any time. Even National Public Radio couldn't resist making this the headline story at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, using words like "voluptuous" and "stacked the deck." Good thing there isn't any serious news going on in the world to cover… Photo oops. For those of you who were a bit mystified by the Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass photo in the Pacific Sun this past week, the band has not reformed and gotten about 20 years younger. The photo is actually of Homespun Rowdy, and they will be playing on the bill with Paisley on Wednesday the 1st at Sweetwater. More details about the show lie below. But plan on coming out for a great night of bluegrass. And you'll get to see what the Paisley band really looks like! There was a story in the Sun about a twin bill at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 2nd. The Bay Area's own old-time band The Stairwell Sisters was listed as the opener for The Mammals, a band that features offspring of Pete Seeger and Jay & Molly Unger (of the PBS Civil War series). Due to a series of misunderstandings, the Sisters are now not going to be there. However, even though it is not posted on the site yet, they will be playing at the Strawberry Music Festival in the spring. Word to the wise. If you are in a band and you are out hustling gigs, written contracts for small venues are pretty much non-existent these days. But when you can, at the least try to get something in writing via email so there will be no doubt about payment at the end of your show. There was a situation recently between one Marin act and an unnamed coffee venue in downtown Fairfax where a certain amount of money was promised verbally but not delivered when the gig was over. It devolved into a he said/he said situation, with neither side happy about the unresolved issue… Truth in music. There is a movement underway by bands from the 50s and 60s to stop copycat acts from claiming part of their legacy. There are so many so-called Coasters and Drifters bands around that one never knows who or what they are seeing. New music flicks. Besides the Johnny Cash film making the rounds of movie houses, there are two new movies out of note about other guitar players. One is by filmmaker Jonathan Demme and it is called Neil Young: Heart of Gold. It is a concert film with Neil playing himself. The other movie is about erstwhile Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, and it is called Stoned. He ended up dead in his swimming pool at age 27 in 1969. Got a ringing in your ears? Turns out the Grateful Dead have helped in a program to study hearing loss. Ancient SF Chronicle music wag Joel Selvin was having problems, and he recently wrote about a new program that the UCSF Medical Center put together with help from the Dead. Speaking of Selvin, who seems to write only about reunion bands and dinosaur rockers, he had a nice piece last week about Sal Valentino, the lead singer from a popular SF band from the 60s called The Beau Brummels. Ever wanted to create your own radio station? Well, there is a cool program from Pandora.com where you can program your favorite tunes to listen to on line. Thanks to Tom McCarter for this tip. Dreamland is back. Dreamland Music, a wonderful CD and LP store in downtown Fairfax operated by dobro player Aaron Balano, suffered tremendous loss in the recent floods. It has taken a while, but the waters have receded and the shop is now open for business again. Many people have asked how they could help. For those interested in helping get Dreamland back off the ground, the one thing the store needs, above all else, are customers. Although it is a small store, it has a great selection of new and used CDs and LPs. They are more than willing to take your special orders, and most items can be delivered to the shop within a few days. And if you are too busy to come in, Dreamland can mail your music to you. Simply call and order your disks or email Dreamland at recordrobot@sbcglobal.net and set up an account. It is just as easy as ordering from Amazon, but you support a local business instead of a corporate giant. Call (415) 485-6232 for more info. Police log. There was lots of action since the previous newsletter.
Sixty-one year-old 70s rocker Gary Glitter goes on trial this week in
Viet Nam, as he is charged with committing obscene acts with young girls.
Pop singer George Michael was taken into custody on drug charges on
February 27th after being found slumped in his car near Hyde Park in
London. And country singer John Michael Montgomery was arrested and
charged with driving under the influence and possession of a controlled
substance last week in Kentucky. Man, it is tough to be famous sometimes… Life's railway to heaven. Don Knotts, who made the character Barney Fife famous in the 1960s on the Andy Griffith Show, died on February 24th of lung cancer in Los Angeles. He was 81. It was on this show that the staff here at Carltone's Corner was first exposed to bluegrass music, when the Darlin family would come into the town of Mayberry pickin' in the back of a pickup truck. The real life band The Dillards played the Darlins. Billy Cowsill, of the singing family band The Cowsills, is the second family member to die recently. He was only 58, and he suffered from emphysema, osteoporosis and other ailments. And Latin jazz drummer Ray Barretto died on February 17th. He had undergone heart bypass surgery in January and suffered from pneumonia. Onward to the calendar… On Wednesday the 1st the next edition of the series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Blue-grass Gold is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Headlining the bill will be Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass, and opening will be Homespun Rowdy. Bluegrass Gold is excited to welcome back Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass the day after Mardi Gras. Dan last played Sweetwater in April of 2002 with his father, the late Bob Paisley, who died in 2004. Dan joined his father's band in 1974 at age 15, and has developed into one of the most distinctive and expressive vocal stylists in bluegrass music today. He carries on in his father's tradition with the help of his brother, bassist Michael Paisley, and band mates Bob Lundy on banjo, T.J. Lundy on fiddle, and Don Eldreth, Jr. on mandolin. The fathers of all the band members played together in the 1970s as the Southern Mountain Boys. The current ensemble has become known for its unwavering sense of timing, its relaxed, often self-deprecating joviality on stage, and its dynamic repertoire. Strong vocal duos and trios also have become a hallmark of the band's sound. Bob and Dan sing the type of tight harmony only heard from the greatest brother duo teams in country music, and Bob Lundy's baritone adds resonance to the trios. Homespun Rowdy is a young San Francisco bluegrass band steadily gaining respect in the Bay Area. With a solid appreciation of traditional bluegrass and gospel, HSR performs both the old and the new mixed in with their own original material. Dividing vocal responsibilities across several members of the band and singing around a single microphone keeps the band and audiences on their toes. With plenty of musical variety and solid picking, this energetic quintet delivers an upbeat, entertaining show. Mike Tatar will be sittin' in on bass. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Every Saturday this month from 3-5 p.m. see the Saturday Afternoon Music Parlor with host Ted Silverman and a mix of special guest pickers. Otherwise, bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 1st see Michael Elvin Hunt featuring David Nelson; on the 8th it will be The RiffRiders; Jack Pribble's Living Room plays on the 15th; it will be bluegrass with The Barefoot Nellies on the 22nd; and on the 29th it is Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre are the Marley's Ghost CD release party of Spooked on the 1st; Devon Shane on the 2nd; The Waybacks on the 9th; The Celebrating Songwriters Series on the 14th with host Caren Armstrong. The show features Atlanta based Caroline Aiken, who has the extraordinary ability to jaw-drop a crowd with her powerful performances, and German-born, Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist, Hans York. The format will include individual sets by each artist in the first half, with the second set being played Nashville style, in-the-round. You can also see Laura Lee Brown's duo Forsoothing Sounds on the 16th; Pilar on the 17th and 18th; Houston Jones on the 25th; Daisy Dern on the 31st; and more. Head on down to Muir Beach on the 2nd to the Pelican Inn at 7 p.m. to see Wagon, who play bluegrass and old-time as well as traditional and contemporary tunes. The band is Brian Lamoreaux (banjo, guitar, vocals), Brendan Neagle (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Adam Bowers (slide guitar, vocals), and Nick Martin (fiddle, vocals). Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Swamp Thang plays on the 1st and every Wednesday; Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 2nd; Little Wheels Band on the 3rd; The Bar Association on the 10th; Joe Paquin & Hippie Billy on the 11th; Sexy Sunday on the 12th; Honey Dust on the 17th; Midnight's Bastards on the 22nd; Pack of Wolves on the 23rd; Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire on the 31st; plus more. There are some really fine shows at the Marin Civic Center this month. See Arlo Guthrie on the 12th; James Galway on the 24th; and Frankie Valli on the 25th. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge for music. Featured there this month are Elaine Dempsey on the 2nd, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 3rd, Andrew Freeman on the 4th, Carolina Special on the 14th, Greenhouse on the 17th, Dockside on the 19th, The David Thom Band on the 25th, Peter Lamson on the 26th, Megan McLaughlin on the 30th, plus more. 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. On the 2nd you can see guitarist Orrin Star at 8 p.m.; Jimmy Dillon and Danny Click on the 9th; and Jamie Findlay on the 23rd. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 2nd and 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. At The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge in downtown Santa Rosa you can see Robert Herrera on the 2nd, JL Stiles on the 3rd, Phatty on the 10th, The Mulligans on the 17th, Charles Thomas on the 18th, plus more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 3rd it is Alex Markels & Lady D. playing jazz standards; on the 4th see Norris Clement playing jazz as well; Madeline Sheron sings jazz on the 10th; Connie Ducie & Randy Storm play rock and jazz on the 11th; Lauralee Brown & Chris Goddard doing jazz and beyond on the 17th; Jazz Philosophy on the 18th; The David Jeffrey Jazz Trio on the 24th; The Dave Costa Jazz Duo on the 25th; and Jump To It playing jump swing, blues, jazz & boogie woogie on the 31st. Bluesman Dan Hayes will be playing in Point Reyes at the Station House Cafe on the 3rd from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold shows mentioned above and below on the 1st and 23rd you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 3rd see Mike Gibbons; Box Set on the 4th; The Bar Association on the 8th (see below); Vinyl on the 10th; Michael LaMacchia on the 11th; Joe Louis Walker on the 18th; Mother Hips on the 24th and 25th; Billy C. Farlow on the 31st; plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover. Swissgrass in SF. There will be a special concert at the Piedmont Piano Company in San Francisco on the 3rd at 8 p.m. Piedmont usually presents classical or jazz piano performances, but this time they are having an act from Switzerland, The Kruger Brothers, whose astounding virtuosity extends into the realm of bluegrass, classical, jazz, modern music and beyond. At Rancho Nicasio you can see The Rancho All-Stars on the 3rd and 4th; Four Year Bender in the afternoon and Geoff Muldaur in the evening on the 5th; Houston Jones on the 12th; Wake the Dead on the 17th; Maria Muldaur on the 18th; Matt Lax in the afternoon and John Stewart (no, not JON Stewart) on the evening of the 19th; Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys on the 25th; Under the Radar in the afternoon and Paul Thorn in the evening of the 26th; Roy Rogers on the 31st, and more. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has gigs with four different acts. He will play solo at Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on the 3rd and 24th; it will be a duo with Cynthia Lewis at the Pt. Reyes Dance Palace on the 11th; he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax on the 12th and 26th; and his band Moonlight Rodeo will play at Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma on the 19th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see the Trailor Town theatrical comedy on the 3rd and 4th, Jimmy Dillon on the 8th, Ray Manzarek with Roy Rogers on the 10th, The Community Benefit Party for Ambassadors of Hope & Opportunity on the 16th (details below), Samite on the 22nd, Norton Buffalo on the 24th, plus a lot of other great stuff. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a mix of stuff on the calendar. Some of the shows to see are The Tonewoods on the 4th, The Mild Colonial Boys on the 11th, Boys of the Bog on the 18th, Greenhouse on the 24th, and Dockside on the 25th, plus there are Celtic jams on Wednesdays. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 4th and 11th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Poor Man's Whiskey, besides having a brand new CD titled Roadside Attraction, has one busy weekend coming up on the 4th and 5th. During the day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., they will be playing the barrel tasting event at Bella Vineyards in Healdsburg. Then you can join the boys for a night of musical madness at the Great American Music Hall in SF for Jimmy Sweetwater's Showcase Special. Also on the bill are Toshio Hirano, Mike and John from the Shut-ins, The Whoreshoes, JimBo Trout and the Fishpeople, and then Poor Man's starting at 11:15 p.m. Somehow or another they will then be back at the winery on Sunday. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will feature Carlos Olmeda on the 4th at 8 p.m., and on the 25th it will be everybody's friend and the pride of San Anselmo, John Haley-Walker. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. Acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter Josh Needleman plays an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, old time, newgrass, popular, funk, & Gypsy. On the 4th his band will be at Brick's in Petaluma starting at 7:30 p.m.; on the 16th go to Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma at 9 p.m.; and on the 22nd he'll be at The Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa. The Sons of Emperor Norton will be playing their vintage rockabilly at The Northlight in Cotati on the 5th from 1-4 p.m.; at The Bistro in Hayard on the 19th from 4-7:30 p.m.; and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 25th from 9:30-1:30 p.m. Jeb Brady and Gary Bauman, from The Jeb Brady Band, will be playing acoustic blues at The Coffee Roasters in Fairfax on Saturday the 4th from 9-11 a.m., and also by the fireside in the bar at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. Danny Montana and the Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and Bill Bowen on drums) are playing on the 8th at Sweetwater. The show starts at 8:30, with some early acoustic blues from the Dogtown Ramblers (Chris Goddard, Brian Craft and Tony Magee). On the 10th catch The Bar Association again at Peri's in Fairfax at 9:30 p.m. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. On the 9th see Joe Ely; Sons of Champlin on the 10th; New Monsoon and Marley's Ghost on the 11th; plus others. Peter Welker will have a CD release party on the 10th from 6-8 p.m. at Graziano's Ristorante in downtown Petaluma. The new recording is called Duke, Billy and Tadd, and was just picked up by Tower Records' label It will be available in all the Tower Records stores, and it features eight Grammy winners or nominees. The Earl Brothers have some interesting gigs coming up. On the 11th at 9 pm they'll be playing original bluegrass at Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma. Zebulon's features mostly jazz otherwise. Then on the 17th they'll play a St. Patrick's Day show at the Great American Music Hall in SF along with Quin and Culann's Hounds. Everyone is headed to Sebastopol on the 11th for the CBA's Sonoma County
Bluegrass Festival (formerly named On the 14th, from 8 to 10 p.m., you can see the Audrey Shimkas Jazz Duo at the Left Bank in Larkspur. Audrey sings a collective blend of jazz standards, Latin rhythms, and favorite rock-funk tunes tossed to a jazz sensibility. Lindalou and Michael Ryge will be joined by former Paul McCartney impersonator Robert B. and other special guests on Wednesday nights through April starting on the 15th of March from 8-11 p.m. at Ana's Cantina in St. Helena. They'll be playing old and new favorites and originals. Hopeful benefit. On the 16th, Kimrea and the 142 Throckmorton Theatre will present the Community Jam Benefit Party for the non-profit Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity. This non-profit formed a year ago when government funding was cut to help homeless and at-risk youths ages 18-25 who are disconnected from family support systems. These kids statistically fall through the cracks at an alarming rate and become chronically homeless. AHO's goal is to help these youths get on their feet and find stable housing, healthcare, therapy, and job support. All proceeds from this show will go to Ambassadors of Hope and all the performers are donating their time. The list of local talent who will perform includes Kimrea & Dreamdogs, 'Til Dawn, Lisa Kindred, Austin deLone, Michael LaMacchia, Tandamanzi Drum Circle, Derek Evans, Keystone Crossing, and Narada Michael Walden. Kimrea also plays with her band Dreamdogs every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 14th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. And of course, bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. The David Thom Band has two shows around the bay. On the 16th it will be their final monthly gig at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax after about ten years of playing the joint. You can also see them on the 31st at the Connecticut Yankee in SF. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Santa Rosa House Concerts proudly presents the Dallas-based folk duo The Dreamsicles for an evening of music and dining on the 18th. Combining the talents of singer-songwriters Tom Prasado-Rao and Cary Cooper, both former winners of the Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Competition, The Dreamsicles draw on their experience in classical violin, musical theater, raising kids, and living in the Third World to perform love songs for grown-ups. Doors open 5:30 p.m., potluck dinner 6, show starts 7. Admission $20.00. Reservations are required. Call (707) 538-1215 for details, or e-mail HouseConcerts@ Monitor.Net. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Under The Radar on the 18th at 7:30 p.m. at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. The next Westcoast Songwriters Association open mic will take place
at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform,
but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow.
If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that
can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on
networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for
best song and best performance. Catsville Recording studio in San Rafael
is the new sponsoring studio. Best Song wins three hours recording time.
For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. Cumulus Productions has two shows of note this month in Sebastopol. See Dave Alvin & Chris Gaffney and special guest Nina Gerber, along with opening act Stiff Dead Cat, when they play a benefit at the Sebastopol Community Center on the 24th. Then on the 25th you can see "Masters of the Hawaiian Guitar" with Cyril Pahinui, George Kahumoku, Jr. and Dennis Kamakahi. The Rowan Brothers (Chris and Lorin) along with Josh Zucker on bass and Matt Willis on drums will be sharing the stage on the 25th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax with Judge & Lauren Murphy and Landsdale Station. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. The date is the 26th. Laura and Jack Benge are the hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 824-1960 or email at bengeatlarge@sbcglobal.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Plush gig. SF picker Andrew Freeman and friends host a night of local music most Mondays from 8-11 p.m. at The Plush Room in SF, which is in the York Hotel on Sutter Street. Andrew, Eric Kurtzrock, Patrick Archer, and Greg Bland do sets of about 30 minutes to start and end the night, and the rest of the evening is for whatever artists they bring in. They have room for about 8-10 performers a night. The room is really nice, with tremendous sound and lights, and a grand piano. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: BENISE - NIGHTS OF FIRE 3/02 9:30 p.m., 3/04 3 p.m., 3/05 3:30 p.m., 3/10 8:30 p.m., 3/11 10:30 a.m., 3/18 9:30 p.m: "An unprecedented and spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance that pushes the bar of tradition and raises the standards of live performance to a fresh new level of originality, cultural fusion, and passion. Roni Benise is master of ceremonies, as he takes us on a romantic and exotic voyage through the wild and beautiful sounds of his Spanish guitar." MAGIC MOMENTS - THE BEST OF 50'S POP 3/04 10:30 a.m., 3/11 8 a.m., 3/12 4 a.m.: "Take a stroll down memory lane with the pop sounds of this concert special. This reunion brings together the greatest recording artists from the 50s pop era. Taped in Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal, it is hosted by Mary Lou Metzger, Phyllis McGuire and Pat Boone, and features a cavalcade of 1950s pop music recording legends, reuniting and performing their biggest hits." MICHAEL BUBLE - CAUGHT IN THE ACT 3/05 11:30 a.m.: "Inspired by the swinging big band sound of his grandfather's generation, 29-year-old Canadian phenomenon Michael Buble has won the hearts of a new generation of fans with his charisma, stage presence, and superbly seductive voice. Inviting inevitable comparisons to a young Frank Sinatra, Buble's unique approach to an eclectic array of popular standards reveals a keen musical intuitiveness that has rapidly distinguished him." THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND 3/07 7:30 p.m., 3/14 1 a.m., 3/17 1 p.m., 3/18 7:30 p.m.: " A celebration of the 60's folk rock music hosted by Tom and Dick Smothers and Judy Collins and featuring legendary folk artists of the era." JOHN DENVER - A SONG'S BEST FRIEND 3/07 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! and Red Rocks concerts, 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." MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 3/08 7:30 p.m., 3/09 2:30 a.m., 3/11 noon, 3/16 8:30 p.m., 3/18 4:30 a.m.: "Patti Page returns to co-host all new performances and archival classics from the vault with co-hosts Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale, and Mary Lou Metzger. This program features many more legends of the late 50s and early 1960s pop era." WORLD'S LARGEST CONCERT 2006 3/09 10 a.m.: "Today millions of school children, parents, and teachers will tune in and sing along with The World's Largest Concert, emanating from Branson, Missouri. The concert serves as a centerpiece for Music In Our Schools Month, and offers music educators and community members the opportunity to enjoy and support school music programs. Participants will tune in at the same time around the nation to sing together in a celebration of music." TIM JANIS - COASTAL AMERICA 3/09 7:30 p.m., 3/09 9 p.m., 3/13 9 p.m., 3/18 6 p.m.: "This program journeys along the spectacular coastlines of the United States' treasured natural landmarks, including New England lighthouses, the cliffs of Big Sur, the dunes of Cape Hatteras and the forests of the Olympic Coast. The concert special, recorded live at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, is a stirring tribute to America's grand shores, featuring an inspiring medley of natural imagery and sweeping melodies. Stunning High Definition cinematography is interwoven with an original instrumental score composed by Janis and performed by the 14-piece Tim Janis Ensemble." ROY ORBISON AND FRIENDS - A BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT 3/09 10:30 p.m., 3/11 5:30 p.m., 3/14 9 p.m., 3/18 11 p.m.: "Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles in 1988, the great Roy Orbison is joined by a legendary lineup for an evening of rock and roll, filmed stunningly in B&W." GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE 3/11 10 p.m.: "Over 30 years ago, in 1974, The Grateful Dead decided to take a break from playing together. Knowing that this might be the close of an era, they filmed five consecutive concert nights in San Francisco at Bill Graham's Winterland Arena. This ambitious project, complete with trippy animation, came to be known as 'The Grateful Dead Movie.' The director and crew captured the concert, interviews and backstage camaraderie with seven cameras. On the final night the band invited former drummer Mickey Hart to join them onstage. Jerry Garcia then spent 2.5 years editing this 'love letter to Dead Heads,' and was it originally released in 1977. This historical and musical journey of the band has now been painstakingly restored in its original widescreen version and remixed in stereo surround sound." *************************************************************************************************** February 15, 2006
How's this for editing? In the previous edition the fact checker here at Carltone World Headquarters went up and down the newsletter, scouring every word. However, he failed to start at the top of the page. On the masthead it said "Vol.6, No.62," yet on the first line it said, "Welcome to the 61st edition of Carltone's Corner." It should have said the "62nd edition." Man, with the big money being paid around here you'd think we'd be able to hire some decent workers… No news is not good news. The News Marin, an erstwhile weekly paper that was published by the Marin Scope newspaper organization - and which began carrying edited versions of this newsletter back in November - has gone through some big changes. The bad news is that it is no longer put out weekly. The good news is that it is now carried as a supplement in editions of the other weekly papers that will continue to be published by the organization, such as The Marin Scope, the Mill Valley Herald, the Twin Cities Times, and the Ross Valley Reporter. The Iron Springs Brewery is now calling their weekly bluegrass event "The Saturday Afternoon Music Parlor." David Thom has moved on and up to the town of Sonoma, so an ever-changing array of Marin (and beyond) musicians will be mixing it up every Saturday from 3-5 p.m. As Mike Altman, the owner, says, "It's just like your living room, but with 12 amazing beers on tap to choose from." Vote for Fred. Fred Eaglesmith's great song "Alcohol and Pills" is eligible for the People's Voice - an online voting contest that allows the public to listen to all the finalists' songs and vote for their favorite. Tell all your friends, family, and fans, so that they can vote for Fred's song too. Voting will take place through the end of the month. There was an interesting story on National Public Radio the other day about Wolfgang's Vault, home to the archives of San Francisco rock impresario Bill Graham. Also, go the Vault site for lots more info. There are a lot of cool shows that you can listen to from back in the day. Strawberry. If you haven't purchased your Strawberry Music Festival tickets for Memorial Day yet, you can still save another $10 if you purchase them by the 24th of this month. You can save another $10 on Labor Day tickets if you buy them now as well, or at least by March 31st. After this date all discounts will be gone, and so will most of the tickets. You stand warned. Grammy notes. Alison Krauss won three more Grammys to bring her career total to 20 wins. In addition to winning the Best Country Album for Lonely Runs Both Ways, Krauss also won for Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Restless," and in the Country Instrumental Performance field for "Unionhouse Branch." Other country and bluegrass-related Grammys included Emmylou Harris, The Del McCoury Band and a duet by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. After nearly 50 years in the music business Del McCoury won for Best Bluegrass Album for The Company We Keep. Contemporary Blues Album winner was Delbert McClinton's Cost of Living, and in the Contemporary Folk category, John Prine's Fair & Square won, as did Tim O'Brien's Fiddler's Green, which won in the Traditional Folk category. Condolences to Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur who lost out to 80 year-old B.B. King. Shammys? Mill Valley's Bonnie Raitt lost out to American Idol game show winner Kelly Clarkson for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. This is the death of popular music as we know it… Ready to write that new hit song? Think you know the secret to success? Well, so do some guys who did a study on what makes a song a hit. And the general consensus is creating a buzz and peer pressure. So go out and hire a good publicist. More evidence of the death of music as we know it. Can it really be that an album of fifties songs recorded by Schmaltz King Barry Manilow is not only at the top of the charts, but that it debuted there? Sad but true, ladies and gents. Read the sad news here. So anyone out there who has been furiously trying to write the next hit song after reading the previous paragraph, you may want to reach for the magic Kool-Aid instead… Good news for fans of the songs (but not the voice) of Kris Kristofferson. A tribute album titled The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson, will be released this summer, with artists such as Rosanne Cash, Jessi Colter, Rodney Crowell, Joe Ely, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Shooter Jennings, Willie Nelson, Bruce Robison, Todd Snider and Kelly Willis, among others. Kristofferson will also release an album of his own, This Old Road, in March. Say in ain't so, Joe. The sad news is that former West Marin singer/songwriter Joe New, after many years of living in Forest Knolls, has moved with his wife to Portland, OR. The good news is that his song "She Can't Burn Me Now" is on the Grammy Award winning Del McCoury CD. Congratulations, and farewell Joe! You will be missed. Plan ahead. There next Bluegrass Gold show after this month will be on March 1st, which is the same day as publishing date for the next Carltone's Corner. In order to get a head start on the month, make plans now to see Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass along with Homespun Rowdy. It will be a great night of traditional bluegrass. Band scramble. Pam Brandon, a.k.a. Belle Monroe, has recently replaced Melissa Collard as the featured vocalist for the Bay Area Western Swing band Lost Weekend. Speaking of Homespun Rowdy, they have welcomed Alisa Rose as their new fiddler, and they are also hoping for a rapid recovery for the thumb of bass player Ryan Carter, which was injured while playing tennis. And Cabin Fever is back in action with a couple of gigs this month, as guitarist Yvonne Walbroehl has now recovered enough from her second bicycle spill in two years and is now able to play guitar again. Life's railway to heaven. Louis Scruggs, longtime manager and wife of banjo legend and Country Music Hall of Famer Earl Scruggs, had been suffering from respiratory problems. She died on the 2nd at age 78. Charles K. Wolfe, author of A Good-Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry (and many other books and articles on country music), died on the 9th of complications from diabetes. He was 62. Besides writing about country and bluegrass he was also a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, from which he retired as full professor in 2005. Some of his other books were Grand Ole Opry: The Early Years, 1925-35; Kentucky Country: Folk and Country Music of Kentucky; In Close Harmony: The Story of the Louvin Brothers; and The Music of Bill Monroe (with Neil Rosenberg) Valentine's Day Shows Sweetwater Sweethearts, at Sweetwater in Mill Valley, featuring six local duos: Keystone Crossing, Cliff & Julia Landis, The Cash Magnets, Jeanie & Chuck Poling, The Dingwunbars, and Bill & Tonee Norman will perform mini-sets. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Duos were popular in the early days of bluegrass and later on in country music. Such acts as The Monroe, Louvin and Everly Brothers, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, and Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton are just a few examples. The close-harmony sound created by these acts is what these six duos will be featuring this night, with both happy and love-gone-bad songs being the theme. All six duos have their distinctive sound, and they are all real life sweethearts off-stage as well. Essentially this "Sweetwater Sweethearts" is six shows in one and a real treat for everyone. Larkspur Café Theatre will feature The Celebrating Songwriters Series with host Caren Armstrong, Richard Berman and Denali from 7:30-9:30 p.m. This unique series continues to gain popularity with audiences who love a dynamic evening of heart felt, original music in a beautiful, intimate setting. This show truly runs the musical gambit, featuring Berman, one of the East Coast's most acknowledged and established songwriters, as well as Denali, one of Marin County's youngest and hottest up-and-comers. In the town of Sonoma, Vintage House's Valentine's Dinner Cabaret Show will be good fun and good food for all. That's Amore! stars Sonoma's own "Valley Girls" in a sweet, comic and savory musical romp through and around the heart. The quartet consists of Susan Lee, Monica McKey, Juliett Scott and Jill Wagoner on vocals, Hugh Trutton on piano and Jack Lundon on drums. The evening's festivities will begin at 6 p.m., guests will sit down to dinner at 7 and, shortly thereafter, the show will begin. Tickets for both dinner and show are $40 a person. Seating is cabaret-style at tables of eight. Call (707) 996-0311 for reservations. All proceeds will benefit Vintage House senior center. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. You and your sweetie can sing and play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. And of course, bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre will feature Mark Pitta's comedy night. Laughs o'plenty. The Hot Club of San Francisco will be playing swing jazz at a dinner show at Rancho Nicasio in West Marin. Additions Huun-Huur-Tu will be performing Tuvan throat singing at the Osher Marin Center in San Rafael on the 18th at 8 p.m. Hugh Harris & JohnYoungblood will be playing Americana, swing, blues, and country at the Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg on the 20th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Then they'll play at the Santi Restaurant in Geyserville on the 26th from 7-9:30 p.m. Fine dinners, wine and beer served. No cover charge. There will be an evening of classical, bluegrass and swing music at The Crowden School in Berkeley featuring Marin's own Aaron Redner on the 28th at 7 p.m. Aaron is the fiddler in Hot Buttered Rum, and other performers will include members of the band as well as Bay Area pianist Miles Graber. All ages are encouraged to attend. The Crowden School is located at 1475 Rose Street (at Sacramento). Call (510) 559-6910 for info. Tickets will be $12 at the door only. Reminders Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Every Saturday from 3-5 p.m. see The Saturday Afternoon Music Parlor with a mix of special guests. Otherwise, bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 15th it will be the all-female bluegrass band The Whoreshoes, and on the 22nd enjoy bluegrass with Grizzly Peak. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Krickie's Sexy Sunday female performance showcase is usually the second Sunday of the month, and her singer/songwriter night the last Sunday every month is her opportunity to showcase talent from both genders. Swamp Thang will be there on the 15th and 22nd with some down and dirty swamp rock. Other highlights are Noah Shull on the 21st; Pack of Wolves on the 23rd; and on the 28th, it's the acoustic based rock of Lynn Bobby. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge. Featured there this month are Curtis Charles on the 16th, The Perfect Crime on the 18th, The Carrtunes on the 24th, High Country on the 25th, plus more. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned above on the 14th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. Most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. Plus, see Heather Combs on the 17th; Shana Morrison on the 18th; Tommy Castro on the 19th; Chuck Prophet on the 25th; Mardi Gras Tuesday on the 28th, and lots more. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. On the 17th it will be AC/DShe; Robert Cray on the 20th; Keller Williams on the 26th, plus others. Every first and third Wednesday, from 6 to 9 p.m., you can see the Audrey Shimkas Jazz Duo at Il Davide Cucina in San Rafael. Audrey sings a collective blend of jazz standards, Latin rhythms, and favorite rock-funk tunes tossed to a jazz sensibility. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The David Thom Band has a busy rest of the month. On the 16th it will be their monthly gig at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; you can then see them on the 18th at the Connecticut Yankee in SF; and on the 24th at the Plough and Stars in SF. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa has some quality shows to choose from. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on the 17th; Lucinda Williams on the 21st; Buddy Guy on the 22nd; George Jones on the 23rd; and George Winston on the 26th. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see Deborah Winters on the 17th, Will Durst on the 18th, the Sir! No Sir! benefit on the 22nd with Jane Fonda and Maria Muldaur, plus a lot of other great stuff. North Bay bassman Carrick Montague on the 17th will play with the Paula Bradman Quartet at Grafitti in Petaluma. At The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge in downtown Santa Rosa you can see Ancient Mystic on the 17th, Soul Shine on the 24th, plus more. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. Lauralee Brown & Company will be playing jazz and beyond on the 17th; Jazz Philosophy on the 18th; John Brite on the 24th; and Ralph Woodson on the 25th. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a mix of stuff on the calendar. Some of the shows to see are The Perfect Crime on the 17th, Atlantic Shore on the 18th, plus there are Celtic jams on Wednesdays. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has a gig on the 18th at Roundtree's in Berkeley with Jesse Lee Kincaid; and on the 26th he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. Danny Montana and The Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and Bill Bowen on drums) will be playing both country and western music on the 18th at Smiley's in Bolinas. 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. The next Westcoast Songwriters Association open mic will take place
at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform,
but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow.
If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that
can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on
networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for
best song and best performance. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. The date is the 26th. Laura and Jack Benge are the hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 824-1960 or email at bengeatlarge@sbcglobal.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Fairfax singer/songwriter Forest Sun, along with Larkin Gayl and Danny Schmidt, will be playing at the Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo on the 26th starting at 6 p.m. Plush gig. SF picker Andrew Freeman and friends host a night of local music most Mondays from 8-11 p.m. at The Plush Room in SF, which is in the York Hotel on Sutter Street. Andrew, Eric Kurtzrock, Patrick Archer, and Greg Bland do sets of about 30 minutes to start and end the night, and the rest of the evening is for whatever artists they bring in. They have room for about 8-10 performers a night. The room is really nice, with tremendous sound and lights, and a grand piano. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: MASTER TEACHERS 2/15 7:30 p.m., 2/17 11 p.m., 2/19 11:30 p.m., 2/20 3 a.m. "Behind every truly great performer or artist is a great teacher. Ali Akbar Khan is one of the finest North Indian musicians in the world, and he's devoted his life to passing along his gift to several generations of musicians young and old Music instructor Helena Jack is working against all odds to bring jazz in to the lives of hundreds of Oakland public school students, and Michael Tilson Thomas of the San Francisco Symphony reflects on the teachers who helped shaped his career, and why teaching is one of his highest priorities." SOUNDSTAGE - JOSS STONE WITH SPECIAL GUEST MAVIS STAPLES 2/16 11 p.m. "There is nothing as sweet as two powerhouse divas delivering up a rousing set. This Soundstage episode captures the duo of newcomer Joss Stone and legendary Mavis Staples in one stunning performance. Hailing from England, the teenaged Stone began to make waves with her big and throaty neo-soul vocals with the release of 2003's The Soul Sessions. She returned the next year with Mind, Body & Soul, where she exercised her own writing chops - co-writing 12 of the 14 tracks. For more than three decades, Chicago's own Mavis Staples has been a force in the gospel set when she launched her career singing with her family, The Staple Singers. Her contralto voice has lent itself to classic soul and bluesy-folk gospel, and even Prince-penned songs, along the way." JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - MICHAEL FRANTI 2/13 7:30 p.m., 2/17 2:30 a.m., 2/17 2:30 p.m., 2/17 10:30 p.m., 2/20 midnight: "Musician Michael Franti is known for writing songs with socially progressive lyrics paired with a mixture of hip-hop, funk and reggae melodies. Over the years he and his band Spearhead have gained an international following, playing sold- out concerts from Alaska to Australia. Two years ago this peace-loving musician embarked on the most life-changing trip of his career - a journey to the war-torn Middle East. His experiences on that trip are now the subject of a fascinating documentary entitled 'I Know I'm Not Alone.' Franti shares his most vivid memories of the trip and performs a brand new song for Josh. And Josh wanders to Berkeley to jam with the legendary 'Fatdog' - owner of Subway Guitars, where Franti had one of his first jobs before making it big." ELLA FITZGERALD - SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR 2/19 noon, 2/26 1:30 a.m. "American Masters presents the first comprehensive documentary portrait of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, featuring never-before-seen performance footage as well as interviews with many of the great musicians who worked with her. From that night in 1934, when she wowed the crowd at Amateur Night at the Harlem Opera House, Ella Fitzgerald went on to dazzle audiences for decades; the bell-like clarity of her voice and her superior musicianship brought them to their feet around the world. Ella recorded more than 2000 songs, sold more than 40 million records and won 13 Grammy Awards in her lifetime." KEEPING TIME - THE LIFE, MUSIC AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF MILT HINTON 2/19 1:30 p.m. "Legendary jazz bassist Milt Hinton (1910-2000) was also a skilled photographer and storyteller. This insider's view of jazz and life in 20th-century America is told by Hinton and fellow musicians, including Branford Marsalis and Quincy Jones. Archival footage and hundreds of Hinton's photographs document his unique journey." JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW - DIRK DIRKSEN/PENELOPE HOUSTON 2/20 7:30 p.m., 2/22 11:30 p.m., 2/24 2:30 p.m., 2/24 10:30 p.m., 2/27 midnight. "In the late 70's and early 80's San Francisco was home to one of the hottest underground punk scenes in the nation. This week two icons of that era stop by to relive the glory days of punk -producer Dirk Dirksen, who used to book three acts a night at the famous Mabuhay Gardens in North Beach, and singer/songwriter Penelope Houston of The Avengers. Penelope is into a whole different sound now . . . she describes it as 'folkrockandroll.' She and guitarist Pat Johnson will treat Josh to a special performance - the world premiere of her acoustic song 'If You're Willing.'" AMERICAN MASTERS -JAMES BROWN, SOUL SURVIVOR 2/26 1 p.m. "James Brown, the 'godfather of soul,' is regarded by many as the most influential living African-American musician. This film, which celebrates the iconic entertainer's legacy, explores the era of 'funk' that Brown created, ushering in an immaculate rhythmic tension that paralleled the evolution of the Civil Rights movement. Brown's call for 'black power,' his controversial lifestyle and his temporary, but devastating, fall from the spotlight in the 1970s are all explored through interviews with Brown and commentary by his closest friends, fellow musicians and celebrities. Little Richard, Al Sharpton, Dan Aykroyd and Chuck D are among those who help illuminate the film's pulsating original performances and rare archival footage." INDEPENDENT LENS - STRANGE FRUIT 2/26 6 p.m.: "Radio stations banned it, but when Billie Holiday sang 'Strange Fruit' the whole world listened anyway. Sprung from the pen of an unknown Bronx schoolteacher named Abel Meeropol, the song continues to mesmerize musicians and civil rights advocates alike with its chilling vision of a lynching. This program shows how a little-known Jewish songwriter and an African-American icon created a song that changed America." PAUL MCCARTNEY - CHAOS AND CREATION AT ABBEY ROAD 2/27 9 p.m.: "Sir Paul McCartney returns to Studio 2 at London's Abbey Road studios, where most of the Beatles's recordings were made, for an intimate journey through his songwriting history, from his very first Beatles song to the work on his new album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Using a selection of vintage instruments from his own collection - including the bass played by Bill Black on Elvis Presley's original recording of 'Heartbreak Hotel,' and the Mellotron and mixing desk used by the Beatles - McCartney re-visits his back catalog in new and revealing ways in front of an intimate studio audience. McCartney re-interprets old songs, reveals new ones, plays cover versions and enlists the audience's help in a demonstration of 'in the moment' songwriting and arranging. Songs performed in this unique program include 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' 'Band on the Run' and 'Lady Madonna.'" SOUNDSTAGE - MARTINA MCBRIDE 2/27 11 p.m.: " Martina McBride strikes the right balance between traditional country sentiments and adult contemporary-tinged pop, having gained popularity in both territories with high-charting singles. The Kansas-bred singer began performing in her early teens, singing and playing keyboard for her father's band, The Schifters. But her career took flight shortly after moving to Nashville in 1990. Two years later, her husband John McBride produced Martina's debut, The Time Has Come, which married honky-tonk and progressive country folk. Since her first album, Martina has released six very popular albums, including a greatest hits release that topped the country charts. She has sold more than 15 million records, produced a slew of Top 10 singles, and won numerous awards throughout her successful career. Martina's Soundstage performance was taped during her sold out show at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL. Performing fan-favorite songs like her first number one hit, 1995's 'Wild Angels,' and 1993's 'Independence Day' from The Way I Am, this special appearance also includes songs from her album Timeless." *************************************************************************************************** February 1, 2006 Welcome to the 62nd edition of Carltone's Corner! There is so much bluegrass and other great stuff going on this month around the bay that you will have to carry a scorecard around with you to keep track. Those of you with Blackberrys may want to start writing things down on paper again as well, in case the makers lose their big lawsuit and the contraptions stop working on you. Or, similar to Senator Robert Byrd, who supposedly carries copy of the Constitution in his pocket, you can just print out this newsletter and take it with you. However you keep score, start taking notes now! The 2006 virtual North Bay Bluegrass Festival, put together by the indefatigable staff here at Carltone World Headquarters, got started on January 25th with a great show by John Reischman & The Jaybirds at Sweetwater, and will run through Sunday the 12th. Shows take place at multiple venues in the North Bay, with a lot of great stuff and some of it free. Go to the site for complete information. Across the bridge in SF the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival (SFBOTF) will run from the 2nd-12th at venues mostly in SF. Check out their site. Please note that Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen had to cancel their show on the 10th. Rumors are unfounded that they bailed because the festival program and web site consistently misspelled Herb's last name in all of their promo… Bakersfield bound. For those of you not into the Super Bowl football game, think about getting into your car and driving to Bakersfield on the 2nd-5th to attend the 1st Annual CBA Supergrass Festival, with acts such as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Cherryholmes, Sawtooth Mountain Boys, and Blue Highway. Music in/on the air. If you don't have satellite radio or you don't want to sit in front of your computer to listen on line, as a public service at the bottom of this page there is now a permanent link on the Carltone site that lists good radio shows that you can tune into on your home stereo or in your car. All of these shows that are listed - with the exception of KPIG - are on public stations in the SF Bay Area, and reception will vary depending on where you are. Even though you can tune in for free, please ante up and support the public stations during pledge breaks so this music will continue to be heard on the airwaves. If ClearChannel and Salem Communications had their way, Public Radio would not exist and you'd have to listen to corporate generated garbage 24/7… Mill Valley's Maria Muldaur, besides being nominated for a Grammy in two categories, has also been nominated again for two WC Handy Blues Awards - once for Acoustic Album of the Year ("Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul") and once for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. The good news is that you and your friends can vote for her on line. Go to the Handy site and then follow the directions for voting. She is also in the process of recording an entire album of Bob Dylan songs. Nearing the end of the road. Blues guitar great and current Grammy nominee BB King announced he would begin making his last international tour this month. Now 80 years old, he doesn't want to travel overseas anymore. A $10 million B.B. King museum is slated to open later this year in his native Mississippi. Men of constant sorrow. Paul Russell Casting is accepting pictures and resumes of musician/actors for the new musical "Man Of Constant Sorrow - The Story of the Stanley Brothers." The show premiered at the Barter Theatre in 2005 and will have a national tour in 2006-07. Auditions are to be held in New York City on the 17th. Send resumes by the 8th to Paul Russell Casting, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2208, New York, NY, 10018. Some of the results of the 31st Annual Cloverdale Old-Time Fiddle Contest on January 28th are now in, and the Clarridges - Tristan and Tashina - were big winners. They won the Twin-Fiddle Division, with Kenny Blacklock (from the Marin band Keystone Station) and his wife Katy Bridges coming in second; in the Old-Time Waltz Division Tristan came in first and Tashina placed third; and in the Progressive Division it was Tristan first and Tashina second. The Clarridges will also be performing at Sweetwater on March 23rd as part of the Bluegrass Gold show featuring The Bill Evans String Summit band. Guilty plea. Daniel Biechele, the former road manager for the rock band Great White has agreed to plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the deadly fire in a nightclub in Rhode Island in 2003. Wow, someone taking responsibility for his mistake. What a concept! Run this man for political office when he gets out of jail! Music and the movies. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon were nominated for Oscars as Best actor and Best Actress for their roles as Johnny Cash and June Carter in Walk the Line. However, the film was not nominated for best picture. Dolly Parton received an Oscar nomination for best original song for "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica. Parton wrote the song specifically for the film, which is about a transsexual and her son. And The Dukes of Hazzard disaster has been nominated for seven Razzies, an award given to celebrate the year's worst achievements in film. Van goes country. Van Morrison has announced a five-city tour to promote his upcoming country album, Pay the Devil. The cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville and Boston. The album features a dozen country covers (including "Your Cheatin' Heart") and three original songs, and will be released in March. Musicians in need. MusiCares is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to those in need in the music industry. On the 6th in Los Angeles James Taylor will be honored as Person of the Year for his contributions to music and commitments to philanthropic and humanitarian causes. The Dixie Chicks, Alison Krauss and Bonnie Raitt will perform musical tributes to Taylor, and Carole King, Randy Newman, Paul Simon and Sting will also perform during the fundraiser. Band scramble. The up and coming Bay Area bluegrass ensemble known as The Donner Mountain Band recently went through some personnel changes. Jacob Groopman is the new guitarist, and Hide Kawatsure is the new mandolin player. Life's railway to heaven. Janette Carter, the daughter of legendary Carter Family founders A.P and Sara Carter, died on January 22nd in Kingsport, TN. She was 82. Donald Pearson, a soundman who worked with the Grateful Dead for many years, died on January 9th at age 63. Legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett passed away on January 19th at age 64. He had classic hits such as "Mustang Sally," "634-5789," and "Funky Broadway." And on the 18th of this month there will be a musical memorial for Robin Hodes, a lyrical trumpeter who was a stalwart on the San Francisco traditional jazz scene for decades. He died on December 23rd of a heart attack at the age of 79. Plan way ahead. The Waybacks will be playing a show with Bob Weir at the Great American Music Hall in SF on April 26th. This will be a tune-up for their performance at MerleFest in North Carolina. Onward to the calendar… Mill Valley singer/songwriter Elaine Dempsey along with guitarist Jim Bitter will be playing at the No Name bar in Sausalito on the 1st. Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold shows mentioned below on the 8th and 14th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 1st Jimmy Smith will play; The Unauthorized Rolling Stones on the 10th; Heather Combs on the 17th; Shana Morrison on the 18th; Tommy Castro on the 19th; Chuck Prophet on the 25th; Mardi Gras Tuesday on the 28th, and lots more. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin' shows. On the 1st see Jorma Kaukonen; The Young Dubliners on the 4th; James Cotton on the 9th; Cheryl Wheeler on the 10th; Robert Cray on the 20th, plus others. Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Every Saturday from 3-5 p.m. see David Thom's Bluegrass Pickin Party. David performs with a mix of special guests. Otherwise, bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 1st the folk/rock band Jelly will play; The David Haskell Trio plays jazz on the 8th; it will be the all-female bluegrass band The Whoreshoes on the 15th; and on the 22nd enjoy more bluegrass with Grizzly Peak. Every first and third Wednesday, from 6 to 9 p.m., you can see the Audrey Shimkas Jazz Duo at Il Davide Cucina in San Rafael. Audrey sings a collective blend of jazz standards, Latin rhythms, and favorite rock-funk tunes tossed to a jazz sensibility. Murphy's Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma is the place to go for good music in Sonoma County, and there is never a cover charge. Featured there this month are Pete Olson on the 2nd, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 3rd, Andrew Freeman on the 4th, the Celtic jam on the 5th, Amy Wigton on the 9th, Poor Man's Whiskey on the 10th, The Acme String Ensemble on the 11th, High Country on the 25th, plus more. Dave Gleason will be playing his brand of outlaw country on the 2nd at Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma. This will be an acoustic version of the band. On the 4th his full Wasted Days band will be at the Fox & Goose Public House in Sacramento along with Richard March and James Finch, Jr. The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa has some quality shows to choose from. On the 2nd it will be Bill Maher; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on the 17th; Lucinda Williams on the 21st; Buddy Guy on the 22nd; George Jones on the 23rd; and George Winston on the 26th. Marin bluegrass jam. On the 2nd and 16th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m. The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta's comedy night every Tuesday, see The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble on the 2nd, Kitty Margolis on the 10th, Joan Baez on the 11th, Robben Ford on the 12th, Deborah Winters on the 17th, Will Durst on the 18th, the Sir! No Sir! benefit on the 22nd with Jane Fonda and Maria Muldaur, plus a lot of other great stuff. North Bay bassman Carrick Montague is the hardest working standup bass player in the area. He will be playing on the 2nd with Dave Crimmen at the Round Up Saloon in Lafayette; on the 3rd with Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire at the Plough & Stars in SF; on the 9th with the Paula Bradman Quartet at Servino in Tiburon; on the 10th with Rusty Evans at the Larkspur Café Theatre and on the 11th at the Blackthorn Tavern in SF; and on the 17th with the Paula Bradman Quartet at Grafitti in Petaluma. The Rowan Brothers - Chris and Lorin - will be playing the Benefit for Trees In Schools at the 12 Galaxies in SF on the 2nd. On the 5th it will be Rock To Relief: Benefit For New Orleans & Pakistani Aid at Slim's in SF, and all ages are welcome. Phil Lesh is on the bill as well. On the 10th-14th they'll be at Folk Alliance in Austin, TX. And on the 18th you can see them at the Acoustic Series Presents in Santa Cruz. Bluegrass legend. On the 3rd at the Larkspur Café Theatre in downtown Larkspur, see Sausalito's own Peter Rowan with mandolinist Sharon Gilchrist, and Keystone Crossing as the opener. Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan has led a long and varied career. In the 1960s he played with The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys, as well as the bands Earth Opera and Seatrain. In 1973 he formed the all-star bluegrass band Old and In the Way, with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, and their self-titled recording is one of the best-selling bluegrass albums of all time. He then recorded a few albums with The Rowan Brothers, toured with his band The Free Mexican Air Force, and since then he has recorded several solo albums. His song "Panama Red" was a million-selling hit for The New Riders of the Purple Sage. In recent years he has released a solo project called Reggaebilly; Old and In the Gray with David Grisman, Vassar Clements, Herb Pedersen, and Bryn Bright; Crazy People with his two brothers; the 2003 Grammy Award nominated High Lonesome Cowboy with Don Edwards; and You Were There For Me with guitarist Tony Rice. Sharon Gilchrist was in the band Mary & Mars for many years, and she also plays bass in the all-female old-time band called Uncle Earl. Opening the show will be the Marin County duo Keystone Crossing. They sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass. Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre this month besides the Rowan show on the 3rd are Corinne West on the 4th (see below); Kurt Huget and Friends on the 9th; Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire will play rockabilly on the 10th; The Natural Gas Jazz Band on the 12th; The Celebrating Songwriters Series on the 14th with host Caren Armstrong, Richard Berman and Denali; and more. Beer, wine and beverage bar and a small gourmet menu will be available At The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge in downtown Santa Rosa you can see JL Stiles on the 3rd, Joni Davis on the 4th, Robert Herrera on the 9th, Dgiin on the 10th, Ancient Mystic on the 17th, Soul Shine on the 24th, plus more. 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. On the 3rd you can see guitarist Mike Dowling at 8:30 p.m., and on the 9th at 8 p.m. it will be guitarist Muriel Anderson. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info. Saylor's Landing has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar; every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 3rd it is Jocelyn & Bob Steele playing jazz standards; on the 4th see Joan Getz playing jazz as well; Lisa Kindred sings the blues on the 10th; Lauralee Brown & Company doing jazz and beyond on the 17th; Jazz Philosophy on the 18th; John Brite on the 24th; and Ralph Woodson on the 25th. Larkspur artist Corinne West, along with her band The Posse, will be presenting her own brand of Americana music on the 4th at the Larkspur Café Theatre. Corinne's songs of life on the road and everyday heroes take the listener on a journey of imagery that is fresh, and yet familiar. Her writing runs a golden thread through the likes of progressive country, folk, bluegrass and Americana. Caren Armstrong will be opening. The Black Rose in Santa Rosa has a mix of stuff on the calendar. Some of the shows to see are The Black Horse Blues Band on the 3rd, The Farallons on the 4th, Solid Air on the 10th, Four Shillings Short on the 11th, Perfect Crime on the 17th, Atlantic Shore on the 18th, plus there are Celtic jams on Wednesdays. Good things are happening at Peri's in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. Krickie's Sexy Sunday female performance showcase is usually the second Sunday of the month, and her singer/songwriter night the last Sunday every month is her opportunity to showcase talent from both genders. Starting this month, Swamp Thang will be there every Wednesday with some down and dirty swamp rock. Other highlights are Rahman's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on the 3rd; Goodlife Rhythm and Blues Revue on the 4th; on the 7th see Wildsang, an acoustic blues duo of women based out of New Mexico, featuring delta and Piedmont style blues with guitar and harmonica; The Little Wheels Band will bring their brand of Americana in on the 11th; on the 21st it will be Noah Shull; Pack of Wolves on the 23rd; and on the 28th, it's the acoustic based rock of Lynn Bobby. At Rancho Nicasio you can see Swing Society on the 4th, Baguette Quartette on the 11th, The Hot Club of SF on the 14th, and more. Jammin' in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 4th and 11th it is bluegrass, old-time, old country, acoustic picking and fiddling; on the 18th it will be swing music, and on the 25th it will be pickers' choice. John Youngblood is the host. Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band continue on their non-competitive acoustic journey through originals, fiddle tunes, historic folk, newgrass, cool swing jazz, Latin jazz, Gypsy jazz, and popular music, all presented in a cohesive mountain style and instrumentation. See them on the 4th at 8 p.m. at The San Geronimo Cultural Center. Hot show. The Marin based Hot Buttered Rum and New Monsoon will play at the Fillmore on the 4th. The Buttered boys have a new CD titled Well-Oiled Machine due out later this month. Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Peter Rowan and Sharon Gilchrist on the 5th at 7:30 p.m. at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site. Later in the month, on the 25th, see Mary Gauthier, accompanied by Thomm Jutz. The David Thom Band has a busy month around the bay. On the 7th they'll be pickin' bluegrass at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley as part of the SFBOTF; on the 16th it will be their monthly gig at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; you can then see them on the 18th at the Connecticut Yankee in SF; and on the 24th at the Plough and Stars in SF. On Wednesday the 8th at 8:30 p.m. the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music, and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Old School Freight Train will headline, and David Jacobs-Strain will open the show. Blending jazz, Latin, Celtic, bluegrass and pop, Old School Freight Train (OSFT) creates electrifying acoustic music. This young Charlottesville, VA, based group instantly carved their own unique sound, attracting a diverse audience since their inception in 2000. Mandolin master David Grisman heard their music in the fall of 2004 and viewed the band as "an emerging force to reckon with in today's world of acoustic music." Grisman invited the band to record at his Dawg Studios in Northern California and manned the production and recording along with Dave Dennison. From these sessions came Run, OSFT's dynamic second CD and their first for Acoustic Disc, Grisman's acclaimed independent label. Run spans a broad spectrum of contemporary styles and highlights their instrumental virtuosity, smooth soulful vocals, captivating melodies and musical passion. Old School Freight Train offers a unique musical experience that's both tangible and of superior quality, raising the bar in acoustic music. They are the new band to watch. Opening the show will be 22 year-old blues guitar sensation David Jacobs-Strain. Marin guitarist Kurt Huget has a gig on the 9th at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre. He'll be performing both solo and with special guest singers and musicians. This will be an evening of his original songs, covering jazz, pop, blues, and country. On the 18th he'll be at Roundtree's in Berkeley with Jesse Lee Kincaid; and on the 12th and 26th he'll play with Namely Us at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax. Jazz singer Pamela Rose will be having a North Bay CD Release Party on the 10th at Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. with Dave Rokeach on drums, Charles McNeal on sax and Wayne De La Cruz on Hammond B-3. Live music with you latte. Keystone Crossing will be singing for their java on Saturday the 11th at the Marin Coffee Roasters in Fairfax from 9-11:30 a.m. Stop on by for your daily fix and groove to the tunes. It is a tie-dye optional affair. The Jeb Brady Band has a show at 19 Broadway in Fairfax on the 11th with Frankie Lee headlining. Local bluesman and artist Jeb Brady will be hosting a showing of his paintings with an artist reception from 4-7 p.m., and following that his band will be performing their "History of the Blues" show from 7-10 p.m. The band has done three segments of this blues anthology at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, and they will be playing their favorites from these shows. Frankie Lee will also take the stage to finish out the evening. Frankie was lead singer for blues guitarist Albert Collins' band for six years. He later recorded many hits with his cousin Johnny "Guitar" Watson. His band at the time included then unknowns Robert Cray and Bobby Murray. It should be quite an evening of blues and R&B. The Alpha 2006 Acoustic Concert Series on the houseboat in Sausalito will feature Dana Hubbard on the 11th at 8 p.m. Amie Penwell opens. This is a fabulous venue for seeing performers up-close and personal. Reservations strongly encouraged. (415) 289-0490. The Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station is presenting its Sixth Annual Sweethearts of the Radio show, a benefit for West Marin community radio station KWMR. It will take place on the 11th starting at 8 p.m. Five duos will perform. Be my valentine. On Tuesday 14th at 8:30 p.m. a very special edition of Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater. This will be a Valentine's Day show called Sweetwater Sweethearts, featuring six local duos: Keystone Crossing, Cliff & Julia Landis, The Cash Magnets, Jeanie & Chuck Poling, The Dingwunbars, and Bill & Tonee Norman. Duos were popular in the early days of bluegrass and later on in country music. Such acts as The Monroe, Louvin and Everly Brothers, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, and Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton are just a few examples. The close-harmony sound created by these acts is what these six Bay Area duos will be featuring this night, with both happy and love-gone-bad songs being the theme. All six duos have their distinctive sound, and they are all real life sweethearts off-stage as well. Essentially this "Sweetwater Sweethearts" is six shows in one and a real treat for everyone. Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 14th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you're in doubt. And of course, bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already. Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 17th at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. Danny Montana and The Bar Association (Danny Montana on lead vocals and guitar, Phil Richardson on fiddle, Larry Cragg on pedal steel, Dana Olsen on lead guitar, Tim Bush on bass and Bill Bowen on drums) will be playing both country and western music on the 18th at Smiley's in Bolinas. 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. The next Westcoast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 20th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Greg Gordon will be judging. Catsville Recording studio in San Rafael is the new sponsoring studio. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net. They're pickin' up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday. It is a gospel, bluegrass & old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. The date is the 26th. Laura and Jack Benge are the hosts, and you can call them for more info at (707) 824-1960 or email at bengeatlarge@sbcglobal.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing. Sausalito singer/songwriter Forest Sun, along with Larkin Gayl and Danny Schmidt, will be playing at the Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo on the 26th starting at 6 p.m. Plush gig. SF picker Andrew Freeman and friends host a night of local music most Mondays from 8-11 p.m. at The Plush Room in SF, which is in the York Hotel on Sutter Street. Andrew, Eric Kurtzrock, Patrick Archer, and Greg Bland do sets of about 30 minutes to start and end the night, and the rest of the evening is for whatever artists they bring in. They have room for about 8-10 performers a night. The room is really nice, with tremendous sound and lights, and a grand piano. Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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: SOUL COMES HOME - A CELEBRATION OF STAX RECORDS 2/05 12:15 a.m. "'Soulsville, Live' is a tribute concert celebrating Memphis Soul music and Stax Records. In the 1960s, Memphis Soul musicians brought together diverse musical styles - blues, gospel, country and rhythm & blues - to create a new, captivating sound. See Soloman Burke, Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers Band, and Jimmie Vaughan of The Fabulous Thunderbirds." SATCHMO - THE LIFE OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG 2/05 5 p.m. "A self-taught trumpet player and singer, Louis Armstrong burst onto the scene at age 17 in 1918, replacing the legendary King Oliver in Kid Ory's band. Over the next six decades he would turn the world of music on its ear and become one of the worlds most recognized and best-loved entertainers. He recorded albums in every conceivable genre, from country to show tunes, toured the globe and influenced virtually 'every musician of worth in popular music or jazz,' as Tony Bennett says in this film by Gary Giddins. He was also an outspoken symbol of the civil rights movement, making a goodwill tour of western Africa and refusing to patronize New York clubs from which he had once been excluded. Named Best Music Video by Jazz Times Magazine in 1989, this film tracks Armstrong's life and career through recordings, performance footage, rare home movies, and interviews with friends and colleagues - among them Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Lester Bowie, Dexter Gordon, Milt Hinton and many others." SOUNDSTAGE - LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM WITH SPECIAL GUEST STEVIE NICKS 2/06 11p.m. "Hailing from Fleetwood Mac, one of America's most renowned and successful bands, Lindsey Buckingham embarked on a productive and storied solo career that continues to evolve 18 years after his departure from the band. In this appearance, Buckingham's performance spans the various eras of his career. Whether performing hits 'Red Rover' and 'Peacekeeper' or 1981's Law and Order single 'Trouble' and the title song from Go Insane, Buckingham seamlessly ties the decades together with reverent detail. As a bonus, the alluring Stevie Nicks joins Buckingham during the set, providing an intimate view of the chemistry that once propelled their former band to the top of the charts. Though their once tumultuous relationship was a topic that reached near-epic proportions, this reunion eclipses the controversy, placing all emotion back into the songs that defined them." AUSTIN CITY LIMITS - ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND 2/11 11:30 p.m. "Features the unique sounds of the pedal steel guitar phenomenon. This group has been getting national attention and gaining fans for their high-energy music that fuses gospel, rock and more." MUDDY WATERS - CAN'T BE SATISFIED 2/12 12:30 a.m. "Born McKinley Morganfield in rural Mississippi, Muddy Waters literally electrified the local blues sound, took it to Chicago and became the undisputed King of the Blues. His story is both iconic and idiosyncratic - a field hand, a bootlegger and a som |
